Democracy An American Novel - 2141 Words

A work of fiction, Democracy: An American Novel, is a novel in which Henry Adams skillfully addresses many social commentaries through satire and interesting characters. This novel can simply be described as a political love story. The main character, Mrs. Madeline Lightfoot Lee, originally leads her life as a â€Å"private philanthropist, amateur philosopher, and socialite† in New York (Adams v). After her husband and child died she lost her â€Å"taste for New York society† and everything that was in it (Adams 14). Eventually she became tired of her life in New York and decided to go to Washington D.C. to see what life had to offer her. The book has many parallels to Henry Adam’s own life. For example, when Mrs. Lee moved to Washington she lived on Lafayette Square, as did Henry Adams (â€Å"Washington, D.C.†). Madeline Lee is the kind of character who loves power, and she knew exactly where to look. Aside from finding out what exactly lay at the center of democracy and government, she wanted to see â€Å"the clash of interests, the interests of forty millions of people and a whole continent, centering at Washington; guided, restrained, controlled, or unrestrained and uncontrollable, by men of ordinary mould; the tremendous forces of government, and the machinery of society at work. What she wanted was POWER† (Adams 18). She was not the only one to travel to Washington, however. Madeline’s sister, Miss. Sybil Ross, came along with her. The two would much rather describe themselves asShow MoreRelatedDemocracy An American Novel, by Henry Adams Essay956 Words   |  4 PagesIn the late 1800’s, Henry Adams wrote Democracy An American Novel, in which he portrayed Washington society through the eyes of a wealthy young widow, Mrs. Madeline Lee, who is looking for the basis of American governmental power. In her search for the basis of power, Mrs. Lee encounters many facets of Washington society, such as the types of people who control the government. The novel moves beyond a simple plot and story and includes portrayals of the basic Washington types of people, WashingtonRead MoreFalse Truths, Life, Liberty, And The Pursuit Of Happiness1538 Words   |  7 Pages The motto and the foundation of American democracy. If life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are the key to a long and stable governing power, then, would non-vitality, imprisonment, and censorship do the same? George Orwell’s, 1984, a bleak, yet compelling novel answers this question. In this dystopian version of 1984, asides from discos and neon leggings, Oceania, a mega-continent, is ruled by the omnipotent force called the Party. As told in the novel, the government, itself, is builtRead MoreFeminists, Abolitionists, and Democracy Essay736 Words   |  3 PagesFeminists, Abolitionists, and Democracy The framework of America’s government was forged in the spirit of democracy. The founding fathers envisioned a nation of free and equal persons and a country where everyone had a voice in the decision-making process. However, it soon became evident that not all people had a voice or even equal rights. Two groups excluded from government were women and African-Americans. These groups rose up to declare their rights to equality and freedom under the law. TheRead MoreSatire In Herman Melvilles Moby Dick1239 Words   |  5 PagesSatire in Herman Melville’s Moby Dick Herman Melville’s Moby Dick is a parting from the traditional conception of the Anglo-European novel in underlying the idea of the self as opposed to society, or, the human being in contrast to the universe. Many of Melville’s themes are typical of American Romanticism: the â€Å"isolated self† and the difficulty of self-revelation, the imperfections of human knowledge, the contrast between immorality and virtue, and the pursuit of the truth. Although Melville intendedRead MoreThe Dangers of a Totalitarian Dictatorship1671 Words   |  7 Pagescommunistic country, many Americans feared Communism because of the influence that it had in America. Many intellectuals supported Communism in the U.S. which led to more concern within the country. The communistic threat presented by the Soviets in the war led to the spread of Communism within the U.S. It was a fear that many Americans spoke out against in attempt to save the American society. George Orwell spoke out against it in 1949 by warning people in his novel 1984 that the spread of CommunismRead MoreLord Of The Flies By William Golding1540 Words   |  7 Pagesdictatorship greatly limited the liberties of its people. This era created lasting views of the concept of â€Å"good versus evil†. British author William Golding wrote his novel, Lord of the Flies, during this time and it reflects this uneasy atmosphere. The character development, along with the carefully chosen symbolism of the novel suggests that Golding wrote Lord of the Flies as an allegory to the people and events of the Cold War, but also to present his future predictions for the Cold War; bothRead More The Dangers of a Totalitarian Dictatorship Essay1637 Words   |  7 Pagesa communistic country, many Americans feared Communism because of the influence that it had in America. Many intellectuals supported Communism in the U.S. which led to more concern within the country. The communistic threat presented by the Sov iets in the war led to the spread of Communism within the U.S. It was a fear that many Americans spoke out against in attempt to save the American society. George Orwell spoke out against it in 1949 by warning people in his novel 1984 that the spread of CommunismRead MoreThe Impact of Sir Walter Scott on American Literature722 Words   |  3 Pagesup to the American Civil War, Sir Walter Scott made a lasting impact on American literature. His romantic style was wildly popular, especially in the southern states. Most of the nations views on the war at the time were highly romanticized as a result. However, there was nothing romantic about this war. Once soldiers witnessed the horrors of war, many of their romantic views were changed forever. One such soldier was Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain. The themes of American literatureRead MoreAnalysis Of The Novel Chesnutt Uses Mixed Race Characters 1675 Words   |  7 PagesIn the novel, Chesnutt uses mixed race characters, w hich have both black and white ancestors and these characters display the conflicts between black and white societies. Within the novel, Janet Miller is the best example of a mixed race character. Janet’s father was from the white aristocracy, while her mother was a slave and a servant. Janet is emotionally hurt because she doesn t receive the same affection like white half-sister. She views herself as black and submits to the segregation of theRead MoreRealism In Huck Finn Essay876 Words   |  4 PagesEuropean, and American Literature in the nineteenth century (9). The key principles of this literary style are the insistence upon and defence of the â€Å"commonplace†, characters being more important than plot, attacks upon romanticism and romantic writers, an emphasis on morality, which is often self-realized and upon an examination of realism, and the concept of realism as a realization of democracy. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn , written by Mark Twain, is a perfect archetype of a novel written in

The Democratic Alliance and the Future of South Africa

Good morning. As a representative and leader in the Democratic Alliance, I have come here today to explain to you why the DA sees a brighter and more opportune future for South Africa. However, we need your support in order to change our country into a nation of hope and for our dream of everyone to live in peace and prosperity to become a reality. To understand our manifesto and views, one needs to understand that the DA does not place people in a position of power according to their race, name or wealth, but rather their talents and efforts. This country cannot move forward without change, and as it stands the unemployment rates and the ever increasing problems are being put aside by the current government for personal ventures such as Nkandla that is surrounded by houses without running water. But dwelling on the negatives and current failures is not our objective. I am here to vie and let you decide that we are working towards a brighter future. it is understandable that people are worried that if they do not vote for the current government that the circumstances of apartheid and a dark past will reappear, but it can be assured that the DA are working towards changing the past and aim for a country that has equal opportunities for all. Our work is evident in the Western Cape where we govern and 76% of the provincial governments budget is spent on poor communities. The Western Capes unemployment rate is the lowest in the country, 12% lower than anywhere else in SouthShow MoreRelated The Role of External Pressure in the Fight Against Apartheid and Minority Rule in South Africa1583 Words   |  7 PagesThe Role of External Pressure in the Fight Against Apartheid and Minority Rule in South Africa External pressure played a very important part in bringing about the end of the apartheid. The embodied rejection of White domination in South Africa, in formations of protests, strikes and demonstrations caused a decade of turbulent mass action in resistance to the imposition of still harsher forms of segregation and oppression. The Defiance Campaign of 1952 carried mass mobilisationRead MoreA better South Africa for the new South Africa Essay625 Words   |  3 PagesA better South Africa for the new South Africa The Apartheid struggle is not an anecdote about a few black people that lived under a suppressive government; it is a story about millions of black people who suffered tremendously under the oppressive classification system of the National Party. It is a story about bloodshed, suffering and tears. It is a story that serves as a painful reminder of the extent that a group of people would go to ensure that the purity of their race was conserved. The ApartheidRead MoreSouth Afric A Nation Of Diversity933 Words   |  