Literature

Choice and struggle represent two psychological issues of Crime and Punishment. These issues alarm the souls of the characters. This is the authors view on the world and existence of humans in this world. A free-thinking character Rodion Raskolnikov wants to review the decisions on all the main lifes questions. In his crazy dream he creates his own world, strange and vague, but so attractive that he cant help thinking about it. In the given paper we will consider and try to explain the main idea of writer-strategist who does not reveal his most important it at once. He leads us step by step to one important conclusion every crime has its punishment. Part II Chapter 1. Crime and Punishment is very bright and convincing because it shows mental suffering and evolution of the character of Rodion Raskolnikov.

Mistakes made by the society and by the protagonist.
At first, Raskolnikov sees our world as a place of justice and good deeds. At first his own idea seems awful to him, when he hears the students conversation in the tavern in the first part of the novel angry, sick, old and unnecessary woman on the one side and young power dying without any support on the other side hundreds of good deeds, which would be possible to perform for her money (Crime and Punishment). This is the example of the first decision that belongs both to student and to the whole society.

New decision offered by the author
Raskolnikov committed crime and became a murderer. He mistakenly thought that only one murder for the sake of many lives is not a big deal. Passing his hero through suffering, Dostoevsky demonstrated how wrong he was in his decision Surely it isnt beginning already Surely it isnt my punishment coming upon me It is (Crime and Punishment). The author showed that the idea, which made Raskolnikov shed human blood in spite of himself, appeared between him and the world making him separated from his mother and sister forever. And the number of victims is growing a guy was caught and accused of Alyona Ivanovnas murder. Pulheria Alexandrovna will be the next she could not bear that happened to her son (Crime and Punishment).

Step by step Dostoevsky made us understand that the idea to have a power, even with the purpose to save human lives is destructive. Our society should try not to sacrifice but to save the life of every person, because no idea is worth killing people.

The convincing arguments of the author
    The arguments of Dostoevsky as the arguments of very intelligent person are difficult to understand. It is a pity that many people could not understand the ideas of Dostoevsky he wanted to share with us in his outstanding work. I consider the ideas and arguments of Fyodor Dostoevsky to be very convincing. The question about life priorities is the main problem of our society and I think that the main hero of the novel, Rodion Raskolnikov, is sensitive and extraordinary person. He committed crime because could not see the suffering of poor people. He felt himself the one of them and tried to find a way-out. The main idea of this problem is the question what is more important What should be on the first place During all the novel Raskolnikovs personality is gradually changing, therefore his priorities are also changing. His conscience dictates him how to act, thus he comes to the conclusion that money and power are not the most important in our life, he understands that he had no right to kill. His repentanceis happening gradually and he fully repents only by the end of the novel.

    The very important problem of the society shoed by Dostoevsky is poverty. In the novel people cant earn their life and this makes them degrade, become prostitutes and thefts. Marmeladov is the perfect example of that, because he spends all free time drinking and does not care about his hungry children and wife. Sonya Marmeladova, a person with very beautiful and wise soul, also degraded getting money working as a prostitute (Crime and Punishment, p. 90).

    However, in this world of cruelty still there are feelings of love and compassion. Sonya really loves Rodion Raskolnikov, trusts him and tries to help him even after he confesses to crimes.  During the novel Sonya does not leave Raskovnilov and follows him to the prison (Crime and Punishment).
    
    The lessons presented by Fyodor Dostoevsky in his novel Crime and Punishment are really invaluable. A writer-strategist does not reveal his most important idea at once, he leads us step by step to one important conclusion every crime has its punishment. If a person committed at least one crime, he is already a criminal and it does not matter, what goal he pursued. And the punishment will find him maybe not at once, but in some weeks, days or years. It is enough to overstep the limit only once, everybody should remember that.

Henry V was Englands king from the year 1413 up until his death in 1422. Although his reign was not more than a decade, some of his actions marked crucial highlights of English war history, particularly his contribution to the then ongoing Hundred Years War between England and France, which is the main subject that this paper undertakes. Viewed from the light of the writings of three different philosophers, Sun Tzu, St. Thomas of Aquinas, and St. Augustine, this paper analyzes the actions of King Henry V during the battle of Agincourt, which is regarded by historians as Henry Vs greatest war victory during his career. In particular, this paper first gives brief input regarding the origins of the Hundred Years War, and then proceeds to narrate the events that occurred during the said event that concern Henry V and the monarchs crucial actions that influenced the tides of war. Then, this paper analyzes Henry Vs actions in reference to the teachings found in Sun Tzus Art of War, St. Thomas of Aquinas Summa Theologica, and St. Augustines Just War Theory.

