Is Othello a Man of Honor Infected with Psychological Imperfection Essay

Is Othello a Man of Honor Infected with Psychological Imperfection - Essay Example A former black slave, Othello, is rather hailed and appreciated by the society -which is supposed to enslave him- because of his military prowess. In a racially segregated society, he rises at the height of celebrated influence and takes the daughter of a socially established member as his wife. Keeping aside his past, he looks forwards and endeavors to be accepted by the society on his military prowess and credits. Yet in the clandestine corner of his mind, he feels insecure and remains isolated and alien in the society which he does not belong to racially. This very isolation of Othello in the society is vividly depicted in his own words in the last scene of the play. While killing himself, once he repeats how he killed a Turk with martial prowess: â€Å"Set you down this, / And say besides that in Aleppo once, / Where a malignant and a turbaned Turk / Beat a Venetian and traduced the state, / I took by th’ throat the circumcised dog / And smote him thus†. (Shakespear e V.ii.341-354) At the same time, by comparing his self-killing with the killing of a Turk, he powerfully articulates the fact that he will forever remain an outsider and an alien to the society. Deep down in the heart, he suffers from a type of inferiority complex which, on one hand, blindfolds him from Desdemona’s virtue and purity, and on the other hand, keeps him obsessed with the fear of being deserted by his love, Desdemona, a symbolic platform of passion and status in the society. Just like his suspicion for the society, his fear of being deserted by his love pushes to the verge of insanity. His bluster and pride rather fuel his obsession and fear. In spite of his love for Desdemona, he cannot believe that his wife, that paragon of virtue and purity, could have settled for him. Such a man’s love for his wife is necessarily entailed with his continual fear of being rejected and deceived by his society as well as his wife. Iago manipulates this very weakness and p sychological imperfections of Othello. Indeed in the play Iago’s Machiavellian presence is not the root but the crucial cause of Othello’s insanity. He is more of a trigger of the event than the sole reason of Othello’s insane-like condition. He plays on the protagonist’s insecurities and â€Å"trigger off an engulfing suspicion and jealousy of his wife's supposed infidelity, which culminates in him murdering her† (Hamlin 34). Whereas the psychological imperfections lie in Othello’s circumstance-driven psychic mould, it has successfully been played on by Iago. Throughout the whole play, Othello remains calm, polite and respectful. He is neither rude nor offensive to Desdemona's father, Brabantio. Even being brave General his self-control is praiseworthy. When Iago tries to instigate a brawl by informing Othello of Brabantio’s armored arrival to his court, he remained calm and responds in the following manner: â€Å"Keep up your brigh t swords, for the dew will rust them. / Good signior, you shall more command with years / Than with your weapons.† (Shakespeare I.ii.59-61). He shows the highest revere to Brabantio. He assures him that he is respectful because of his age. Othello is never a violent man by nature. If he were, he would behave otherwise, in other words, violently. Even in the face of Branbantio’s racial insult, Othello retains his decency: â€Å"If she wasn’t bound in chains of magic, / Would a maid so tender, beautiful, and happy, / So opposed to marriage that she shunned / The wealthy, curled

