The Bacchae Essays - Greek Mythology, Mythology, Dionysus, Pentheus

The Bacchae In the Bacchae, for whom do you feel more sympathy ? Pentheus or Dionysus? In the Bacchae, Pentheus and Dionysus have very different characters. They are both very complex characters and they both go through changes that alter the way you see them. At the beginning of the play, we are given a very dramatic image of Dionysus at his mothers, Semele's monument. He is wearing a crown of ivy, carrying a thyrsus and wearing a fawn skin. It is a very mysterious and haunting scene. When Dionysus speaks he speaks angrily and passionately - you do not get the impression that he is a very subdued character. In contrast, however, when you first meet Pentheus you see him as a very proud man. He is outraged with the women of Thebes, he has a strict sense of his own beliefs ? he simply cannot understand why the women are choosing to believe in a foreign god, an ? upstart god '. He is instinctively sceptical. He believes that the women of Troy have left ?on some pretence of Bacchic worship'. He is so cynical he honestly cannot believe in the power of Bacchus. When we first meet the two adversaries face to face, we at first feel sympathy for Dionysus, for he is the prisoner. Pentheus starts the conversation thinking he has the upper hand because he has more power over the situation. However, it is clear to the audience that Dionysus is in control of the situation. He is calm and strong. He could have felt threatened, being in a king's presence, but instead he acts confidently. This could have made me feel proud of Dionysus for handling the situation so well; if it was not for the fact that he cruelly mocks Pentheus. Pentheus obviously has no idea that he is talking to a god, and Dionysus takes full advantage of this. Dionysus drops hints that he is not simply a Bacchic worshiper, but these are only obvious to the audience. Dionysus tells us that Dionysus is ?close at hand and sees what's being done to me'. The audience can appreciate the subtly in this, but to Pentheus the man is just provoking him. I think that Pentheus is jealous of Dionysus' power over women, long curls and white skin. This would explain why he is so condescending to Dionysus. Pentheus does not want to believe that Dionysus is really the son of Zeus. I think that deep down he knows that he is and that is why he constantly needs to reassure himself of his royal status. I think Dionysus is aware of Pentheus' jealousy and he uses this to his own advantage. We know that he can manipulate people, as he can make the guard feel guilty for simply bringing him before the king. I can sympathise with Pentheus because it is hard for him to understand this new, foreign cult, let alone accept it. He is a young and relatively new king and unused to his power, without having it questioned by a foreigner. He wants to assert his power and to be in control. He can not do this when being threatened by an eastern cult. I do disagree, however, with the way Pentheus tries to dictate Thebes - it should be up to the people of Thebes to make up their own minds as to their beliefs. If they want to believe that Dionysus is the son of Zeus, there is nothing Pentheus can do to change their minds. Pentheus is frightened by the way that the women are so sure of themselves, he does not like the way they are suddenly at ease with nature. What he does not realise is that Dionysus does not want the women to completely abandon themselves to nature, but just to recognise his importance and the importance of his worship. There are many qualities that make Dionysus a strong god, he is very wise and helps the people to forget their suffering by procuring wine. He is also a prophet and can enable people to see their future. Dionysus is often blamed for his female followers being unchaste and without morals. I do not think that this is a

Tips on How to Write a Sample Essay on the Topic of Why Are You Interested in This College

Tips on How to Write a Sample Essay on the Topic of Why Are You Interested in This CollegeIf you're interested in one of the many online colleges in the world, your first question to the admissions office is 'How am I supposed to write a sample essay on the topic of why are you interested in this college?' For many applicants it's an important question. Most of the time, they find out after they get accepted and begin writing the essay. If you can make this a priority, you will be much more likely to make it as well.Before you begin writing your sample essay on the topic of why are you interested in this college, think about what kind of questions you want to ask your potential school. Do you want to know why they want to admit you? What types of things should they talk about when describing their university?A good way to start thinking about what to say in your essay is to first have a list of the typical topics they will answer. Ask yourself, 'Why are you interested in this college ?' as if it were a puzzle and brainstorm in your head a bit to come up with some answers.The questions that apply to your college will naturally vary based on the school. Start your list by listing any common interests you may have that the admissions office may want to discuss with you, as well as any questions you may have for them. Start with the things that are most important to you and list them in order of importance.At this point you need to decide how you are going to structure your essay. You should be using the resources that the admissions office has provided to help you write a good essay. Just about all your professor's course materials, college textbooks, and the college's catalog are good places to start. They are also places where you can find free guidance.However, you don't want to stick to a rigid format when writing your essay on the topic of why are you interested in this college. Remember that you are still writing about yourself, so don't be afraid to break aw ay from the rules and stretch the rules a little bit. In fact, the admissions office may provide you with different formats to use when writing your essay.Your essay should tell a story and use a couple of paragraphs to tell the story. In your first paragraph, use the story you want to tell. Next, get to the meat of your essay by listing the reasons why you are interested in the college. Be sure to use proper grammar and use citations to back up the facts you list.Using these tips on how to write a sample essay on the topic of why are you interested in this college should make your job easier. And remember that you should never give information away without asking.

