Shadow Of A Doubt Essay examples -- essays research papers

Shadow of a DoubtShadow of a Doubt is an Alfred Hitchcock film that was tanginess on location in the 1940s town of Santa Rosa, California. The town itself is representative of the ideal of American society. However, hidden within this picturesque community dark corruption threatens to engulf a family. The tale revolves around Uncle Charlie, a psychotic killer whose namesake niece, a teenager girl named Charlie, is emotionally thrilled by her Uncles arrival. However her opinion late changes as she probes into her mysterious uncle. In the film, director/producer Alfred Hitchcock blends conventions of film noir with those of a clarified town domestic comedy as a means of commenting on the contradictions in American values.      In the beginning the film is immediately set up in the film noir style. Under the opening credits a shadowy backround image is shown kaleidoscopically. Couples dressed in elegant ballroom gowns and suits waltz together dizzyingly as the & quotMerry Widow Waltz" plays. The context has nothing to do with the fun to follow (until Charlies crimes are revealed.) The titles dissolve in to a panoramic view of a bridge, further dissolves take us first to junkyard and then to a scene of children playing in the street. The city is shown as a dirty, dark place. We are taken to a Philadelphia rooming house (shown with a number 13 on the door.) in spite of appearance we are introduced to "Uncle Charlie" (Joseph Cotten). He is reclining stiffly in bed during the day in a seedy room. . He plays with the phallic cigar that he is smoking, seemingly bitter and cynical. On the bedside table next to seemingly indifferent and fatigued man is and an open billfold with a carelessly strewn pile of bills on top (some of the bills have travel to the floor and lie strewn around). The overweight, middle-aged landlady knocks on the door and enters, identifying him as Mr. Spencer and informing him that two men have been asking for him. As per his instructions to not bear upon him, she didnt let them in, however, they have not left, instead they retreated to the street corner to stake out the boarding house. Noticing that he looks exhausted and depressed (he passively dust on his bed during their entire conversation), she suggests that he should get some rest. Then she notices his money cluttered all about and hurries forward to straighten it ... ...of all office (for, of course, there is no way that a normal person could ever kill.) In keeping with this principle the film attempts to absolve Young Charlie from all right in her Uncles death, for it is seen as an accident that occurred when Young Charlie was fighting her Uncle in self-defence. In the final stages of the film we are brought back to the small town introduced to us in the beginning, this time, however, it is in morning for a beloved son. Charlies death has brought Graham back to Young Charlie. We can see the good side has won the battle for her. As in early situational Charlie has learned her moral lesson and the episode may end.      This paper has attempted to investigate the ways in which Alfred Hitchcock blended conventions of film noir with those of a small town domestic comedy. It first looked at the opening scenes of the film in which the two conventions were introdruced. It then went on to analyse the film with the aid of Robin Woods obligate Ideology, Genre, Auteur. From these two forms we can see that film noir and small town comedy were used as a means of commenting on the contradictions in American values.

