A Study of Capote and His Swans

A Study of Capote and His Swans I read In Cold Blood for the first time earlier this year and even then, it was under duress because it was a requirement for university. It’s not that I didn’t want to in fact, the book had sat on my bookshelf for some years, just because it wasn’t a priority. Reader, let me tell you, I regret my delay. In Cold Blood is seminal, and obviously many before me have said so. It led me down the whirlpool of reading about Capote, fascinated by his own obsession with Perry Smith and the small town of Holcomb, Kansas. With In Cold Blood, Capote set out to redefine writing. He sought to complete a nonfiction novel and wished to see awards lining his surrounds. The awards didn’t come, but in the long term Capote’s book is renowned as an American classic. In the background, Capote struggled with the executions of the murderers Perry and Smith, and found himself unable to complete another novel. Try as he might to finish Answered Prayers, Capote never managed it before his death, once commenting of it that “either I’m going to kill it or it’s going to kill me.” The manuscript he worked on so persistently for many long years focused on the sordid tales of social classes, with characters that strikingly resembled the people Capote had known and socialised with over many years. Off the back of my newfound fascination with Capote, I read Swan Song, Kelleigh Greenberg-Jephcott’s first novel, which fictionalises the lives and tales Capote sought to use for his novel. Greenberg-Jephcott also provides background about Capote’s personal life, his childhood and his conflicting relationships with his family and friends. She paints a picture of a man who erred and failed to see it coming, and of women who turned their backs on him once he took advantage of them. The book is loaded with the egotistical, surface level lives of the elite and therefore is gossipy in tone but that aids the reader to understand the world these people lived in, and the defining moments of their lives. Capote was known for schmoozing with the top brass of his day Babe Paley, Jackie Kennedy and her sister Lee, and Gloria Guinness and Marella Agnelli among them. Greenberg-Jephcott’s book seeks to tell the tales of these women as their confidante spears them in public, releasing sections of Answered Prayers to magazines, shocked when they sever ties with him and he experiences social suicide. Though Capote remains an American icon, committed to film and reproduced times over, the stories of the women he took advantage of are less well known in the 21st century, their starlight lost to the passing of time in a way the creator of the Black and White Ball could never be. The stories in Answered Prayers (and indeed more widely in that era) are almost entirely stories of white people. Capote wrote while civil rights were pushing to an ebb in the United States but his social circle, politically inclined as it was, remained the white upper crust. The women whose confidences he carefully cultivated were all of the same stock but many of them told their own stories in book form in the years after Capote attempted it, and digging more deeply into their writing gives a reality to their voices Capote took away. Though we as readers cannot improve the history of publishing and authorship, we can platform voices that have been lost or forgotten, and we can persistently push for more diversity in our current reading, leaving behind an era of bookshelf exclusivity. Of Truman’s so-called ‘swans’, not all wrote about their experiences but some did. Among them was Slim Keith, who banished Capote from her life and never spoke to him again after his betrayal of her confidences. Slim: Memories of a Rich and Imperfect Life was published in the early 1990s and depicts her rise from nothing to the elite. Keith was undeniably interesting and undeniably imperfect her name dropping and sense of ego pervade the pages of her book and I got the sense that she was never truly happy but reading her own words instead of Capote’s was worthwhile. I also note that finding some of these older books is tricky theyre not too widely available and neither have they been updated. Though C.Z. Guest never wrote about her social life as part of the jet set, she did write First Garden, a book about her adoration of plants and gardening. Capote wrote the introduction to the book, which is full of charm and beautiful illustrations, but doesn’t shine much light on Guest herself. The same can be said of Lee, a somewhat guarded photographic autobiography by Lee Radziwill, loaded with images of her family and friends, notes scattered throughout to help the coffee table book lover into the annals of the Kennedys and Bouviers. Radziwill also wrote Happy Times, which I haven’t managed to get my hands on yet. A friend has told me that it seems Radziwill was determined to leave behind bad memories in favour of recalling the beautiful moments she lived through whether that’s an accurate assessment or not might be for another Rioter to say. Last we come to Marella Agnelli, an Italian-born noblewoman who passed away earlier in 2019 in Turin. Agnelli was renowned for her elegance and opulence, and was known to Capote as The Last Swan, the youngest of the coterie of women he socialised with. In her book The Last Swan, Agnelli wrote that she tried to discourage Capote from his work on Answered Prayers, explaining that she had confided in him often but noting that he waited ‘like a falcon’. Her book is part autobiography, part photo essay, resplendent with images of her fashion, interior and stylistic life. Of course, if you want to read Capote’s spin on these women’s lives, you can pick up a copy of Truman’s Answered Prayers, which was published after his death in the late 1980s. I haven’t read it yet; the voices of the Swans are the only ones I want to know, for now.

