Grapes of Wrath Essay: Steinbecks Political Beliefs -- Grapes Wrath e

The Grapes of Wrath and Steinbeck's Political Beliefs      Ã‚   Steinbeck's relationship to the transcendentalists [Emerson, Thoreau, and Whitman] was pointed out soon after The Grapes of Wrath appeared by Frederick I. Carpenter, and as the thirties fade into history, Jim Casy with his idea of the holiness of all men and the unreality of sin seems less a product of his own narrowly doctrinaire age than a latter-day wanderer from the green village of Concord to the dry plains of the West.    Although Steinbeck argues for collective action to achieve specific goals, only the most unperceptive critics continue to argue that he is a collectivist in either philosophy or politics. Throughout his work he decries the mindless indoctrination of the totalitarians and maintains that only through reflection upon his bitter experience can learn the value of acting in concert with others for the relief of emergency conditions -- like the flood at the end of The Grapes of Wrath -- so that the individual may subsequently be free to realize his own potentialities. Nothing better illustrates Steinbeck's concept of social organization than the pictures in Chapter Seventeen of The Grapes of Wrath of the world that is created each night a people come together, and disappears the next morning when they separate.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In reference to the government camps in The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck never suggests that these camps should offer more than temporary relief during emergencies; he never suggests that the government should provide work for the people. We must recall, too, the camp manager's comment that the people in the camp had taken his job away from him by assuming responsibilities for self-government. Steinbeck's approval ... ... the question: How can any form of government avoid playing a continual role in the shaping of people's lives, whether directly or indirectly?      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Simply to prove that Steinbeck was not a socialist, a rather easy task these days thanks to the work of Steinbeck scholars in the 60s and 70s, does not mean that he was a conservative bastion of American individualism and an opponent of "big government." Such a portrait of Steinbeck is as inaccurate as the socialist portrait French and Lisca exposed.       Works Consulted French, Warren. A Companion to The Grapes of Wrath. New York: The Viking Press, 1963. Hawgood, John A. America's Western Frontiers. New York: Alfred P. Knopf, 1967. Jones, Evan. The Plains States. New York: Time Life Books, 1968. Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: The Sun Dial Press, 1939.      

127 Hours The Movie

After watching and studying the film, reflect on a defining moment in your life. We often talk about character epiphanies (realizations). Use one or two of Ralston’s quotes as a springboard for your own personal reflection. Write out a response and video tape it. Due Tuesday, October 22nd as well as Journal. (Personal Response Rubric – Thoughts and Ideas/Presentation) Quotes from Aron Ralston novel, Between a Rock and a Hard Place â€Å"It's me. I chose this. I chose all of this — this rock has been waiting for me my entire life. I’ve been moving towards it my whole life.† â€Å"Saying farewell is also a bold and powerful beginning.†You'll never find your limits until you've gone too far.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"How would I behave in a situation that caused me to summon the essence of my character? The tragedy inspired me to test myself. I wanted to reveal to myself who I was: the kind of person who died, or the kind of person who overcame circumstances to help himself and others†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Indeed, it has affirmed my belief that our purpose as spiritual beings is to  follow our bliss, seek our passions, and live our lives as inspirations to each other.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Like looking through a telescope into the Milky Way and wondering if we're alone in the universe, it made me realize with the glaring clarity of desert light how scarce and delicate life is, how insignificant we are compared with the forces of nature and the dimensions of space. (†¦) We are not grand because we are at the top of the food chain or because we can alter our environment – the environment will outlast us with its unfathomable forces and unyielding powers. But rather than be bound and defeated by our insignificance, we are bold because we exercise our will anyway, despite the ephemeral and delicate presence we have in this desert, on this planet, in this universe.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents, which, in prosperous circumstances, would have lain dormant. -Horace†Ã¢â‚¬Å"dum spiro, spero -Part of the official state motto of South Carolina. Literally, â€Å"While I breathe, I hope† Or more loosely, â€Å"Where there is life, there is hope.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"That boulder did what it was there to do. Boulders fall. That’s their nature. It did the only natural thing it could do. It was set up, but it was waiting for you. Without you coming along and pulling it, it would still be stuck where it had been for who knows how long. You did this, Aron. You created it. You chose to come here today; you chose to do this descent into the slot canyon by yourself. You chose not to tell anyone where you were going. You chose to turn away from the women who were there to keep you from getting in this trouble.You created this accident. You wanted it to be like this. You have been heading for this situation for a long time. Look how far you came to find this spot. It’s not that you’re getting what you deserve – you’re getting what you wanted.† ― Aron RalstonBetween a Rock and a Hard Place

