The impact of the Industrial Revolution

The impact of the Industrial Revolution This investigation examines the effects of the Industrial Revolution from years 1780 to 1840 on the laissez-faire attitude of the British government. This investigation focuses on how the Industrial Revolution benefited from the existence of the laissez-faire attitude in Great Britain during the late 18th century and then contributed to its demise by the mid-19th century. This investigation highlights why the hands-off approach and the lack of government involvement and oversight in economic development helped the explosive growth of industry. It only focuses on Great Britain, which is considered the Industrial Revolutions birthplace, not other European countries nor the United States. The researcher will use various printed texts and internet sources as evidence to address this investigation. In this investigation, two sources are evaluated. The Silent Revolution: The Industrial Revolution in England as a Source of Cultural Change written by John Walter Osborne and The First Industrial Revolution written by Phyllis M. Deane are two sources assessed with their origins, purposes, values, and limitations. B. Summary of Evidence From medieval times there had been strict regulation in Britain on wages, employment, training (apprenticeship), industrial location, prices, and commerce. By the mid-17th century, these regulations were difficult for the government to enforce due to new industries and expanded trade.  [1]  Therefore, the restrictions were ineffective and suspended. For more than a hundred years before the Industrial Revolution, the State was in retreat from the economic field.  [2]  There was the fact that a large number of restrictions on economic activity and on the free-flow of trade were reduced or removed.  [3]   Prior to the Industrial Revolution, governments were primarily structured to keep peace at home and to defend the country against foreign enemies. The function of government was administration, not legislation.  [4]  The central government administration in Britain was small compared to modern standards. As late as 1833 the Home Office employed only 30 persons and the Board and Trade, 20. So limited were its activities that the central government consisted mainly of customs officials and excise menà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ And nothing was as yet done on a national level concerning health, education, or poor relief.  [5]   Adam Smith, a Scottish economist in the mid-late 1700s, strongly opposed any government interference in business affairs. He and his followers heavily influenced the adaptation of laissez-faire government and used the doctrine of the invisible hand to justify free trade. Trade restrictions, minimum wage laws, and product regulation were all viewed as detrimental to a nations economic health.  [6]  The philosophy of laissez-faire, the view that the business of government was to leave things alone, and adopted whole-heartedly the view that the unrestricted operation of private enterprise was the most effective way of securing the maximum rate of economic growth.  [7]   The triumph of laissez-faire in the 19th century is the retreat from protectionism and the adoption of a free trade policy.  [8]  Due to limited government regulation and intervention, innovation was accelerated. In England, factory owners had access to the natural resources necessary for the mass production of goods and a willing workforce. Employers were able to offer low wages for long hours because of the sizable poor population.  [9]   In the 1830s and 1840s, and still more in the 1850s, the State was steadily taking responsibility for wider and wider control of private enterprise in the interest of society as a whole.  [10]  Even though the laissez-faire attitude of the British government which took hold in the mid-18th century spurred the growth of the industrial revolution, it was the revolution itself which brought the laissez-faire movement to an end. The industrial revolution changed every aspect of society in Britain. Migration from small rural villages to urban cities took place. Living conditions were poor for the working class and their newly concentrated population increased awareness of their struggles. Prior to this urbanization of the population, society was not focused on the health and welfare of the general population. Around this time, the appeal of ethics and moral philosophy began to take hold.  [11]  With this new focus, pressure was put on the government to address the issues of the po or. This caused the government to get involved and no longer allowed for a hands-off policy. The decline of laissez-faire attitudes, corruption in government, growth of political parties, public opinion, and increased efficiency of legislative activity were in varying degrees caused by industrialism. C. Evaluation of Sources The First Industrial Revolution written by Phyllis Deane published in 1980 provides useful insight for the historian into the role of the British government during the British Industrial Revolution. Phyllis Deane is a professor of economic history at the University of Cambridge and a fellow of Newnham College who references many other historians in her work. The sources purpose is to describe how the British government functioned throughout the Industrial Revolution and how it took on the philosophy of laissez-faire. This books values are that it allows for a thorough understanding of how the British government removed many restrictions on economic activity to go along with its laissez-faire attitude. It also references Adam Smith and the beginning of the laissez-faire ideology stating how the business of government is to leave things alone. However, a limitation to this source is that the authors references are limited to writings from the twentieth century and do not include works from the Industrial Revolution time period. The Silent Revolution: The Industrial Revolution in England as a Source of Cultural Change written by John Walter Osborne, published in 1970, is another beneficial source for the historian. John W. Osborne is a history professor at Rutgers University who specializes in modern Europe and nineteenth century Britain. This sources purpose is to depict changes in Britain from before and after the Industrial Revolution. It also parades how the laissez-faire philosophy took on by the government influenced this change. A value of this source is that it gives the perspective of a historian who contrasts Britain before and after the Industrial Revolution and provides specific details of what the British government believed at the time. A limitation to this source is that the author is interested in a broad range of social impacts and is not entirely focused on the impact that the Industrial Revolution had on government. D. Analysis Prior to Britains industrial revolution (1760 to 1830) government and society overall had very different characteristics. Britain had been a primarily agricultural economy with the textile industry being mainly small, independent businesses. With the Industrial Revolution, communities transitioned from rural to urban. There was great upheaval caused by this change. While the Industrial Revolution brought positive changes, the benefits were usually seen by the upper class who took advantage of the new means of industry. In contrast with the positive changes, many individuals found themselves disadvantaged by the loss of their livelihoods at their traditional crafts. The population growth, overcrowding, and squalid living circumstances in cities where the jobs could be found were only compounded by the lack of compassion for the lower class.  [12]   It is well documented that a laissez-faire attitude existed in the British government at the end of eighteenth century. With the explosive growth of industry, government oversight was not possible. The government did not have the resources to regulate private commerce. At this time, there was also resistance to government involvement since government involvement was perceived as a hindrance and would have impaired prosperous growth. The idea of government being responsible for the welfare of its citizens did not exist at that time and helping people living in poverty was not seen as responsibility of the government. The laissez-faire attitude promoted by leaders and economists, such as Adam Smith, kept government out of private industry during the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. Without government intervention, private corporations were able to set their own standards. The driving incentive for these industries was profit. Due to the absence of guidelines, working conditions were poor and minimum wages were usually nonexistent. The rapid changes occurring during the Industrial Revolution greatly influenced all aspects of British life including the view of the role of government. It brought about new concepts on how society should behave. It is due to these changing perceptions that by the 1820s parliament passed a large volume of economic and social legislation.  [13]  It is based on this evidence that the Industrial Revolution brought to an end the British governments laissez-faire attitude. Government began to intervene in the behavior of private enterprise at the local level in the urban areas where social problems were the most extreme. It was particularly true when government stepped in to address problems of sanitation and town improvement and was particularly necessary when regulating land lords and builders who did not have the interests of the overall community in mind.  [14]   In addition to government intervention due to health issues, the government was beginning to be pressured by the growing voice of the working class who were petitioning for safer and fairer working conditions. The growth of public opinion was brought about by technical improvements of the steam powered newspaper presses which increased circulation.  [15]  This raised the awareness of poor living conditions and unfair practices in the workplace. The sources utilized in this investigation were written by researchers who employed a wide variety of material when developing their publications. The materials ranged from earlier twentieth century analyses of the Industrial Revolution and back to writings from the time period of the Industrial Revolution. It is through their in-depth analysis and interpretation that the researcher can gain an understanding of the impact of the Industrial Revolution. E. Conclusion At the beginning of the Industrial Revolution a laissez-faire attitude existed. The changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution shifted the behavior of the British political system away from their hands-off philosophy. While the Industrial Revolution brought about great innovation, it made more acute the issues of poverty and poor working conditions. The Industrial Revolution influenced changes to the role of the government and was responsible for the social and economic legislation passed in the first half of the nineteenth century. Instead of allowing industry to run without oversight and pursue profit at the expense of society, regulations were enacted which resulted in improved living conditions for the working class. This change to government after Britains Industrial Revolution is the basis for modern-day government. F. List of Sources Adam Smiths Laissez-Faire Policies. The Victorian Web: An Overview. Accessed November 29, 2011. http://www.victorianweb.org/economics/laissez.html. Ashton, T. S. The Industrial Revolution, 1760-1830. London: Oxford University Press, 1948. British Industrial Revolution. Clemson University. Accessed November 29, 2011. http://www.clemson.edu/caah/history/FacultyPages/PamMack/lec122sts/hobsbawm2.html. Deane, Phyllis M. The Role of Government. In The First Industrial Revolution, 219-37. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990. Miller, James. The 1800s. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2001. Osborne, John W. The New Politics: The Growth of Legislation. In The Silent Revolution: the Industrial Revolution in England as a Source of Cultural Change, 85-105. Scribner, 1970. Word Count: 1945

Would You Like Ketchup With That Dollar? :: Essays Papers

Would You Like Ketchup With That Dollar? Money does not satiate the stomach, only the food it purchases can. Material possessions contain the lowest number of kilocalories-per-gram (i.e. none) when compared to fatty acids, carbohydrates, and amino acids. Power tends to be nutrient deficient (eggs, however, are quite functional). And, as of yet, science has been unable to show any effects (positive or negative) of elite membership upon the area of the brain related to hunger -- the hypothalamus. Food is the most basic and essential component of human existence, next to air, of course. In the last instance, it -- not wealth, power, or status -- matters most. Period. Yet, its sheer abundance in the core nations of the world remains unparalleled in most or all of human history. So much so, that it goes scarcely noticed anymore. In the market it is viewed as a commodity to be bought and sold, an abstraction of itself, not real or tangible. In the grocery store the abstraction, through clever marketing and advertising, becomes a heavily constructed and objectified notion of reality. Meanwhile, the consumer remains alienated and detached from one of the elements most antecedent to life and existence. I have read of some -- great Yogis of the East, who, through their enlightened communion with the Divine, are able to transcend any physical need of sustenance. But, the revelations of Sages remain lost to most of us, too caught up in the mayhem of capitalistic endeavors to even think about such mysticism. The commodification of food and the industrialization of agriculture have removed us from the cadences of nature. With time, industrial agriculture is proving more and more unsustainable, less reliable and wonderful than it is touted to be. While large agribusiness continues to strive for greater crop yields, increased mechanization, lower labor costs, more acreage, new technologies, consolidations -- maximum profits -- farmers are striving to feed their families, to keep their land, and to justify their existence as farmers. If traditional farming is not dead already, it is surely dying. Yet, there are some who refuse to allow the fields to lay forever fallow.

The Vampire Diaries: The Struggle Chapter Four

