Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Ethnographic film Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Ethnographic film - Essay Example There has no actual date that states the origin of this film. The initial instances of these films were the footages that projectionists and film makers took during their travels. They took footages of distant cultures in the places they visited. Colonizers also used them to educate the countries they colonized during their travels. They viewed them later during the journey or after returning home. Some argue that they begum in 1895 when Lumiere shown his film named ââ¬ËArrival of Trainââ¬â¢. During that time, the travelling agents also shown their clips during their travel. However, the anthropologist disagrees that this inspired the production of ethnographic films. They claim that the people who acted this film did not have acting experience and non-western. The cultures of this people had no exposure to the modern world and lived in the non-urban area. These factors disregard that these films originated during that time. After the First World War museums and universities st arted using ethnological films in their anthropological teachings. Commercial producers such as Paul Fejos trained anthropologists on how to use filming tools during their researches. They also collaborated with institutions and museums to produce high quality movies (Beate 67). Robert J Flaherty produced and shown his film ââ¬Å"Nanook of the Northââ¬â¢ in 1920. The film consisted of documentaries and stage crafts. He intended to naturalistically to portray people who lived in the arctic regions. He did not have any anthropology background but the subjects in his movie interacted with him well. People saw his pictures portray the unknown Eskimo way of life real. This made him the godfather of ethnological films together with his previous films he had recorded. Later in Gregory and Mead released their film ââ¬ËHunterââ¬â¢. It documented the complex rituals that take place in New Guinea. This became the most viewed ethnographic films in different American institutions. Othe r ethnographic films that followed: Napoleon Chagnon, The story of a Kung Woman and The Feast. Marcel, Dieterlen and Rouch flourished production of ethnographic films in France. Discovery of 16mm cameras and light tape-recorders led to evolution of Visual anthropology. Then followed enhancement of filming techniques in visual anthropology by Rouch. Then Robert and Karl introduced editing and filming as a serious research technique. Then ââ¬ËDead Birdsââ¬â¢, a film produced later combined all these enhancements during its filming and production. In 1970ââ¬â¢s, Judith and MacDougall started to produce ethnographic films with subtitles. Later different production techniques such as reflex ion and experimental montages become introduced in filming of ethnographic films by Minh-Ha. These summarize a brief history of how ethnographic films evolved in the world. There have been conflicts between the filmmakers and the archaeologist. Archaeologists argue that the ethnological films they produce do not satisfy the required criteria. Lack of scientific knowledge among the filmmakers contributes to this problem. They further argue that the filmmakers only primarily concerned with meeting documentary film conventions. This makes them not to meet the convention of ethnological films. These conventions require their images and sound tracks to be anthropological in nature. The film makers depend on verbal or written words to make their films anthropological. This again makes them fail to meet the conve
Monday, October 28, 2019
Reducing Prejudice and Stereotypes Essay Example for Free
Reducing Prejudice and Stereotypes Essay Prejudice is an opinion or judgement without due examination toward one side of a question from other considerations than those belonging to. Or we can say that prejudice is a bias on the part of judge, juror or witness which interferes with fairness of judgement. Prejudice involves negative feelings when they are in the presence of or even think about members of the group. Prejudice often involves stereotypes, suggesting that all members of a group behave in certain ways and have certain characteristics. Therefore, prejudice has both cognitive and affective components. Affective component is the positive or negative attitude/ feeling. Beside the cognitive component contains stereotypes. Prejudice will be dealt as a single set of dynamics that function to dehumanize people who are identifiably different in some way from the people whose perceptions are limited by the dysfunction we called prejudice. This approach is taken for two reasons. First, it is easily defensible through the uderstanding of the dynamics of prejudices and second the continued separation and classification of prejudices according to the superficial categories of those who are prejudiced is a disservice to those who are the targets of discrimination and a distortion of reality. Much of prejudice stems from our pre-judging other peopleââ¬â¢s habits, customs, ways of speaking and value. We often do this with no basic for the judgement other that the fact that they (the customs, values, ways of speaking, etc) are different form our own. When we are confines to a single culture, itââ¬â¢s incredibly difficult to see that oneââ¬â¢s way is not the only way, that oneââ¬â¢s truth is not the only possible