Being Born As An Arab Minority - 903 Words

Hope Being born as an Arab minority in Nazareth, Israel made me experience different events and feelings in at an early age that I will never forget forget until this day. Every time I would go for a trip outside Nazareth to a near non-Arab cities with my school I would feel the tension and the specious eyes on me and my classmates as if we did something wrong, because we spoke little Hebrew due to our age and Hebrew being our second language and Arabic is the first language. Therefore, communicating with the people in those cities was a bit challenging to a fifth grader child, such as, buying food to eat lunch, asking where the restroom is, etc. I still remember this event as if it was yesterday; my class went to a trip with the school to a water park that is located in Haifa city that is located in northern Israel. I went with my friend to one of the waterslides and as we were waiting in line, we were talking in Arabic and the children behind us were speaking Hebrew. All the sudden they started imitating the way we spoke and laughed then they pushed us. I did not know at that time what we did wrong to be treated like that and why none of the adults that whiteness how the other children made fun of us and pushed us did anything to stop them from treating us that way. Even though the lifeguard saw what happened, but did absolutely nothing to prevent the children from hurting us. Days have passed and I began to understand how things are going around me as a minorityShow MoreRelatedRacial Discrimination Against Minorities And Immigrants1090 Words   |  5 Pagesbuild a better life. Some immigrants bring their families. Others come alone with nothing but determination. Racial discrimination against minorities and immigrants is an underlying problem here in America today. Racism is seen in our daily lives when people are discriminated against because of their race and ethnicity. 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The Process Of The Declaration Of Independence - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 574 Downloads: 4 Date added: 2019/04/26 Category History Essay Level High school Tags: Declaration of Independence Essay Did you like this example? The Declaration of Independence which was adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776 can be considered as one of the most important document in terms of American history.Because this document proclaimed that Thirteen Colonies were not under British rule any more.Thanks to this statement , colonies united against England and they announced their independence. The process leading up to The Declaration of Independence did not emerge sudden.Many events such as restrictions and rebellions etc. pushed the colonists to a point where they wanted to fight for their independence. Political and economic interference of England and the impact of ?Common Sense ? on the society affected the development of The Declaration of Indipendence. One cause of development of The Declaration of the Independence was political interference of England. Because , first American colonies were established mostly by people who escaped religious pressure of England. These peopl e wanted to have freedom not only about their religious belief but also in their social life.The number of colonies increased and they progressed in time, nonetheless they were still governed by the England.The British government let the colonists govern themselves with little interference until 1760s. 1760s could be thought as a turning point because England increased s interferences in order to maintains control over colonies with strict precautions and various laws.Colonist began to worry about these laws and they felt as these laws threatened their right to govern themselves.The more interferences increased , the more conflicts increased between England and colonists. Consequently ,these disagreements created the idea of seperation from England gradually. Second cause was economic interferences of England.In 1756 a war broke out between Great Britain and France.Great Britain sended troops in order to help American colonies to fight in the war.When war ended ,Engl and needed money to pay its war debts.That is why, The British Parliament decided to tax the American colonies to help pay for the cost of war. They passed a number of laws such as the Sugar Act, Currency Act, and the Stamp Act.Many colonists felt that they had not to pay these taxts , because they were passed by British Parliament not by their colonial governments.Moreover, they had no representative on British Parliament.Colonists protests created a