Journey

In the past, I embarked on a journey long and hard

To find acceptance and self-worth

Yet empathy and reason were barred

From entry, so I left them behind

One thing I recall is that I was trapped in the frames

Of a limbo where truth and expectation collide

In that darkness I clutched onto my pride

And forgot that my pursuit was a make-believe game

Now I travel far and wide

Seeking paths where none was found

From the woods of conformity, I fled

Let hope and passion be my guide 

Comparison between Oedipus Rex and Star Wars

Throughout ancient literature, Pride has always been associated with evil – the Bible branded it as a cardinal sin with its victims subject to eternal damnation, and in the world of Dante Alighieri, the proud were punished in the deep abyss of Hell. As the main characters of the Greek Tragedy Oedipus the King and Star Wars, Oedipus and Anakin Skywalker share a similar hamartia of extreme pride. Regarded as messiahs of their respective worlds, they promptly turn proud and arrogant. Inevitably, the hubris of Oedipus and Anakin Skywalker causes their ultimate downfall through the betrayal of allies, the ignorant pursuit of knowledge, and the denial of fate.     

Blinded by arrogance and pride, Anakin Skywalker and Oedipus develop prejudices and false assumptions which prompt them to turn against their allies. As a hero in the Clone War, Anakin’s pride outgrows the councils of Yoda and the admonitions of Obi-wan, which are meant to aid him in a time of uncertainty.  Any contradiction to his will is seen by the narcissist Anakin as a hindrance to his pursuit of power and a deliberate act of betrayal. Particularly, as Padmé, his beloved wife, pleads him in desperation to return from the “dark side”, the enraged Anakin shouts, “Liar! You are with them! The Jedi turned against me. Don’t turn against me!” (Star Wars Episode III) This clearly shows that a combination of pride and fear has turned Anakin paranoid, as even an expression of love is seen to be an act of defiance. His lack of trust eventually leads him to betray the Jedi alliance, and facilitated his transition into Darth Vader. Similar to Anakin, Oedipus is intoxicated by the euphoria of power and influence. His hubris creates an illusion of infallibility, and leaves no room for self-reflection. He thinks that any crime must have originated from other people. Analogous to Anakin, who fancied that the Jedi were his enemies, Oedipus brands Creon the title of traitor without concrete proof, “Do you have the face to come to my palace – you who are convicted as a murderer, exposed as a robber attempting to steal my throne?” (Sophocles, 30) This illustrates that as the King of Thebes, vanity and fear of losing his power makes Oedipus implicitly believe in the willingness of others to betray him. In doing so, he loses a valuable friend and counselor in a time of great peril. In summary, the pretentious and conceited Anakin and Oedipus abandon their allies and friends in delusion, which hastened their downfall.

Bolstered by the false sense of security that spurred from hubris, Anakin Skywalker and Oedipus’s adamant pursuit of knowledge triggered the chain of events that lead to their tragic end. Anakin is well aware that he is the “Chosen One” prophesized to save the galaxy, yet his impatience makes him resent the Jedi for holding him back from the council. Being the narcissist that he is, the praises and flatters of Palpatine easily seduces him to explore the insidious “dark side” of the force. Feeding on the lies of Dark Sidious, Anakin’s reckless pursuit of power soon gets him entangled in a world of suspicion and hate. Especially, when Obi-wan confronts Anakin in hopes of redeeming him, Anakin says, “Don’t lecture me, Obi-wan!  I see through the lies of the Jedi, I do not fear the dark side as you do. I have brought peace, freedom, justice and security” (Star Wars Episode III). This clearly demonstrates how Anakin’s initial motive of acquiring knowledge becomes corrupted under the weight of ambition and pride. Likewise, Oedipus also welcomes information, however damaging it might be, thinking that he can handle them with impunity. In particular, completely ignoring Tiresias’s potential reasons for reluctance, Oedipus forces him to utter the truth, which could have been avoided: “You are the murderer; you are the defilement of this land” (21). It’s apparent how Oedipus’s obstinacy sets in motion the investigation that leads to his ultimate downfall. Furthermore, when Jocasta rushes away in grief after realizing the truth, Oedipus still remains confident, “Burst out what will! I shall know my origin, mean though it may be. I count myself the son of Good Chance, the giver of success – I shall not be dishonored” (62). This clearly portrays Oedipus’s blindness to the signs of impending disaster such as the distress of others. Eager to discover the truth, he is oblivious to everything else. To conclude, hubris leads Anakin and Oedipus to a reckless pursuit of knowledge, which becomes a driving factor for their tragic end. 

