H G Wells :: Biography

Herbert George Wells English author and political philosopher, most famous for his science-fantasy novels with their prophetic depictions of the triumphs of technology as well as the horrors of 20th-century warfare. Wells was born September 21, 1866, in Bromley, Kent, and educated at the Normal School of Science in London, to which he won a scholarship. He worked as a draper's apprentice, bookkeeper, tutor, and journalist until 1895, when he became a full- time writer. Wells's 10-year relationship with Rebecca West produced a son, Anthony West, in 1914. In the next 50 years he produced more than 80 books. His novel The Time Machine mingled science, adventure, and political comment. Later works in this genre are The Invisible Man, The War of the Worlds, and The Shape of Things to Come; each of these fantasies was made into a motion picture. Wells also wrote novels devoted to character delineation. Among these are Kipps and The History of Mr. Polly, which depict members of the lower m iddle class and their aspirations. Both recall the world of Wells's youth; the first tells the story of a struggling teacher, the second portrays a draper's assistant. Many of Wells's other books can be categorized as thesis novels. Among these are Ann Veronica, promoting women's rights; Tono-Bungay, attacking irresponsible capitalists; and Mr. Britling Sees It Through, depicting the average Englishman's reaction to war. After World War I Wells wrote an immensely popular historical work, The Outline of History. Throughout his long life Wells was deeply concerned with and wrote voluminously about the survival of contemporary society. For a time he was a member of the Fabian Society. He envisioned a utopia in which the vast and frightening material forces available to modern men and women would be rationally controlled for progress and for the equal good of all.

“Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan Essay

In â€Å"Mother Tongue† by Amy Tan, Tan explores the connection between one’s language and their identity, she examines not only how language affects the development of ones identity, but also the role it has in the way one is perceived by society. Tan shares a few anecdotes illustrating the role language played in shaping her own personal identity. â€Å"I think my mother’s English almost had an affect on limiting my possibilities in life as well.† Tan goes on to explore the idea that the â€Å"broken English† she heard spoken by her mother at home ultimately led to her doing poorly in English, at least when compared to her science and math scores. This led her teachers to steer her away from writing and more towards math and science. In Tan’s case her â€Å"rebellious nature† led her to become an English major her first year of college. Many other Asian-American students are not as headstrong as Tan and therefore are often pushed int o careers in math and science, this undoubtedly affects one’s identity as careers are a major component of an individual’s life. Another way language can be seen affecting Tan’s identity in mother tongue is in the way tan uses, interprets, and thinks about words. â€Å"Her language, as I hear it, is vivid, direct, full of observation and imagery. That was the language that helped shape the way I saw things, expressed things, made sense of the world.† Here Tan was refering to the language of her mother, which obviously played a huge role in how Tan herself interpreted and used words. The final connection between language and identity that can be ascertained from this piece is how often the assumptions about one’s identity made based upon the way they speak are often false. This was very much the case for Tan’s mother, towards the beginning of the piece Tan makes it clear to the audience that while her mother’s English may be â€Å"limited† this in no way reflects how much English she comprehends. Tan also discusses how, when she was growing up, her mother’s â€Å"limited† English limited Tan’s perception of her, â€Å"†¦because she expressed them imperfectly her thoughts were imperfect.† was the logic behind Tan’s view of her mother when she was growing up. This was the view most people seemed to have of Tan’s mother, which is an incorrect perception of her mother’s actual intelligence and comprhension of the English language.