Relationship Between Unemployment And Inflation - 2301 Words

The relationship between unemployment and inflation has been the subject of heated debate, stimulate academic divide between macroeconomics because the relationship is difficult to explain. Rational expectations have been proposed by the new classical school of thought, there is not even a short-term trade-off between inflation and unemployment expected. Only a compromise when inflation is unanticipated. We think there is a compromise between the two, even in the short term, regardless of the fact that inflation is expected or not, and take the new Keynesian position on the issue. The relationship between unemployment and inflation is usually modeled within Philips Curve. Philips implied its empirical evidence that there was a stable relationship between inflation and unemployment proposed decision was a combination of the two menu choices, where they could choose any point along the curve between Philips points A and B where A is low inflation but high unemployment and B had low unemployment rates but high inflation. Many economists remain skeptical about the PC since, in classical microeconomic analysis, employment (and unemployment) levels depends on the real wage, not nominal wages as implied by the original PC .dropoff window This led Friedman to come with expectations increased PC. By integrating a theory of the formation of expectations in the behavior of workers model, the model allowed workers to take into account expected inflation. The model assumes the use ofShow MoreRelatedThe Relationship Between Inflation And Unemployment1662 Words   |  7 PagesThe relationship between inflation and unemployment is a topic, which has been debated by economists for decades. It is this debate that has made the opinions about it evolve. In this essay, the controversial topic will be discussed by viewing different economists’ opinions on that according to time sequencing. Inflation is an increase in price levels within an economy. Basically it means that you will have to pay more for the same goods. Unemployment is even more straightforward. It means thatRead MoreRelationship Between Unemployment And Inflation1947 Words   |  8 PagesThe main aim of this chapter is to examine the relationship between two economic fundamentals inflation and unemployment using ordinary least square technique. The model regress the inflation rate against unemployment rate, and money supply over the period 1991-2014. Model specification Model specification The study will use the time series data. This study investigates the relationship between unemployment and inflation in Namibia depending on the formulation provided by Blanchard (2005). TheRead MoreRelationship Between Unemployment And Inflation3391 Words   |  14 Pages[TYPE THE COMPANY NAME] Economics Assignment [Type the document subtitle] 1/18/2015 â€Æ' Table of Contents: Table of Contents: 2 Section 1: Relationship between Unemployment and Inflation 3 Unemployment: 3 Inflation: 3 Phillips curve: 4 SRPC- Short Run Phillips curve: 4 Real Life example of Unemployment in Australia 5 Section 2: Simple model of AD and AS 6 Aggregate demand and Aggregate supply: 6 What is AD or aggregate demand? 6 Consumption Expenditure: 6 Investment Demand: 7 Government Expenditure:Read MoreThe Relationship Between Inflation And Unemployment On Growth1553 Words   |  7 Pages The relationship between inflation and unemployment on growth remains a controversial one in both theory and empirical findings. Originating from the Latin American context in the 1950s, the issue has generated an enduring debate between structuralists and monetarists. 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Phillips who was a classical economist who first came up with this relationship. He posited that the lower the employment rate firms are forced to source for funds so as to increase wages and be able to attract labour. This in turns leads to a rise in money wage inflation. The first challenge to this theory was by MiltonRead MoreThe Existence Of Trade Off Relationship Between Inflation Rate And Unemployment1839 Words   |  8 Pagesinvestigate the existence of trade-off relationship between inflation rate and unemployment rate in Namibian economy between 1991 and 2014 the perspective of Phillips curve by using the Ordinal Least Square (OLS) method. The results of Augmented Dickey-Fuller test shows that all variables are stationary at level and the integration test shows that they integrated at level I(0). The analysis result shows the negative relationship between inflation rate and unemployment rate in short-run as it was expectedRead MorePhillips Curve Methodology Is Used On An Information Set Of 35 Years Essay1623 Words   |  7 Pageshelps in analyzing the relationship in the middle of inflation and unemployment. There is a non-relative negative relationship in the middle of inflation and unemployment (if unemployment is decreased than there is a rising value level in the economy). There is a long-run and easygoing relationship in the middle of inflation and unemployment over the above-mentioned period in Pakistan. There is a momentary relationship (stuns) in the short-run, while there is a lasting relationship (stuns) over the longRead MorePhillips Curve Essay1198 Words   |  5 PagesEconomics: The Phillips curve shows the relationship between unemployment and inflation in an economy. Unemployment involves people who are registered as able, available and willing to work at the going wage rate but who cannot find work despite actively searching for work. Unemployment can be counted by using the claimant count which includes all those who are unemployed and actually claiming benefit in the form of Jobseekers Allowance. Inflation is a sustained increase in general price level

