Pride and Revenge in “The Cask of Amontillado” - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1256 Downloads: 8 Date added: 2019/04/02 Category Society Essay Level High school Topics: Revenge Essay Did you like this example? Pride can be defined as an unreasonably corrupt sense of ones self-worth, status or accomplishments. Often times when individuals have excessive pride, they grow arrogant; this can lead to detrimental circumstances as seen in The Cask of Amontillado by American writer Edgar Allan Poe. The plot of the short story is established upon an alleged insult from Fortunato to Montresors name. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Pride and Revenge in â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado†" essay for you Create order Montresor plans the perfect murder in effort to restore his family honor. The intense pride of both men, and Fortunatos thirst for vengeance leads them to their inevitable death by means of Fortunatos brutal murder and the decease of Montresors morality. As Montresor takes readers through the eerie catacombs towards Fortunatos death, he personifies the darker aspects of the human subconscious. He battles with rationality and irrationality of his psyche, as he sporadically hesitates then quickly recovers from his moments of conscience. From the beginning of the story, Poe portrayed Montresor as an individual whom is not mentally stable. Poe begins the narrative: The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge (331). It is reasonable to expect Montresor to describe the insult adequately for as to justify his horrific murder of Fortunato. Contrary to reason, Montresor does not provide evidence of such insults, implying that he does not even recall them. Nevertheless, he was adamant on inflicting harm on Fortunato for the said humiliation he felt. Although Montresor attempts to convince the reader his pre-meditated murder is righteous, he accomplishes the opposite. He is evidently blinded by revenge and does not reflect upon the possible consequences of his actions. Despite his thinking that murdering Fortunato to fulfil the family motto will ease his anxieties, his horrific act only serves as a stepping stone to his path of self-destruction. In plotting his perfect murder, Montresor sets few conditions for Fortunatos vengeance. The text states, A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong (Poe 331). Montresor wishes to exact revenge without facing any consequences or punishment for it. He believes his actions are justified and even noble, as he does so in respect to his family motto: No one insults me with impunity (Poe 333). His belief can be paralleled to him being the arm of God, as he sees himself as eliminating evil. If he receives punishment due to his apparently justified murder, the initial wrong-doing is not denounced. He also conditions that Fortunato must know the identity of his killer, as to allow for Montresors authority and intelligence to be asserted. Knowing that Fortunato is aware that Montresor is his murderer, Montresor gains the satisfaction of proving him to be smarter and better than Fortunato. Evidently, the motive of murder is envy and jealousy, which Montresor exercises by proving to Fortunato that he will trick him into falling into a death trap. Pride is a theme widely represented throughout the story. Montresor entices Fortunato by playing on his pride, as he is well aware that Fortunatos weakness is his connoisseurship in wine. Montresor tempts Fortunato with a said cask of Amontillado to lead him into his own tomb. The devious Montresor plans to exploit his so-called friends vulnerabilities as he manipulatively smiles in his face. Due to his arrogance, Fortunato believes he is more discerning than Luchresi, another local wine enthusiast. As they venture deeper into the catacombs, they simultaneously venture onto a moral decent. Montresor ill-intentionally insists on returning for the sake of Fortunatos health, only for Fortunato to promptly dismiss him: Let us go, nevertheless. The cold is merely nothing. Amontillado! You have been imposed upon. And as for Luchresi, he cannot distinguish Sherry from Amontillado (Poe 332). Montresors seeming persistence on returning is very calculated. Fortunato comes to realize Montresors repeated implores to return, his refusal to oblige due to his ego, and conclude that it was his own pride that lead him to his death. Montresor uses reverse psychology to exploit Fortunatos biggest flaw, so much so that Fortunato seems to ruin himself. As the plot continues, the two friends journey deeper into the vaults and further represent the darker aspects of the human psyche. Montresor follows Fortunato at his heels, as though he is his shadow, into his imminent crypt, implying their merging into one. Finally securing him in the niche, Montresor begins to vigorously build the masonry. Placing layer after layer, Montresor feels little to no remorse for his action, still attempting to assert his dominance. Poe writes, I replied to the yells of him who clamored. I re-echoed, I aided, I surpassed them in volume and in strength (335). His echoing