No Church in the Wild Analysis Essay Example

No Church in the Wild Analysis Essay Ryan Jones Professor Brian Burkhart College Composition I 13 November 2012 â€Å"No Church in the Wild†: From a Theologic Standpoint With the release of their newest CD, Watch the Throne, many of Jay-Z and Kanye West’s most exclusive tracks have come under scrutiny. One particular song containing debatable yet obvious theological symbolism is â€Å"No Church in the Wild. Citing and exclaiming their religious and social beliefs, as well as their activities in today’s society in this new song, Kanye West and Shawn Carter (Jay-Z) show deep symbolism of today’s culture, the influence of Plato and Socrates on them, as well as their controversial lifestyles. Also, containing a featured chorus by Frank Ocean and a bridge by The-Dream, these parts touch on the symbolism and influence of religion and love in many lives today. The Watch the Throne duo revealed their theological beliefs in this song in many ways typical of their style. The song starts off with Frank Ocean’s hook: â€Å"Human beings in a mob, What’s a mob to a king? What’s a king to a God? What’s a God to a non-believer who don’t believe in anything? † Each of these couplets have significance to one another and are all tied together. He starts off by saying that there are human beings in a mob. But what is one human being to a mob? It is insignificant by number, but numbers make up the masses. He then goes on to ask â€Å"What’s a mob to a king? † creating the question that asks: can a mob of people overcome a king or is a king too powerful? We will write a custom essay sample on No Church in the Wild Analysis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on No Church in the Wild Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on No Church in the Wild Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer But what is a â€Å"king to a God? † Does a mortal king have as much power as an almighty spiritual God? The song begins to unfold when Frank Ocean sings, â€Å"What’s a God to a non-believer who don’t believe in anything? † Frank Ocean brings up an interesting question: if a God is almighty and powerful and has influence over it’s followers, what does this God mean to a non-believer? A non-believer does not care about a God’s existence, so to this person, this God does not even exist or matter. God has just went from being the most powerful being in the universe to superstition. The hook is ended with and also begins the song with the line â€Å"Will he make it out alive, alright, alright, no church in the wild. † This line touches on the â€Å"non-believer† who doesn’t believe in a God and is, in a sense, in the wild. The non-believer has no one protecting him, including a God, so will he be safe in this world where there is no church and God protecting him? As Frank Ocean’s hook of the song endz, the song breaks down and Jay-Z’s verse begins. Jay-Z touches on some philosophical and religious topics throughout his verse. During the second line of his verse, he raps, â€Å"Lies on the lips of a priests, Thanksgiving disguised as a feast. † What if every priest, the messenger for God, whom was supposed to spread the truth, was just telling lies? With the media, Internet, and other means of communication, it is hard to tell what information is true. Thanksgiving, the American holiday to celebrate America’s independence and God’ provisions for our nation, but is tabooed by the fact that we killed numerous Native Americans for our nation. In his sixth line, he states, â€Å"Drug dealer chic, I’m wondering if a thug’s prayers reach,† which is also a Tupac reference, and wonders whether or not a thug or criminal’s prayer is reached by God. From lines 7-9 (â€Å"Is Pious pious cause God I know yall hear my sneaks†), Jay paraphrases â€Å"The Euthyphro Dilemma†: Do the gods love holy (pious) things because they are pious, or are those things that are pious made in this holy way because the gods love them? This comes back to Socrates and his questioning and wondering of why we do things for certain people or the gods to make them happy for no reasoning? Why do we want to make God happy? It is because we are told to make God happy through worship. Socrates does it all for Plato, who was killed for his philosophy and way of thinking. In the next lines, he compares Jesus to Kanye West, as â€Å"Jesus was a carpenter, Yeezy he laid beats,† and Jay-Z is the Holy Spirit, â€Å"Hova flow the Holy Ghost. † Ending his verse, Shawn Carter hands the mic over to The-Dream The-Dream