The Woman In White - plot and characters.
WILKIE COLLINS. PLOT AND CHARACTERS IN THE WOMAN IN WHITE A/ THE PLOT OF THE NOVEL a) A central intrigue of great simplicity By the middle of the Nineteenth Century, works of fiction tended to fulfil the taste of the British novel reader who liked to be amused or surprised. Collins, like Dickens, wrote for the common man and not for the literary critic. He wanted to gain the largest number of readers by writing a story of his own times. With this in mind, The Woman in White was written to fulfil the Mid-Victorian passion for crime and mystery. The preamble sets the genre of the novel. Witnesses are to present the truth in a case as it is generally done in a Court of Justice, "in its most direct and most intelligible aspect" (33). The crime of substituting one person for another, drawn from a French Lawsuit report, provided the basic threads from which the chief characters of the novel will be gradually revealed, that is a clever devil, Count Fosco; two innocent women, a man in debt, Sir Percival; a disinherited woman who seeks revenge, Mrs Fosco. A marked resemblance between Anne and Laura inspires the stratagem of substitution. To thwart this conspiracy, the pursuit and trapping of the culprits are carried through thanks to two characters: Laura's half-sister, Marian, personally affected by this act of villainy; and Walter Hartright, Laura's and Marian's drawing-master.
Attempt to establish the relative advantages of both custodial and non-custodial sentencing in relation to punishing offenders in the United Kingdom.
The purpose of this essay will be to attempt to establish the relative advantages of both custodial and non-custodial sentencing in relation to punishing offenders in the United Kingdom. The concept and rationale for punishment will be discussed, drawing on theoretical perspectives as analytical and evaluative tools. The essay will conclude with an overall evaluation of the merits and demerits of custodial vis à vis non-custodial sentencing and a projection for the future of sentencing. Garland defines punishment as a 'complex social institution,' arguing that it is a mechanism for dealing with criminals in a legally administrative way, but that it is also an expression of state power, a statement of collective prevailing morality, emotional expression and economically-linked social policy (Garland, 1990, p. 287). Punishment may also be defined as anything that is unpleasant, a burden, or an imposition of some sort on an offender. Thus, compensation is a punishment, as is having to attend a counselling program, paying a fine, having to report to a probation officer on a regular basis, or doing work for a crime victim (Duff 1992, p. 73; Davis 1992, pp. 44-45). Why society punishes and what punishment can and cannot accomplish are central issues to this essay so that the concept of punishment, manner and the degree to which it is metered out can be understood; not just
"There is one right answer for every legal question". Discuss.
"There is one right answer for every legal question". Discuss. The thesis that there is only one right answer for every legal question has been put forward by R. Dworkin, a legal theorist follower of the interpretive theory of law1. Dworkin rejects some aspects of Natural Law Theory and at the same time attacks in a critical but sophisticated way the positivists' approach to law. In order to follow Dworkin's attack is best first to identify the key positions of positivism relevant to the matter under discussion. Positivists say that every society has its special rules which attempt to regulate the citizens' behaviour and provide how the appropriate authority will punish or coerce any unacceptable behaviour. The said rules, positivists continue, may be categorised depending on what their "pedigree" is. They are divided in primary and secondary rules. Primary rules were explained as the rules granting rights or imposing obligations upon the citizens. Secondary rules on the other hand are those rules that lay down the way that must be followed in order to create, amend or abolish primary rules i.e. rules that stipulate how the appropriate legislative body is composed and how it enacts legislation. Positivists add that the community in question follows moral rules as well but the latter are not enforced by the public authority. As long as the cases which need to be regulated
Offender Profiling...............USA or UK?