Anakin Skywalker and Oedipus’s greatest act of hubris that leads to the final catastrophe is their denial of fate. Anakin, after his marriage with Padmé, keeps on seeing visions of “pain, suffering and death” (Star Wars Episode II). His premonition that Padmé would die makes him anxious to save her by any means, which becomes the chief factor in his decision to join Darth Sidious. For instance, despite Yoda’s counsels: “Death is a natural part of life. Mourn them do not. Miss them do not. The fear of loss is a path to the dark side” (Star Wars Episode II), Anakin still tries to defy the “inevitable” by joining the “dark side” because he cannot restrain his love for Padmé: “You’re asking me to be rational. That’s something I can’t do” (Star Wars Episode II). Ironically, by joining the “dark side”, he becomes prone to anger and hatred, which eventually leads him to kill Padmé and Obi-wan, the very people whom he once swore to protect. Similarly, a crucial cause of Oedipus’s downfall is his unwillingness to accept his fate. In doing so, Oedipus must reject the very idea that the gods are in control of the lives of the mortals, which is the ultimate proclamation of hubris. In fact, it was the very decision to leave Corinth that leads him to kill his real father Laius and marry his mother Jocasta. Even more ironic is the fact that in the same sense that Anakin unwitting becomes the very thing he swore to destroy, Oedipus himself is the culprit he curses and thrives to find. He pronounces a devious curse on the criminal who killed Laius – an act which only the gods are capable of: “I call down this curse in the god’s name: let them be destroyed by the present plague, or something even worse” (16). Once again, by defying the will of the gods, Oedipus becomes the victim of their wrath. In short, their most prominent act of hubris, the denial of their fate, becomes the greatest contributor to their downfall.

            Oedipus and Anakin Skywalker are great examples of the misfortunes that ensue when one loses contact with reality and overestimates one’s own competence. Their narcissism and departure from humility leads to the irrational distrust of others. Moreover, the illusion of their invincibility makes them pursue their goals recklessly without ever heeding the consequences. Furthermore, by opposing their “preordained” fate, they unwittingly accomplish the very things that they feared. Like Oedipus and Anakin Skywalker, achievement and greatness make us liable to pride; in these moments, recall the timeless quote by Isaac Newton: “If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants”.

                           

Bibliography

Star Wars, Episode III, Revenge of the Sith. By George Lucas. Dir. George Lucas. Prod. George Lucas and Rick McCallum. Perf. Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, and Hayden Christensen. 20th Century Fox, 2005. DVD.

Star Wars, Episode II, Attack of the Clones. By George Lucas. Dir. George Lucas. Prod. George Lucas and Rick McCallum. Perf. Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, and Hayden Christensen. 20th Century Fox, 2002. DVD.

Knox, Bernand. Oedipus the King. New York: Pocket Books, 2005. Print. 

V for Vendetta vs. 1984: Comparative Essay

"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"

 Percy Bysshe Shelly

Many have pondered with a tinge of sadness on the ephemerality of existence. A man may die, civilizations prosper and decline, but ideas endure without death. They are trampled upon for a time, “yet seldom do they fail of their seed, and that will lie in the dust and rot to spring up again in times unlooked-for” (Tolkien, 294). The power of idea is seen throughout media and literature. Both 1984, a dystopian novel written by George Orwell, and the film V for Vendetta portray a world besieged by poverty, warfare, and totalitarianism. Amongst the turmoil and destruction, V emerges victorious while Winston Smith succumbs to the Oceanian hegemony. Both V and the Party of 1984 succeed - V in the ousting of the government while the latter in its attainment - because they realize that the power of a political or moral belief can transcend that of the individual. V and Big Brother transform into symbols, or embodiments of ideas, through which they propagate their influence. Moreover, they realize that a belief can cause an individual to be audacious to the point of irrationality. Finally, V and the Party are both aware that an idea is more powerful as a collective quality.  

