The idea of having two identities, or split personalities has been popular over the years. Some people believe that one person can have more than one identity or personality, and this kind of alter ego cannot be controlled. This idea of having two identities or split personalities is seen in the novel, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. In this novel, Dr. Jekyll believes that every person has a "good" and "bad" side. Dr. Jekyll creates a potion that turns him into his "bad" side, which is Mr. Hyde. Mr. Hyde is one hundred percent evil, and he commits crimes and does evil without ever feeling regret. Mr. Hyde is also very ugly, deformed, and short. Dr. Jekyll is the opposite of Mr. Hyde; Dr. Jekyll is the "good". He is tall, handsome, smart, and friendly (when he isn't scared of randomly turning into Mr. Hyde). This idea of turning yourself into another person or another form of yourself is seen unethical to some people. Some people see Dr. Jekyll's experiments and potions that turn himself into Mr. Hyde unethical as well.
In today's society, it has been discovered that people can actually have split personalities. This does not happen in result of potions or experiments, but it is seen as a disease. This disease is known as "dissociative identity disorder" or "multiple personality disorder". This disorder is characterized by the presence of two or more distinct personality states. People who have this disorder have different identities, and these identities have their own age, sex, or race. Each identity has his or her own postures, gestures, and distinct way of talking. Sometimes the alters are people; sometimes they are animals. As each personality reveals itself and controls the individuals' behavior and thoughts, it's called "switching." Switching can take seconds to minutes to days. This disorder can last a persons whole lifetime, and it cannot be cured.
I believe that the reasons why Dr. Jekyll created Mr. Hyde in the novel are unethical. I don't think there were any real needs for creating him, and in creating him he made a one hundred percent evil person. In the end, Dr. Jekyll was cursed for creating Mr. Hyde; Mr. Hyde took over his body and his mind, and in the end Mr. Hyde was all that was left. This resulted in the death of both Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I also think it's interesting how this real disorder connects to the novel. I couldn't imagine having this disorder, and "becoming" different people or animals in my mind.
Saturday, April 30, 2016
Monday, March 28, 2016
March Blog- The Idea of Beauty
In today's society, beauty is seen as the ultimate quality in a person. Media portrays the perfect person as being someone who is beautiful on the outside. Media and society do not seem to care about what is found on the inside of people, meaning what characteristics a person has other than their looks. Society does not seem to care if a person is generous, kind, smart, or honest. The media is constantly found commenting on people's looks, and how you can be the most beautiful person. Media never comments on the generosity of a celebrity or the intelligence of a person.
The importance of beauty and the idea that being beautiful is the ultimate quality a person can have is portrayed in the novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. Dorian Gray sacrifices his soul so that he can stay young and beautiful his whole life. In result of this sacrifice, the portrait of himself that his friend Basil paints reflects his aging and sins. By the end of the novel, his portrait changes drastically since the time when it was first painted. Dorian's portrait changes more and more as his friend Lord Henry continues to influence him throughout the novel. Lord Henry teaches Dorian that beauty is the ultimate human quality and that it is powerful to be beautiful. Lord Henry also influences Dorian to substitute pleasure for goodness, art, and reality; this influence on Dorian causes him to become evil and hurt the people around him and the people he loves. Lord Henry teaches Dorian that his beauty can take him places that no ordinary looking person could go.
As I said before, this idea that beauty is the ultimate quality in a person connects to society today. This idea that is seen in the novel is also found in today's society and media. Media and society puts so much pressure on people to be beautiful. I can connect to this idea as well. Growing up in a society that treasures and values beauty is hard; it makes everyone insecure about their looks and it makes everyone feel as if they are not good enough for society's standards. My thoughts on the issue are that society and media put too much pressure on beauty. Society's standards for beauty are way too high and unreal. The models that are found in magazines and on billboards are extremely edited; so how can normal people try to look like these models if what they are striving for are false advertisements. In reality each and every person on this planet are beautiful in their own way, and I think society should stop trying to force beauty on us.