of Fortunatos screams further illustrates their fuse into one. Montresors referring of Fortunato as him who clamored strips him of his identity and the name that was once celebrated. Montresor loses his humanity as he nears the final act of revenge while Fortunato is dehumanized by Montresor. Driven by conceit, Montresor is very adamant and insists on declaring that he is indeed superior to Fortunato, even in his last moments. Despite what seems customary to Montresors character, he shows slight indications of guilt, though quick to dismiss them. The first suggestion of guilt is shown when Montresor is placing the last stone in the wall. The text states, I struggled with its weight; I placed it partially in its destined position (Poe 335). His struggling with the weight of the final stone is exceedingly representative of his guilt. As he struggled with the physical weight of the stone, he concurrently struggled with the psychological weight of the circumstances. Similarly, placing the stone only somewhat into its destined place is symbolic of his ongoing struggle with guilt. His slight hesitance to place the final stone illustrates that Montresor does not really want to murder Fortunato, but his family motto and arms inspire him to pursue his mission. As Montresor forces the stone in its final place, he simultaneously forces himself into a position that will induce lifelong guilt. As the plot comes to an end, Montresor further illustrates his remorse. However, he immediately dismisses his slight thrust of conscience. After discovering that Fortunato was certainly dead, guilt crept through Montresors psyche. Poe writes, My heart grew sick; it was the dampness of the catacombs that made it so (336). Montresor acknowledges the sickness instilled in his heart but denies its connection to the murder. He has a brief moment of guilt and possible pity for his dear friend Fortunato, though he does not want to admit he feels anything, so he promptly blames it on the catacombs. Throughout the story, Montresor proves himself as an expert of human psychology as he uses his knowledge to deceive Fortunato. Despite his expertise, he does not seem to use it to his advantage, as he is no longer possesses a human psyche at the closing of the story. In conclusion, Montresor evidently loses his humanity throughout the story due to his excessive pride. He is a man who genuinely cares of his familys honor and is willing to go to great lengths to restore its name. For this reason, which he perceives as incredibly defensible, he decides to murder Fortunato by manipulation. Similarly, Fortunatos arrogance also led to his demise as he was exceedingly anxious of his reputation as a wine connoisseur. The themes of revenge and pride are widely present throughout the story and are demonstrated through the actions of the characters.

Covert The Changing Face Of Racism - 2138 Words

From Overt to Covert: The Changing Face of Racism in America Society at its very core is destined to change,to be molded by the people that thrive within it. Over time, the values and beliefs of culture and society are grown, fractured and altered. Social issues are abundant in every society, their degree varying as the intensity of bigotry and prejudice do within any given community. Countries like China, Italy, or Japan are very homogeneous in terms of ethnicity, language, and culture. The American public is, on the other hand, often described as a melting pot of disparate cultures, ethnicities, melanin densities, sizes, and beliefs. The country itself was founded on immigration, and so the mingling of different ancestry is something that would only be expected. Bigotry and prejudice were pressing and impassioned issues in the past, but a concerning pattern forms once the fights are over. Once the disadvantaged make a step forward, once they are able to get one hand up on the socio economic ladder, the people in power tend to see all the issues that they have faced being solved, when in actuality the issues are deep and complex, unable to be â€Å"solved† by any one particular event. Social issues run deeply, and the occurrence of a single victory does not come even remotely close to solving any issue as a whole. Political and social issues often tend to be oversimplified in order to allow the public to check a box on the issue during a voting period. This tactic ends up makingShow MoreRelatedRacism Without Racists Essay1059 Words   |  5 PagesOver the years, the face of racism has taken on many forms. In present day America, racism is a very taboo subject. It a common view that racism is not a big issue anymore, given the large strides that we, as a country have made towards equality. However, the inequalities that still exist between races point to a different situation. Instead of the blatantly discriminatory acts that our nation has witnessed in the past, modern racism practices are more covert and seemingly nonracial, making thisRead MoreWhy Is Institutional Racism so Important to Our Understanding of Racial Inequalities in Britain Today?4297 Words   |  18 PagesWhy is institutional racism so important to our understanding of