The Character Of The Pardoner In Chaucers Canterbury Tales Essays

The Character Of The Pardoner In Chaucer's Canterbury Tales The Pardoner's Tale is arguably the finest short narrative in Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. The tale of three men that attempt to kill Death, but instead die themselves is a story of exceptional intellect, moral, and humour. These three qualities are quite unsurprising considering the actual author of these tales. What is surprising though is that the character that tells this fantastic story is the Pardoner. There have been many studies on Chaucer's characterisation of the Pardoner, most of which have concentrated on his amoral attitude or on his sexuality. However, in this essay a different side of the Pardoner will be explored, his humour, his intellect, his skills, and even his morals. One work in particular stands out above from others in both its completeness and in the time of its publication. Chaucer's Pardoner by George Lyman Kittredge, published in 1893, precludes the current outspoken, post-modernist academic paradigm in which much of the study on the character of the Pardoner has centered on him as a eunuch and a homosexual. Instead Kittredge examines the Pardoner as an intelligent scoundrel that experiences a internal moral dilemma during the prologue, tale and epilogue. Kittredge's work focuses on the consistency of the character of the Pardoner. First, the Pardoner as a hustler is examined. For myn entente is nat but for to winne, And no thing for correction of sinne: I rekke nevere whan that they been beried Though that hir soules goon a-blakeberied. That is, as Kittredge makes note, the Pardoner is only concerned with his personal financial gain. He has no concern for the reformation of morals or for the truthfulness genuineness of those people attempting to repent. Further evidence of the Pardoner as an immoral swindler is exemplified in his lack of concern for stealing from the poor and starving. Al were it yiven of the poorest page, Or of the pooreste widwe in a village- Al sholde hir children sterve for famine. It makes no difference to him if he is swindling widows or their starving children. Further example of the Pardoner as an amoral character is shown with his denounciation of the seven mortal sins. In keeping with his hypocritical and cynical attitude, he is guilty of all seven. This last portion is generally used to show the evils of the Pardoner but instead another interpretation is made possible by his frank cynicism. The Pardoner is a very humorous character when he has the opputunity to be himself rather than the clergyman that he must pretend to be while conducting his business. This is best shown in the manner in which he denounces his practise and the reagard in which he holds himself. The humour of the Pardoner also coincides very well with his intellect and wit. This tale shows his intelligence and wit especially in the discussion between the three companions and the old man. Now sires, quod he, if that ye be so lief To finde Deeth, turne up this crooked way, For in that grove I lafte him, by my fay, Under a tree, and there he wol abide: Nat for your boost he wol him no thing hide. In this dialogue the companions are seeking the person of Death, while the old man is instead directing them where they may find their deaths. Now although this is just one example of the combination of humour and intelligence in the character of the Pardoner, his true intelligence is best exemplified by the rest of the story that surrounds this dialogue. It also seems that the intelligence of the Pardoner has become known to his fell travellers. And right anoon thise gentils gan to crye, Nay, lat him telle us of no ribaudye. Tel us some moral thing that we may lere, Some wit, and thanne wol gladly heere. His companions do not want some vulgar joking tale, they want an intelligent moral story and the Pardoner readily delivers with the tale of the three companions seeking out Death. His skill as an orator of tales is undeniably fantastic, and we experience him at his best in this tale. His aptitude at storytelling has also allowed him to show his skill as an adept hustler. His business has brought him over a hundred marks in his first year,