Do you think our desire to create and solve puzzles is physiologically Essay

Do you think our desire to create and solve puzzles is physiologically determined, i.e., instinctual Culturally determined P - Essay Example To quote Danesi, solving puzzles is â€Å"An instinctual need to search out definite, reassuring, small-scale answers. ... Filling in the little squares with clear-cut answers seems, in its own minuscule way, to negate the existential emptiness that human beings unconsciously feel" (Romano). It is an innate knowledge that is within all of us that it only needs to be teased for our puzzle solving capability to come out (Infantry). In other words, puzzles are our attempt to find answers to our universe and the phenomena that surrounds us. We find it engaging because it is fun and amuses us that we usually respond when we are challenged by a puzzle. Since puzzles are within us and our ability to respond to the challenge of puzzles is instinctive, culture is not a factor to it because we have it regardless where we came from. It can be psychological in a way because our curiosity to solve puzzles is embedded in our psyche and all it takes for that capability to come is to be challenged or teased by a problem, be it a word riddle, an abstract problem or a mathematical problem. This natural ability of man to solve puzzle has served us well because through our natural inclination to solve puzzles led us to the discovery of many disciplines in arts and sciences that ranged from mathematics, economics, cognitive science, philosophy among others. From the problems posed by building the great pyramids of Egypt came the invention of the Pythagorean Theorem which in itself a riddle because it will allow us to solve the length of one of the lines once we know the other two lines. In modern times, our curiosity with how the market work is best explained by solving the various variables of how supply affects demand and vice versa. This inherent penchant for engaging in puzzles has also helped expand our horizon seeing worlds beyond us that extend to the realm of imagination as narrated by fictions and novels that keeps us hooked on what will happen next. We inadvertently lear n because we became so engrossed in the narration not noticing that we have been drawn to an entirely different universe. Indeed, our natural fascination with solving puzzles has benefited us in countless ways. Civilization and its accompanying technology may not be as what it is as we know today without the discoveries that was initiated by our curiosity to solve puzzles. My personal experience with puzzles My personal experience with puzzles used to be equally puzzling until I stumbled on Danesi in class who explained the reasons of our natural curiosity to solve things. I never thought of myself as a puzzle solver or really into it. But strangely, I noticed that I have not reneged any invitation to solve a puzzle. Once I started, I cannot even help but to be engaged with the challenge and do my best to solve it to the point that I lose track of time. The best example I can give is the Sudoko game which involves heavy mathematics. I thought I would never be interested with it know ing that math is not my forte but when a friend taught me the mechanics of the game, I cannot help but dabble myself into it, taking challenge after another until I got it. I progressed without even noticing it. I can remember that I got addicted to it that I used to spend the whole day solving Sudoku puzzles without even realizing how much time has lapsed. I also now understand why I am addicted to