motto No Taxation Without Representation. . Trade restriction laws developed the process of The Declaration of Independence. Third cause was impact of Common Sens on society. Common Sense was a pamphlet which was written by Thomas Paine in the plain and persuasive language in order to be undersood by every people in the society. Thomas Paine writed it in order to encourage the people in the colonies about separation from England.In his pamphlet ,not only critized the British Government but also he explained disadvantages o f being connected with England . He emphasized importance of indipendence and he expained why it was wrong regard as Great Britain as Mother Country.Although there was opposite ideas in the society about separation, pamphlet was adopted by the colonists and united them against England in a little while. Common Sense improved the need of independence. To sum up , the independence process took time.Multiple causes brought about The Declaration of Independence. Political and economic interferences caused various protests. Since colonist began to worry about their rights.Moreover, ?Common Sense influenced the colonists and united them under the common purpose.The idea of independence developed and on July 4, 1776 Declaration of Independence proclaimed. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The Process Of The Declaration Of Independence" essay for you Create order The Process Of The Declaration Of Independence - Free Essay Example Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 621 Downloads: 4 Date added: 2019/04/26 Category History Essay Level High school Tags: Declaration of Independence Essay Did you like this example? The Declaration of Independence which was adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776 can be thought as the birth of the United States. Since, Thirteen Colonies not only revealed their main purpose about American Revolutionary War but also they proclaimed their independence. The process leading up to The Declaration of Independence did not emerge overnight.Many years and various events led to colonist fight for their independence. Political interference of Britain , economic laws and the impact of ?Common Sense ? on the society affected the development of The Declaration of Indipendence. One cause which affecteds emergence of The Declaration of the Independence was political interference of Great Britain. Because,first American colonies were established mostly by people who migrated from Britain in order to be more free. The number of colonies increased and they progressed in time, nonetheless they were still governed by the England.The British go vernment let the colonists govern themselves with little interference until 1760s. 1760s could be thought as a turning point because mother country gained vast territory from France after the Seven Years War .However,London officals had no experience managing the territory as vast as acquired from France.That is why England increased s interferences in order to maintains control over colonies with strict precautions and various laws..Colonist began to worry about these laws and they felt as these laws threatened their right to govern themselves. The more political interferences caused the more conflicts between England and colonists .Consequently , these conflicts created the idea of seperation from mother country step by step. Second cause was economic laws.After the Seven Years War Great Britain wideneds borders in the New World.Nevertheless, during the war Britain sended troops in order to help American colonies to fight in the war. When war ended ,England needed mo ney to pay its war debts.That is why, The British Parliament decided to tax the American colonies to help pay for the cost of war. They passed a number of laws such as the Sugar Act and the Stamp Act.While British Parliament believed that they had right to tax colonies because they supported them during the war , many colonists felt that they had not to pay these taxts.Because these laws were passed by British Parliament not by their colonial governments. Moreover, they had no representative on British Parliament to defend their rights.Colonists protests created a motto No Taxation Without Representation. . Trade restriction laws and taxts developed the process of The Declaration of Independence. Third cause was impact of ?Common Sense ? on society. Common Sense was a pamphlet which was written by Thomas Paine in the plain and persuasive language in order to be undersood by every people in the society. Thomas Paine writed it in order to encourage the people in the colonies about separation from England.In his pamphlet ,not only critized the British Government but also he explained disadvantages of being connected with England . He emphasized importance of indipendence and he expained why it was wrong regard as Great Britain as Mother Country.Although there was opposite ideas in the society about separation, pamphlet was adopted by the colonists and united them against England in a little while. Common Sense improved the need of independence. To sum up , the independence process took time and developed step by step.Multiple causes led to the birth of United States. Political interferences and ecoomic laws caused various problems between Mother Country Britain and colonists.Because they had different politic and economic ideology. ?Common Sense emphasized on these diffrences that is why united the colonists under the common purpose.On July 4, 1776 Declaration of Independence proclaimed and it underlined their aim during the American War of Independence. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The Process Of The Declaration Of Independence" essay for you Create order