The importance of beauty and the idea that being beautiful is the ultimate quality a person can have is portrayed in the novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. Dorian Gray sacrifices his soul so that he can stay young and beautiful his whole life. In result of this sacrifice, the portrait of himself that his friend Basil paints reflects his aging and sins. By the end of the novel, his portrait changes drastically since the time when it was first painted. Dorian's portrait changes more and more as his friend Lord Henry continues to influence him throughout the novel. Lord Henry teaches Dorian that beauty is the ultimate human quality and that it is powerful to be beautiful. Lord Henry also influences Dorian to substitute pleasure for goodness, art, and reality; this influence on Dorian causes him to become evil and hurt the people around him and the people he loves. Lord Henry teaches Dorian that his beauty can take him places that no ordinary looking person could go.
As I said before, this idea that beauty is the ultimate quality in a person connects to society today. This idea that is seen in the novel is also found in today's society and media. Media and society puts so much pressure on people to be beautiful. I can connect to this idea as well. Growing up in a society that treasures and values beauty is hard; it makes everyone insecure about their looks and it makes everyone feel as if they are not good enough for society's standards. My thoughts on the issue are that society and media put too much pressure on beauty. Society's standards for beauty are way too high and unreal. The models that are found in magazines and on billboards are extremely edited; so how can normal people try to look like these models if what they are striving for are false advertisements. In reality each and every person on this planet are beautiful in their own way, and I think society should stop trying to force beauty on us.
Monday, February 22, 2016
February Monthly Blog-Women's Rights
In this world, there is still inequality between men and women. In America and other developed countries, this inequality is not as severe as it is in other parts of the world, but it is still present. In these developed countries, women do not get equal pay compared to men, women do not get hired for certain jobs or positions because they are women, and women are still found being discriminated against. This inequality between women and men makes it hard for women at times, but they should be grateful they are not going through what other women are going through in different parts of the world. In other parts of the world, particularly in the Middle East, women are still treated as property. These women can make no choices for themselves, they can't get jobs, they can't get an education, and they are restricted in so many other ways.
This is the situation that Laila and Mariam go through in the novel A Thousand Splendid Suns. Mariam and Laila live in Afghanistan and are both married to a man named Rasheed. Rasheed is a man who is very controlling and strict, and he severely punishes Mariam and Laila often. After marrying Rasheed, these women become his property. Rasheed and every other man in their society is allowed to do whatever they want with their wives; it is said that a man can do whatever he pleases in his home and he won't get in trouble. Women are also not allowed to leave their homes without a man, and very few of women get an education or a job. Even though the idea of women being treated like this seems so old, this is still happening in real life presently. Women in the Middle East are still going through these hardships and discrimination. These women still are treated like property and they really have no say in anything that goes on their society. These women are also fighting to get an education and to be treated like human beings. These women have so much more to fight for and worry about than equal pay and not getting a certain job; these women have to fight for their lives.
I believe that women's equality is important everywhere in the world. Women are not exactly equal to men in any part of the world, and being a woman, I think that is very unjust. Women are just as human as men are, and so they should be treated this way. In America and countries similar to it, women should not be judged in any way in the work place for being a woman. Women should get equal opportunities to men at all times. This also goes for countries that still treat women as property. Women should not be compared to cars or any other objects, they are people. They are people that deserve the right to say what they want, love who they want, and be free to do whatever they want. Women should not have to suffer anymore, no matter where they live in the world.
This is the situation that Laila and Mariam go through in the novel A Thousand Splendid Suns. Mariam and Laila live in Afghanistan and are both married to a man named Rasheed. Rasheed is a man who is very controlling and strict, and he severely punishes Mariam and Laila often. After marrying Rasheed, these women become his property. Rasheed and every other man in their society is allowed to do whatever they want with their wives; it is said that a man can do whatever he pleases in his home and he won't get in trouble. Women are also not allowed to leave their homes without a man, and very few of women get an education or a job. Even though the idea of women being treated like this seems so old, this is still happening in real life presently. Women in the Middle East are still going through these hardships and discrimination. These women still are treated like property and they really have no say in anything that goes on their society. These women are also fighting to get an education and to be treated like human beings. These women have so much more to fight for and worry about than equal pay and not getting a certain job; these women have to fight for their lives.
