Palindrome Definition and Examples

Like its distant cousin the pangram, the palindrome is a type of word play involving the alphabet. A palindrome is a word, phrase, or sentence reads the same backward or forward--such as Madam, Im Adam. Semordnilaps (the word palindromes in reverse) are words that spell other words when spelled backwards (for example, star/rats, drawer/reward). Aibohphobia is the palindromic term for an irrational fear of palindromes. Palindrome Examples popdeedkayakcivicradarleveldeifiedrotatorrepapertestsetracecarredividerdetartratedtattarrattat(James Joyce, Ulysses, 1922)Wassamassaw(from an American Indian name for water, a swamp outside of Summerville, South Carolina)A man, a plan, a canal--Panama!Able was I ere I saw Elba.Too bad--I hid a boot.Do geese see God?Murder for a jar of red rum.Drab as a fool, aloof as a bard.Go deliver a dare, vile dog![Caption below a cartoon of a family sitting around a dinner table; the boy is speaking]Mom, Dad, sis--Im not like you--Im not a palindrome.(Paul Karasik, The New Yorker, January 21, 2013)Norma is as selfless as I am, Ron.(attributed to poet W.H. Auden)Gateman sees name, garageman sees name tag.Some men interpret nine memos.Go Hang a Salami! Im a Lasagna Hog!(title of a book on palindromes by Jon Agee, 1991)Doc: note, I dissent. A fast never prevents a fatness. I diet on cod.(James Michie, New Statesman, May 5, 1967)Once you notice that decaf backward is faced, it is but the work of a m oment to invent the indignant complaint of a coffee drinker confronting the absence of regular coffee: I faced decaf! I!! The same process yields a tailors cranky opinion (Knits stink!) and a travel agents apology to a volcanologist: Avalon? No lava . . .(Ellis Weiner, Mind Games. Smithsonian, April 2008)T.S. Eliot, top bard, notes putrid tang emanating, is sad. Id assign it a name: gnat dirt upset on drab pot-toilet.(Alastair Reid)Are we not drawn onward, we few, drawn onward to new era? Demetri Martins Palindromes for Specific Occasions A FATHER TRYING TO CONNECT WITH HIS ESTRANGED SON BY OFFERING HIM SOME PIZZA:Son, Im odd. Dominos?A DIALOGUE BETWEEN A MAN AND HIS YOUNG SON. THE MAN IS TRYING TO TEACH THE BOY THE NAME OF A PIECE OF FRUIT AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SINGULAR AND PLURAL:Son, say a papaya.Papayas.No s.A SCIENTISTS REACTION TO WHAT HE FINDS IN A PETRI DISH.P.U.! Organisms in a group.(Demetri Martin, This Is a Book. Grand Central, 2011) The Longest Palindromes Malayalam, the native tongue of the people of Kerala, is the longest palindromic language-name. The credit of the longest palindromic place-name goes to Kanakanak, which is near Dillingham, Alaska, USA. The 19-letter Finnish word saippuakivikauppias, meaning a dealer in caustic soda, is the longest known palindromic word. . . .The first palindromic sentence in English appeared in 1614: Lewd did I live evil I did dwel. (O.Abootty, The Funny Side of English. Pustak Mahal, 2002) The Language of Magic For the most part finding palindromic words or composing palindromic phrases and sentences is a form of light entertainment. Some devotees display great ingenuity in finding long palindromes covering more than one sentence. In the past, however, palindromes have figured in the language of magic, and many have taken reversibility to be significant.(Barry J. Blake, Secret Language. Oxford Univ. Press, 2010) Dylan Thomass Semordnilap The first minister chuckled as he pointed out how [Dylan] Thomass fictional village in Under Milk Wood--Llareggub--spelled out something rather rude backwards. That shows the devilment of the man.(Steven Morris, Dylan Thomas Centenary: South Wales Gets Ready to Welcome the World. The Guardian [UK], January 5, 2014) Roger Angell on the Darker Side of Palindromes [T]hat night, shortly after four, I began with the words. In a few minutes, I found gulp plug (something to do with bass fishing) and live evil, and sailed off into the best sleep I had enjoyed in several weeks. The next night brought straw warts and repaid diaper, and, in time, a long if faintly troubled snooze (ezoons). I was delighted. My palindromic skills improved rapidly, and soon I was no longer content with mere words. . . . One morning, after a mere twenty minutes of shut-eye, I met my wife at the breakfast table and announced, Editor rubs ward, draws burro tide.Terrific, she said, unenthusiastically. I dont get it. I mean, what does it mean?Well, you see, I began, theres this editor in Mexico who goes camping with his niece, and--Listen, she said. I think you should take a phenobarb tonight. You look terrible.(Roger Angell, A Day in the Life of Roger Angell. Viking Press, 1970) Etymology:From the Greek, running back again Pronunciation: PAL-in-drome

Application of Utilitarianism to Various Case Studies - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 10 Words: 3085 Downloads: 4 Date added: 2019/08/08 Category Ethics Essay Level High school Topics: Utilitarianism Essay Did you like this example? Application of Utilitarianism to Various Case Studies Utilitarianism Utilitarianism is a simple ethical theory to both explain and assess. It requires the consideration of the overall happiness of an action. It is necessary to think about not only the positive outcomes, but also the negative outcomes; and, how an action affects other people, directly and indirectly. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Application of Utilitarianism to Various Case Studies" essay for you Create order Utilitarianism can be represented as a simple mathematical equation. It is the total happiness of an action subtracted by the total unhappiness of that same action. Though assessing utilitarianism is done so by using this equation, it is difficult to quantify the amount of happiness. In a sense, we can say that utilitarianism is assessing the consequences of an action as well. We have to keep in mind of both short- and long-term consequences produced by our actions, but most importantly, we have to treat each persons happiness equally. We cant prioritize ones happiness over another when we are doing this assessment. There are two different types of utilitarianism, Act and Rule. Act utilitarianism states if an action brings out the greater amount of net happiness than a different action, then that action is correct. If not, then it is wrong. However, if two separate actions produce an equivalent amount of net happiness, then both actions are considered a right action. Rule utilitarianism, on the other hand, doesnt assess the action of a person. Rule utilitarians believe that they can create rules to create the most net happiness of all people. They believe that these rules would