way in which things are done. To travel around the world and seeing the variousity of culture may become the nicest thing to do for reducing prejudice. There is no better way to be convinced of this than to go to another country where millions people are doing something different from you. Another way to reduce prejudice is to make a friend with many background culture. From that, we can learn that we are all different and we have to accept that differences. By accepting and learning that differences, the number of prejudicing people will be decrease. Prejudice reduction refers to a collectionof techniques designed to break down these destructive stereotypes. Most often prejudice reduction programs take place on a small scale for example in workshops which bring together people from different groups to help them develop a better mutual understanding. At times, efforts are made to reduce prejudice among the general population. This can be done with wide spread media efforts and public education programs often implemented during the grade school years. In both small scale and large scale efforts, a first step which is critical to the success of these programs is an ability to overcome the many communications problems cited elsewhere in this training program. This is because a great deal of prejudice arises from simple misunderstandings and the tendency to make worse case assumptions in the absence of reliable information. At the workshop level, facilitators can help people explore their stereotypes, and learn to communicate with eac h other in a more open, trusting, and receptive way. At the community or societal level, misunderstandings can be addressed through carefully crafted public media campaigns and/or education programs designed to counter common stereotypes and present all groups in their best possible light. Still, correcting poor communication may is not usually enough to overcome prejudice. Better communication may simply prove that the parties do, in fact, hold each other in mutual contempt, or that they are, indeed, trying to undermine each others interests. Often such hostility is the result of escalation processes which transform relatively minor provocations into intense confrontations. For this reason strategies for limiting escalation are also an essential component of effective prejudice reduction. This also can be attempted in workshop settings or at the larger, community level. On the other hand, we will talk about stereotypes. Stereotypes are generalizations or assumptions that people make about the characteristics of all members of a grup based on image that often wrong about what people in that group are like. Most stereotypes probably tend to convey a negative impression. By stereotyping we infer that a person has a whole range characteristics and abilities that we assume all members of that group have. Researches have found that stereotypes exist of diffe rent races, cultures or ethnic groups. Although the terms race, culture and ethnic groups have different meanings, we shall take them to mean roughly the same thing at the moment. Not surprisingly, racial stereotypes always seem to favor the race of the holder and belittle other races. It is probably true saying that every ethnic group has racial stereotypes of other groups which can be seen to benefit each group because it helps in the long run to identify with oneââ¬â¢s own ethnic group and so find protection and promote safety and success of the group. A brief description of stereotyping includes: grouping people together based on their race, ethnicity, religion, languange, customs, appearance, gender or culture; denying people rights because of the group belong to; believing that oneââ¬â¢s own group is superior beside other groups are inferior. And the ways to reduce stereotyping includes: promoting first hand knowledge through personal experiences; putting one self in anotherââ¬â¢s shoes and considering multiple perspectives; working toward a meaningful goal with others when all share equal status. It will naturally be difficult to change stereotypes and prejudice, because such change will need to overcome all of the cognitive processes such as biased information search, interpretation and memory behavioral confirmation, as well as social processes, such as pressures to conform to the beliefs of others, all of which work to maintain stereotypes intact. Nevertheless, social psychologists have developed numoerous theories about when and why stereotypes will or wonââ¬â¢t change and some interventions have been effective at changing stereotypes. In general, there are three types of change in beliefs that can help reduce negative intergroup encounters. Perhaps the most obvious change involves creating more positve perceptions of the group as a whole. When we reduce an individualââ¬â¢s level of prejudice or change his or her stereotypes to be more positive. But change does not always have to involve becoming more positive about the group. If we change the perceptions of the variability of a group such that the individual no longer believes that all of the group members are the same, we have also reduce stereotyping, even if the beliefs have not become more positve overall. Finally, we will have been succesful if we have been able to reduce the tendency for an individual to use social categories when judging others, with the result that they are more likely individuate others instead.