begins by singing this bridge in a very high-pitched, trance-like manner. It transitions from â€Å"the wild† being a literal wild to being a â€Å"state of nature† like love. As stated, he says, â€Å"I stand by you, walk through the fire, Your love is my scripture, Let me into your encryption. † The-Dream thinks of â€Å"the wild† as life, as we fight through it in search of this love. With the conclusion of the bridge, Kanye West’s verse begins and he begins by comparing a woman’s black, cocaine-covered skin to zebra stripes. He then states in the fifth line, â€Å"We formed a new religion † As the verse unfolds, we can see that Kanye West lives this life where he places the highest value on sexual pleasure and exploration with drugs. As long as sexual partners are open and trusting of one another, it is okay to go outside of their relationship for sex. He believes monogamy limits life to only one love. Kanye talks about a girl he met during a crazy night. He says she had â€Å"Two tattoos one read ‘No Apologies,’ the other said ‘Love is Cursed by Monogamy. ’† Kanye believes that monogamy kills and limits love, so why does society believe that it should limit it’s love to one person? Kanye ends his verse by stating â€Å"When we die the money we can’t keep, But we probably spend it all cause the pain ain’t cheap, preach. Kanye West is honest in his verse. When we die, we can’t keep the money or the material possessions we gained in this life. Since life is so hard and Kanye works so hard to get this money, he will probably just end up spending it all because of the pain. The song loops back to Frank Ocean’s hook and ends. Jay-Z and Kanye West sho ok the rap game when they preached their theologies in â€Å"No Church in the Wild. † Kanye and Jay believe that there may be a god, but the god we see in organized religion is tabooed by monogamy and other twenty-first century customs. To survive and enjoy life on this materialistic and mainstreamed earth, we must move past established religion and live our own lives and create our own religion, just as Kanye West does. There is no guarantee that any religion will lead you to salvation, but we know we are just as well off if we follow our own path. This track gives insight on the way one lives, loves, and worships today. How does one want to live in a world with suffering, injustice, monogamy, and other social turmoil? Shawn Carter and Kanye West know not to look for the church in the wild. No Church In The Wild (with Jay-Z) (feat. Frank Ocean) [Frank Ocean] Human beings in a mob What’s a mob to a king? What’s a king to a god? What’s a god to a non-believer? Who don’t believe in anything? We make it out alive All right, all right No church in the wild [Jay-Z] Tears on the mausoleum floor Blood stains the coliseum doors Lies on the lips of a priest Thanksgiving disguised as a feast Rollin ’ in the Rolls-Royce Corniche Only the doctors got this, I’m hidin’ from police Cocaine seats All white like I got the whole thing bleached Drug dealer chic I’m wonderin’ if a thug’s prayers reach Is Pious pious cause God loves pious? Socrates asks, â€Å"Whose bias do y’all seek? † All for Plato, screech I’m out here ballin’, I know y’all hear my sneaks Jesus was a carpenter, Yeezy, laid beats Hova flow the Holy Ghost, get the hell up out your seats Preach [Frank Ocean] Human beings in a mob What’s a mob to a king? What’s a king to a god? What’s a god to a non-believer? Who don’t believe in anything? We make it out alive All right, all right No church in the wild [The-Dream] I live by you, desire I stand by you, walk through the fire Your love is my scripture Let me into your encryption [Kanye West:] Coke on her black skin made a stripe like a zebra I call that jungle fever You will not control the threesome Just roll the weed up until I get me some We formed a new religion No sins as long as there’s permission’ And deception is the only felony So never fuck nobody wit’out tellin’ me Sunglasses and Advil Last night was mad real Sun comin’ up, 5 a. m. I wonder if they got cabs still Thinkin’ ’bout the girl in all-leopard Who was rubbin’ the wood like Kiki Shepard Two tattoos, one read â€Å"No Apologies† The other said â€Å"Love is cursed by monogamy† That’s somethin’ that the pastor don’t preach That’s somethin’ that a teacher can’t teach When we die, the money we can’t keep But we probably spend it all ’cause the pain ain’t cheap Preach [Frank Ocean:] Human beings in a mob What’s a mob to a king? What’s a king to a god? What’s a god to a non-believer? Who don’t believe in anything? Will he make it out alive All right, all right No church in the wild No church in the wild No church in the wild No church in the wild