Role Of Arabic Language In Islamic Culture

Role Of Arabic Language In Islamic Culture The importance of language to the development of human civilization and its cultural face can be laid emphasis to the fact that language is purely human and non-instinctive methods of communicating ideas, emotions and desires by means of voluntary produced symbols. (Lyons, 1991, p. 3) However, taking note from the above belief, we feel that there is much more to language than just meet the eyes. In another sense, the definition and description of language as stated above also suffers from some defects, and has its limits, given that languages is broader in its cultural forms. Add to it, communication through languages also can take many forms and formats, not just the sole consideration that limit itself to ideas, emotions and the likes of desires, which are beyond the voluntarily produced symbols. To put language in a proper sense, we can relate that language is a system of vocal symbols by means of a social group co-operation. (Lyons, 1991, p. 5) Understood so, we can add that it will be proper to make a brief analysis on the subject of language and culture, so as to come to the conclusion on the role language played in the culture sphere, and its impact. But what encounters us in these analytical segments is the basic question, what is culture? From a scholastic point of views, culture has several related senses, which means that culture itself is synonyms with civilization. And in the second sense, culture is often employed without any implication of unilingual human progress from barbarism to civilization without any prior value judgment being made as to the aesthetic or intellectual quality of a particular society, be it in arts, literature, institutions, which defines its own distinctive subculture. (Lyons, 1991, pp. 301-302) The role of Arabic Language in Islamic Culture Right from the outset and when we relate to culture in conjunction and juxtaposition with language, and assimilating their meaning, there is some sense of relevance that adds up, and which raises the question central to this essay and its arguments. To be precise, what concern the essay proposal and attempt made in that regard can be laid emphasis to the notion and the role of Arabic language in Islamic cultures, which are as follows:- Threats that impact Arabic language The strength of Arabic language and the Islamic culture in particular Problems that the Arabic culture faced. Thus, subject to these assumption that relates to the subject matter, the following discussion describes the same in their subheading so as to drive home the value judgment and criticisms from an objective point of view. Threats that impacted Arabic language and culture: The past, present and future Before we turn to the threats that impacted the Arabic language, it will be proper to analyze Arabic language, and as literature relates to Arabic belongs to the groups of languages collectively known as the Semitic language, which constitutes groups of the Middle East region and North Africa. And the earliest known Semitic spoken language is the Akkadian, spoken in Mesopotamia between 2500 BC and 600 BC. (Versteegh, 2001, p. 9) What we can drive home from this brief absorption can be premised in the ethnic and regional boundaries of the past. And as scholars relates to, there is nothing much that is known on the earliest stages of Arabic languages and when the Arabian nomads came to the Arabian peninsular, besides the language they spoke also is hard indeed to predict, assumed that Arabic was mostly spoken, given the inscription in the civilization of that era, that is to say the available Arabian civilization. (Versteegh, 2001, p. 23) In addition, Arabic in the pre-Islamic period that is revealed through the Quran and its manuscripts in all its essence describe the language and its forms, (Versteegh, 2001, p. 37)which till today commands its space and that which register readily with scholars. Besides, what is most significant to the development of the Arabic language constitutes the periods of the Islamic conquest, just after the death of Prophet Mohammed, where a drastic sea change was brought about to Arabic language and its forms that significantly spread from Syria to Egypt and where Islam took centre stage in the cultural development of the region, where Arabic spoken people were united under Islamic domination. (Versteegh, 2001, p. 93) However, as human civilization and in particular Arabian civilization progressed, threat to its language and cultural forms also increased. And relevant to such a scenario is the emergence of modern standards in languages, wherein, Arabic and French had to compete for the status of language of prestige and from the language reformer perspective, it means to devalue the classical language by debasing it with dialect influence or the abolition of grammatical rules. (Versteegh, 2001, p. 186) Moreover, what we can analyze from a modern perspective, the biggest threats to Arabian language also came from foreign languages and their domination in the Arab world when European imperialism was spreading fast. Thus, English, French, Italian and Spanish, and the fact that English also commands a significant place in the colonized region of the Arab world, (Fishman, 2001, p. 385) make it more reliable to place these languages as a threats to Arabian language in the Middle East region. Apart, the 21st century also presents the Arab world the challenges that may determine its future for generations, be it in maintaining their cultural identify and the danger that comes it due to abundant influence of the western world. (Najjar, 2005) Strength of the Arabic Language and the Islamic culture Assimilating from the aforementioned statements and its arguments, we cant deny the facts that languages be it English, French or Arabic and the threats in their own domains defines it own extent as and when human civilization progressed across national boundaries. In fact, Arabic as a language is known to be a great influence to the cultural face of the Arab world and Islamism in particular. Take for instance, the ties that connect the Arabic language to its history also places it in a unique position among major world languages of the contemporary world, which also defines the strength. Add to it, the historical connection of Arab language also brings both strength and weakness, which does not devalue the importance of historical connection; rather it serves as the fundamental consideration when setting guideline for the future. (Kassem M. Wahba, 2006, p. 386) The tradition that relates to Arabic language can be laid more emphasis to the notion that the centrality of the Arabic language in contemporary context of the Arab world is the result of the continuous foreign presence in Arab speaking countries in the modern era. As a result of it, a threatening feeling among Arab nationalist and intellectuals grew who views such development as an attempt to alter Arab cultural identity and its heritage. (Kassem M. Wahba, 2006, p. 386) Add to it, Globalization and its impact also deeply concerned Arab intellectuals and the disinclination of the western world and their Islamic biases. (Najjar, 2005) But, we can add and conclude that Arabic language in the contemporary context is rich in history, which links together its culture, traditions and that which defines the Islamic world at large. Problems that the Arabic culture faced From a modern analysis to Arabic cultural issue, the countenance of globalization bridged a way to Islamic threats. (Najjar, 2005) And as scholars have related to, culture are timeless and omnipresent, which exists and influences all nation at all time and draws a fine line to augment cultural dominance, which also grants individuals their full personal, social and cultural character. (Lewis, 2007) However, in the face of globalization and western influences, Islamic heritage and Arabic language and culture faced the dangers of being sidelines. (Najjar, 2005) Moreover, how to preserve Muslim cultural autonomy in the face of many recurring western influences also constitutes another relevant problem. Add to it, intellectual cultural differences between Arab masses and elitist are also one such problem that posits, plus the cultural issue of free Arab thinkers and free cultural expression, (El-shibiny, 2005, pp. 63, 65) that is thought to be under constant restraint from outside elements. Conclusion and recommendation Linguistic or languages as we know of in general assumptions is said to have played a dominant role in the development of culture and human civilization across the globe. Thus, it can be recommended that incorporate Arab culture in the face of globalization and its influence can be reinforced through the spirit of brotherhood, develop common Arab cultural trends and most importantly reviving the idea of Arab culture itself, (El-shibiny, 2005, p. 76) Furthermore, it can be concluded through a recommendation that an interest in the development of modern language education technology as a means to strengthening the participation of Arabic in various aspect of global activities is also a must. Add to it, efforts to develop Arabic education, plus research that gives importance to language and cultural heritage is also a need of the hour, (Kassem M. Wahba, 2006, pp. 385-86) which is what we can finally conclude on how the role of Arabic language can significantly bridged and reforms Islamic culture.