Saturday, October 26, 2019
Physics of Avalanches :: physics snow avalanche
Avalanches are just one of many natural disasters that kill people every year. The difference to Alaskans is that this disaster hits a little closer to home than most. The fear of hurricane and tornado are not existent in my region, and even earthquakes are seen more as a little shake then any threat. Physics plays a huge part in avalanches, thermodynamics, statics, and gravity are just a few elements of these disasters. The map above confirms that Alaska is at high risk for avalanche. As a result of this threat, learning about avalanches is a necessity when recreating or working in high avalanche areas. In order to better understand Avalanches, it makes sense to first learn about what avalanches are compose of, snow. Snow forms when atmospheric conditions cause water vapor to condense. However, it is obvious that all snow doesn't have the same structure. The density of fresh snowfall is dependent on both the kind of snow crystal and the air temperature. In cold, calm conditions the snowfall is the lightest. While in warmer climates, where graupel and needle crystals fall, the snowfall is the densest. When looking at a cross section of snowfall it is often evident what weather conditions formed the cross section. This is due to the different densities and structures of the snow layers. The bonds between snow layers are large factor in avalanches. If there is a weak bond between layers, the top layer can easily slide off the bottom layer. When this happens it is called a slab avalanche. Other layering characteristic will create other avalanches and hazards, such as ice avalanches and cornices. Whenever traveling in avalanche country it is important to be aware of your environment. Steep gullies and wide plains are perfect paths for avalanches. Ridges and unconformities in the terrain may help to slow down an avalanches speed. The severity of an avalanche is directly related to the terrain in which it happens. One of the most important factors to consider is the slope of the mountain or hill. Most avalanches occur between 20 and 50 degrees like the diagram above shows. However, the largest avalanches occur between 30 and 45 degrees, and the areas which have the greatest frequency of avalanches are between 35 and 40 degrees.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Recycling Of Electronic Waste In The UK Environmental Sciences Essay
This chapter represents the decision and recommendations of this thesis related to E-waste direction in UK. First a sum-up of the E-waste direction in UK is discussed and further it is followed by recommendations in footings of betterment in the present patterns and techniques which are followed / used by the EEE makers, WEEE aggregation and recycling Centres etc in the UK and Europe, every bit good as for the farther research that could be done into this country of survey and these suggestions are intended to develop a comprehensive recycling system across the UK and Europe for optimum use of resources on the one manus and minimum pollution on the other. 5.1 Summary of the E-waste Management in UK: The E-waste direction theoretical account involved assorted sub-models like proper aggregation, efficient processing and effectual system direction which can be used in the appraisal of costs and its environmental impacts within a specific geo-economic and political context. The proper E-waste direction is capable of executing the implicit in three facets which are as follows: The most economically efficient figure of aggregation sites and their locations based on a given population distribution The most economically efficient figure of recycling sites and their locations based on modelled aggregation informations, and The environmental impact associated with E-waste transit from an energy ingestion stand point It is clear from the above treatment in chapter-4 that recycling of E-waste is a really critical capable affair from the point of waste intervention every bit good as from the recovery of valuable metals. It has besides been discussed that the economic ground is the most of import cause for recycling after environmental issue. Traditional method of E-waste disposal was related to set down filling and incineration. Incineration resulted into heavy emanation of green house and other toxic gases and landfill resulted into the loss of birthrate of agricultural land ( dirty pollution ) , H2O pollution etc. The other facet of this traditional method of waste disposal is that it has put heavy force per unit area on excavation of cherished metals as these cherished metals are needed for fabrication of new EEEs including Personal computers and laptops. So accordingly recycling is the best method for get bying up with the above jobs. It has besides been supported for the sale of economic benef its it is holding in footings of acquiring cherished metals after recycling for the farther usage in the fabrication of new Personal computers, laptops and other EEEs. Our society is turning continuously and devouring more and more Personal computers and laptops. In UK, there is about every personal is holding one Personal computer and the replacing rate is high. So the unnatural addition in the E-waste is normal in these fortunes. But at the same clip authorities and the companies are really much concerned with the ill-impacts associated with the traditional methods of waste disposal. Traditional method of E-waste disposal is really risky for the environment and for the human wellness every bit good. So the complete prohibition on land filling and incineration is the obvious pick of the authorities of UK. The authorities of UK has proposed and enacted the statute law for landfill prohibitions, EPR and ARF. ARF has been collected from the concluding consumers for funding the Personal computers and laptops ( although it besides charged on other EEEs ) . Therefore this thesis tries to try the inquiry that how