Free Things They Carried Essays: The True Enemies :: Things They Carried Essays

The True Enemies in The Things They Carried  Ã‚   In Tim O'Brien's Story "Enemies," one sees several signs that explain the aspects of the Vietnam War, and the actions of two soldiers that snapped under the pressure built up by the war. These pressures caused little tiny things to create tension not only in the minds of soldiers, but also between two soldiers. For example, conflicts grew between Lee Strunk and Dave Jensen. Two soldiers, whose actions were sparked by the craziness of the war, Lee Strunk and Dave Jensen's argument over a jackknife illustrates a perfect example of how tension built up during the war. Both men know all to well what was gong on in the war, they understood that many times they encountered men who they thought were South Vietnamese, but with the quick pull of a gun or knife a whole battle resulted because of the unknown association between the South Vietnamese and the Vietcong. On the message bard, Jeff Jacobie stated, "soldiers in Vietnam were never sure who they could trust; they were not sure if the peasants they were around were secretly loyal to the VC or not." This lack of defined enemy drove the soldiers in the war berserk. Throughout the war, an unclear enemy caused many problems for the Americans. They would ambush a town, and before they knew it, they were under scrutiny for killing people who may or may not of had any association with the Vietcong. Yet, it was a ri sk they had to take in the war, and this risk caused immense stress and tension for soldiers "humping" through the rice fields of Vietnam. Not only from not knowing who the enemy was, tension also grew in the soldiers because of their loneliness and lack of understanding for why they were in Vietnam. Most of the time, soldiers humped around the lonely land of Vietnam with the same guys for months except for the occasional supply chopper that came in or the brief radio contacts with headquarters in order to receive backup and orders. Soldiers had very little contact with others, and this isolation would drive any man crazy. In order to get by, the soldiers had to rely on each other. If they could not trust each other with their lives, none of them would ever make it back to the States to enjoy the aspects of life away form war.

Victor Frankenstein’s

As I walked through the huge cold rusty door of Frankenstein's workshop, my nostrils suddenly burned with the disgustingly smell of decaying flesh and dried blood, but still I carried on my journey threw the cold workshop. I looked up and there were broken electrical cables running right to the center of the workshop. Every couple of seconds they gave out a sudden spark of electricity. Whilst I was wondering what they were being used for, I walked further in to the workshop and I tripped over a blood covered sheet I panicked and kicked the sheet of me, and jumped back to my feet. I couldn't figure out what the electrical cables were being used for so I decided to follow them deeper in to the workshop. Along my path, I walked across broken bottles and tubes all with their contents covering the floor, and their were more of undamaged ones stacked up high on shelves, filled with their own custom colors and distinctive smells. I finally came to be the cables were linked up to, it seemed to be a giant copper tank filled with discolored water, and chunks of bone and flesh, which smelled like rotten egg. It had steam slowly escaping from the poorly welded seems of the tank, I looked behind the tank to discover another one, This one had dark green water in it and was glass, completely opposite to the copper tank, I decided to take a look. The tank was filled with dead electric ells, which had been obviously there for a while, as they were decaying. I heard loud scratching noise coming from a door in the workshop, I slowly wondered towards it,and give it a small push open, when suddenly two or three rats came scurrying out of it, they ran off somewhere behind the tank, I mainly focused what was in the room, their was a window in the corner letting rain threw its hole in the glass, it hadn't been cleaned by the looks of things since it had been installed as it was covered in years of dust and grime. I walked into the room to see what lied on the table that laid in the middle of room, the table was covered with books, one book laid open reading â€Å"Life after death†. At the other side of the table were two dissected frogs, one of them laid lifelessly with a big gash running down its back, and the other one had small wires attached to its hands and feet, I knocked a book to the floor I bent down to pick it up, and I saw a key I picked both the key and book up, I read the book cover which read â€Å"bringing back the dead† and I put it back on the table, I saw another door next to an old bookshelf, I tried to open it but it was locked. I looked at the key and tried it in the lock it worked, and I opened the door. I jumped back in fear as the door lead to a closet containing human body parts and organs I quickly slammed the door shut and ran to the other side of the room. I vomited, I panicked and ran out the room back to the main part of the workshop, to again smell decaying flesh, I ignored the smell this time and I continued running back to the entrance following the electrical cables which lead me into the workshop, I reached the rusty door and pushed it open to let me free in to the rain outside and to take a much needed fresh breath of air.

