Analysis of Hamlet’s Morality Essay

Hamlet is one of the greatest dramatic characters created. Throughout the play, we acknowledge the complexity of his persona. Even without Shakespeare providing an elaborated description of Hamlet’s characteristics, we instantly perceive him as contradictory. At the beginning of the play, Hamlet is presented to us as a cautious and courteous man; however, due to the negative circumstances he has to face, we see how his moral character becomes reckless and uncivil. Shakespeare uses antithesis, allusion, and irony, to show the â€Å"demoralization† of Hamlet’s character. Throughout the play, Hamlet is overwhelmed by a feeling of revenge but hesitates in the murder of Claudius due to his fear of making the wrong decision. Hamlet is held back by his consideration of religious morals and beliefs. This is clearly shown right after Hamlet stages the play. †Claudius â€Å"rises† in guilty startlement at The Mousetrap’s revelations† (Essays on Values in Literature). After this point, Hamlet is fairly certain that Claudius is guilty, and comes across Claudius in the chapel. Hamlet is given the perfect opportunity to kill Claudius, but he decides that he doesn’t want to kill him while he is praying. Hamlet feels that if he murdered him during prayer, he would dishonor his father by sending Claudius to heaven. Instead, Hamlet wants to kill him while he is doing something horrific, ensuring Claudius goes to hell, where Hamlet feels he deserves to go. Hamlet says: Now might I do it pat, now he is praying; and now I’ll do’t. And so he goes to heaven, and so am I revenged. That would be scann’d: A villain kills my father; and for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send To heaven. †¦No. Up sword, and know thou a more horrid hent. (3.3.77-83, 93) A very significant component to Hamlet’s loss of morality is his decision to act insanity. It is a major risk he is willing to take in order to accomplish his father’s request. Hamlet realizes this is the only way he will be able to investigate his father’s death without being perceived as a threat. However, for this plan to work he has to unchain a group of new personality traits that contribute to the deterioration of his morality. Hamlet puts into practice his new role with Ophelia, whom along with her father, believes his madness is a result of his rejection of her. This display takes Ophelia’s father Polonius to Claudius, and together they set a plan to spy on Hamlet, using Ophelia as the lure. Nevertheless, Hamlet is a clever man, and rapidly finds out what is happening. This is a devastating point in Hamlet’s life as he comes to the conclusion that he has lost everything he once loved. The terrible realization that his last source of hope is now lost takes Hamlet to a new stage. The last sense of respect he had towards the people around him is now gone. Hamlet starts to exceed his rely on his â€Å"madness† to tell the truth about his thoughts. First to Polonius: Slanders, sir: for the satirical rogue says here that old men have grey beards, that their faces are wrinkled, their eyes purging thick amber and plum-tree gum and that they have a plentiful lack of wit, together with most weak hams: all which, sir, though I most powerfully and potently believe, yet I hold it not honesty to have it thus set down, for yourself, sir, should be old as I am, if like a crab you could go backward.(2.2.214-222) And later to Ophelia and his mother: O God, your only jig-maker. What should a man do but be merry? for, look you, how cheerfully my mother looks, and my father died within these two hours.(3.2.130-135) Hamlet exhibits a new change in attitude after he returns from his uncompleted trip to England. He starts to feel a consuming anger against Claudius for his father’s death. He recognizes that his indecisiveness has been preventing him from action. Hamlet makes it clear that he wants to end his indecisiveness when he claims, â€Å"O, from this time forth/ my thoughts be bloody ore be nothing worth† (4.4.68-69) With this proclamation, Hamlet shows his deep desire to focus on the death of his uncle. This change makes Hamlet able to seek full revenge for his father’s death no matter the consequences. Hamlet is then completely transformed into a man that acts out of pure revenge. This is clearly demonstrated when Hamlet thinks Claudius is spying on him again and kills Polonius by accident. At this moment, it is evident that this is not the same cautious man we met before. Eventually, Hamlet’s new characteristics lead him to the achievement of his main and primary goal. In this play, â€Å"the moral component is there in Hamlet’s thinking† (Corruption in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, 70). His use of reason was his only tie to morality, and once this connection was broken, so was his moral character. However, Shakespeare plays with the idea of â€Å"what circumstances might justify an individual taking the law into his own hands† (Corruption in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, 69); leaving us with the question of whether Hamlet had lost his morality, or he was the only moral man in an immoral world. The complexity and contradictions expressed in this play and in Hamlet’s character make this work exceptional. Works Cited Grace, Tiffany. â€Å"Hamlet, reconciliation, and the just state.† Renascence: Essays on Values in Literature 58.2 (2005) Johnson, Vernon Elso. Corruption in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1992. Print.

