The Kite Runner Essay Example for Free

The Kite Runner Essay An individual’s sense of belonging stems from their notions of identity, personal context, and place. A lack in any of these areas may result in a thorough sense of alienation and pose as a barrier, which prevents belonging and facilitates an individual’s decision to exclude themselves from their surroundings. However, ironically, these barriers that present hardship can truly liberate an individual and help them in finding a more fulfilled state of belonging. These ideas are explored in Shakespeare’s play, As You Like It and Khaled Hosseini’s novel, The Kite Runner. Barriers to belonging are evident in the play in ‘As you like it’ and are explored through gender paradigms, and social structures. Particularly through the relationship between Rosalind and Duke Frederick. Due to the usurpation of her father by the disloyal Duke Frederick, Rosalind is unfairly subjected to the harsh treatment by her Uncle. He creates suspicion and isolates Rosalind through his diction in, â€Å"Mistress, dispatch you with your safest haste and get you from our court. â€Å" â€Å"Me, uncle? † Here the employment of second person reveals the distancing of Rosalind from the hierarchy. His use of the imperative emphasises the barrier that will be created. Frederick is presented as a Machiavellian character whose threat, â€Å"or thou deist† emphasises the danger inherent in her vulnerable state. Her vulnerability due to her gender is also evident, when he alludes to the Christian practice of purgation â€Å"If purgation did consist in words† which is associated with a spiritual cleansing, of the body which suggests that Rosalind is impure He also confirms the notion of the impure female by his use of sibilance (to Celia) in â€Å"She is too subtle for thee and her smoothness,Her very silence† He uses juxtaposition between Celia and Rosalind to reinforce Celia’s â€Å"purity† â€Å"Thou wilt show more bright and virtuous. Therefore, the issue of sexuality and female deviousness is alluded to. Furthermore, R’s separation by gender is evident in, Touchstone’s dialogue as he says to Rosalind, â€Å"Thus men grow wiser everyday. It is the first time I heard breaking of ribs was sport for ladies. † Touchstone does not think wrestling is a sport for ladies to enjoy. In dressing as Ganymede, she acquires a certain freedom to move around, give advice, and associate as an equal among other men. Breaking free of an external factor and gaining a sense of attachment. Thus her projection of control affects her sense of belonging by challenging the traditional sense of gender roles. Comparatively, ‘The kite runner’, explores the disparity created by differences in cultural backgrounds. This connection manifests in the relationship between Amir and Hassan, though Amir is true to Hassan in private, he feels the need to relate to Hassan according to the prevailing social hierarchy in public. â€Å"Afghanistan is the land of the Pashtun’s†¦not the flat-nosed Hazara’s, these people pollute our homeland. They dirty our blood. The inclusive language at the beginning of the quote is aimed at the Pashtun’s whereas the negative connotations of ‘pollute’ and ‘dirty’ emphasise the subservient position of the Hazara’s in the Afghani society and thus losing their sense of placement within society. Amir has to face that fact he is disloyal to his relationship with Hassan and begins personal growth. â€Å"He’s my servant! Had I really though that? † â€Å"Everywhere I turned I saw signs of his loyalty, his goddamn unwavering loyalty. † the absence of conjunction emphasises his thorough regrets that act as a barrier preventing him from belonging. Furthermore, Assef tells Amir Afghanistan is like a beautiful mansion littered with garbage† This denigrating simile compares Afghanistan to a beautiful mansion, i. e. something that is sacred whilst the Hazara are being compared to garbage, belittling these people. This quote also juxtaposes the concepts of a mansion and garbage where a mansion represents wealth, influence, authority and respect whereas garbage signifies something that defiles an otherwise pristine environment. The discrimination against the Hazara’s detaches them from their homeland of Afghanistan and thus limits their ability to belong. Through familial relationships, characters from both texts have furthered their understanding and ability to belong. From AYLI, Orlando is marginalised and alienated as his jealous older brother Oliver has cut him out of their father’s will and had not educated him as their father wished. The simile, said by Orlando, â€Å"You have trained me like a peasant† likens him to poverty. Orlando is clearly irritated by his mistreatment and as a result catalyses his ability to belong. â€Å"I will no longer endure it,† he says with high modality and escapes into the forest of Arden where he found a sense of acceptance. Through his new connection Orlando develops a more enduring connection through Rosalind, who like impresario, provoking characters like Orlando to re-evaluate the quality of relationships. Rosalind uses eloquence rather than verbosity. This is evident in, â€Å"To Shakespeare love between men and women is grounded in mutual, not just masculine, behaviour†¦what has happened between people helps make possible what will happen. † Striving to feel a bond of security, Amir was desperate to win his fathers approval. If I hadn’t seen the doctor pull him out of my wife with my own eyes, I’d never believe he’s my son. The short sentences in the quote, are to the point and Baba had not thought twice about the distant relationships between the two nor has he made the effort to improve that. Amir, on the other hand, went to the extent to betray his best friend in hopes of gaining the love of his father to fill the void within him that prevented him from any sense of security. Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay to win Baba The diction here alludes to the religious ceremony of sacrificing a lamb to a greater power, and similarly, Amir sacrifices Hassan to achieve something greater. Amir and Babas relationship was artificial but through the strain they experienced, Amir was pushed to realise his place in where he truly belonged. There is also an atmosphere of political change and unrest in 1970 Afghanistan â€Å"something roared like thunder. The earth shook a little. † This pathetic fallacy, associated with explosions and gunfire associated with the entering of Russian tanks and â€Å" the death of the Afghanistan I knew. † show that the relationship between boys is a stable force similar to Celia and Rosalind in AYLI. An individual’s ability to conform is dependent on the place in which they are surrounded by. In AYLI, the juxtaposed locations of the forest and the court constantly remind the audience of the differences between them. The ironic use of â€Å"you cousin† by Duke Frederick clarifies how the court is governed by deceitful intrigue and flawed relationships whereas the biblical allusion to Eden said by Duke Senior â€Å"feel not the penalty of Adam† as they â€Å"fleet the time as carelessly as they did in the golden world† signifies the ideal world that man longs to be. The two parallel locations impact the characters when, from the oppression of the city, characters escape to the simple life of nature. Arden acts as a catalyst for their renewal, assisting their ability to arrive at a fuller sense of belonging for when they returned to court and thus is affected by external factor of place. In comparison, the Kite Runner shows the struggle of immigration. Amir along with Baba had to deal with fitting into an entirely different culture. Baba, who expressed a great deal of pride and attachment to his culture, was filled with a loss of identity when he moved to America, he’s identity was of a guest whilst in Afghanistan he was a successful and influential figure. Amir, on the other hand, finds temporary relief from the guilt he left behind in Afghanistan. Similar to the forest of Arden that provides characters with an illusion of paradise in â€Å"As you like it†, America provides Amir with a vacation from the reality of his personal problems. For me, America was a place to bury my memories†¦For Baba, a place to mourn his and thus demonstrating the importance of external factors such as place. To conclude, even though the texts are different they are dealing with universal themes of discrimination, familial connections and dislocation of place. And through these barriers that act to hold back an individuals ability to belong, it also acts as a catalyst for a deeper and more fulfilled state of belonging.

