...Blood as a Correspondent to Guilt William Shakespeare has written many plays throughout his life. His words are eloquent, his characters are dramatic, and his style is treasured. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, blood is a reoccurring symbol. Shakespeare made the connection between blood and guilt; blood flows through our veins all around our body, it is a part of us. Even though guilt is not physically a part of us, we create it in ourselves. Blood is the physical representation of guilt as it symbolizes the irreversible effects of murder on the human mind. Guilt is the downfall of order and sanity. Even before murder, guilt consumes Macbeth’s mind causing him to hallucinate. Macbeth sees “gouts of blood” (II.1.46) on this “dagger of [his] mind” (II.1.38) as he is walking towards Duncan’s chamber to murder Duncan. Macbeth, at first, thinks the dagger is “a false creation, /Proceeding from [his] heat-oppressed brain” (II.1.38/39), but as he continues down the hall he then starts to feel it is not his sick brain, but it is the “bloody business” (II.1.49) of murder which causes this dagger to appear. This reveals that Macbeth is already emotionally unstable from Duncan’s murder even before one drop of blood is spilt from his body. Furthermore, Macbeth’s state of mind after the killing was so exceedingly erratic due to the guilt he felt that he forgets to frame the guards for the murder. Macbeth returns to Lady Macbeth, from Duncan’s room, to let her know that he has “done...
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...Definition of guilt: 1 a: the fact of having committed a breach of conduct especially violating law and involving a penalty;broadly : guilty conduct 2 a : the state of one who has committed an offense especially consciously b : feelings of culpability especially for imagined offenses or from a sense of inadequacy In “The Pie” by Langston Hughes, and “Salvation” by Gary Soto, both focus on guilt, but through each author’s characterization of his protagonist’s realization of guilt, a better understanding of the effects of guilt is revealed. In “The Pie” the decision of sinning and feeling of guilt starts right from the beginning. “Salvation” takes until the end of the piece to show the feeling of guilt. The feeling of guilt...
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...Experience with Guilt Two different people, with two different stories, that share the same feeling. Survivor’s guilt. This isn’t anything new for people who go through unspeakable events throughout their journey. Different roles, same situation. Leader of Ithaca and Everest climber Jon Krakauer, both suffered survivor’s guilt when they made it out alive through the spin-chilling events. Both men blamed themselves for what had happened to their companions, but demonstrated it differently. Throughout the course of our lives, we make decisions that we think are good for us and the people surrounding us. Throughout their journeys, both men kept their silence when instead they should have contributed their knowledge with their companions. Odysseus for example, kept the information that Aeolus, the God of the winds, shared with him. He had told put all the dangerous in a bag and told Odysseus to make sure the bag is never opened. Now, his companions didn’t know that. If they did, all the extra trouble they went through would have never occurred. Krakauer on the other hand had lied to Beck Weathers about his condition. While he was struggling with painful frostbites, Krakauer fibbed to Weathers which...
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...Discuss the role guilt and shame play in the lives of the soldiers depicted by O’Brien. Cite specific (and numerous) instances that show the results of these characteristics. In Tim Obrien’s “The Things They Carried” several behaviors function as devices designed to avoid shame and/or guilt. Characters continually find themselves in situations where their performance is a response designed to minimize the obtaining of these emotions or the pain felt by them once obtained. Therefore, action is frequently inspired by the emotional burdens that guilt or shame present. Once category of behaviors inspired by guilt and shame in The Things They Carried includes adherence to societal expectations. Prior to witnessing war first-hand the author nearly decided to escape the draft because of negative emotions toward it. He experiences conflict within himself on this point though because the choice in avoiding the draft counter the expectations of his home community and family. As he reflected he stated, “What it came down to, stupidly, was a sense of shame. Hot, stupid shame. I did not want people to think badly of me.” (pg 49 On the Rainy River) (sigfig is this contributes...
