Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Iron Crowned Chapter 10 Free Essays
string(90) " seizing control of it could shape the land to his or her will, instantly beautifying it\." Deanna came easily when I summoned her, making me wonder if sheââ¬â¢d been hanging around invisibly since our last chat. Regardless, she didnââ¬â¢t mention the fake ultimatum, thus letting Kiyo continue to believe we were in a time crunch. I called Volusian as well, figuring it couldnââ¬â¢t hurt to have his protection while traveling to the ghost cutoff point. We will write a custom essay sample on Iron Crowned Chapter 10 or any similar topic only for you Order Now The two spirits didnââ¬â¢t interact as we traveled, no surprise seeing as they had little in common. Deanna was tied to the living because of unfinished business and love for others. Volusianââ¬â¢s soul was damned for eternity, forced to wander for his crimes ââ¬â unless I ever sent him to the Underworld. Deanna hadnââ¬â¢t been able to give us a time estimate on how long it would take to reach the crownââ¬â¢s lair (as I was beginning to refer to it). The Otherworldââ¬â¢s twisted terrain always made travel hard to gauge, plus spirits could move faster than we could. I wouldnââ¬â¢t have minded walking, but the unknown variables made me ride horseback. Kiyo did the same out of courtesy for me, though he could have tirelessly covered miles and miles in fox form. The only thing I really knew for sure was that this wouldnââ¬â¢t be a day trip. Kiyo and I were as silent as the ghosts, though once we crossed out of the lands adjacent to mine, he would occasionally tell me where we were. Iââ¬â¢d never ventured this far into the Otherworld, and it made me uneasy, though knowing we were clear of the Rowan Land was a relief. Even Kiyo, neutral as he claimed, had tensed in Katriceââ¬â¢s territory. ââ¬Å"This is the Honeysuckle Land,â⬠he said, when the road led us to a hot, riotously colored landscape. Flowers grew everywhere, and even the trees were covered in blossoms. Arizona was notorious for all its hummingbirds, but here, they swarmed like flies. ââ¬Å"Dorian was right,â⬠I mused. ââ¬Å"It is beautiful.â⬠It was hard to imagine this place mustering up a military. This seemed more like a world where people frolicked in scanty clothing, beating drums and engaging in free love. Well, since they were gentry, free love would have been a given. ââ¬Å"Dorian would know,â⬠said Kiyo stiffly, eyes focused straight ahead. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m surprised he let you come with me.â⬠ââ¬Å"Dorian doesnââ¬â¢t say what I can or canââ¬â¢t do,â⬠I snapped. ââ¬Å"If youââ¬â¢re going to just keep doing this the whole time, Iââ¬â¢ll ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢ll what?â⬠asked Kiyo with amusement, when I didnââ¬â¢t continue. ââ¬Å"Send me back? Face death-threatening situations alone?â⬠ââ¬Å"I would gladly escort you back, if that is what you choose,â⬠Volusian told Kiyo. I sighed. ââ¬Å"Please. Just donââ¬â¢t get on Dorian the whole time, okay? He wants this over. It was his idea to get your help. Heââ¬â¢s worried, believe me.â⬠ââ¬Å"That,â⬠said Kiyo gravely, ââ¬Å"I can believe. I donââ¬â¢t trust him. I donââ¬â¢t believe his alliance with you is as straightforward as it seems. But I do believe he cares about you.â⬠The landscape suddenly shifted around us, becoming a rolling desert of white sand. It stretched out under a blazing sun, reflecting back at us in a way that was hard on the eyes. ââ¬Å"Ugh,â⬠I said, focusing down on the road. ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s this?â⬠ââ¬Å"The Myrrh Land,â⬠said Kiyo. Even with my eyes averted, I knew he was smiling. ââ¬Å"Figured youââ¬â¢d like this place. You should go make friends with its king. Theyââ¬â¢ve got some badass fighters.â⬠ââ¬Å"Big difference between this and the Sonora Desert,â⬠I said. Although harsh and scalding, the desert Iââ¬â¢d grown up with was full of life. This place was desolate and dead. Mercifully, we soon passed out of it into sweeping moors, covered in snow. I took my leather jacket out of my pack. Iââ¬â¢d brought it knowing we might travel through lands that were in winter. It still wasnââ¬â¢t much protection, and I realized I could have easily gotten one of my servants to whip up something more suitable. No doubt it wouldââ¬â¢ve been gentry-style, probably a cloak. Look human, Jasmine had said. Mostly I looked cold. Kiyo identified this place as the Birch Land. We crossed into the Honeysuckle Land again, which was typical of the Otherworld. Other places repeated as well. When the road took us through a landscape that reminded me of northern Texas, Kiyo had nothing to say. ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s this?â⬠I asked. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t know,â⬠he admitted. ââ¬Å"The Pecan Land,â⬠said Volusian. ââ¬Å"Sounds delicious,â⬠I teased. Weââ¬â¢d had few stops and mostly eaten travel rations. ââ¬Å"I could go for a pecan pie right now.â⬠Kiyo didnââ¬â¢t respond. He seemed lost in thought, his expression growing darker as we passed through more and more terrain he didnââ¬â¢t know. He seemed to know the names, though, and didnââ¬â¢t like them. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re taking us to the Unclaimed Lands,â⬠he said to Deanna. It was near the end of our day, the sky burning red. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t know,â⬠she said simply. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m only going where I was shown.â⬠ââ¬Å"Volusian?â⬠I asked. ââ¬Å"Of course weââ¬â¢re going to the Unclaimed Lands,â⬠he said, sounding mildly annoyed by my stupidity. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢re nearly upon them. Where else would you expect a coveted object to be hidden?â⬠I glanced at Kiyo. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m going to go out on a limb here and guess these are kingdoms no one controls?â⬠ââ¬Å"ââ¬ËKingdomsââ¬â¢ isnââ¬â¢t even the right word,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"No one lives here.â⬠ââ¬Å"Why not?â⬠I asked. The scenery changed again. The texture of the ground was like recently dried mud, covered in a pattern of cracks that reminded me of one of my jigsaw puzzles. Odd holes were scattered here and there. This eerie landscape stretched far, far ahead, no end in sight. Not far from us ââ¬â ten miles at most ââ¬â the land rose sharply along the sides of the cracked road, forming high, rocky cliffs that curled in at their tops like jaws. Erratic gusts of wind blew through the tunnel they formed. The setting sun made everything blood-red. ââ¬Å"Guess,â⬠said Kiyo. ââ¬Å"Because weââ¬â¢re here.â⬠I peered around, studying the depressing landscape. Its superficial appearance meant little, really. Any gentry seizing control of it could shape the land to his or her will, instantly beautifying it. You read "Iron Crowned Chapter 10" in category "Essay examples" Then, a strange feeling settled in me. I couldnââ¬â¢t quite define it. It didnââ¬â¢t make me ill or disoriented. It just didnââ¬â¢t feel right. I squinted at the cliffs, taking in their striation. Through the red haze, I could see many of the loose rocks were a dull gray, streaked with orange. Oxidized metal. ââ¬Å"Iron,â⬠I realized. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢re surrounded in iron. Weââ¬â¢re not even in the crownââ¬â¢s lair yet. We canââ¬â¢t get to the lair without passing through iron.â⬠ââ¬Å"Can you feel it?â⬠asked Kiyo. ââ¬Å"Yes â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ That was the odd feeling in the pit of my stomach. ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s the gentry in you. Even with your human blood, you canââ¬â¢t help but be affected. Thereââ¬â¢s a lot of iron here.â⬠ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t feel weak,â⬠I said, astonished the iron would affect me at all. ââ¬Å"Or sick or in pain.â⬠Iââ¬â¢d seen gentry scream just from the smallest touch of iron. I summoned the magic within me, letting it reach out to the air and unseen moisture, though I didnââ¬â¢t actively use it. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t think itââ¬â¢s hurting my magic either.â⬠ââ¬Å"Good,â⬠said Kiyo. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re strong, so Iââ¬â¢m not surprised. You may just have a simple awareness of it.â⬠I thought about this for a moment and came to another realization. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re not affected at all, are you?â⬠He shook his head. ââ¬Å"Nope.â⬠I always thought of Kiyo and me as being alike, children born of both worlds. That part was true, as was our half-human heritage. But my Otherworldly blood came from the gentry. Only gentry were affected by iron, and kitsunes had no fairy connection. As with the demon bear and the fetch, a kitsuneââ¬â¢s bane would be silver. At least, a full-blooded kitsuneââ¬â¢s would be. Iââ¬â¢d seen Kiyo handle silver objects; his human blood protected him as mine did me. The bottom line was that he was a more useful companion here than Iââ¬â¢d realized. I wondered if Dorian had made the connection. ââ¬Å"We will cross through no other lands until you turn back, mistress,â⬠said Volusian. ââ¬Å"So this is the worldââ¬â¢s end. The Otherworldââ¬â¢s end, at least.â⬠I turned to Deanna, hovering alongside us. ââ¬Å"Will we reach the entrance before night?â⬠She thought about it, and I braced myself for another vague response. ââ¬Å"No. If you donââ¬â¢t stop, youââ¬â¢ll reach it in the morning.â⬠Kiyo and I exchanged looks, both of us thinking the same thing. Get to the crown sooner or camp and be rested? I looked over at Volusian. ââ¬Å"You said there are no other lands. But will the terrain in this one change?â⬠ââ¬Å"No.â⬠ââ¬Å"What do you think?â⬠I asked Kiyo. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t want to be tired when we face whateverââ¬â¢s guarding the crown, but this isnââ¬â¢t great camping territory.â⬠ââ¬Å"No,â⬠he agreed. His eyes scanned around us, able to see more than mine in the waning light. He pointed. ââ¬Å"There. Thereââ¬â¢s a small outcrop thatââ¬â¢ll block most of the wind. Enough to keep a fire going. I hope.â⬠I couldnââ¬â¢t see the spot but trusted him. ââ¬Å"Camping it is.