How to Create Your Elevator Pitch and Get Hired

How to Create Your Elevator Pitch and Get Hired Okay, hotshot. You’ve got 30 seconds to make the impression that’s going to get you the job. And†¦go! What, you stopped to think about it? Bzzzzzt. The moment is gone, and you can sense your opportunity window closing while the interviewer awkwardly shifts and looks at the clock. If only you’d had an elevator pitch ready to go.What is an Elevator Pitch?The â€Å"elevator pitch† is just a buzzword-y way of saying â€Å"snapshot of important points, stated briefly and to the point.† An elevator ride is typically short, so that’s why it makes a good namesake. In a career context, it means a quick overview your best points and your goals. But in general, it can really be about anything you’re trying to sell to the listener. For example, here are elevator pitches you could use to convince someone to watch a TV show:Game of Thrones is a fantasy-sci-fi drama that follows several different political factions jockeying for power in the kin gdom of Westeros. In addition to the political machinations, there are ice zombies threatening from the North. Oh, and there are dragons! It has something for everybody.Basically, the elevator pitch is a brief, snappy couple of sentences that tell the listener what they need to know- or, more specifically, what you want them to know. The goal isn’t to be a dry source of facts, but rather offer a few curated points that show the highlights.When Will You Need an Elevator Pitch?Although the elevator pitch is a perfect fit for our 140-characters-or-fewer society, you may not be asked to give your spiel in every job interview. However, it’s a great resource to have when you’re unexpectedly on the spot- like at a job fair, a networking event, or a social event where you just happen to be making small talk with a hiring manager at a company where you’d love to get your foot in the door. Though if you are at a social event, pick your timing wisely. Your new acqua intance may just want to talk about last night’s game or that hilarious viral video making the rounds, instead of talking shop.The elevator pitch is also an excellent answer to have on hand for the dreaded â€Å"tell me a little about yourself† question in an interview. Because you’ll already have some of your brightest talking points ready to go (more on that in a bit), you won’t have to spend precious interview time thinking about how to distill your professional self down to the essence. That question often comes at the beginning of the interview, so having your elevator pitch at the ready can help set a smooth, prepared, and confident tone for the rest of the interview.10 Tips for Your Elevator PitchIf you don’t know where to start, we have you covered- use the following 10 tips as a guide on crafting an ideal pitch that gets results.1. Keep it short.Remember, the elevator pitch is so named because it’s meant to last about as long as an elevator ride- about 30 seconds, and definitely less than 60 seconds. (We’re not talking about the Empire State Building elevator here.) That means you should have a few go-to sentences you can use. And while you’re writing, time yourself. If you find yourself creeping up on the minute mark, it’s time to revise and simplify.2. Be persuasive.That means being direct about your accomplishments and qualities, and leaving out qualifiers like â€Å"I guess,† â€Å"I think.† No time for modesty- make bold, declarative statements.3. Be concise.There are times when you will have a chance to expound on your resume, your experience, or your point of view. When asked for an elevator pitch, make sure you’re including only a few main points, and keep the sentences short and straightforward.4. Know your audience.It really depends on who you’re talking to, and what the context is. If you’re at a professional mixer with people who know your ind ustry inside and out, feel free to use a little jargon. If you’re talking to a recruiter or someone who may not know your professional world as well, keep your wording more general.5. Keep the tone professional.An elevator pitch is a confidence thing- you’re making a straightforward statement about yourself. However, it’s important not to be overconfident or too braggy. You want your accomplishments and goals to speak for themselves. You don’t want to turn off your listener just as you’re getting started. Similarly, using