Salem Trials: A Lesson from History

Salem was taken from the word, â€Å"Jerusalem†, seat of Christianity. This is where Christ trudged on and lived a holy life but became ironically symbolized in America by people become crazy. It has gained notoriety due to cruelty that pervaded in 1692 in that village in Massachusetts. â€Å"Time is the Mother of Truth and Truth the Daughter of Time† (Hale), scholars have studied documents surrounding that incident in Salem. The truth was told through documented events of those fateful days when those innocent people were tagged as ‘witches’. The people of Salem acted on suspicion without substantial bases for accusing one hundred fifty villagers of a crime that is ‘witchcraft’. They have admitted to a mistake that was horrible, became a controversy for ages, and a lesson for humanity. (Hale) Several factors influenced the villagers to act in such frenzy: politics, religion, and hysteria. For lack of a strong leader who can effectively give direction to the people’s thinking, the incident went out of hand. Even the leaders themselves were controlled by the situation, perhaps, due to hidden interests as well. P. S. Nissenbaum) Internal bickering in the community is not exceptional for it also occurs in other New England communities at that time. Add to it a weak institution that can handle the population. They were claiming to see an apparition of the witches at their beds. (P. B. Nissenbaum) Having them hanged will not make any difference using that argument. The devil can harm them in whatever form us ing their kind of thinking. It is incomprehensible how individuals can be united to wreak havoc upon other individuals. People of such ignorance have been put together to teach humanity how extremism and stupidity can cause such a tragedy. The lives of the people who were innocent of a crime that is witchcraft which was not proven enough were put to waste due to the cruelty that beset upon them. They had to suffer in jail and have to go through torture because their co-villagers were obsessed with the idea of a devil that is lurking around their lives and is causing an illness which they do not understand. They used the words: â€Å"fits†, â€Å"odd postures†, â€Å"foolish, ridiculous speeches†, â€Å"distempers†, etc. o describe what are being manifested by the victims of witchcraft as they said. (P. S. Nissenbaum) One was seen crawling on the floor during an attack. (P. S. Nissenbaum) The symptoms that were being manifested by the said victims of witchcraft could be epilepsy. This illness has always been associated with demonic possession which can not be cured. The stig ma that can be brought upon the individual experiencing this can be enormous that it is convenient to blame it on somebody performing witchcraft upon him/her experiencing it. This can be genetic and in Salem during that time, having fifteen children in a family was the average. It is not negligible to note that this disease could be running in families. Not to mention the hysteria that came with it. Children were manipulated by adults to say things or even their musings were interpreted to mean according to how they wanted it to mean. (P. S. Nissenbaum) The colonies of England included Massachusetts which was under the laws that govern these colonies. In England, witchcraft was a capital crime as declared in 1641. Chronology of Events Relating to the Salem Witchcraft Trials) Anyone suspecting of witchcraft activities were hanged by the stake. The colonial village of Salem was a staunch believer of the Bible. They took to the letter every bit of the Scriptures. They have become extremists that