determine what is right or wrong. Utilitarianism is considered to be consequentialist, universalistic, additive, and maximizing. It is considered consequentialist because as mentioned before, utilitarianism assesses the consequences of an action, both short- and long-term, as well as both directly and indirectly. It is considered universalistic because utilitarianism assesses not only the person doing the action but also how other people are affected by that action. It is considered additive because, as mentioned before, it assesses both happiness and unhappiness of others to determine whether or not the action is right or wrong. It is considered to be maximizing because the goal of utilitarianism is to maximize human well-being. (Shaw, n.d.) Throughout this paper, I will be assessing the case studies, Hacking into Harvard, Nestle and Advertising, Challenger, Working Conditions in Amazon, and Mylan Hit with Racketeering Suit Over Big Price Hikes of EpiPen. I will provide the background and summary of each case, an ethical analysis of each party involved, and a conclusive argument whether or not each action is morally correct. Hacking into Harvard In the Case Study, Hacking into Harvard, many people were rejected by the best business schools in the country. They were rejected because of their actions; however, is it their fault? According to the study, an anonymous person posted directions on how to check whether or not they were accepted into those schools. The top business schools that were a part of this case were Harvard, Dartmouth, Duke, Carnegie, Mellon, MIT, and Stanford. They all used the application website, ApplyYourself Inc., which had a flaw in its system. According to the anonymous hacker, (n.d.) the students were able to change the URL to find out the decision of the business school that they applied to. Knowing this, Harvard and MIT immediately rejected those who saw their decision. Stanford gave students who were involved, an opportunity to explain why they did what they did. Duke and Dartmouth accepted those who accessed the site. The students who wanted to know the status of their application were eager to know. It is possible to say that some of the students were curious to see if changing the URL will allow them to see their status. The students parents or spouse could have done the hacking. The question is whether the student or the schools are at fault. As mentioned before, it is necessary to consider every person involved. We need to think about the happiness of the students who hacked the website, as well as the business schools. The students who were accused of hacking the website were unhappy with the outcome of their pro claimed action. The family members of those students, most likely, had a similar reaction towards the schools decision. Those students and their family didnt know that changing a URL was considered hacking, or that doing so would reject their application. They both blamed the schools and ApplyYourself for not being aware of this in advance. The business schools involved were a neutral party in this case. They werent happy that they rejected the students; however, they werent unhappy with it either. They were unhappy with the fact that those students were hacking into their website. The students who were considered the schools second choice were happy with the outcome of this situation. Since the hacking students were rejected because of their action, other students were accepted to fill their spot. There are also many bystanders who we can consider. Some bystanders would be unhappy with the schools decision because some might believe that changing the URL wasnt considered hacking. Some might be happy with the outcome because they believe that it is still wrong to access confidential files from the schools. Considering the overall happiness of the students, their family members, the business schools, the second choice students, and other bystanders, the decisions of the schools were morally correct. Those who are unhappy with the outcome are the hacking students and their family members, as well as some bystanders. Those who are happy are the second choice students and other bystanders. It is difficult to quantify the number of people happy and the number of people who are unhappy, but it is safe to say that there were more people happy with the schools decision than unhappy people; therefore, we can conclude that the decision of rejecting the hacking students is morally correct. Nestle and Advertising In the case study, Nestle and Advertising, the Nestle Corporation, known for their food and drinks, were under fire for their advertisement of their baby formula in a third world country. According to the case study, the author, Chris Ragg (Ragg, n.d.) states people from the third world country, are not as fortunate as those living in the United States. The baby formula created by Nestle requires water. The water in a third world country is most likely contaminated with other materials or chemicals. The parents who bought the formula would have to use that contaminated water in order to feed their babies. The formula then becomes contaminated, causing their babies to be sick, which can result in death. The question is if Nestle was wrong for doing the action of advertising their product in a third world country. We need to consider the happiness of those involved in this case study. It is important to consider the happiness of the Nestle Corporation, the families who lost their babies, and the bystanders who have an opinion on this case. The Nestle Corporation was most likely happy with their action. From a utilitarian view, Nestle focuses more on their positive outcome rather than their customers outcome. They believed that they were helping those in a third world country rather than hurting. Although they didnt know what their action would cause, they were satisfied with the amount of profit that they made. Nestle The families who lost their babies were unhappy with the action of Nestle. The people in the third world countries didnt know that their baby would die because of the contaminated water needed for the formula. They might have thought that it is a cheap alternative to feed their children. Family members were furious of Nestles action. It is safe to say that many bystanders who heard about Nestles advertisement were unhappy with it as well. These bysta nders were affected indirectly in this case. Although they didnt lose a loved one, they were still enraged with what Nestle did. Considering the overall happiness of the Nestle Corporation, the families who lost their babies, and other bystanders, Nestles action of advertising their baby formula in