wit and humor is fine too- but always keep jokes fairly mild and professional.6. Mention your top skills.Your resume is where you can really break down your skill set, but in your elevator pitch, that is the time to mention that you’re a great communicator, or that you’ve got amazing organizational skills. Focus on the kinds of skills that add value to an organization, like leadership, teamwork, or attention to detai l. Here’s your chance to brag a little about your top skills, but again, be careful of using a boastful tone.7. Include (some of) your goals.This doesn’t need to be a detailed life plan, or your five-year professional plan. Remember, this is a highlight reel, so you’ll want to focus on your main professional goal, or what you’re seeking in this interview/conversation/etc. If you’re talking to an interviewer or recruiter, you don’t need to say something like â€Å"seeking a job as an accountant†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦they already know that. Instead, go with something like, â€Å"looking to take my financial skills and experience to the next level.†8. Answer big questions.When writing your elevator pitch, think about some overarching questions like:What’s the most important aspect of my background?What accomplishments do I have?What are my best skills?What do I want to get out of this pitch?What’s my biggest strength?What drives me the most?What would I like to achieve?Why did I choose my career?What do I like best about my job/career?What do I value the most?You don’t need to cram all of those Big Ideas into your elevator pitch, but you can mix and match them depending on the setting, and to whom you’re speaking.9. Be ready to follow up.If you’re giving your pitch to someone you’ve never met before and may not be talking to five minutes from now, have a business card on hand that you can pass along. If you’re in an interview, be ready to answer follow-up questions about anything you just said- examples that show your skills, or anecdotes about why you love your career.10. Practice like crazy.Do this in front of the mirror, your cat, or a trusted loved one. In the moment, you don’t want to appear stumbling or unprepared, but you also don’t want it to come off like a bored, rehearsed monologue. You want your elevator pitch to sound smooth and confident. This can help you modify things like speed (many of us talk too fast, especially when we’re trying to get through a set of lines), eye contact, and timing.Example Elevator PitchesLet’s look at some samples you can use while thinking about your own elevator pitch.I’m a graduate student in Communications, with a passion for working with special needs students. After completing my thesis in advanced language strategies for children with cognitive impairments, my goal is to work for an agency that specializes in implementing everyday educational programs that help students improve their reading and writing outcomes.After five years of working in corporate marketing and social media, I’ve decided to embrace my inner entrepreneur and start my own company. My company’s mission is providing no-nonsense, data-driven metrics that our clients can take and use right away in their day-to-day business. I want to provide big company expertise for small business owners. M y passion is â€Å"design with a conscience.† I design products that have a minimal impact on the environment, while maximizing sustainability. My background is in both design and environmental science, and I believe that we can make consumer products that combine convenience and responsibility.I’m the data guy. I look at complex metrics, and turn them into a big picture plan. And I love working as part of a team, where diverse ideas and perspectives can lead to better ways of doing things. I firmly believe that the status quo can always be improved.I’m a nurse-practitioner with more than 15 years of experience in patient care. With the challenges of working in healthcare, I know that patients often feel ignored or hustled through, so I’ve made it a priority in my career to make sure that every patient is heard, and gets the highest standards of care. I’m a recent grad, and although I don’t yet have years of experience in the field, I do hav e the organizational and people skills to take my career to the next level. I was just named the Volunteer of the Year, and I bring a high level of care and focus to everything I do.So what do you think? Are you ready to go forth and make a bold statement about who you are, in 30 seconds or less?

