Essay about Tragic Flaws of Othello - 1137 Words

Jealousy and Gullibility: The Devastating Flaws of Othello By: Ryan Mongon The tragic flaw is the most important part of the hero and the events that occur in the work is a reflection of that flaw. Ââ€" Aristotle The plot of William Shakespeares Othello is a tale of love, jealousy, and betrayal; however, the characters, themes, and attitudes of the works are different, with Shakespeares play being a more involved study of human nature and psychology. Othello is considered to be a prime example of Aristotelian drama. It focuses upon a very small cast of characters, one of the smallest used in Shakespeare. Also, it has few distractions from the main plot, and concentrates on just a few themes, like jealousy. In Shakespeares†¦show more content†¦Dignity, courage, a strong belief in religion, self-control and sound judgment is a few of Othellos other positive attributes portrayed in the play. His confidence in himself and his courage are clearly evident when Othello makes a stand before Brabantio, Roderigo and Iago, when following the drawing of their swords, Othello, as opposed to withdrawing in the face of danger taunts Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them. (1:2:2 5:76-77). Shakespeare continues to portray Othello as a well-respected nobleman throughout his play, from beginning to end. Shakespeare also shows a soft side when he displays Othellos love and confidence in his wife Desdemona. Othello entrusts his wife to the care of another gentleman, as he must go off to war in Cyprus. The entrusted man and his wife happen to be his good friend Iago and his wife Emilia. His trustworthiness makes him a greatly respected person. Through nobility, respect, love, and trust, Othello is considered to be an honorable and commendable man. However, Othellos background is unsophisticated, and often affects his attitude. Othello is a person who is innocent and base in nature. He was influenced by the way his life was going on. The people around Othello also knew of his attitude. Iago is very quick to see this. In his first soliloquy, Iago says, the Moor is of aShow MoreRelatedOthello Tragic Flaw1643 Words   |  7 PagesKapoor Professor Shapiro English 220.03 20 October 2017 It Is Othello’s Own Faults In Shakespeare’s Othello, Othello is a highly acclaimed general and because of his many achievements he has transcended stereotypes projected upon Moors in Venetian society. Desdemona and the nature of her affair, although it is false, is considered to be the root cause of Othello’s downfall and violent demise. Othello feels anxious about the racist nature engrained in Venetian society and eventually projects this mannerRead More Tragic Flaws Of Othello Essay1081 Words   |  5 Pages Jealousy and Gullibility: The Devastating Flaws of Othello â€Å"The tragic flaw is the most important part of the hero and the events that occur in the work is a reflection of that flaw.† – Aristotle The plot of William Shakespeares Othello is a tale of love, jealousy, and betrayal; however, the characters, themes, and attitudes of the works are different, with Shakespeares play being a more involved study of human nature and psychology. Othello is considered to be a prime example of AristotelianRead MoreThe Tragic Flaw Of Shakespeare s Othello1108 Words   |  5 Pages â€Å"Othello† tragedy, written by Williame Shakespeare, is an excellent example of Renaissance humanism. Tragedy is a drama or literary work in which the main character is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw. Othello was brought down by a fatal fault jealousy in his character. Shakespeare s other great tragedies -- Hamlet, Macbeth and King Lear -- deal with issues that affect the well-being of entire nations, whereas Othello is a tragedy withRead MoreEssay The Tragedy of Othello1292 Words   |  6 PagesWilliam Shakespeare masterfully crafted Ot hello, the Moor of Venice as an Aristotelian tragedy play. The main protagonist of the play, Othello, is the perfect example of a tragic hero. Shakespeare was influenced by Aristotle’s concept of a tragic hero and used Aristotle’s principles to create Othello. William Shakespeare attempted to create an Aristotelian tragedy play with a tragic hero and succeeded in Othello, the Moor of Venice by weaving in pity and fear into each line and action. The powerRead MoreConventions of a Shakespeare Tragedy1189 Words   |  5 Pagesare tragic hero with a tragic flaw, anti-hero, tragic fall, fate, and supernatural. A convention is something in Shakespeare that has a certain effect. The tragic hero always has a tragic flaw. A tragic hero cannot be a hero unless he has a tragic flaw. The tragic flaw brings the downfall of the hero. Othello is the tragic hero, because Othello is a character of nobility. He is good at the beginning but at the end he starts to become evil. ‘‘Othello’s downfall is jealousy (Othello’s Tragic Flaw)Read MoreA Comparative of Shakespeares Othello and Oedipus Rex1511 Words   |  6 PagesShakespeare’s Othello and Oedipus Rex In Shakespeare’s work Othello: The Moor of Venice, Othello’s over trusting nature was revealed when his trust in false accusations about his wife Desdemona’s unfaithfulness causes him to kill her and himself, conveying Othello as a tragic hero. Oedipus, the main character in Oedipus Rex, is characterized as a tragic hero when he tries to run away from his fate and finds out that the cause of his fate was his attempt to escape it. Oedipus Rex and Othello share a commonRead MoreThe Tragic Tragedy Of William Shakespeare s Othello1523 Words   |  7 Pagesdefinition fits perfectly with William Shakespeare epic play, Othello. The famous Shakespeare play is about the downfall of a Moorish general who expresses jealousy and murder. Othello was an amazing general for the Venice army, but his downfall cost him everything he loved so dearly. He killed his own wife because he believes Iago’s lies about her cheating on him. His beliefs in Iago cost him everything th at is precious to him. Othello can be seen as a great tragedy, and the play filled Aristotle’sRead MoreThe Mirror Of Weaknesses Of Shakespeare s Othello Essay1483 Words   |  6 PagesWeaknesses Humans are contradictions, which good and evil nature both exists. The grand tragic play Othello written by Shakespeare illustrates the contradictions in human natures through the display of tragic falls of various characters such as Othello, Iago, and Roderigo. Othello, the protagonist of the play, fell in love with the daughter of a nobleman, Desdemona. However, this relationship is soon broken up because Othello believed the accusation from Iago, Othello’s subordinate, towards Desdemona forRead MoreOthello As A Tragic Hero872 Words   |  4 Pagesof Venice, Othello is transformed into a crazy, senseless man. William Shakespeare uses the idea of a tragic hero in almost all of his dramas. A tragic hero can be described as a person of high status who is neither completely good nor completely evil, possesses a tragic flaw, and leaves this flaw to be the reason for his/her downfall. Othello believes he can trust one of his soldiers, Iago, who is determined to seek revenge on Ot hello for not promoting him to be a lieutenant. Othellorsquo;s temperRead MoreOthello: The Tragic Hero in Shakespeares Play1219 Words   |  5 PagesA tragic hero is a noble and virtuous character in a dramatic tragedy, destined for downfall, suffering and defeat. The character has a fatal flaw, with combined external forces brings on a tragedy. In William Shakespeare’s play, Othello, it is a play of revenge, anger, jealousy, heartbreak and remorse. Set in the streets of Venice and Cyprus, Othello is the general of the Venetian army, and chose Cassio to be his lieutenant, with Iago who was appointed to Othello’s ancient was very angry about