a third world country was ethically incorrect according to a utilitarian point of view. The parties that were unhappy with Nestles action were the families who lost their young and many bystanders who had an opinion on this case. The only party who was happy the outcome was Nestle because of the profit that they made. It is safe to say that Nestles action was ethically incorrect because the amount of people who were unhappy is greater than the number of people who were happy with the outcome. Challenger In the case study, The Challenger, seven astronauts were murdered due to an explosion of the space shuttle named The Challenger. Prior to the launch date, the engineers of Morton Thiokol discovered faulty O-rings on the shuttle. Once the engineers were aware of this, they reported it to their managers. Although the managers were aware of the faulty O-rings, they proceeded with the launch and killed seven people. Morton Thiokol was pressured to proceed with the launch because there was a high amount of anticipation watching a teacher and a civilian go into space. The question is if Morton Thiokols action is morally correct for proceeding with the launch. For this case, it is important to analyze the overall happiness of the family members of the passengers, NASA, Morton Thiokol, and bystanders who have an opinion about this case. The family members of the passengers were unhappy with Morton Thiokols action. Of course, losing a loved one will result in an unhappy person, but knowing that the manager of Morton Thiokol knew that it was unsafe to launch, would make them furious. If they didnt know about the faulty O-rings, there would be a possibility that the familys feelings towards Morton Thiokol would change, but this isnt the case. NASA, the company who hosted the launch, was excit ed about this big event because two members werent astronauts. Unfortunately, with the pressure amounted onto Morton Thiokol, the company decided to proceed with the flaw, which, in result, caused NASA and many others to be unhappy. Although NASA would have been unhappy with Morton Thiokol delaying the launch, safety should be considered the top priority. It is safe to say that, at the time of the launch, NASA was happy with what Morton Thiokol did; however, NASA wasnt happy with the results. Morton Thiokol had the same feelings as NASA towards what they did. They were initially happy at the time of the launch because of how much pressure NASA was giving them; however, after the fact, Morton Thiokol would be upset with themselves. Many bystanders watching the launch were saddened with the outcome of Morton Thiokols action. Those bystanders are affected indirectly by the action. Although they didnt lose a loved, they felt saddened witnessing the death of seven astronauts. Those bystanders, at the time of the launch, most likely thought that the explosion was an accident; however, once they found out that the rocket was launched knowing it was unsafe, many people became enraged. Those bystanders are affected indir ectly by the action because Considering the overall happiness of all parties involved, it is safe to say that Morton Thiokols action of proceeding with the launch, knowing that it was unsafe, was morally wrong from a utilitarian point of view. Morton Thiokol and NASA were initially happy at the time of the launch; however, they both were unhappy killing seven people. The parties who were unhappy with this Morton Thiokols action were the astronauts families and many bystanders witnessing the launch. Since the number of unhappy people outweighs the number of happy people, Morton Thiokols action was ethically incorrect. Amazon In the case study, Working Conditions in Amazon, Amazon wants their workers to bring out the best in them. Amazon wants them to strive for greatness, but is it morally correct to do so while making their workers cry? Amazon makes their employees criticize coworker ideas relentlessly; however, some former employees mentioned that doing so made them a better worker. Many workers described the working atmosphere as purposeful Darwinism, (Kantor Streitfeld, 2015) meaning that only the fittest survive. Unfortunately, Amazon didnt allow those who were recovering from injuries or had any personal crisis, (Kantor Streitfeld, 2015) to work with them. The question is if Amazons actions of making their employees criticize other employe es ideas harshly are morally correct from a utilitarians point of view. For this case, it is important to analyze the overall happiness of all parties involved, such as Amazon, their employees, and the quarter of a billion customers. (Kantor Streitfeld, 2015) As mentioned before, Amazon wants their employees to strive for the best; however, Amazon is merely thinking about themselves as a business. They want their business to succeed and be number one in the world. Amazon would be happy with their action of making their employees criticize each others ideas. Having their employees doing so, they get the most inventive idea that would boost their profits. Amazon employees are both happy and unhappy with Amazons action. At the time, when they are giving their ideas, every person harshly criticizes them. For some employees, they end up crying. In the long-term, the employees benefit from all their critics, making them think harder about their ideas, and to be more innovative. The quarter of a billion customers (Kantor Streitfeld, 2015) benefit from Amazons action. Every customer was satisfied because they still get what they ordered. The only time any customer will be unsatisfied is when they dont receive their order on time or at all. Eithe r way, with or without Amazons action, each and every customer would be satisfied if they received their order. There is a possibility that some customers will be unhappy with this action because they believe that any person with a personal crisis (Kantor Streitfeld, 2015) should be allowed time to recover instead of getting replaced. Considering the overall happiness of Amazon, the employees, and the customers, it is safe to say that Amazons action of forcing their employees to relentlessly criticize other ideas is morally correct from a utilitarian point of view. The parties who were happy in this case were Amazon, most of the employees, and most of the customers. The parties who were unhappy in this case were some of the employees and some of the customers. Since the number of people who were happy is greater than the number of people unhappy, Amazons action is morally correct. Mylan In the case study, Mylan Hit with Racketeering Suit Over Big Price Hikes of EpiPen, Mylan wanted to make more profit by increasing the price of their