Human Trafficking And Its Aspects - 3369 Words

Human Trafficking and its Aspects Mariah Crawford English 2020 Mr. Vern Mehr Fall 2014 Imagine being called and offered a job opportunity in another state or perhaps another country. The employer promises you better housing, twice your current salary, and even offers to pay for your commute. Without thinking, you accept because the possibilities seem endless and unreal. You arrive to your new home but things don’t look as great as they were described and suddenly your new kind, charismatic boss seems to be more on the malicious side. He tells you that you cannot go anywhere besides work, takes all your sources of communication, and locks you inside your home. You ultimately realize that everything he previously promised you was†¦show more content†¦Today human trafficking is a 32 billion dollar industry and the 3rd largest organized crime worldwide (â€Å"Human Trafficking†). It is estimated that 600,000 to 800,000 victims are trafficked across international borders worldwide and half of them are under age 18 (â€Å"Human Trafficking Into and Wi thin the United States†). Methods used by human traffickers are constantly evolving, along with the understanding of this crime among law enforcement and anti-trafficking activists. The most common characteristic of human trafficking is forced criminality. Traffickers force adults and children to commit crimes in the course of their victimization, including theft, drug production and sale, prostitution, terrorism, organ harvesting and murder (Kerry). Most trafficking cases are national or regional. Local criminal networks capture the victims and sell them to different criminal networks worldwide. Europe has the largest number of diversity in race among those trafficked; while those from Asia are transported to a greater range of different areas (Tully). It is not only trafficking from Southeast Asia into other parts of Asia or into Western Europe, nor is it only from Latin America to North America. Though a lot of exploitation occurs within the United States and African countries, it also occurs in small countries too (Tully). The United States has served as a hot spot for trafficked persons, with

The Forbidden Game The Hunter Chapter 7 Free Essays

â€Å"Cypress eyes and sun-glowing skin †¦ and your hair’s like liquid amber. Why do you wear it back like that?† â€Å"Because Tom likes it,† Jenny said reflexively, her standard response. â€Å"Look, what did you mean-â€Å" He shook his head, clicking his tongue. We will write a custom essay sample on The Forbidden Game: The Hunter Chapter 7 or any similar topic only for you Order Now â€Å"May I?† he said politely, straightening up. His tone was so normal, so solicitous, that Jenny nodded automatically. She was still intent on her question. â€Å"What did you-no, don’t.† He had pulled the elastic band out of her ponytail. Jenny felt her hair fall about her neck, and then his fingers were in it. An almost imperceptible shudder went through Jenny. â€Å"Don’t,† she said again. She didn’t know how to deal with this situation. He wasn’t being rough. He still looked solicitous and friendly. It didn’t seem appropriate to hit him in the gut as Dee had taught her to do with guys that annoyed her. â€Å"Beautiful,† he murmured. His touch was as light as the soft pat of a cat’s paw, and his voice was like black velvet. â€Å"Don’t you like it?† â€Å"No,† Jenny said, but she could feel the heat in her face. She was backed against the wall now. She didn’t know how to get away from him-and the worst thing was that her body didn’t seem sure it wanted to. His cool fingers moved against her warm hair roots, and she felt a trembling thrill. â€Å"Have I told you about your mouth?† he said. â€Å"No? It’s soft. Short upper lip, full lower. Just about perfect, except that it’s usually a little wistful. There’s something you want, Jenny, that you’re not getting.† â€Å"I have to go now,† Jenny said in a rush. Her standard stuck-with-a-jerk-at-a-party response. She was so confused she didn’t care if it didn’t make sense here. â€Å"You don’t have to go anywhere.† He seemed unable to take his eyes away from her face for a second. Jenny had never held anyone’s gaze for this long-and she had never even dreamed of eyes like his. â€Å"I could show you what it is you’ve been wanting,† he said. â€Å"Will you let me? Let me show you, Jenny.† His voice seemed to steal the bones from her body. She was aware of shaking her head slightly, as much in response to the new feelings as to his question. She didn’t know what was happening to her. Tom’s touch made her feel safe, but this-this made her feel weak inside, as if her stomach were falling. â€Å"Let me show you,† he said again, so softly she could barely hear him. His fingers were so gentle as they laced in her hair, urging her to tilt her face up toward him. His lips were bare inches from hers. Jenny felt herself flowing toward him. â€Å"Oh, stop,† she said. â€Å"Stop.