Population growth in Africa essayEssay Writing Service

Population growth in Africa essayEssay Writing Service Population growth in Africa essay Population growth in Africa essayToday many developing countries are concerned about population-related challenges, which have a strong impact on social, cultural and economic development of human society. Africa is no exception. The growth of population in Africa is a key factor that lies at the root of many population-related challenges. According to researchers, â€Å"currently, the developing world accounts for about 95% of the population growth with Africa as the world’s fastest growing continent† (Hartemink, 2007, p. 85). In other words, Africa faces more population-related challenges than any other continent. Besides, many African countries are dependent on the industrial market economies of the developed countries as their domestic economies are unstable. Researches state that â€Å"poorly managed African economies remain essentially in the state of deterioration† (Mbaku, 2004, p. 102). There are three major population-related challenges in Africa, includ ing starvation, urbanization which leads to inadequate housing, improper health care, and poverty. As African population has been growing rapidly, â€Å"from 221 million in 1950 to 1 billion in 2009,† the population-related challenges affect the life of each African family to a great extent (Africa Hunger and Poverty Facts, 2014). The rapid population growth, along with a wide range of other factors, such as poor economic system, deterioration in the environment and the spread of criminal violence, has considerably limited the â€Å"growth in per capita income, causing poverty and hunger† (Africa Hunger and Poverty Facts, 2014). The best strategy to address the major population-related challenges in Africa is the promotion of population control programs that will help to provide adequate conditions for social, economic and cultural development of people.The major goal of this paper is to identify three major population-related challenges in Africa, and present a strate gy to effectively address these problems.Three major population-related challenges in Africa  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The major population-related challenges in Africa are caused by the largest population growth. Three significant population-related challenges in Africa include starvation, urbanization and poverty.Starvation as one of the major population-related problems in AfricaOne of the major population-related problems Africa faces today is the lack of enough food to feed all the people. According to researchers, â€Å"starvation and famines have ravaged several African countries† (Hartemink, 2007, p. 85). Somalis, Ethiopia, Angola, Sudan and many other African countries have faced serious problems caused by severe food shortages since the 1950-60s. Today the problem of starvation is an acute one in Africa. The growth of African population leads to the growing number of underweight children. The statistical data show that about â€Å"33 percent of ch ildren are underweight in Africa† (Hall, 2006, p. 6). Starvation is caused by a wide range of factors, including economic, environmental, political and social factors. The African continent includes fifty four countries, and practically each country has encountered food crises (Hall, 2006).  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Actually, food-related problems in African countries have been widely discussed in the media. According to researchers, â€Å"the continued struggle to meet basic food needs has made it difficult for policymakers to devote any effort or resources to general economic development†(Mbaku, 2007, p. 9). African policymakers lack the required industrial base to achieve the surficial amount of products in food production industry, as well as the adequate foreign exchange that could allow to â€Å"import food from abroad to meet domestic shortages† (Mbaku, 2007, p. 9).  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As a matter of fact, food is considered to be one of the major needs for all human beings. African people encounter inadequate distribution of food that fails to maintain good health condition of population. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, â€Å"about 239 million people in sub-Saharan Africa were hungry or undernourished in 2010† (Africa Hunger and Poverty Facts, 2014).Urbanization as one of the significant population-related problemsUrbanization is another significant population-related problem in Africa. Researchers state that â€Å"since the late1960s, Africans have been moving from the rural and agricultural sectors to the urban sectors in large numbers† (Mbaku, 1997, p. 7). There are several factors that led to the increased rate of urbanization, including the lack of opportunities for economic development of people living in rural areas, the increased growth of population in rural areas, etc.   