EpiPens. EpiPens are a device specifically for those with life-threatening allergies. (Mangan, 2017) Knowing that many people need the device, they still wanted to make more money off of them. Prior to the price increase, the EpiPen was only $90 dollars. Now, a two-pack is $600 dollars. Some pharmaceutical stores could be at fault for this action as well. Some of those stores serve citizens who have health care insurance. It is a possibility that those stores participated in the action of increasing the prices for the EpiPen. The question is if Mylans action of increasing the price of EpiPens was morally correct, speaking from a utilitarian point of view. For this case, it is important to analyze the overall happiness of every person involved. It is important to think about Mylan, some pharmaceutical stores, many customers, and other bystanders who have an opinion about this case when determining whether or not Mylans action of increasing the prices on their product is morally correct. Mylan, most likely, would be happy with their action because of their increase in profit. Some pharmaceutical stores, including CVS, Express Scripts, and Optum Rx, (Mangan, 2017) would also be in favor of Mylans action. Both Mylan and some pharmaceutic al stores are businesses, and their main priority is to increase profit. These customers who need EpiPens to save their lives are extremely unhappy with Mylans action. There are many people with life-threatening allergies, (Mangan, 2017) and most of those allergies relate to food consumption. It is understandable that people should know whatever they consume; however, there are cases in which they dont know. Before the price increase, the cost of an EpiPen was expensive, but it was reasonable. Now, it is unaffordable. Bystanders, consisting of those without life-threatening allergies, (Mangan, 2017) or those without allergies, might have an opinion about this case. These bystanders are affected indirectly in this case because they dont have to buy EpiPens, but they are still enraged about Mylans action. Considering the overall happiness of Mylan, some pharmaceutical stores, many customers, and other bystanders, it is safe to say that Mylans action of increasing the price of EpiPens dramatically is ethically wrong from a utilitarian point of view. The parties who were happy with Mylans action were themselves and some pharmaceutical stores. The parties who were unhappy with Mylans action were the millions of customers needing EpiPens to save their life, as well as some bystanders who have an opinion about this case. Since the number of people unhappy outnumbers the number of people happy, Mylans action is morally incorrect. Conclusion Utilitarianism assesses the overall happ iness of all individuals affected by an action, both directly and indirectly. Observing the number of people who are happy with a certain action and the number of people who are unhappy with that action, we can determine whether or not that action is morally correct. From the case study, Hacking into Harvard, it is safe to say that some business schools decision to reject those students who access confidential information is morally correct. From the case study, Nestle and Advertising, it is safe to say that Nestles action to advertise their product in a third world country is morally incorrect. From the case study, The Challenger, it is safe to say that Morton Thiokols action to proceed with the launch, knowing that there was faulty equipment, was morally incorrect. From the case study, Working Conditions in Amazon, it is safe to say that Amazons action of forcing their employees to relentlessly criticize coworkers ideas is ethically correct. From the case study, Mylan Hit with Racketeering Suit Over Big Price Hikes of EpiPen, it is safe to say that Mylans ac tion of increasing the price of the EpiPen, knowing that it is necessary for people with allergies, is ethically incorrect.

The Vampire Diaries The Awakening Chapter Twelve Free Essays

string(78) " and the ghastly Mad Slasher Room, she thought they had almost builttoo well\." Elena revolved slowly before the full-length mirror in Aunt Judith’s bedroom. Margaret sat at the foot of the big four-poster bed, her blue eyes large and solemn with admiration. â€Å"I wish I had a dress like that for trick-or-treat,† she said. We will write a custom essay sample on The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening Chapter Twelve or any similar topic only for you Order Now â€Å"I like you best as a little white cat,† said Elena, dropping a kiss between the white velvet ears attached to Margaret’s headband. Then she turned to her aunt, who stood by the door with needle and thread ready. â€Å"It’s perfect,† she said warmly. â€Å"We don’t have to change a thing.† The girl in the mirror could have stepped out of one of Elena’s books on the Italian Renaissance. Her throat and shoulders were bare, and the tight bodice of the ice-blue dress showed off her tiny waist. The long, full sleeves were slashed so that the white silk of the chemise underneath showed through, and the wide, sweeping skirt just brushed the floor all around her. It was a beautiful dress, and the pale clear blue seemed to heighten the darker blue of Elena’s eyes. As she turned away, Elena’s gaze fell on the old-fashioned pendulum clock above the dresser. â€Å"Oh, no-it’s almost seven. Stefan will be here any minute.† â€Å"That’s his car now,† said Aunt Judith, glancing out the window. â€Å"I’ll go down and let him in.† â€Å"That’s all right,† said Elena briefly. â€Å"I’ll meet him myself. Good-bye, have a good time trick-or-treating!† She hurried down the stairs. Here goes, she thought. As she reached for the doorknob, she was reminded of that day, nearly two months ago now, when she’d stepped directly into Stefan’s path in European History class. She’d had this same feeling of anticipation, of excitement and tension. I just hope this turns out better than that plan did, she thought. For the last week and a half, she’d pinned her hopes to this moment, to this night. If she and Stefan didn’t come together tonight, they never would. The door swung open, and she stepped back with her eyes down, feeling almost shy, afraid to see Stefan’s face. But when she heard his sharp indrawn breath, she looked up quickly-and felt her heart go cold. He was staring at her in wonder, yes. But it was not the wondering joy she’d seen in his eyes that first night in his room. This was something closer to shock. â€Å"You don’t like it,† she whispered, horrified at the stinging in her eyes. He recovered swiftly, as always, blinking and shaking his head. â€Å"No, no, it’s beautiful. You’re beautiful.