Cleisthenes Creation of the 10 Tribes of Athens

Solon, a wise man, poet, and leader, made some necessary changes in the government of Athens, but he also created problems that needed fixing. Cleisthenes reforms were instrumental in converting earlier democratic tendencies into a governmental democracy.In the 7th century B.C., economic crises coupled with the start of the age of tyranny elsewhere in Greece, beginning in c. 650 with Cypselus of Corinth, led to unrest in Athens. In the final quarter of the century, the Draconian law code was so severe that the word draconian was named after the man who wrote the laws. At the start of the next century, in 594 B.C., Solon was appointed sole archon to avert catastrophe in Athens. Solons Modest Social Reforms While Solon enacted compromises and democratic reforms, he kept the social organization of Attica  and the Athenians, the clans and tribes. Following the end of his archonship, political factions and conflict developed. One side, the men of the Coast (consisting mainly of the middle classes and peasants), favored his reforms. The other side, the men of the Plain (consisting mainly of Eupatrids nobles), favored restoration of an aristocratic government. The Tyranny of Pisistratus (aka Peisistratos) Pisistratus (6th C. to 528/7 B.C.*) took advantage of the unrest. He wrested control of the Acropolis in Athens by means of a coup in 561/0, but the major clans soon deposed him. That was only his first attempt. Backed by a foreign army and the new Hill party (composed of men not included in either the Plain or Coast parties), Pisistratus took control of Attica as a constitutional tyrant (c. 546). Pisistratus encouraged cultural and religious activities. He improved the Great Panathenaia, which had been reorganized in 566/5, adding athletic contests to the festival in honor of the citys patron goddess Athena. He built a statue to Athena on the Acropolis and minted the first silver Athena owl coins. Pisistratus publicly identified himself with Heracles and especially with the help Heracles received from Athena. Pisistratus is credited with bringing rural festivals honoring the god of revelry, Dionysus, into the city, thereby creating the extremely popular Great Dionysia or the City Dionysia, the festival known for the great dramatic competitions. Pisistratus included tragedy (then a new literary form) in the festival, along with a new theater, as well as the theatrical competitions. He gave a prize to the 1st writer of tragedies, Thespis (c. 534 B.C.). While first-generation tyrants were generally benign, their successors tended to be more like what we envision tyrants to be. Pisistratus sons, Hipparchus and Hippias, followed their father to power, although there is debate as to who and how the succession was ordered: Pisistratus died at an advanced age in possession of the tyranny, and then, not, as is the common opinion, Hipparchus, but Hippias (who was the eldest of his sons) succeeded to his power.Thucydides Book VI Jowett translation Hipparchus favored the cult of Hermes, a god associated with small tradesmen, placing Hermes along the roads. This is a significant detail because Thucydides uses it as a point of comparison between leaders in connection with the mutilation of the herms attributed to Alcibiades at the time of the Peloponnesian War. They did not investigate the character of the informers, but in their suspicious mood listened to all manner of statements, and seized and imprisoned some of the most respectable citizens on the evidence of wretches; they thought it better to sift the matter and discover the truth; and they would not allow even a man of good character, against whom an accusation was brought, to escape without a thorough investigation, merely because the informer was a rogue. For the people, who had heard by tradition that the tyranny of Pisistratus and his sons ended in great oppression....Thucydides Book VI Jowett translation Hipparchus may have lusted after Harmodius: Now the attempt of Aristogiton and Harmodius arose out of a love affair....Harmodius was in the flower of youth, and Aristogiton, a citizen of the middle class, became his lover. Hipparchus made an attempt to gain the affections of Harmodius, but he would not listen to him, and told Aristogiton. The latter was naturally tormented at the idea, and fearing that Hipparchus who was powerful would resort to violence, at once formed such a plot as a man in his station might for the overthrow of the tyranny. Meanwhile Hipparchus made another attempt; he had no better success, and thereupon he determined, not indeed