I believe that women's equality is important everywhere in the world. Women are not exactly equal to men in any part of the world, and being a woman, I think that is very unjust. Women are just as human as men are, and so they should be treated this way. In America and countries similar to it, women should not be judged in any way in the work place for being a woman. Women should get equal opportunities to men at all times. This also goes for countries that still treat women as property. Women should not be compared to cars or any other objects, they are people. They are people that deserve the right to say what they want, love who they want, and be free to do whatever they want. Women should not have to suffer anymore, no matter where they live in the world.
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Women's Rights
Women's rights and equality have been a problem since the beginning of time. It seems that women have always been the inferior gender; women have always been controlled by men in one way or the other. In the earlier times, women were expected to be wives and mothers and they were not allowed to have jobs. Women were expected to take care of the house, the children, and their husbands, along with providing their husbands whatever they wanted whenever they wanted it. Women were not taken seriously by men; whatever a woman said to the men in her life it did not mean anything to them.
In the novel The Awakening, Edna goes through the struggle that every woman would have went through in the late nineteenth century. If women were not expected to be mothers and wives, Edna would not be one. But, because the era she lives in practically forces her into marriage and motherhood she has to. Edna's husband controls her like she is just an object and he shows Edna love and affection for the appearance of a perfect marriage. Edna is controlled by all the men in her life in the novel, and by the end she realizes that she can not truly know who she is as an individual in her society. This is the problem that all women went through; they pretty much did not have an individual identity. Men controlled everything about women and who they were, and the women had no choice to be themselves.
Today, women's rights and equality have improved so much, but women are still not totally equal to men. Women have the right to vote and get a job these days, and it is no longer expected that women get married or have children. However, women are still discriminated against and sometimes cannot get the same jobs men get and they are not paid equally with men. I think that enough time has passed that our society today should realize the importance of equality between women and men. I think society should realize by now that men and women are both human and there is no reason for there to be discrimination against women. Women should be treated like equals to men, and should no longer be controlled by men in any way. Discrimination and prejudice should not be acceptable in any forms; whether it be between the genders or race or for any reason.
In the novel The Awakening, Edna goes through the struggle that every woman would have went through in the late nineteenth century. If women were not expected to be mothers and wives, Edna would not be one. But, because the era she lives in practically forces her into marriage and motherhood she has to. Edna's husband controls her like she is just an object and he shows Edna love and affection for the appearance of a perfect marriage. Edna is controlled by all the men in her life in the novel, and by the end she realizes that she can not truly know who she is as an individual in her society. This is the problem that all women went through; they pretty much did not have an individual identity. Men controlled everything about women and who they were, and the women had no choice to be themselves.
Today, women's rights and equality have improved so much, but women are still not totally equal to men. Women have the right to vote and get a job these days, and it is no longer expected that women get married or have children. However, women are still discriminated against and sometimes cannot get the same jobs men get and they are not paid equally with men. I think that enough time has passed that our society today should realize the importance of equality between women and men. I think society should realize by now that men and women are both human and there is no reason for there to be discrimination against women. Women should be treated like equals to men, and should no longer be controlled by men in any way. Discrimination and prejudice should not be acceptable in any forms; whether it be between the genders or race or for any reason.
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
December Blog- Post Traumatic Stress
War is a big issue when it comes to society and history. There have been treacherous wars in the past; and today's society tries to learn from human's past mistakes and tries to prevent more treacherous wars from happening. There is a reason why wars desperately want to be avoided; there is more than just destruction and human loss that comes along with war. War tears the world apart; it breaks up countries, continents, families, and friends. War destroys homes, communities, cities, and populations. One of the saddest parts about war isn't the actual war, but it's what the wars do to the soldiers. Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is something that most soldiers have to deal with for the rest of their lives after they defend their country in battle. PTSD can cause veterans to become stressed, anxious, feel emotionally cut off from everyone else, have trouble concentrating, and have trouble getting along with family and friends. PSTD and having trouble coping with life after war relates to Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut. Billy Pilgrim experiences PTSD in a severe way; he imagines he was abducted by aliens (Tralfamadorians) and is very unstable emotionally. Billy Pilgrim can not even be a normal human being after the war, and his daughter has to keep him under close eye.