Binding themselves to powerful messages, both V and Big Brother become more than tangible individuals. Although V may die and Big Brother may be fictitious, their values survive in the form of effigies. Whoever displays the symbol embodies their image while that which or who is indifferent to the effect. To demonstrate, V responds to Evey, “There is a face beneath this mask, but it isn’t me. I’m no more that face than I am the muscles beneath it, or the bones beneath that” (V for Vendetta). V’s anatomical form exists only as a vessel for his spiritual self that truly defines who he is. V builds on this concept by sending everyone in England a Guy Fawkes mask. He believes that anyone can become what he represents – the very act of wearing the mask is a political statement that symbolizes anarchy and rebellion. V realizes that the only way to unite England is by eliminating the idiosyncrasies of each individual, which he successfully achieves by transforming them into symbols which are effigies of himself. Furthermore, V says to Mr. Creedy, “Beneath this mask there is more than flesh. Beneath this mask there is an idea, Mr. Creedy, and ideas are bullet proof” (V for Vendetta). V’s endurance of the gunfire is a metaphor for the immortality of belief. Similarly, in 1984, the image of Big Brother pervades throughout Oceania. If V represents anarchy and freedom, Big Brother is an impenetrable fortress against Goldstein and his sinister accomplices. Though his existence is dubitable, the emotional hysteria that is evoked upon seeing his image is paramount to the perpetuation of the Party’s control. Winston’s reaction to the portrait of Big Brother clearly demonstrates the power of his image, “White always mates, he thought with a sort of cloudy mysticism. Did it not symbolize the eternal, unvarying triumph of Good over Evil? The huge face gazed back at him, full of calm power. White always mates” (Orwell, 289). After his transformation, Winston instinctively sees Big Brother as “good” and “perpetually triumphant”. Big Brother symbolizes the omnipotence and omnipresence of the Party – so long as he persists as a powerful symbol in society, the reign of the Party would never falter.  

V and the Party recognize that an influential idea can cause an individual to act against human nature – the instinctive will to survive and to avoid pain and suffering. To demonstrate, in V for Vendetta, V ruthlessly tortures Evey while showing her the powerful message left behind by Veronica, “I shall die here. Every last inch of me shall perish. Except one. An inch. It's small and it's fragile and it's the only thing in the world worth having. We must never let them take it from us” (V for Vendetta). After Evey reads the message, she is immediately overwhelmed by the mystic power of Veronica’s “last inch” – her faith. Clutching on hopes of freedom and prosperity, she relinquishes any fear of pain, suffering and death, which allows her to calmly face her demise. The transformation of Evey proves be a great asset for V. Threatened by the inspector, she calmly refuses to release the lever that would bring destruction to the parliament. Similarly, for Winston Smith, the prospect of a utopian society is oddly propelling. Winston is aware that “thoughtcrime does not entail death, thoughtcrime is death” (28), yet out of boldness or stupidity, he commits them nonetheless, “I am afraid of death…So long as human beings stay human, death and life are the same thing" (166). Programmed by nature to be afraid of one’s own demise, Winston’s paradoxical behaviors can only be explained by his strong belief in human liberation and individualism. The Party succeeds because it is fully aware of the appeal of belief to which Winston is a victim. The phrase “Thou art” demands citizens to abandon all beliefs except the love for Big Brother, which is enforced systematically, “It was as though some huge force were pressing down upon you – something that penetrated inside your skull, battering your brain against, frightening you out of your beliefs, persuading you, almost, to deny the evidence of your senses.” (264). This clearly demonstrates the extent of the Party’s dominance over human belief – the seed of rebellion.

The power of an entire population that share an idea is much greater than that of an individual, which is why both V and the Party expand and maintain their sphere of influence. For example, when Evey asks V for the reason behind the destruction of the parliament, V explains, “A building is a symbol, as is the act of destroying it. Symbols are given power by people. A symbol, in and of itself is powerless. But with enough people behind it, blowing up a building can change the world” (V for Vendetta). V knows that his just cause or formidable skills are futile without the support of the citizens of England, so he makes his recording watched by the entire nation on November the 5^th. This proves to be vital to his success as a year later, the entire nation takes action against the totalitarian regime. The government in 1984 also realizes the deadly potential of a group of self-conscious citizens, so it strives to keep the proletarian unaware of their collective power. The forging of history, the vulgar entertainments and the deprivation of knowledge and wealth are all aimed towards maintaining the asymmetric relationship between the people and the government. Moreover, social bonds are restrained, as no one was to be trusted. All these measures combine to form a potent prevention system that discourages the formation of any alliance between citizens. Alone, Winston is powerless against the entire Oceanian population, which is an essential reason for his failure. Specifically, O’Brien says to Winston, “If you're a man, Winston, you're the last man. Your kind is extinct. We are the inheritors. Do you realize that you are alone? You are outside history” (270). The Party’s control over its population is so complete that anomalies like Winston Smith are hopeless against its loyal party members.

