Julius Caesar: Background Knowledge Is Needed To Understand Play :: essays research papers

Julius Caesar: Background Knowledge Is Needed To Understand Play   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Having a good background and knowledge of the history of Rome is very helpful to understand Shakespeare's play, Julius Caesar. The setting of this play took place hundreds of years ago, so if one knows a little bit of Roman history, it would help very much in understanding what is going on in the play.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is important to know about the connection, or relationship that there once was between Caesar and Pompey. When Crassus died, Pompey and Caesar were left as twin rulers of Rome. As one could imagine, each wanted to be the only ruler, so a struggle broke out between them. Caesar defeated Pompey and his army in an important battle, and went on later to defeat Pompey's two sons. It is after that fifth and last triumph, at the time they are celebrating, when the play opens. To understand the play even better, one should be aware of Brutus' (one of the conspirators against Caesar) ancestors, the Tarquins. Nearly five hundred years before Caesar was even born, a cruel, unscrupulous leading family had seized the riens of power and had set themselves up as kings. From that point on, the people of Rome hated kings, and they bounded themselves together by a solemn oath never to tolerate a monarch, and it was formally enacted into law that if any man wish that the monarchy should be restored, he was to be declared a public enemy and be put to death.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Brutus and the rest of the conspirators had killed Caesar, but they made an error, which was letting Mark Antony, one of Caesar's friends live. Antony later united with Bepidus and Octavius, to go against Brutus, Cassius, and the other conspirators. At the battle of Philippi, in Thrace, Brutus and Cassius took their own lives when their army was destroyed. Just as Caesar and Pompey had struggled for the world when Cassus died, so now when Bepidus died, Antony and Octavius were left confronting each other. Octavius held Rome and Europe; Antony held the East. Antony allied with Cleopatra and were planning to rule the world from Alexandria, Cleopatra's capital. Their navies met Octavius' off the shore of Actium, in Greece. Octavius conquered decisively, and both Antony and

The Dragon Rises: China’s Growing Economy

China, both as a race and as a geographical place, is a something that the world cannot ignore. The size and population of the country is formidable, and as such, China’s recent economic reforms have called the attention of global market. In just a span of over two decades, China was able to turn its economy around and currently, stands among the world’s major economic forces. (Hui 2003) Its growth has been phenomenal and is still growing at an unprecedented pace. In the past twenty years, China has been able to increase its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by four times, and now is recognized as a global economic power. China has quickly worked its way up in the global economic scene and currently stands in the sixth position of the top trading countries of the world. These events have also lead to the influx of foreign investors which leads to even more growth. (Pei 2007) Experts believe that China’s potential is as large and wide as its physical size and population. (Wanwen 2003) The ebbs and ties of China’s economy have been directly related to the sociological changes that it has been going through, particularly in its more recent history. As such, this paper intends to look at how these sociological events have been instrumental in creating the China that we know today and how its history as a nation continues to shape its people’s collective and individual destiny. In terms of our collective history, China has always been a major world presence, not just in terms of economy, but more so in terms of the legacies that the Chinese civilization has given to us. However, whatever presence that China has had over the course of its history has been obscured by internal conflicts and divisiveness which resulted in China falling to communist rule. Distracted by domestic conflicts and territorial disputes, China failed to keep pace with the Industrial Revolution that swept Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries. China fell too far behind and was unable to recover. When the last of its emperors fell, China was left to languish in the shadow of communism which was at its height during Mao Zedong’s rule. (Pei 2007) The failure of communism to provide a better life for the Chinese sowed the seeds of discontent. China’s communist government initiated a series socioeconomic policies that brought more suffering to the people, and an already stumbling country to its knees. Mao’s Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution left what is left of China in ruins. (Mackerras, 2001) After barely half a century of communism, China was ready for a change. When Zedong and his first-generation Chinese communist hardliners died, they were replaced by Deng Xiaoping, a more liberal ruler who laid the foundations for political and societal reforms, which in turn created an environment more conducive to economic growth. As a society, China was gradually emerging from its isolationist and repressive communist past with a government more cognizant of the need for change and openness. In 1979, after decades of isolation, China opened its doors to foreign investors. This was a turning point in the country’s economy. The tremendous size of China’s population, as well as its cheap labor costs made it a haven for production. (Wang 2003) Soon, other multinational businesses followed suit, realizing the cost-effectiveness of manufacturing in China, and the country never looked back since then. Of course, the act of opening China for foreign investments would not have been successful without the creation of more liberal policies that made China attractive to businesses. The government began laying the foundations that would encourage a more market-oriented economy, while maintaining a tight political structure that characterized its socialist orientation. Aside from allowing foreign business to operate in China, these social and economic reforms also included the privatization of agricultural lands. The change from communal farming to individual operations allowed farmers more freedom in so far as the production of their crops is concerned. Mackerras, 2001) More authority and responsibility were passed on from the central government to local officials, who in turn created an environment that encouraged backyard business to develop and flourish. (Wang 2003) Indeed, these massive and sweeping reforms have been successful in effecting the desired changes in China. However, Xiaoping and his followers have been keen to emphasize that the liberalization of society and economy as well as the easing of institutionalized control structures were done not so much to abandon socialism, but to improve it. Tianyu 2003) The Chinese, while eager to embrace change, is more reluctant to admit that socialism is wrong. In the end, the main goal of these reforms was to create a strong socialist country through democratization and modernization of society. The main tenet was that rather than struggle with the West, socialist China had better chances at proving its worth by cooperating with the West, through common economic interests. (Tianyu 2003) China was able to benefit from the initial attempts at reforms made by the European socialists, primarily the Soviet Union and Poland. Coming after their heels, China was able to learn from the mistakes their predecessors have made. China was able to maintain a strong centralized government, while allowing for the decentralization of economic functions. (Tianyu 2003) These societal and economic reforms continued unabated from the late 1970’s until the early 1990’s when China was ready to enter the second phase of its reform campaign. In 1993, Deng Xiaoping announced China’s main goal: that of becoming â€Å"a socialist market economy. † (qtd. n Wang 2003) After successfully laying down the necessary social and legal infrastructures for a free-market, China was now ready to stake its claim in the global market stage. The main characteristic of this second phase revolved around the gradual shift from a planned or constructed economy to one that is more spontaneous and free-flowing. (Wang 2003) Privately owned business flourished, alongside foreign businesses. The goal was to advance the gro wth and penetrate the global arena. In 2001, China marked a milestone with its acceptance in the World Trade Organization (WTO). Finally, the global recognition China has been yearning for has been given, and it was well worth the long wait. By 2003, the third wave of reforms was laid out, with the main goal of creating a stable socialist market economy by 2010 and a perfect socialist market economy by 2020. (qtd. in Wang 2003) The goals are indeed lofty, and while much still remains to be done, it is apparent that China is on the right track, based on the sustained growth the country has been experiencing as of late. Indeed, the social changes that have been put in effect in China have resulted in the economic growth and political power that the country enjoys in the world community. Had China remained a repressed and isolated society, it would still be trapped in the chaos and darkness of its communist past. Of course that is not to say that these changes did not come at a great price. Some sacrifices had to be made, and none of them were easy to do. The modern Chinese society that is modern and liberal was built upon the sacrifices of those who were willing to risk their lives in