â€Å"But he's got to have a doctor. He looks like he's dying!† said Bonnie. â€Å"He can't. I can't explain right now. Let's just get him home, all right? He's wet and freezing out here. Then we can discuss it.† The job of getting Stefan through the woods was enough to occupy everyone's mind for a while. He remained unconscious, and when they finally laid him out in the back seat of Matt's car they were all bruised and exhausted, in addition to being wet from the contact with his soaking clothes. Elena held his head in her lap as they drove to the boarding house. Meredith and Bonnie followed. Elena gently eased Stefan's head down and slipped out of the car, and saw one of the windows in the house brighten as a curtain was pushed aside. Then she saw a head and shoulders appear at the window, looking down. â€Å"Mrs. Flowers!† she called, waving. â€Å"It's Elena Gilbert, Mrs. Flowers. We've found Stefan, and we need to get in!† The figure at the window did not move or otherwise acknowledge her words. Yet from its posture, Elena could tell it was still looking down on them. â€Å"Mrs. Flowers, we have Stefan,† she called again, gesturing to the lighted interior of the car. â€Å"Please!† â€Å"Elena! It's unlocked already!† Bonnie's voice floated to her from the front porch, distracting Elena from the figure at the window. When she looked back up, she saw the curtains falling into place, and then the light in that upstairs room snapped off. It was strange, but she had no time to puzzle over it. She and Meredith helped Matt lift Stefan and carry him up the front steps. Inside, the house was dark and still. Elena directed the others up the staircase that stood opposite the door, and onto the second-floor landing. From there they went into a bedroom, and Elena had Bonnie open the door of what looked like a closet. It revealed another stairway, very dim and narrow. â€Å"Who would leave their – front door unlocked – after all that's happened recently?† Matt grunted as they hauled their lifeless burden. â€Å"She must be crazy.† â€Å"Sheis crazy,† Bonnie said from above, pushing the door at the top of the staircase open. â€Å"Last time we were here she talked about the weirdest – † Her voice broke off in a gasp. â€Å"What is it?† said Elena. But as they reached the threshold of Stefan's room, she saw for herself. She'd forgotten the condition the room had been in the last time she'd seen it. Trunks filled with clothing were upended or lying on their sides, as if they'd been thrown by some giant hand from wall to wall. Their contents were strewn about the floor, along with articles from the dresser and tables. Furniture was overturned, and a window was broken, allowing a cold wind to blow in. There was only one lamp on, in a corner, and grotesque shadows loomed against the ceiling. â€Å"What happened?† said Matt. Elena didn't answer until they had stretched Stefan out on the bed. â€Å"I don't know for certain,† she said, and this was true, if just barely. â€Å"But it was already this way last night. Matt, will you help me? He needs to get dry.† â€Å"I'll find another lamp,† said Meredith, but Elena spoke quickly. â€Å"No, we can see all right. Why don't you try to get a fire going?† Spilling from one of the gaping trunks was a terry cloth robe of some dark color. Elena took it, and she and Matt began to strip off Stefan's wet and clinging clothes. She worked on getting his sweater off, but â€Å"Matt, could you – could you hand me that towel?† As soon as he turned, she tugged the sweater over Stefan's head and quickly wrapped the robe around him. When Matt turned back and handed her the towel, she wound it around Stefan's throat like a scarf. Her pulse was racing, her mind working furiously. No wonder he was so weak, so lifeless. Oh, God. She had to examine him, to see how bad it was. But how could she, with Matt and the others here? â€Å"I'm going to get a doctor,† Matt said in a tight voice, his eyes on Stefan's face. â€Å"He needs help, Elena.† Elena panicked. â€Å"Matt, no†¦ please. He – he's afraid of doctors. I don't know what would happen if you brought one here.† Again, it was the truth, if not the whole truth. She had an idea of what might help Stefan, but she couldn't do it with the others there. She bent over Stefan, rubbing his hands between her own, trying to think. What could she do? Protect Stefan's secret at the cost of his life? Or betray him in order to save him? Would it save him to tell Matt and Bonnie and Meredith? She looked at her friends, trying to picture their response if they were to learn the truth about Stefan Salvatore. It was no good. She couldn't risk it. The shock and horror of the discovery had nearly sent Elena herself reeling into madness. If she, who loved Stefan, had been ready to run from him screaming, what would these three do? And then there was Mr. Tanner's murder. If they knew what Stefan was, would they ever be able to believe him innocent? Or, in their heart of hearts, would they always suspect him? Elena shut her eyes. It was just too dangerous. Meredith and Bonnie and Matt were her friends, but this was one thing she couldn't share with them. In all the world, there was no one she could trust with this secret. She would have to keep it alone. She straightened up and looked at Matt. â€Å"He's afraid of doctors, but a nurse might be all right.