Understanding Schizophrenia Essay -- Essays on Schizophrenia

In my senior year of high school, I began to experience personalitychanges. I did not realize the signification of the changes at the time, and Ithink others denied them, but looking back I whoremonger see that they were the earliestsigns of illness. I became increasingly withdrawn and sullen. I entangle alienatedand lonely and hated everyone. I felt as if there were a huge gap between meand the rest of the world everybody seemed so strange from me. This excerptdescribes part of Esse Leete 20-year battle with schizophrenic psychosis. She committedherself to leading the fullest life her disease will allow and to educatingothers about mental illness. schizophrenic psychosis is a very unspoiled disease, butthrough defining schizophrenia and getting the patient help and treatment aschizophrenic can lead a full life.Schizophrenia is defined as any of a group of psychotic reactionscharacterized by withdrawal from reality with highly variable affective,behavioral and intellectual dis turbances by the American Heritage Dictionary.No definition of schizophrenia can adequately describe all people with thisillness. Schizophrenia is an extremely complex mental illness. It is clearthat schizophrenia is a disease which makes it vexed for the person with theillness to decide what is real and what is not (Swados 5). It is also clearthat this brain disease affects normal, intelligent people in all walks of life.There are six concrete phrases that describe schizophrenia it is a realdisease, has concrete and specific symptoms, is different from other mentalillnesses, is the dissolvent of flaws brain biochemistry, whitethorn be treated by specificantipsychotic drugs, and is almost always treatable.Scientist are unsure of the causes of schizophrenia, although researchis progressing rapidly. Scientist are almost certain that schizophrenia hasmore than one cause. One cause could be a chemical imbalance. An imbalance ofthe brains chemical system has long been suspected as the main cause of theillness (Youth 2). A second cause could be stress. Most authorities disagreethat severe stress can cause the illness. Stress can however, worsen thesymptoms when the illness is already present. A third cause could possibly begenetic predisposition. Genetic transmission has yet to be proven purge thoughschizophrenia tends to run is some families(Youth 3). F... ...hould have an interest in the illness, becompetent, and has empathy with the patients. If there is any apprehensionabout the physician/psychiatrist the family has the honorable to get a secondopinion. Assisting the doctor/psychiatrist is the third step of gettingtreatment. Since patients with the illness may not volunteer much informationduring the assessment, the family should chatter to the doctor or write a letter.In some cases, it may be necessary to send written information. Theinformation that is supplied will greatly dish the physician to make anaccurate assessment and outline a suitable course of action.Presently schizophrenia is not a curable disease, but is controllable(Youth 15). The treatment of schizophrenia could possibly be medication. Mostpatients with schizophrenia must regularly take maintenance medication to keepthe illness under control. It is difficult for the doctor/psychiatrist to knowwhich medication will work best for a given individual. Many changes in type ofdrug and dosage may be required. This period of trial and error can beextremely trying for everyone involved. Some medications have unusual anddifficult side effect

Plato Essay -- essays research papers

Today many people regard Plato as the low gear genuine political philosopher and Aristotle as the first political scientist. They were both great thinkers in regards to, in part with Socrates, being the foundation of the great western philosophers. Plato and Aristotle separately had ideas in how to proceed with improving the society in which they were part of during their existence. It is necessary therefore to analyze their different theoretical approaches regarding their philosophical perspectives, such as ethics and psychology. This paper however will mainly concentrate on Aristotles views on friendship and how it impacts todays society. The main objective in Platos philosophy is a creation of a perfect society. He constructs a foundation for a utopian society in his book The Republic. The subprogram of his thought process was to cleanse his society of the woes he felt plagued it and construct a new one. Plato lived during the Peloponnesian War, which consequently lead to the end of the Athenian democracy. He had eyewitness account of his mentors (Socrates) trial and execution. Bitter and angered by the political corruption that gripped the Athenian classless government, he disengaged from participating in politics. He strongly felt that neither a moral individual nor a conjure that is rational could be established in a democratic environment. Plato felt that the common man wasnt intelligent or capable of dealing with concepts that influence the state such as economics, policy of foreign personal matters and other relative matters. He viewed political incumbents in Athens government as being elected for matters that were irrelevant to main factors that affected the state. Another jeopardy was that excessive liberty for the people of the democratic society could potentially lead to anarchy. In Platos perfect society, he forged ahead to eliminate the malady (pluralism of friendship) that plagued the human character and society (Class Notes). Essentia lly, Plato wanted to establish the perfect form of society, linked by one single entity. Aristotle, unlike Plato, was not focused or concerned about the idea of a perfect society, instead he wanted to improve upon the one that he was part of during his existence. Rather than develop a framework for a society that is perfect, he suggested that society should, in it self, strive to utilize the best system it can attain. He f... ...l truth. Aristotle was more concerned with citizenship and institutional politics. They both had developed ideas and concepts to improve society as a whole. Aristotle and Plato have had a tremendous impact on political scientists of today. In Aristotle case, he was trusty for developing various democratic ideas. Even in modern democracies like our own Aristotles ideas hold true. When we vote in the election of the ruler of our landed estate we, theoretically, are voting for the single most excellent citizen of our nation. That is we are voting for that cit izen who can do the best job of working toward our common interest. The citizen of a state who has the greatest ability to work towards the salvation of the constitution has a great gift that can benefit all citizens. It only makes sense to allow that occurrence individual to lead the rest of the citizens in working towards the common interests of the state. In conclusion, these men were great thinkers. Their opinions on society and its function were quite different, but they both had the same concern, to build a better way of life for their societies they in lived in and for the societies that would come to be in the future.