For example, in many countries of South Africa, rural people have to migr ate to the urban areas because of decreased farming opportunities. As a result, African people find themselves in the urban areas absolutely unprepared for urban life. They lack the required education, cannot speak English well, and have to support large families. They have to live in â€Å"crowded and unhealthy quarters,† being used as the cheap labor force (Mbaku, 2007, p. 7).  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Urbanization has led to the problem of overcrowding in many urban areas of African countries. The increased demand for a wide range of infrastructural services places emphasis on other challenges caused by urbanization, including inadequate housing, the lack of the required amount of medical facilities, etc. (Mbaku, 2007).Poverty as one of the major population-related problems in African countries  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Poverty is one of the major population-related problems in Africa. Poverty is considered to be the major cause of hunge r in African countries.   In Africa, people do not have sufficient income to buy enough food to feed children. According to statistical data, in 2008, â€Å"about 47 percent of the population of sub-Saharan Africa lived on $1.25 a day or less, a principal factor in causing widespread hunger† (Africa Hunger and Poverty Facts, 2014).  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In addition, poverty leads to the spread of diseases, which jeopardize the lives of many African people. There are several factors that lead to spread of poverty in Africa, including not only diseases, but also natural disasters, warfare, forced migration, bad governance and illiteracy† (Brenzinger, 2009, p. 37). Actually, poverty in many African countries relates to certain social challenges, such as the lack of education and improper well-being. Besides, poverty in Africa can be characterized by some physical features, such as â€Å"short life expectancy and severe malnutrition† (Brenzing er, 2009, p. 37). Droughts in tropical Africa produce natural disasters. As a result, people face chronic food shortages, as well as lack sufficient food security. In some areas, African people have no access to clean drinking water and they face poor sanitation conditions.Presentation of the strategy to effectively addressthe major population-related problems in AfricaAs the majority of countries in Africa are characterized by relatively high population growth, the strategy to effectively address the major population-related challenges should be aimed at reduction population growth rate. Population-related challenges have led to the crises in many countries of Africa, including Sudan, Ethiopia, Chad, Somalia, Rwanda, and other countries with excessive population growth and poor eco-systems. It would be better to develop an effective strategy that will provide control over child bearing. It is necessary to develop the health care reform that would allow African women to have no more than two children (now they have five- six children) (Africa Hunger and Poverty Facts, 2014). According to researchers, in 1970s, the governments of many African countries were advised to develop national population control programs. These programs could encourage all citizens to assess the â€Å"dangers of uncontrolled population growth, educating them on the economic and social impact of bringing forth new lives without corresponding economic empowerment to bring them up† (Mataen, 2012, p. 23). However, these programs had no positive impact on African women, although in some countries the â€Å"number of children per woman came down from 7.2 to 6.5† (Mataen, 2012, p. 23).Today it is necessary to make this strategy more effective. It would be better to involve the developed countries that could act as sponsors in promoting population control programs in Africa. The governments of African countries should be focused on joint efforts in reduction the increased rate of population growth (Mataen, 2012). The governments of African countries should be aimed at extension of basic primary education, which will allow African people to find jobs and support their families. Besides, the governments should promote basic health care services to the larger part of their population. So, population growth should be reduced to create adequate conditions for social, economic and cultural development of people (Mataen, 2012).Conclusion  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Thus, it is necessary to conclude that today African countries face serious population-related challenges that have a strong impact on social, cultural and economic development of people in Africa. The rapid growth of population is a key factor that lies at the root of many population-related challenges, including poverty, urbanization and starvation. The governments of African countries should develop effective strategies to reduce the increased rate of population growth and provide adeq uate conditions for social, economic and cultural development of people. The promotion of population control programs in Africa is the best solution to the existing population-related challenges.