    The Hundred Years War, like many wars, was primarily a dispute on territory. Back in 1066, the Duke of Normandy captured the English throne during the Battle of Hastings (Curry, 1993). This victory of the Duke posed a major problem in French politics, particularly since the Duke also controlled key territories in France. These problems sparked constant conflicts between the two kingdoms, culminating to a war that officially began when French ships arrived on the English Channel and immediately began taking territories that they claimed were theirs in the first place (Curry, 1993). The war proceeded from king to king, with each king from both sides inheriting the burden of winning the war.

When Henry V came into power in 1413, he immediately took the stand of making reclaiming French occupied territories his main priority (Curry, 1993). Thus after just two years, Henry V sailed for France with a considerable portion of Englands military forces and besieged the fortress of Harfleur, which was captured in less than a months time (Curry, 1993). As further narrated by Curry (1993), rather than concentrating on fortifying Harfleur and using it as a strong foothold on French soil, Henry V opted to use nearly all of his troops to go further into French territory immediately, not heeding the warnings of his war council on the dangers of traveling with limited supplies to enemy grounds. The march lasted for over a month, and the French were already well aware of Henry Vs approaching army. Thus, the French sent its army to intercept Henry V, and having greater knowledge of the terrain, the French army took a key location that would most likely assure them victory. By the time the French intercepted the English, the English army was already exhausted from the March. Henry Vs men were malnourished from the lack of sufficient food and water in their supplies since they left Harfleur, and to make matters worse, the French clearly outnumbered the English. Yet despite these odds, Henry V was able to pull a victory by observing the immediate condition of the battle field. Henry V, or at least his tacticians saw that the terrain had been made muddy by the previous nights rain, and that meeting the French Army head on would result in both armies having to fight on the muddy ground. Given this situation, the English Army placed rows of archers strategically between rows of foot soldiers and then met the French army just as the latter entered the muddy battlefield. Rather than engaging the enemy foot soldiers, the English foot soldiers held their ground and defended the line, while the archers behind them did the work of shooting into enemy lines. The French army was bogged down in the mud that they had difficulty moving up to the Englishs first line of defense, and those who managed to do so were easily cut down by the waiting footmen. Thus, Henry V acquired an easy victory despite having the weaker army. However, shortly after the English conquered the intercepting French forces, Henry V was informed that were was another force gathering to meet him. Fearing that he had already lost the tactical advantage and would now most have a much more difficult time with this new threat, Henry V considered how best to increase his chances of victory and considered having prisoners of war a major liability. War prisoners, those captured after an army had decimated another, were usually allowed to stay alive and used as leverage for demanding ransom. However, Henry V feared that while his army was busy fending off the new French threat, the prisoners would take advantage of the distraction and move against the English army from the rear. Thus, Henry V had all prisoners executed. However, the new French battalion to intercept the English was never formed, which prompted Henry V to cancel the order to execute the prisoners while it was already in progress.

    Sun Tzus Art of War has a great deal of focus on the maximization of tactical advantages during battle. Analyzing Henrys actions based on Sun Tzus writings, it can be said that Henry V was able to show during the battle at Harfleur fortress the advantage of having the element of surprise. As Sun Tzu discussed, armies must move speedily and decisively, giving the enemy limited time to predict the armys next course of action thus making them ill prepared for it (Sun Tzu, 1996). Tactically, Henry Vs actions during the succeeding battle with the intercepting French army would also be praised by Sun Tzu. According Sun Tzus writings, considering the terrain and the seasons are critical actions of a military tactician when plotting the best strategy (Sun Tzu, 1996), Sun Tzu (1996) even cites a particular historical example of taking advantage of terrain that is similar to the actions of Henry V. Sun Tzu (1996) would also regard Henry Vs actions of executing prisoners as a means of dealing with a critical weakness. On the other hand, St. Thomas of Aquinas would focus less on military tactics, and more on the justifiability of Henrys actions. In his Summa Theologica on the subject of war, Aquinas (1920) claims that war can only be just when three matters are present, and these are that first the war is waged by the sovereign concerning matters of state, second there should be a just cause, and third for the belligerents of the war to be on the side of good intention. Given these guidelines, it can be said that Henry Vs action of attacking French territory in the name of the Hundred Years War is justified on the first count, since it is a matter of the state that has been ongoing for years. Second, Henry Vs cause is to recover lost territory, which in Aquinas own writings can be considered a way for an erring state to be punished for its previous conquest. However, it is problematic as to whether it is the English or the French who are in the right during this stage of the war. Furthermore to Aquinas writings, Henry Vs actions of using the element of surprise to attack Harfleur, taking advantage of the terrain during the succeeding battle with the French intercepting Army, and killing prisoners of war to prevent them from acting against the English are all justified. This is because for Aquinas, so long as there is no deception through lies, military strategies are justified (Aquinas, 1920). St. Augustine as well would agree that Henry Vs actions during his battles, since St. Augustine likewise believes that so long as the purpose of war is just there is no concern as to the manner through which it is carried out (Aquinas, 1920 Walzer, 1977).