the proper aggregation, disposal and recycling of E-waste can profit the environment and economic system of UK and how it can be improved. Earlier, firing / incineration methods ( e.g. method utilizing IsaSmelt furnace ) had been used as a recycling procedure for retrieving cherished metals from E-waste but due to its restrictions there was a paradigm displacement in the recycling methods. Recently attendings have been moved to another method of recycling i.e. making a twister ( whirl ) and oppressing the E-waste for material recovery ( e.g. MeWa QZ 2000 Recycling Plant used by SWEEEP ) . Similarly there occurs a paradigm displacement in the recycling methods of batteries besides, i.e. from Hydrometallurgy to Robust Pyroprocess ( e.g. method used by Umicore Recycling Plant in Belgium ) . The effectivity of these recycling procedures must be analysed in the visible radiation of benefits ( economically and environmentally ) derived from these procedures. These recycling methods offer a big measure of cherished metal recovery and separation of risky constituents ( table-16 & amp ; table-18 ) . The state of affairs would hold been black if this much measure of risky constituents incorporating E-waste was land filled or incinerated. But on the other manus the major concerns for these recycling methods are the high power / energy demands and the high emanation of green house gases. In the twelvemonth 2009, the entire costs of electricity consumed by the SWEEEP ââ¬Ës MeWa Plant were ?55,527.88 ( both twenty-four hours and dark operations ) and the entire units of electricity consumed were 880,134 KWh ( table-13 ) . Similarly the energy demand for the Robust Pyroprocess is besides high, i.e. aâ⬠°? 1000 grade centigrade ( table-17 ) . The bing E-wastes recycling systems diverge expressively non merely system architecture, but in their operating context. The population denseness and distributions, measures of E-waste generated, attitudes towards recycling, local labor costs and energy costs, are all features of contextual factors which influence the public presentation of E-waste recycling systems. Normally, the addition in the aggregation points of E-waste shows a relationship with the measures of E-waste collected and recycled. It is besides deserving adverting that it is the willingness of single to take part in E-waste recycling systems which have significantly bearings on the measure of E-waste collected.5.2 Recommendations:The recommendations have been drawn from the treatments in chapter-2, chapter-4 and from the above decisions of this thesis. These recommendations have been decently suggested for three different set of people as they have their ain specific function for the extenuation of environmental rel ated ill-effect of the E-waste.5.2.1 EEE Industries:5.2.1.1 Design & A ; Manufacture Products in an Eco-Friendly & A ; Trouble-free Manner:The cost associated with processing E-waste are important to the overall E-waste system recycling costs. When merchandises are manufactured such that at EOL they can be easy dismantled, a greater per centum of stuff can be recovered, with less energy and at a lower cyberspace cost to the system. Therefore in order to help both environmental and economic ends of the E-waste system, makers should try to plan merchandises which can be easy disassembled. Many makers justly argue that such a design end is non ever achievable without extra costs to the fabrication house. For that makers should promote E-waste systems fiscal construction. 5.2.1.2 Encourage E-waste Recycling Centres to Share Performance Data: ââ¬Å" Industry believes a national solution is required because conflicting province statute laws would take to uncertainnesss, inefficiencies and high conformity cost that will hinder their ability to be competitory and advanced. Industry is concentrating on attempts to make a national system that will accomplish the end of increasing recycling while non impeding interstate commercialism â⬠( Wu, 2005 ) . The WEEE forum consists of many authoritiess and recycling Centres across the EU. These authoritiess and recycling Centres portion E-waste recycling systems and best patterns. But the paradox is that these establishment portions really limited informations i.e. many of the recycling Centres still non made their informations populace. So, these informations ââ¬Ës are non easy accessible by the general populace. It could be contributing for better E-waste direction. But once more it is the paradox that o n the one manus the authorities is demoing its concerns for E-waste and jeopardies related to it and on the other manus making the monopoly over the methods used by its recycling Centres and attempts to maintain it secret every bit much as possible. The makers should promote the sharing of public presentation informations so that E-waste recycling system could be smooth.5.2.2 E-waste Collection Centres & A ; Legislators ( Government ) :The handiness of E-waste aggregation Centres is a really important feature of E-waste system architecture. So, it is really of import for the recycling Centres and authoritiess to find the figure of aggregation Centres and their handiness. They must believe over it that how far is the aggregation Centre from the residential country and how far an person is willing to go to lodge his / her E-waste. As we discussed earlier in chapter-4, in the instance of Cambridgeshire county council aggregation Centres, leting / doing some agreements for the disposal of E-waste from concerns and set uping some transit methods for the house to house aggregation of E-waste will promote and better the recycling and its efficiency. It is an acceptable statement that consumer engagement is subjective and it is influenced by the distance to aggregation Centres and besides by other factors like age, instruction, income, peer force per unit area etc. Harmonizing to a study conducted by the Cambridgeshire county council aggregation Centre ( 2010 ) , it was