† Then why are you standing there looking as if you’d seen a ghost? she thought. Why don’t you hold me, kiss me-something! â€Å"You look wonderful,† she said quietly. And it was true; he was sleek and handsome in the tux and cape he’d donned for his part. She was surprised he’d agreed to it, but when she’d made the suggestion he’d seemed more amused than anything else. Just now, he looked elegant and comfortable, as if such clothes were as natural as his usual jeans. â€Å"We’d better go,† he said, equally quiet and serious. Elena nodded and went with him to the car, but her heart was no longer merely cold; it was ice. He was further away from her than ever, and she had no idea how to get him back. Thunder growled overhead as they drove to the high school, and Elena glanced out of the car window with dull dismay. The cloud cover was thick and dark, although it hadn’t actually begun to rain yet. The air had a charged, electric feel, and the sullen purple thunderheads gave the sky a nightmarish look. It was a perfect atmosphere for Halloween, menacing and otherworldly, but it woke only dread in Elena. Since that night at Bonnie’s, she’d lost her appreciation for the eerie and uncanny. Her diary had never turned up, although they’d searched Bonnie’s house top to bottom. She still couldn’t believe that it was really gone, and the idea of a stranger reading her most private thoughts made her feel wild inside. Because, of course, it had been stolen; what other explanation was there? More than one door had been open that night at the McCullough house; someone could have just walked in. She wanted tokill whoever had done it. A vision of dark eyes rose before her. That boy, the boy she’d almost given in to at Bonnie’s house, the boy who’d made her forget Stefan. Was he the one? She roused herself as they pulled up to the school and forced herself to smile as they made their way through the halls. The gym was barely organized chaos. In the hour since Elena had left, everything had changed. Then, the place had been full of seniors: Student Council members, football players, the Key Club, all putting the finishing touches on props and scenery. Now it was full of strangers, most of them not even human. Several zombies turned as Elena came in, their grinning skulls visible through the rotting flesh of their faces. A grotesquely deformed hunchback limped toward her, along with a corpse with livid white skin and hollow eyes. From another direction came a werewolf, its snarling muzzle covered with blood, and a dark and dramatic witch. Elena realized, with a jolt, that she couldn’t recognize half these people in their costumes. Then they were around her, admiring the ice-blue gown, announcing problems that had developed already. Elena waved them quiet and turned toward the witch, whose long dark hair flowed down the back of a tight-fitting black dress. â€Å"What is it, Meredith?† she said. â€Å"Coach Lyman’s sick,† Meredith replied grimly, â€Å"so somebody got Tanner to substitute.† â€Å"Mr.Tanner ?† Elena was horrified. â€Å"Yes, and he’s making trouble already. Poor Bonnie’s just about had it. You’d better get over there.† Elena sighed and nodded, then made her way along the twisting route of the Haunted House tour. As she passed through the grisly Torture Chamber and the ghastly Mad Slasher Room, she thought they had almost builttoo well. You read "The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening Chapter Twelve" in category "Essay examples" This place was unnerving even in the light. The Druid Room was near the exit. There, a cardboard Stonehenge had been constructed. But the pretty little druid priestess who stood among the rather realistic-looking monoliths wearing white robes and an oak-leaf garland looked ready to burst into tears. â€Å"But you’vegot to wear the blood,† she was saying pleadingly. â€Å"It’s part of the scene; you’re a sacrifice.† â€Å"Wearing these ridiculous robes is bad enough,† replied Tanner shortly. â€Å"No one informed me I was going to have to smear syrup all over myself.† â€Å"It doesn’t really get onyou ,† said Bonnie. â€Å"It’s just on the robes and on the altar. You’re a sacrifice,† she repeated, as if somehow this would convince him. â€Å"As for that,† said Mr. Tanner in disgust, â€Å"the accuracy of this whole setup is highly suspect. Contrary to popular belief, the druids didnot build Stonehenge; it was built by a Bronze Age culture that-† Elena stepped forward. â€Å"Mr. Tanner, that isn’t really the point.† â€Å"No, it wouldn’t be, to you,† he said. â€Å"Which is why you and your neurotic friend here are both failing history.† â€Å"That’s uncalled for,† said a voice, and Elena looked quickly over her shoulder at Stefan. â€Å"Mister Salvatore,† said Tanner, pronouncing the words as if they meant Now my day is complete . â€Å"I suppose you have some new words of wisdom to offer. Or are you going to give me a black eye?† His gaze traveled over Stefan, who stood there, unconsciously elegant in his perfectly tailored tux, and Elena felt a sudden shock of insight. Tanner isn’t really that much older than we are, she thought. He looks old because of that receding hairline, but I’ll bet he’s in his twenties. Then, for some reason, she remembered how Tanner had looked at Homecoming, in his cheap and shiny suit that didn’t fit well. I’ll bet he never even made it to his own homecoming, she thought. And, for the first time, she felt something like sympathy for him. Perhaps Stefan felt it, too, for although he stepped right up to the little man, standing face-to-face with him, his voice was quiet. â€Å"No, I’m not. I think this whole thing is getting blown out of proportion. Why don’t†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Elena couldn’t hear the rest, but he was speaking in low, calming tones, and Mr. Tanner actually seemed to be listening. She glanced back at the crowd that had gathered behind her: four or five ghouls, the werewolf, a gorilla, and a hunchback. â€Å"All right, everything’s under control,† she said, and they dispersed. Stefan was taking care of things, although she was not sure how, since she could see only the back of his head. The back of his head †¦ For an instant, an image flashed before her of the first day of school. Of how Stefan had stood in the office talking to Mrs. Clarke, the secretary, and of how oddly Mrs. Clarke had acted. Sure enough, when Elena looked at Mr. Tanner now, he wore the same slightly dazed expression. Elena felt a slow ripple of disquiet. â€Å"Come on,† she said to Bonnie. â€Å"Let’s go up front.