The Adaptation Of The Epic Of Beowulf - 1657 Words

The epic poem Beowulf is one of the oldest surviving literary pieces and therefore one of the most important works of Old English literature. John Gardner, in the form of the novel Grendel, created an adaptation based on one of the most well known epic poems. The adaptation is a successful one due to the fact that Gardner maintains the pivotal events from the plot that are present in the original Beowulf. The adaptation reincarnates the original through its use of the same characters present in both works. Grendel remains the antagonist in both of the literary works, as he wreaks havoc on Hrothgar’s mead-hall. The literary works end the same way, with Grendel dying and Beowulf remaining the epic hero for humanity. The differences in the†¦show more content†¦Grendel is a monster killing the Danes in both the original and adaptation, but readers of Grendel see he is also a miserable creature through his narration. The character of Beowulf remains the same, as the qualit ies that make Beowulf a great leader are still clearly defined in the adaptation. Grendel is able to recognize Beowulf’s strength and leadership attributes. In Beowulf the Geat’s leader is â€Å"a thane†¦with the strength of thirty/in the grip of each hand† (Heaney 380-381). Beowulf proves his strength and leadership qualities in both of the works as he prepares to defeat Grendel. The fight scene between Beowulf and Grendel remains true in the two pieces of literature; Beowulf fakes sleep and engages the monster in hand-to-hand combat. Beowulf is able to tear Grendel’s arm off from the shoulder, ultimately killing him. Before battle the thane proclaims, â€Å"I hereby renounce/sword and the shelter of the broad shield,/the heavy war-board: hand-to-hand/is how it will be, a life and death/fight with the fiend† (Heaney 436-440). Beowulf’s incredible strength is what separates him from the other humans; it plays a large role in the making of the epic poem. Therefore the adaptation maintains Beowulf’s strength, remaining faithful to an important component of the original work. Aside from characters, another major component of an adaptation is the plot and whether it remains true the original work. The plot of Grendel derives from the original work,Show MoreRelatedSimilarities Of The Story In Beowulf922 Words   |  4 PagesBeowulf was originally an epic poem written by an unknown author that set the tone for future epic literature and created the ideal hero for pieces later to come. But despite its significance, Beowulf has been adapted throughout time and the character and poems image has been changed constantly. One of the best examples showing change to the story is the movie depiction of Beowulf. While there are some similarities that connect the book and story together there are overall more differences that separateRead MoreA Realistic Twist on an Ancient Myth Essay1155 Words   |  5 PagesA thousand years ago peasants and kings alike were drawn to the epic and often-heroic tales told by bards. Much like the modern audiences of movies today, these often-fantasized tales captivated their listeners and gave a microscopic glimpse into the culture of the medieval period. Today, there is no doubt that 21st century America is a vast and very divergent world than that of the writers of early British literature. However, nearly a thousand years after the original stories were written, AmericanRead MoreComparing Beowulf And Grendel And Beowulf1702 Words   |  7 Pagestranslated, Beowulf has represented one of the finest examples of heroic poetry. As a tale reflecting the noble deeds of a hero, it uniquely expresses the cultural values of the Anglo-Saxons from whom it originated since heroes often do reflect the best of what their culture deems worthwhile. However, modern adaptations of this work express a different set of cultural values; values unique to modern society. When comparing the translated poem, Beowulf, to the 2005 motion picture, Beowulf and GrendelRead MoreAmbiguity In Beewulf : A Comparison Of Beowulf1024 Words à ‚  |  5 Pages2007 film adaption of Anglo-Saxon text Beowulf naturally takes its liberties to make changes to the plot, but unlike most other Hollywood adaptations, this one brought more depth and plot to the otherwise simple epic. As a consequence, the underlying theme of the film shifts from the blind glory seeking of the text, towards a theme of lust for wealth and power. The events that showcase this contrast are heavily rooted within the three iconic fights of the epic. One trait of the original text showcasedRead MoreBeowulf - Profile of an Epic Hero Essay617 Words   |  3 PagesEpic Beowulf A hero, in the traditional sense of the word, is generally a protagonist in a story whose overwhelming power is the only which can defeat the evil of the day. In a classic example of this comes Beowulf, a novel adaptation of the epic Anglo-Saxon poem by Robert Nye. The main character and namesake of the story is Beowulf, an adventurous