    Clearly, Henry Vs actions are seen positively by all three philosophers when considering the contents of their writings. During the Hundred Years War, Henry V was able to display remarkable military tactics while adhering to moral considerations of just wars in both the Augustinian and Thomasian perspectives.

How do you describe paradise the very world seems to imply heaven, the Bahamas are definitely a paradise. From the intermingling islands to the beaches with clear water that allows you to see the amazing coral formations. The people are diverse and always smiling as though life here had ascended them to a different reality. Time doesnt exist and just a short vacation is enough to be a life time changing experience. Whether you idle your days away listening to the rhythm of the ocean, lazing away on beaches filled with tropical splendor. Your imagination can run wild, from being in a world from a different time exploring the history and intriguing stories of buried treasure. This is the closest you will come to finding if you will paradise on earth.

Life in Paradise
You awaken to the glistening waters gentle rhythm as though you are emerging into paradise. The weather is never a problem as even the winters are more like summer to other parts of the world. You then walk along the beaches with the white sand slipping gently between your toes as you see the gentle caress of the ocean. The locals are friendly, smiling at you and making you feel welcome. As though they know a secret and soon you too will awaken to the secret of how life can be. You feel freedom that is unexplained in words you are timeless and in essence synchronistical to the island. Your greatest worries are when to enjoy breakfast. The traffic is different. It is not the bustling pace of a city but instead a friendly chaotic island experience. The mingling dialects and English accents in themselves make you feel at ease. This becomes a life that you do not want to leave, that enchants you with quaint customs and tropical delight. Every minute is an experience in which you can allow yourself to slow down to the tone of the island. The history is vivid from stories of buried treasure and maritime mysteries. To exploring the other Islands and slowly letting the past stress of the real world disappear. The coral is absolutely awesome to observe. The longer you stay on the Islands the more they become a part of your life. It is a stress free casual approach to a world outside that is insane with deadlines and stress. That is not what you find in the Bahamas. Here you find that a part of the islands goes into you heart and leaves you breathless just by being a part of it. So after spending the day either participating in water sports and activities or lazing around you prepare yourself for the evening. It is a time of festivity and entertainment where you truly experience another culture. From the dancing to the languid ease at which you all gather together, relaxation cannot begin to explain a day in the Islands. Even the drinks are exotic cocktails served in an ambience that can only be referred to as an Island experience.

  You awaken to another day and the same routine begins again, except that this time it is as though you are a part of the Islands. You feel welcome and at home. In your heart you get a feeling that you never really want to leave. Because the Islands change you, so as you explore from Island to Island and languish in tropical tranquility. A part of you belongs to the islands. In this relaxed paradise you slowly leave all the baggage that you have been carrying and find happiness inside of yourself, just because you are in paradise. The magnificence of just being you on an island is something that most people only ever dream about.  When it comes time to say goodbye to the Islands it is an emotional experience, you remember tranquil walks and days spend that are written in you. You dont want to leave, although you take a part of the Islands with you. When you return to civilization you seem and feel different. People notice you and wonder why you seem to know some cryptic secret with the faint smile that you still walk around with. The secret of the Islands is within you, something that only someone who has spent time there can understand. It becomes like a home that you never really want to leave, but the call of the Islands will bring you back. The vivacious memories that tantalize you are the gifts of the Islands. And when you do leave the locals and guests have become your friends. It is as the Islands give to you, so you too give a part of your heart to the Islands. You never really leave and the memories made are remembered for a lifetime. After having been to the Islands of the Bahamas you can truly say you know the meaning of the word Paradise.

Hermione is defending herself. She has been accused of sleeping around with other men in King Leontes absence. Hermione insists that Leontes jealousy will be his undoing and though there are women who are unfaithful to their husbands, she is not among them more so now that Leontes raped her. Hermione is asking that Leontes stops using his suspicions of her infidelity to solicit mistresses. The persona says it is wrong for the King to use something that is untrue in the first place as an excuse to be unfaithful and to punish her. She says all that evil will catch up with him eventually (Silverbush  Plotkin, 2002).