estimated that 20 % of the people in UK still believe that they ca n't / it is non possible to recycle E-waste but the staying 80 % believes that by taking more attempt E-wastes can be recycled. So organising or making more public consciousness programme ( e.g. advertisement, originative attacks etc ) can do more people aware of the sick effects of E-waste and the advantages of it ââ¬Ës recycling. The engagement of the staying 20 % people in the E-waste recycling programme will decidedly lend to the protection of the environment and to the nest eggs in economic system in a great mode.5.2.3 E-waste Recycling Centres:Most of the recycling centres across UK and Eu rope are utilizing latest method for recycling WEEE and batteries. Even though these methods are effectual in recycling and retrieving big measures of cherished metals, it has got some disadvantages like high power / energy demand, big emanation of green house gases etc which requires heavy attending.5.2.3.1 SWEEEP Recycling Centre:The power demand for the MeWa QZ 2000 recycling works is really high. This demand of high power can be reduced if the demand for an external heavy granulator ( for doing the size of the end product material uniform ) is avoided by including the map of the heavy granulator within the MeWa works itself or by developing some other maps related to it. The exposure of operators to the risky constituents ( manus picking booth ) for separation of non-uniform stuffs can besides be avoided to some extent as a consequence of such a development, since the unvarying size of the end product stuff avoids the demand of manual separation.5.2.3.2 Umicore Battery Recycling Centre:The energy demand for Robust Pyroprocess method of recycling used by Umicore is high. Another disadvantage of this method is the emanation of green house gases to the environment. The installing of an off-gas emanation control system for retrieving and recycling these expelled gases will be a better solution for cut downing the energy demand and for forestalling the emanation of green house gases during this procedure. In short by salvaging and cut downing the sum of energy required for recycling, the emanation of green house gases can be minimised / stopped and therefore helps forestall planetary clime alteration.5.3 Future Suggestions:This thesis has specific frame work under which E-waste direction in UK has been considered. The points of particular accent were the recovery of cherished metals, advantages and disadvantages of the methods used for retrieving ( recycling ) these cherished metals which includes high power /energy demand, emanation of green house gases etc. D ue to the limited handiness of informations and limited every bit good as restricted entree to the assorted E-waste recycling Centres, the observation and decision can said to be conclusive. Extra apprehension can be gained through utilizing more elaborate population distribution informations analysis with assorted theoretical accounts, and utilizing these theoretical accounts to excite extra combinations of system architecture and system context. This thesis will move as a platform for farther research on the subject of recycling of E-waste with particular accent on the Personal computers and laptops. The farther research could be undertaken for the intent of obtaining comprehensive apprehension on the recovery of assorted cherished metals and the methods undertaken for the intent of recovery. The broader probe and analysis of informations including the entree of assorted recycling Centres would unwrap the ingestion of electricity in order to derive cognition about full process-based cost theoretical account. After this, one can state exactly about the cost benefit analysis of E-waste direction with particular mentions to Personal computers and laptops.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Lowering the drinking age Essay
For many years there has been a debate about whether or not the legal drinking age in America should be lowered. Now a days, the legal age for someone to buy or consume alcoholicà beverages is 21. Many people who are against lowering the age limit feel teenagers are not mature enough to drink responsibly. On the other hand, there are many reasons, that support my position that Americaââ¬â¢s legal drinking age should be lowered to 18. Americaââ¬â¢s legal drinking age should be lowered to 18 because 18 year olds are already given many adult rights in our country. In the United States 18 is considered the ââ¬Å"age ofà consent.â⬠People at that age are permitted to vote in government elections and serve their country in military service. They are also old enough to get a driverââ¬â¢s license and buy cigarettes. If 18à year olds are considered mature enough to earn these important rights, they should also be allowed to buy and drink alcohol. Another reason the age restrictions on alcohol should be lowered is because lowering the restrictions would not necessarily make more people drink. It would only make it possible for a larger portion of adults in the country to drink legally. Moreover, lowering the legal drinking age might even lessen alcoholââ¬â¢s appeal to young adults since they are often attracted to thingsà that are ââ¬Å"forbidden.â⬠The legal drinking age should be lowered in the United States because many other countries permit people under 21 to buy and consume alcohol. European countries such asà France, Germany, England and Ireland all permit people aged 18 years to buy and consume alcohol. Some countries, like Italy, do not even have a legal limit for alcohol consumption. If it isà possible for so many productive and successful countries to have lower age restriction on alcohol than the United States, we should have lower limits too.à In conclusion, the legal drinking age in the United States should be lowered to 18 for several reasons. Individuals who are 18 years old are already granted many other adult rights, so they should also be permitted to buy and purchase alcohol. Additionally, many other countries have age restrictions that allow teenagers to legally consume and purchase alcohol. Based on evidence I have provided, it is clear that maturity, and not age, are the best ways to determine whethe r people should be permitted to drink alcohol or not.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