Viracocha and the Legendary Origins of the Inca

Viracocha and the Legendary Origins of the Inca Viracocha and the Legendary Origins of the Inca: The Inca people of the Andean region of South America had a complete creation myth which involved Viracocha, their Creator God. According to legend, Viracocha emerged from Lake Titicaca and created all of the things in the world, including man, before sailing off into the Pacific Ocean. The Inca Culture: The Inca culture of western South America was one of the most culturally rich and complex societies encountered by the Spanish during the Age of Conquest (1500-1550). The Inca ruled a mighty empire that stretched from present-day Colombia to Chile. They had complicated society ruled by the emperor in the city of Cuzco. Their religion centered on a small pantheon of gods including Viracocha, the Creator, Inti, the Sun, and Chuqui Illa, the Thunder. The constellations in the night sky were revered as special celestial animals. They also worshiped huacas: places and things that were somehow extraordinary, like a cave, a waterfall, a river or even a rock that had an interesting shape. Inca Record Keeping and the Spanish Chroniclers: It is important to note that although the Inca did not have writing, they had a sophisticated record-keeping system. They had a whole class of individuals whose duty it was to remember oral histories, passed down from generation to generation. They also had quipus, sets of knotted strings which were remarkably accurate, especially when dealing with numbers. It was by these means that the Inca creation myth was perpetuated. After the conquest, several Spanish chroniclers wrote down the creation myths they heard. Although they represent a valuable source, the Spanish were far from impartial: they thought they were hearing dangerous heresy and judged the information accordingly. Therefore, several different versions of the Inca creation myth exist: what follows is a compilation of sorts of the major points on which the chroniclers agree. Viracocha Creates the World: In the beginning, all was darkness and nothing existed. Viracocha the Creator came forth from the waters of Lake Titicaca and created the land and the sky before returning to the lake. He also created a race of people - in some versions of the story they were giants. These people and their leaders displeased Viracocha, so he came out of the lake again and flooded the world to destroy them. He also turned some of the men into stones. Then Viracocha created the Sun, Moon and stars. People are Made and Come Forth: Then Viracocha made men to populate the different areas and regions of the world. He created people, but left them inside the Earth. The Inca referred to the first men as Vari Viracocharuna. Viracocha then created another group of men, also called viracochas. He spoke to these viracochas and made them remember the different characteristics of the peoples that would populate the world. Then he sent all of the viracochas forth except for two. These viracochas went to the caves, streams, rivers and waterfalls of the land - every place where Viracocha had determined that people would come forth from the Earth. The viracochas spoke to the people in these places, telling them the time had come for them to come out of the Earth. The people came forth and populated the land. Viracocha and the Canas People: Viracocha then spoke to the two that had remained. He sent one to the east to the region called Andesuyo and the other to the west to Condesuyo. Their mission, like the other viracochas, was to awaken the people and tell them their stories. Viracocha himself set out in the direction of the city of Cuzco. As he went along, he awoke those people who were in his path but who had not yet been awakened. Along the way to Cuzco, he went to the province of Cacha and awoke the Canas people, who emerged from the Earth but did not recognize Viracocha. They attacked him and he made it rain fire upon a nearby mountain. The Canas threw themselves at his feet and he forgave them. Viracocha Founds Cuzco and Walks Over the Sea: Viracocha continued to Urcos, where he sat on the high mountain and gave the people a special statue. Then Viracocha founded the city of Cuzco. There, he called forth from the Earth the Orejones: these big-ears (they placed large golden discs in their earlobes) would become the lords and ruling class of Cuzco. Viracocha also gave Cuzco its name. Once that was done, he walked to the sea, awakening people as he went. When he reached the ocean, the other viracochas were waiting for him. Together they walked off across the ocean after giving his people one last word of advice: beware of false men who would come and claim that they were the returned viracochas. Variations of the Myth: Because of the number of conquered cultures, the means of keeping the story and the unreliable Spaniards who first wrote it down, there are several