An Introduction to Managerial Decision Making Essay -- Business Manage

An Introduction to Managerial Decision Making Phar-Mor, Inc., the nation’s largest discount drugstore chain, filed for bankruptcy court protection in 1992, following discovery of one of the largest business fraud and embezzlement schemes in U.S. history. Coopers and Lybrand, Phar-Mor’s former auditors, failed to detect inventory inflation and other financial manipulations that resulted in $985 million of earnings overstatements over a three-year period. A federal jury unanimously found Coopers and Lybrand liable to a group of investors on fraud charges. The successful plaintiffs contended that Gregory Finerty, the Coopers and Lybrand partner in charge of the Phar-Mor audit, was â€Å"hungry for business because he had been passed over for additional profit-sharing in 1988 for failing to sell enough of the firm’s services† (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, February 15, 1996). In 1989, Finerty began selling services to relatives and associates of Phar- Mor’s president and CEO (who has been sentenced to prison and fined for his part in the fraud). Critics claim Finerty may have become too close to client management to maintain the professional skepticism necessary for the conduct of an independent audit. The Phar-Mor case is just one of many in which auditors have been held accountable for certification of faulty financial statements. Investors in the Miniscribe Corporation maintained that auditors were at least partially responsible for the nowdefunct company’s falsified financial statements; at least one jury agreed, holding the auditors liable to investors for $200 million. In the wake of the U.S. savings–and– loan crisis, audit firms faced a barrage of lawsuits, paying hundreds of millions in judgments and out-of-court settlements for their involvement in the financial reporting process of savings–and–loan clients that eventually failed. The auditing partners of Coopers and Lybrand, like partners of other firms held liable for such negligence, are very bright people. In addition, I believe that they are generally very honest people. So, how could a prominent auditing firm with a reputation for intelligence and integrity have overlooked such large misstatements in Phar- Mor’s financial records? How could auditors have failed to see that so many of their savings-and-loan clients were on the brink of failure? Critics of the profession suggest... ...fluenced by decision research has been behavioral finance. In the last decade, we have learned a great deal about the mistakes that investors commonly make. This chapter will explore these mistakes and apply the messages of the book to help readers become wiser investors. Chapter 8. This chapter outlines a framework to help the reader think about two-party negotiations. The focus is on how you can make decisions to maximize the joint gain available in a two-party decision-making situation, while simultaneously thinking about how to obtain as much of that joint gain as possible for yourself. Chapter 9. This chapter looks at the judgmental mistakes we make in negotiations. The resulting framework shows how consumers, managers, salespersons, and society as a whole can benefit simultaneously by debiasing their negotiations. Chapter 10. The final chapter evaluates five explicit strategies for improving judgment: (1) acquiring expertise, (2) debiasing, (3) taking an outside view, (4) using linear models, and (5) adjusting intuitive predictions. This chapter will teach you how to use the information in this book to create permanent improvements in your future decisions.