Brave New World and Individual Freedom Essays

Brave New World and Individual Freedom Essays Brave New World and Individual Freedom Paper Brave New World and Individual Freedom Paper Essay Topic: Brave New World The Motto of the World State is Community, Identity, Stability. With detailed reference to the novel, how do you  view this  in relation to individual freedom? â€Å"Community, Identity, Stability. † The motto that shapes and defines the entire civilized world. Civilians like Lenina believe that the motto has given them their individual freedom. â€Å"I am free. Free to have the most wonderful time. Everybodys happy nowadays. † (Page 79) Ironically, Huxley was trying to convey the exact opposite message. The motto really speaks of a heavy price paid freedom in exchange for collective happiness. Freedom to feel, freedom of identity, and the freedom to know and create. It is too heavy a price, perhaps, because freedom is never dear at any price. It is the breath of life. To ensure a community where â€Å"everyone belongs to everyone else†, individuality must be entirely eradicated. Babies are mass produced upon order in hatcheries according to castes, like lifeless dolls, existing only to ensure the smooth operation of the world. At the stage of an embryo, every citizen of the World State has its caste, gender, physique, career and mental capacity predestined. Further conditioning and hypnopaedia moulds everyone’s character according to the Controller’s suggestion – â€Å"Till at last the child’s mind is these suggestions, and the sum of these suggestions is the child’s mind. And not the child’s mind only. The adult’s mind too – all his life long. † (BNW, page 23) In other words, the whole being of the entire human race is controlled by the few World Controllers. Physically, mentally and spiritually. There is nothing left of humanity. People grow up with an indisputable set of morals and character already built into them, having no ability to choose who to be and what to think. Masses of human behave, talk, and think in the same way. Even if there is a chance to be different, they aren’t able to make that choice. They are confined in their minds; prisoners behind the invisible bars of predestination. Because â€Å"when the individual feels the community reels† (Page 94), emotions were to be reduced to the most superficial form possible to scaffold social stability. Firstly all family relations must be completely abolished. People no longer know what monogamy, romance, families and mothers are, and along with that, stripped of the right to practice them. Then there is the use of soma. As Mustapha Mond exclaims, you can now carry half your morals around in a bottle, because the slightest bouts of any negative emotions can be instantly cured by the drug. Like ostriches the whole civilized world choose to bury themselves in their soma holiday in face of the tiniest adversity. Living in that bubble of false happiness, they have lost all ability and freedom to have emotions. John the Savage believes that being happy all the time is a prison on its own, and he claims the â€Å"right to be unhappy†. After all, being a human, even at its most abject and abased state, is about the right to feel, to love and to hate. The citizens of the World State have also lost their right to know and to create. They are all intellectually degraded, even for an Alpha Plus. Watsons himself, the most distinguished Emotional Engineer admits that the hypnopaedic lines he writes are â€Å"idiotic, writing when there’s nothing to say†. (Page 194) Mustapha Mond explains the reason why they couldn’t afford to have people becoming too intellectual. After centuries of war, famine, poverty, diseases, heartbreaks and chaos, one day The Ford came along and decided that it is too hard being human beings. So he wiped out all arts, history, religion, emotions and relationship in effort to â€Å"shift the emphasis from truth and beauty to comfort and happiness. † (Page 194) In fact he reduced the entire humanity into a game of numbers and equations. Mond admits that â€Å"It hasn’t been very good for truth†¦But it’s been very good for happiness†. (Page 194) The motto and the entire World State wouldn’t be possible unless everyone succumbs to The Ford’s ideology. When he decided to abolish truth and beauty, inevitably he has also made the choice to strip off from Human its very last piece of flesh – the ability to reason and to make choices. In other words, freedom. Such were the price paid for what The Ford calls â€Å"civilization†. But of course, Lenina wouldn’t agree with that. References: enotes. com/brave-new-world/essays-criticism bookrags. com/essay-2006/2/22/13115/0989 gradesaver. com/brave-new-world/study-guide/short-summary/ bookrags. com/essayfree/Brave_New_World http://hotessays. blogspot. com/2010/05/essay-on-brave-new-world. html