4 Devices That Will Turn Reading English Writing Books into Pleasure
4 Devices That Will Turn Reading English Writing Books into Pleasure 4 Devices That Will Turn Reading English Writing Books into Pleasure Every avid reader has had to deal with cramps in their hands from holding English writing books for too long, squinting in the dark to finish just one more chapter, trying to fit a hefty book into a small bag, and struggled to get comfortable while reading. For some people, the digital age of books is a wonder, but others prefer to hold the paper in their hands. Just as writers who like using pen and paper instead of writing via computer software. This article describes devices that can help with different reading mediums; so whatever your preference is, you are sure to learn about something that youââ¬â¢ll like. Tablets From Kindles to Nooks, e-readers to apps, digital versions of books seem to be taking over the mainstream. While some rejoice at this, others arenââ¬â¢t too comfortable with the idea of a book that needs to be charged. Other people are concerned with the price of these tablets, but these sceptics may not know what they are missing out. Many tablets include backlights, making reading in the dark easier. Also they are lighter and thinner than the average book, making them an easy carriage. Dead batteries are rarely an issue, as most tablets hold a decent charge and recharge quickly when needed. As for the price, the average Kindle sells for around $100-200. While this can seem pricey, Amazon offers free book downloads, making the purchase worth the cost. Lights Reading lights have come a long way in recent years. With these new products, a person can read in bed without waking up their partner. Child can read under the covers without their parents knowing that theyââ¬â¢re still up. Some gadgets that can help with this are book lights that can be attached to the book like a mini-lap, reading glasses with built in lights, and page illuminators that light up the page you are on. Stands Comfort has always been a big issue when it comes to reading, but luckily, there are products that can make holding a book- or having something else hold it for you- much easier. One comfortable product is the pillow stand, a book holder that looks and feels like a pillow. Book chairs and tablet stands (applicable to both books and tablets) stabilize your book just the way you need it. This is sure to make reading more comfortable for anyone. Bookmarks So far, this article has consisted of practical book accessories, but there are plenty of fun things you can get to enhance your reading. Digital bookmarks are great for kids who have trouble reading as much as they should. All the parent needs to do is set the timer and leave their kids alone to read. Another cool bookmark can also work as a highlighter, making it easier for people to keep track of what line they are on. Many book apps and tablets also have features that allow the reader to use virtual bookmarks and highlighters to keep track of where they are and what they think is interesting in the book. There are new gadgets coming out every day that can turnà reading into an easier, comfier, and, generally, more enjoyable activity. The most important part of reading is having a good time while doing it. Thereââ¬â¢s hardly a point in picking up a book or a tablet if you arenââ¬â¢t going to enjoy it. In the end, it hardly matters which means the person uses to read, as long as they keep on reading. The devices listed above can be great tools to assist with reading, helping seasoned readers keep it up, and encouraging new readers to get started. At English paper writing service you can get instant writing assistance from experienced academic writers.
Monday, October 21, 2019
Emma by Jane Austen Research Paper Example
Emma by Jane Austen Research Paper Example Emma by Jane Austen Paper Emma by Jane Austen Paper Essay Topic: Emma Hilarious Societal Affects of Love Emma, by Jane Austen, is a classic comedy that took place in the nineteenth-century near London, England. Emma tells the tale of a heroine attempting to be the matchmaker for everyone, and ultimately herself. Emma Woodhouse, the main character, loses her dear friend and governess, Miss Taylor, to Miss Taylorââ¬â¢s marriage, in which she becomes Mrs. Weston. Emma, in search of another cherished companion, comes across Harriet Smith. Although Harriet comes from a lower class in society, Emma admires her beauty and takes it upon herself to improve Harriet in order to make her acceptable to the upper class. For instance, Mr. Martin, a local farmer, seems to have fallen in love with Harriet, yet Emma suggests that she reject him because she believes Harriet has the potential to get a man who is high in society. Harriet complies, and Emma goes on to recommend Mr. Elton, a preacher, whom she believes is a perfect match for Harriet. Though, later on Emma realizes Mr. Elton has in fact fallen in love with her, rather than Harriet, making her question her matchmaking skills. After a period of absence from matchmaking, Mrs. Westonââ¬â¢s stepson, Frank Churchill, visits town and Emma falls for him. Harriet approaches Emma with the declaration that she has fallen in love with another man, however Emma insists that Harriet keep the name to herself due to Emmaââ¬â¢s fear of ruining a potential companionship because of her lack of skill of matchmaking. Emma fears that Harriet is in love with Frank, so she revokes her personal feelings for him in order to further Harrietââ¬â¢s chances at obtaining a man of higher class. However, Emma discovers that