The risk of innovation with financial firms - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 3 Words: 995 Downloads: 3 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Finance Essay Type Argumentative essay Did you like this example? Throughout history it has been observed that financial institutions have often failed. Some of the most common reasons for this can be attributed to regulation, either lack of or too much. Risk is often cyclical in nature, when the market is in an upswing most financial institutions will increase their appetite for risk and when the market is in a downturn, financial institutions will cut back on lending and increase their reserves (Peretez et al, 2009, p.609). Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The risk of innovation with financial firms" essay for you Create order Markets respond to changing conditions in search of increased profitability (UOL Lecture Notes, 2011). Changing conditions thus support the foundation of financial innovation, in which many of these institutions seek to achieve the highest possible profits sometimes with inappropriate risk taking and total disregard for possible outcomes. Why do Financial Firms Innovate and Maintain an Appetite for Risk? Banks are mainly regulated in order to protect the interest of its depositors (liabilities) and limit risk taking which is known as prudential regulation (Kohn, 2004, p.595). Because bank balance sheets are often mismatched short-term liabilities (deposit funds) against longer term assets (loans) it leaves the bank more open to adverse shocks such as bank runs. While banks are often covered by depositors insurance, this is not always effective in preventing a bank run because depositors will often react to what others are doing. Deposit insurance as well as lenders of last resorts such as Central Banks essentially allows depositors some reassurance; however this can also be an incentive for banks to engage in riskier behavior. While certain regulations have been put in place to deter risky behavior, evidence shows that many financial institutions have sought out ways to maneuver around regulations. This is most often in an attempt to enhance profitability through the creation of other types of assets. According to Calomiris (2009, p. 65) financial innovations often respond to regulation by sidestepping regulatory restrictions that would otherwise limit activities in which people wish to engage. Banks are not the only financial intermediaries which are regulated. The securities market which involves institutional investors and arms length investors also require protection. The main reasons why these investors need protection are to guard against cheating and instability (Kohn, 2004, p. 637). Different countries have different regulation requirements. For example the UK and US use the Anglo model which serves to monitor and reinforce the market, and the Continental model is moreover used by Europe and Asia which has a more direct influence and control over the market (UOL Lecture Notes, 2011). The most important determinant of banks and other financial intermediaries is the inherent liquidity risk issue. It is of utmost importance that liquidity risk i s markedly monitored. Illiquidity for a financial institution poses a threat to its continued success. Lack of liquid resources ultimately leads to failure. There are two ways in which banks can manage liquidity risk, internal and external. Internal risk management entails the bank holding reserves as well as matching maturities and currency denominations of its assets and liabilities. External management involves the reliability of obtaining funding from outside resources while hedging with the use of derivatives to minimize risk (Kohn, 2004, p.603). There have been an incredible amount of arguments which relate to the regulations of these institutions in regards to their use and abuse of financial innovation. But a question arises? Is all financial innovation bad? Some say that financial innovation is a necessary component that can stimulate economic growth, but is widely dependent on how it is used and others say it serves no purpose. For example according to Litan (n.d.) who cites Volckers views on financial innovation who was a former Federal Reserve Board Chairman in the US, that there have been no other recent financial innovations that have contributed to the finance industry recently other than the ATM machine. He further notes that Volckers reasoning for this could be attributed to economic development over time from the 1950s up to the 1980s where financial innovations such as CDSs and CDOs were of no importance to continued growth and stability of the economy. However according to Litan (n.d.), there are many other financial innovations which have been contributory to the growth of the economy which include, credit cards, debit cards, mobile banking, internet banking and a host of other examples. However, more recently bad financial innovations as some would call it, such as CDSs and CDOs were largely blamed for the collapse of the US Housing Market or subprime crisis. Conclusion: In conclusion, it seems very apparent to me that while some lay blame on certain financial innovations wreaking havoc which resulted in a global systemic crisis, it doesnt appear in itself that the financial innovations such as CDOs and CDSs were directly to be blamed, but rather the lack of regulation surrounding the issuance of such instruments. Perhaps if the government had intervened rather than turning a blind eye to something that was on the verge of being out of control by posing restrictions in a bid to tighten mortgage activity, the fall wouldnt have been as harsh, and there might have been less fall in asset values. From my point of view, financial innovations arent really bad; its how they are used. Last and but not least I conclude with a very interesting statement made by Litan (n.d.) who notes what has been called regulatory dialectic in finance new rules aimed at preventing old abuses being circumvented by yet new innovations, and yes sometimes by new abuses is as old as finance itself. Which leads me to believe that no matter how much one rehashes the ideas surrounding financial innovation, the fact remains that there will always be individuals and institutions who are seeking higher profits and thus find a way around those rules even if it entails risky behavior. In short rules and regulations can be in place, and new rules can replace old rules to accommodate new trends, but there will always be mistakes and arent new rules made to amend those mistakes?