Reflection on strategy management tasks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Reflection on strategy management tasks - Essay Example First of all, I made an approach to understand each and every aspects of the task. Then several secondary researches were executed in order to collect suitable information and data within a quick period of time. The PEST analysis was easy to implement in this study. The recent political, economical, technological and economical scenarios of the industry can be obtained easily from text books or other academic journals. These sources helped to provide reliable data and information of the specific industry. Horizon scanning was the most difficult part in this task. It is very much difficult for a manager to estimate future threat and opportunities. Inadequate detection of early signs can affect the financial stability of the firm. On the other hand, the economic and political situation is changing constantly. Therefore, this part of the task has created several initial problems. I learned several significant and important things while completing the first task. Industry analysis and Ho rizon scanning were the two most interesting parts of this task. Through the industry analysis, an analyst can gain important knowledge about the situation of external environment. On the other hand, effective Horizon scanning can increase the future estimation and analytical skill that can increase the productivity of a manager. The second task is all about the

Business Environments Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Business Environments - Assignment Example Whether for-profit or non-profit, organisations embody a very diverse and rich assortment of strategic goals that are designed around a collective objective. Organisations must meet the needs of very diverse and dynamic stakeholders whilst also taking into consideration the economic policies in the region where the organisation operates, consider existing market forces that influence decision-making, and also take into account the potential cultural aspects of important stakeholders if the organisation is to have successful outputs and outcomes. The report explores a broader definition of organisations, their role in satisfying diverse stakeholders, and the market environment that influences organisational decision-making whether for-profit or non-profit. Identifying the purpose of organisations There are many different varieties of organisations, including corporations, non-profits, cooperatives, partnerships and governments. Organisations embody a very rich assortment of goals and visions, either set-up to service the needs of diverse international stakeholders, provide a valuable product or service that enhances the welfare of consumers, elicit some form of political or social change, or improve the social welfare of stakeholders linked to the mission of the organisation. Organisations require leadership and oversight in order to ensure compliance to regulatory frameworks both domestic and international and â€Å"have the ability to call upon a common heritage of committee structures or formal meetings† (Smith 2010, p.2) to ensure the organisation is meeting its long-term goals and purpose (mission). One example of this can be found with the UK-based non-profit, the Centre for Better Health, which provides well-being to consumers through counselling services and assists individuals in the London region to better develop their employability skills. This organisation is considered a social enterprise, whereby its purpose is to provide enhanced lifestyle and health promotion to stakeholders in the region. Consisting of 20 different staff members and 50 volunteers, the Centre for Better Health elicits change in social welfare for stakeholders as aligned with its mission and vision. Yet another example of how organisations meet their purpose and satisfy social welfare improvements is the UK company Marks & Spencer, a retail organisation providing valuable products that enhance lifestyle for consumer segments. The company’s mission statement drives the majority of their business practices, aligning corporate ideology with consumer social welfare improvements. The mission statement is to provide aspirational quality that can be accessible for all consumer segments, whilst maintaining a vision of being the standard by which all other retailers are judged. Marks and Spencer maintains a very dedicated focus toward providing corporate social responsibility which again serves their purpose of enhancing social welfare. Marks and Spenc er is an ideal example of how an organisation develops systems, best practices, and labour relationships to provide a social good to society. Meeting the objectives of stakeholders The external market environment, with most organisations, dictates internal policies and the necessary organisational structure required to be adaptable to these changing conditions. Contingency theory informs organisational leadership that in order to remain relevant and