order to demand for change. Also, while the economy of China is generally healthy, it does not mean that every Chinese individual is experiencing this prosperity. These changes have also created an imbalance in society, where people in urbanized areas enjoying a better standard of living than people living in rural, undeveloped areas of the country. This inequality must be addressed by the Chinese government if it is to be successful in achieving the goals that it has set for itself. In the final analysis, the liberalization of China has been a long time coming. For so long it has languished under ineffective and cruel governments and an oppressive society that has no respect for the individual; a society that China has created for itself. Albeit belatedly, China has now come to its senses and has woken itself up. The winds of change have blown over this great country, awakening the dragon that has been sleeping for so long. For better or for worse, the rising of the dragon is completed and for China, there is no looking back. References Hui, Q. (2003). The Issues of the Chinese Economy Changing Tracks, Social Justice, and Democratization at the Turn of the Century. Chinese Economy, Volume 36, Number 2. pp. 21-89. Lin, Y. (2000). State and Markets under China’s Transformation: Rethinking China's Economic Transformation. Contemporary Sociology, Vol. 29, No. 4. pp. 608-613. Mackerras, C. (2001). The New Cambridge Handbook of Contemporary China. Cambridge University Press. Pei, M. (2007) Changing State-Society Relations in China. Retrieved on November 28, 2007 from http://www.ceibs.edu/ase/Documents/EuroChinaForum/minxin.htm Tianyu, C. (2003). The Theory and Practice of the Chinese Path. Chinese Economy, Volume 36, Number 4. pp. 67-98. Wang, J. (2003) China and the World Economy. CIEBS. Retrieved on November 28, 2007 from http://www.ceibs.edu/ase/Documents/EuroChinaForum/China's_Economy_World_files/frame.htm. Wanwen, C. (2003) Globalization and Economic Development. Chinese Economy, Volume 36, Number 1. pp. 48-88.

Sonnet 30 Analysis - 934 Words

Misleading Love Although love can be kind and beautiful, it can cause some people to become blind and follow their hearts rather than think with their mind. â€Å"Sonnet 30† by Edmund Spenser dramatizes the conflict of a man’s burning desire to be with a woman who has no interest in him. Edmund Spenser uses the metaphorical comparisons of dramatically opposites, fire and ice. The man is fire, who is obsessed for this ice cold hearted woman, which returns nothing. The poem explains why this man can’t get this woman to love him back. The author uses stylistic devices, theme, and tone to emphasize how he cannot get the woman he deeply loves. The conflict is best represented by the lines, â€Å"How comes it then that this her cold so great is not†¦show more content†¦His desire to capture her love is huge. Spenser uses figurative language and his metaphors to illustrate this man’s desire. He also uses similes to compare his love to ice as it is to fi re. Only the fire, something strong and illusive, is what was used to illustrate the point of desire. The man in â€Å"Sonnet 30† by Edward Spenser was persistent and though failure does not know persistent, this man was denied the love of a woman, as his persistence continued and desires grew, the love of the woman was hidden away behind a cold, artic wall that grew colder along with the desires of the man. The man explains in depth using analogies and metaphors that his affection in life is often mistaken and misleading. Love, although sweet, can burn a hole through ones heart. That is one of the characteristics of love, it cannot be forced nor can I always go as your heart desires. The nature of love causes us to be misled and has the power to change natural occurrences, such as fire melting frozen ice. Although this man’s love burns with a passion, it is not enough to melt this woman’s ice cold heart. In other words, his desire is not nearly enough to captur e the heart of this woman, nor change her affection toward him. Through this poem, we must learn to accept this misfortunate reality of love and simply, moveShow MoreRelatedEssay about Shakespeares Sonnet 30 and Tennysons In Memoriam1302 Words   |  6 PagesLoss has been experienced over centuries and many poets have written on the subject. William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 30 and Alfred Lord Tennyson’s In Memoriam are two poems from different eras that express the idea of loss. Both were written after the loss of a close male friend, and both are only one poem from a series of poems. Shakespeare lived in England where he was born in 1564 and died in 1616 and Tennyson also lived in England where he was born in 1809 and died in 1892, the poems being writtenRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Sonnet 30960 Words   |  4 Pageshis sonnets. Shakespeare s Sonnets clarify the value of human relationships by showing that friendship can end one’s own sadness, that love should be commemorated, and that marriage between true minds is loyal and consistent. â€Å"But if the while I think on thee, dear friend, / All losses are restored and sorrows end.