racial inequalities in Britain today? The Commission for Racial Equality has stated that institutional racism involves a process by which a range of public and private bodies systemically discriminate against people of ethnic minorities. Sivanandan, the director at the Institute of Race Relations defines institutional racism as that which, covertly or overtly, resides in the policies, procedures, operations and culture of public orRead MoreEssay about The Cuban Missile Crisis2116 Words   |  9 Pagesthem as different stages of one single revolution. Unique social aspects that needed changing marked each stage of the Cuban revolution. Cuba ¡Ã‚ ¦s landowning aristocracy (Ranchers, coffee and sugar planters) initiated the wars of independence (from Spain) in 1868 and 1895. They opposed Spain ¡Ã‚ ¦s political control and mercantilist economic policies. Although JosƒÕ Marti addressed questions internal to Cuba, such as racism and the need for a new national cultural culture and identity, the first and secondRead MoreRacial Disparities Of The United States Justice System3104 Words   |  13 Pagesfelony charges, making it harder to access counsel and effectively defend themselves in court (Nellis et al., 2008). There is the ongoing professional and public debate regarding whether these discrepancies are a representation of explicit systematic racism as opposed to more legitimate treatment of African Americans and other minorities who are punished more punitively because of their association with higher crime rates, past convictions, and other legally applicable reasons. This paper will exploreRead MoreExploring the Reasons for the Underachievement of Ethnic Minority Children8167 Words   |  33 Pagesthrough the same ‘curriculum 2000’ set by New Labour and every child sits the same exams up to the age of 16. So why are there marked differences in educational attainment for ethnic minority students? My main aim is to find out if racism is the main cause of the gap between different ethnic groups in education, which can lead to some ethnic minority groups being over represented in low-status, low paid jobs. My investigation will look at the different explanationsRead MoreSocial Determinants of Health10939 Words   |  44 Pagesgovernment policies, and the struggle for recognition. Indigenous identity and meanings of belonging in country, community and family are also briefly covered. Contemporary issues confronting Indigenous people are included, with particular attention to racism. ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER POPULATIONS The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimated that in 2006 there were 517,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in Australia. Overall, Indigenous people make up 2.5% of theRead MoreMarginalisation of Ethnic Minorities in Contemporary Media Essay2833 Words   |  12 Pagesraised. It might not be rising but just be more focused on by the media. The social world does involve struggles between ideologies and there are challenges to current social organisations. But the media has an important role to play. Racism in European football has always been present but wasnt reported until certain football players and managers spoke out about it. This created media frenzy. On October 4th 2002 Marcus Bent, a forward for English first division side Ipswich Read Morerhetorical analysis of obamas political speeches5660 Words   |  23 PagesCritical Discourse Analysis of Obamas Political Discourse Juraj Horvà ¡th Abstract This paper examines the persuasive strategies of President Obamas public speaking as well as the covert ideology of the same, enshrined in his inaugural address. Our analysis is grounded in Norman Faircloughs assumptions in critical discourse analysis, claiming that ideologies reside in texts that it is not possible to read off ideologies from texts and that texts are open to diverse interpretationsRead MoreUtilising A Wide Range Of Sources Critically Evaluate And Discuss The Following Statement2753 Words   |  12 Pagesis perceived as dangerousness in order to explain how dangerousness could be socially constructed. Dangerousness has been a construct that society has worried about for a long time. However, what it means to be perceived as being dangerous is ever changing. Although it is uncertain as to when the concept of dangerousness began, it can be dated back to biblical times when it was thought to have been dangerous to be a Christian (Harrison, 2011:3); worshipping anyone other than the emperor was seen asRead MoreA Comparison Between Booker T. Washington (19th century) and Martin Luther King Jr. (20th century)5383 Words   |  22 Pagesdisfranchisement of black voters. As black suffrage decreased nonetheless around the turn of the century, Washington struggled to keep a modicum of black influence and patronage in the Republican party in the South. From 1908 to 1911 he played a major, though covert, role in the successful effort to get the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a harsh Alabama peonage law under which Alonzo Bailey, a black Alabama farmer, had been convicted. 1. DISSENT: Lawful Rights Booker T. Washingtons methods included speeches