Organizational Essay Example for Free

Organizational Essay Table of Contents Introduction Organizational culture is an important part of any organization, for this is the principles a company stand for. Without a strong, stable culture, an organization is sure to fail sooner than later. I will now discuss the subjects briefly mentioned in assignment 1. 1. The organizational culture of the organization where I work: 1. 1. A) Definition of Organizational culture and 4 types of cultures. Organizational culture refers to the shared values, norms, visions, symbols, beliefs, habit, working language between people sharing a working environment. There are, according to (Greenberg, 2011) four types of organizational cultures that exist. (Control) Hierarchy culture: These are typically large, bureaucratic corporations where smooth production, without wasted time is important. Stability, control, internal focus, standardization and integration are key principles to this system. Leaders in such a system should organize, monitor and coordinate the people and process thoroughly. (Compete) Market culture: These organizations are also concerned with stability and control, but rather than focusing on internal factors, they focus on external. This system is concerned with competition. They look at all the other organizations competing in the same market and then focus on their relationships- or transactions with suppliers, customers, contractors, unions, legislators, consultants, regulators etc. They believe that they’ll achieve success by focusing on effective relations (external). (Collaborate) Clan culture: Inward focus is important, same as the hierarchy system, however clan cultures emphasizes flexibility rather than control and rigidness. At such organizations, the well-being of workers comes first. It is said that people working in a clan-cultural environment feel related to their co-workers due to the warm, friendly nature. (Create) Adhocracy: This culture refers to the opposite of bureaucracy, focusing on flexibility and the external environment. It’s all about opportunities, problem-solving and outcome. These type of companies should always be up to date regarding development and technology. Typical example of such organizations is software-developing companies. The culture of the organization where I work: The organizational culture at my company is the Create or Adhocracy culture (defined above) According to Waterman’s theory (cited in Greenberg, 2011) an Adhocracy culture goes beyond the ordinary bureaucratic lines to capture opportunities, solve problems and get results. In my organization, we focus on innovation and creativity. Team work is essential, because software engineers have to split up the work due to the work-load. 2. How are new employees accommodated in the organization? Accommodation can refer to special needs of some employees or just taking account and respecting all members’ race, ethnic group, color, nationality, social origin, religion, age, marital status, sexual orientation, sex, opinions, family status and source of income. In my company, respect is a very important aspect, we accept every member the way they are. Supporting each other rather than rejecting. (Denison, 1990). In my organization, we use a process called â€Å"Onboarding†. Onboarding is the process whereby information, training, mentoring and coaching is provided to new members. This makes new members feel welcome and informed. This also increases productivity from the beginning, reduces costs due to flaws and saves co-workers training time. According to (Parker, 1993) this process includes four stages to let new employees â€Å"onboard†. Acquiring is the first step we use in the onboarding process: In this first step, newcomers will be introduced to co-workers. The group in which the employee will work is already decided before his/ her arrival. The employee will now get the opportunity to talk to other group members to create a mental picture of what the work will include. Accommodation is the next step, new employees are provided with all the necessary resources to make their working experience pleasant. In my company, new employees get a computer, which stays at the office at all times. This computer will have all the newest software on it, ensuring that the employee can do the tasks effectively without any discomfort. Assimilation is step 3 of onboarding. The intern will now be allocated to a more experienced member. This member will show the intern around, showing him where everything is and given him a crash-course about what will be expected of him. The intern can now shadow the person to get the hang of things. Please do note that the newcomer is expected to have all the skills needed to obtain this job. Like the necessary degrees etc. , which was considered before appointing the job to the person? Acceleration: In this stage, new members engage in their working tasks, still learning as they go, but now they are able to feel comfortable in their working