Hermione uses the word play to indicate that she pretends to be okay while she is not. The other meaning of the same word play refers to the King Leontes in-discretionary behavior and the last meaning is asking Hermiones son not to worry despite being in exile since all is well.

According to (Silverbush  Plotkin, 2002) the poem creates an image of a woman who has self pride despite being disgraced by being raped and accused of sleeping around with other men. Leontes is a possessive man and this is a society where sexual immorality is rampant. Men have intercourse with their friends wives and married women also are unfaithful to their husbands. The word sluiced means snatching or a man taking anothers wife and bedding her. The word brings about the effect of speed whereby one is ready to take a chance as the window of opportunity is very limited  husbands absence period is not certain - and it creates the image of misbehaving. Also, women are aggressive and go after men and though Hermione says she is changing tact, she is unlike what Leontes thinks of her. Hermione says she is tired of the mistreatment and will do something about it. The words used create several images and develop the gist of the poem.

What does Knowledge, or Insight mean in Platos, Allegory of the Cave

         Knowledge is defined as The fact or condition, of knowing something with familiarity, gained through experience or association (knowledge, Merriam Webster Online Dictionary).
In Allegory of the Cave, Plato describes a conversation between Socrates (his teacher) and his brother, Glaucon, discussing concepts supporting his Theory of Forms.    The Theory of Forms suggests that humans live in two worlds, one that is basically real in regards to our senses, and a world that we perceive to be real, but isnt.  Therefore, there is a world that is permanent and stable, vs. a world that is not permanent.

     In Allegory of the Cave, Socrates gives an example of chained prisoners that cannot move their legs, arms and most importantly, their head.  They are forced to face a wall, and watch shadows move, from one end to the other.  The prisoners, (have been there a long time since they were young), believe that these shadows are real. That is, real animals, real people, whatever the puppeteers happen to be casting a shadow off of.  But the prisoners do not see the puppeteers, or the objects they are carrying, they are only seeing the shadows on the wall.   This gives us insight on how the prisoners knowledge, was formed.  The prisoners know no other knowledge, other than the knowledge portrayed to them by the puppeteers.  This knowledge was created for them, not through experience of their senses, but by perception. 

     Socrates then goes on to discuss the possibility of a prisoner being let free.  He describes the new knowledge this ex-prisoner experiences, as he descends from the cave into the sunlight.  The prisoners mind, body and emotions, are all affected by all the new senses of this new world.  He then learns that the knowledge he had as a prisoner was only perceived, and this new knowledge experienced by his senses, is real knowledge.   

     Socrates also goes on to state that if the released prisoner should ever return to the cave, would the prisoners accept his testimony as real  There is likelihood that they would not, because they have not experienced what the freed prisoner has experienced through his senses.  In other words, they would have to see it, to believe it.

     Socrates theory of living in a dual world reality, is not exclusive to the time in which he lived.   Are we trapped in a world of impermanence and partiality.  If we are shown a news brief on crop circles, and we are told they were created by aliens, a majority of people would believe that aliens created the crop circles.  But in reality, it was two farmers that have been creating crop circles for 20 years.  However, most people will not be able to travel to the crop circle location, to validate this knowledge through their senses.  They have to rely on perception to form their knowledge, because they lack the opportunity to validate the facts with their senses.   

What does knowledge mean in Genesis 
     The story of Genesis, largely involves the creation of Earth and man, by God.  As we try to find the meaning of knowledge in Genesis, than we should look at the story of Adam and Eve, and their activities in the Garden of Eden.  Adam and Eve were given basic instructions by God, to eat of the Tree of Life, and to avoid the Tree of Knowledge, or they shall perish.  God didnt tell them what would happen if they ate of the Tree of Knowledge, but to only avoid it.    It wasnt until the serpent spoke to Eve, that the Tree of Knowledge was elaborated on.  The serpent questioned Eve as to why she should not eat of it, and convinced her that if she ate from it, her eyes would be opened.  

     In the story of Adam and Eve, the Tree of Knowledge, represents knowledge of good and evil.  By disobedience, Adam and Eve came to a personal and experimental knowledge of each, by eating of the Tree of Knowledge.  After eating of the Tree of Knowledge, Adam and Eve can now differentiate happiness, from sorrow, and hatred from love.  Had they not ate from the Tree of Knowledge, perhaps their only knowledge would have been of happiness, and love  Also, if they did not eat of the Tree of Knowledge, would their current knowledge of happiness be perceived, or real  

     The observation we can make about Genesis, is that Adam and Eves newfound knowledge was more damning, than blissful.   Was being blissfully ignorant a higher level of enlightenment for them, then after they ate of the Tree of Life  Or were they more enlightened after If being enlightened means knowledgeable enough to be just, compassionate and resourceful, then they were better off before their deed.  But now, they have a reality that is perceived and real, because they can perceive their new knowledge, as well as feel it.  So the question here is not whether Adam and Eve lived in a perception rather than reality, as in the Allegory of the Cave, because they were not forced to believe an illusion.  The question is, is it more important for a person to have the freedom to be able to live in a perceived reality, than a real one (httpwww.philosophypages.comhy2h.htm)  By exploring the Allegory of the Cave and Genesis, we can draw the conclusion that it is more important to have the  choice of how much knowledge we want to posses, rather than having someone else make that decision for us.