variations of the myth. For example, Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa (1532-1592) tells a legend from the Caà ±ari people (who lived south of Quito) in which two brothers escaped Viracocha’s destructive flood by climbing a mountain. After the waters went down, they made a hut. One day they came home to find food and drink there for them. This happened several times, so one day they hid and saw two Caà ±ari women bring the food. The brothers came out of hiding but the women ran away. The men then prayed to Viracocha, asking him to send the women back. Viracocha granted their wish and the women came back: the legend says that all the Caà ±ari are descended from these four people. Father Bernabà © Cobo (1582-1657) tells the same story in greater detail. Importance of the Inca Creation Myth: This creation myth was very important to the Inca people. The places where the people emerged from the Earth, such as waterfalls, caves and springs, were venerated as huacas - special places inhabited by a sort of semi-divine spirit. At the place in Cacha where Viracocha allegedly called fire down upon the belligerent Canas people, the Inca built a shrine and revered it as a huaca. At Urcos, where Viracocha had sat and given the people a statue, they built a shrine as well. They made a massive bench made of gold to hold the statue. Francisco Pizarro would later claim the bench as part of his share of the loot from Cuzco. The nature of Inca religion was inclusive when it came to conquered cultures: when they conquered and subjugated a rival tribe, they incorporated that tribes beliefs in their religion (although in a lesser position to their own gods and beliefs). This inclusive philosophy is in stark contrast to the Spanish, who imposed Christianity on the conquered Inca while attempting to stamp out all vestiges of native religion. Because the Inca people allowed their vassals to keep their religious culture (to an extent) there were several creation stories at the time of the conquest, as Father Bernabà © Cobo points out: With regard to who these people may have been and where they escaped from that great inundation, they tell a thousand absurd stories. Each nation claims for itself the honor of having been the first people and that everyone else came from them. (Cobo, 11) Nevertheless, the different origin legends have a few elements in common and Viracocha was universally revered in Inca lands as the creator. Nowadays, the traditional Quechua people of South America - the descendants of the Inca - know this legend and others, but most have converted to Christianity and no longer believe in these legends in a religious sense. Sources: De Betanzos, Juan. (translated and edited by Roland Hamilton and Dana Buchanan) Narrative of the Incas. Austin: the University of Texas Press, 2006 (1996). Cobo, Bernabà ©. (translated by Roland Hamilton) Inca Religion and Customs. Austin: the University of Texas Press, 1990. Sarmiento de Gamboa, Pedro. (translated by Sir Clement Markham). History of the Incas. 1907. Mineola: Dover Publications, 1999.

Policing and mistrust in black community Research Paper

Policing and mistrust in black community - Research Paper Example gh evidence, most black families in the United States are too reluctant and more cautious in advising their children to be careful when dealing with police officers. While making a flashback, there is often a disturbing experience of either black men or women having suffered under mysterious circumstances in the hands of police. Therefore, how does the level of mistrust hinder the relationship between police and the black society in the United States? As illustrated by Smith and Malcolm (1036), there is a growing concern that the majority of the black community has always been the target of police brutality. Besides, several questions of mistrust between police and black community within the United States have been left unanswered. Consequently, it is not possible to re-examine the relationship between black Americans within the context of policing depending on how the offenders would be awarded judgments from the crime committed. It is very important to understand that there is very minimal American police education concerning cultural and historical injustices. As such, the above has contributed into poor handling of the black community by the police. It is also vital for the police officers to embrace a proper communicative style that is meant to harmonize relationship between members of the community in regard to restoration of law and order. According to Smith and Malcolm (1036), embracing accountability among police officers while dealing with the black minority is considered to be a very important subject. Moreover, it would lead to the incorporation of the spirit of competency and harmonization of trustworthiness between the law enforcers and the community. As a result, it would lead into corporation while ensuring that there is presence of security organs at all levels of the society (Smith and Malcolm 1036) Tipton (54), a chief security analyst from Texas argues that, it is important for the black community to understand `elements of policing and