One of the Most Incredibly Ignored Systems for General Essay Topics

One of the Most Incredibly Ignored Systems for General Essay Topics How to Get Started with General Essay Topics? In case the latter is true, the topic should be chosen dependent on its depth and controversial nature. Finding the most suitable arguments can help you prove your point and win. Deciding upon a topic is an essential issue that partly estimates final success of the job. When you are requested to pick a great topic for your argument, start with something you're familiarized with. While you cannot predict every essay question, knowing some of the most usual ones may give you an advantage on applications. The secret to all types of synthesis is identical. The organization has become the most significant part a synthesis, so try out more than 1 format. You've got to guarantee accuracy and dependability of all you enter in your paper and the sole approach to do so is to understand the topic. What Does General Essay Topics Mean? Criteria for the selection could be contingent upon your interest and the knowledge you have concerning the subject. The info also needs to be easily understandable. Deciding on an emotional topic is also a great idea. Make certain you give clear explanations of the things on your list also. The Rise of General Essay Topics The political effect on literature cannot be ignored. Colleges want to get a feeling of maturity and introspectionpinpoint the transformation and demonstrate your private growth. Hence, if you believe banking e ssays are boring just like your organization studies are, then you're probably wrong here. A well-written essay may be the most persuasive portion of a scholarship program, and that's why long and attention ought to be put into its preparation. Things You Should Know About General Essay Topics You see, the conventions of English essays are somewhat more formulaic than you may think and, in various ways, it can be as easy as counting to five. You've got to compose an informative essay. Persuasive essays share a whole lot of resemblance with argumentative essays. Persuasive or argumentative essays are intended to convince the audience of someone's viewpoint about a specific topic. Even though the conclusion paragraph comes at the conclusion of your essay it shouldn't be considered an afterthought. Therefore, the above told six position essay topics will allow you to compose a fantastic piece to position essay, but be sure whatever topic you're selecting is not hard to understand and on which you are in possession of a good understanding, otherwise you won't be in a position to create sturdy arguments. Possessing relevant vocabulary for each topic will provide you a huge advantage. The 5-Minute Rule for General Essay Topics Writing a college essay can be a challenging task in the beginning, but understanding how different topics of college essays work may help you later on. The multiple topics could be found, for instance, in the dissertation abstracts international database. A college essay topic may or might not be freely dependent on the student based on the course and the professor. The ideal topic for your essay is one which is aligned with your su bject of study. You may easily use our tool to create expository research paper topics for your college requirements. Explaining how to spend less by employing open-source texts and internet textbook rental websites would result in an extremely informative essay. You could possibly be given the topic straight away by your professor, or you might be free to select the topic yourself. Following are a few of the advised sociology essay topic for those students that are unable to choose a great topic for their assignment. The Meaning of General Essay Topics To begin with, if you are in possession of a good deal of money there's no true reason to go out to work or to strive for anything. Secondly, wealthy people have the inclination to draw the wrong kind of individuals. One of the greatest methods to change anybody's mind is with an emotional investment. Opt for a distinctive topic that others may not think of, and whatever you select, make sure that you know a lot about it! Read my essay writi ng service reviews and my guide to selecting the ideal service for everything you will need to understand about how to pick the best writing businesses. Your essay might incorporate the explanations for teen pregnancy and talk about the recent rates of teen pregnancy and potential solutions. You will find that a lot of the topics can be adapted to suit almost any sort of writing assignment. To begin with, a quick explanation of the game ought to be written. The Pain of General Essay Topics Ask your teacher if you have any suspicions about this issue you have selected. Very often it becomes hard to choose 1 topic either due to the many ideas in the student's head, or due to their complete absence. Even though it's common, student has to acquire right to become superior grades. Explain why you especially delight in a specific teacher. The standard of your topic will find out the grading of the paper. With our customized essay offer, you can be certain to get any sort of essay help you are searching for. Okay, now you have the fundamentals about how to select an informative essay topic, let's dig into some fantastic ideas! Also, utilize all the scratch paper you require. When prior brainstorming is finished, you can begin drafting your essay. Each of these forms of paper is owned by the category of informative essay. You might also want to suggest additional research or comment on things that it wasn't possible that you discuss in the paper.