they have forgotten that ‘love’ was taught by Christ primarily. The ministers who were at a loss in governing the villagers conveniently blame witchcraf t as the culprit in the disunity eminent among the folks. Disputes led the villagers to falsely accuse innocent citizens in response to the hysteria that pervaded them. The early ministers who led them were also blinded by their desire for territory. It was a difficult time for this colonial town. Land was getting scarce while families were becoming big. They work very hard on their farms only to be obliterated by blights. (P. S. Nissenbaum) Children were not allowed to play: girls were taught to spin yarn and help in the household while the boys were brought by the men to help them to hunt. They did not have the opportunity to play as normal children would. These children were deprived of the happiness of childhood. It is not surprising if they would deliberately act out abnormal behavior because opportunities to play were rare. It is possible that acting out those eccentricities was a form of ‘play’ for these deprived children. Their sense of awe and wonder were suppressed by the adults. Their words were twisted by the older ones to serve their purpose. (P. B. Nissenbaum) They lived at a time when there were no other forms of entertainment but chores. It was also a time for New England to be established. Institutionalizing law and order was especially difficult in this part of the colony. Political disputes were prevailing in terms of who would minister the community. They were like a flock in need of a shepherd. But the shepherds who should be taking care of them also have vested interests. They carry within them their wants and needs. The chronology of events is very telling about man’s desire for power and control. The judicial system was used and manipulated according to the whims of the judges. (Chronology of Events Relating to the Salem Witchcraft Trials) The humble investigation of John Hale speaks of how erroneous the system is in handling the cases in Salem. With all humility he explained that what transpired in Salem was a lesson learned for humanity. Quoting from the Scriptures, he reiterated that the innocent must not suffer. (Hale) The evidence against them was obviously weak based on spectral evidence that Governor Phipps opposed. (Chronology of Events Relating to the Salem Witchcraft Trials) He was able to save lives due to be hanged in the Gallows. After fourteen years, one of the accusers, Ann Putnam, publicly apologizes for her actions in 1692. The event in 1692 was very unfortunate for the people in Salem. Hysteria emanated in that village due to numerous factors. One would see how religious extremism can drive people to do harm towards others which are contrary to the teachings of religion. Greed and desire for power can attribute to people’s insensitivity and delusions. It was formally admitted as a mistake by the government of Massachusetts in 1957 (Chronology of Events Relating to the Salem Witchcraft Trials) and a good reminder for everyone of the cruelty that occurred centuries ago. This is a lesson learned which must be avoided. It is important that judicial system must be respected by honoring facts; biases must be avoided; and the right to be represented must be observed. Law and order are present for people’s protection. These should not be used to cause harm to a nation’s citizens. Leaders appointed are also responsible of the people’s safety. They must safeguard the lives entrusted them. It is important for them to ensure that due process must be served in the courts. This incident must never happen again.