Amino Acid Chromatography

In this experiment paper chromatography was used in order to identify two unknown amino acids using eight known amino ones. The two unknown ones were identified by comparing the distance they travelled up the chromatography paper and their Rf values to the corresponding values of the other eight known amino acids. The unknown amino acids identified were Glycine and Methionine. Introduction Proteins in cells are important in many ways. There are different types of proteins such as contractile proteins, enzymes, hormonal proteins, structural proteins and transport proteins. They are vital to regular cell functioning.Proteins are made up of amino acids that are joined together by peptide bonds. When fewer than 50 amino acids are joined together, a polypeptide is formed. All proteins have two groups in common. They have a carboxylic group and an amino group. There are 20 types of amino acids that bond together in different combinations to perform different functions. The primary structur e of proteins is the order and number of amino acids. Secondary, tertiary and quarternary structures are formed from chains of peptides that are folded into sheets, ribbons and coils so that they form a 3D shape and are more stable.Different weights of amino acid make them differ in polarity. This characteristic enables the separation of proteins by polarity using chromatography. Paper chromatography is an example of a chromatography technique called absorption chromatography. The paper is the adsorbent, which will bind the components of the mixture. The substance will be â€Å"spotted† onto the chromatography paper and put into a beaker filled with solvent. The solvent will then flow through the paper. The solvent chosen depends highly on its polarity as this will be the characteristic that will separate the different substances.Petroleum, ether, hexanes, cyclohexanes and toluene are some examples of solvents with different polarities as well as increasing polarities. In som e cases, mixtures of solvents are made to reach a certain polarity. If substances that are needed to be separated are polar, then the solvent must be slightly less polar. Non-polar substances need a polar solvent to be separated. The solvent travels faster than the samples. The Rf value is the ratio of the distance traveled by the sample and the distance travelled by the sample.Rf = distance travelled by amino acid sample from the origin in mm distance travelled by the solvent from the origin in mm Factors affecting how far the amino acids travel depend on how high the solvent is allowed to rise on the paper, the type of absorbent, the type of concentration of the solvent, temperature and the distance of the origin from the solvent. One type of test to detect proteins is the Ninhydrin test. This test makes the amino acids spots visible. Ninhydrin is a pale yellow solid and it reacts with the amino group in the amino acids and proteins and produces a purple product.Heat must be used in order to speed up the reaction. Objective The objective of this experiment was to spot various amino acids and an unknown mixture on chromatography paper and run it with a chromatography solvent. The lab period following included treating the samples with Ninhydrin solution and heating it so that the amino acids could be visible. The distance of the samples were then measured in mm from the origin. The measurements were then used to calculate the Rf values for each sample and thus the unknown sample could be identified. Materials Alanine, 1% Solution Arginine, 1% SolutionAsparagine, 1% Solution Aspartic acid, 1% Solution Glycine, 1% Solution Lysine, 1% Solution Methionine, 1% Solution Tyrosine, 1% Solution Unknown, 1% Solution Chromatography Solvent, 20mL Ninhydrin solution, 2%, 10mL Beaker, 600mL Chromatography paper, 20X10 cm Graduated Cylinder, 25-mL Heat source, drying over or hot plate Microtip pipets, 9 Pencil Ruler Spray bottle Stapler Watch glass or aluminum foil Procedur e 1. On a 20cm wide by 10 cm high piece of chromatography paper, a pencil was used to draw a straight line (about 1 cm) from the bottom of the paper from the left to the right side 2.Nine pencil dots were placed 2cm apart on the line 3. The name of each amino acid was written under each dot in pencil. 20 mL of chromatography solvent was then added to the 600-mL beaker 4. A micropipette was used to obtain a small amount of the first amino acid 5. The tip of the pipette was placed above the chromatography paper directly above the pencil dot and a spot of the amino acid was dropped on the dot 6. Steps 4 and 5 were repeated for the eight amino acid solutions 7. With the sample side facing outwards the chromatography paper was turned into a cylinder and the top and bottom edges of the paper were stapled. .The paper cylinder was then placed into a beaker with the chromatography solvent. 9. The beaker was then covered with a watch glass 10. The samples were then allowed to run till the sol vent level was about 1 cm from the top of the paper. 11. The chromatography paper was then removed from the beaker. The solvent height was then marked with a pencil line and the staples were removed 12. The chromatography paper was then left to dry During the following lab 13. The chromatography paper was sprayed with a spray bottle containing 10mL of 2 % Ninhydrin solution 14.The chromatography paper was left to dry for 10-20 minutes 15. The paper was then put in a drying oven or held 10 cm above a hot plate to heat so that the color could develop 16. A dot was placed with a pencil at the centermost point of each amino acid 17. The distance in mm of the solvent traveled from the pencil line till the where the solved stopped traveling was measured. 18. The distance in mm from the origin till where each amino acid traveled was measured 19. The Rf value for each amino acid was calculated ResultsTable 1: Distance and Rf values of the amino acids and unknowns Amino Distance(mm)452427223 015574235/60 Rf Value0. 50. 270. 30. 240. 330. 170. 630. 470. 39/0. 67 The distance traveled by the solvent from the pencil line drawn was 90mm. The unknown samples were found to be Glycine and Methionine by comparing their Rf and distances values to those amino acids with Rf and distance values that were calculated. Discussion Paper Chromatography is used to separate a mixture of compounds into its components.Pens and markers are not used as their ink will be separated too. Instead, pencils are utilized as they are made from graphite which does not separate. Capillary action is the ability of a liquid to flow in narrow spaces without any help from external forces. This flow is against gravity as well. This happens because of the intermolecular attractive forces between the liquid and the solid surrounding surfaces. Surface tension and adhesive forces between the liquid and solid also help the liquid rise through the solid.The Rf value is defined as the ratio of the distance travell ed by the amino acid sample from the origin to the distance travelled by the solvent. The ratios, therefore, stay the same regardless of the solvent used. Ninhydrin is used in paper chromatography to identify amino acids. Ninhydrin solution turns the amino acid fingerprints to the color purple, therefore making them visible. For this reason we take care when touching the chromatography paper. The least polar amino acid was alanine as the distance it moved up the paper was the least.