Ancient Maya Religious Practices and Beliefs Essays

Almost every aspect of Maya life was centered on religion. These ancient Mesoamerican peoples worshipped many gods and goddesses; this was part of their daily lives, despite class differences in their sophisticated society. Religion served as a basis for the government and social life. Priests and shamans played an important role in their government, conducted religious ceremonies, and made sacrifices to the gods. The Maya believed in the supernatural, and used this belief to explain life and their universe. Every object, whether it is part of nature or man made, was considered sacred and worshipped. The Maya universe was composed of three different realms; the Upperworld in the sky, the Earth, and the Underworld down below. Also†¦show more content†¦Xibalba was organized into nine descending levels, worsening in punishment and torture as the levels lowered. Maya Lords of Death ruled over the different levels. After death, those who led evil lives were condemned to Xi balba. The Maya described the Underworld as a place filled with water and rivers and could be entered through caves or bodies of water. Despite the various characteristics and features the Maya believed their ancestors, spirits, and gods resided in all three realms and worshiped them. Like any religion, the Mayas had religious leaders to lead the community spiritually. Priests and shamans guided the religious practices of the Maya and were of great importance to the survival of the civilization because they would help the people please the gods. Shamans were mainly commoners and looked after those in their local community. Much like medicine men of the Native American tribes, shamans used their knowledge of plants to act as doctors amongst the people and cure illness. It was the job of the shamans to perform rituals, decipher events, and tell the future so the people were able to know the will of the gods. Unlike shamans, priests were of the elite class and took part in much l arger matters. Many elite class sons became priests because they could not all hold a political office. â€Å"Priests who were full-time specialists in religious matters emerged as Maya society became larger and moreShow MoreRelatedThe Mayan Civilization And The Maya Empire1677 Words   |  7 Pages The Mayan civilization or the Maya Empire, centered in the tropical lowlands of what is now Guatemala, reached the peak of its power and influence around the sixth century A.D. The Maya excelled at agriculture, pottery, hieroglyph writing, calendar-making and mathematics, and left behind an astonishing amount of impressive architecture and symbolic artwork. Most of the great stone cities of the Maya were abandoned by A.D. 900. The Maya civilization was one of the most dominant indigenous societiesRead MoreThe Role of Religion in Shaping Civilization795 Words   |  4 Pagesand some form belief system which will be abide by all people. That’s where religion becomes the princi ples and the only carrier of righteousness a total system of living system socially. And when human started to migrate all over the world and started to invent and discover many thing like wheel, foods, clothes and most importantly city and states and ultimately formed many civilizations. So with the religion human become civilized and it is true that every civilization of ancient and Middle AgesRead MoreHow The Maya Civilization Was A Major Social Entity From Approximately 2600 B.c1316 Words   |  6 Pages Mesoamerica Essay The Maya civilization was a major social entity from approximately 2600 B.C.E. to 1521 C.E. The Maya civilization was never a fully unified society; it was primarily made up of numerous small states, in and around what is now known as the Yucatan Peninsula. These states, each apparently centered on a city, were ruled by individual kings. Sometimes, a stronger Maya state would dominate a weaker state and be able to exact tribute and labor from it. The development of agricultureRead MoreAncient Civilization And The Mayan People917 Words   |  4 PagesEvery ancient civilization had a set of beliefs and the Mayan people were no different. The Mayan people believed in two worlds, the â€Å"everyday world and the underworld, or the Place of Awe,† (2012). The Mayans believed in many gods, human sacrifice and the burial process for the poor and the kings were very different. The Mayans became around 250 AD and the Olmec’s influenced their religious culture. It was not until 900 AD that the Mayans began to flourish in cities across modern day Mexico, GuatemalaRead MoreEssay on Collapse in Maya Society1119 Words   |  5 Pagesfirst millennium A.D., the lowland Maya empires disintegrated after 750 years of prominence (Handout 1). Warfare, the growing population, resource depletion, and climatic fluctuations contributed to the downfall of the Classical lowland empires (Schele and Freidel 321). 500 years later, the scattered Maya that remained would again face a crisis as the Spanish conquistadores invaded Yucatan, conquered, and began to rule. Though the Spanish conquest of the Maya brought a new religion and diseasesRead MoreEssay on Religious Syncretism and its Consequences in Mayan Society1211 Words   |  5 PagesReligious Syncretism and its Consequences in Mayan Society When Spaniards first set foot on Mesoamerican shores in the early sixteenth century, they encountered not the godless mass of natives they believed they found, but a people whose rich spiritual traditions shaped and sustained them for thousands of years. These diverse spiritual practices legitimized nearly every aspect of Mesoamerican daily life, from science and architecture to art and politics (Carmack 295), in many of the same waysRead MoreThe Culture Of The Mayas, And The Aztecs1693 Words   |  7 Pagespaper. The culture of the Mayas, and the Aztecs has been extremely fundamental in understanding my ancestry, being that I am Mexican American. I took an interest in their beautiful architecture, their ritualistic and sacrificial religious practices, as well as their history and how they began. Throughout this paper I will outline the similarities and differences of these two cultures, as well as articulate an understanding of the humanity disciplines outlined above. The Maya are probably the best-knownRead MoreThe Mayan People2269 Words   |  9 PagesThe Maya