Civil Liberties vs National Security

In U. S. , the bill of rights protects civil liberties. People in the United States, hold civil rights, which are those privileges, immunities and rights held by all Americans and political rights, which are the rights that are restricted to those who are entitled to participate in elections, as candidates or voters. The distinction is important since not all are eligible to vote though they all should enjoy their freedoms. This may no longer be feasible as majority of the civil rights are taken to include the political rghts in this age. National security can be defined as a country's need to maintain its survival by use of military, political and economic power for diplomacy. Civil liberty are freedoms and rights exercised by individuals in any country provided by their country's legislation or international laws, for example the right to life, freedom of speech, freedom of expression, the right to privacy, the right to security and liberty and many more. National security issues arose after the second world war in the united states of America with initial emphasis on the military. For any country in this day and age, national security encompasses energy security, economic security, environmental security and many more. Security threats range not only from external states but also from illegal drug cartels, multi-national organizations and terrorists groups. The civil liberty concepts are protected under a country's constitution, bill of rights. Other legal legislation are also adopted by country's to uphold this civil liberties by giving effect to international laws passed in conventions such as the International Covenant and Political Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights. The protection of civil rights is deemed as the responsibility of a country's people and government. The extent of some civil liberties, such as reproductive rights, property rights and several others are subject of debate. The debate of whether or not civil liberties should or can be infringed to ensure national security has been subject to never ending debate. The extent to which civil liberties can be altered and, or suspended with respect to the security of a nations interests calls for a reat deal of care in striking the correct balance. Posner (2001) disputes the ideology of civil libertarians that national security will lead to an erosion of civil liberties. He proposes that the basic mistake is the prioritizing of liberty and is both a mistake about history as well as law when it comes to striking the needed balance between civil freedoms and national security. In his view, under law, these civil rights can rarely be altered to suit the time within which they exist to uphold the same rights as before. Cole (2002), in contrast states that the nation's response to national security threats has time and again infringed civil rights. The Supreme Court of the United State's in tandem acknowledges that, â€Å"History abundantly documents the tendency of Government, however benevolent and benign its motives -to view with suspicion those who most fervently dispute its policies. † that said, this is not a problem that is unique to the United States, but the constitutional structures, political will and religious structures do not protect the people's rights. He further points out that our governments subvert the freedoms that constitute the defense in the well being of a nation. Glenn Greenwald talks of the misconception of combating terror in the name of national security while upholding civil liberties. He emphasis that the meaning of this civil rights has been distorted and often misunderstood due to the description of combating terrorism to preserve national security. The meaning of terrorism has been built on the notion that, if one was not on our side then they were definitely against us. This has grown fear within people that infringe on basic human rights e. g of residence, movement, expression, association and many more. The misinterpretation of upholding national security ends up marginalizing and curtailing the freedoms of some of the patriotic residents who may be involved directly or indirectly with particular religions and groups seen as potential threats. The F. B. I, has significant legal powers, excellent resources, and a jurisdiction that has overseas coverage. They have in recent years penetrated and prosecuted many organized criminal gangs, uncovered public corruption and successfully caught up with terror attacks. Still the same F. B. I has curtailed the basic freedoms of association, speech e. t. c The bureau while protecting their national security freedoms has infringed the human rights by disrupting and neutralizing peaceful protests. It has more so focused its resources on neutralizing and curbing political activity other than investigate criminal activities. The force, does not have accountability to the the public while incriminates on the basis of association instead of relying hard facts and evidence to get hold of the real criminals. The adoption of legislation such as the Anti-terrorism Act (1996), is a good indicator of past injustices and the unrestricted investigations by the bureau based on political agendas. The Act's deliberate criminalization of peaceful activity gave the F. B. I. leverage to involve itself in the religious, ethnic and political grouping involving themselves in peaceful and humanitarian work. Afterwards, it grew to encourage politically motivated investigations. The deportation and exclusion of immigrants on the basis of guilt of association completely discredits the protection of the civil rights. Other legislations such as the enactment of the secret evidence against alleged terrorists infringed on their basic freedoms e. g the right to confront one's accusers. For any society, political freedom is key, thus allowing peaceful ways to express their dissatisfaction which in turn initiates social change. Civil rights have been infringed since the legal regime established under Presidents Roosevelt, Truman and Eisenhower who facilitated the worst abuses in the FBI's history, and eventually led to reforms. The FBI under new and better legislation undertook an intensive campaign with the aim of capturing suspected Communists,. The committees that were set up drew up lists and constructed links among organizations. They were confronted with incriminating evidence with no room for self defense and compelling testimonies from individuals who lost their jobs if they did not agree to testify, and to some extent were locked up. Posner insists that these freedom should be curtailed up to the point where the benefits outweigh the costs of reduced liberty. In all this, legislation ought to be responsible as well as the officials so that they maintain the balance between the civil liberties and national security. History depicts officials generally exaggerate the dangers to the country's security which is not entirely true. Officials tasked with the responsibility to estimate the occurrences and magnitude of these dangers failed, thus led to the occurrences e. the civil war of Japan on the U. S that led to the distraction at Pearl Harbor,of Soviet espionage in the 1940s, the September 11 attacks and many more. The Government in times of crisis, will exercise its power to conduct a comprehensive domestic intelligence. The difference between legal dissent and criminal conduct is often forgotten. The work of the church, is to recommend means to make sure that the distinction will always be observed. The unfortunate bit arises when, you incompatible and outdated ways to deal with issues that threaten your national security. Legislations that deem an individual guilty by association of group, color, race, religion should be put aside to ensure that the fundamental rights of each human being are respected and up held. In the ongoing balancing debate between civil liberties and national security is never ending. However, the constitution has an already balanced point between personal freedoms and government power. Hence the curtailing of individual rights is a personal decision or the government's irresponsibility with the power vested in it by the same people it ought to protect. Anti-terrorism can be used as a measure to the extent of infringing right. Despite the intense war to eradicate terrorism everywhere, the terrorist threat in reality cannot be eliminated. We need to come up with very good responses. However, this should be careful planned out and executed to avoid sacrificing the fundamental principles that constitute our democratic identity. Otherwise, it is best is to follow our liberal principles, to use the set criminal laws to punish and prosecute those who plan or carry out violent deeds and encourage critics of our government into the practice of tolerance and democracy.