Life History Speech Essays

Life History Speech Essays Life History Speech Essay Life History Speech Essay Essay Topic: Notre Dame Life History Speech (Manuscript) INTRODUCTION Attention-Getting Statement: Some of us are not born with a silver spoon to eat from and must make the best of our surroundings. Did you ever look at how hard your parents worked for the little that they possessed? Is your job just a job that pay the bills yet offers little in the regards or self fulfillment. Credibility Statement: During the last thirty years I have had to make decisions which would ultimately decide my fate. One man has been there to answer the call for advice; my grandfather Walt. Connecting Statement: Most of us remember our grandparents as the ones who always loved us. Not parental love, unconditional Thesis Statement: My grandfather will not be written down in any history books; the men who fought by his side are now marked by a white cross Preview: I am now going to share with you the story of my stepfathers over-confidence as a youth, misfortunes throughout his life, and his eventual triumph. Transition: Ill now begin by describing the foundation of my stepfathers life, his youth. BODY Main Point #1: Growing up, Ed did not live in a typical household, unless you consider having a professional football star as your father typical. And if that were not bad enough, his uncle was also in the NFL at the time. Having such talent nearby molded his over-confidence in the sport of football. His parents met while his father played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and his mother was the football teams secretary. Soon after, Ed was born, practically with a football in his hand during the spring of 1967. As a youngster, he played in the backyard with his brother Matt, who would be born two years later. Ed would then go on to play on the mini football team for his hometown of Swoyersville. As he entered Wyoming Valley West High School, it was expected that he would play on their football team. He did, and after a successful four-year career as quarterback and tailback, the time had come to think about plans for college. Transition: Little did he know, that things would not go as planned, as Ill now explain. Main Point#2: Eds dream was to play for the University of Notre Dame; he cries every time he watches the move Rudy, and would naturally go on from there to play in the NFL. Being offered four scholarships, though none being from the school of his choice, Notre Dame would remain a dream. Instead of sitting around feeling sorry for himself, he would take what he and his parents thought was the best offer, and continue his career at the University of Delaware. He didnt get into the college that he wanted, but this never ruined his dream of the NFL, after all he had the football genes. He would then experience the biggest reality-check of his life with a serious back injury his freshman year. He would require surgery to repair a herniated disc, which would cause him to lose weight, speed, and size. By his sophomore year, he knew that Delaware was going to be the end of his football career. This was the finalization he feared that would take away all hope for a professional career. Transition: Let me now share how persistence helped him to obtain an enjoyable and satisfying life. Main Point #3: Ed was now at a crossroads in his life where he had to think about what he could do to stay in the sport of football without actually playing. He then decided if he could not play for a living, he would do the next best thing by coaching. Even though his fathers status couldnt get him into the NFL, his fathers connections would get him his first job. Beginning at Meyers High School as a part time substitute teacher and assistant coach, he moved onto land a permanent teaching position as well as head football coach for Wyoming Valley West. With the added responsibility of being a head coach comes a lot less time to spend with your family. This does not fly so well with my mother, but through it all, he still looks forward to getting up and going to work each and every day. Transition: In closing CONCLUSION Summary Statement: Today, I have shared with you the story of how one man rose to the top of his game in adolescence, met adversity in college, and ultimately gained personal success and happiness through perseverance. Concluding Remarks: After our interview, while still reflecting on all the highs and lows of his life, I then asked, Do you believe that everything happens for a reason? He quickly answered Yes, but its how you react to the missed plays in the game of life that makes you who you are.