refers to a group of ancient Mesoamerican people famous for the development of the Western Hemisphere’s sophisticated culture prior to the Spanish arrival (Cook Offit 32). One of the primary factors of their culture was their religion which was characteristic of nature gods’ worship, a priestly class, astrology’s and astronomy’s importance, human sacrifice rituals, and pyramidical temples’ construction (Cook Offit 32). In addition to the religion, the Maya people are also special becauseRead MoreThe Ancient Mayan Civilization : A Rigid Social Structure1627 Words   |  7 PagesThe Ancient Mayan Civilization was built upon a rigid social structure based on their religious beliefs. They used a caste social structure in which divisions were based on wealth, inherited rank, privilege, profession, or occupation. Their beliefs were based on the fact that na ture elements had the power to either help or harm. The Ancient Mayans used their social structure and beliefs to shape their daily lives. The Mayans were a very religious. They believed in many gods and all events centeredRead MoreSimilarities Between Egyptian And Mesoamerican Societies Essay1714 Words   |  7 Pagessocieties from ancient time to present time that have similarities and differences from one another. Amongst the many societies in the world, are Egyptian and Mesoamerican societies. There are many similarities as well as differences among Egyptian and Mesoamerican societies. Egyptian and Mesoamerican societies have many similarities to begin, both societies were complex civilizations. Both Egyptian societies and Mesoamerican societies developed their own cultures and religious beliefs. The Mesoamericans

The Crystal Shard 2. On the Banks of Maer Dualdon Free Essays

string(67) " a comfortable living could be made with a minimum amount of work\." Regis the halfling, the only one of his kind for hundreds of miles in any direction, locked his fingers behind his head and leaned back against the mossy blanket of the tree trunk. Regis was short, even by the standards of his diminutive race, with the fluff of his curly brown locks barely cresting the three-foot mark, but his belly was amply thickened by his love of a good meal, or several, as the opportunities presented themselves. The crooked stick that served as his fishing pole rose up above him, clenched between two of his furry toes, and hung out over the quiet lake, mirrored perfectly in the glassy surface of Maer Dualdon. We will write a custom essay sample on The Crystal Shard 2. On the Banks of Maer Dualdon or any similar topic only for you Order Now Gentle ripples rolled down the image as the red-painted wooden bobber began to dance slightly. The line had floated in toward shore and hung limply in the water, so Regis couldn’t feel the fish nibbling at the bait. In seconds, the hook was cleaned with no catch to show for it, but the halfling didn’t know, and it would be hours before he’d even bother to check. Not that he’d have cared, anyway. This trip was for leisure, not work. With winter coming on, Regis figured that this might well be his last excursion of the year to the lake; he didn’t go in for winter fishing, like some of the fanatically greedy humans of Ten-Towns. Besides, the halfling already had enough ivory stocked up from other people’s catches to keep him busy for all seven months of snow. He was truly a credit to his less-than-ambitious race, carving out a bit of civilization in a land where none existed, hundreds of miles from the most remote settlement that could rightly be called a city. Other halflings never came this far north, even during the summer months, preferring the comfort of the southern climes. Regis, too, would have gladly packed up his belongings and returned to the south, except for a little problem he had with a certain guildmaster of a prominent thieves’ guild. A four-inch block of the â€Å"white gold† lay beside the reclining halfling, along with several delicate carving instruments. The beginnings of a horse’s muzzle marred the squareness of the block. Regis had meant to work on the piece while he was fishing. Regis meant to do a lot of things. â€Å"Too fine a day,† he had rationalized, an excuse that never seemed to grow stale for him. This time, though, unlike so many others, it truly bore credibility. It seemed as though the weather demons that bent this harsh land to their iron will had taken a holiday, or perhaps they were just gathering their strength for a brutal winter. The result was an autumn day fitting for the civilized lands to the south. A rare day indeed for the land that had come to be called Icewind Dale, a name well-earned by the eastern breezes that always seemed to blow in, bringing with them the chilled air of Reghed Glacier. Even on the few days that the wind shifted there was little relief, for Ten-Towns was bordered on the north and west by miles of empty tundra and then more ice, the Sea of Moving Ice. Only southern breezes promised any relief, and any wind that tried to reach this desolate area from that direction was usually blocked by the high peaks of the Spine of the World. Regis managed to keep his eyes open for a while, peering up through the fuzzy limbs of the fur trees at the puffy white clouds as they sailed across the sky on the mild breezes. The sun rained down golden warmth, and the halfling was tempted now and then to take off his waistcoat. Whenever a cloud blocked out the warming rays, though, Regis was reminded that it was September on the tundra. In a month there would be snow. In two, the roads west and south to Luskan, the nearest city to Ten-Towns, would be impassable to any but the sturdy or the stupid. Regis looked across the long bay that rolled in around the side of his little fishing hole. The rest of Ten-Towns was taking advantage of the weather, too; the fishing boats were out in force, scrambling and weaving around each other to find their special â€Å"hitting spots.