Advantages for sociologists in using structured interviews Essay

The structured interview, also known as the formal or questionnaire interview, involves a face-to-face or alternatively an over-the-phone delivery of a questionnaire. Structured interviews use a pre-set list of questions designed by the researcher and asked to all interviewees in the same way, this is know as an interview schedule. Interviewees then choose from a list of set answers, allowing structured interviews to be relatively quick. Structured interviews have various advantages, therefore, some sociologists, mainly Positivist sociologists, choose to use structured interviews when conducting research. Positivists go by the assumption that there is a measurable objective social reality. They take a scientific approach using methods such as structured interviews to obtain quantitative data. Positivists are mainly interested in research methods that achieve their main goals of reliability, generalisability and representativeness, for this reason, they favour structured interviews as they achieve these goals. This is because structured interviews have close-ended questions and answers that are standardised, counted and quantified; they are reliable because they can be therefore replicated. Positivist sociologists also prefer to use structured interviews when conducting research because the pre-coded responses mean that produce quantitative data, can allow cause-and-effect relationships can be established. Thus, structured interviews are preferred by positivists. Also, structured interviews are representative and can therefore be generalised, because of the fact that they are often large-scale. There are also practical advantages to using structured interviews. For an example, training interviewers is relatively easy and inexpensive as no specialist skills have to be taught as the questions tend to be very straightforward as they often close-ended, and do not require too much thought. Due to the fact that skills taught are minimal, the process of training interviewers will not cost too much. This brings a huge practical advantage for sociologists of structured interviews being low cost. Another practical advantage is that structured interviews are relatively cheap, quick and easy to administer. This enables sociologists to use a  larger sample in the interview process, allowing more representative results to be produced. Therefore, the researcher can make generalisations. No only this, but structured interviews have a higher response rate, than mailed questionnaires for example, further improving and reinforcing the representative advantage of structured interviews. Furthermore, face to face interviews ensure a much higher response rate than mailed questionnaires for example, due to the fact that the researcher’s presence means that the research purpose and importance can be explained to potential interviewees, allowing them to understand how valuable it is that their response is correct and true, thus increasing validity- an important advantage for sociologists. Finally interviewer effect occurs when the interviewer’s presence affects the interviewee’s responses, in turn reducing validity. However, the advantage with structured interviews is that the interviewer effect with be much less than with unstructured, open-ended unstructured interviews. This is due to the fact that in structured interviews contact is restricted to asking and responding fixed list of questions and close-ended answers. All points considered there are a number of advantages for sociologists in using structured interviews in their research. However, in saying this, it can also be argued that there are a also number of disadvantages. For example, it can be said that there is a lack of validity as the researcher decides the questions in advance, a lack of reliability as interviewer effect may influence answers, a cost issue due to training and ignorance towards sensitive issues as deadpan manner may be quite off-putting and there is a lack of rapport. In my opinion, it all depends on whether you are a positivist or an interpretivist. Yes, there are some disadvantages, but I believe that these disadvantages are extremely outweighed by number of advantages that exist for sociologists in using structured interviews in their research.