† She turned to where Bonnie and Meredith were kneeling before the fireplace. â€Å"Bonnie, what about your sister?† â€Å"Mary?† Bonnie glanced at her watch. â€Å"She has the late shift at the clinic this week, but she's probably home by now. Only – â€Å" â€Å"Then that's it. Matt, you go with Bonnie and ask Mary to come here and look at Stefan. If she thinks he needs a doctor, I won't argue any more.† Matt hesitated, then exhaled sharply. â€Å"All right. I still think you're wrong, but – let's go, Bonnie. We're going to break some traffic laws.† As they went to the door, Meredith remained standing by the fireplace, watching Elena with steady dark eyes. Elena made herself meet them. â€Å"Meredith†¦ I think you should all go.† â€Å"Do you?† Those dark eyes remained on hers unwaveringly, as if trying to pierce through and read her mind. But Meredith did not ask any other questions. After a moment she nodded, and followed Matt and When Elena heard the door at the bottom of the staircase close, she hastily righted a lamp that lay overturned by the bedside and plugged it in. Now, at last, she could take stock of Stefan's injuries. His color seemed worse than before; he was literally almost as white as the sheets below him. His lips were white, too, and Elena suddenly thought of Thomas Fell, the founder of Fell's Church. Or, rather, of Thomas Fell's statue, lying beside his wife's on the stone lid of their tomb. Stefan was the color of that marble. The cuts and gashes on his hands showed livid purple, but they were no longer bleeding. She gently turned his head to look at his neck. And there it was. She touched the side of her own neck automatically, as if to verify the resemblance. But Stefan's marks were not small punctures. They were deep, savage tears in the flesh. He looked as if he had been mauled by some animal that had tried to rip out his throat. White-hot anger blazed through Elena again. And with it, hatred. She realized that despite her disgust and fury, she had not really hated Damon before. Not really. But now†¦ now, shehated. She loathed him with an intensity of emotion that she had never felt for anyone else in her life. She wanted to hurt him, to make him pay. If she'd had a wooden stake at that moment, she would have hammered it through Damon's heart without regret. But just now she had to think of Stefan. He was so terrifyingly still. That was the hardest thing to bear, the lack of purpose or resistance in his body, the emptiness. That was it. It was as if he had vacated this form and left her with an empty vessel. â€Å"Stefan!† Shaking him did nothing. With one hand on the center of his cold chest, she tried to detect a heartbeat. If there was one, it was too faint to feel. Keep calm, Elena, she told herself, pushing back the part of her mind that wanted to panic. The part that was saying, â€Å"What if he's dead? What if he's really dead, and nothing you can do will save him?† Glancing about the room, she saw the broken window. Shards of glass lay on the floor beneath it. She went over and picked one up, noting how it sparkled in the firelight. A pretty thing, with an edge like a razor, she thought. Then, deliberately, setting her teeth, she cut her finger with it. The pain made her gasp. After an instant, blood began welling out of the cut, dripping down her finger like wax down a candlestick. Quickly, she knelt by Stefan and put her finger to his lips. With her other hand, she clasped his unresponsive one, feeling the hardness of the silver ring he wore. Motionless as a statue herself, she knelt there and waited. She almost missed the first tiny flicker of response. Her eyes were fixed on his face, and she caught the minute lifting of his chest only in her peripheral vision. But then the lips beneath her finger quivered and parted slightly, and he swallowed reflexively. â€Å"That's it,† Elena whispered. â€Å"Come on, Stefan.† His eyelashes fluttered, and with dawning joy she felt his fingers return the pressure of hers. He swallowed again. Those green eyes were dazed and heavy, but as stubborn as she had ever seen them. â€Å"No,† Stefan said, his voice a cracked whisper. â€Å"You have to, Stefan. The others are coming back and bringing a nurse with them. I had to agree to that. And if you're not well enough to convince her you don't need a hospital†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She left the sentence unfinished. She herself didn't know what a doctor or lab technician would find examining Stefan. But she knew he knew, and that it made him afraid. But Stefan only looked more obstinate, turning his face away from her. â€Å"Can't,† he whispered. â€Å"It's too dangerous. Already took†¦ too much†¦ last night.† Could it have been only last night? It seemed a year ago. â€Å"Will it kill me?† she asked. â€Å"Stefan, answer me! Will it kill me?† â€Å"No†¦Ã¢â‚¬  His voice was sullen. â€Å"But – â€Å" â€Å"Then we have to do it. Don't argue with me!