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...Vamsi Sutram Mrs. Smith American Literature 29 November 2014 Power of Guilt In modern society, concealing guilt is often given a negative connotation, however, the implications that are associated with guilt and sins are human creations. Guilt, the result of shameful mistakes, is associated with infirmity, cowardice, and self-centeredness due to the fear of exposure. These three mesmerizing works, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, “The Pie” by Gary Soto and, “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller, address the theme of guilt and the consequences of concealing one’s guilt. The Scarlet Letter considered one of the most famous of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, is set in the1850s in Boston, Massachusetts. The plot revolves around a Puritan community and a woman named Hester. “The Pie”, written in Fresno, California in 1991, is an autobiographical narrative that illustrates Soto’s sin when he steals a pie from the grocery store and experiences the feeling of guilt along with a few other consequences. “The Crucible” was written in 1953 and exposes the truths about the Salem Witchcraft trials, in Massachusetts. Ultimately, through their respective protagonists’ acts of aggression and violations of boundaries, authors Hawthorne, Soto, and Miller illustrate that the guilt derived from sin itself, especially if concealed from society, can cause emotional and mental torture, leading to everlasting internal punishment...
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...“I knew that I could have saved K”(pg 140) This is something that goes through a person's mind when they have survivor guilt thinking they could have done something to prevent a death when in reality they could not have. Survivor guilt can happen to anyone which is why the seventh man should forgive himself for doing something he couldn't have prevented. Survivor Guilt, many people stay with this for the rest of their lives and some people overcome it and the SM overcame this by facing his fear. The SM had to go back to his home town to the exact place where the wave had swallowed his friend, “There was no longer anything to fear”(pg 144) there it was that he knew it was not his fault that his best friend K. got swallowed by the wave....
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...were injured in a terror attack in San Bernardino. A law enforcement officer says, “I’ll take a bullet before you, that’s for damned sure.” Survivor's guilt is felt by the officer because he wanted to risk his life so the 14 people wouldn't have died. Many people argue about whether or not survivors or life and death situations should or should not feel survivor's guilt. Some people believe survivors should feel survivor's guilt. Others feel survivors should not feel survivor’s guilt. Survivors of life and death situations should feel survivor's guilt. One reason survivors should feel survivor's guilt is because suffering shows you cared about the one who recently passed. “The Moral Logic of Survivor Guilt” by Nancy Sherman is an editorial about how survivors guilt can show you really cared about the one who recently passed. In the text it states, “The anguish of guilt, its sheer pain, is a way of sharing some of the ill fate.”(Sherman page 155 paragraph 8) Guilt is very painful and many people go threw this when a loved one has recently passed because they really cared about that person. Survivors should feel guilt because it's a way of showing you loved the one that passed and it will help you to become stronger so if another situation was to happen you...
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...Diva Moon Essay of Reaction and Description April 22, 2014 LETTER TO A CHILD NEVER BORN This time I will talk about one of the books but I have been shocked when I've read, not only for being such a controversial issue and will always be a source of great moral and spiritual controversial addition that is a terrible social reality as is the abortion. This time I will not give my personal opinion but I do not deny that this issue touches me closely as I am also a woman and mother. This book is about a woman who is independent, hardworking, single with a desire to succeed in life besides realistic and unsentimental ... This is the character that embodies the protagonist of this book is raw and cold as LETTER TO A CHILD NEVER BORN. We've always known two types of abortion: The spontaneous and provoked, but in this book Oriana Fallaci, who is the author shows us that there is one more way to abortion: The thought. This book is written as a diary, the author shows us that thinking can also be a lethal weapon that kills too. This is what he believed the protagonist of this book since she was suffering internal conflict to get pregnant without trying and failing to find support from her boyfriend when he learns the news does not give her the support she obviously expected from his partner. This cruel situation...