Anthropocentrism and Environmental Ethics & Preservation of Nature Essay

Anthropocentrism and Environmental Ethics & Preservation of Nature Gaia - Essay Example The biosphere produces just the right temperature for the earth. The mechanism for the stability of the temperature on earth is sustained by biological components. Everything works together in synergy (Lovelock, 1979). The Gaia theory may imply that our world is fragile – that, because the harmony of the living things on this world is what continues to sustain the earth, if there is an imbalance caused by man’s plunder, then the earth may cease to exist. But Lovelock (1979) has a different idea about this. Gaia is robust, which means that life will always exist in some form, even if the life forms on earth are reduced to ants and algae. Nevertheless, whether or not man can survive an upset in the ecosystem is another story – man destroys large swaths of the rainforest and the oceans, which, in turn, means that trillions of micro-organisms which are necessary for the stability of the composition of the atmosphere are endangered. Yet our earth has sustained severe injury in the past – such as the accumulation of corrosive and toxic gas oxygen two billion years ago – and survived it (Grey, 1980). Because Gaia is predicated upon the synergy of all living things, in spite of what Lovelock (1979) states about the robustness of the theory of Gaia, it still appears that there needs to be a certain synergy for human life to exist. Life, in some form, may always exist on this planet, and certainly, if humans destroy the ecosystem to the point where the earth becomes uninhabitable for the human species, and we die out, then the less complex life forms will repopulate – there would be no humans left to plunder the earth. However, this, of course, is not ideal, because it would mean our extinction. Therefore, there is a need for a different environmental ethic than the one that we have – according to Sylvan (1973), the dominant Western ethic is that the world is ours to spoil. Yet, life affects the regulation of the earthâ₠¬â„¢s system (Lenton, 2002). This is important, because regulation is essential for persistence of systems – systems which are unregulated tend not to survive, whereas regulated systems do survive. Lenton (2002) posits that there are biotic effects which might push our earth towards the boundaries of tolerability, beyond which life would not be sustainable. When this occurs, Mother Nature tends to push back. Our species is disruptive to the delicate Gaia, and this might result in a change in the Earth that would not be beneficial for the human race, but might be beneficial to the Earth as a whole. For instance, according to Lenton (2002), some 2 billion years ago, atmospheric oxygen rose, which was considered to be a catastrophe. However, while this change killed off much of the existing life during this period of time, it opened the door for new life – the obligate anaerobes were affected detrimentally, but other life forms were able to emerge. Conclusion It appears t hat we must have more respect for nature and what we are doing which might affect our delicate ecosystem. Our Western ethos sticks to the belief that nature is here for our disposal: the rainforest exists for us to cut down the trees, animals exist for us to kill, and our natural resources exist for us to use. Gaia theory provides the incentive to not do this as much. If we chop down the rainforest, then, not only will we have fewer trees, but the species that live in the rainforest

Learning Biometry and Statistics Personal Statement

Learning Biometry and Statistics - Personal Statement Example Over the years, I have been inspired to do an excellent job in my academic achievements and leadership. As a result, I received a 2210 on my SAT, and I received an 800 in Math II, 760 in Chemistry, and 750 in Biology on my SAT II. I have taken 5 AP exams include AP Calculus, AP statistics with 3 others this school year. Also, my GPA was 4.0, with a top 10% ranking in the most competitive school in New York City. Moreover, my interest in statistics has always been strong. In addition, I have had various experiences to help prepare me for a career in biometry and statistics including, but not limited to, helping people establish healthy lifestyles to obtaining social and scientific achievements. I love to study and perform research with statistical analysis. As a result, I completed a research project along with several of my friends using probabilistic modeling aimed at diminishing or removing atherosclerotic plaques in coronary arteries with robotic nanotechnology to improve heart function. During my past three summer vacations, I performed scientific research in Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York. This summer, I worked at Weill Cornell Medical College at Cornell University. During that time, I grew passionate about data analysis using statistics.