â⬠When we reached it, I saw the site was indeed sheltered. I tethered the horses while Kiyo built up a fire. We watched it warily as the wind abruptly came and went. The fire flickered and waved but appeared capable of lasting the night. ââ¬Å"I could hold off the wind a little,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t bother,â⬠said Kiyo, settling down beside the blaze. ââ¬Å"Save your magic. Thisââ¬â¢ll hold.â⬠I wondered if he really was concerned about me conserving my strength or just wanted me to avoid my magic altogether. Heââ¬â¢d never liked it. I didnââ¬â¢t question him, though, and sat down as well, mostly because the cold was finally starting to get to me. I buttoned up the leather jacket, achieving little. Our dinner consisted of more travel food: jerky, granola, and some bread that would probably be stale tomorrow. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t suppose you can use your wilderness skills to go hunt us something fresh?â⬠I asked. He smiled, the campfire casting strange shadows on his face, now that night had fully come. ââ¬Å"I would if there was anything alive out here. Itââ¬â¢s just us.â⬠He eyed me, taking in my shivering. ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t you own a warmer coat?â⬠ââ¬Å"Where am I going to get a down coat in Tucson?â⬠I demanded. ââ¬Å"This time of year? Any sporting goods store. For the skiers. Lara could order you one if you canââ¬â¢t be troubled.â⬠ââ¬Å"I think Lara and Tim are in love,â⬠I said abruptly, remembering that bizarre development. ââ¬Å"What?â⬠asked Kiyo, as astonished as I had been. ââ¬Å"Are you sure?â⬠ââ¬Å"Well, theyââ¬â¢re in infatuation, at least. Volusian, were they together when you went back?â⬠My minion was off in the shadows, only his red eyes visible. ââ¬Å"Yes, mistress. They were in bed, their bodies naked and ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Okay, okay, stop,â⬠I exclaimed. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t need to hear anymore.â⬠ââ¬Å"Well, Iââ¬â¢ll be damned,â⬠said Kiyo. While weââ¬â¢d dated, heââ¬â¢d been witness to their phone battles. ââ¬Å"But I guess stranger things have happened.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah,â⬠I agreed. ââ¬Å"Look at us. Weââ¬â¢re sitting in an iron landscape, being led by a ghost to a mythical object, which ââ¬â if it even exists ââ¬â may or may not make me scary enough to end a war.â⬠ââ¬Å"Fair point,â⬠said Kiyo, his smile returning. We sat in companionable silence. It was a nice change from the animosity and tension that had surrounded us for so long. Iââ¬â¢d missed him, I realized. ââ¬Å"Eugenie?â⬠ââ¬Å"Hmm?â⬠I glanced up, feeling embarrassed by my thoughts. ââ¬Å"Why didnââ¬â¢t you bring Roland with you? He couldââ¬â¢ve fought unaffected. And God knows he doesnââ¬â¢t want gentry power.â⬠I looked away from those dark eyes, down at the fireââ¬â¢s blue heart. ââ¬Å"He doesnââ¬â¢t want me to have gentry power either.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah, but heââ¬â¢d put that aside if he knew you were walking into ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"He doesnââ¬â¢t know anything,â⬠I said bluntly. My voice then grew soft. ââ¬Å"We arenââ¬â¢t speaking anymore.â⬠ââ¬Å"How â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Kiyo paused, no doubt trying to wrap his mind around this. ââ¬Å"How is this possible?â⬠I shrugged. ââ¬Å"He cut me off. When he found out Iââ¬â¢d been keeping the truth from him, about the Thorn Land and everything else â⬠¦ Well, ever since what happened with Leith, heââ¬â¢s refused to speak to or acknowledge me.â⬠ââ¬Å"But your mom â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ââ¬Å"Talks to me occasionally. Sheââ¬â¢s caught in the middle, and I donââ¬â¢t want to make it harder on her than it already is. She shouldnââ¬â¢t have to go against her husband.â⬠Kiyoââ¬â¢s confusion was becoming anger. ââ¬Å"Yeah, but youââ¬â¢re her daughter! She should be able to ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Just forget it, okay?â⬠I drew my knees up to me and wrapped my arms around them to draw in more warmth. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t want to talk about it.â⬠ââ¬Å"Eug, Iââ¬â¢m sorry.â⬠I kept quiet. There was nothing to say. He cleared his throat. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t suppose you brought anything else to keep you warm? Blankets? Camping supplies?â⬠ââ¬Å"I didnââ¬â¢t think about the possible overnight part,â⬠I said, grateful for the subject shift. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve got a change of clothes like these, food, weapons, and first aid supplies.â⬠ââ¬Å"You brought first aid stuff?â⬠He sounded impressed. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s not like you to think ahead. Er, I mean, you donââ¬â¢t usually worry about ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"I know what you mean,â⬠I said with a weary smile. ââ¬Å"And donââ¬â¢t worry, the universe is the same. I didnââ¬â¢t plan ahead. Itââ¬â¢s for current injuries.â⬠ââ¬Å"Current?â⬠ââ¬Å"I got hit by a table.