Ethical Issue Paper - Vitamin K Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Ethical Issue Paper - Vitamin K - Essay Example The Vitamin K in breast milk is also very low and thus after the birth of babies, even though breastfeeding is taking place, Vitamin K is at a low level for several weeks and only attains its required level when the alimentary canal bacteria start generating Vitamin K for the baby. Some babies are fed with infant formula that contains Vitamin K but even though this takes place, the level of Vitamin K remains at a low level for some days (E Hey, 2003). Vitamin k is thus recommended to be administered on the new born babies to increase its levels in their body (American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Fetus and Newborn, 2003). The contention now is on how to administer Vitamin K. Which method is safe and well known to have desirable results in preventing hemorrhagic disease of the newborn? The method that has been in use was intramuscular administration or administration through injection. It however has come to be questioned on its safety on babies and its possibility that it woul d be causing cancer and leukemia in the new born babies who are given vitamin K using the intramuscular administration (American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Fetus and Newborn, 2003). This led to the introduction of oral administration in some countries. The decision however on the method to be used has somehow been determined by the consent from the parent. Where the nurse administering Vitamin K is left to decide, then ethical decision making comes in. As a nurse, consideration has to be put on both methods. Their effectiveness and on the safety. This paper, with the help of research by other writers, will show the dilemma faced in making the ethical decision of the method to use in administering Vitamin K. Summary of the Issue Concerns have however been raised on either the safeness or effectiveness of both intramuscular administration and oral administration of Vitamin K. The first that has been in use is the intramuscular administration. This method has been recorded to have good results and according to study in Australia, there was no registered case of bleeding (HDN) in the children who were given Vitamin K using intramuscular administration (Khambalia et al., A.Z., 2012).. A similar test was carried out testing the effectiveness of oral administration. Most of the infant who received Vitamin K were safe from HDN but a number of them were registered to experience bleeding probably because of HDN. From this you can depict that the efficiency of oral administration is not as effective as using intramuscular administration. This can be due to several reasons that would render oral administration non-effective. The first is that in case of vomiting in the child, to whom Vitamin K is administered to, the dose needed will not have been met and hence the child will be prone to bleeding. The other is that this method is dependent on the parent compliance to bring the child back for the second dose 3-5 days after the first dose given after child birth. T his would mean that if a parent fails to comply with this say because they forget, then the dosage will not be as expected but when it comes to intramuscular administration, the dosage is given once, immediately after birth of the child. This means that the complete dose is administered at once. These two factors may lead to lack of proper dosage if the oral administration is used and thus full protection from HDN may not be in

Speech 101 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Speech 101 - Essay Example It is normal that when people interact, they give and receive wordless signals. The gestures people make during communication send or portray strong messages. What people talk by word of mouth is distinct from what gestures portray. Therefore, the speaker needs to understand that vocal and physical speech is very significant in sending the message to the audiences. The use of physical signs or nonverbal communication has the ability to demonstrate our feelings, thoughts, and can emphasize on our points (Dozier 32). During speech delivery, the speaker needs to make use emblems of emblems since they enable him or her to translate the information to the audience who does not understand the language. It is important to note that emblem is related to sign language than daily body language. For instance, sometime when speaking about Greece mythology, the speaker could hold his or her arm with all fingers sealed in, apart from the second and index fingers, which are wide apart, may signify victory or harmony of the ancient Greeks. Additionally, the speaker needs to use a gesture called illustrator or iconic gesture, when complementing a Greek heroes such as Aristotle and Plato for what they did especially in the field of philosophy and politics. When presenting a speech about Greece, the speaker needs to deliver clear information or messages that are matching both in verbal and nonverbal dimension. They have organized ideas or thoughts, pay attention to what he or she want to say and ensure that they win the attention of the audience. It is important for the speaker to focus on public speaking because he or she will be delivering a message to many people. Therefore, the speech will be organized on five aspects, speaker, speech, occasion, audience, and effect (Dozier 46). The speaker should build a suitable speech for distinct audience on distinct occasion or time and for distinct

Chinas unique demographic evolution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Chinas unique demographic evolution - Essay Example Every nation has experienced demographic change and some still continue to change even today. However, in china, their demographic transition is unique compared to other countries. The demographic transition in china was driven by several factors that played a major role in the demographic process of change. The first factor is the convectional institutional arrangement followed by the unconventional arrangement of the same (Li 126). Additionally, China’s economic development and social change have also played a major role to mark the demographic transition.Factors Influencing Demographic Transition.Every country that has experienced demographic change, experienced some certain common stages of transition. The first stage has characteristics of high birth rate and a high mortality rate, as a result, a low natural growth is marked. The second stage is characterized by a high birth rate and a low mortality rate, which leads to a high natural growth rate. The third stage is a low birth rate and low mortality rate that marks a low natural growth rate. The first stage of demographic transition is marked with low level of life quality and social development. When the mortality level is high, people rely an increased birth rate to maintain their population. This stage did not have much difference between early developed countries and later developing ones. On the other hand, the second stage came with an improvement in life quality and sanitary condition which was as a result of economic development.

