Equiano, the Free Man.

Ashley Abboud Dr. Keegan English Literature II 5 December 2002 Equiano, the Free Man Black Trans-Atlantic writers tend to be placed into three categories such as American, British or African. Many of these authors fit nicely into such categories, and would believe that Equiano is just another African author. There in lies a problem, his writings do not reflect an African mentality, Equiano has made a category for himself, authors of the "free" category. In his autobiography, as do many other black Trans-Atlantic authors, he writes about the trouble and troubles faced in slavery. This is not the central motif of his autobiography, but rather a record of his work to earn his freedom. Through Equiano's narrative The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, this essay will illustrate Equiano's desire to be in a category all his own. His curiosity with the "white magic," helps him forge relationships with men aboard the ship and aids in his persual of education. Another aspect that gains Equiano freedom is his education which makes him a viable person in the "European world." His ability to trade and be trusted, gains him the money to buy his freedom. His inclusion of the letter of manumission at the end of his narrative, symbolizes his idea of earned freedom. Finally the title alone speaks for itself. These instances through interpretation, argue

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  • Level: AS and A Level
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Albert Einstein is quoted as having said, "the world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it".

Albert Einstein is quoted as having said, "the world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it". These days, everybody is aware of the social, environmental, emotional and spiritual destruction that penetrates every aspect of our life. Although we all 'know' this reality, we have funny ways of dealing with this knowledge. Some of us look at the other direction, "If I don't see this homeless person laying in the gutter, then he isn't really there." Some pretend it doesn't exist, "It's not possible that they kill women and children, so it cannot be so." Others convince themselves it's not really their problem, "Let the people in the Middle-East kill each other, it doesn't affect me." Some say, it's not their responsibility; "I pay my taxes, so the government should take care of that." Still others like to complain about the situation, "In the old days it was better, today everyone is corrupted, they should have..." The common thread in all these reactions is - inactivity. The result is a terminal disease called apathy. The only cure is taking action. Someone has to start and lead the way, creating a better world. So, what about all of us here? Do we really need to create a better world? Why do we have to create a better world? Because, it is our responsibility - to create a better

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  • Level: AS and A Level
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The Scarlet Letter: Sin and Guilt

The Scarlet Letter: Sin and Guilt The novel "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne has been a classic for many years. It is important to examine the theme Hawthorne develops and how he exhibits it through the lives of his characters. Hawthorne carries the theme of sin and guilt throughout his novel. This theme is noticeable in the plot line and is illustrated through the main characters of Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale and Roger Chillingworth. Hester is a married woman who arrives from England prior to her husband, Roger Chillingworth. Hester commits the sin of adultery and having a daughter out of wedlock. She refuses to name the father of her child and is forced to live with guilt by wearing a scarlet "A" on her gown. She is also guilty of hiding the fact the Chillingworth is her husband, and upon telling Dimmesdale the truth, begs "Let God punish! Thou shalt forgive! (Hawthorne, 236)." The burden that Hester must bear for her sin of adultery is seen when she removes the scarlet letter and Pearl reacts negatively, forcing her to replace it. Hawthorne points out "whether thus typified or no, that an evil deed invests itself with the character of doom (Hawthorne, 257)." The Reverend Dimmesdale is "usually understood to be guilty of two sins, one of commission (his adultery with Hester) and one of omission (his cowardly and hypocritical failure to confess)

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Analysis of Italian novel I'm not Scared

The book being titled "I'm not scared" is very appropriate as the common theme of the book is orientated around many characters facing fears and overcoming them or giving in to them. Furthermore the progression of the story is determined by characters not being "scared". The book is based in 1970s Italy. More specifically in an isolated village named Acqua Traverse. Acqua Traverse is typical of southern Italian villages at the time geographically with contact with the outside world being very limited and the villages being of a small scale. This fictional village represents the situation of the majority of typical southern agriculture villages in Italy at the time who suffered financially due to their failure to develop their industry, in which the north had much success. Due to instability in these regions many fled to the north in search of opportunities for wealth. This instability also provoked the regular occurrence of kidnappings in southern Italy. "I'm not scared" also embodies typical culture references throughout, with a society influenced strongly influenced by the males of the village, being present the book. A main character of this thrilling novel is that of Michele, a boy possessing such strong curiosity and strong morals that is unique of a child his age. Also proving to be an influential character is the kidnapped Fillipo who is discovered by Michele

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crime and punishment

Crime and Punishment In his book "Crime and Punishment", Dostoevsky explores the path of Raskolnikov who has many problems and obstacles throughout his life. He commits murder and is faced with the long and mentally extremely painful journey of seeking redemption. Raskolnikov believes that by a law of nature men have been "somewhat arbitrarily" divided into two groups of "ordinary" and "extraordinary". Raskolnikov believes that the duty of the ordinary group is to just exist, in order to form the world and the society. The second group, those who are "extraordinary", are a step above the normal. They have the ability to overstep normal bounds and violate the rights of those who are simply ordinary. They are the prime movers; they have a right to cross normal societal structures to accomplish those things that they have determined are valid in their conscience. Raskolnikov cites such "extraordinary men" as Newton, Mahomet, and Napoleon. He tells us that Newton had the right to kill hundreds of men in order to bring to the world knowledge of his findings. Napoleon and other leaders created a new word. They overturned laws and created new ones. They had the right to uphold their new ideals, even if it meant killing innocent men. Therefore Raskolnicov believes that some "extraordinary" humans like himself have the right to oppose ordinary social laws in order to create a new

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  • Subject: English
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How does the writer of the play 'A Kind of Alaska' show the struggle in Deborah's awakening?