Poverty, the Never-ending Disease Essay

Poverty is a lack of goods and services needed to maintain a minimal adequate standard of living. The definition of the term adequate varies, however, with the general standard of living in a society and with public attitudes toward deprivation. No university accepted the definition of basic needs exists because poverty is a relative concept. In poorer countries it means living at the brink of subsistence, while in our country few improvised families confront starvation, although many suffer from undernourishment. Not everyone is born into a life of the rich and glamorous. Those who are fortunate enough know that they are very lucky to be in their position. Others however are totally in different situations. They need to fend for themselves and having meal is something which comes only once a day. Malnutrition is the obvious result of not consuming the right amount of food. This will lead to outbreaks of diseases but in poverty stricken countries there are no hospitals to cure this. Lacking infrastructure means lacking educational rights. People who are living in poverty cannot afford to send their children to school so this will mean an unclear future for their children hence the undernourishment. Furthermore, living in crowded areas, this has a tendency to increase the chances of disease as people are drinking from unsafe sources of water. People around the world are not aware of how immense this issue is and sometimes hesitant to believe the scale that it has risen to. Without understanding the people living at a disadvantage from the rest, there is no cure for the problem. Poverty is not only the problem of the poor, but the rich as well. If the wealthy becomes too concentrated and there are too many people at the low end who can’t contribute to the cost of society (taxes to maintain infrastructure for instance) then more of that burden must fall to the wealthy. The wealthy that derive their wealth by selling goods and services to a mass market will be affected if the market dries up because too many individuals are too poor to be able to buy the goods/services. With hints of the invisible hand playing a role in this, it’s possible that the economy might not adjust to the buyers and sellers. People suffering from poverty may become enraged at the disparity between themselves and the wealthy and may express that rage through a violent revolution and redistribution of wealth. Some wealthy individuals may feel concern about such a disparity and choose to give some of their wealth to better the condition of the poor or to help the poor find a way to prosperity. Poverty in the United States has long been a social, political, and human rights issue. Few people would say that it is not our moral duty, as social human beings to take care of those less fortunate than ourselves, to the best of our ability. These types of people have what is called a â€Å"libertarian†. There is really no specific definition of â€Å"libertarian†, but it is associates justice with liberty. In relation to the matter at hand, specifically poverty in America, libertarians are against taxing the affluent or forcing people to aid the starving and poor. One of the most influential libertarians of our time is Professor Robert Nozik. His theory of justice begins with the principle that all people have rights, which require that we refrain from interfering with others. Other than this we have no obligation to do anything positive for anyone else, and likewise, they have no obligation towards us. These rights are natural or inalienable because all humans have them and they do not come from any social or political institutions. These rights forbid us from interfering with a person’s liberty even if it would promote some general good, or prevent another’s rights from being violated. Overall, the general idea is that people have the liberty to live a life free from intervention of others, and can lead their life however they so choose. In addition, he says that if a person acquired their fortune or possessions without harming, defrauding, or violating the rights of any others, then it is morally permissible to use those things however one wishes. This includes wasting, willing, or endowing the possessions to someone else. Even though many people are dying from starvation and malnutrition, Nozik’s theory of justice states that one has no obligation to help those people. His theory is summarized as follows: 1. A person who acquires a holding in accordance with the principle of justice in acquisition is entitled to that holding. 2. A person who acquires a holding in accordance with the principle of justice in transfer, from someone else entitled to the holding, is entitled to the holding. 3. No one is entitled to a holding except by (repeated) applications of 1 and 2. Relating to poverty, libertarians feel that no matter how the actual distribution of economic holdings may look, if all involved are entitled to the holdings they possess, then the distribution is just. Although Nozik’s theory concentrates on the just of distribution, Rawl’s theory of the difference principle can be thought of as the similar concept. The main moral motivation for the Difference Principle is similar to that for strict equality. The overwhelming economic opinion though is that in the foreseeable future the possibility of earning greater income will bring forth greater productive effort. This will increase the total wealth of the economy and, under the Difference Principle, the wealth of the least advantaged (the poor). The inequalities consistent with the Difference Principle are only permitted so long as they do not compromise the fair value of the political liberties. So, for instance, very large wealth differentials may make it virtually impossible for poor people to be elected to political office or to have their political views represented. These inequalities of wealth, even if they increase the material position of the least advantaged group, may need to be reduced in order for the first principle to be implemented. The difference principle may be the solution to poverty in the near future, but sadly the idea of strict equality between individuals will be a difficult concept for people to grasp. Capitalism is a system designed to produce for private profit, not for public need. We have gotten as far as we have due to decision-making of corporate boardrooms and placing them under the democratic control of the majority that the economy can provide for our needs. To do that, we need to bring into public ownership the largest 500 corporations and financial institutions. If the assets of these giant companies were under our democratic control, then investment and resources could be democratically controlled by working-class people. Resources would be available to address our most pressing social problems and allocated to areas of most need. To achieve this means breaking from giving any support to the two big-business political parties – the Republicans and Democrats. They are both fully implicated in creating the present mess we are in. We need to build a new political party to represent our interests as workers, the poor and young people, and which points a finger at the real villains, the super-rich and the capitalist system.