† They cut straight through the Alien Landing Room and the Living Dead Room, slipping between the partitions, coming out in the first room where visitors would enter and be greeted by a werewolf. The werewolf had taken his head off and was talking to a couple of mummies and an Egyptian princess. Elena had to admit that Caroline looked good as Cleopatra, the lines of that bronzed body frankly visible through the sheer linen sheath she wore. Matt, the werewolf, could hardly be blamed if his eyes kept straying downward from Caroline’s face. â€Å"How’s it going here?† said Elena with forced lightness. Matt started slightly, then turned toward her and Bonnie. Elena had scarcely seen him since the night of Homecoming, and she knew that he and Stefan had drawn apart, too. Because of her. And though Matt could hardly be blamed forthat , either, she could tell how much it hurt Stefan. â€Å"Everything’s fine,† said Matt, looking uncomfortable. â€Å"When Stefan finishes with Tanner, I think I’ll send him up here,† Elena said. â€Å"He can help bring people in.† Matt lifted one shoulder indifferently. Then he said, â€Å"Finishes what with Tanner?† Elena looked at him in surprise. She could have sworn he’d been in the Druid Room a minute ago to see it. She explained. Outside, thunder rumbled again, and through the open door Elena saw a flash light the night sky. There was another, louder clap of thunder a few seconds later. â€Å"I hope it doesn’t rain,† Bonnie said. â€Å"Yes,† said Caroline, who had been standing silent while Elena spoke to Matt. â€Å"It would be such apity if nobody came.† Elena glanced at her sharply and saw open hatred in Caroline’s narrow, catlike eyes. â€Å"Caroline,† she said impulsively, â€Å"look. Can’t you and I call it quits? Can’t we forget what’s happened and start over?† Under the cobra on her forehead, Caroline’s eyes widened and then slitted again. Her mouth twisted, and she stepped closer to Elena. â€Å"I willnever forget,† she said, and then she turned and left. There was a silence, Bonnie and Matt looking at the floor. Elena stepped over to the doorway to feel cool air on her cheeks. Outside she could see the field and the tossing branches of the oak trees beyond, and once again she was overcome with that strange feeling of foreboding. Tonight’s the night, she thought wretchedly. Tonight’s the night when it all happens. But what â€Å"it† was, she had no idea. A voice sounded through the transformed gym. â€Å"All right, they’re about to let the line in from the parking lot. Cut the lights, Ed!† Suddenly, gloom descended and the air was filled with groans and maniacal laughter, like an orchestra tuning up. Elena sighed and turned. â€Å"Better get ready to start herding them through,† she told Bonnie quietly. Bonnie nodded and disappeared into the darkness. Matt had donned his werewolf head, and was turning on a tape deck that added eerie music to the cacophony. Stefan came around the corner, his hair and clothing melting into the darkness. Only his white shirtfront showed up clearly. â€Å"Everything worked out with Tanner,† he said. â€Å"Is there anything else I can do?† â€Å"Well, you could work here, with Matt, bringing people in†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Elena’s voice trailed off. Matt was bent over the tape deck, minutely adjusting the volume, not looking up. Elena looked at Stefan and saw his face was tight and blank. â€Å"Or you could go into the boys’ locker room and be in charge of coffee and things for the workers,† she finished tiredly. â€Å"I’ll go to the locker room,† he said. As he turned away, she noticed a slight faltering in his step. â€Å"Stefan? Are you all right?† â€Å"Fine,† he said, recovering his balance. â€Å"A little tired, that’s all.† She watched him go, her chest feeling heavier every minute. She turned to Matt, meaning to say something to him, but at that moment the line of visitors reached the door. â€Å"Show’s on,† he said, and crouched in the shadows. Elena moved from room to room, troubleshooting. In years before, she had enjoyed this part of the night the most, watching the gruesome scenes being acted out and the delicious terror of the visitors, but tonight there was a feeling of dread and tension underlying all her thoughts. Tonight’s the night, she thought again, and the ice in her chest seemed to thicken. A Grim Reaper-or at least that was what she supposed the hooded figure in black robes was-passed by her, and she found herself absent-mindedly trying to remember if she had seen it at any of the Halloween parties. There was something familiar about the way the figure moved. Bonnie exchanged a harassed smile with the tall, slender witch who was directing traffic into the Spider Room. Several junior high boys were slapping at the dangling rubber spiders and shouting and generally making a nuisance of themselves. Bonnie hustled them on into the Druid Room. Here the strobe lights gave the scene a dreamlike quality. Bonnie felt a grim triumph to see Mr. Tanner stretched out on the stone altar, his white robes heavily stained with blood, his eyes glaring at the ceiling. â€Å"Cool!† shouted one of the boys, racing up to the altar. Bonnie stood back and grinned, waiting for the bloody sacrifice to rear up and scare the wits out of the kid. But Mr. Tanner didn’t move, even when the boy plunged a hand into the pool of blood by the sacrifice’s head. That’s strange, Bonnie thought, hurrying up to prevent the kid from grabbing the sacrificial knife. â€Å"Don’t do that,† she snapped, so he held up his gory hand instead, and it showed red in every sharp flash of the strobe. Bonnie felt a sudden irrational fear that Mr. Tanner was going to wait until she bent over him and then makeher jump. But he just kept staring at the ceiling. â€Å"Mr. Tanner, are you okay? Mr. Tanner? Mr. Tanner!† Not a movement, not a sound. Not a flicker of those wide white eyes. Don’t touch him, something in Bonnie’s mind told her suddenly and urgently. Don’t touch him don’t touch him don’t touch†¦ Under the strobe lights she saw her own hand move forward, saw it grasp Mr. Tanner’s shoulder and shake it, saw his head flop bonelessly toward her. Then she saw his throat. Then she began to scream. Elena heard the screams. They were shrill and sustained and unlike any other sounds in the Haunted House, and she knew at once that they were no joke. Everything after that was a nightmare. Reaching the Druid Room at a run, she saw a tableau, but not the one prepared for visitors. Bonnie was screaming, Meredith holding her shoulders. Three young boys were trying to get out of the curtained exit, and two bouncers were looking in, blocking their way. Mr. Tanner was lying on the stone altar, sprawled out, and his face†¦ â€Å"He’s dead,† Bonnie was sobbing, the screams turning into words. â€Å"Oh, God, the blood’s real, and he’s dead. Itouched him, Elena, and he’s dead, he’s really dead†¦Ã¢â‚¬  People were coining into the room. Someone else began screaming and it spread, and then everyone was trying to get out, pushing each other in panic, knocking into the partitions. â€Å"Get the lights on!