young hero. When he hears the tales of the monster Grendel that terrorizes the Danish kingdom, he immediately has the urge to lend his assistanceRead MoreThe Epic Of Beowulf By William Shakespeare1549 Words   |  7 PagesBeowulf is one of the earliest and most famous works of English literature, and is still widely read today. However, over a thousand years has passed since it was written down in England, and even longer since it was originally spread by word of mouth in the old norse lands, and our values and concepts of the world are radically different than the people of Beowulf’s age. Although the epic Beowulf shows their concept of simpl istic duality, in which there is only black and white, good and evil, theRead MoreThe Epic Of Beowulf By William Shakespeare1549 Words   |  7 PagesBeowulf is one of the earliest and most famous works of English literature, and is still widely read today. However, over a thousand years has passed since it was written down in England, and even longer since it was originally spread by word of mouth in the old Norse lands, and our values and concepts of the world are radically different than the people of Beowulf’s age. Although the epic Beowulf shows their concept of simplistic duality, in which there is only black and white, good and evil, theRead MoreWhy Forrest Gump Is Very Much An Epic1584 Words   |  7 Pages An Epic is defined as a long poem, typically derivative of ancient traditionally orally related tales that narrated the feats and adventures of heroic or often legendary figures, or the gallant history of a nation. I believe Forrest Gump is very much an epic. Whe n a story transcends multiple lifetimes and incorporates many events across generational lines, it may be then considered epic. Forrest Gump, a tale about a man of slight mind but significant heart who originates from deficiency to becomeRead MoreMonsters in Literature Essay925 Words   |  4 PagesMonsters run free in epic poems of centuries far past; horrific, villainous creatures of fantasy who illustrate all that is bad in the world and stand for the tribulations the epic hero much overcome. The Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf is no different. Some are born of, and in turn give birth to legends, such as the fire-breathing dragon, while others are tied to the bible. In studies, Beowulfs monsters are explained and will continue to be analyzed as symbolic of countless different ideas. In relationRead MoreCultural Progression through Beowulf Essay examples569 Words   |  3 PagesBeowulf is an Old English poem. It was written sometime between 700 and 1,000 A.D. Over the years it has been edited and rewritten countless times. Some of the more recent versions do their best to stay as close to the original story as possible while others make rather large changes to make it more engaging for today’s audiences Seamus Heaney translated a version of Beowulf in 2001. He tried hard to translate the story in a way that best represents the original. Heaney’s version is bilingual with

The Death of Ivan Ilyich Free Essays

The Death of Ivan Ilyich, by Tolstoy, is the story of a man who is faced with suffering and death in which no one seems to believe him. He’s a common man with common dreams. He’s not extraordinary in any way. We will write a custom essay sample on The Death of Ivan Ilyich or any similar topic only for you Order Now Ivan Ilyich is a good literary protagonist. His character goes though ups and downs, is well rounded and relatable. Ivan married Praskovya Fedorovna. Ivan doesn’t appear to be in love with her. She is attractive, has money, a good social standing and he really has no objection to her, â€Å"†¦the marriage gave him personal satisfaction, and at the same time it was considered the right thing by the most highly placed of his associates† (Lawall). This is a relatable piece of life. This may have held more truth back in this era, but it’s not that far off today either. Many people marry for reasons other than love. Ivan had a good job and was very happy with it despite being passed over for a promotion at one time. He was said to be a gentleman and was admired by his peers. When things were good, they were good. And when they weren’t, well, they just weren’t. â€Å"His wife, without any reason – de gaiete de coeur as Ivan Ilych expressed it to himself – began to disturb the pleasure and propriety of their life. She began to be jealous without any cause, expected him to devote his whole attention to her, found fault with everything, and made coarse and ill-mannered scenes† (Lawall). The ups and downs of his life are what make him a good literary protagonist. Perhaps this scene is one that men can be empathetic towards more than women. Having a well-rounded character makes for a good literary protagonist. When the reader sees Ivan struggling with his own mortality this completes a circle of emotion for the character. The reader has watched Ivan through good times and bad and has been able to relate on different levels. â€Å"In the depth of his heart he knew he was dying, but not only was he not accustomed to the thought, he simply did not and could not grasp it† (Lawall). Being able to grasp the finality of death especially your own, is something that people have thought about and struggled with throughout their lives. It reminds people they are real and not indestructible. A good literary protagonist is one that