† â€Å"Do you really want me to?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"All right.† To her astonishment, he stepped back, fingers trailing out of her hair. Jenny could still feel them. I almost kissed him, she thought. Not the other way around. In another minute I would have. Tom. Oh, Tom. â€Å"Why are you doing this?† she said, her eyes filling again. He sighed. â€Å"I told you. I fell in love with you. I didn’t do it on purpose.† â€Å"But we’re so different,† Jenny whispered. She was still feeling weak at the knees. â€Å"Why should you-want me? Why?† He looked at her, head tilted slightly, quizzically. â€Å"Don’t you know?† His eyes moved to her lips. â€Å"Light to darkness, Jenny. Darkness to light. It’s always been that way.† â€Å"I don’t know what you’re talking about.† And she didn’t. She wouldn’t let herself understand it. â€Å"Suppose the devil was just quietly minding his own business-when he saw a girl. A girl who made him forget everything. There’ve been other girls more beautiful, of course-but this girl had something. A goodness, a sweetness about her. An innocence. Something simple he wanted.† â€Å"To destroy it.† â€Å"No, no. To cherish it. To warm his cold heart. Even a poor devil can dream, can’t he?† â€Å"You’re trying to trick me.† â€Å"Am I?† There was something oddly serious in his blue eyes. â€Å"I won’t listen to you. You can’t make me listen.† â€Å"True.† For just an instant Julian looked tired. Then he gave his strange half smile. â€Å"Then there’s no choice but to keep playing, is there? No choice for either of us.† â€Å"Julian-â€Å" â€Å"What?† Jenny caught herself up short, shaking her head. He was crazy. But one thing she believed, he really was in love with her. She knew, somehow, that it was true. She also knew something else about him-she’d known it since that instant when she’d looked into his eyes and seen the ancient shadows there. She’d known it when he’d humiliated Tom and terrorized Dee. He was evil. Cruel, capricious, and dangerous as a cobra. A prince of darkness. Completely evil-and completely in love with her. How was she supposed to reconcile that? â€Å"If you want me so much,† she said, â€Å"why don’t you just take me, then? Why go through all this with the Game? You could grab me anytime-why don’t you just do it?† His heavy lashes drooped again. In that instant he looked exactly like the boy in the More Games store. Almost vulnerable-almost human. Realization came to Jenny. â€Å"Because you can’t,† she breathed. â€Å"You can’t, can you? You can’t do just anything you want to, not even here.† His eyes flashed up, glittering like a snake’s. Jenny saw pure violence there. â€Å"This is my world. I make the rules here-â€Å" â€Å"No.† Giddy triumph was swelling through Jenny, an effervescent rush. â€Å"Not this one. That’s why you asked if you could touch my hair. That’s why you tried to make me kiss you. You can’t do it without my permission.† â€Å"Be careful, Jenny,† he said. His face was cold and cruel. Jenny just laughed excitedly. â€Å"If you can kiss me against my will, then prove it,† she said. â€Å"Show me-do it now.† And then she added an Italian phrase she’d picked up from Audrey. â€Å"Come osi!† It meant I dare you. He didn’t move. Jenny laughed again. â€Å"I don’t think you understand,† he said. â€Å"I’m going to have you, at any cost. Any cost, Jenny, even if you have to suffer on the way. If I can’t force you, I’ll persuade you-and I can be very persuasive.† Jenny felt some of the triumph fold up inside her. â€Å"Remember where you are, Jenny. Whose territory you’re on. Remember what I can do in the Game.† Jenny was completely sober now. â€Å"You challenged me-now I suppose I’ll have to show you what I am capable of.† â€Å"I don’t care what you do to me.† â€Å"Maybe it won’t be to you. See your friend there? She’s playing the Game, too.† He was looking down the hallway, in the same direction Jenny had been going. Barely visible under a far candle was the copper glint of someone’s hair. Jenny drew in her breath. â€Å"Don’t you dare-† Turning back to speak to him, Jenny broke off. Julian was gone. She was alone. Jenny bit her lip. It was infuriating to talk to somebody who could do that, and she was beginning to think it hadn’t been a very good idea to laugh at him. Nothing to be done about it now. â€Å"Audrey!† she called and started down the hall. Audrey’s skin, usually pale as magnolia blossoms, was touched with a golden glow from the candles, and her auburn hair flashed copper. She and Jenny hugged, and Jenny thought only Audrey could stay so calm, so chic, in such awful circumstances. â€Å"You look as if any minute you’re going to be demanding to see your ambassador,† Jenny said. â€Å"If Daddy were here he’d take care of things,† Audrey agreed. â€Å"He’d come out of retirement to take on this place on. Are you all right? You look a little flushed.† Jenny put a hand to her cheek self-consciously. â€Å"It’s the light,† she said. â€Å"Uh, how long have you been here? I mean, did you see me-before I called?† â€Å"No. I’d been looking and looking-for anybody, but all I’ve seen is this interminable hallway.