Gilded Age Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Gilded Age - Essay Example Mark Twain coined the tem â€Å"Gilded Age† in the last decades of the nineteenth century. Gilded Age refers the era that followed the American Civil War, stretching from the end of the reconstruction period to the dawn of the twentieth century. The era was characterized by enormous economic growth and European investments. Ideally, the Gilded Age was an era of transforming America into a liberal country. Outstanding events that characterized the era included increased immigration, industrial growth, and construction of railway networks. The Gilded Age cannot be considered as a Golden Age for Americans instead, the age symbolizes an era of unsolved problems. In The Gilded Age: a Tale of Today, writers Mark Twain and Charles Dudley confirm that Gilded Age was an era of severe social problems (Biography web). According to the authors, these problems could not be visualized since they remained beneath a thin layer of the supposed gold. In this context, gold symbolizes the economi c and social developments that accompanied Gilded Age. Golden age refers to an era of peace prosperity, stability, and harmony. Unfortunately, the Gilded Age was characterized by neither stability nor prosperity (Zinn 32). In particular, the period can be considered as an era of great economic oppressions as Americans struggled to rebuild their country. To the American, the Gilded Age was an era of exorbitant taxation. American economy became more intertwined with cotton and tobacco exports. The prices of these commodities reduced dramatically affecting the livelihood of ordinary American farmers. Although the country experienced a GDP growth, per capita income remained minimal. Unsolved problems in the agriculture sector included the slave question, the north, and south states issue. These problems were covered under increased exports to the European market and the rise of mechanized farming. Unsolved economic problems became the basis of more sophisticated social and political pro blems. Gilded Age politics were characterized by intense completion between political parties. The third party system promoted intense competition Between the Democratic and the Republican Parties. Consequently, minor parties including the Labor and Farmers unions disappeared as soon as they were established. Intense competition between the two parties intensified the country’s political temperature. Indeed, Americans were divided between Republicans and Democrats (Zinn 54). Both parties established the supposed â€Å"Political Machines† to oversee elections, reward their royalists and buyoff their opponents. Consequently, the wining party becomes the sole controller of state and government’s jobs, contracts and business openings. The â€Å"spoils system† was also a major source of political influence. Elected candidates were expected to pray according to the instructions of their political spoils/sponsors. For example in 1876, Hayes was elected in a secr et deal to be the new president of the United States. In addition, Harrison won the elections without winning the popular vote. Thus, the US did not achieve any form of political stability during the gilded age. Indeed, the era was a cover-up for the political instabilities that characterized the country. The era is considered the most turbulent time in American political history. Political reforms that promoted multiparty democracy and high voter turnout, acted as a conspiracy for politically motivated scandals, political rivalry, and civil unrest. Thus, the Gilded Age can never be considered as the US’s version of the Golden Age. Social developments also remained unattended during the Gilded Age. During the gilded age, discriminations against the black Americans intensified. Black Americans living in the southern states experienced the worst form of discrimination. The black communities were stripped off their political and voting rights. Ideally, the system almost revived slavery despite slave trade and slave labor having been abolished. During the

Undecided Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Undecided - Assignment Example Women in Athens could not own property or vote for leaders. Their principle role was to be housekeepers. They were not allowed to participate in any public function. In contrast, the Spartan women enjoyed more freedom and could own property. They were allowed to inherit property and were encouraged to develop their intellect (Unger 26). The two cities of Sparta and Athens were bitter rivals in the ancient times in Greece. They were very close to each other but different in their lifestyles and values. The Athens city was open to all citizens and recorded a total population of more than 3,761,811 people. In contrast, the city in Sparta was limited to its inhabitants while the total population was 18, 184 people (Unger 23). Wisdom and restraint in Athens was sorely missed among the Pericles. According to (Unger 78), wisdom in Athens existed in theory while this was highly appreciated in Sparta. The Spartans observed many values which controlled their lives. They gave great honors to certain events and to people with respect to their withheld values and

Language development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Language development - Essay Example In all of these aspects of language acquisition, language imbalance should be considered when gauging the extent and ability of child in the process of learning a second language. Language imbalance is brought about by a conflict between two or more languages that a child is exposed to in the development process (Hoff, 2009). Influences on vocabulary are characterized by a myriad of factors in a child’s life both at school and at home. Vocabulary development is influenced by language socialization that takes two general styles of child-rising that are child-centered and situation centered. In child centered approach, adults use two strategies of self-lowering through baby talk and child rising by interpreting unintelligible gibberish(Barrett, 1999). The situation-centered approach does not require adults to simplify their language, but children are expected to learn, understand and produce adult like speech mannerism. The culture surrounding a child has a significant influence on the development of language in a child because it influences the development of their identity. Cultural influencers, in society, determine the personality and identity that a child forges for self in line with what the societal norms dictate (Barrett, 1999). Young English language learners should be encouraged by their educators, caregivers and parents to achieve a more rounded language development process. Teachers need to be good models of language use and encourage learners to interact with other children as much as possible (Hoff, 2009). This is aimed at reinforcing their vocabulary repertoire. Second language learners can be exposed to meaningful learning activities that encourage them to practice their new language