environment. In this stage the results are brought to the table and fairly employees now have the chance to perform and show everybody what their made of. 3. How my organizational culture can be improved: Before discussing the stages I shall take to do so, there are a few core principles that should be in place. Values are the first, which means the core values and believes of the company should be spelled out very clearly. All employees should know what the company stands for. Second are goals. When everyone knows what the goals and milestones of the company are, they know what is expected of them. Consistency is the next fundamental point- keeping the standards and goals high. Communication, important in every aspect of life is also important to improve the culture in organizations. The last point is celebration- everybody needs some reward for good work done. This will motivate employees to work hard to reach the upcoming goals and having fun in the workplace is fundamental. (Denison , 1990). The above is not the strategies I will follow to improve my organizational culture, its important elements that forms the basis of a good organizational culture. The stages of improvement include strategies to spread the culture throughout the company and beyond the borders of the company and let everyone be aware of them. I believe through doing that, the culture will improve. Here follows 6 strategies Symbols: Symbols are, according to (Ornstein, 1986) those objects, not needing words to be described. The symbols of an organization can rest in the waiting room, the size of the building, the awards hanging around, the atmosphere when you walk into the doors etc. these symbols let you know what the company is all about. Thus, it spells out the organizational culture. Slogans- Phrases that summarize the organizational culture: Slogans are those catchy tunes or saying things unique to a certain company. The slogan can tell you a lot about the companies’ culture, because the companies â€Å"heart† is captures in a few phrases. Thus, the employees and public can grasp the essence of the organizations- whereas the culture is improved. Stories: These are the re-authoring of important and catchy moments in the company’s history. The telling of these stories can re-introduce important values to employees. (Martin, 1982). These stories might be told in a formal way (in a meeting) or informally (employees drinking coffee). These stories remind employees how â€Å"we use to do it around here† and indirectly creating some expectations or guidelines. Through this the employees get a clear understanding of what the company cherishes. Jargon: These are the everyday language used in the company. Companies may also create their own phrases or words, which are understood by each other. These jargons might become unique to this company, but may also spread out to the public, making the company â€Å"famous† for their unique words. According to (Carroll. 1993) Jargons are especially popular in the high-tech world (like my company is). Ceremonies: These special events celebrate whatever it is that it most essential to the company. By looking at the reason for celebration, you will get to know the core beliefs and values of a company. Therefore, by hosting ceremonies, the employees and public can see what is valued the most. This will strengthen the culture of the organization. Lastly is Statements of Principle: Defining culture through writing: This means bringing forward a statement of principle. In this statement lie the core values of your company, reinforcing and clarifying the qualities of the company. (Carroll, 1993). Bibliography Carroll, P. (1993). Big blues: The unmaking of IBM. New York: Crown. Denison, R (1990). Corporate culture and organizational effectiveness (3rd ed. ) Oxford, England: John Wiley Sons. Greenberg, J (2011). Behavior in Organizations. Martin, J. (1982). Stories and scripts in organizational settings. In A. Hastorf A. Isen (Eds. ), Cognitive social psychology (pp 255-306). New York: Elsevier-North Holland. Ornstein, S. L. (1986). Organizational symbols: A study of their meanings and influences on perceived psychological climate. In J. Greenberg, Behavior in Organizations (p 520). London: Pearson Publications. Parker, M (1993). Postmodernism and organizations. Sage Publications ltd.

Baums Ambivalent Vision :: Literature Children Books Papers