The Importance of Slearys Circus People in Hard Times Essay -- Dicken

The Importance of Sleary's Circus People in Hard Times      Ã‚  Ã‚   In Charles Dickens' novel "Hard Times", an alternative view of the Gradgrind-Bounderby way of life is presented by Sleary's circus people.    Sleary's people are shown by Dickens as leading lives which go against everything which Gradgrind represents and as such they are at first a kind of abomination to him. They are shown as people with a life of freedom, not constrained by the rigid set laws and hard facts which Gradgrind's philosophy is based upon. Not only just the physical freedom to roam the countryside almost at will, where Gradgrind is tied to Coketown. But also a mental freedom to enjoy life to the full with all it's spontaneity, unconditional emotions, imagination, failings, shortcomings and passions. Something which Gradgrind is shown not being able to comprehend until late on in the book. You get the feeling that their life on this world is to give pleasure to others at sometimes great risk to themselves "a pretty fair haired girl.......made a will at twelve" 1 , in a place where the "Hands" can e... The Importance of Sleary's Circus People in Hard Times Essay -- Dicken The Importance of Sleary's Circus People in Hard Times      Ã‚  Ã‚   In Charles Dickens' novel "Hard Times", an alternative view of the Gradgrind-Bounderby way of life is presented by Sleary's circus people.    Sleary's people are shown by Dickens as leading lives which go against everything which Gradgrind represents and as such they are at first a kind of abomination to him. They are shown as people with a life of freedom, not constrained by the rigid set laws and hard facts which Gradgrind's philosophy is based upon. Not only just the physical freedom to roam the countryside almost at will, where Gradgrind is tied to Coketown. But also a mental freedom to enjoy life to the full with all it's spontaneity, unconditional emotions, imagination, failings, shortcomings and passions. Something which Gradgrind is shown not being able to comprehend until late on in the book. You get the feeling that their life on this world is to give pleasure to others at sometimes great risk to themselves "a pretty fair haired girl.......made a will at twelve" 1 , in a place where the "Hands" can e...