to take any violent step, but to insult Harmodius in some secret place, so that his motive could not be suspected.Ibid. However, the passion was not returned, so he humiliated Harmodius. Harmodius and his friend Aristogiton, the men who are renowned for freeing Athens of its tyrants, then assassinated Hipparchus. They werent alone in defending Athens against tyrants. In Herodotus, Volume 3, William Beloe says Hippias tried to get a courtesan named Leaena to reveal the name of Hipparchus accomplices, but she bit off her own tongue so as not to answer. Hippias own rule was considered despotic and he was exiled in 511/510. The exiled Alcmaeonids wanted to return to Athens, but couldnt, so long as the Pisistratids were in power. By taking advantage of Hippias growing unpopularity, and by gaining the support of the Delphic oracle, the Alcmaeonids forced the Pisistratids to leave Attica. Cleisthenes vs. Isagoras Back in Athens, the Eupatrid Alcmaeonids, led by Cleisthenes (c. 570 - c. 508 B.C.), allied with the mostly non-aristocratic Coast party. The Plain and Hill parties favored Cleisthenes rival, Isagoras, from another Eupatrid family. Isagoras appeared to have the numbers and the upper hand until Cleisthenes promised citizenship to those men who had been excluded from it. Cleisthenes and the 10 Tribes of Athens Cleisthenes won the bid for power. When he became the chief magistrate, he had to face the problems Solon had created 50 years earlier through his compromising democratic reforms, foremost among which was the allegiance of citizens to their clans. In order to break such loyalties, Cleisthenes divided the 140-200 demes (natural divisions of Attica) into 3 regions: city, coast, and inland. In each of the 3 regions, the demes were divided into 10 groups called trittyes. Each trittys was called by the name of its chief deme. He then disposed of the 4 birth-based tribes and created 10 new ones composed of one trittys from each of the 3 regions. The 10 new tribes were named after local heroes: ErechthesisAegeisPandianisLeontisAcamantisOeneisCecropisHippothontisAeantisAntiochis. The Council of 500 The Areopagus and archons continued, but Cleisthenes modified Solons Council of 400 based on the 4 tribes. Cleisthenes changed it to a Council of 500 to which Each tribe contributed 50 members.Each deme contributed a number proportional to its size. Over time, each member came to be chosen by lot from those citizens who were at least 30-years old and approved by the outgoing council.Instead of having the unwieldy 500 sitting day after day for the year of their office, each tribe sat on the administrative and executive council for 1/10 of the year. These groups of 50 men were called prytanies. The Council could not declare war. Declaring war and vetoing recommendations of the Council were responsibilities of the Assembly of all citizens. Cleisthenes reformed the military, as well. Each tribe was required to supply a hoplite regiment and a squadron of horsemen. A general from each tribe commanded these soldiers. Ostraka and Ostracism Information on the reforms of Cleisthenes is available through Herodotus (Books 5 and 6) and Aristotle (Athenian Constitution and Politics). The latter claims that Cleisthenes was also responsible for the institution of ostracism, which allowed the citizens to get rid of a fellow citizen whom they feared was getting too powerful, temporarily. The word ostracism comes from ostraka, the word for the potsherds on which the citizens wrote the name of their candidates for the 10-year exile. The 10 Tribes of Athens Tribes TrittyesCoast TrittyesCity TrittyesPlain 1Erechthesis #1Coast #1City #1Plain 2Aegeis #2Coast #2City #2Plain 3Pandianis #3Coast #3City #3Plain 4Leontis #4Coast #4City #4Plain 5Acamantis #5Coast #5City #5Plain 6Oeneis #6Coast #6City #6Plain 7Cecropis #7Coast #7City #7Plain 8Hippothontis #8Coast #8City #8Plain 9Aeantis #9Coast #9City #9Plain 10Antiochis #10Coast #10City #10Plain *Aristotle Athenaion politeia 17-18 says Pisistratus grew old and ill while in office, and died 33 years from his first time as tyrant. Sources J.B. Bury:  A History of Greece(pages.ancientsites.com/~Epistate_Philemon/newspaper/cleis.html)Cleisthenes Recalled(www.pagesz.net/~stevek/ancient/lecture6b.html) The Athenian Origins of Direct Democracy(www.alamut.com/subj/artiface/deadMedia/agoraMuseum.html) Technology of Ancient DemocracyAspects of Greek History 750-323 BC: A Source-Based Approach, by Terry Buckley (2010)The Career of Peisistratos Son of Hippias, by Michael F. Arnush;  Hesperia  Vol. 64, No. 2 (Apr. - Jun., 1995), pp. 135-162.