Hengisbury Head Coastal Processes

What are geomorphic processes and how do they affect the coast at Hengistbury Head? Setting the scene Hengistbury Head is a scenic and historic headland near the town of Bournemouth on the south coast of England. It stands mid-way between Poole harbour and Hurst spit and forms the main division between Poole and Christchurch Bays. Coastal Processes| Description| Sub Aerial | Coastal erosional processes that are not linked to the action of the sea. Erosion occurs via rain, weathering by wind and frost. Its impact is often seen in soil creep, slumping and landslides. Corrosion| When waves approach the coastline they are carrying material such as sand, shingle, pebbles and boulders. Abrasion occurs when this material is hurled against cliffs as waves hit them, wearing the cliff away. | Human activity| Much building and recreation occurs at the coast, and this increases pressure on cliff tops, making them more liable to erosion and subsidence. The building of sea defences upsets the dyna mic equilibrium of the coastline| Hydraulic pressure| Cliffs and rocks contain many lines of weakness in the form of joints and cracks.A parcel of air can become trapped/compressed in these cracks when water is thrown against it. The increase in pressure leads to a weakening/cracking of the rock. | Corrasion| When waves approach the coastline they are carrying material such as sand, shingle, pebbles and boulders. Abrasion occurs when this material is hurled against cliffs as waves hit them, wearing the cliff away. | Coastal Transport| Description| Solution| Minerals are dissolved in seawater and carried in solution. The load is not visible.Load can come from cliffs made from chalk or limestone, and calcium carbonate is carried along in solution. | Suspension| Small particles are carried in water, e. g. silts and clays, which can make the water look cloudy. Currents pick up large amounts of sediment in suspension during a storm, when strong winds generate high-energy waves. | Saltati on| Load is bounced along the seabed, e. g. small pieces of shingle or large sand grains. Currents cannot keep the larger and heavier sediment afloat for long periods. | Traction| Pebbles and larger sediment are rolled along the seabed. |