Adaptation of IS project management in Saudi Arabia toward Essay

Adaptation of IS project management in Saudi Arabia toward understanding the barrier and improve the implementation and development - Essay Example Information Technology projects run high risk of being over budgeted, they may occasionally fall behind schedule, and it’s difficult to gather all the data and tabulate it, further there can be programming errors. With such high risks it becomes difficult to find suitable organizations that are ready to accept the challenges faced in IT projects and that would handle them with perfection. However, one can not ignore development just because the risk rate is high; instead methods need to be found to reduce the risk rate and still better methods to nullify them. In order to handle IT projects properly management of the project is required. Management of projects helps to evaluate the risk and thus help to eliminate them through proper managemental skills. Information system project management helps in managing IT projects. Proper management of IT projects has been helpful in their development; however, there are various constraints to the project management systems. Here in this study, I discuss culture as one of the constraint. An Information System project management, in simple words, is a management system that helps organizations in development of projects by providing information to the organization necessary for development of the project in a manner that is economic and reduces the complications associated with development of a project. Information System project management is a system that assimilates all the data gathered about a project to provide a useful information that can be utilized by project managers for fulfilling the objectives of the project. Information System project management has also been extended to other contexts like decision support systems, ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), SCM (Supply Chain Management), CRM (Customer Relationship Management) project management, resource and people management

Lord Of The Flies - Primitive :: essays research papers

"He looked in astonishment, no longer at himself but at an awesome stranger†¦ He began to dance and his laughter became a bloodthirsty snarling†¦ The face of red and white and black swung through the air†¦" In the novel Lord of the Flies, an account of primitive religion is evident in the behavior of the hunting party. Initially, we will explore chant and uniform action and it’s spiritual effects on the human mind and soul. Secondly, it will be discussed how primitive peoples gain satisfaction from conducting the act of sacrifice. Moreover, this research will go into depth about the transformation into a higher being and development of a new identity through ritualistic actions. Finally, primitive society’s emphasis on fear-provoking, irrational behavior in comparison to modern society’s insistence on rationality will be addressed. In a primitive society, chanting is designed to provide a group with benefits such as the acquiring of material possessions, health, and monopoly over one’s personal circumstances or those of another person. This ritual is performed until one feels satisfied, and/or has been led into spiritual contact with another realm. Another purpose of the chant is for one to feel a powerful being emerge within one’s soul, resulting in a god-like sensation for a short amount of time. In the novel, one can perceive that the hunting party’s vigorous chant ("Kill the beast! Spill her blood!") is one of their final retrogressions into savagery. Its repetitious, invigorating verse elates them, and when the procession finally ends, they behave in a trance-like, mystified demeanor. They begin speaking immediately in excited tones, feeling amazed at the feat they had accomplished. It is written that "the boys chattered and danced", obviously enthralled with their victory. It would be wise to conclude that the boys have derived a sense of power through performing the chant, and they are satisfied with their newfound strength and uniformity. For Jack, chanting is another means of manipulating others. Like one of its benefits to primitive cultures, the chant awards him ultimate control over his entire group. The ritual of the sacrifice is a fundamental element of primitive culture. Primarily, blood sacrifice of an animal is the usual means of atonement for a primitive group. Other reasons behind this sacred ritual were to bow down to power, or to declare one’s adoration of a god or deity. The ideas behind the gift sacrifice, which existed in the early formation of religion, were thanksgiving and redemption.