† Elena shouted, and heard the shout taken up by others. â€Å"Meredith, quick, get to a phone in the gym and call an ambulance, call the police†¦ Get those lightson !† When the lights snapped on, Elena looked around, but she could see no adults, no one entitled to take charge of the situation. Part of her was ice-cold, her mind racing as it tried to think what to do next. Part of her was simply numb with horror. Mr. Tanner†¦ She had never liked him, but somehow that only made it worse. â€Å"Get all the kids out of here. Everybody but staff out,† she said. â€Å"No! Shut the doors! Don’t let anybody out until the police get here,† shouted a werewolf beside her, taking off his mask. Elena turned in astonishment at the voice and saw that it was not Matt, it was Tyler Smallwood. He’d been allowed back in school only this week, and his face was still discolored from the beating he had taken at Stefan’s hands. But his voice had the ring of authority, and Elena saw the bouncers close the exit door. She heard another door close across the gym. Of the dozen or so people crowded into the Stonehenge area, Elena recognized only one as a worker. The rest were people she knew from school, but none she knew well. One of them, a boy dressed as a pirate, spoke to Tyler. â€Å"You mean†¦ you think somebody in here did it?† â€Å"Somebody in here did it, all right,† said Tyler. There was a queer, excited sound to his voice, as if he were almost enjoying this. He gestured to the pool of blood on the rock. â€Å"That’s still liquid; it can’t have happened too long ago. And look at the way his throat’s cut. The killer must have done it withthat .† He pointed to the sacrificial knife. â€Å"Then the killer might be here right now,† whispered a girl in a kimono. â€Å"And it’s not hard to guess who it is,† said Tyler. â€Å"Somebody who hated Tanner, who was always getting in arguments with him. Somebody who was arguing with him earlier tonight. I saw it.† Soyou were the werewolf in this room, thought Elena dazedly. But what were you doing here in the first place? You’re not on staff. â€Å"Somebody who has a history of violence,† Tyler was continuing, his lips drawing back from his teeth. â€Å"Somebody who, for all we know, is a psychopath who came to Fell’s Church just to kill.† â€Å"Tyler, what are you talking about?† Elena’s dazed feeling had burst like a bubble. Furious, she stepped toward the tall, husky boy. â€Å"You’re crazy!† He gestured at her without looking at her. â€Å"So says his girlfriend-but maybe she’s a little prejudiced.† â€Å"And maybeyou’re a little prejudiced, Tyler,† said a voice from behind the crowd, and Elena saw a second werewolf pushing his way into the room. Matt. â€Å"Oh, yeah? Well, why don’t you tell us what you know about Salvatore? Where does he come from? Where’s his family? Where did he get all that money?† Tyler turned to address the rest of the crowd. â€Å"Who knowsanything about him?† People were shaking their heads. Elena could see, in face after face, distrust blossoming. The distrust of anything unknown, anything different. And Stefan was different. He was the stranger in their midst, and just now they needed a scapegoat. The girl in the kimono began, â€Å"I heard a rumor-† â€Å"That’s all anybody’s heard, rumors!† Tyler said. â€Å"No one really knows a thing about him. But there’s one thing Ido know. The attacks in Fell’s Church started the first week of school-which was the week Stefan Salvatore came.† There was a swelling murmur at this, and Elena herself felt a shock of realization. Of course, it was all ridiculous, it was just a coincidence. But what Tyler was saying was true. The attacks had started when Stefan arrived. â€Å"I’ll tell you something else,† shouted Tyler, gesturing at them to be quiet. â€Å"Listen to me! I’ll tell you something else!† He waited until everyone was looking at him and then said slowly, impressively, â€Å"He was in the cemetery the night Vickie Bennett was attacked.† â€Å"Sure he was in the cemetery-rearranging your face,† said Matt, but his voice lacked its usual strength. Tyler grabbed the comment and ran with it. â€Å"Yes, and he almost killed me. And tonight somebodydid kill Tanner. I don’t know whatyou think, but I think he did it. I think he’s the one!† â€Å"But where is he?† shouted someone from the crowd. Tyler looked around. â€Å"If he did it, he must still be here,† he shouted. â€Å"Let’s find him.† â€Å"Stefan hasn’t done anything! Tyler-† cried Elena, but the noise from the crowd overrode her. Tyler’s words were being taken up and repeated.Find him†¦ find him . . .find him . Elena heard it pass from person to person. And the faces in the Stonehenge Room were filled with more than distrust now; Elena could see anger and a thirst for vengeance in them, too. The crowd had turned into something ugly, something beyond controlling. â€Å"Where is he, Elena?† said Tyler, and she saw the blazing triumph in his eyes. Hewas enjoying this. â€Å"I don’t know,† she said fiercely, wanting to hit him. â€Å"He must still be here! Find him!† someone shouted, and then it seemed everyone was moving, pointing, pushing, at once. Partitions were being knocked down and shoved aside. Elena’s heart was pounding. This was no longer a crowd; it was a mob. She was terrified of what they would do to Stefan if they did find him. But if she tried to go warn him, she would lead Tyler right to him. She looked around desperately. Bonnie was still staring into Mr. Tanner’s dead face. No help there. She turned to scan the crowd again, and her eyes met Matt’s. He was looking confused and angry, his blond hair ruffled up, cheeks flushed and sweaty. Elena put all her strength of will into a look of pleading. Please, Matt, she thought. You can’t believe all this. You know it isn’t true. But his eyes showed that hedidn’t know. There was a tumult of bewilderment and agitation in them. Please, thought Elena, gazing into those blue eyes, willing him to understand. Oh, please, Matt, only you can save him. Even if you don’t believe, please try to trust†¦ please†¦ She saw the change come over his face, the confusion lifting as grim determination appeared. He stared at her another moment, eyes boring into hers, and nodded once. Then he turned and slipped into the milling, hunting crowd. Matt knifed through the crowd cleanly until he got to the other side of the gym. There were some freshmen standing near the door to the boys’ locker room; he brusquely ordered them to start moving fallen partitions, and when their attention was distracted he jerked the door open and ducked inside. He looked around quickly, unwilling to shout. For that matter, he thought, Stefan must have heard all the racket going on in the gym. He’d probably already cut out. But then Matt saw the black-clad figure on the white tile floor. â€Å"Stefan! What happened?