4 PagesSouth Africa is located in Southern Africa, it stretches along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans. South Africa is ranked the 25th largest country in the world by land area and 25th most populated nation. South Africa is the only nation-state named after its geographic location. After the establishment of a constitutional nonracial democracy in 1994, there was an agreement signed not to change its name. It is a nation of diversity. South Africa has 49.32-mi llion people and a variety of culturesRead MoreCome Visit South Africa1217 Words   |  5 Pages South Africa, which is the southernmost country on the African continent, is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on its west coast and by the Indian Ocean on both south and east coasts. It is renowned for its varied geography, extreme natural beauty, and cultural diversity. All of those attributes make it a desirable destination for travelers. Its neighbors are Namibia in the northwest, Zimbabwe and Botswana in the north, and Mozambique and Swaziland in the northeast. The kingdom of Lesotho forms anRead MoreInterpersonal Cross-Cultural Competencies And Capabilities1376 Words   |  6 Pagescross-cultural competencies and capabilities are critical to the US Army’s strategic objective in the future operating environment. The operational environment requires a holistic view of political, military, economic, social, information, and infrastructure systems. A country’s culture can be defined as a programming of the mind that distinguishes the members of a region or nation fro m another. South Africa has a rich and complex culture and history of its own since its independence from Britain nearlyRead MorePolitical Ideologies2403 Words   |  10 Pagespolitical actions. Its central features are an account of existing power relationships, a model of a desired future, and an outline of how political change can and should be brought about. (2007: 68) This essays main focus will be discussing the main ideologies and focuses of the two leading political parties of South Africa. The African National Congress or ANC and the Democratic Alliance also known as DA. An important insight into both their ideology will be gained by analysing how both partiesRead MoreApartheid and The Future of South Africa in Cry, The Beloved Country1044 Words   |  5 PagesArthur, Napoleon, and Msimangu, all characters from Alan Paton’s book, Cry, The Beloved Country, are used to share Paton’s points of view on the future of South Africa and the apartheid. Paton uses these characters to represent specific views; Arthur expresses clearly that the apartheid isn’t the right way to progress as a country, Napoleon exemplifies how Paton thinks people should take the anti-apartheid effort, and Msimangu explicitly expresses Paton’s ideas of an ideal leader. 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In the book â€Å"Hardball: How Politics is Played† written by Chris Mathews explains what it takes to get ahead in politics and how to avoid disasters techniques previously used by others. â€Å"It’s not who you know; it’s who you get to know.† Forming alliances is very important when trying to climb the ladder higher in politics. In 1949 LBJ joined the senate and by the end of 1952 he had won the job of top Democratic leader. Before anythingRead MoreThe Global Economic and Political Implications of the South African 2014 General Elections1164 Words   |  5 Pagesyear for South Africa. The first elections after the death of South African ex-president Nelson Mandela will take place and after twenty years of democracy, the world will be watching us again. The world holds much interest in the economy and politics of South Africa as was discussed in Appendix A and Appendix B and it is safe to assume that the world is a stakeholder in the politics and economy of South Africa. The purpose of this essay is to explore the world’s stake in South Africa, its nature

Gender differences1 Essay Example For Students

Gender differences1 Essay What are the differences between boys and girls? How different are they, andwhat causes thses differences? How is gender identity developed and how doesit affect childrens behavior and attitudes? Gender identity is the awareness ofones gender and all it implies (Human Development *text*, 286). Genderdifferences are explained as psychological or behavioral differences betweenboth genders. There are many theories to how and why gender differences exist. Some people argue that circumcision at birth is a factor, others say thedifferences are greatly influenced by the human brain. Recent studies show thatthere are great specific differences found in both the male and female brain. Next, on one side people claim that evolution and biology is what makes usdifferent, and the other side, people plea that there is a lot more variation to thegender roles. They say that society influences our reaction to the biologicalcourse. Finally, today some sex differences are considered to be of social ori gin. Whatever the case may be, many experiments have been conducted, andalthough