Reversal of Male/Female Roles in Sister Carrie :: Sister Carrie Essays

Dreisers Reversal of Male/Female Roles in Sister Carrie The novel Sister Carrie seems to be the program from which Dreiser explores his unconventional views of the genders. In the world of Sister Carrie, it would seem that the role of women as trusting, caring creatures, and men as scheming victimizers is reversed it is Carrie that uses the men around her to lounge around what she wants, and it is those men who are victimized by her. Thus Dreiser uses this novel as a means of questioning the popular notions of gender and the role that it plays in ultramodern society. In Sister Carrie, it would seem that Carrie, while outwardly benign, and possibly even deserving of her portrayal as sweet and innocent at the beginning, soon emerges as a ruthless predator in the guise of a helpless woman. From her relationship with Drouet, she manages to gain the experience and social skills to pursue higher aspirations. She seems to stay with Drouet lone(prenominal) long enough to see that bett er things are available, comforts more extravagant than Drouet can provide, and cultural experiences and social nuances whose existence Drouet seems unaware of. Drouet, then, acts as a stepping stone for her. When he no longer has anything he can offer her, she drops him in favor of Hurstwood. In Hurstwood, Carrie sees all that lacks in Drouet--a more acute ace of culture and worldliness, and the wealth to explore the new wonders of civilized Chicago life. Hurstwood serves as yet another step in her ladder to victory, and when he sinks into poverty and self-disgrace later his divorce, she sees him as a no longer being an asset, and leaves him in favor of striking out on her own, leaving him to turn into a beggar, while she makes it big. Too, after she makes it big, and Drouet comes to see her, she can no longer see him as a friend worthy of her company, and in fact avoids ever seeing him again. The fact that she owes her success to Drouet and Hurstwood seems inconsequential to h er. It would seem also at the end of her road to fame, when she is receiving social invitations from millionaires and famous figures, that she sees herself as being to good for any of them she sees herself as being to a fault good for the company of any man.

Failure Of The Weimar Republic Essay -- essays research papers

To what extent is it true to say that "The failure of the Weimer nation was due to external factors beyond its control and the rise of a German the Nazarene"?In 1933, the Weimer Republic was officially abolished by Hitler, the German messiah. The Weimer Republic was replaced by his opposite, its contrast. From a democratic state to a state ruled by a messiah. Was it inedible that the Weimer Republic would become a failure? Or would different conditions have changed the occurred?There where different external factors the Weimer Republic where obligate to face.      The actual Republic had neither influence nor any fault to their existence. The first of these factors the Republic faced was the fact that the Republic was introduced following the defeat in the First World War. This was state in the minds of all German people. They where not able to understand how they could have lost a war where they had been told they where beating their enemies. German p eople where shocked, surprised. It was unenviable for them to recall they had not won. Military defeat combined with social distress of the Germans for the loose of war was what gave birth to the Weimer Republic. Therefore, it started under bad conditions. A war which had been believed to be a success but became a failure.As a result of failure in the First World War Germany was forced to sign a treaty, called the agreement of Versaille. In this treaty, it was recognized that Germany was responsible for the start of the war. This even though not proved was recognized by Germany. The people could not believe it. They where embarrassed at what there country had recognized by signing the treaty. Even though, they had no choice but to sign.As one of the points in the treaty, Germany had to pay a rather large number of reparations. Germany was required to make extensive financial reparations. Difficulty arose in making these reparations. The Republic did not have enough money. The We imer Republic was not in a good situation. They had a lot of reparations to make and no money to be able to make them.Yet, the Republic managed to survive many difficult years. The putsches, its early years. Just as it was getting over these growing pains, another crisis occurred for the republic. In 1923, there was the invasion of the Ruhr. This affected the German middle class. ... ...with a monarch. Their parents and grandparents had lived there action in Germany governed this way. They had always known this and no other way.The largest group in Germany, the middle class, many of the mittelstand never gave up with the idea of the Imperial System. They still believed in the Kaiser. In his way of ruling. They did not want to accept a new government therefore, they disliked the Weimer Republic since its birth. There also where problems with the other political parties. The communistic where standing alone as a group. They wished to see the death ofThe conditions in which the Weim er Republic was born where not the best. After a failure, one the Republic was forced to face. The Republic had to face many external factors, which they had no power upon. These external factors did push the Weimer Republic to its failure. The rise of Hitler also helped the Weimer Republic to fail. He had power over the German people they believed him and listened to him. Yet, this was not all. There where other factors which also helped the Weimer Republic to fail. All these different points together made the Republic extremely weak, making it inevitable for it to collapse.