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...Case Analysis: Sycamore Pharmaceuticals ABS 415: Leadership & Ethics in a Changing World May 25, 2012 John Blake and Cole Dominguez are both employed at Sycamore Pharmaceuticals. This case study is about the company manipulating scientific studies to say that the popular drug Osteoporin which is also used for rheumatoid arthritis was supposed to help the treatment of Crohn’s disease and lupus, but the scientific findings came back negative in helping with those two diseases. John Blake seems to be a sincere man and was truly feeling bad for not reporting the findings to anyone and keeping his mouth shut. He was nervous, upset and showing that he was remorseful for taking part in this situation. Cole Dominguez was the complete opposite of those qualities. He was more concerned with losing his next month’s quarterly bonus than feeling bad for the situation at hand. Each man had different views and attitudes towards how they were going to handle the scandal. Dominguez was going to stand by the manager no matter what in fear of losing his job in his defense he said he was only following orders. That may be true, but he showed no remorse or compassion for the patients that were affected by this situation. His philosophy was along as he did was he was told by the manager he would be not held responsible. This showed his lack of personal ethical values. He is just as guilty as the manager of concealing this information. He felt that when...
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...I. If I were a voice, a persuasive voice, That could travel the wide world through, I would fly on the beams of the morning light, And speak to men with a gentle might, And tell them to be true. I'd fly, I'd fly, o'er land and sea, Wherever a human heart might be, Telling a tale, or singing a song, In praise of the right - in blame of the wrong. II. If I were a voice, a consoling voice, I'd fly on the wings of air, The homes of Sorrow and Guilt I'd seek, And calm and truthful words I'd speak To save them from Despair. I'd fly, I'd fly, o'er the crowded town, And drop, like the happy sun-light, down Into the hearts of suffering men, And teach them to rejoice again. III. If I were a voice, a convincing voice, I'd travel with the wind, And whenever I saw the nations torn By warfare, jealousy, or scorn, If I were a voice, a convincing voice, I 'd travel with the wind, And whenever I saw the nations torn By warfare, jealousy, or scorn, Or hatred of their kind, I'd fly, I'd fly, on the thunder-crash, And into their blinded bosoms flash; And, all their evil thoughts subdued, I'd teach them Christian Brotherhood. IV. If I were a voice, a pervading voice, I'd seek the kings of Earth; I'd find them alone on their beds at night-- And whisper words that should guide them right-- Lessons of priceless worth; I'd fly more swift than the swiftest bird, And tell them things they never heard-- Truths which the ages for aye repeat-- Unknown to the statesmen...
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...and courage she has for her daughter Pearl and for herself. Hester takes the responsibility of the sin she that she has committed even though Reverend Dimmesdale is partially to blame. Reverend Dimmesdale speaking to Hester Prynne says, "I charge thee to speak out the name of thy fellow-sinner and fellow-sufferer! Be not silent from any mistaken pity and tenderness for him; for, believe me, Hester, though he were to step down from a high place, and stand there beside thee, on thy pedestal of shame, yet better were it so, than to hide a guilty heart through life” (Hawthorne, 79). Reverend Dimmesdale is speaking to Hester Prynne hoping that she would confess that she committed adultery with him so the Reverend would no longer suffer the guilt he faces. The Reverend is deomonstrating cowardly acts by wanting Hester to confess his sin so he can suffer the pain with her. When he could easily confess his bad actions himself. Hester is not a shamed of her...
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...The Theme of Responsibility and The Assault By Harry Mulisch In order to be responsible, one must be able to make moral and rational decisions while taking in consideration the guilt one will feel if the memory of their actions come back to haunt them. The Assault by Harry Mulisch explores the idea of responsibility through the infliction of a murder on the lives of innocent and guilty people. The idea that one must be able to answer for one’s behavior is portrayed in a peculiar way throughout the novel. It seems as if from the beginning of the novel Anton and his family are being held accountable for a murder that none of them were responsible for. As Anton’s “mother and Peter were just in time to see the [Kortewegs] deposit the body in front of carefree,” (Mulisch 19) the reader automatically perceives an injustice that will affect the characters and readers throughout the entire novel. Responsibility is one of the very first subjects that catch the eye of the reader in the novel as the reader is first left with the question of who killed “Fake Ploeg, Chief Inspector of Police, the greatest murderer and traitor in Haarlem” (Mulisch 17) without the thought of a severe consequence that would soon cloud their lives, and why the body was moved in front of the house of the Steenwijks. The thing about responsibility that catches the reader off guard is the fact that no matter who committed the deed, whether good or bad, someone will have to take the blame for whatever the situation...