How does the writer of the play 'A Kind of Alaska' show the struggle in Deborah's awakening? The awakening of Deborah in the play 'A Kind of Alaska' is a very slow progressing process, causing it to be one drawn out tense moment throughout the play. The struggle that is happening throughout the play conveys how difficult it is for Deborah to come to terms with herself and things that have happened without her influence. Confusion, reality and truth are the key points in causing the struggle for her, and decide on how she comes to terms with her life. Deborah succumbed to a 'sleeping' illness when she was fifteen. She has been in that illness for twenty-nine years and is not aware of anything that has taken place since the point she fell asleep. At the opening of the play, Deborah finds herself awakening in a plain room with two chairs, a table and the doctor. This causes Deborah confusion and distress, as she is struggling to come to terms with herself, her location and who the doctor is. Because this is the first time she has awoken in twenty-nine years, a fuss is made of her by the doctor. He is patient and waits for her to make the first move before he decides to question her about her 'sleep'. Deborah struggles with her words due to her not being provoked to make the first move. First she whispers, for this is all she can do due to her voice lying dormant for

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Having to Cope.

Having to Cope By Kayleigh Minihane 11x Bethany a twenty two-year-old woman, born into the twentieth century, was told time and time again that if she were struggling financially she was to always go to her Papa. In the past he had been heroic in digging her out of her what seemed to be bottomless hole. April the 5th, the day along with many others, will stick in Bethany's mind for eternity. She could not seek for her Papa's bank details when the terminal notification arrived on her second hand, worn-out doormat. Her Papa was occupied paying for his youngest Princess' wedding, of whom she would be committing to Mr.'just got a promotion to manager of Warner Bros.'. Even though the engaged couple did not truly need the father of the bride's support, she could not bring herself to ask her Papa. She is a responsible young woman who had to face up to reality and cope. She attempted to obtain an employment position but childcare fees are so high flying that the money would have been taken away before she has even earnt them. You see it on Eastenders, you know somebody who has a friend of a sister who is dating 'Clive'. Well that's how she attempted to solve her issues. Clive had come round on the 10th of April with a plan that took place secretly. He broke various belongings of Bethany's the second part of the scheme was for her to call up in floods of tear and make an

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Imagine you are Hari representing the villagers. Write a speech of protest to the Chief Minister against Industrialization in the village of Thul.

Hari's speech to Chief Minister Imagine you are Hari representing the villagers. Write a speech of protest to the Chief Minister against Industrialization in the village of Thul. Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Today I have come before you, to speak of a great injustice. The city of Bombay is a mess. Nobody who has truly seen Bombay can deny this. During the monsoon season, when the streets flood with dirty water, disease and contamination reign. During the dry season, the city must go long periods of time without rain. The heat kills and ravages. What if you could find yourself a small portion of paradise? What if you could live there in accord with the weather, and not have to worry about the problems that living in Bombay brings? Just think of sheltering from the sun perfectly cool beneath a palm-tree, instead of having to move your household into the rafters of your flat to escape the rainfall. Bombay is an industrial mess and sadly cannot be restored to what it once was. The toxic roots of factories and industrialization have plagued the city and abolished all hope of Bombay returning to the glory that it was. So why am I telling you this if there's nothing you can do? What's the point in crying over spilt milk? Whilst Bombay may already have fallen victim to the juggernaut of modernization, other paradises are at risk! Would you rather live in a paradise or a

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  • Subject: English
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In the film Hotel Rwanda, the main character changed his own styles just to fit in with the Europeans and think that the Europeans will treat them as if he was a real European. And when times of crisis come along, he finds out

SBHS Bang Lu Film per. 3 10/9/05 Hotel Rwanda Some people can't resist trying to be someone they really aren't. In the film Hotel Rwanda, the main character changed his own styles just to fit in with the Europeans and think that the Europeans will treat them as if he was a real European. And when times of crisis come along, he finds out that the Europeans have always looked down at them. After that, he understands that what he's been doing was not himself and he changes. Paul Rusesabagina, the main character, works as a manager in a hotel in Kigali, Rwanda. Because of his work, Paul interacts with a lot of powerful Europeans and he plans on building it up so he can call them for help if there is any need in the future. Paul wears tuxedos and ties and he thinks that if he did that the Europeans will treat him as if he was one of their people. At that time, genocide between the Hutu and Tutsi people started. Paul's wife Tatiana is a Tutsi and the Hutus are hunting down all the Tutsis, so the safest place for any Tutsi is at the Mille Collines Hotel where Paul works and that is because the U.N. army is there. There were massacres; Hutus killing Tutsis wherever they see one and nothing can be done to stop the killing. More and more people were going into the Mille Collines to hide from the Hutus. With high hopes, the Europeans will be sending an

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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The Black Cat

The Black Cat For the most wild, yet most homely narrative which I am about to pen, I neither expect nor solicit belief. Mad indeed would I be to expect it, in a case where my very senses reject their own evidence. Yet, mad am I not - and very surely do I not dream. But to-morrow I die, and to-day I would unburthen my soul. My immediate purpose is to place before the world, plainly, succinctly, and without comment, a series of mere household events. In their consequences, these events have terrified - have tortured - have destroyed me. Yet I will not attempt to expound them. To me, they have presented little but Horror - to many they will seem less terrible than barroques. Hereafter, perhaps, some intellect may be found which will reduce my phantasm to the common-place - some intellect more calm, more logical, and far less excitable than my own, which will perceive, in the circumstances I detail with awe, nothing more than an ordinary succession of very natural causes and effects. From my infancy I was noted for the docility and humanity of my disposition. My tenderness of heart was even so conspicuous as to make me the jest of my companions. I was especially fond of animals, and was indulged by my parents with a great variety of pets. With these I spent most of my time, and never was so happy as when feeding and caressing them. This peculiarity of character grew with my

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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