6 questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

6 questions - Essay Example The auditors were in the opinion that these cards needed to be reflected as unrealized sales, as the services had not yet been provided. The audit staff of the PWC affiliated audit firm disagreed with the accounting policy used for recognizing revenue related to LDI calling cards. Accordingly, the staff mentioned in its report that the profit was overstated in the financial statements by Rs280 million. No. It was a common practice worldwide and in Pakistan that the revenues were booked on the basis of sale of prepaid cards and not on their usage, therefore it meant that the audit company was not adhering to the internationally recognized standards. It was unfair to the company for the auditors to effect such sudden changes in the revenue recognition policy without any prior notice to the company management, it was improper and unprofessional. Yes. To challenge the Directives of the regulatory body such as the Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) as the only the commission that had the authority to appoint a new auditor in place of the former auditor removed by the company. The impact of this will be that the company would be able to successfully remove PWC as external auditors by claiming professional negligence that resulted in huge losses to the company shareholders. The company would be able to appoint a new auditor that would comply to international standards regarding the revenue recognition policy. Yes. I agree with the accusations made by the company because first and foremost the PWC audit firm did not take due international standard procedures in effecting the policy change on revenue recognition and further failing to inform the management of the company. Yes. The SECP was responsible for ensuring compliance with regulations by the listed companies. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) was the

Personal Ethics Development Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Ethics Development - Personal Statement Example For an individual to attain a good character which will enable them to live harmoniously with other members of the society, they need exhibit a moral and ethical character that is ideally embodied in being honest, trustworthy, responsible, fair and showing care for others as well as citizenry (Josephson Institute, 2009). Owing to my Christian upbringing in the Episcopal Church, my ethical system has been predominantly influenced by my faith in God and my belief that I should strive to do only what is sanctioned by Him. The ethical system can be defined as the underlying ethical principles, which a person uses to make decisions, I subscribe like most Christians to deontological ethics also known as duty based ethics or non-consequential ethics. I believe that an action is either right or wrong, and my perception of the differentiation is based on biblical teaching, thus regardless of possibly good consequences resulting from a wrong action, the action remains untenable in my opinion. From another theological perspective I would say that I fall into the Absolutist category in terms of ethics and moral responsibility; under this category, the underlying principal is that there is an absolute and objective standard of what is right and wrong, and this is based on biblical teachings. Whenever I am faced with a decision or action, I always pause to ask myself if a Christian should act in such a manner, I do not look first at the benefit that I may gain or the pain I may suffer as a result, but simply aspire to know if it is right and that is all the motivation I need to act or desist. I work as a hospice nurse in addition to being a member of the National Palliative Care and Oncology Nursing Association, my training and experience have on many occasions brought me face to face with the extreme human suffering more with certain death. Working as a nurse, I have found my ethics and beliefs instrumental in making me an efficient nurse since I believe that protection and preservation of human life come before all other things. I admired the compassion of Florence Nightgale who put aside her life purists to ensure that the sick and dying were cared for in a compassionate and caring manner. To a large extent my becoming a nurse was influenced by my admiration of her since I felt that it was both my Christian and moral duty to care for those who are in pain and alleviate their suffering. It may not be as financially rewarding as some other careers I may have opted for, but the fact that it is the right thing to do supersedes the opportunity cost. Others who influenced me included mother Teresa who was in many ways just Nightgale in her selflessness and willingness to risk being infected with disease by living and working with the poor and lepers in Calcutta. My Christian ethics for instance does not allow me to lie or be dishonest even though I may stand to gain and possibly get away with immoral actions, this has sometimes brought me in conflict with some of my friends who think am too timid and rigid. Sometimes in the past I went out with my friends for a party and although I was not drinking like everyone else seemed to be doing, I had a great time. On the way home, one of my friends was driving, I only realized after we were on the highway that he had clearly gone over his alcohol limit when I