Failure Of The Weimar Republic Essay -- essays research papers

To what extent is it true to say that "The failure of the Weimer majority rule was collectable to external situationors beyond its control and the rise of a German messiah"?In 1933, the Weimer republic was officially abolished by Hitler, the German messiah. The Weimer Republic was replaced by his opposite, its contrast. From a democratic state to a state ruled by a messiah. Was it inedible that the Weimer Republic would become a failure? Or would polar conditions entertain changed the occurred?There where different external factors the Weimer Republic where forced to face.      The actual Republic had neither influence nor any fault to their existence. The first of these factors the Republic faced was the fact that the Republic was introduced following the defeat in the First World War. This was present in the minds of all German people. They where not able to understand how they could have missed a state of war where they had been told they where beating their enemies. German people where shocked, surprised. It was difficult for them to believe they had not won. Military defeat combined with social distress of the Germans for the loose of war was what gave birth to the Weimer Republic. Therefore, it started under bad conditions. A war which had been believed to be a success but became a failure.As a result of failure in the First World War Germany was forced to sign a treaty, called the Treaty of Versaille. In this treaty, it was recognized that Germany was responsible for the start of the war. This even though not prove was recognized by Germany. The people could not believe it. They where embarrassed at what on that point country had recognized by signing the treaty. Even though, they had no prime(prenominal) but to sign.As one of the points in the treaty, Germany had to pay a rather large number of reparations. Germany was required to make extensive financial reparations. Difficulty arose in making these reparations. The Republic did not have enough property. The Weimer Republic was not in a good situation. They had a lot of reparations to make and no money to be able to make them.Yet, the Republic managed to survive many difficult years. The putsches, its early years. Just as it was getting over these growing pains, another crisis occurred for the republic. In 1923, there was the invasion of the Ruhr. This affected the German pith class. ... ...with a monarch. Their parents and grandparents had lived there life in Germany governed this way. They had always known this and no other way.The largest group in Germany, the middle class, many of the mittelstand never gave up with the idea of the Imperial System. They still believed in the Kaiser. In his way of ruling. They did not want to accept a new disposal therefore, they disliked the Weimer Republic since its birth. There also where problems with the other political parties. The communist where standing alone as a group. They wished to see th e death ofThe conditions in which the Weimer Republic was born where not the best. After a failure, one the Republic was forced to face. The Republic had to face many external factors, which they had no power upon. These external factors did push the Weimer Republic to its failure. The rise of Hitler also helped the Weimer Republic to fail. He had power over the German people they believed him and listened to him. Yet, this was not all. There where other factors which also helped the Weimer Republic to fail. All these different points together made the Republic extremely weak, making it inevitable for it to collapse.