Baum's Ambivalent Vision Perhaps more completely than any other writer, the person who hopes to write successful children's literature must become a child again, to write with that combination of seriousness, simplicity, and wonder children demand in their stories: they will read no others. Arguably, then--because his books have been read and reread by generations of children--L. Frank Baum possesses this quality, this childlikeness, to a great degree. It is a crucial attribute for writers, one that Erich Neumann calls "a special animation of the unconscious" and defines as "the creative man's special kind of alertness. He usually possesses it even as a child, but this alertness is not identical with the reflecting consciousness of a precocious intellect. The childhood state of the creative individual can be characterized no better than in HÃ ¶lderlin's words: "und schlummert wachenden Schlaf" ("and slumbers in waking sleep"). In this state of alertness the child is open to a world, to an overwhelming unitary reality that surpasses and overpowers him on all sides. At once sheltered and exposed, this waking sleep, for which there is as yet no outside and no inside, is the unforgettable possession of the creative man". ("Creative Man and Transformation" 180) The special, creative state Neumann describes is functionally an altered state of consciousness, one achieved in a writer's case not by drugs, fasting, or meditation, but by simple concentration in a relaxed posture, the restriction of the mind to a blank piece of paper as the writer sits at his or her desk, waiting for whatever will come. Because it is a variety of altered state, because most of the major phenomena of such states overlap (Mogar 385), because one of these phenomena is a shift toward increased imagery, and because the images themselves follow a remarkably regular pattern--it is possible to construct from various sources a visionary schema that indicates just how a particular writer reacts to this heightened sense of the unconscious--with a sense of joy, of fear, or of ambivalence. The first of these sources is Aldous Huxley's Heaven and Hell, in which he identifies the major imagery of visionary states as a sense of light and color in intricate, geometric forms resembling jewels and/or flowers (103-04). This is true in both the positive and the negative visions Huxley identifies, though the jewels and flowers seem divine in the first case and demonic in the second. The latter, the terrible

Hamlet vs. Beowulf Essay

How do the protagonists from Beowulf and Hamlet compare? Though both play a major role in an epic story, they share a few common viewpoints. The outcome of both stories is greatly influenced by the main character’s struggles in life. The situations that occur throughout these stories also impact the narratives. In addition, the various characters in each work influence the protagonists’ choices and lives. Each is involved in themes which can easily relate to those of modern day society, although Beowulf and Hamlet live in completely different times. Beowulf is the ideal warrior; he is a strong, fearless fighter and a fantastic leader who goes to immutable extremes to protect his people. When his country is threatened by what is thought to be an undefeatable beast named Grendel, Beowulf does the impossible and slays the monster. Hamlet, on the other hand, is not a leader like Beowulf whatsoever. Hamlet is not even a king or recognized as a leader. Hamlet’s father was murdered, and afterwards he simply wants to go back to school to learn. It is not until much thought and preparation that he makes it his mission to have his father’s revenge. If Beowulf was placed in the same situation, he would have instantly killed the man responsible for the murder. From the beginning of this epic poem, Beowulf is not loved as a child and is told he will never be a leader, thus giving him the motivation to become one of the greatest warriors ever. His only fear is failure, in battle and as a leader. He takes on such a large role as a warrior that his fellow countrymen do not see the need to ever prepare to fight because Beowulf is all the warrior they need. This ultimately results in much pain and struggle when Beowulf finds himself in need of assistance. Hamlet is as much of an introvert as Beowulf is an extrovert. Hamlet prefers to study instead of fight and learn over battle. Hamlet’s parents love him, but his mother is a shallow woman who marries his uncle solely to remain in a place of power. Horatio and Hamlet hold an odd relationship- Horatio is Hamlet’s servant, yet he is a close friend of Hamlet’s. There are many major events in both of these narratives, but one in each stands out. In Beowulf, at the beginning of the novel he is crowned king and viewed as the leader of all. This is a major event because it puts Beowulf in a position of undivided power which seems to eventually go to his head. Though he is an incredible leader, he believes that he does not and never will need any assistance, which ends up being fatal. In his final moments, Beowulf exclaims â€Å"To the everlasting Lord of All, to the King of Glory, I give thanks that I behold this treasure here in front of me, that I have been allowed to leave my people so well endowed on the day I die† (Beowulf, page 189). A major turning point in Hamlet is the scene where Hamlet speaks with his father’s ghost. Up until this point in the play, Hamlet seems at ease with his father’s death, but after he converses with the ghost he becomes ridden with revenge. This climax turns the entire context of the play from Hamlet wishing to attend school to Hamlet seeking