† No matter how many times he witnessed it, the greed of humans always amazed Regis. Back in the southern land of Calimshan, the halfling had been climbing a fast ladder to Associate Guildmaster in one of the most prominent thieves’ guilds in the port city of Calimport. But, as he saw it, human greed had cut short his career. His guildmaster, the Pasha Pook, possessed a wonderful collection of rubies – a dozen, at least – whose facets were so ingeniously cut that they seemed to cast an almost hypnotic spell on anyone who viewed them. Regis had marveled at the scintillating stones whenever Pook put them out on display, and, after all, he’d only taken one. To this day, the halflin g couldn’t figure out why the Pasha, who had no less than eleven others, was still so angry with him. â€Å"Alas for the greed of humans,† Regis would say whenever the Pasha’s men showed up in another town that the halfling had made his home, forcing him to extend his exile to an even more remote land. But he hadn’t needed that phrase for a year-and-a-half now, not since he had arrived in Ten-Towns. Pook’s arms were long, but this frontier settlement, in the middle of the most inhospitable and untamed land imaginable, was a longer way still, and Regis was quite content in the security of his new sanctuary. There was wealth here, and for those nimble and talented enough to be a scrimshander, someone who could transform the ivorylike bone of a knucklehead trout into an artistic carving, a comfortable living could be made with a minimum amount of work. You read "The Crystal Shard 2. On the Banks of Maer Dualdon" in category "Essay examples" And with Ten-Towns’ scrimshaw fast becoming the rave of the south, the halfling meant to shake off his customary lethargy and turn his new-found trade into a booming business. Someday. * * * Drizzt Do’Urden trotted along silently; his soft, low-cut boots barely stirring the dust. He kept the cowl of his brown cloak pulled low over the flowing waves of his stark white hair and moved with such effortless grace that an onlooker might have thought him to be no more than an illusion, an optical trick of the brown sea of tundra. The dark elf pulled his cloak tighter about him. He felt as vulnerable in the sunlight as a human would in the dark of night. Two hundred years of living many miles below ground had not been erased by five years on the sunlit surface. To this day, sunlight drained and dizzied him. But Drizzt had traveled right through the night and was compelled to continue. Already he was overdue for his meeting with Bruenor in the dwarf’s valley, and he had seen the signs. The reindeer had begun their autumn migration southwest to the sea, yet no human tracks followed the herd. The caves north of Ten-Towns, always a stop-over for the nomadic barbarians on their way back to the tundra, had not even been stocked to reprovision the tribes on their long trek. Drizzt understood the implications. In normal barbarian life, the survival of the tribes depended on their following the reindeer herd. The apparent abandonment of their traditional ways was more than a little disturbing. And Drizzt had heard the battle drums. Their subtle rumblings rolled over the empty plain like distant thunder, in patterns usually recognizable only to the other barbarian tribes. But Drizzt knew what they foretold. He was an observer who understood the value of knowledge of friend or foe, and he had often used his stealth prowess to observe the daily routines and traditions of the proud natives of Icewind Dale, the barbarians. Drizzt picked up his pace, pushing himself to the limits of his endurance. In five short years, he had come to care for the cluster of villages known as Ten-Towns and for the people who lived there. Like so many of the other outcasts who had finally settled there, the drow had found no welcome anywhere else in the Realms. Even here he was only tolerated by most, but in the unspoken kinship of fellow rogues, few people bothered him. He’d been luckier than most; he’d found a few friends who could look beyond his heritage and see his true character. Anxiously, the dark elf squinted at Kelvin’s Cairn, the solitary mountain that marked the entrance to the rocky dwarven valley between Maer Dualdon and Lac Dinneshere, but his violet-colored almond eyes, marvelous orbs that could rival an owl’s in the night, could not penetrate the blur of daylight enough to gauge the distance. Again he ducked his head under the cowl, preferring a blind run to the dizziness of prolonged exposure to the sun, and sank back into the dark dreams of Menzoberranzan, the lightless underworld city of his ancestors. The drow elves had actually once walked on the surface world, dancing beneath the sun and the stars with their fair-skinned cousins. Yet the dark elves were malicious, passionless killers beyond the tolerance of even their normally unjudging kin. And in the inevitable war of the elven nations, the drow were driven into the bowels of the ground. Here they found a world of dark secrets and dark magics and were content to remain. Over the centuries, they had flourished and grown strong once more, attuning themselves to the ways of mysterious magics. They became more powerful than even their surface-dwelling cousins, whose dealings with the arcane arts under the life-giving warmth of the sun were hobby, not necessity. As a race, though, the drow had lost all desire to see the sun and the stars. Both their bodies and minds had adapted to the depths, and luckily for all who dwelt under the open sky, the evil dark elves were content to remain where they were, only occasionally resurfacing to raid and pillage. As far as Drizzt knew, he was the only one of his kind living on the surface. He had learned some tolerance of the light, but he still suffered the hereditary weaknesses it imparted upon his kind. Yet even considering his disadvantage under daytime conditions, Drizzt was outraged by his own carelessness when the two bearlike tundra yetis, their camouflaging coats of shaggy fur still colored in summer brown, suddenly rose up before him. * * * A red flag rose from the deck of one of the fishing boats, signaling a catch. Regis watched as it moved higher and higher. â€Å"A four-footer, or better,† the halfling mumbled approvingly when the flag topped out just below the mast’s crosspiece. â€Å"There’ll be singing in one house tonight!† A second ship raced up beside the one that had signaled the catch, banging into the anchored vessel in its rush. The two crews immediately drew weapons and faced off, though each remained on its respective ship. With nothing between him and the boats but empty water, Regis clearly heard the shouts of the captains. â€Å"Ere, ye stole me catch!† the captain of the second ship roared. â€Å"You’re water-weary!