Review Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh - 1097 Words

N.K. Sandars, The Epic of Gilgamesh, is one of the most well-known stories in literature. Gilgamesh ruled the city of Uruk and one of the most advanced cities during the third millennium B.C. He orders his people to build the strongest walls by protecting them from dangerous attacks. In the Epic, he is described as physically strong, beautiful, and wise ruler of Mesopotamia. Yet, in the beginning, Gilgamesh was uncontrollable of his powers. His people can’t take it anymore and so they prayed to the gods. Anu hears them and sent out Enkidu, a wild man, who battles with Gilgamesh. But Enkidu losses and they later become best friends. Gilgamesh decides to go on a voyage and Enkidu disagrees with him and said that it was too dangerous. They†¦show more content†¦Also, shows strength because the journey was filled with difficult tasks, but manage to conquer them making Gilgamesh a true epic hero. Gilgamesh returns home empty handed, but the people of Uruk admire their kingà ¢â‚¬â„¢s accomplishments and the ethical code of the community was created. In the Epic, the audience can feel that no matter what lies ahead in their everyday lives experiencing pain is natural. The qualities that enable Gilgamesh success is bravery, superhuman strength, and honor. Throughout the story, Gilgamesh exhibits the skills of being a warrior and leader. In the prolog the gods created Gilgamesh as perfection, â€Å"Adad the god of the storm endowed him with courage, the great gods made his beauty perfect, surpassing all others† (Sandars 61). Also, it is said that Gilgamesh is, â€Å"one-third human and two-thirds God.† He is perceived as more than a man with unlimited powers. During the forest journey he has proven to become very courageous Gilgamesh said, â€Å"only the gods live forever †¦, but as for us men, our days are numbered, our occupations are a breath of wind† (71). Gilgamesh is describing that he wants to die with honor because the jou rney isn’t easy, it definitely takes a lot of courage for a man to get what he wants. Gilgamesh is also risking everything he got. During the defeat of Humbaba Gilgamesh reveals that you have to be brave and throw away fear (81). Yet, it all turn around when his good friend Enkidu dies. Gilgamesh has shown a lot of emotions since

Personal Statement The Varsity Team Essay - 1354 Words

I lived in rural Northeast Mississippi in a town called Pontotoc. This area was better known for sports and sweet potato farming. I viewed reading as something that I would have to just bear through to get a decent grade, so that I could play on the varsity team. The school I attended did not have a staff of extraordinary English teachers they were people who just enjoyed reading and writing. Reading had never been received by me as something I would be interested in personally. That all changed in my tenth grade year when I had Mrs. Victoria Walkers as my English teacher! She was a normal height brunette haired lady, just a regular old teacher like the rest. She was a newer teacher at the high school and had become friends with my mother who also taught at the high school, which led to Mrs. Walker and me to becoming somewhat of friends. We had somewhat of a fun loving relationship, I would say, we would pick and joke with one another like I would with almost all of my teachers. She was just another small town teacher like all of my previous English teachers, I thought. Mrs. Walker had a hidden agenda to get all the good old boys like me to get interested into reading, and she looked forward to the challenge. It all started at the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year. I had Mrs. Walker’s English class for my first period of the day. The semester started off like every semester the first week we went over the syllabus, which was full of short stories and four books thatShow MoreRelatedMba Statement of Purpose973 Words   |  4 PagesRunning head: PERSONAL STATEMENT TO PURSUE AN MBA Personal Statement to Pursue an MBA My personal statement begins with my American journey. A journey of faith and courage in the face of adversity that has taken me to where I am today. And it remains still a work in progress. And an MBA will surely help accelerate that. 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Nuclear Energy †Blessing or Curse free essay sample