Frank is already engaged to Jane Fairfax and discloses this information to Harriet. When Harriet is informed of this, she seems disinterested, showing she was in fact not in love with Frank, but rather fallen for Mr. Knightly. Once this information is disclosed, Emma then realizes she is in love with Mr. Knightley as well and he carries the same feelings for her. As one reads the story, it is easily concluded that social ranking is the apparent source of the decisions being made. Waldron says: Everybody except Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill is caught up in a complex web of social assumptionsâ⬠¦ which creates a hilarious mix of misunderstanding and blunder, so that nobody is seeing exactly what is there, or hearing exactly what is being said. (141) Throughout the story, one can notice that social status and class affect not only the love of the characters, but also, to a sense, determine their lives. Being considered high in society, Emma Woodhouse prefers to only be associated with those of the upper class. This explains her desire to change Harriet as soon as she meets her because she notices the potential Harriet possesses even though she is of the lower class. The narrator tells us: Harriet Smith was the natural daughter of somebody. Somebody had placed her, several years back, at Mrs. Goddardââ¬â¢s school, and somebody had lately raised her from the condition of scholar to that of parlour boarderâ⬠¦ She was a very pretty girl, and her beauty happened to be of a sort which Emma particularly admired. She was short, plump, and fair, with a fine bloom, blue eyes, light hair, regular features, and a look of great sweetness; and, before the end of the evening, Emma was as much pleased with her manners as her person, and quite determined to continue the acquaintance. (22) Emma associated with the lower class but made sure that everyone knew there was a difference between her and them. She did not want to ruin her reputation by being seen with people beneath her. Miss Emma Woodhouse likes the feeling of helping people who are lower than her; therefore, that is the only time she mixes with the lower class. After Emmaââ¬â¢s time spent with Harriet, Emma thinks she has raised Harriet in society. When Mr. Robert Martin, a farmer, falls in love with Harriet, he proposes. Emma does not like this and is a very manipulative girl. Eugene Goodheart states, ââ¬Å"Emma is willful, manipulative, an arranger or rather a misarranger of other peoples livesâ⬠(589). Emma, being the manipulative girl she is, doesnââ¬â¢t directly tell Harriet to reject his proposal but hints that she doesnââ¬â¢t need to accept him because she could do a lot better. Emma didnââ¬â¢t even really know Mr. Martin. All she knew was that he was a farmer and farmers were considered the low class, so she just let her beliefs about class ranking steer her opinion to decline Mr. Martin. Miss Woodhouse then shares with Harriet that if she had accepted his proposal then they could no longer be friends because she would be down lower on the social class ranking. Emma says: Perfectly, perfectly right, my dearest Harriet; you are doing just what you ought. While you were at all in suspense, I kept my feelings to myself, but now that you are so completely decided, I have no hesitation in approving. Dear Harriet, I give yself joy of this. It would have grieved me to lose your acquaintance, which must have been the consequence of your marrying Mr. Martin. (52-53) After declining Mr. Martinââ¬â¢s proposal, Miss Woodhouse and Mr. Knightley get into an argument because Mr. Knightley sees that Harriet is actually lower in class than Mr. Martin, while Emma disagrees. Mr. Knightley states, ââ¬Å"Nonsense! Har riet Smith refuse Robert Martin! Madness, if it is so; but I hope you are mistakenâ⬠(60). Emma thinks that since she is a friend of Harriet, she cannot possibly be that low in class because Emma doesnââ¬â¢t associate with the lower class. When Harriet has to return a visit from Mr. Martinââ¬â¢s sister, Elizabeth, Emma tells her to make it brief because she cannot stoop down to their level in class. This act offends the Martins because Harriet had stayed with them for a couple of months and they think the least she can do is stay and chat. I agree with Julia Brown in that, ââ¬Å"Her greatest sin in the novel is cutting off Harriets warm attachment to the Martins; as Lionel Trilling has said, she is a reactionary, out to stop social mobilityâ⬠(Brown). Emma thinks that if you are high in society then you need to associate with the higher classmen and if you are lower, only associate with lower classmen. Another instance in which class ranking dominates is when Emma wants Harriet to marry Mr. Elton. She thinks he is in love with her because of all the little gestures she notices. Brown writes, ââ¬Å"As always in Jane Austen, the smallest detail of behavior can justify the most definitive judgmentâ⬠(Brown). For example, Emma is painting a portrait of Harriet and Mr. Elton watches her the whole time and offers to go get it framed in London when she is done. Goodheart thinks: Emma ignores both the temperamental disaffinity and the social distance between them- and more grievously she misunderstands the desires of Mr. Elton. He is a vicar from a good family with social ambitions; Harrietâ⬠¦ wholly in thrall to Emmas matchmaking machinations. (589-590) Mr. Elton doesnââ¬â¢t want to marry Harriet because she is low in society and he doesnââ¬â¢t want to degrade himself by marrying her. Mr. Elton explains to Emma: Miss Smith! I never thought of Miss Smith in the whole course of my existence; never paid her any attentions, but as your friend; never cared whether she were dead or alive, but as your friend. If she has fancied otherwise, her own wishes have misled her, and I am very sorry, extremely sorryâ⬠¦ Oh, Miss Woodhouse, who can think of Miss Smith when Miss Woodhouse is near? I have only thought of youâ⬠¦ Everything that I have said or done, for