â⬠There might be a million reasons that Kiyo and I were wrong for each other, but one nice thing was that when I made a statement like that, he just didnââ¬â¢t question it. I was still freezing when it came time to sleep, forcing Kiyo into a bold suggestion. ââ¬Å"Come sleep over here, between me and the fire. The cold doesnââ¬â¢t bug me as much, and I can block the wind.â⬠ââ¬Å"Kiyo ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Yeah, yeah. I know. Dorian. But if he wanted me here to protect you, then hereââ¬â¢s the perfect chance. Besides, we all know you can kick my ass if I try anything.â⬠I said and did nothing. When this continued for about a minute, he sighed and lay down on his side, back to the wind. I attempted the same, after ordering Volusian to stay on watch, but even with the fireââ¬â¢s warmth, I was still cold. Iââ¬â¢m tough, Iââ¬â¢m tough. I played those words over and over through my head, not wanting to admit weakness. After about fifteen minutes, I gave in and crawled over to Kiyoââ¬â¢s side of the fire. There was no ââ¬Å"I told you so.â⬠He simply made room but was surprised when I positioned myself to face him. ââ¬Å"I thought youââ¬â¢d want your back to me.â⬠ââ¬Å"Canââ¬â¢t,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s where the injuries are.â⬠ââ¬Å"From the table.â⬠ââ¬Å"Right.â⬠He could have attempted propriety by turning over so his back faced me, but that would have put his face to the wind. He didnââ¬â¢t deserve that. I wiggled myself closer, curling myself against his body, and resting my head against his chest. He was big enough that he did almost completely shield me. His whole body stood still as I made myself comfortable, either from his astonishment or for my ease. Once I was settled, he relaxed slightly and tried to put his arms around me. He suddenly fumbled and pulled them away, grazing my breast as he did. I donââ¬â¢t know if he noticed. I certainly did. ââ¬Å"Wait. Where are you hurt?â⬠ââ¬Å"Back. Left shoulder.â⬠Tentatively, he reached out again and wrapped his arms around my waist. ââ¬Å"This okay?â⬠ââ¬Å"Mmm-hmm.â⬠Holding me, he shifted closer so that our bodies pressed together, holding in the warmth. ââ¬Å"This?â⬠ââ¬Å"Fine.â⬠He relaxed again and exhaled. Tucked against him, I couldnââ¬â¢t see his face but had the sneaking suspicion that I wouldnââ¬â¢t be getting much sleep tonight. Survival-wise, this plan was sound. I was warm(ish) now, protected and heated by him. But I was also pressed up against a body that I knew intimately, one that used to move in mine with a possessive fierceness. Dorian claimed me with mind games and exquisite acts of dominance. Kiyo had always done it through strength and ferocity, an animal taking his mate. I bit my lip and closed my eyes, hoping Iââ¬â¢d fall asleep if I mentally enumerated the reasons weââ¬â¢d broken up. But mostly, I kept remembering how his hand had lightly rubbed my breast. Sleep finally took me, but it was a long time in coming. As I drifted off, I wondered how he was coping. This probably didnââ¬â¢t affect him at all. If he really wasnââ¬â¢t sleeping with Maiwenn again, then he was probably out picking up women all the time. Kitsunes had kind of a supernatural allure, and God knew heââ¬â¢d been pretty persuasive the night weââ¬â¢d met. I awoke a couple hours before dawn ââ¬â and not by choice. Volusianââ¬â¢s warning came only seconds before the surface below us began to tremble. I was up in a flash, but unsurprisingly, Kiyo had already beaten me. Iââ¬â¢d gone to sleep with weapons, uncomfortable though it was. I hadnââ¬â¢t known what Iââ¬â¢d need out here, except that I wouldnââ¬â¢t need the iron athame since this was a gentry-free zone. I had my gun (safety on) and the silver athame. Both were out as Kiyo and I stood back to back, staring around us. The tremors shook the ground, forcing some fancy footwork, and creating more of the cracks that already covered the ground. A few more seconds passed, and then all went still. ââ¬Å"An earthquake?â⬠I asked uncertainly. ââ¬Å"No,â⬠said Volusian. He was in his solid, two-legged form, staring around with narrowed eyes. It was a little disconcerting that he didnââ¬â¢t seem to know precisely what the problem was. ââ¬Å"Then what are we ââ¬â ââ¬Å" The ground below us suddenly split open. With only the light of the fire, my vision was bad, but I thought I saw what looked kind of like a serpentine shape emerge from the earth. No, it was exactly like a serpentine shape because a moment later, a giant fucking snake shot up and landed neatly in a perfect coil, its head towered over Kiyo and me as it regarded us with glowing green eyes. The light from them illuminated a flicking, forked tongue, and the loud hissing that followed was kind of a given. ââ¬Å"Volusian!â⬠I yelled. My minion sprang into action. The deadly touch of his hands made the snake jerk in surprise. Beside me, Kiyo was shifting into fox form, and I decided a gun was probably going to get me farther here than the athameââ¬â¢s small blade. A drop of venom fell from the snakeââ¬â¢s mouth, and it sizzled when it hit the ground in front of me. Lovely. Still, I felt confident the three of us could take this thing. At least until the ground shook again, and another snake popped up. It was soon followed by a third. ââ¬Å"Son of a bitch.