               Ideas are fundamentally men’s creations, yet their influence lies far beyond the scope of an individual. It is in realizing this that both V and the Party of 1984 are able to attain their goals. V and Big Brother become symbols which facilitates the spread of their influence. Moreover, they realize the fact that a belief can have the power to cause someone to counteract their physical will. Furthermore, V and the Party both propagates their beliefs knowing that an idea has power only when it’s shared as a collective. An idea is a powerful agent of change as is the act of forming one, because one’s mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions.

                                                                   

Works Cited

Orwell, George. 1984. 1949. Reprint. New York: New American Library, 1977. Print.

Tolkien, J. R. R.. The lord of the rings,. 2d ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 19671966. Print.

V for Vendetta. Dir. James McTeigue. Perf. Natalie Portman. Warner Bros. Entertainment, 2006. Film.

Une Lecon au barbare

En tant qu'étudiant en Chine, vivre la dissidence n'était pas facile pour moi. Au cours des cinq années à l'école élémentaire, on naturellement devenait soit compliant aux  parents soit enseignants - je n'avais pas le droit de n’opposer - c'était le privilège des adultes. Les querelles occasionnelles se terminaient toujours avec moi comme perdent. La couverture d’autorité m'éclipsait, m'engloutissait et m'asphyxiait au point que je ne pouvais plus voir au-delà du voile de la suprématie.

  A la fois, je voulais le changement; je voulais m’échapper à des règles strictes, les punitions sévères et le manque de cordialité.

  La graine de révolte a enfin germée en avril 2007, quand j'étais seulement un étudiant en quatrième année. C'était un jour de semaine typique. La cour de l'école pittoresque formait un contraste distinct avec la grisaille de la classe. Les ampoules électriques étaient éclairées brillamment. Quand même, une expression sombre dominait nos visages. Il était temps pour vérifier les devoirs. Notre professeur faisait le tour de la salle de classe avec des marches sombres. Il portait une petite reliure qui enregistrait notre état d'achèvement. C'était un événement rare qu’un étudiant de ne ose pas faire leur travail. Nous savions que la punition serait grave.

  Ce jour-là, une personne malchanceuse a franchi la ligne rouge. Je pouvais me souvenir  encore de son visage effrayé  quand notre professeur s'est approché de lui: ”Où est le cahier?" "Je ... j'ai oublié" Il a bégayé timidement. Il se trouvait que c'est sa deuxième fois dans un rôle. Le silence dans la salle est devenu assourdissant pendant nous attendions tous nerveusement pour son châtiment Il n'y avait plus besoin de conversation quand notre professeur, a traîné bestialement l'élève pour l'oreille de se tenir en face de la classe, où une tempête de réprimandes dérogatoires qui l'attendait : « barbare! Imbécile ! » L'étudiant avait l'air misérable. Il sanglotait et criait, trop gêné pour regarder ses camarades de classe. Le châtiment le plus sévère de tous est venu plus tard, quand le professeur, furieux, a commencé à frapper au hasard de l'élève avec un bâton de mètre. Enfin, l'enseignant assigné le sujet de la dissertation rare pour la journée: « Devrait-on punir le barbare ?».

  Je suis furieux: « Barbare? Ce garçon sans défense? »

  Ce nuit-là devenait turbulente que je pesais en silence. Autant que je voulais corriger cette injustice, j'étais douloureusement conscient de l'impossibilité. Connu pour être timide et taciturne, je n'avais pas le courage d'affronter l'enseignant. J'étais profondément perplexe. La peur et les principes comme le diable et l'ange, combattant pour la domination dans les quelques centimètres de mon crâne. J'étais laissé avec deux options sans compromis: la résistance signifiait la peine, l'obéissance signifiait l'impunité de la tâche répugnante qui finirait eu provoquent du ressentiment.