Structural Equation Modeling

Structural Equation Modeling Structural equation modeling is an advanced statistical technique that has many layers and many complex concepts. Researchers who use structural equation modeling have a good understanding of basic statistics, regression analyses, and factor analyses. Building a structural equation model requires rigorous logic as well as a deep knowledge of the field’s theory and prior empirical evidence. This article provides a very general overview of structural equation modeling without digging into the intricacies involved. Structural equation modeling is a collection of statistical techniques that allow a set of relationships between one or more independent variables and one or more dependent variables to be examined. Both independent and dependent variables can be either continuous or discrete and can be either factors or measured variables. Structural equation modeling also goes by several other names: causal modeling, causal analysis, simultaneous equation modeling, analysis of covariance structures, path analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. When exploratory factor analysis is combined with multiple regression analyses, the result is structural equation modeling (SEM). SEM allows questions to be answered that involve multiple regression analyses of factors. At the simplest level, the researcher posits a relationship between a single measured variable and other measured variables. The purpose of SEM is to attempt to explain â€Å"raw† correlations among directly observed variables. Path Diagrams Path diagrams are fundamental to SEM because they allow the researcher to diagram the hypothesized model, or set of relationships. These diagrams are helpful in clarifying the researcher’s ideas about the relationships among variables and can be directly translated into the equations needed for analysis. Path diagrams are made up of several principles: Measured variables are represented by squares or rectangles. Factors, which are made up of two or more indicators, are represented by circles or ovals. Relationships between variables are indicated by lines; lack of a line connecting the variables implies that no direct relationship is hypothesized. All lines have either one or two arrows. A line with one arrow represents a hypothesized direct relationship between two variables, and the variable with the arrow pointing toward it is the dependent variable. A line with an arrow at both ends indicates an unanalyzed relationship with no implied direction of effect. Research Questions Addressed by Structural Equation Modeling The main question asked by structural equation modeling is, â€Å"Does the model produce an estimated population covariance matrix that is consistent with the sample (observed) covariance matrix?† After this, there are several other questions that SEM can address. Adequacy of the model: Parameters are estimated to create an estimated population covariance matrix. If the model is good, the parameter estimates will produce an estimated matrix that is close to the sample covariance matrix. This is evaluated primarily with the chi-square test statistic and fit indices. Testing theory: Each theory, or model, generates its own covariance matrix. So which theory is best? Models representing competing theories in a specific research area are estimated, pitted against each other, and evaluated.Amount of variance in the variables accounted for by the factors: How much of the variance in the dependent variables is accounted for by the independent variables? This is answered through R-squared-type statistics. Reliability of the indicators: How reliable are each of the measured variables? SEM derives reliability of measured variables and internal consistency measures of reliability.Parameter estimates: SEM generates parameter estimates, or coefficients, f or each path in the model, which can be used to distinguish if one path is more or less important than other paths in predicting the outcome measure. Mediation: Does an independent variable affect a specific dependent variable or does the independent variable affect the dependent variable though a mediating variable? This is called a test of indirect effects. Group differences: Do two or more groups differ in their covariance matrices, regression coefficients, or means? Multiple group modeling can be done in SEM to test this. Longitudinal differences: Differences within and across people across time can also be examined. This time interval can be years, days, or even microseconds.Multilevel modeling: Here, independent variables are collected at different nested levels of measurement (for example, students nested within classrooms nested within schools) are used to predict dependent variables at the same or other levels of measurement. Weaknesses of Structural Equation Modeling Relative to alternative statistical procedures, structural equation modeling has several weaknesses: It requires a relatively large sample size (N of 150 or greater).It requires much more formal training in statistics to be able to effectively use SEM software programs.It requires well-specified measurement and conceptual model. SEM is theory driven, so one must have well-developed a priori models. References Tabachnick, B. G. and Fidell, L. S. (2001). Using Multivariate Statistics, Fourth Edition. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon. Kercher, K. (Accessed November 2011). Introduction to SEM (Structural Equation Modeling). chrp.org/pdf/HSR061705.pdf

Health Benefits of Yoga Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Health Benefits of Yoga - Essay Example Regular practice of Yoga helps cool the soul and is a way of relaxing the mind. People wonder how an exercise which is simple enough might help in modifying the breath of those who are under stress. The stress that a person accounts in his daily life makes him feel uneasy for the rest of the day or may be a few days. However Yoga can lessen feeling which is felt by a person when he is under stress. Thus it needs to be clarified at this point that Yoga is not a cure for stress, but is a way of lessening the feeling which makes a person feel uncomfortable. The basic exercise which is suitable for beginners as well as advanced students is called Nadi Shodhana, in other words sweet breath, which is a form of alternate nostril breathing. This exercise can be done before the start of Yoga or even when a person feels stressed out. This way of modified breathing is a useful way of relieving stress. The reduction of stress by diet, exercise and spiritual reorientation in life are achieved by doing Yoga. The main advice on the issue of diet given to a Yogic is that less intake of fat and spicy foods and high fiber is advised. The main benefits that can be ascertained are that due to a low fat diet there is a lesser chance of a heart disease. Further high fiber diets has its own benefits that is there is a lower chance of the development a diabetes mellitus and if a Yogic does have diabetes then a better sugar control would be present. As far as the spiritual reorientation in life is considered it has been said that a person who regularly does Yoga knows that it is more than exercise or in other words is a way of life and this recognition helps him in being compassionate to other human beings and it has been proved my modern research that such feelings are a key to achieve better health. It has also been proved that yoga decrease the muscle tone and allows a person to relax.Many surveys have pointed out to the fact that people who practice Yoga are less stressed and there fore has allowed them to live a life which is without breakdowns or anxiety. Therefore for quite a few people it has turned out to be a pleasant experience. Furthermore Yoga has proved to be beneficial in reducing the risk of many medical conditions which may occur otherwise. Some of the common problems are "hypertension, coronary atherosclerosis (heart disease), chronic neck and back pain, migraine, insomnia and depression"(Finger 14). The exercises done in Yoga help one to massage the internal organs so that they can function appropriately. The organs are developed after doing Yoga in such a way that they provide the body with such an environment that the person is able to relax. It not only develops the physique of a person but also makes the individuals possesses a stronger immune system. Not only this, research has also shown that diseases such chronic as diabetes mellitus can have a reduced effect because of doing the act of Yoga (Toth). The mental health of a person can also be stabilized after doing the practice of Yoga. Mental health through Yoga is stabilized by reducing the tension one has to go through and restoring the mental agility one possesses (Yoga-for-life). Meditation forms an important part of Yoga and this can be defined as "the process of attaining total awareness through the cessation of thought" (Budilovsky and Adamson 36). With the help