â⬠I deliberated, wondering if mass force on one snake at a time was the way to go. No. Iââ¬â¢d leave Kiyo and Volusian to the first. I yelled a warning to Kiyo that the snake was poisonous, but it was hard to say if he understood. I turned on the two new snakes. Even with part of their bodies coiled, their heads stood a good ten feet above mine. More venom dropped before me. Deciding not to play favorites, I aimed the gun and quickly fired off a couple of rounds into each. Iââ¬â¢d had the foresight to load up silver bullets, but it didnââ¬â¢t look like the gun was going to kill the snakes anytime soon ââ¬â at least not without fifty more shots. Mostly, the bullets seemed to piss them off more. Still, I kept firing since that seemed to make the snakes keep their distance. It proved to be a short-term solution, seeing as my bullets soon ran out. I reached for another clip. I could reload a gun quickly, but that pause gave one of the snakes an opening. Its head ââ¬â no pun intended ââ¬â snaked toward me, giving me a close-up view of large fangs. Iââ¬â¢d been on guard for such an attack and jumped out of its way, only to be struck by the otherââ¬â¢s tail. It knocked me several feet away, causing me to lose my grip on the new cartridge. The cartridge disappeared into the night, and I landed hard on the ground. My back and shoulder screamed in agony, but I had no time to baby them. There were two other clips in my belt, but as one of the snakes came for me again, my hand went to the athame after all. The snake that had hit me leaned down, its face and dripping jaw inches from me. Rather than run again, I leaped forward and plunged the blade into its eye. It cried out in pain, suffering from the silver, just as any Otherworldy creature would. Well, actually, any creature with a knife in its eye would probably suffer, magical or not. I had the sense to jerk my athame out, having no desire either to lose the blade or get pulled along as the snake reared back up. The suffering of its pal made the other hold off. In those moments, I shoved the athame back into my belt, yelping in surprise. Apparently, the snakeââ¬â¢s eye was poisonous too, and whatever liquid had come away with the blade ate through my jeans and burned my skin. Nonetheless, I managed to get another cartridge loaded. Without hesitation, I turned and emptied the entire gun into the snakeââ¬â¢s head. I wasnââ¬â¢t precise enough to hit the eye, but all those bullets took their toll. The snake wavered in the air, blood mixing with venom on its skin, and with a last hiss of pain, it fell over and slammed into the ground. Wondering why the other snake hadnââ¬â¢t come for me, I spun around and saw Volusian and Kiyo attacking it. I took it on faith that the first one was dead and loaded the gun with my last cartridge. Volusianââ¬â¢s touch was searing the snakeââ¬â¢s skin, and Kiyo was simply ripping into it with his teeth. Opting for what seemed tried and true, I fired into the snakeââ¬â¢s head again. Between the three of us, we soon literally took the snake down. I stood there tense and ready, empty gun in one hand and athame in the other. The world was silent except for the wind and the occasional twitching of the third snake as it died. Moments later, Kiyo morphed out of the fox shape, giving me a better view of any injuries now that he wasnââ¬â¢t covered in fur. He grimaced and spit on the ground a few times, but biting the snake apparently hadnââ¬â¢t destroyed his mouth or face. A couple red spots on his arms made me think he too had been splattered with the venom. Otherwise, he looked unharmed. He sighed and raked a hand through his black hair, which was curling slightly from sweat. ââ¬Å"You know,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t think Iââ¬â¢ll ever be able to bring myself to watch Dune again.â⬠How to cite Iron Crowned Chapter 10, Essay examples
Monday, April 27, 2020
The Use Of Race In Their Eyes Were Watching God Essays -
The Use Of Race In Their Eyes Were Watching God The Use of Race in Their Eyes Were Watching God This novel, while poetically conveying a black woman's pursuit of true love, seriously addresses society's ability to be judgmental and oppressive. Gender, race, economic security, and social stratification share equally important roles in the development of the main character, Janie. Hurston vividly describes how each qualification specifically affects the character, although the racial implications are much more subtle. This subtlety allows the reader to mistakenly perceive indifferent or positive feelings towards the novel's black community. Hurston initially establishes the ideal unimportance of race by using Janie's innocent childhood memory. Janie painfully recalls Mr. Washburn, who is the father of the family with whom they live, abusively laughing at her belief of being the same as his white children. She also remembers being teased by the other black children for her clothing, which is better than others' because hers is the Washburn children's old clothing. This recollection