† For a terrible instant, Matt thought he was looking down on a second dead body. But as he knelt by Stefan’s side, he saw movement. â€Å"Hey, you’re okay, just sit up slowly†¦ easy. Are you all right, Stefan?† â€Å"Yes,† said Stefan. He didn’t look okay, Matt thought. His face was dead white and his pupils were dilated hugely. He looked disoriented and sick. â€Å"Thank you,† he said. â€Å"You may not thank me in a minute. Stefan, you’ve got to get out of here. Can’t you hear them? They’re after you.† Stefan turned toward the gym, as if listening. But there was no comprehension on his face. â€Å"Who’s after me? Why?† â€Å"Everybody. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’ve got to get out before they come in here.† As Stefan continued simply to stare blankly, he added, â€Å"There’s been another attack, this time on Tanner, Mr. Tanner. He’s dead, Stefan, and they think you didit .† Now, at last, he saw understanding come to Stefan’s eyes. Understanding and horror and a kind of resigned defeat that was more frightening than anything Matt had seen tonight. He gripped Stefan’s shoulder hard. â€Å"Iknow you didn’t,† he said, and at that moment it was true. â€Å"They’ll realize that, too, when they can think again. But meanwhile, you’d better get out.† â€Å"Get out†¦ yes,† said Stefan. The look of disorientation was gone, and there was a searing bitterness in the way he pronounced the words. â€Å"I will†¦ get out.† â€Å"Stefan†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Matt.† The green eyes were dark and burning, and Matt found he could not look away from them. â€Å"Is Elena safe? Good. Then, take care of her. Please.† â€Å"Stefan, what are you talking about? You’re innocent; this will all blow over†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Just take care of her, Matt.† Matt stepped back, still looking into those compelling green eyes. Then, slowly, he nodded. â€Å"I will,† he said quietly. And watched Stefan go. How to cite The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening Chapter Twelve, Essay examples

Animal Farm Essay Thesis Example For Students

Animal Farm Essay Thesis Writers often use social criticism in their books to show corruptness or weakpoints of a group in society. One way of doing this is allegory which is a storyin which figures and actions are symbols of general truths. George Orwell is anexample of an author who uses allegory to show a social criticism effectively. As in his novel Animal Farm, Orwell makes a parody of Soviet Communism asdemonstrated by Animal Farms brutal totalitarian rule, manipulated andexploited working class, and the pigs evolution into the capitalists theyinitially opposed. Totalitarianism is a political regime based on subordinationof the individual to the state and strict control of all aspects of life. It wasused by Stalin and the Bolsheviks in Russia during the 1920s and 30s and isparodied in Animal Farm by Napoleon, the almighty leader, and hisfellow pigs and their ridiculous propaganda and rigorous rule. In the book,Napoleon is deified and made superior to all other animals on the farm, forexample he is called emperor or leader while everyone else was referred to as acomrade, and all the pigs were given higher authority then the restof the animals. An inequality between the pigs and rest of the farm was that thepigs lived in the farm house while the other majority had to sleep in pastures. A certain pig Squealer who could turn black into white was in chargeof propaganda, and he would often change the commandments of the farm so thatthey would fit the actions of Napoleon or the upper class of thefarm which was supposedly classless. For example, at one time a commandment readNo animal shall drink alcohol(P. 75), but soon after Napoleon drankan abundance and almost died the commandment was changed to No animalshall drink to excess. which made it seem as though Napoleon was withinthe rules. Another instance where Napoleon showed severe rule was when everyoneon the farm who had either pledged for or showed support at one time forSnowball, the exiled former leader, was executed on the spot. This act was ahumorous resemblance of The Great Purge in Russia where all opposition waskilled off. The governing system of the Animal Farm was truly corrupt, but itdid not stop with the propaganda and executions. At first on the Animal Farm, itwas promised to the majority of the animals who were neither Napoleon or a pig,or the so-called working class, that from each according tohis ability to each according to his needs, no more, no less. In otherwords, if all the animals worked to their capabilities they would get the workback in rations. This system worked for a while, but stopped when Napoleon andhis Totalitarian government took over, and the system was manipulated. Napoleonand his fellow pigs gave the animals unfair hours of labor and unfair rationsfor their work which corrupted the system. Napoleon attempted to keep theanimals intact by inspiring them with slogans, Napoleon is alwaysright. and I will work harder.(P.40) This seemed to workbecause no animal would refuse to do their job because of the fear of their foodsupply being cut as a penalty. As an example, Napoleon announced that allanimals would have to work voluntary Sunday afternoons, but any animal whoabsented himself from it would have his ration reduced by half(P. 42). Napoleongave the animals long , many hour days so that the farm could move towardindustrialization with the building of a windmill, much like The Five Year Planof Russia. This act was made comical because much like in Russia the plan kepton failing, but the government proceeded in actions anyway. The so-calledworking class of the Animal Farm which at first had a bright futurewas turned into more of a slave class. Animal Farm started with adream, a dream of old Majors which was for the animals of England specificallythe Manor Farm to rebel against the humans, take over the farm, and live atpeace amongst themselves. This dream soon became a reality for the animals ofthe Manor Farm as they defeated their master, Mr. Jones, in the Battle ofCowshed with their battle cry Four legs good, two legs bad, and tookover the farm which they renamed Animal Farm. The first leader was Snowball whoruled along with his fellow pigs and kept Majors dream alive, only to beexpelled from the farm soon