is relatable and well-rounded and people need to be able to see this character through their ups and downs and still come out with them as being on top in the end. The Death of Ivan Ilyich, by Tolstoy, is the story of a man who had a good life, a decent wife and in the end he suffered and died. As the eader goes through the story of Ivan they are taken into his entire life. He is someone the reader can empathize with which allows connections between the character and reader. Everyone thinks about their mortality at one time or another, but to think about what other’s think of your own mentality is something entirely different. â€Å"Besides considerations as to the possible transfers and promotions likely to result from Ivan Ilychâ₠¬â„¢s death, the mere fact of the death of a near acquaintance aroused, as usual, in all who heard of it the complacent feeling that, ‘it is he who is dead and not I’† (Lawall). How to cite The Death of Ivan Ilyich, Papers

The Prince Niccolo Machiavelli

During the Renaissance, the political situation of Italy consisted of instability, invasion, fear, intrigues, and violence. Several powerful families established their territories and ruled authoritatively. The Prince provided a practical direction to Lorenzo Di Medici to operate in this unstable political environment. According to Machiavelli, the republic was the best form of government as opposed to an authority of the prince.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Prince Niccolo Machiavelli specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Therefore, Machiavelli proposed some advice for a new prince, who wanted to govern a state to prosperity. These pieces of advice would ensure that the prince remained great and powerful. Machiavelli’s work provided practical solutions to Lorenzo in a turbulent political environment. Unfortunately, Lorenzo did not concur with Machiavelli’s suggestions. Machiavelli looks at how an authoritarian ruler can achieve a great success if he changes his authoritarian style. The Prince offers advice on how Lorenzo can expand the empire, keep people from all territories loyal to him, and conquer new territories. According to Machiavelli, Lorenzo could not afford to repeat past mistakes that divided Italy, and he had to learn to use both good and bad styles when running the kingdom. Machiavelli offers two ideal views on principality: these are how to win and hold power. He notes, â€Å"Either through fortune or through strength†, (Machiavelli 6) are the main ways by which rulers can achieve principalities. This implies that people can only achieve power by overthrowing others or inheriting it from the family. From the Renaissance perspective, Machiavelli showed that moral or ethical issues were not important in a quest for power. When a ruler overthrows another one, wars happen and people die. Thus, Machiavelli showed that killings were appropriate means of gaini ng power. Once a ruler has conquered a territory, he must â€Å"ensure that the previous ruler has no heirs† (Machiavelli 9). In addition, a new ruler must not change existing laws or introduce new taxes. Machiavelli argues that the new ruler should maintain the previous lifestyle people had so that many people can like him. This was the only way for the new ruler to establish hereditary domains. Subjects have the duty to remain loyal to their rulers so that leaders can maintain power. The purposes of maintaining loyal subjects are to help the ruler keep power and join militia and fight for the ruler. However, this raises the issue of how Machiavelli viewed ‘subjects’. According to Machiavelli, rulers only needed subjects to maintain their power and protect their kingdoms. Machiavelli did not foresee moral and ethical issues that his work would raise. However, these issues have been the epitome of The Prince. The work provided practical advice in a politically vo latile society. However, both ruthless rulers and business individuals have used Machiavelli’s concepts (Machiavellian) to justify their actions, which view winning as the ultimate goal.Advertising Looking for essay on biography? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Machiavelli offered his advice on qualities the prince needed in order to run a new kingdom. He wrote: â€Å"Since a ruler, then, needs to know how to make use of beastly qualities, he should take as his models among the animals both the fox and the lion, for the lion does not know how to avoid traps, and the fox is easily overpowered by the wolves. So you must be a fox when it comes to suspecting a trap, and a lion when it comes to making the wolves turn tail† (Machiavelli 54). This indicates that a ruler should be cunning than his subjects or those who may wish to overthrow him. As a result, the subject shall protect their strong ruler, fear him for his strength, and avoid any attempts to kill him. This leads us to the argument of whether it ‘is it better for a Prince to be loved or feared?’ According to Machiavelli, a Prince should be both (Machiavelli 51). However, the challenge is to maintain both love and fear simultaneously. Machiavelli argues for both fear and love because a Prince needs obedience and loyalty from his people and people must fear the Prince because he has the responsibility to control and run the kingdom. Machiavelli notes: â€Å"I conclude, then, that, as far as being loved and feared is concerned, since men decide for themselves whom they love, and rulers decide whom they fear, a wise ruler should rely on the emotion he can control, not on the one he cannot. But he must take care to avoid being hated, as I have said† (Machiavelli 53). Machiavelli supports the use of military to gain power and protect the kingdom. However, he does not support oppression. His views emanate from the notion t hat a good military power leads to a good rule of law. He supports this idea by stating, â€Å"The presence of a sound military force indicates the presence of sound laws† (Machiavelli 65). Machiavelli is right to advise the Prince that the subjects’ loyalty is a good defense than a structure a fortress. Machiavelli notes that leaders should have positive public opinions, have support of subjects, and achieve their objectives. The ultimate objective is to unite different states.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Prince Niccolo Machiavelli specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Machiavelli does not encourage leaders to be cruel for personal gains. Instead, he wants leaders to use their power and influence to protect their kingdoms and subjects. Thus, most people have misunderstood Machiavelli’s concept of â€Å"The end justifies the means. This is because Machiavelli believed that rulers could use brutality to capture, but will eventually lose their glory. Therefore, he believes that the Prince can only achieve loyalty, obedience, and trust if he does not cruelties on his subjects. However, the concept was justifiable if there were clear objectives to achieve for the benefit of the state. Machiavelli viewed humans as objects of gaining power and using it to maintain power. In addition, human subjects provided numbers for authorities, which were suitable for achieving power and money by using force for the interest of the state. Machiavelli considered human subjects as â€Å"fickle and ungrateful† (Machiavelli 52). The Prince showed that Machiavelli’s main concern was how to run a kingdom rather than moral and ethical issues, which came with such responsibilities. Thus, Lorenzo had not moral or ethical obligation to be correct. However, Machiavelli reflects the raw life of the Renaissance in which States benefited from atrocities. Machiavelli remains a contro versial figure. He knew that some of his views were not right. For instance, he viewed subjects as objects of acquiring and keeping power, considered people as ungrateful, and raised issues of fear or love among others. From Machiavelli’s point of view, the ruler could apply these techniques during his time of need in order to defend his throne. The true purpose of Machiavelli remains defined as succinct ideals for running a prosperous kingdom in a volatile political situation. Therefore, Machiavelli did not advocate for brutality. It is advisable for a ruler to have advisers in order to manage a kingdom effectively. According to Machiavelli, a good leader had to possess proper skills in order to select good advisers. The works of such competent advisers are to provide competent responses and honest advice to specific issues.Advertising Looking for essay on biography? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In addition, such advisers have to put the state first before their self-interests (Machiavelli 22). In return, the prince must reward and honor such characters because of their unshakable services. On the other hand, bad leaders were likely to surround themselves with incompetent people, who only revealed their weaknesses. Private morality and ethics have other factors too, such as personal character, state duties, and divine approvals. However, it is only reactions from humans, which count in real-life situations. This explains why Machiavelli insists that a leader needs to achieve the best reputation among his subjects, and do whatever is appropriate and wrong for the prosperity of the state in a given circumstance. Therefore, rulers must be cunning, generous and must inculcate a reputation of honesty (Machiavelli 18). According to Machiavelli, rulers can disregard moral obligations in affairs of kingdoms. Thus, the only relevant issue is the important outcome for the kingdom. It is suitable for rulers to engage in deceit, murder, and other immoral acts for the benefit of their states. These ideologies of Machiavelli gave rise to the concept of Machiavellian, which implies being â€Å"crude, cunning, and deceitful. This is exactly how Machiavelli thought the new prince should act† (Machiavelli 63). This is why Machiavelli notes that, in the absence of a court of law, one should only rely on the result in order to make a judgment. However, Machiavelli had a strong belief in the need to have a strong ruler so that kingdoms could maintain their power for benefits of subjects rather than for individual interests. Works Cited Machiavelli, Niccolo. The Prince. Shelbyville, KY: Wasteland Classics, 2011. Print. This essay on The Prince Niccolo Machiavelli was written and submitted by user Audrianna Nash to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Michelangelos Life essays