† Bending over him, holding his hand in hers, Elena could feel his overpowering need. She was amazed that he was even trying to resist. It was like a starving man standing before a banquet, unable to take his eyes from the steaming dishes, but refusing to eat. â€Å"No,† Stefan said again, and Elena felt frustration surge through her. He was the only person she'd ever met who was as stubborn as she was. â€Å"Yes. And if you won't cooperate I'll cut something else, like my wrist.† She had been pressing her finger into the sheet to staunch the blood; now she held it up to him. His pupils dilated, his lips parted. â€Å"Too much†¦ already,† he murmured, but his gaze remained on her finger, on the bright drop of blood at the tip. â€Å"And I can't†¦ control†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"It's all right,† she whispered. She drew the finger across his lips again, feeling them open to take it in; then, she leaned over him and shut her eyes. His mouth was cool and dry as it touched her throat. His hand cupped the back of her neck as his lips sought the two little punctures already there. Elena willed herself not to recoil at the brief sting of pain. Then she smiled. Before, she had felt his agonizing need, his driving hunger. Now, through the bond they shared, she felt only fierce joy and satisfaction. Deep satisfaction as the hunger was gradually assuaged. Her own pleasure came from giving, from knowing that she was sustaining Stefan with her own life. She could sense the strength flowing into him. In time, she felt the intensity of the need lessen. Still, it was by no means gone, and she could not understand when Stefan tried to push her away. â€Å"That's enough,† he grated, forcing her shoulders up. Elena opened her eyes, her dreamy pleasure broken. His own eyes were green as mandrake leaves, and in his face she saw the fierce hunger of the â€Å"It isn't enough. You're still weak – â€Å" â€Å"It's enough foryou. † He pushed at her again, and she saw something like desperation spark in those green eyes. â€Å"Elena, if I take much more, you will begin to change. And if you don't move away, if you don't move away from meright now †¦Ã¢â‚¬  Elena withdrew to the foot of the bed. She watched him sit up and adjust the dark robe. In the lamplight, she saw that his skin had regained some color, a slight flush glazing its pallor. His hair was drying into a tumbled sea of dark waves. â€Å"I missed you,† she said softly. Relief throbbed within her suddenly, an ache that was almost as bad as the fear and tension had been. Stefan was alive; he was talking to her. Everything was going to be all right after all. â€Å"Elena†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Their eyes met and she was held by green fire. Unconsciously, she moved toward him, and then stopped as he laughed aloud. â€Å"I've never seen you look like this before,† he said, and she looked down at herself. Her shoes and jeans were caked with red mud, which was also liberally smeared over the rest of her. Her jacket was torn and leaking its down stuffing. She had no doubt that her face was smudged and dirty, and sheknew her hair was tangled and straggly. Elena Gilbert, immaculate fashion plate of Robert E. Lee, was a mess. â€Å"I like it,† Stefan said, and this time she laughed with him. They were still laughing as the door opened. Elena stiffened alertly, twitching at her turtleneck, glancing around the room for evidence that might betray them. Stefan sat up straighter and licked his lips. â€Å"He's better!† Bonnie caroled out as she stepped into the room and saw Stefan. Matt and Meredith were right behind her, and their faces lit with surprise and pleasure. The fourth person who came in was only a little older than Bonnie, but she had an air of brisk authority that belied her youth. Mary McCullough went straight over to her patient and reached for his pulse. â€Å"So you're the one afraid of doctors,† she said. Stefan looked disconcerted for a moment; then, he recovered. â€Å"It's sort of a childhood phobia,† he said, sounding embarrassed. He glanced sideways at Elena, who smiled nervously and gave a tiny nod. â€Å"Anyway, I don't need one now, as you can see.† â€Å"Why don't you let me be the judge of that? Your pulse is all right. In fact, it's surprisingly slow, even for an athlete. I don't think you're hypothermic, but you're still chilled. Let's get a temperature.† â€Å"No, I really don't think that's necessary.† Stefan's voice was low, calming. Elena had heard him use that voice before, and she knew what he was trying to do. But Mary took not the slightest notice. â€Å"Open up, please.† â€Å"Here, I'll do it,† said Elena quickly, reaching to take the thermometer from Mary. Somehow, as she did so, the little glass tube slipped out of her hand. It fell to the hardwood floor and smashed into several pieces. Uh, I'm sorry! you're not dangerously ill. I can'tmake you go to the clinic. But I'd strongly suggest you get a checkup tomorrow.