is multiply used by Hurston. It capitalizes children's acceptance of people for their actions, which is surpassingly more believable than portraying adults with the same feelings. It displays the dependence of black people on white people for success. Finally, it instates the Washburn family as the representation of white culture; accordingly initiating a negative undertone towards Janie's ethnicity. However, these prejudices and their undermining effect depicted within the novel are soundly contrasted by Janie's peaceful disposition at the en d of her narration. Hurston masterfully uses the emotional responses of the black characters, specifically pertaining to successful and potentially successful endeavors of Joe, as metaphors of society's prejudice. The initial astonishment of the black characters to Joe's monetary holdings and accomplishments deftly conveys this idea. Hurston again attaches a plethora of meaning to these scenes. Joe is followed by the men from town, while going to purchase the land, because they do not believe a black man could have money. His house's description, as overly opulent and making the others seem as servant's quarters, is parallel to the rich white men of other towns. He faults the lazy black men for the town's lack of development, portraying the incapability of black men for leadership. He is revered by the town when he is present, then slandered when he is no longer able to hear them. Despite being freed from slavery, during the early 1900's, black people's lives are mostly unchanged. The similarity between their work now as farmhands and formally as slaves is an active personification of this theory. The only successful black man is Joe. The other black characters either are sharecroppers or are menially employed. This explains the contempt the two men on the porch have for Joe, which is the same contempt that they would have for a white man. Black men seldom had the opportunity, but more importantly the financial ability, to own property. This makes wealthy and successful black men extremely scarce. White men owned virtually everything. Therefore, Joe's entirety equally represents the dominating white man and the extremely unlikely black man's success. Mrs. Turner, while sharing Janie's mixed racial background, speaks adamantly against blacks. She insultingly and unsuccessfully suggests that Janie marry a lighter skinned man than Tea Cake. The duality of Mrs. Turner's perspective is profound. Her attitudes exploit oppressive white sentiments, while simultaneously expressing the effect slavery and continued oppression has on the black community. She implies that black people deserve injustice. Not using a white character to display these attitudes allows Hurston more tenacity in her expression. Attempting to clean the yard after the hurricane, Tea Cake is approached by two white men. His initial reaction is to run before they see him, which he does not do. The men call him by the wrong name and coerce him into burying the dead. This occurs within the emotional and tragic scene of loss and devastation, making the power exerted by the white men easily overlooked. They carry guns, a symbol of power, and insist that no coffin be wasted on the body of a black person and that no white person be dumped in a grave. The value society places on a black persons life is clearly made here. In the
Thursday, March 19, 2020
Compare features of individual lifestyle approach with the New Public Health Approach
Compare features of individual lifestyle approach with the New Public Health Approach Approach constituting to better health for all Australians.The new public health is primarily about empowering individuals, encouraging community participation and recognising social determinants of health in health promotion programs and initiatives. It also provides us with a holistic view of health whereby interacting factors influence health. It's aim is to increase community action and participation this is done by the encouragement of healthy public policy, intersectoral collaboration and social support.The Individual lifestyle Approach assumes people can take control over their own health, it uses the blame mentality where the ill individual is the one responsible for ill health, also it supports the belief that the supply of resources solves health problems. It aims to primarily encourage individuals to take control over health by changing their own lifestyle behaviour. This view of health is limited because it is narrow minded and fails to define social factors that influenc e health and the basic fact that not everyone is able to fully take control of their health.HealthE.g. such social factors include: socio-economic status, education, religious and cultural backgrounds.Features of the individual lifestyle approach and the New Public Health Approach show us their effect on the community as a whole and aim to achieve to promote better health for all Australians. Australia has moved towards the New Public Health Approach to health promotion mainly due to the simplistic understanding and the limitations of the individual lifestyle approach.