† â€Å"Good. I mean-it’s good that I found you. The only other person I’ve seen is Dee. She’s back there, and she’s just been through hell. And you’re next, if I’m right about the way this works. I’ll explain as we go.† The explanation, about how they were all scattered, about finding doors in the nightmares, about the dawn time limit and about how things in the nightmares could hurt you, took until they found Dee. They did find Dee, to Jenny’s relief, standing beside a door. â€Å"I thought I’d better guard it to make sure it didn’t go anywhere,† she said after a perfunctory nod at Audrey. Audrey had only one question. â€Å"Is he Nordic, that guy? They’re supposed to be sexy as all get-out.† Jenny ignored this. â€Å"Since the doors move, how do we know this isn’t one of the two we opened before?† â€Å"We don’t,† Dee said and flashed The Smile. Dee’s wild, leaping beauty always annoyed Audrey. â€Å"Of course, it doesn’t have a key like the first one, but I guess we’d better get in monster position again. Anything could be inside.† She and Jenny did, ready to kick the door shut fast. Audrey’s eyebrows lifted into her spiky bangs. â€Å"No, thank you, she said politely. Not in a fitted linen skirt. Listen, you two, why are we doing this at all? Why don’t we just sit down and refuse to play?† â€Å"Didn’t you listen to me before?† Jenny said. â€Å"If we’re still here by dawn, we stay for good. We lose automatically.† â€Å"I’ve never lost anything by default,† Dee said. Then she said, â€Å"Now.† Behind the door there was a forest. Cool wind blew out, ruffling Jenny’s loose hair against her cheek. It smelled like summer camp. â€Å"God,† said Jenny. â€Å"Well, come on,† Audrey said, flicking her perfectly polished nails in a gesture of readiness. â€Å"We might as well get it over with.† â€Å"It’s too weird,† Jenny said as they stepped inside -outside. â€Å"Dee’s bedroom was a room, at least. But this†¦Ã¢â‚¬  They were on the outskirts of a dark forest on a sloping hill. Above them the night sky was strewn with stars much bigger and brighter than the ones Jenny usually saw from her Vista Grande backyard. A moon of pure silver was rising. The door had slammed and disappeared, of course, as soon as they stepped through. Behind Jenny were meadows and pastures; before her a tangled mass of pitch-black trunks and bushes. The girls were alone on the hill in the moonlight. â€Å"Now what?† Audrey said, shivering fastidiously. â€Å"Don’t you know? It’s your nightmare-you drew it.† â€Å"I drew a picture of me opening the Bloomies catalog and finding it blank,† Audrey said. â€Å"That’s my worst nightmare. Don’t look at me that way-shopping is cheaper than therapy.† And that was all she would say about it. There were a few scattered lights in the valley below them. â€Å"But it’s too far to hike,† Jenny said, â€Å"and even if we did get down there, I don’t think that there would really be any people.† Audrey looked at her strangely, but Dee nodded. â€Å"It feels like one of those model-train landscapes -or like a stage set,† she said. â€Å"False fronts. You’re right, I don’t think we’d find little houses with people in them down there. Which means-â€Å" They faced the forest bleakly. â€Å"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?† Jenny asked. â€Å"Come on,† Dee said. â€Å"Let’s make it happen.† The forest looked solid, but with Dee in the lead they found a way into it. It was mostly pine and fir trees, with the occasional beech shining silvery gray against the darkness of the background. â€Å"Oh, my God,† Audrey said after they’d been walking some time. â€Å"High ground, evergreen trees, rocks-I know where we are now. It’s the Black Forest.† â€Å"Sounds like something from a story,† Jenny muttered, picking her way through the undergrowth. â€Å"It’s a real place. I saw it when I was eight, when Daddy was at the German embassy. It-scared me a little, because it was the forest, you know.† Dee threw a derisive glance over her shoulder. â€Å"The forest?† â€Å"The forest where everything happened-where the Grimm brothers got all their fairy tales. You know, snow white. Hansel and Gretel. Little Red Riding-Hood and the-â€Å" Audrey stopped in midsentence. In front of her, Dee had stopped, too. Jenny’s knees locked. Just ahead of them in the tangled blackness, yellow eyes glowed. Jenny even imagined she could see moonlight gleaming off sharp teeth. All three girls stood very still. Seconds passed and the yellow eyes remained motionless. Then they seemed to shift to a different angle so that one went out. Both flashed toward the girls again, then both went out. Jenny heard underbrush crunching. The sound got fainter. It faded into a profound silence in which Jenny could hear her heart beating strong and very fast in her chest. Jenny let out her breath. Dee’s shoulders heaved slightly. She reached down and picked up a long stick almost as thick as her own slim wrist. She settled it in her hand, waggling it, testing her grip. It made a good weapon. â€Å"-and the Wolf,† said Audrey, her voice suspiciously calm. She tucked stray wisps of hair into her French twist, her lips tight. The three of them looked at one another, then started walking again. What else was there to do? â€Å"It was strange, that wolf coming just when you were talking about one,† Dee said. â€Å"Unless-† Jenny stopped dead. â€Å"Wait,† she said. Something had fallen into place with an almost audible click. â€Å"Let me think a minute†¦ yes. It wasn’t strange at all that the wolf came when Audrey was talking about it. Don’t you see? He’s taking it all from our own minds.