† In Sonnet 30, a past friendship between two mates ends one’s own sadness and selfish sorrows. The speaker’s thoughts and feelings shift greatly throughout Sonnet 30. As theRead MoreNotes On A Poem Unwritten1139 Words   |  5 PagesUnwritten† In the previous lessons you analyzed poetry; and you composed different types of poetry using various elements and devices. In this portfolio you will gather your best poetry to create a portfolio. You will submit this along with a poetry analysis for instructor review. Create A Poetry Portfolio Selecting Poetry for Your Portfolio Select two poems that you consider to be your best work from the required writing assignments in lessons 1–6. Each of these poems should be at least eight or nineRead MoreThe Lotus by Toru Dutt1493 Words   |  6 Pagesqueenliest flower that blows. An Analysis of the Poem The Lotus by Toru Dutt; Toru Dutt is one of the famous Indo-Anglican poets. Most of her poems have an Indian theme and an Indian background. The poem, The Lotus is a sonnet in the Petrarchan type. Toru Dutts mastery over the sonnet form is proved in this poem. The sonnet is divided into two divisions, the Octave and the Sestet. The octave consists of eight lines and the sestet consists of six lines. A sonnet deals with a single idea, theRead MoreCharacter Summary In A Wrinkle In Time890 Words   |  4 PagesCharacter Analysis of Meg Murry In the book A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle, Meg Murry is the eldest child in her family with her youngest brother go through time and space to look for her father who has been missing for several years. They meet a boy who comes along for the ride as mythical creatures take them to a place where like and same compare.Throughout the story Meg proves to be a character who shows anger and hate, Meg learns she can’t always rely on others and understands that sheRead MoreYolo1583 Words   |  7 Pageshimself and the people around him. Demonstrate critical thinking skills, such as problem solving as it relates to social issues. Week 11 13 - England : Sonnet 29 -William Shakespeare Discuss the denotative and connotative meaning of words found in some lines in the poem Paraphrase the poem Discuss the biography of E .B. Browning in relation with her sonnet Discuss the closure in the poem. Research theories on remembering and forgetting. Relate your research to the speaker in the poem. Library ResearchRead MoreEnglish As A Waste Of Time Essay1575 Words   |  7 Pagesfor my bachelor s degree in English, I was working for a real estate firm near my home as an administrative assistant. I continued to work there after my graduation in May of 2009. After graduation, I was the only person in the company (only about 20-30 people) with a degree. The broker of the company and my boss and I were talking about a month later about degrees. She said that she did not know anyone who used their degree with their job. She meant that accounting degree holds do not have accountingRead MoreBroken Chain by Gary Soto1505 Words   |  7 Pageschain by gary soto item analysis for all grade 7 standards: vocabulary, reading, writing, conventions item analysis for all grade 8 standards: vocabulary, reading, writing, conventions reading standard 1.0 --word analysis, fluency, and systematic vocabulary development vocabulary practice vocabulary quiz reading standard 2.0 -- focus on informational materials how to fix a broken chain rules of the road: bike safety tips reading standard 3.0 -- literary response and analysis quiz: broken chain throughRead MoreEssay about A Range of Interpretations of Shakespeares Hamlet1289 Words   |  6 Pagesreading of Hamlets dying words and with his contention that Shakespeare chose, very positively, to provide a multiplicity of meanings at this crucial point (30), I wonder whether his analysis, helpful as it is for an understanding of the text in the study, is equally valid in the theatre. If we were speaking of one of Shakespeares sonnets I should find it much easier to believe in the co-existence of four or fi ve distinct meanings, even if they tend to cancel each other out (27). In performanceRead MoreDickinson and Plath Comparative Analysis Essay example1530 Words   |  7 Pagesof feelings and ideas which reflect the joys and struggles of the person writing it. We use it to convey love, to mourn a loss, tell a story, or to say the things we are afraid to tell an actual person. Emily Dickinson and Sylvia Plath dont write sonnets. These two poets clearly used poetry as a cathartic release for the troubles of their lives. Their struggles with even the rudimentary, plagued them throughout their short lifetime. Life and death being in constant conflict,albeit causing them great