PTSD is a very real problem for many veterans and families in society today. An example of a veteran with severe PTSD is Roy R. who was a 19 year old soldier in the Vietnam war. He got through the war with rockets regularly coming down on him and the rest of the soldiers and constantly being under fire. After the war, Roy spent the years after doing many different jobs. He eventually became a successful broadcast journalist, until his PSTD began. The XTRA-TV at the broadcast station overwhelmed him and brought flashbacks of the war. He then became agoraphobic; he stayed inside with his blinds shut, he began to drink a lot, and he avoided people at all costs. Roy's doctor saved his life with medication and therapy. Roy's story is just one out of thousands and thousands of people who deal with PTSD.
I believe that both war and PTSD are horrible things to experience, and I can't imagine what going through both of them is like. Soldiers should be treated with so much respect just for defending their country, and after wars they should be helped tremendously dealing with post traumatic stress.
PTSD is a very real problem for many veterans and families in society today. An example of a veteran with severe PTSD is Roy R. who was a 19 year old soldier in the Vietnam war. He got through the war with rockets regularly coming down on him and the rest of the soldiers and constantly being under fire. After the war, Roy spent the years after doing many different jobs. He eventually became a successful broadcast journalist, until his PSTD began. The XTRA-TV at the broadcast station overwhelmed him and brought flashbacks of the war. He then became agoraphobic; he stayed inside with his blinds shut, he began to drink a lot, and he avoided people at all costs. Roy's doctor saved his life with medication and therapy. Roy's story is just one out of thousands and thousands of people who deal with PTSD.
I believe that both war and PTSD are horrible things to experience, and I can't imagine what going through both of them is like. Soldiers should be treated with so much respect just for defending their country, and after wars they should be helped tremendously dealing with post traumatic stress.
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
The Ideas of Cultural Relativity
We all live on a big world, with many different kinds of people and cultures. Even though we are all humans, it does not mean that we must follow the same beliefs or live the same way. There are thousands of different cultures that are present in the world today; and there is nothing wrong with believing in your culture, no matter what it is. Even though some cultures seem crazy, immoral, or unjust, it is okay. Every culture has a different moral code; what one group of people thinks is right and completely okay is strongly immoral to another group of people. It is not a person's right to say that someone else's culture is not acceptable; because to that person their culture is acceptable. It is naive of people to believe that their culture and beliefs are shared by everyone else in the world. It is even more naive to think that your culture is more right than any other culture in the world.
In the novel, Things Fall Apart, there is a clash between cultures. The African people followed their culture for a very long time and they never saw a problem with it. Their culture involved believing in several Gods and demons and many other different things. Then, the white Christians came to Africa and tried to convert the Africans to their faith and culture. The Christians built churches and persuaded the African people to join their culture and the church. They told the Africans that their culture was wrong, and they told them that there was only one God. They also told them that the Gods they believed in were fake. Some of the Africans fought back saying that the Christians beliefs and cultures were wrong, and what they believed in was false. Neither of these groups would budge on their cultures because they were right and just in their eyes. In reality, this is how it should be. There should not be prejudice, wars, or and harm done because of people believing in different cultures and beliefs. The Christians had no right to come into the African's land and discriminate against them and tell them that their cultures were incorrect. I believe that as long as cultures are not harming one another, they should be able to believe and do what they want to do because it is right to them. People have no right telling other cultures that their beliefs are wrong. Different societies have different moral codes and it should be left at that.
A world event that relates to this discussion on cultures and believing in superiority when it comes to cultures is Hitler, the Nazis, and World War II. Hitler and the Nazis hated Jewish people because of their cultures and beliefs. In result of the Jewish people having a different culture, Hitler decided he wanted to kill them all. Hitler wanted to hunt down all Jews and make sure they would die because of their culture. The rest of the world went to war, hoping to save the Jews and their culture. It was horrible want happened, and it just shows how cultures are so different. However, it does not mean that we can hate or discriminate other cultures because they do not believe what we do.