† â€Å"Who?† Audrey said, her well-bred nostrils flared. â€Å"Who do you think? Julian. The Shadow Man. He’s creating the Game around us-or we’re doing it-but either way it’s made up of our own thoughts. That hallway back in the house is the hallway from the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland. It always scared me as a kid-so it came from my mind. And the door in the UFO was like a plane door I’d seen.† Dee’s eyes flashed like a jaguar’s. â€Å"And the parlor-I saw a lamp like that once in Jamestown. I wondered what it was doing here.† â€Å"Everything-every detail-is coming from us,† Jenny said. â€Å"Not just big things but little things. He’s using our minds against us.† â€Å"So what’s going to happen next?† Dee asked Audrey. â€Å"You’re the one who should know what scares you most. I mean, should we be on the lookout for walking trees or little hooded men or what? Or was that wolf it?† â€Å"I was only eight when I lived here,† Audrey said coldly. â€Å"And, no, I don’t remember specifically which story †¦ disturbed me †¦ most. I had a German nurse, and she told me all of them.† She and Dee glared at each other. â€Å"We could run into something from any of our minds,† Jenny said, to make peace. â€Å"Anything could happen here. You can feel it.† She knew in her heart that it was going to be something worse than the wolf. Something more un-mundane. Audrey didn’t like anything supernatural, so it followed that whatever happened was going to be very. Remember, it’s all a dream, she told herself. But she could hear Julian’s voice in her mind: â€Å"I can tell you right off that one of you probably won’t make it.† They walked. Underbrush clutched at Jenny’s skirt like little fingers. The fragrance of evergreens surrounded them like a thousand Christmas trees. All Jenny could see was darkness and the endless tangle of forest ahead. Her nerves stretched and stretched. They literally stumbled on the clearing. One large tree grew there-a yew, Jenny thought. It stood in front of a great jumble of rocks and boulders that looked as if they might have been left by a glacier. The tree had rough bark, dark green needles, and red berries. Gathered around it was a group of young men in weird clothes. They were wearing pants and long over-tunics of leather trimmed with fur, very old-fashioned looking. Their arms were bare and muscular. The ground beside the tree had been cleared and a circle drawn on it. Inside the circle a fire burned, and red light glinted off daggers and what looked like drinking horns. The whole area was decorated with flowers. â€Å"It’s some kind of secret ceremony,† Dee whispered. â€Å"And we’re spying on it,† she added with considerable relish. â€Å"They’re certainly good-looking,† Audrey murmured. They were. Jenny counted seven of them, four with blond hair and three with blondish-brown. They looked as if they were in their late teens or early twenties, and if what they were doing was secret, they weren’t bothering to be quiet about it. Jenny could hear laughter and boisterous singing. Good grief, it’s like a fraternity party, she thought. Even this far away she could smell the beer. â€Å"I think,† said Audrey, â€Å"I’m Beginning to like this Game.† She stepped out before Jenny could stop her. The singing fell silent. Seven faces turned toward the girls. Then one of the German boys lifted a drinking horn over his head, and all the rest cheered. They all seemed surprised but delighted to see the girls. White, even teeth flashed in friendly smiles, and they bundled the visitors over to the warmth of the fire. Audrey’s bare legs caused a lot of appreciative comment, as did Dee’s spandex leggings. â€Å"No-no, thanks,† Jenny said as one of them tried to get her to drink the stuff in his horn. The horn had angular symbols carved on it that made her nervous somehow-they reminded her of something. â€Å"Audrey, what are they saying?† â€Å"I can’t catch it all. It’s not like the German I learned,† Audrey said. Seated between two admirers, her cool porcelain beauty contrasted with her flirtatious lashes. â€Å"I think it must be archaic. But that one is saying that you’re like Sif. It’s a compliment-Sif was a goddess with shining golden hair.† â€Å"Oh, give me a break!† Dee backed up to sit on a rock. There was an instant stirring among the German boys. Several pulled Dee away from the rock pile, shaking their heads. Dee barely allowed them to move her, not at all placated by the way they marveled over her dark skin. And she only snorted when one offered her a garland of flowers to wear. â€Å"Oh, put it on,† Jenny said, flicking a small bug out of her own wreath. She was starting to enjoy this. The young men were nice, even if they did smell a bit like sweat, they were about the most strapping youths she’d ever seen, but several of them had braids in their hair, and they didn’t seem to think weaving garlands was sissy. â€Å"It’s a ceremony to greet the spring,† Audrey said as one of the blonds cried, â€Å"Ostara!† and poured beer on the ground. â€Å"Ostara’s the goddess of spring-that’s where we get ‘Easter.'