revenge on his uncle which, similarly to Beowulf, leads to his death. Beowulf’s character is rather elaborate. At the beginning of the book, it is said â€Å"a boy-child was born to Shield, a cub in the yard, a comfort sent by God to the nation† (Beowulf, page 3). From the beginning, Beowulf is made out to be an undefeatable hero who will stop at nothing to protect his people from danger. It is easy to relate to Beowulf in the sense that he will always rise to people’s expectations and continue to exceed them, as supported by the text â€Å"then Halfdane’s son presented Beowulf with a gold standard as a victory gift†¦with customary grace bestowed upon Beowulf both sets of gifts† (Beowulf, page 69). But it eventually comes to a point where he simply cannot meet the expectations and is left dumbfounded. As Grendel’s mother returns to take her son’s claw, she is frightened as â€Å"The hell-dam was in panic, desperate to get out, in mortal terror the moment she was found, she had pounced and taken one of the retainers in a tight hold, then headed for the fen† (Beowulf, page 91). Even though the monster is scared and running away, Beowulf, simply out of pride, follows her to her home to battle. Hamlet has no leadership desire at the beginning of the play. He simply wants to study and learn while his dad rules the country. Then Claudius, his uncle, murders his dad and after an encounter with his father’s ghost, Hamlet’s personality changes; he becomes obsessed with restitution. This makes sense because anger is one of the strongest human emotions. It is an axiomatic emotion, referred to as â€Å"one of the seven deadly sins.† For Hamlet, this becomes a reality as getting revenge ultimately leads to his own death. A very popular quote, â€Å"More than kin, less than kind† (Hamlet, page 3) was originated in Hamlet when he mumbled it to his uncle, who becomes his stepfather. Beowulf and Hamlet, though composed by different authors and written in different forms, have struggles which parallel many in the world today. Both of the heroes are affected by emotions, the people around them, and the events that occur throughout each work. Beowulf lives in a very violent society where heinous violence is the norm; this compares to certain parts of the world today, such as the Mideast. He also exemplifies the good in good versus evil which most of the modern world still deals with today. Beowulf fought against monsters whereas people today fight against disease and terrorism. Hamlet’s obsession with revenge is not different from many living today. Although Christians are meant to forgive their neighbors, many find this difficult. We are supposed to learn from history, however, the past seems to repeat itself more often than not. Even though Hamlet and Beowulf live in different eras, their battles with violence, good versus evil, and revenge still hold true today.

The Harsh Reality Crime and Punishment Essay - 1926 Words

A paragon of realist literature, Fyodor Dostoevsky harshly exposes nihilism in his novel, Crime and Punishment, published in 1866. He wields his knowledge of social psychology and pathology to weave the cautionary tale, borrowing liberally from his personal life. Its protagonist, Rodion Raskolnikov, is intelligent yet bitter and unfeeling, embodying the qualities of nihilism, the desertion of one or more meaningful aspects of life. The philosophical doctrine of nihilism is historically ubiquitous, particularly with the Nihilist Movement, one of Imperial Russia’s Great Reforms, and the growing apostasy and atheism of postmodernity; both instances highlight the abandonment of virtue. Raskolnikov is an impoverished ex-student living in St.†¦show more content†¦Raskolnikov has many intrusive thoughts about murdering the miserable pawnbroker. After a close encounter with his landlady, he thinks, â€Å"I want to attempt a thing like that and am frightened by these trifles’† (Dostoevsky 2). This is one of several duplicitous ideas that pass through Raskolnikovs mind. He is contemplating the death of an innocent solely for her money - the obvious motive - but to prove his superiority to society, which he blames for his crippling poverty. Even theoretically, he is a nihilist: a mere consideration of killing requires some moral abandonment. His dangerous intrusive thoughts manifest in reality; he â€Å"pulled the axe quite out, swung it with both arms, brought the blunt side down on her head...the body fell back...she was dead† (Dostoevsky 69). In addition to Alyona Ivanovna, Raskolnikov kills Lisaveta, as she witnesses him standing near her sister’s mangled body. Raskolnikov believes that by committing the murder of the old woman, he is rightfully removing â€Å"a louse...a useless, loathsome, harmful creature† from society, a mentality of political nihilists (Dostoevsky 358). This also demonstrates utilitarianism - an ethical doctrine that states moral decisions should be founded upon the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. It is imperative to note that Raskolnikov