  Enfin, j’ai fait la décision la plus importante de ma vie - c'était mon plus fierté moment : «nous ne devons jamais transiger sur nos valeurs et croyances! » Je voulais faire ce que je pouvais pour éviter l'atrocité de se reproduire et je argumentais  fort avec raison que ses actes étaient mauvais : « C’est ne pas juste de frapper une personne cela leur donnerait le affreux message qu'il est permis de faire du mal à quelqu'un d'autre ... »

  C'était ma première nuit éveillé. Mon esprit était obscurci avec inquiétude. Demain, le jour redouté se lèverait en tant que mon esprit serait se plongé dans l'abîme où attendait l'avenir.   

   Le lendemain, j'ai remis ma dissertation avec un mélange de sentiments - l'apetisse et l’anticipation - dans mon affliction, j'ai choisi de défendre ce qui est juste, même si cela signifiait que j'étais seul. Quand les dissertations étaient redonnées à nous, le professeur  m'a appelé à son bureau. J’étais effrayé, mais  à la fois, je me suis senti fier - une fierté particulière qui diffère de celles que j'ai ressenti quand j’ai reçu de bonnes notes, parce que je savais ce que j'ai fait était noble et juste. Quand je suis entré dans sa chambre, il me regardait maladroitement : « J'ai lu ton dissertation, elle est très bien écrite. Je n'ai jamais pensé à mes actions parce que mes étudient n'ont jamais révolté. Mes actions étaient excessif - tu me l’as fait le réaliser que j’étais le barbare»

   En ce moment, je me suis me rendre compte que je regardais un professeur très agréable. J’ai souri: « le courage et la compassion est contagieuse. »

Global Warming - the Role of individuals

   Global warming, anthropogenic or otherwise, has been the center of a great controversy.  It is dumbfounding to see scientists rally back and forth with statistics while neglecting the fundamental issue – that regardless of the cause, global warming has brought forth devastation of unprecedented scale. The rate at which our planet is deteriorating has been accelerating every year to the point that evident environmental changes can be seen over the course of merely few decades. To demonstrate, the extent of Arctic sea ice measured at 1.58 million square miles at the August of 2012 was 30,000 square miles less than the previous low set in 2007 and the lowest since NASA records began in 1979 (Gillis, 2012). The Canadian ecosystems have also been dramatically affected. For instance, 2005 saw exceptional failures of colonies of seabirds on the Pacific coast of North America, as only 8% of the Cassin’s Auklets nesting on Triangle Island were successful (Nature Canada, 2006). Furthermore, in 2004, Yukon burned twice the average area of forests through fires – an increment of tenfold from the previous year (Gazette, 2005). Despite the dire situation, Canadians are overwhelmingly apathetic or skeptical about the issue, for a consensus has not been reached that humanity, much less a single citizen, can have, if any, a positive impact pertaining global warming. In reality, the future of our planet is the in the palms of individual Canadians who, as a collective, have the responsibility and potential to rectify the devastating state of affairs. By focusing on carbon dioxide reduction in relation to home energy, food and shopping, as well as transportation, every Canadian can make a measurable difference.

  On the contrary to the belief that simplicity is often associated with insignificance, reducing domestic energy usage is a prime example of how an individual Canadian can fight against global warming effortlessly and efficiently. First of all, replacing a regular incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent bulb is an ingenious way to cut back on one’s carbon footprint while conserving energy usage. To demonstrate, a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) uses 75% less energy than an incandescent bulb and has an average lifespan of seven times longer (Fritz, 2008). This amounts to an annual saving of $250 per light bulb in terms of operation cost. In other words, replacing a regular incandescent bulb could potentially save 300 pounds of carbon dioxide a year per household (Petrone, 2010). Secondly, the act of recycling domestic waste which would otherwise be incinerated in landfills has the potential to cut down the bulk of our domestic carbon dioxide emissions. To illustrate, recycling reduces the amount of energy needed to produce new products and minimizes the amount of waste going to landfill sites. It in turn decreases the amount of greenhouse gases produced by incineration, as one ton of waste generates an astonish 1,246 kg of carbon dioxide (Hogg, 2006). Namely, one household can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide by recycling half of wastes per year (Carbon Footprints, 2011). To conclude, as an individual, living an eco-friendly and conservative fashion is an easy and potent way to combat global warming. 