† The young men began to chant. â€Å"It’s something about life being renewed,† Audrey said. â€Å"There’s something else-something I can’t quite make out. They’re †¦ asking? Petitioning?† All the German boys were on their feet by now, urging the girls to rise. They were facing the huge pile of boulders. â€Å"Dokkalfar,† they chanted. â€Å"That’s dark-something. I don’t-oh, my God.† Audrey’s voice changed completely. She tried to pull away from the circle, but two of the German boys grabbed her. â€Å"Dark elves,† she said wildly. â€Å"That’s what they’re saying. They came here to ask favors from the elves-and we’re the yielding.† Jenny had never heard Audrey’s voice like that before-bordering on hysteria. â€Å"The what?† she demanded. Suddenly the white, even smiles around her didn’t look so friendly. â€Å"The gift to the Otherworld. The sacrifice!† Audrey cried. She was trying to get away again, but it was no good. We’re outnumbered more than two to one, Jenny thought. And they’ve all got muscles. She looked at Dee-and felt shock ripple over her. Dee was laughing. Snickering, actually. Chortling. â€Å"Elves?† she gasped. â€Å"Little pixies in bluebells? Little guys who sit on acorns?† â€Å"No, you idiot,† Audrey said through her teeth. â€Å"Dark elves-Outdwellers. Oh, you don’t understand-â€Å" Jenny heard rock scraping. One of the huge stones in front of her was moving. It swung out slowly, pushing a ridge of dirt along in front of it. A black, gaping hole was revealed in the pile. A tunnel leading down. Dee’s laughter was dying-but it was too late. The girls were pushed forward into the hole. Jenny tried to turn, but her Capezio flats slithered on dust and grit, and she felt herself falling. How to cite The Forbidden Game: The Hunter Chapter 7, Essay examples

Origins of human sexuality Essay Example For Students

Origins of human sexuality Essay In their book Homicide, Martin Daly and Margo Wilson put forth a theory that challenges human societies common notion of human sexuality. They do this in an attempt to bring about a better understanding of homicide and male aggressiveness. According to Daly and Wilson, males instigate the overwhelming majority of dangerous altercations and they contend that this is due to status competition. Status competition is the idea that males must aggressively compete for sexual access to females in order to pass on their genes. Daily and Wilson cite the work of Charles Darwin, who in 1859 published a famous work on the theory of natural selection. J. Bateman to strengthen their arguments for the idea of status competition. Batemans research focused on lab experiments done on Drosophila or fruit flies. The experiments consisted of taking fruit flies with distinct genetic markers and placing them in jars. It was made sure that each jar contained an equal number of males and females. The jars were then put under observation. Bateman noticed that there was a difference when he compared the reproductive success of the females to the success of the males. According to Batemans research a female fruit fly could expect to have about 60 to 80 offspring regardless of the number of male fruit flies she copulated with. However the reproductive success of a male fruit fly depended on the number of females it had mated with. Those who copulated with one female produced about 40 young, those who copulated with two produced about 80, and so forth. Bateman also notes the difference each sex of fruit fly could expect to produce-females could expect to have about the same amount of offspring, whereas some males had a great number of offspring (far above average) while others failed to produce at all. In general males had a much wider range of potential offspring and therefore the males had potential for great success or complete failure. These finding prompted Bateman to conclude selection would produce tactics of male mating competition, as well as an undiscriminatory eagerness in the males and a discriminatory passivity in the females. Daly and Wilson claim that the conclusions made by Batman on fruit flies reproductive condition also hold true for Homo sapiens. According to Daly and Wilson, human females have a lower maximum number of offspring they can produce when compared to males. Females also have a much smaller range of mating outcomes when compared to males. Daly and Wilson cite the work of Robert Trivers to corroborate this idea. According to Trivers, the key to understanding the difference between male and female fruit flies, as well as humans, is by determining the amount of parental investment given by either sex. According to the their theory females make the largest parental investment and consequently can not expect to increase her chances of passing on her genes by mating indiscreetly. Women typically must invest time in pregnancy as well as feeding the child (Female fruit flies investment comes in the form of producing eggs). Whereas a male increases his chances of passing on his genes with each female he mates with, due to his relatively small parental investment. Because male success is determined by the amount of access he has to females, males must compete for access to females much more than females must compete for access to males. This competition, according to the theory, makes the winners win bigger, .