In the novel, Things Fall Apart, there is a clash between cultures. The African people followed their culture for a very long time and they never saw a problem with it. Their culture involved believing in several Gods and demons and many other different things. Then, the white Christians came to Africa and tried to convert the Africans to their faith and culture. The Christians built churches and persuaded the African people to join their culture and the church. They told the Africans that their culture was wrong, and they told them that there was only one God. They also told them that the Gods they believed in were fake. Some of the Africans fought back saying that the Christians beliefs and cultures were wrong, and what they believed in was false. Neither of these groups would budge on their cultures because they were right and just in their eyes. In reality, this is how it should be. There should not be prejudice, wars, or and harm done because of people believing in different cultures and beliefs. The Christians had no right to come into the African's land and discriminate against them and tell them that their cultures were incorrect. I believe that as long as cultures are not harming one another, they should be able to believe and do what they want to do because it is right to them. People have no right telling other cultures that their beliefs are wrong. Different societies have different moral codes and it should be left at that.
A world event that relates to this discussion on cultures and believing in superiority when it comes to cultures is Hitler, the Nazis, and World War II. Hitler and the Nazis hated Jewish people because of their cultures and beliefs. In result of the Jewish people having a different culture, Hitler decided he wanted to kill them all. Hitler wanted to hunt down all Jews and make sure they would die because of their culture. The rest of the world went to war, hoping to save the Jews and their culture. It was horrible want happened, and it just shows how cultures are so different. However, it does not mean that we can hate or discriminate other cultures because they do not believe what we do.
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Good vs. Evil
Good versus evil has been a reoccurring theme in stories for centuries. Even in the earliest times, stories were being told about a feud or rivalry between good and evil. The "good" character is usually the hero, the person who conquers the evil and saves the day. The "evil" character is the person who causes trouble and mayhem in the world. The evil character goes against the good character to try to continue their mayhem.
This good versus evil theme occurs in the epic Beowulf. Beowulf, the "good" character is the hero of the poem. Beowulf is brave, strong, loyal, courageous, and he saves others from terrible monsters several times. Grendel is one of those "evil" characters. Grendel is described as a "fiend from hell", he is a horrible monster who takes enjoyment in devouring people and devouring as many people as he can. Beowulf comes to the rescue to save the Danes. Beowulf, with his God-like strength kills Grendel with his bare hands. Throughout the epic, Beowulf kills two other evils; he defeats Grendel's mother and a dragon. Beowulf is the good; the hero that conquers the evil and saves the day several times. Grendel and the other villainous creatures are the evil; the characters that go against the good and try to continue their mayhem.
This good versus evil theme is not just something that occurs in stories, it is evident in everyday life. People in the world are constantly fighting the evil. For example, police officers protect society from local criminals. Soldiers protect out country from outside threats, they sacrifice their own lives so that we can live in peace. There are people who stand up for what is right; they want to get women more rights, they want to get minority's more rights, or they just want to see justice in this society. These people are the "good" in our world today, and these people protect the world from evil. These people are the real life heroes, and they fight the real life evils.
I believe that this theme is one of the most important themes there is, in both stories and real life. Almost every story written or every movie made has the good versus evil theme. People want to read about or watch heroes save the day. Same goes for real life, everyone loves a hero and people love to praise the heroes of our world.
This good versus evil theme occurs in the epic Beowulf. Beowulf, the "good" character is the hero of the poem. Beowulf is brave, strong, loyal, courageous, and he saves others from terrible monsters several times. Grendel is one of those "evil" characters. Grendel is described as a "fiend from hell", he is a horrible monster who takes enjoyment in devouring people and devouring as many people as he can. Beowulf comes to the rescue to save the Danes. Beowulf, with his God-like strength kills Grendel with his bare hands. Throughout the epic, Beowulf kills two other evils; he defeats Grendel's mother and a dragon. Beowulf is the good; the hero that conquers the evil and saves the day several times. Grendel and the other villainous creatures are the evil; the characters that go against the good and try to continue their mayhem.
This good versus evil theme is not just something that occurs in stories, it is evident in everyday life. People in the world are constantly fighting the evil. For example, police officers protect society from local criminals. Soldiers protect out country from outside threats, they sacrifice their own lives so that we can live in peace. There are people who stand up for what is right; they want to get women more rights, they want to get minority's more rights, or they just want to see justice in this society. These people are the "good" in our world today, and these people protect the world from evil. These people are the real life heroes, and they fight the real life evils.
I believe that this theme is one of the most important themes there is, in both stories and real life. Almost every story written or every movie made has the good versus evil theme. People want to read about or watch heroes save the day. Same goes for real life, everyone loves a hero and people love to praise the heroes of our world.
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