The character of Hamlet is one of William Shakespeares most interesting characters with regard to his complex personality and revenge-driven motivations. As a young man who just lost his father, King Hamlet, it is apparent that he is yet to adjust to the new life he is left to live which the sudden marriage of his mother, Gertrude to his Uncle Claudius. This situation is most possibly the very reason for his hatred towards Claudius which made it easy for him to believe the supposedly ghostly apparition of his father. As the ghost claims that Claudius was the one responsible for his death, Hamlet was quick to believe the ghost without further investigation due to his initial dislike of Claudius suddenly transitioning as his uncle to stepfather.

Hamlet has obviously disapproved of his uncle Claudius even before he saw the ghost of his father claiming that the one who murdered him was Claudius and that he needed his son to avenge him. His seething hatred for Claudius was rooted upon his hasty marriage to his mother, Gertrude. He mentioned in one of his soliloquies that it has only been two months since the late King Hamlets death and his mother has already remarriednot to mention married to her late husbands brother O, God a beast that wants discourse of reason,  Would have mournd longer,married with mine uncle,  My fathers brother but no more like my father  Than I to Hercules within a month (1.2.150-153).

    It is also important to note that Hamlets actions triggered his lover, Ophelias madness and pushed her to commit suicide. One of the notable scenes suggesting Hamlets manipulation of Ophelia is the nunnery scene where Hamlet tells Ophelia that, I did love you once whereas Ophelia replies with Indeed, my lord, you made me believe so. Hamlet then tells her You should not have believed me and Ophelia responds with I was the more deceived then comes the famous cruel line of Hamlet, Get thee to a nunnery, why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners (3.1.114-121). Clearly, it is not confirmed whether Hamlet is sincere with his words as he is simply pretending to be mad to avoid being caught guilty of planning to kill Claudius. This scene extremely signifies Hamlets impact to the emotions of Ophelia. She is choked by her experience of patriarchal ascendancy which is present in her relationship with Hamlet. He calls her names and tells her harsh words. It is ironic though he actually loves her dearly yet he is one of the reasons for her suffocation.

     The character of Hamlet is as complex as the storys plot which actually makes the play more interesting. His previous actions are ultimately the reasons why conflicts arose in his life and in the lives of the supporting characters as well. He was a vengeful character who could have smoothed things out without resorting to violence but since he was blinded by his rage and the fast-paced transitions in his life, he was forced to think and act impulsively.

One book that has affected me in a way that it has stayed in my mind and left me thinking long after I have finished reading it is Thomas Hardys novel, Jude the Obscure. It is a depressing story. Jude Fawley is a poor boy from a small village who dreams of being a scholar at Christminster when he grows up. In the meantime, he studies by himself, marries a country girl, separates with her, lives together with a cousin and bears children with her, and finds livelihood as a mason. All through these dramas and detours in his life, he holds on to his dream. In the end, his eldest child kills his siblings because he could not bear the poverty-stricken life anymore, his wife leaves him, and he gets sick until he dies.

    I have never read a book more depressing than Jude the Obscure. There is no redemption for Jude all throughout his life, not even a hopeful note in the tone of Hardys writings. Instead, certain events highlight Judes hopelessness and the impossibility of his dream as in the scene that shows him watching a parade of scholars passing by him, a sort of metaphor of how his sole dream of ever being a student in the academy is passing him by as he struggles with harsh everyday living. In the end, Jude simply diesthe ultimate escape to all hard lives in the world but it is an end that is not consoling to the reader.

    The story is unsettling because of this effect of telling the reader to face reality life will not realize your deepest dreams so do not expect too much from it. One either has to simply be content with and make the best out of what the present brings, or prepare to be defeated. On the other hand, the story also made me appreciate the value of the struggle that humans do on earth everyday. Humans are resilient beings. Like Jude, they are always fighting against fate until the very end of their lives. Somehow, it is never the realization of dreams that will matter, but the fact that one dared to dream, struggle, lost, but not ever give up and instead accomplish that test of endurance called living.