  Food and shopping occupies a substantial part of an individual Canadian’s daily life. By making smart choices as consumers, one can place a positive impact on the environment. Firstly, with millions of people shopping every day, plastic shopping bag has become a major pollutant. By getting into the habit of reusing shopping bags, one could be awarded with a gradual though unequivocal reduction in carbon dioxide emission. To explain, a dwindling number of shopping bags are the equivalent to the reduction in the production total and greenhouse gas emission associated. To bring into perspective, on average, an individual can save more than 480 plastic bags per year by reusing a single shopping bag (Reuters, 2007). This means that an average Canadian can save 72 pounds of carbon dioxide per year devoid of effort. Second of all, buying locally grown food is also a great way to reduce greenhouse gas emission that is within the capability of an individual. The benefits are clear and many – in detail, buying locally grown food eliminate the need for intensive transportation and reduce the amount of energy required for the crop growth. Conventional food distribution systems uses shockingly, four to seventeen times more fuel and emits five to seventeen times more CO2 than local and regional systems. In this case, replacing imported food with equivalent items locally grown in Waterloo, Ontario would save transport-related emissions equivalent to nearly 50,000 metric tons of CO2, which is the same as taking 16,000 cars off the road (DeWeerdt, 2012). To summarize, every Canadian can make a positive change to the environment by adopting and maintaining good consumption and shopping habits.

  When humanity has turned car into a necessity and as Canadians rely on cars more and more as the main mode of transportation, one is obliged to reduce the environmental damages to a minimal by driving with prudence and properly maintaining one's vehicle. Firstly, proper car maintenance, especially the systematic scrutiny of the tires is essential when it comes to making sure that a vehicle operates on its maximum efficiency. Notably, properly inflated tires improve travel efficiency, which in turn reduces the amount of greenhouse gas emitted. Furthermore, inflated tires can improve gas mileage by more than 4%, and every gallon of gasoline saved keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere (U.S. Department of Energy, 2012). This is particularly significant when put into context, as properly inflated tires can save on average 200 pounds of carbon dioxide per year per vehicle. Second of all, since cars are one of the main culprits of carbon dioxide emission, an individual Canadian can reduce the number of miles driven by walking, biking, carpooling or taking public transit when applicable. As an illustration, a dwindling mileage per vehicle means that less fuel would be utilized, thus cutting off carbon dioxide emission. Moreover, an average person can reduce the distance driven by 120 miles per week by using alternative modes of transportation to work, which is a saving both financially and environmentally. Another way to understand this issue is that avoiding just 10 miles of driving every week would eliminate about 500 pounds of carbon dioxide emission a year per vehicle (Petrone, 2010) – the equivalent of a five percent carbon dioxide reduction for one car annually. In summary, cars and transportation is one of the major areas where individuals can make a significant difference environmentally.

  To quote from John Lieberman, “Global warming is not a conqueror to kneel before - but a challenge to rise to”. It is up to the individual Canadians to amend the mistakes of the past and champion against global warming. The prospect of an environmentally stable earth for the future is hopeful – as long as all individuals strive towards the wellbeing of our planet by doing simple tasks such as conserving home energy, making smart food and shopping decisions and altering driving habits. The impact of global warming is more severe than we fathom – its effects can already be felt globally; however, it is not too late for individuals to take actions against it, because ultimately, saving the planet is rescuing ourselves from a potential catastrophe.