Corporate Governance Internal and External Mechanisms

Question: Discuss about the case study Corporate Governance for Internal and External Mechanisms. Answer: Purpose Corporate Governance is defined as the system to monitor and balance both the internal and external mechanisms of a company and ensures the proper discharge of responsibility and accountability of all the stakeholders. The objective of corporate governance is to safeguard the interest of these shareholders through strategic direction and appointment of a capable management in order to achieve the desired outcomes. (Denis 2016). Recommendations In order to ensure proper facilitation of corporate governance, Mr. Bob East and Andrea Staines should act in a socially responsible way to diversify the stakeholders. They are expected to diversify the business of Australian Tourism Company and set benchmarks for other such corporations. The directors are expected to prevent the company from any form of insider trading. The directors must carry out their duties in an independent manner and take necessary actions to inform the company about the various operations through proper communication. The directors are also responsible to prepare the financial statement which should be in accordance with AASB standards. The new appointees of the board should also ensure to support legitimacy of Australian Tourism to preserve the relation with the customers and the financial investors (Tricker 2015). Conclusion The directors can also decide to employ specialist to get support in exercising special functions. Mr. Bob East and Andrea Staines should make sure to link the executive compensation with the respective performance of the employees of the Australian tourism corporation. They should posses the adequate knowledge of the various types of the corporation acts stated under Australian tourism company, statutory duties and the knowledge of the operation of the operations committees. Reference List Denis, D.K., 2016. Corporate Governance and the Goal of the Firm: In Defense of Shareholder Wealth Maximization. Forthcoming in the Financial Review. Tricker, B., 2015. Corporate governance: Principles, policies, and practices. Oxford University Press, USA.

Effect of War on Civilians and Soldiers Essay Example For Students

Effect of War on Civilians and Soldiers Essay Abstract War is an ever present, controversial part of human society. With its pros and cons, pro-war and anti-war can both easily be debated. This report will examine the positive and negative effects to get a more open view of war. This topic is relevant with the current civil conflict occurring in Syria. The question that will be answered is whether war is more beneficial or detrimental. Through research, it is difficult to conclude whether war was a positive aspect of society, as it helps achieve goals, resolve conflict and advance technology. But, based on personal beliefs and extensive esearch of both the negative and positive effects of war on societies and individuals, it was concluded that war is detrimental. This means that societies should be inclined to avoid armed conflict, and search for alternatives. Key Words War, veterans, effect on soldiers, effect on civilians, post traumatic stress disorder, benefits of war, negative effects of war, civilian abuse, economy, disaster. Effects of War on Soldiers and Civilians War and violence have been a part of the world for as long as civilization can be traced back. In the past war was used primarily to gain and protect territory, but easons have expanded to include catalysts such as the economy and national power and pride. The long-term effects of war can be positive, for example stopping Hitlers Nazi Germany model from expanding further than it already had, but is it worth the deaths, injuries and psychological trauma caused by those fghting the war? Often forgotten in the war are the innocent civilians affected. These civilians may face less long lasting negative effects, and these could potentially be used to help diffuse the current tension in Syria (van Gelder). Although war can have benefits, these enefits are overshadowed by the tremendous negative effects on soldiers and civilians. The Good War Can Bring War has continuously been present in human society; this is because it frequently works towards a goal. In early Roman society, war was found to help countries become and stay more powerful. The Civil War helped abolish slaver and World Wars One and Two were both successful in stopping Germany and their allies. Also, WWII helped the world arise from its severe depression. Armed conflict is often sparked by a country demanding more freedom, and this freedom has successfully been granted time and time again. Within countries, war can also achieve greater minority rights. Underprivileged minority groups who have contributed to war efforts have been rewarded with expanded rights (Saldin). From the battlefields, war also has been known to bring medical and technological advances to the world. For example, Roman societies first started creating road systems for the purpose of