some differences are more obvious than others, boys and girls are moreIt has been presented, with evidence, that circumcision of male infantscauses behavioral changes. Gender differences instead, may be the outcome ofthe alter behavior of circumcised males. There are two studies which goals wereto examine the consequences and behavior of circumcision.In 1971 it wasconcluded that circumcision was followed by non-rapid eye movement sleep(NREM). The amount of NREM increased and the number of NREM sleepperiods increased. In 1974, after circumcision it was found prolongedwakefullness with crying during hours immediately after the procedure. Fromthe results of these studies it can be concluded that circumcision does haveeffects on infant behavior. However, the clarification must be awaited. Anotherside to this issue is the thought that the difference in men and womens brainscauses the actual differences betwe en men and women. During an annualmeeting in Toronto in 1999, it was stated that men have more neurons in thecerebral cortex, the outer layer of the brain , and women have more neuropil,and that has the processes allowing cell communication. Males have moretightly packed and more numerous nerve cells than females. This research mayshow why women are more prone to dementing illness than are men. Althoughthese variations cause differences in how the brain works, neither type is said toBecause there are similar gender roles in various cultures its suggestedthat gender differences may be biologically based. By the time a child reachesthe age of 5, boys brains are close to 10 percent bigger than girls brains. Boyshave more gray matter in the cerebral cortex; this difference may be why girlshave greater neuronal density in the cerebral cortex. Evidence shows that sizedifferences in the corpus callosum are related to verbal fluency. Since girls havegreater corpus callosum than boys, that m y help explain why girls have betterverbal skills. Another approach to this issue is the psychoanalytic approach. Freud and others considered identification an important personalitydevelopment of early childhood. Freud believes that identification will happenwhen young children repress their wishes to posses their parent of the oppositesex and identifies with their parent of the same sex. Evidence from researchshows that gender identification is a result of gender typing. Gender typing isthe socialization process where children learn their appropriate gender roles. Next, the cognitive approach. This is where the child comes to understand hisor her gender by thinking about their experience. This was presented byLawrence Kohlbergs cognitive-developmental theory. Here, Kohlberg statesthat children do their own gender typing. Their behavior is then organized byFinally, the socialization approach. This is where children learn their genderroles by socialization with their peers, hence the name socialization approach. Here, gender development is the result of interacting influences, personal andsocial. This process starts at infancy even before a conscious understanding ofgender is formed. As children regulate their activities, standards ofgender-related behavior become internalized (Human Development *text*, 292). .uca221fcdc6a3b0a0a5d9ce7dec5de9ab , .uca221fcdc6a3b0a0a5d9ce7dec5de9ab .postImageUrl , .uca221fcdc6a3b0a0a5d9ce7dec5de9ab .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uca221fcdc6a3b0a0a5d9ce7dec5de9ab , .uca221fcdc6a3b0a0a5d9ce7dec5de9ab:hover , .uca221fcdc6a3b0a0a5d9ce7dec5de9ab:visited , .uca221fcdc6a3b0a0a5d9ce7dec5de9ab:active { border:0!important; } .uca221fcdc6a3b0a0a5d9ce7dec5de9ab .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uca221fcdc6a3b0a0a5d9ce7dec5de9ab { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uca221fcdc6a3b0a0a5d9ce7dec5de9ab:active , .uca221fcdc6a3b0a0a5d9ce7dec5de9ab:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uca221fcdc6a3b0a0a5d9ce7dec5de9ab .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uca221fcdc6a3b0a0a5d9ce7dec5de9ab .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uca221fcdc6a3b0a0a5d9ce7dec5de9ab .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uca221fcdc6a3b0a0a5d9ce7dec5de9ab .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uca221fcdc6a3b0a0a5d9ce7dec5de9ab:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uca221fcdc6a3b0a0a5d9ce7dec5de9ab .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uca221fcdc6a3b0a0a5d9ce7dec5de9ab .uca221fcdc6a3b0a0a5d9ce7dec5de9ab-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uca221fcdc6a3b0a0a5d9ce7dec5de9ab:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Armenian Genocide Essay This approach is also where parent and media influence fits. For example,parents express their discomfort when their children do things according to theopposite of their sex. Such as when boys play with their moms shoes, or whengirls play with trucks. This is shown more by the fathers about their sons,probably because girls have more freedom than boys with the clothes they wear,games they play and their friends. Also,