Comparison-Theory of Evolution vs Creationism Theory Essay

In this essay I will compare the Theory of Creationism and the Theory of Evolution. While there are many that deeply believe in each of these theories, they present stark differences in thinking, and in individual beliefs. Let us begin by looking at Creationism. This particular theory has not a single shred of evidence to support it, yet vast populations are willing to die rather than denounce it. It has been referred to as â€Å"The Truth†. The basic belief of this theory is that â€Å"The Lord God†, or a â€Å"Supreme Being† created the universe and everything in it. It is believed that we as humans were made in the image of â€Å"God†. God created man, and called him â€Å"Adam†. Adam was lonely and The Lord then took a rib from Adam while he slept, and with it he created woman. God called her â€Å"Eve†. The creation of the universe and everything in it took six days. On the seventh day, God rested. In stark contrast to the Creationist Theory, we have what is called the Theory of Evolution. Charles Darwin is credited with first proposing this theory, which also includes something known as ‘natural selection†. First things first, let us examine evolution. Darwin believed that we as humans, as wells animals and even plants are constantly changing. His belief and that of many others is that with every generation slight modifications are inherent, thus producing better and better offspring. By this this he means better adapted to survive and flourish. If it could ever be demonstrated that any complex organ existed which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down. † (Charles Darwin). To summarize, the basis of theory here is the guiding force or â€Å"natural selection† preserves beneficial variations, therefore each generation exhibits new and more complex organisms. This applies to the tiniest bug or seedling, as well as all plants and animals including human beings. Scie nce however is yet to prove either theory. It must be said that the details of this process remain obscure and are not likely to be known in the near future. † (The RNA World, p72-73). It must be understood that science is based on two assumptions known as â€Å"axioms†. Axioms represent self-evident assumptions. Scientists would not be able to continue the study of science without the observable axiom. If this were the case doubt would inevitably be cast on all scientific theories. Whereby if scientists were not able to observe reality, or if they were to observe it inaccurately, the basis of all scientific theories would be thrown out. It is most fortunate for mankind that the majority of people see this axiom clearly, without the need for instruction or clarity. While keeping in mind the observable axiom we must examine the naturalistic axiom. The naturalistic axiom differs from the observable axiom because unlike the observable axiom, the naturalistic axiom can be tested. This means science can function perfectly without it being easily observed by 90% of the population. Still, the means by which life originated is not currently understood. Because of the complicated problems that arise when studying life’s origin the more we begin to understand it, the more lost we become in respect to it. It seems to elude scientists more and more with each successive study revealing more mysterious problems then the last. In regard to the origin of life, the naturalistic axiom only permits science to investigate theories that exclude things that cannot be tested and proven. That means the study of theories without proof, such as supreme beings will not be considered. This places scientists in a rather precarious position. Not only is the opportunity to study God-related ideas not permitted, but evolutional ideas have not been proven either. Since evolutionists are not willing to abandon the naturalistic axiom they are forced to make one final observation. They must assume that science will inevitably discover the origin of life in the future. Therefore nothing has been proven-only assumptions have been made. Many scientists however have already accepted that evolution can be proved, yet I have not seen evidence of either theory. It is because of the lack of evidence that I make an observation myself. In other words, I presume to know one thing: Our beliefs are of a personal nature. They are not to be criticized or debated. Not an ounce of proof is necessary. Neither is the application of any type of axiom. No matter if an individual chooses either of the theories discussed in this paper, or proposes a theory of their own, or decides that no theory is even adequate-whatever one believes can never be wrong. While many would like to impose their beliefs on others, it is not an acceptable practice on any level. To attempt to do so has far reaching consequences and many times results in catastrophic illness, heartbreak and death. I find it unconscionable, yet it is occurring in many parts of the world even as this essay is written. Decisions can only be made for oneself. If only every person everywhere would stop to consider this, it is this author’s opinion that the world would be a much happier place.

Charles Darwin s Theory Of Evolution - 2015 Words

When Charles Darwin formulated his Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection, he had adopted some assumed premises. The most important of all these premises was that all biological organisms have an innate imperative for survival, if not solely for themselves as individuals, then for their offspring, and ultimately, their species. Regardless of whether or not these biological entities are even aware of this â€Å"will to live and proliferate,† it is assumed to not only exist in all living things, but also to be their ultimate goal. Man, Homo sapien, a biological organism, would be expected to have the very same primary goal towards survival, yet, often times it seems man has a more important agenda– towards personal gain. Most scientists will†¦show more content†¦But much like the Greek fable, at the bottom of this box of maladies and nasties lies the true gift – hope – but it may be man s hubris and fear that, much like Pandora, slams the box shut before it can escape. This hope against sickness and disease is, of course, vaccination. Few scientific words spark as much heated debate between scientists and lay people alike as vaccination, but over the past few decades, the practice has become the source of great scrutiny. But vaccinations have been used in medicine since Edward Jenner discovered that inoculation with cowpox could provide immunity to small pox in 1796, and not only have they been used, but they have grown exponentially, with vaccines for life threatening and debilitating diseases such as rabies, tetanus, polio, and influenza becoming available for the masses, with new vaccines being developed all the time. But the past 15 years have seen many parents opt out of vaccination, deciding to expose their children to many of the dangers that medical science has pushed to the brink of extinction. Obviously, it can be assumed that it is not because these parents have some sort of desire to prevent the survival of their offspring. In fact, the reason is most likely grounded in some belief that vaccinations can harm their children. It has been known since vaccinations were first recommended and administered to children that there is a chance that they