Michelangelo's Life essays If one were to be asked if Michelangelos life affected his work, I would have to say yes and that would be saying it in the least. All of Michelangelos work was based on his life from childhood up to six days before his death. Michelangelo Buonarroti was born on March 6, 1475 in the village of Caprese, Italy, where his father was serving as a magistrate of the Florentine Republic. Michelangelo briefly attended grammar school managed by Francesco da Urbino but he spent most of his time drawing or sketching. It was something he couldnt live without, but brought him frequent scolding and even beatings by his father who considered drawing and fine arts to be a waste of time that brought no money or honor to his family. Little did his father know that in time Michelangelo would become one of the most important artists of the Italian Renaissance. At thirteen Michelangelo was apprenticed to Dominico Ghirlanaio, the leading fresco (wall) painter in Florence. Michelangelo remained only one year: it was Ghirlandaio himself who sent him to the Medici Gardens Art School that Lorenzo the magnificent had founded in Florence for young artists and sculptures. During this first year at the Medici Gardens, the young Buonarroti developed his innate quality by studying the ancient masterpieces, sketching, drawing and fashioning clay models after the works of Donatello and Masaccio. It is believed that during this period he carved two bas-reliefs: one depicting the Battle of Centaurs a subject taken from Greek mythology in the style of the Old Masters the second one Madonna on the Stairs is a flattened relief derived from Donatello. The Madonna of the steps is one of his earliest sculptures in which he tackles a subject to which he would return several times: the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child, with the mother already touched by a foreboding that her son is destined ...

Emile Durkheim and His Impact on Sociology

Emile Durkheim and His Impact on Sociology Émile Durkheim, one of the founding thinkers of sociology, was born in France on April 15, 1858. The year 2017 marks the 159th anniversary of his birth. To honor the birth and life of this important sociologist, well take a look at why he remains so important to sociologists today. What Makes Society Work? Durkheims body of work as a researcher and theorist focused on how it is that a society can form and function, which is another way of saying, how it can maintain order and stability (See his books titled The Division of Labor in Society  and The Elementary Forms of Religious Life). For this reason, he is considered the creator of the functionalist perspective within sociology. Durkheim was most interested in the glue that holds society together, which means he focused on the shared experiences, perspectives, values, beliefs, and behaviors that allow people to feel that they are a part of a group  and that working together to maintain the group is in their common interest. In essence, Durkheims work was all about culture, and as such, it remains deeply relevant and important to how sociologists study culture today. We draw on his contributions to help make sense of what holds us together, and also, and quite importantly, to help us understand the things that divide us, and how we deal (or dont deal) with those divisions. On Solidarity and the Collective Conscience Durkheim referred to how we bind together around a shared culture as solidarity. Through his research, he found that this was achieved through a combination of rules, norms, and roles; the existence of a collective conscience, which refers to how we think in common given our shared culture; and through the collective engagement in rituals that remind us of the values we share in common, of our group affiliation, and our shared interests. So, how is this theory of solidarity, crafted in the late 19th century, relevant today? One subfield in which it remains salient is the Sociology of Consumption. In studying why, for example, people often make purchases and use credit in ways that conflict with their own economic interests, many sociologists draw on Durkheims concepts to point out the important role that​  consumerist rituals play in our lives and relationships, like giving gifts for Christmas and Valentines Day, or waiting in line to be among the first owners of a new product. Other sociologists rely on Durkheims formulation of the collective conscious to study how certain beliefs and behaviors persist over time, and how they connect to things like politics and public policy. The collective conscious- a cultural phenomenon premised on shared values and beliefs- helps explain why many politicians are elected based on the values they claim to espouse, rather than on the basis of their actual track record as legislators. The Dangers of Anomie Today, Durkheims work is also useful to sociologists who rely on his concept of anomie to study the way violence often crops up- whether to the self or others- in the midst of societal change. This concept refers to how societal change, or the perception of it, can cause one to feel disconnected from society given changes in norms, values, and expectations, and how this can cause both psychic and material chaos. In a related vein, Durkheims legacy also helps explain  why disrupting everyday norms and routines with protest is an important way of raising awareness of issues  and of building movements around them. There are more ways that Durkheims body of work remains important, relevant, and useful to sociologists today. You can learn more about that by studying him, and by asking sociologists how they rely on his contributions.