war. Throughout different wars, modern weaponry such as tanks, drones and fighter Jets were created during wartimes, although these do not assist peaceful societies. Some technological developments have been brought back from war and have changed ociety, including advances in automobiles, air traffic control and even sanitary napkins (Sohn). The wars have also brought medical advances to regular society. Specifically, the civil war brought advances such as the influence to ambulances, pain management, and anesthesia (Sohn). In later wars, medical advancements like blood transfusions and antibiotics were manufactured. These wartime advancements could have been made in times of peace, they were made sooner because of war. There is no denying that war has had some positive effect on the world, but the negatives are far greater. These negative effects are reflected on the soldiers who fght in the wars. Effect on Those Who Fight Soldiers are revered by their countries for the nobility of fighting for their country. Most people comprehend the atrocities that occur during war, but few understand the difficulties soldiers face when it is over. What are Savings Bonds? EssayThe world often turns a blind eye to the misfortunes of civilians. The worst cases of this were present in World War Two, with European Jews and to a lesser extent, Asian immigrants in North America. Civilians cannot simply be looked at as bystanders to wars, as they are targeted and can face horrible fates. The chemical attack on civilians of Syria exhibits that civilians are targeted as leverage in conflict. This conflict has the rest of the world contemplating entering an armed conflict. There are alternatives to military strikes Syria though, including those listed in a Yes! Magazine article. These are the alternatives listed to prevent a war in Syria: bringing those guilty of atrocities to Justice, calling a UN embargo on arms and movements in Syria, provide humanitarian aid, and force the hand of Russia and China in security (van Gelder). It would definitely take more than one of these alternatives to completely solve the Syrian issues, but it would be beneficial. These lternatives could result in some violence, but they would be much better than a full scale war for the world, especially the Syrian civilians. The horrible effects of war on civilians are a reason why war is detrimental. Conclusion War can help society reach goals including freedom and Justice, and proves successful at initiating medical and technological advances which society can use. Despite its positive outcomes, war has drastically negative psychological and physical effects on soldiers and civilians. The war continues to recur for these people after being scarred by its events. In the past, war has prevented atrocities and worked to achieve goals and unite societies, but there are less disastrous alternatives to armed conflict. War has its benefits, but these benefits are highly outweighed by the negative effects armed conflict has on soldiers and civilians affected by war, directly and indirectly. Armed conflict is neither necessary nor beneficial for society. Implications If armed conflict continues to play a role in society, the world will see disastrous effects. With increasingly horrific weapons being manufactured, the negative effects are being seen on people, and the surrounding environment. As these weapons become more harmful, more environmental and human destruction will be observed throughout the world. The effects of the WWII atomic bombs were seen in the deformities of Japans children and wildlife for generations, and could be seen to be much worse if wars persist. War could potentially destroy civilization as a whole. War will also result in more deaths, and more troubled veterans. Society can donate to funds for veterans, war relief and petition against war. With enough support war could be stopped completely References Hochgesang, Josh, et. al. (1999). The Psychological Effects of the Vietnam War. Retrieved October 13, 2013 from http://www. stanford. du/class/e297c/war_peace/ media/hpsych. html Marshall, Monty G. (2001) Measuring the Societal Impact of War. Retrieved October 14, 2013 from http://www. systemicpeace. org/lPAmgm. pdf Saldin, Robert P. (2011) Strange Bedfellows: War and Minority Rights. Retrieved October 14, 2013 from http://www. worldaffairs]ournal. org/article/strange-bedfellows- war-and-minority-rights Sohn, Emily. (2012) How The Civil War Changed Modern Medi cine. Retrieved November 1, 2013 from http://news. discovery. om/history/us-history/civil-war- modern-medicine-110331 . tm Van Gelder, Sarah. (2013) Syria: Six Alternatives to Military Strike Retrieved October 26,2013 from http://www. yesmagazine. org/peace-]ustice/syria-six-alternatives-to- military-strikes http://lethbridgeherald. com/commentary/opinions/2013/10/vetera ns-deserve-fair- treatment/ Veterans Employment Challenges, Prudential. Retrieved October 23, 2013 from http://www. prudential. com/documents/publicNeteransEmploymentChallenges. pdf Woman and Children Worst. Economist. Retrieved October 15, 2013 from http:// www. economist. com/node/13145799