is acting on supremely selfish impulses. Although he wishes to purge society of its ills and be a â€Å"benefactor ofShow MoreRelatedPhilosophy of Punishment: Deterrence General and Specific1084 Words   |  5 PagesPhilosophy of Punishment: Deterrence General and Specific Sentencing Model: Indeterminate Sentencing For the philosophy of punishment I chose deterrence, specifically because of the goals and benefit this philosophy. The deterrence punishment is divided in to two separate categories. First on is the general deterrence, the goal of general deterrence is to prevent non-offenders (those who’ve not committed a crime) from committing crimes by exposing non-offenders to the reality of theRead MoreGANG VIOLENCE AND HARSH PENALTIES1465 Words   |  6 Pages20 2014 Gang Violence and Harsh Penalties The presence of gang violence has plagued the United States for many years. Although it is more active in some parts of the country than others, gang violence affects every American: either monetarily as a taxpayer or directly as a victim. Regardless, it is a concern of every individual; therefore, the criminal justice system has been addressing it for years in different ways. 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Despite the harsh criticism of restorative justice, it has received judicial recognition in a number of cases recently. 2 Punishment Punishment is one of the most important features of the criminal process. Regardless of which punishment theory is being used, one must alwaysRead MoreThe Media And Its Effects On Society815 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"criminal† they will probably say it is a corrupt, unintelligent individual that has committed a horrible crime. According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, the word â€Å"criminal† is defined as â€Å"any person involved in illegal activity†. They are often portrayed in novels and movies as horrible and sometimes even inhumane creatures, but being labeled as a criminal could mean the individual has done a crime that was ethically wrong also. Once a person is labeled as a criminal they often face an onslaughtRead MoreNo More Excuses For Death Penalty Abolishment. Please Assume1532 Words   |  7 Pagesunbelievably becomes â€Å"Yes† when the topic changes to capital punishment. Over decades, advocates of death penalty persist that the à ¢â‚¬Å"an eye for an eye† rule is justice and have misperception it effectively deters crimes. However, according to the statistic and logical analysis, the death penalty should be eliminated as soon as possible, because it fails whether to be merciful to protect innocent people or to be harsh to deter crimes or as a suitable punishment. To Be Merciful The law is set up to protect theRead MoreJuveniles Treated Like Adults Essays1330 Words   |  6 PagesEveryday a vast number of brutal crimes occur somewhere in America. Teens as young as thirteen commit murder, rape, and burglary to an extent. What can be done about it? The best answer I can think of is to treat juveniles like adults. They have just as much responsibility and knowledge of their actions just as adults do, so they deserve the same punishment if they commit the same crime. Believe it or not, teens commit the same level of crimes that adults commit. Crimes will get even worse in the futureRead MoreDoes Punishment Deter Crime?1325 Words   |  6 PagesRunning head: EFFECTS OF PUNISHMENT Does Punishment Deter Crime? Does Punishment Deter Crime? During biblical times crime not only affected society, but it was believed to have also been directed towards God himself. The Bible is the oldest book to reference with many directives to living life peacefully and without revenge. As retribution is considered a form of punishment, if not the first, the Bible itself explains that the punishment should not exceed the crime. Matthew 5:38 statesRead MoreThe Deterrence Theory Vs. Deterrence853 Words   |  4 Pagesand losses before committing a crime and would more than likely to be deterred from violating the law they believed the loss was greater than the gain according to the deterrence theory. The deterrence theory is based on the belief that humans control their behavior based on the perceived rewards and punishments that would result from such actions. Which has led many theorists to believe that the proper to punish, a defiant act is by severe, certain, and swift punishment was the key to deterrence. TheRead MoreThe Det errence Theory : Deterrence And Punishment831 Words   |  4 Pagesperceived rewards and punishments that would result from such actions. The theorists believed the severe, certain, and swift punishment was the key to deterrence. A rational person is thought to measure both the gains and losses before committing a crime and would more than likely to be deterred from violating the law, they believed the loss was greater than the gain. Classical philosophers thought that certainty was more efficient in preventing crimes than the severity of punishment. They rejected capital