† the captain of the first ship retorted. â€Å"Never it was! It’s our fish fairly hooked and fairly hauled! Now be gone with your stinking tub before we take you out of the water!† Predictably, the crew of the second ship was over the rail and swinging before the captain of the first ship had finished speaking. Regis turned his eyes back to the clouds; the dispute on the boats did not hold any interest for him, though the noises of the battle were certainly disturbing. Such squabbles were common on the lakes, always over the fish, especially if someone landed a big one. Generally they weren’t too serious, more bluster and parrying than actual fighting, and only rarely did someone get badly wounded or killed. There were exceptions, though. In one skirmish involving no less than seventeen boats, three full crews and half of a fourth were cut down and left floating in the bloodied water. On that same day, that particular lake, the southernmost of the three, had its name changed from Dellon-lune to Redwaters. â€Å"Ah little fishes, what trouble you bring,† Regis muttered softly, pondering the irony of the havoc the silvery fish wreaked on the lives of the greedy people of Ten-Towns. These ten communities owed their very existence to the knucklehead trout, with their oversized, fist-shaped heads and bones the consistency of fine ivory. The three lakes were the only spots in the world where the valuable fish were known to swim, and though the region was barren and wild, overrun with humanoids and barbarians and sporting frequent storms that could flatten the sturdiest of buildings, the lure of quick wealth brought in people from the farthest reaches of the Realms. As many inevitably left as came in, though. Icewind Dale was a bleak, colorless wasteland of merciless weather and countless dangers. Death was a common visitor to the villagers, stalking any who could not face the harsh realities of Icewind Dale. Still, the towns had grown considerably in the century that had passed since the knuckleheads were first discovered. Initially the nine villages on the lakes were no more than the shanties where individual frontiersmen had staked out a claim on a particularly good fishing hole. The tenth village, Bryn Shander, though now a walled, bustling settlement of several thousand people, had been merely an empty hill sporting a solitary cabin where the fishermen would meet once a year, exchanging stories and goods with the traders from Luskan. Back in the early days of Ten-Towns a boat, even a oneman rowboat, out on the lakes, whose waters year-round were cold enough to kill in minutes anyone unfortunate enough to fall overboard, was a rare sight, but now every town on the lakes had a fleet of sailing vessels flying its flag. Targos alone, largest of the fishing towns, could put over a hundred vessels onto Maer Dualdon, some of them two-masted schooners with crews of ten or more. A death cry sounded from the embattled ships, and the clang of steel on steel rang out loudly. Regis wondered, and not for the first time, if the people of Ten-Towns would be better off without the troublesome fish. The halfling had to admit that Ten-Towns had been a haven for him, though. His practiced, nimble fingers adapted easily to the instruments of the scrimshander, and he had even been elected as the council spokesman of one of the villages. Granted, Lonelywood was the smallest and northernmost of the ten towns, a place where the rogues of rogues hid out, but Regis still considered his appointment an honor. It was convenient as well. As the only true scrimshander in Lonelywood, Regis was the sole person in the town with reason or desire to travel regularly to Bryn Shander, the principle settlement and market hub of Ten-Towns. This had proved to be quite a boon to the halfling. He became the primary courier to bring the catches of Lonelywood’s fishermen to market, for a commission equaling a tenth-piece of the goods. This alone kept him deep enough in ivory to make an easy living. Once a month during the summer season and once every three in the winter, weather permitting, Regis had to attend council meetings and fulfill his duties as spokesman. These meetings took place in Bryn Shander, and though they normally broke down into nothing more than petty arguments over fishing territories between villages, they usually lasted only a few hours. Regis considered his attendance a small price to pay for keeping his monopoly on trips to the southern marketplace. The fighting on the boats soon ended, only one man dead, and Regis drifted back into quiet enjoyment of the sailing clouds. The halfling looked back over his shoulder at the dozens of low wooden cabins dotting the thick rows of trees that comprised Lonelywood. Despite the reputation of its inhabitants, Regis found this town to be the best in the region. The trees provided a measure of protection from the howling wind and good corner posts for the houses. Only its distance from Bryn Shander had kept the town in the wood from being a more prominent member of Ten-Towns. Abruptly, Regis pulled the ruby pendant out from under his waistcoat and stared at the wondrous gem he had appropriated from his former master a thousand miles and more to the south, in Calimport. â€Å"Ah, Pook,† he mused, â€Å"if only you could see me now.† * * * The elf went for the two scimitars sheathed on his hips, but the yetis closed quickly. Instinctively, Drizzt spun to his left, sacrificing his opposite flank to accept the rush of the closest monster. His right arm became helplessly pinned to his side as the yeti wrapped its great arms around him, but he managed to keep his left arm free enough to draw his second weapon. Ignoring the pain of the yeti’s squeeze, Drizzt set the hilt of the scimitar firmly against his hip and allowed the momentum of the second charging monster to impale it on the curving blade. In its frenzied death throes, the second yeti pulled away, taking the scimitar with it. The remaining monster bore Drizzt to the ground under its weight. The drow worked his free hand frantically to keep the deadly teeth from gaining a hold on his throat, but he knew that it was only a matter of time before his stronger foe finished him. Suddenly Drizzt heard a sharp crack. The yeti shuddered violently. Its head contorted weirdly, and a gout of blood and brains poured over its face from above its forehead. â€Å"Yer late, elf!