Blue, J. (2010, September 1). How Does Lowering Your Heating & Cooling Help With Global Warming? | National Geographic. Green Living . Retrieved November 20, 2012, from http://greenliving.nationalgeographic.com/lowering-heating-cooling-global-warming-2662.html

Carbon Footprints. (n.d.). Carbon Footprints. Retrieved December 12, 2012, from http://css.snre.umich.edu/css_doc/CSS09-05.pdf

Chen, A. (n.d.). Cutting Standby. Standby Power. Retrieved November 20, 2012, from http://standby.lbl.gov

DeWeerdt, S. (n.d.). Is Local Food Better? . World Watch Institute. Retrieved November 20, 2012, from http://www.worldwatch.org/node/6064

Fritz, B. (n.d.). Compact Fluorescent Lights. Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. Retrieved December 8, 2012, from www-bdnew.fnal.gov/esh/newsletter/cfl.html

Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator. (2012, October 26). US Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved November 20, 2012, from http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/calculator.html

Gillis, J. (2012, August 27). Sea Ice in Arctic Measured at Record Low - NYTimes.com. The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. Retrieved December 14, 2012, from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/28/science/earth/sea-ice-in-arctic-measured-at-record-low.html?_r=0

Gregory, S. S. (2008, June 6). Want to Curb Global Warming? Start Recycling and Composting. EcoLocalizer . Retrieved November 20, 2012, from http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/06/06/want-to-curb-global-warming-start-recycling-and-composting/

Hogg, D. (n.d.). A Changing Climate for Energy from Waste?. Eunomia . Retrieved December 9, 2012, from http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/reports/changing_climate.pdf

Households and the Environment: Energy Use : Product main page. (2010, April 14). Statistics Canada: Canada's national statistical agency / Statistique Canada : Organisme statistique national du Canada. Retrieved November 20, 2012, from http://www5.statcan.gc.ca/bsolc/olc-cel/olc-cel?catno=11-526-S&lang=eng

Jowit, J. (2007, November 7). Eat less meat to prevent climate disaster, study warns . The Guardian . Retrieved November 20, 2012, from http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/apr/13/less-meat-prevent-climate-change

Keeping Your Vehicle in Shape. (n.d.). Fuel Economy. Retrieved November 20, 2012, from http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/maintain.shtml

Nature Canada - Birds and Climate Change. (n.d.). Nature Canada Preservation Conservation Endangered Species Canada. Retrieved December 20, 2012, from http://www.naturecanada.ca/climate_change_birds.asp  

P., R. (n.d.). SWRC - World takes on plastic bags. SWRC - Home Page. Retrieved December 20, 2012, from http://www.saskwastereduction.ca/resources/plastics/world-bags.html

Peterson, K., & Rohrer, J. (2008, September 10). Eat less meat: CO2 emission of our food | Time for change. Time for change . Retrieved November 20, 2012, from http://timeforchange.org/eat-less-meat-co2-emission-of-food

Petrone, M. (n.d.). How To Stop Global Warming . Global Warming Facts and How to Stop Global Warming. Retrieved November 22, 2012, from http://globalwarming-facts.info/50-tips.html

T. G. (2005, November 30). Effects of global warming are already felt across the nation. canada.com | Join the discussion. Retrieved December 20, 2012, from http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/montreal/story.html?id=adf03a81-a3ee-4657-8ed1-dab96e4276af

 

Macbeth Theme Essay

Macbeth

   Gazing afar the galaxy of poets, none shines as brightly as William Shakespeare. His

ingenious depiction of characters, uncanny medley of vocabulary, and use of rhetorical

devices was unprecedented. Shakespeare, in the play Macbeth, examines the

psychological aspect of crime. He puts forth an interesting notion – that one could be

easily shocked by crimes which appear abruptly in their full magnitude, but alleviated by

the stratagem of self-deceit, one could be negligent of the gradual growth of one’s own

wickedness as a consequence, which ultimately triggers more crimes. As Macbeth kills

Duncan, Banquo, and Macduff’s family, he undergoes a subtle change in character, and

ultimately becomes the tyrannical ruler portrayed in the end.

    Following the atrocious act of murdering Duncan, Macbeth, though engulfed by guilt,

immediately contemplates yet another crime. A major distinction can be seen between the

first and second great crime pertaining Macbeth’s judgment. Prior to the murder of

Duncan, a virtuous Macbeth shows reluctance towards temptation and sees the witches’

prophesy as merely a daunting yet inevitable burden. It is not through Lady Macbeth’s

persistent instigation when he finally takes up the dagger. Afterwards, the last vestige of a

righteous Macbeth has already begun to fade away, and in its place, an avaricious and

selfish criminal. Notably, he says to the murderers, “So he is mine; and in such bloody

distance that every minute of his being thrusts against my near’st of life” (3.1.115-117),

meaning that every minute of Banquo’s existence eats away at his heart. His revulsion

towards Banquo is emphasized by the hyperbole which demonstrates that he would

secure his crown at the cost of betrayal. Moreover, Macbeth quotes, “Come, seeling night,

scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day and with thy bloody and invisible hand cancel and

tear to pieces that great bond which keeps me pale. […] Good things of day begin to

droop and drowse; […] Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill” (3.2.46-55). In

contrast to the first great crime, Macbeth has taken the role as the conspirer of murder.