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

Botany - Essay Example Fortunately, the precious knowledge about herbal medicines has not been forgotten and currently a number of people are seeking herbal remedies as cures for their numerous ailments. There has been a lot of concern towards the use of herbal medicines. Many medical practitioners tend to argue that these forms of natural medicines could cause harm to the users since they are not medically tested and accepted as the right remedies or cures for certain ailments. Canada has regulated the use of natural remedies by drafting into its constitution the restrictions of administering herbal or natural medicines to the citizens (Green 7). For herbal remedy to be accepted in Canada, the following regulations must be followed. To begin with the remedy must be licensed, the site at which the remedy is being processed must also be licensed, good manufacturing practices must be followed in accordance to the law, the remedy must pass the clinical trials, and finally the side effects of the remedy must be reported (Green 12). As to my opinion, restriction to natural remedies should be there but not that extensive. Most people have deep faith in natural products than in other synthetic drugs. Putting in place extensive restriction on herbal medicines will deny herbalists and those who believe in the power of herbs a chance to express their freedom. Herbal medicines are gaining great popularity in today’s world as people are trying to reduce the levels of chemical intake. Finally I would like to pose this question to my fellow classmate to answer â€Å"are natural remedies more effective than synthetic drugs? Green, Barry. Natural Health Product (NHP) Regulation in Canada. 06 May 2008 http://www.ottawaskeptics.org/topics/alternative-medicine/123-natural-health-product-nhp-regulation-in-canada. 22 November

To His Coy Mistress Essay -- English Literature

To His Coy Mistress Compare and Contrast â€Å"To His Coy Mistress† By John Donne. â€Å"To His Coy Mistress† and â€Å" To His Mistress Going to bed† are two poems that feature â€Å"carpe diem†; they are also written by two of the most well known metaphysical poets. Andrew Marvell, the author of â€Å"To His Coy Mistress† and John Donne, the writer of â€Å"To His Mistress Going To Bed†. Both poems were written through the 16th and 17th Century, where love and sex were describe as two different things. 16th and 17th century attitudes to love and relationship were much stricter than in the 21st Century, as wealthy men who wished to court a woman, would need to use the convention of writing a letter or a poem to try and win her over. This is precisely what these poems are about. Each man is trying to bed women, using their poetry. Their poems are more about sex, rather than love or romance. Using their metaphysical ways, they used their sexual images and witty conceits, to try and seduce the woman in question. In the 21st Century, it is not recommended for a man to take such action in doing so. Also in the 16th and 17th Century, woman was expected to be virgins until a chosen time. It was also unheard of for woman to have children out of wedlock, and if it did occur, then the woman would be seen as an outcast. Although in the 21st Century, it is more common if a woman has a child out of wedlock, she still could be seen as an outcast. Both men take a different way in choosing how to seduce the woman, but both take the same thought in the process, â€Å"To bed the woman†. Throughout time, the way of having sexual ways with each other, has changed Throughout this essay, I will be explaining the different and similarities, between these ... ...The each use a different beat, Marvell’s poem suit’s a simple octosyllasic couplet. It is centring the poem on time. Donne’s poem is an iambic pentameter. This gives it a slow pace, as if it is savouring the moment. In conclusion, after reading both poems, I discovered that I enjoyed reading Donne’s poem more than Marvell’s. I found both poems an interesting read, because over 500 years, love has changed. You would not find a man living in the 21st Century, writing poetry and letters to a woman, he wishes to bed. I think that this was a very romantic way of doing this. The reason why I enjoyed Donne’s poem is because it was sincere and passionate. Marvell’s being cool, witty and somewhat threatening. Both poets live up to their metaphysical ways on these poems, with their imagery, similes, metaphors, alliteration, repetition and sexually explicit words.