Monday, March 2, 2020
Familiarize with and Habituate to
Familiarize with and Habituate to Familiarize with and Habituate to Familiarize with and Habituate to By Maeve Maddox A reader wonders about the usage in the following invitation to a website: Come in, familiarize yourself to our site, ask questions and read our stories. She asks, ââ¬Å"Shouldnââ¬â¢t that be ââ¬Ëfamiliarize yourself with our siteââ¬â¢?â⬠Yes, the idiom is ââ¬Å"familiarize with.â⬠Since the 1880s at least, the usual preposition to follow familiarize has been with, not to. Here are recent examples of contemporary usage: Employees should take time to familiarize themselves with these policies as a violation of the policies may result in disciplinary action, up to and including removal. All students are expected to familiarize themselves with the following information, available on the York University Senate Academic Standards. If you are a new Intern, you must spend some time at the office (any of the offices will do) to familiarize yourself with the program before going out to the field on a regular basis. I familiarized myself with weather forecasts, wind patterns, and how to avoid being conned out of our money by smugglers. Itââ¬â¢s not surprising to find prepositional oddities in hurried comments and on amateur blogs, but it is jarring to find them on academic sites and in printed educational materials: Read the objectives below to familiarize yourself to the material. - Assignment directions on University of Nebraska Medical Center site. Young children with visual impairments can learn techniques toà familiarize themselves toà rooms in their homes and to their classrooms.à - Text published by American Foundation for the Blind. Occupants canà familiarize themselves toà drill procedures, location of fire exits, and the sound of the fire alarm.à - University of New Hampshire fire drill instructions. It is possible that the expression habituate to, which has a similar meaning, has something to do with the prepositional mix-up. habituateà verb: to fix in a habit; to accustom to, familiarize with. Used with to. Here are examples of the correct use of to with habituate: By doing this kind of exercise regularly,à you habituate yourself toà staying in thatà state of mind for longer and longer periods and to writing while in it. After a while you cease to see pictures on your wall. Your vision becomes habituated to them. What strategies does Meursault employ toà habituate himself toà life in prison whileà he awaits trial? Children become habituated toà the screens easy gratifications. Note: In American usage, habituate is also used as a transitive verb to mean ââ¬Å"to resort to habitually, to frequent.â⬠For example, ââ¬Å"While not playing the horn, he writes software,à habituates coffee shopsà and tries to incite political, economic and religious discussions.â⬠Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:7 Examples of Passive Voice (And How To Fix Them)Empathy "With" or Empathy "For"?40 Idioms with First
Saturday, February 15, 2020
Child Exploitation Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
Child Exploitation - Research Paper Example This will require due process of law, to determine. The man is only a suspect, at the moment, until judgment is passed in a court of law. It is tempting to believe in his guilt, since it is his computer that contains pornographic pictures of Jennifer and other children. This is, however, circumstantial evidence, until he confesses, or there is convincing, admissible testimony against him, or there is overwhelming, admissible evidence. The pornography is incriminating evidence, but we do not know, for a fact, that these are photos or videos which he took and possibly distributed, or whether perhaps his housekeeper or gardener or best buddy used his computer to do so. Perhaps he is being framed by police. Maybe Jennifer has falsified identification that indicates she is not a minor. Maybe Jenniferââ¬â¢s mother vouched for her daughterââ¬â¢s older age and there was no reasonable clue to suggest otherwise. Maybe he checked her driving license and her Facebook account, as well as her personal website, and they all indicated clearly that she was 19 years old. Maybe this man suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder and is unaware of a personality behaving in a criminal manner. Maybe he is profoundly mentally retarded and is not capable of understanding the illegality and consequences of what he did, if indeed he did it. Many things are possible and open to speculation, at the moment. It is easy to assume guilt in a case that triggers emotional shock, horror, and disgust, but this is the type of situation in which the community must wait for a court of law to make an official finding. The underlying assumption, contained in this first question, bears some reflection. Are Jennifer and her mother willing participants? Jennifer is 16. This means that in 31 states, she is old enough to give consent for sexual activity. In 19 states, Jennifer is not a willing participant, because she is
Sunday, February 2, 2020