† came the rough edge of a familiar voice. Bruenor Battlehammer walked up the back of his dead foe, disregarding the fact that the heavy monster lay on top of his elven friend. In spite of the added discomfort, the dwarf’s long, pointed, often-broken nose and gray-streaked, though still-fiery red beard came as a welcome sight to Drizzt. â€Å"Knew I’d find ye in trouble if I came out an’ looked for ye!† Smiling in relief, and also at the mannerisms of the ever-amazing dwarf, Drizzt managed to wriggle out from under the monster while Bruenor worked to free his axe from the thick skull. â€Å"Head’s as hard as frozen oak!† grumbled the dwarf. He planted his feet behind the yeti’s ears and pulled the axe free with a mighty jerk. â€Å"Where’s that kitten o’ yers, anyway?† Drizzt fumbled around in his pack for a moment and produced a small onyx statue of a panther. â€Å"I’d hardly label Guenhwyvar a kitten,† he said with fond reverence. He turned the figurine over in his hands, feeling the intricate details of the work to ensure that it had not been damaged in the fall under the yeti. â€Å"Bah, a cat’s a cat!† insisted the dwarf. â€Å"An’ why isn’t it here when ye needed it?† â€Å"Even a magical animal needs its rest,† Drizzt explained. â€Å"Bah,† Bruenor spouted again. â€Å"It’s sure to be a sorry day when a drow – and a ranger, what’s more – gets taken off ‘is guard on an open plain by two scab tundra yetis!† Bruenor licked his stained axe blade, then spat in disgust. â€Å"Foul beasts!† he grumbled. â€Å"Can’t even eat the damn things!† He pounded the axe into the ground to clean the blade and stomped off toward Kelvin’s Cairn. Drizzt put Guenhwyvar back into the pack and went to retrieve his scimitar from the other monster. â€Å"Come on, elf,† scolded the dwarf. â€Å"We’ve five miles an more of road to go!† Drizzt shook his head; and wiped the bloodstained blade on the felled monster’s fur: â€Å"Roll on, Bruenor Battlehammer,† he whispered under his smile. â€Å"And know to your pleasure that every monster along our trail will mark well your passing and keep its head safely hidden!† How to cite The Crystal Shard 2. On the Banks of Maer Dualdon, Essay examples

A Sand County Almanac Essay Research Paper free essay sample

A Sand County Almanac Essay, Research Paper A Sand County Almanac Leopold, Aldo Published in 1949 Oxford University Press, Inc. Would I urge A Sand County Almanac to person I know? Depending upon who it was, I would decidedly urge this book. I think I would propose this book for person who enjoys the out-of-doorss. But person who does non appreciate the out-of-doorss, in my sentiment, would non acquire every bit much out of the book. The ground I would urge this book is because I thought it did a splendid occupation depicting the tinniest things and doing them interesting. Who would hold known that reading about chickadees feeding or depicting a bur oak would be interesting to read? The first portion of the book is broken down into months, while the concluding portion truly goes into Leopold # 8217 ; s land moralss. Partss I and II of A Sand County Almanac are recounts of different episodes of Leopold # 8217 ; s life. We will write a custom essay sample on A Sand County Almanac Essay Research Paper or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It is possibly these remembrances that were the inspiration for his land ethic theory. When Leopold is depicting his life on his sand farm in Wisconsin, the reader seems to acquire the sense that even though a bigger and better society is go throughing before his eyes, he tries to travel back to the manner things were. Harmonizing to Leopold, this is where 1 can still happen the being of God. Throughout Part II of the book, Leopold recollects some past state of affairss that have taught him the jobs originating in the universe around us. What precisely is land moralss? Harmonizing to Leopold, # 8220 ; Land moralss expands the boundaries of moralss by including dirts, Waterss, workss, and animate beings, # 8221 ; ( Leopold, page 239 ) . However, a land moral principle can non forestall the change, direction, and the usage of the resources stated above. Basically, Leopold states that land moralss change the function that we worlds play from that of a land-conqueror to that of a citizen and member. In category, we l earned that land moralss imply regard for the environing community. We as worlds are of import, and therefore, have more duty to protect the environment. Leopold # 8217 ; s land pyramid describes the hierarchal kineticss of the biotic community. Based upon what we learned in category, a biotic community is the relationship between dirt and animate beings. It is a amount of all the parts within the community. The pyramid represents beds within the biotic community. The bottom bed is the dirt. A works bed rests upon the dirt bed, an insect bed lies atop the workss, a bird and gnawer bed rests upon the insects. The pyramid works its manner up the assorted carnal groups until it eventually comes to the extremum bed, which consists of the laager carnivorous animate beings. Leopold topographic points worlds in the top bed. There was one thought in peculiar that truly struck me in this book. Though it is simply a narrative in portion II and non a chief point in the book, I found the Hunt for his first duck rather interesting. I could associate to what he was stating. He describes himself as a immature aspiring huntsman hiting his first duck with a single-barrelled scattergun. He waited and waited until a duck eventually flew over and he shot him. The joy of the first putting to death was exultant. I remember when I shot my first pheasant as an aspiring huntsman. I felt a sense of power. Watching the bird easy descend was discontinue a haste, sing I was merely 10 old ages old at the clip. As for another thought that I can associate to, I would hold to state the thought of the land pyramid is something that affects me. This is something that we all depend upon. The beds are dependent upon the other and without the presence of one ; all other beds would non be able to properly map. I think it does a good occupation of demoing the importance each bed has in our environment. Soil is the footing for all life, and that is why it is at the underside of the pyramid.