Aneeq Mushtaq Offender Profiling...............USA or UK? Offender profiling aims to present a composite description of a perpetrator, based on biographical and behavioural cues that can lead to the apprehension of that perpetrator. Profiling techniques have been used to narrow the focus of an investigation (by specifying the perpetrators location, sex or age) or to provide suggestions for interviewing suspects (McCann, 1992). As a result of collecting data and analysing evidence, the use of such techniques have led to arrests of serious criminals such as John Duffy (UK), who murdered his victims near railways (Canter 1989). This assignment will aim to compare and contrast the FBI's 'Crime Scene Analysis' of offender profiling with that of David Canter's 'Five Factor Model. The strengths and weaknesses of each approach will be highlighted including the main differences between profiling in the USA and UK. Due to the rapid increase of serial murders and rapes in the USA within the 1970's, the FBI invented the first systematic approach of offender profiling. Counteracting the rising numbers of serial murders lead to the development to the Behavioural Sciences Unit (BSU). BSU interviewed 36 convicted sexually orientated murderers and classified them into organised (average / above average intelligence, crime planned) or disorganised (low intelligence, messy crime scene,
Social Work Values. Values and ethics have been of fundamental importance throughout the development of the social work profession.
“Values are central to being human: nothing we do is unconnected with values. If we want to understand, and be able to work with people, then we need to have an understanding of the complexities of values in people’s lives. Any attempt to understand people that does not consider the values dimension is doomed to failure as values are so central to everything we do, both as individuals and professional social workers.” Adapted from: Moss, B. & Thompson, N. (2008) Meaning and Values: developing empowering practice. Russell House Publishing The above statement is essentially saying that an individual’s set of values play an imperative part in every decision, action or behaviour in their everyday lives. A person’s value system can be made up of personal, ethical, cultural or political vales. Along with their own personal values, social workers must also adhere to a strict set of professional values outlined by the General Social Care Council’s (GSCC) codes of conduct. It can be difficult for a practitioner to find a balance between these often conflicting and opposing value systems. Values and ethics have been of fundamental importance throughout the development of the social work profession. Founded in 1869, the Charity Organisation Society is often identified as the roots of modern social work. (Smith, 2002) It was set up in response to the belief that
Did the Suez Crisis hasten the end of the British Empire?
Did the Suez Crisis hasten the end of the British Empire? The Suez crisis did not hasten the end of the British Empire; it was more of an effect rather than cause of decline. Carlton argues that since Britain only had an average sized population and the corresponding economic strength her overseas territories had caused her to overstretch and over-commit herself from the end of the First World War. Hence one can argue that retreat from empire and fall from her position as a global superpower to that of a medium global power by the 1980s was inevitable and unavoidable. 'Suez, on this view, was a rather dramatic hiccup in a generally well managed transition.'1 This is the point of view that I would agree with when considering the affect of the Suez crisis. However, one must also acknowledge that for some Suez did hasten the end of the British Empire and it was a watershed marking a significant change in direction in Britain's imperial foreign policy. This viewpoint must also be discussed and evaluated. Moving away from just focusing on the effects of Suez one must also discuss the other factors and causes of decolonisation, including the established nationalist, international and metropolitan explanations and how they were represented in the Suez crisis. Firstly I will look at the arguments supporting the opinion that Suez did hasten the end of the British Empire to which
Issues relating to adults with a physical disability. This assignment aims to explore physical disability, specifically focusing on issues relating to adults with spinal cord injury.
Introduction This assignment aims to explore physical disability, specifically focusing on issues relating to adults with spinal cord injury. Spinal cord injury is any injury to the vertebrae causing damage to the nerve tracts resulting in variable degrees of paralysis. It is more prevalent amongst males aged between 15 and 30 years and is a major cause of serious disability (Royle and Walsh, 1992). I will divide the assignment into the following sections; - medical and social model approaches - core professional skills - empowerment and advocacy It is important to define impairment and disability from a social model perspective because this will be the meaning I will adopt for this assignment. According to the Physically Impaired Against Segregation (UPIAS) (1976); impairment means to lack all or a part of a limb or having a defective organ, limb or mechanism of the body. Disability is defined as the restriction of activity or disadvantage caused by physical and social barriers resulting in societal discrimination and oppression. In 2003, 6.9 million or nearly one in five people in the UK were registered disabled (Shaw, 2006). Worryingly, Nelson and Shardlow (2005) reported that disabled people are more likely to experience abuse then the rest of the population. These facts demonstrate the paramountcy of the social worker's role providing support, assistance and
Criminal Law Omissions. In the English legal system there is generally no liability for an omission to act, the English legal system does not have a good Samaritan rule neither is there no duty of easy rescue.