The apostrophe used in addressing night shows that Macbeth is seeking the assistance of

darkness to conceal his future crimes. “Great bond” refers to Banquo’s lineage of kings,

which Macbeth hopes to avert through the Fleance’s death. In doing so, Macbeth is

willing to let his “good things of day”, which metaphorically represent his conscience,

“droop and drowse”, which shows his intention to clear any remnants of goodness. The

last phrase translates into “bad deeds force you to commit more bad deeds”. Since

Macbeth has gained power through violence, he needs to retain it the same way. Crime

has breached Macbeth’s mind which led him to his second great crime.

   When Banquo is killed, Macbeth becomes even more reckless in his path to

tyranny. Macbeth quotes, as he decides to revisit the witches, “I am in blood, stepped in

so far that, should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o'er” (3.4.135–137).

The vivid imagery of blood emphasizes his burden of bad deeds and the impossibility of

atonement, which pushes him to commit more crimes. Furthermore, Macbeth becomes

outraged in hearing about Macduff’s desertion, and says,

Time, thou anticipat’st my dread exploits. The flighty purpose never is o’ertook unless the deed go with it […] I’ll raid Macduff’s castle, seize the town of Fife, and kill his wife, his children, […] No boasting like a fool. This deed I’ll do before this purpose cool. But no more sights” (4.1.144-156).

Even more so than before, he refrains from evaluating the consequences and purpose of 

his actions, as suggested by “This deed I’ll do before this purpose cool”. His mind has 

now deteriorated to the point that he is consciously forcing himself to be arbitrary and 

brutal, and to act upon his whim. He ceases to be scrupulous and discreet and makes no 

attempt in concealing his intention of murdering Macduff’s family. Moreover, he 

mentions that he wants no more hallucinations, through which one can imply that he 

determines to feel no more guilt from his actions, which also reflects a drastic change in 

character. In conclusion, Macbeth’s sinister personality becomes even more apparent 

after the death of Banquo.

    During Macbeth’s final hours, when he becomes acquainted with iniquity, he goes 

through a thorough transformation into the obnoxious tyrant. He reprimands the servant, 

“Go, prick they face and over-red they fear, thou lily-livered boy. […] Death of thy soul! 

Those linen cheeks of thine are counselers to fear. What soldiers, they-face?” (5.3.14-17).

Through the use of cacophony – “lily-livered”, “death” and “they-face”, one sees 

Macbeth’s strong detest against the hapless servant who is devoid of guilt. Macbeth has 

always used hypocrisy to conceal his vulgarity, which ceases to be the case. Partially due 

to the witches’ prophesies, but more so due to the immensity of his crimes that weighs 

heavy upon him, Macbeth has become heedless and arrogant, which is amalgamated with 

a vague sense of fear. Moreover, Macbeth refuses to be further informed with news of the 

rebellion and says, “Then fly, false thanes, and mingle with the English epicures” (5.3.7-

10). The metaphor of “epicures” - A person devoted to luxurious living - is used to show

 his disdain towards the rebels. Macbeth has also abandoned the value of loyalty, as he is 

oblivious to his dwindling subjects. This clearly demonstrates Macbeth’s tyranny, for, in 

the face of an invasion, he cares no more for the safety of his country, or that of his 

subjects. The abuse of crime has left Macbeth corrupt, and brings about his demise.

   Crime has always been the instigator of corruption. Macbeth becomes a victim of the 

insidious poison of crime after the murder of Duncan, which deteriorates him even more 

so after the death of Banquo, and leaves him in a malicious cycle of crimes. However, 

crime is not a death sentence. No matter how far one is down the path of crime, 

redemption is only a benevolent thought away.

Word Count: 1000.