Importance Of Strategic Planning For Food Service Business Marketing Essay

Importance Of Strategic Planning For Food Service Business Marketing Essay Strategic planning is important for the food service business, because it matches market opportunities with business strengths and provides direction to achieve set goals. A strategic plan is a roadmap for food service business; it defines the objectives for each critical area of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹business development, including organization, management, marketing, sales, target customers, products, services and finances. This enables an organization to successfully draw a path and progress towards the set objectives. Function Each level of the food service business can benefit from a well-written strategic plan. A strategic plan should be established before the start of the company, used to as a flexible document during the first year in business and eventually be updated annually during the life of the operation. Although nearing the end of company, strategic plan helps the business, which includes information about the ownership transition benefit. Features The most important elements of the food service strategic plan includes a summary, mission statement, company vision, industries customer profiles, descriptions of all products and services, competitors information, organization and management structure, marketing strategy and key financial statements that include balance sheets, profit loss statement and cash flow statement. The strategic plan is easy to read and understand the companys operations. Most important is to be effective to be used as a measuring tool strategic plan throughout the year. Considerations In the creation of strategic plan, owners should collect information such as company mission statement last years vision, target customer base data, departmental budgets and financial documents that include a balance sheet, profit loss account and the cash flow statement. Key findings from the past year are very important to the partners, directors, officers or key employees who will be working on the companys strategic plan. Advantages Strategic plan gives owners peace of mind, knowing that the company is on the right path towards success. In difficult times, the realization that requires certain aspects of attention is priceless. Owners may be surprised that the communication be improved to find within the company. Company employees can benefit from a better understanding of their roles and the direction of the company. Invest the time in a strategic plan, and the company will be on the road to success. Importance of Mission Statement for Food Service Business (Restaurant) A mission statement is written in the best cooperation. The decision makers in society should sit down and talk about their thoughts and how they want to represent the company to the public. Ideas should be bandied about, considered and voted then. Once they thoroughly discuss, write and re-write the statement, they should make sure that it is something that people know to appreciate and buy customers. It should provide a statement that remains relevant no matter the difficulty of the enterprise, and can serve as an instrument to overcome the adversity rallying the troops. Mission Statement Our mission is to use superior product, service and management innovations to build a global foodservice company that serves value and quality-driven meals, demonstrates transparent integrity in the marketplace and has one of the best rates of return on invested capital in the foodservice arena Mission Statements role in Companys Success The above mission statement is firm articulation of the companys customers, employees and the world about the purpose of its existence. Obviously, our food service business exists to make money, to maximize profits and equity value, but our mission statement is more on the front than the bottom line. Our mission resonates with the public and tells them why it would be advantageous to do the business with our company. This mission statement represents the companys vision, as the company wants to be seen by our clients. Mission statements include a statement of purpose, a business statement, and an indication of the companys values. The indication of the purpose expressly the purpose of the company, in our case, a food service companys purpose is to provide the target market with quality food. Mission statement should inspire the staff. Thus, our mission brings a certain focus on the employee as the purpose of their work, crystallized, and they are able to see the value of their contribution. Customers are reassured when they are exposed to the mission, as they will be able to see that the company is on its purpose (value driven quality food). There are several things that our Mission Statement addresses, 1), who are our customers, 2) what are their needs and desires, 3) how I can meet those needs and wants, 4) What are the values à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹that have built our company at present, 5) What values à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹are our company want to have that there, 6), we are all constantly veering together with a single purpose or individual course. Importance of Vision Statement for Food Service Business (Restaurant) Vision Statement Companys well-trained staff, careful planning, targeted market segments, excellent menu, unique value proposition, product quality, hours of operation and accessibility will ensure that Company has a promising future. The management style is flexible, progressive and energetic. Enthusiasm of the management and associates will greatly stimulate the envisioned growth. Vision Statements role in Supporting Companys Mission An organization develops a vision statement and a comprehensive and inspiring mission statement, does not lose the opportunity to present themselves positively to existing and potential stakeholders. All organizations have customers, employees and managers, and most companies need creditors, suppliers and distributors. The vision and mission statements are effective vehicles for communicating with key internal and external stakeholders. The capital value of these statements as tools of strategic management is derived from its specification of the ultimate goals of a company. Entrepreneurial vision provides a context in which people can make decisions at all levels. A shared vision is like a compass and distant destination in the mountains. If you give a group of people a target point and then turn them loose in the mountains in order to reach this goal, they will probably find a way to get there. You may encounter obstacles and bad curves on the road, but with the general direction of the compass, a clear end goal and the belief that they work to a worthy goal, they will probably reach the target. Key objectives and Companys Success Key objectives Establish a financial culture of positive net profit from day one in operation. Successful development of the first two stores in thirty-six months. Achieving accumulated revenue for the first thirty-six months of Companys operations, through two operating stores of $5 million. Creating a Dining Icon in the marketplace through flawless execution of standards and companys core concepts at every level of each stores operations. Become a market leader in the fast casual segment nationwide USA. Key objectives and Companys Success Meeting breakeven point and achieving net profit from day one in operations will make sure that the company is on right track. This will also enable the company to meet its long-term growth funding requirements from within the company, thus eliminating the need for external funding. Operating the second store within first three years will ensure the companys growth. It will also increase the brand visibility which will help increase daily customer visits. Achieving five million dollars in revenue will make sure that the company has enough cash to fund its future growth plan and enable the company to use its internal resources for future funding requirements. Our companys initial two restaurants will provide live operational insight into key areas that affect customer service, product quality and profit performance, including: size of future restaurants; future equipment mix; optimum floor plan for the concept; optimum restaurant staff strength; optimum scheduling-to-peak-demand strategy; and menu-mix based on customer preferences reflected in sales reports. Information from the pilot will contribute to a successful roll-out of the restaurant throughout the country.