† â€Å"Thank you,† said Stefan, which, Elena noticed, was not the same as agreeing. â€Å"Elena,you look as if you could use a doctor,† said Bonnie. â€Å"You're white as a ghost.† â€Å"I'm just tired,† Elena said. â€Å"It's been a long day.† â€Å"My advice is to go home and go to bed – and stay there,† Mary said. â€Å"You're not anemic, are you?† Elena resisted the impulse to put a hand to her cheek. Was she so pale? â€Å"No, I'm just tired,† she repeated. â€Å"We can go home now, if Stefan's all right.† He nodded reassuringly, the message in his eyes for her alone. â€Å"Give us a minute, will you?† he said to Mary and the others, and they stepped back to the staircase. â€Å"Good-bye. Take care of yourself,† Elena said aloud as she hugged him. She whispered, â€Å"Why didn't you use your Powers on Mary?† â€Å"I did,† he said grimly in her ear. â€Å"Or at least I tried. I must still be weak. Don't worry; it'll pass. â€Å"Of course, it will,† said Elena, but her stomach lurched. â€Å"Are you sure you should be alone, though? What if – â€Å" â€Å"I'll be fine. You're the one who shouldn't be alone.† Stefan's voice was soft but urgent. â€Å"Elena, I didn't get a chance to warn you. You were right about Damon being in Fell's Church.† â€Å"I know. He did this to you, didn't he?† Elena didn't mention that she'd gone searching for him. â€Å"I – don't remember. But he's dangerous. Keep Bonnie and Meredith with you tonight, Elena. I don't want you alone. And make sure no one invites a stranger into your house.† â€Å"We're going straight to bed,† Elena promised, smiling at him. â€Å"We won't be inviting anybody in.† â€Å"Make sure of it.† There was no flippancy in his tone at all, and she nodded slowly. â€Å"I understand, Stefan. We'll be careful.† â€Å"Good.† They kissed, a mere brushing of lips, but their joined hands separated only reluctantly. â€Å"Tell the and Meredith could go back with Elena. Mary was still clearly suspicious about the night's goings-on, and Elena couldn't blame her. She also couldn't think. She was too tired. â€Å"He said to say ‘thanks' to all of you,† she remembered after Matt had left. â€Å"He's†¦ welcome,† Bonnie said, splitting the words with an enormous yawn as Meredith opened the car door for her. Meredith said nothing. She had been very quiet since leaving Elena alone with Stefan. Bonnie laughed suddenly. â€Å"One thing we all forgot about,† she said. â€Å"The prophecy.† â€Å"What prophecy?† said Elena. â€Å"About the bridge. The one you say I said. Well, you went to the bridge and Death wasn't waiting there after all. Maybe you misunderstood the words.† â€Å"No,† said Meredith. â€Å"We heard the words correctly all right.† â€Å"Well, then, maybe it's another bridge. Or†¦ mmm†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Bonnie snuggled down in her coat, shutting her eyes, and didn't bother to finish. But Elena's mind completed the sentence for her.Or another time. An owl hooted outside as Meredith started the car.

Oscar Wilde Character Analysis - 1093 Words

Setting/Matter Observations Implications Set in London, England during the late 1800s to early 1900s Class system in society during the 1800s was very strict; materialism was greatly desired and people were very quick to judge others based on social status West vs. East Dorian’s mansion is on the west side of London where he is known to be a cultured aristocrat, yet some scenes are in the east, where Dorian skulks, seeking out opium dens The golden west side contrasting with the shady east side mirrors the difference between Dorian’s clean outer appearance and his tainted soul Classroom in Dorian’s mansion is where the portrait is hidden, eventually transitioning into the same place where Dorian becomes a murderer The classroom that†¦show more content†¦This turns when he sees it as a burden and blames Basil for creating the painting, the bane of Dorian’s suffering. Thus, Dorian kills Basil. Dorian, fueled by paranoia and guilt, destroys the painting to hide the evidence of his sins. The painting returned to Dorian’s charming 20 year old self, while the age and corruption all transferred to Dorian’s physical being before his death. Society poses almost no distinction between ethics and appearance, which is a problem Wilde proposes to his contemporary society Binary oppositions: Senses vs. soul, actions vs. perception, youthful body vs. painting, appearances vs. morality Dorian’s soul is connected to the painting and therefore the painting is continuously growing more wretched, whilst his senses are his youthful outward appearance. Neither soul nor senses are healed. Dorian goes insane with paranoia and guilt because he can’t handle his own corruption. His soul destroys his senses upon reunification, leaving behind the portrait and nothing else. Culminating questions: Does Dorian salvage his soul by destroying the painting as he hoped, or does he just reunite his soul and senses, leaving behind the original painting? 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