One of the major advantages of nuclear power is that by generating electricity by nuclear reactors, nuclear power plants do not produce carbon dioxide, the principal greenhouse gas causing global warming. Experts have proved that Britain’s power plants have decreased the nation’s carbon dioxide emission by between 7 and 14 per cent. Although even nuclear energy isn’t 100 per cent clean, it is considered carbon free. Secondly, nuclear power plants provide low-cost energy at a stable price, and have relatively low operating cost. Researches have proven that the operating and maintaining cost have been declining over the past decades. Furthermore, nuclear power plants can be operated for an extended period of time. Needless to say, low price energy is very beneficial for the industry. On the other hand, nuclear power plants produce nuclear waste, which is not biodegradable and is extremely dangerous. Moreover, it remains hazardous for thousands of years. There ere several ways in which nuclear waste is stored, such as burying the waste under the ocean floor, storing it underground or shooting it into space. We will write a custom essay sample on Nuclear Energy – Blessing or Curse? or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The most promising option so far is burying it underground. However, this method poses great threat to wildlife, and if nuclear waste comes into contact with groundwater, it can easily contaminate it. One of the most potent arguments that has been put against nuclear energy is the issue of nuclear disasters. Nuclear disasters occurred in Chernobyl in 1986 and in Fukushima in 2011. Although risks for such catastrophes are not high, there can be serious consequences: dozens of people died due to exposure of radiation, cancer rates increased in much of the population which was exposed to radioactive contamination, and substantial amounts of radiation got into the atmosphere. In conclusion, it can be argued that nuclear energy has its own risks, but if it is used with caution, it is a valuable energy source. There are lots of nuclear power plants around the world and shutting them down would be a waste of energy and money. However, it would be beneficial for humanity to invest in safer energy resources.

The Jacket Essays - The Jacket, Poverty, , Term Papers

The Jacket In The JacketGary Soto uses symbolism to reflect on the characterization and development of the narrarator. Soto seems to focus mainly on a jacket, which has several meanings throughout the story. The jacket is used as a symbol to portray poverty, the narrarators insecurity, and the narrarators form of self-destruction. Since the story uses a certain object, the Jacket, as the meaning of several issues, it primarily focuses on the narrarators poverty-stricken family. First of all, an example of the poverty is demonstrated when the narrarator complains that the jacket was so ugly and big that I knew Id have to wear it a long time(paragraph 3). It is clear that his lack of money was a problem in which he would have to keep the jacket because he could not afford a new one. The narrarator then feels embarrassed and upset by the jacket by stating I blame my mother for her bad taste and cheap ways(paragraph 10). By mentioning his mothers cheap ways he is conveying that he is aggravated because of his mothers option to choose bad and ugly clothes in order to save money. A final way that the jacket is used as a symbol for poverty is implicit when a dog in the story tears the jacket and the narrarator Scotch taped it close but in rain or cold weather the tape peeled off like Gonzalez 2 a scab and more stuffing came out(paragraph 10). The fact that the narrarator could not fix the torn part of the jacket can indicate that his family is struggling to afford money for themselves. These certain examples help portray the issues of poverty that the narrarators family struggles. The Jacket symbolizes poverty as well as the narrarators insecurity throughout the story. An example of the insecurity that is demonstrated in the story is mentioned when the narrarators teachers were of no help, they looked [his] way and talked about how foolish [he] looked in [his] new jacket (paragraph 7). The narrarator feels insecure because of his assumptions that his teachers are making fun of him when in fact, they are not noticing him at all. Further more, he continues to say, At lunchtime I stayed with the ugly boys leaned against the chain link fence our mouths (paragraph 9). This statement proves the narrarator is having bad luck because of the jacket and is destroying his reputation at school. A third reason why the jacket symbolizes insecurity is because the fact that his classmates see him with the jacket, he feels that they say out loud man thats ugly, I heard the buzz-buzz of gossip and even laughter Gonzalez 3 (paragraph 7). Just as he felt the same as he did in the teacher situation, he feels the jacket is something that makes himself like a joke and increases his insecurity. Self- Destruction is a final meaning for the symbolism of the jacket which helps the character develop himself in the story. When the narrarator felt that the jacket was ruining his life, he claimed I ran outside, ready to cry, and climbed the tree by the alley to think bad thoughts (paragraph 10). His bad thoughts were of embarrassment and shame all brought on by the idea of having this certain jacket. Another example was when he had gotten upset and he had thrown the jacket down and he later swiped the jacket off the ground and went inside to drape it across [his] leg and started to mope (paragraph 11). Showing aggravation towards an object shows his frustration towards himself, realizing that he cannot accept the person he has become with the jacket. Finally, when the narrarator states I spent my sixth-grade year in a tree waiting for something good to happen to me in that jacket (paragraph 10). The narrarators expectation to feel useful in the jacket is what makes him happy. In conclusion, Gary Soto realizes that without the symbolism of the jacket, there really would be no meaning Gonzalez 4 to the story. His use of poverty, insecurity, and self-destruction of the narrarator is what makes the story complete. English Essays