Internet and Information Paper Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Internet and Information Paper - Assignment Example All you need to do is get an access of an Internet connected computer and get the information you want by exploring the sites in the web. However, as there are many sites in the web that provide information, one may become doubtful about the value of those sources, particularly when it comes to the credibility and reliability of the information. On such cases, Internet users should exercise their critical evaluation skills when reviewing the information found in online articles. This is because failure in evaluating information critically may mislead readers, which may result to misinformed judgements. Miriam J. Metzger (2007), in her article Making Sense of Credibility on the Web, evaluates different journals about online information evaluation and concludes that there are three factors that affect the credibility of online information; namely, the content of the information, the author, and the site on which the information appear (p. 2078). With these factors, Metzger also asserts that the Checklist Approach to online information evaluation is the most useful tool in evaluating the reliability and credibility of information in the Internet. The criteria in the checklist include the 1) objectivity of the argument, 2) authorââ¬â¢s professional record, 3) date of the sources, 4) academic writing conventions (grammar and referencing styles), and 5) ââ¬Å"stamp of approvalâ⬠from official evaluation committee/s (Metzger, 2007, p. 2080). In evaluating the objectivity of the information, one should read the article and consider whether the author presents the two opposing sides of the argument without personal biases. Readers should also consider the authorââ¬â¢s professional record to see if the author has a comprehensive theoretical background and/or field experience of the topic in question. Further, it is also necessary to check the writing style and presentation of the article because these show how the author values the academic and professional c ontent of his/her article, which also affect its academic and professional reception of the article. As readers, we also look forward to getting fresh information as it informs us on current social conditions; thus, we should be vigilant about the date of the article to ensure that we can get fresh information on the topic. Lastly, the presence of ââ¬Å"stamps of approvalâ⬠adds value to the article as it suggests that professionals and members of official evaluation committees also read the article. With regard to your inquiry about the ââ¬Å"digital divide,â⬠the term refers to the gap between ââ¬Å"information havesâ⬠and ââ¬Å"information have-notsâ⬠(Campbell, Martin, & Fabos, 2012, p. 63). ââ¬Å"Information havesâ⬠are those people who can buy computers and Internet services while ââ¬Å"information have-notsâ⬠are those whose financial capabilities are not enough to buy those services. The gap between the two groups increases because of the fact that there are still other factors that affect peopleââ¬â¢s inability to get Internet access. For instance, Campbell et al. (2012) further explain that age, educational attainment, and family background may also inhibit people to get Internet access. Specifically, learning to use the Internet and understanding basic Internet skills may become challenging tasks for older people; the same is true for people with lower educational attai
Saturday, January 25, 2020
Spanking Your Child is NOT Necessary Essay -- Against Corporal Punishm
Spanking Your Child is NOT Necessary Spanking your child has created a firestorm of debate among parents and non-parents alike. There appears to be only two sides to the argument, those for and those against. Each offers evidence to support their case, and both sides are fervent in there beliefs. There are many parenting books, classes, and articles on the internet to help people through the process of becoming a parent. Each has there own take on discipline, but most I have read are against spanking. à à à à à The idea of discipline has changed a lot over the years. My Grandfather had very stern rules when it came to punishment. My father on the other hand was a lot more lax. Now that I myself am a father, I am grappling with the questions of what to do with my children. I donââ¬â¢t believe in spanking. I take the approach of time outs, and other various forms of punishment. à à à à à In San Francisco it is illegal to spank your child. Whether or not the government should intervene in the discipline of peopleââ¬â¢s children is a touchy subject. On one hand I applaud their decision. But on the other, the thought of Big Brother enters my mind. If a law can be passed legislating how we punish our children, how far can they go? And in which direction? If one municipality decides spanking is bad, what is to stop another from deciding it is good? Do we want laws passed stating that we should, or have to spank our children? The chances of that happening are slim, but stranger things have h...
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