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... appear to be the average family in the year 1912, until one looks further and finds that each appears to be in their own version of purgatory, stuck in a repetition of events and behaviors that are both non-productive, as well as destructive. Ultimately, these result in their being condemned to continually relive the worst events in their life with their most unflattering characteristics, time and time again. Yet, in doing so, they not only self-sabotage, but sabotage each other and prevent any member of the family from realizing any genuine relief or finding any true resolution amidst this perpetual cycle, which is essentially foreshadowed by the title, itself. Therefore, from the ongoing cycle of denial and blame, to anger and guilt, to drug use and abuse, Long Day’s Journey into Night is a cynical story that illustrates the seemingly infinite cycles that depict the perpetual struggles that occur within one family over the course of an average day as the light gives way to darkness. As such, the paragraphs that follow elaborate on some of the most prominent cycles within the story, beginning with a discussion of the Tyrone family’s collective inability to let go of the past, perpetually sending them backward as opposed to moving towards the future ahead. The Cycle of the Past One of the most prominent cycles throughout the entire play is the family’s inability to let go of the past. As a result, this creates a repetitive pattern in which the family is in the...
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...John Milley’s “Bad Conscience” Artist John Miller takes you through a whirlwind of emotions at his carefully curated exhibition “ Bad Conscience” at Metro Pictures. The title of the exhibition is a literal verbal supplement being depicted through the various forms of photography, paintings, video clips, and other objects. All of the artwork was understood as representational based on the themes and basis of the exhibition. The themes of sexuality, identity, guilt, were the most prominent and reoccurring throughout “Bad Conscience”. The audience was most drawn to the nature of human sexuality illustrated though “Bad Conscience”, but from a deeper point of view. There was a contrast between eroticism, innocent sexual undertones and blatant sexual objectification. Leigh Ledare’s ‘Clementine’ was a printed photo that revealed a naked woman in a bed clad in just heels with her legs open. The photograph was scribbled over with oil stick, that concealed the woman’s face and private parts. The press release read “Ledare asked children to draw over a lascivious image of his naked mother lying on a bed” (2014). It was interesting to see that the colors used to scribble weren’t dark and subdued, but in fact the opposite. The usage of pastels, blue and pink were light and airy, not being overpowering or overbearing at all. It reflected the children’s innocence and the thought of their mother being just naked. Had Ledare asked teenagers, the entire mood of ‘Clementine’ would have shifted...
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...micro details and juxtaposes these ideas with macro details. The poems Orb Spider and Fox in a Tree Stump are juxtaposed in the way she conveys her reverence for nature, as fox in a tree stump subtly communicates the idea of her reverence for nature through guilt and remorse as opposed to orb spider giving direct references towards the beauty of nature. Beveridge creates a reverence for nature through the way she describes in detail the simple beauty of creatures often seen as insignificant. The quote “she was so beautiful spinning her web” adds to the beauty of the spider through her deliberate use of referring to the spider as a female. This is effective as beauty is often associated with femininity and often seen as graceful and elegant. This quote displays the harmony of nature. The reference to “spinning her web” relates also to domestic toil, the idea that the spider is doing what is known as her everyday chores. The persona can then relate to this creating a feeling of empathy and admiration towards the spider. However, fox in a tree stump displays reverence for nature though not through the same way as orb spider. The quote “prayed not to waken another animal from the wheat” creates a rather remorseful tone through guilt, Beveridge shows that there is still a reverence for nature present although it is not represented the same way as orb spider. Imagery that Beveridge utilizes throughout the poem is effective as the spider’s web, which is often seen as a nuisance by most...
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