many weeks past, has been with the sole view of marking my adoration of yourself. (132) When Emma finds out that Mr. Elton loves her and not Harriet, she believes that Mr. Elton only loves her because he feels that she can help raise him in society: ââ¬Å"She [Emma] thought nothing of his attachment, and was insulted by his hopes. He wanted to marry well and, having the arrogance to raise his eyes to her, pretended to be in love; but she was perfectly easy as to his not suffering any disappointment that need be cared forâ⬠(136). When Emma realizes this, she is disturbed. She does not notice this, but she is doing the exact same thing. Her class ranking status always leads her into her decision or behaviors. Later, Emma retrieves information that Mr. Elton had married a woman that did increase his society ranking. He married Miss Augusta Hawkins. She is considered a social climber; someone who has money and wealth, but not really what it takes to be considered high in society. She thinks money alone makes you higher ranked, which aggravates Emma. We also see later on in the book how Emma thinks of The Coles as social climbers too. They have recently become wealthier and are trying to act like they are high-class people just because they have more money. Emma doesnââ¬â¢t like this at all. To Emma, everyone ends up sad, frustrated, and lonely when they try to excel their social class ranking. Later on in Emma, after Miss Woodhouse gives up on trying to find the perfect match for Harriet, she finds out that Harriet is now interested in Mr. Knightley: ââ¬Å"I never should have presumed to think of it at first, but for you. You told me to observe him carefully, and let his behaviour be the rule of mine- and so I have. But now I seem to feel that I may deserve him; and that if he does choose me, it will not be anything so very wonderfulâ⬠(413). After learning of this she realizes that she [Emma] is in love with Mr. Knightley. She thinks Harriet is a good friend, but she doesnââ¬â¢t think she deserves Mr. Knightley. Emma states, ââ¬Å"Mr. Knightley and Harriet Smith! Such an elevation on her side! Such a debasement on his! â⬠(415). Emma regrets teaching Harriet that a match with someone in a higher class is acceptable. Soon, she reveals her love for Mr. Knightley and he does the same for her: If I [Mr. Knightley] loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more. But you know what I am I have blamed you, and lectured you, and you have borne it as no other woman in England would have borne itâ⬠¦ God knows, I have been a very indifferent lover. But you understand me. Yes, you see, you understand my feelings- and will return them if you can. (432) While debating on how to tell Harriet, Mr. Knightley shares the news that Mr. Martin proposed to Harriet again and this time, she accepted. Emma is happy with their engagement: ââ¬Å"I am perfectly satisfied and most sincerely wish them happyâ⬠(477). She realizes they are in the same class and meant for each other: ââ¬Å"In the end, Emma finds through her love of Mr. Knightley that much of her snobbery is false and superficial. We see the layers of it peeling off, especially when she learns that Harriet is- after all- engaged to Robert Martin. â⬠(Brooke 182). She finally saw how ridiculous she was being when trying to match-make Harriet with someone of the higher class: ââ¬Å"She was wise enough, finally, to see the errors of her ways, and to reform. No longer will she consider the villagers as puppets for her amusement. â⬠(Magill Book Reviews). Harriet then realizes how absurd it was to reject Mr. Martin the first time when she had no good reason to reject his proposal of marriage. Emma and Harriet attach their selves to men in their own class ranks and both end up happily ever after. In conclusion, social status was very important in the nineteenth century. Austenââ¬â¢s novel, Emma proves this theory. Brown states, ââ¬Å"In its unlikely and changing combinations, the catalogue gives an impression of social irrationality, overworked variety, and exhaustive socialization. Yet no other novel has more the opposite effect: of rich, unbroken continuity â⬠(Brown). The story also shows the worry produced in the superior classes by increasing class mobility in England. Class mobility is possible but only if one has a natural decency. Eugene Goodheart states, ââ¬Å"The novel concludes in the spirit of comedy with the promise of ââ¬Ëperfect happinessââ¬â¢, The community at the end is ideally organized or reorganized in a way that makes for happiness. It is a morally as well as a socially hierarchical worldâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ (595). In the end, everyone is happy when they marry people in their same class. Miss Taylor marries Mr. Weston; Harriet marries Mr. Martin; Emma marries Mr. Knightley; Jane marries Frank Churchill; and Mr. Elton marries Miss Hawkins. Austen, Jane. Emma. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1816. Print. Brooke, Christopher. CRITICAL READINGS: Rank and Status. Critical Insights: Jane Austen (2010): 179-200. Literary Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. 7 Nov. 2010. Brown, Julia Prewitt, and Harold Bloom. Civilization and the Contentment of Emma.. Blooms Modern Critical Interpretations: Emma (1987): 45-66. Literary Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. 7 Nov. 2010. Emma. Magill Book Reviews (1995): Literary Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. 7 Nov. 2010. Goodheart, Eugene. ââ¬Å"Emma: Jane Austenââ¬â¢s Errant Heroine. â⬠589-604. University of the South, 2008. Literary Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. 5 Nov. 2010. Waldron, Mary. Men of sense and silly wives: the confusions of Mr. Knightley. Studies in the Novel. (Vol. 28). .2 (Summer 1996): p141. Literature Resource Center. Gale. Mississippi University for Women. 7 Nov. 2010 http://go. galegroup. com/ps/start. do? p=LitRCu=mag_u_muw.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)