The Constitution :: American America History

The Constitution A case for the connection of America's colonial and revolutionary religious and political experiences to the basic principles of the Constitution can be readily made. One point in favor of this conclusion is the fact that most Americans at that time had little beside their experiences on which to base their political ideas. This is due to the lack of advanced schooling among common Americans at that time. Other points also concur with the main idea and make the theory of the connection plausible. Much evidence to support this claim can be found in the wording of the Constitution itself. Even the Preamble has an important idea that arose from the Revolutionary period. The first line of the Preamble states, We the People of the United States... ." This implies that the new government that was being formed derived its sovereignty from the people, which would serve to prevent it from becoming corrupt and disinterested in the people, as the framers believed Britain's government had become. If the Bill of Rights is considered, more supporting ideas become evident. The First Amendment's guarantee of religious freedom could have been influenced by the colonial tradition of relative religious freedom. This tradition was clear even in the early colonies, like Plymouth, which was formed by Puritan dissenters from England seeking religious freedom. Roger Williams, the proprietor of Rhode Island, probably made an even larger contribution to this tradition by advocating and allowing comple te religious freedom. William Penn also contributed to this idea in Pennsylvania, where the Quakers were tolerant of other denominations. In addition to the tradition of religious tolerance in the colonies, there was a tradition of self-government and popular involvement in government. Nearly every colony had a government with elected representatives in a legislature, which usually made laws largely without interference from Parliament or the king. Jamestown, the earliest of the colonies, had an assembly, the House of Burgesses, which was elected by the property owners of the colony. Maryland developed a system of government much like Britain's, with a representative assembly, the House of Delegates, and the governor sharing power. The Puritan colony in Massachusetts originally had a government similar to a corporate board of directors with the first eight stockholders, called freemen" holding power. Later, the definition of freemen" grew to include all male citizens, and the people were given a strong voice in their own government.