In the English legal system there is generally no liability for an omission to act, the English legal system does not have a 'good Samaritan rule' neither is there 'no duty of easy rescue'. Fitzjames Stephen gave a classical example of 'A seeing B drowning and is able to save him by holding out his hand. A abstains from doing so in order that B may be drowned, A will have committed no offence.'1 This example clearly shows that there is no positive duty for B to act, even though B holding his hand out may have saved A's life. This is a controversial issue as the law allows one to watch a person drown without them being prosecuted for any offence. However in some European countries this is different such as in France and Germany where there is a duty of easy rescue and failure to do so will amount to a criminal offence2. As I have earlier said generally there is no liability for failing to act, however there are six exceptions and if a person fails to act then they will be committing a criminal law offence, there is a vast amount of case law in this field which will be used to illustrate the exceptions to an omission. The first exception I will discuss is a special relationship, this is where the law will require an individual to act where there is a special relationship, it is generally recognised the more closer the relationship the more likely the law will impose a duty.
Discuss the relevance of the concept of the rule of law to current constitutional arrangements in the UK
"In the mouth of British Constitutional Lawyer, the term "rule of law" seems to mean primary a corpus of basic principles and values, which together lend some stability and coherence to the legal order". (TRS Allan). In the light of the quote above, I am going to discuss the relevance of the concept of the rule of law to current constitutional arrangements in the UK. I will be looking at the current constitution in the UK, the doctrine of the rule of law and the relevance of the doctrine in the operation of state power. The UK is said to have an "unwritten constitution", because it has no single codified documentary constitution. However most of the constitution does exist in the written form of treaties, statutes and court judgements. Due to the absence of a formal written constitution in the UK, there is no positive statement of the basic principles governing state actions and no guidelines that could be used to assess the legitimacy of government action. Lawyers and politicians have used the concept of the rule of law in order to provide such a measure.1 The rule of law is capable of being interpreted differently by different people. It is a recognised principle of the English constitution, which is frequently used to signify a notion of "law and order". At it's broadest it is a framework that constrains arbitrary use of power. The concept of the rule of law dates
MRSA. About 1 in 3 of us carries SA on the surface of our skin, or in our nose without developing an infection. This is known as being colonised by the bacteria
MRSA MRSA (sometimes referred to as the superbug) stands for methicilin-resistent Staphylococcus aureus (SA). SA is the bacterium from the Staphylococcus aureus family. It was discovered in 1961 in the UK, it is now found worldwide. (www.mrsasupport.co.uk) The organism Staphylococcus aureus is found on many individuals skin and seems to cause no major problems. However, if it gets inside the body, for instance under the skin or in the body or into the lungs, it can cause important infections such as boils or pneumonia. Individuals who carry this organism are usually totally healthy, have no problems whatever and are considered simply to be carriers of the organism. About 1 in 3 of us carries SA on the surface of our skin, or in our nose without developing an infection. This is known as being colonised by the bacteria. However in addition to the boils and pneumonia, you call also contract impetigo, if they get into the bloodstream they can cause more serious infections. (www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk) The term MRSA or methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus is used to describe those examples of this organism that are resistant to commonly used antibiotics. Methicillin was an antibiotic used many years ago to treat patients with Staphylococcus aureus infections. Today it is no longer used except as a means of identifying this particular type of antibiotic resistance.