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

The novel traces the life of David Copperfield from the time of his birth to his mature manhood, when he is married and familiar with the vicissitudes of life. His early years are enjoyable with his mother — who was widowed shortly before his birth — and with her servant, Peggotty. Life is happy for David until his mother decides to marry Mr. Murdstone; afterward, life becomes unbearable for David. He is soon sent to a miserable school where he becomes friendly with James Steerforth, a fellow student. When David's mother dies, he is taken from school and put to work by Mr. Murdstone in a London warehouse.Although David enjoys the company of the impoverished Micawber family, with whom he boards, his other associates and the work are intolerable, so, without money or property, he runs away to his Aunt Betsey Trotwood in Dover. Despite a stern exterior, Aunt Betsey treats him well, adopting him and sending him to a good school. While at school, he boards with a Mr. Wickfie ld and his daughter Agnes. (Throughout the novel, David retains a fond, sisterly affection for Agnes. ) After graduation, David works in the law office of Spenlow ; Jorkins and soon falls in love with Mr.Spenlow's daughter, Dora. About this time, Em'ly, the Peggottys' beloved niece, runs off to marry Steerforth, whom David had innocently introduced to her while she was engaged to Ham, a nephew of the Peggottys. The family is saddened by this development, but Mr. Peggotty sets out to find her and bring her back. David uses his spare time doing clerical and literary work to help Aunt Betsey, who now finds herself without financial resources. He marries Dora, only to find that he has a â€Å"child-wife† who knows nothing of housekeeping and cannot accept any responsibility.Meanwhile, Uriah Heep, an â€Å"umble† clerk in Mr. Wickfield's employ, whom David dislikes, has deceitfully worked his way into a partnership, aided by Mr. Wickfield's weakness for wine. In addition, D avid also discovers that his old friend Mr. Micawber has gone to work for Heep. David has remained fond of the Micawbers, and it troubles him that his old friend is working for a scoundrel. Eventually, however, Micawber has a grand moment of glory when he exposes Heep as a fraud, helping to save Mr. Wickfield and restoring some of Aunt Betsey's finances.David's wife, Dora, becomes ill and dies, and David is troubled until Em'ly, the Peggottys' niece, returns to her uncle. David has felt guilty for some time for having introduced Em'ly to Steerforth. After a reconciliation is accomplished, Em'ly, along with some of the Peggottys, and the Micawbers leave for Australia to begin new lives. Before they leave, David witnesses a dramatic shipwreck in which Steerforth is killed, as is Ham in attempting to rescue him. Still saddened by the loss of his wife and other events, David goes abroad for three years.It is only after he returns that he realizes that Agnes Wickfield has been his true l ove all along, and their happy marriage takes place at last. I don’t know what to think of the book. I found the starting bits very boring. David Copperfield is the least interesting character in the book, and because the beginning of the book deals almost entirely with him†¦well, let’s say it was heavy going for me. In fact, the book itself doesn’t really take off till almost the middle of the story when David’s aunt loses her fortune. After that, David and his friends really stop messing about, and start trying to fix their messed up lives.Until then, it’s all a hodge-podge of bad choices in love, and money. Dickens has a somewhat preachy, moralistic hero, and the tone of this book reflects that. I found some humorous sections, but not many, and the pace is uneven. Towards the end, the last 200 pages or so, Dickens is really forced to up the pace, and it’s an odd feeling when a slow book suddenly hurtles towards the end. In the proces s, Dickens ends up killing one important character, exporting a whole bunch of people to Australia, and sending another couple of people to prison!So, I didn’t like David Copperfield (the hero I mean), and I wouldn’t have liked the book either if not for the really interesting secondary characters. There is Agnes – David’s good and wise childhood friend who is in love with him, David’s silly wife – Dora, the perennially in debt Micawbers, the evil albino Uriah Heep, the sentimental and kind Mr. Peggotty, David’s aunt – the strong, feminist Betsey Trotwood†¦so many people to keep track of†¦but good fun anyway. Charles dickens Charles Dickens is much loved for his great contribution to classic English literature.He was the quintessential Victorian author. His epic stories, vivid characters and exhaustive depiction of contemporary life are unforgettable. His own story is one of rags to riches. He was born in Portsmouth o n 7 February 1812, to John and Elizabeth Dickens. The good fortune of being sent to school at the age of nine was short-lived because his father, inspiration for the character of Mr Micawber in ‘David Copperfield', was imprisoned for bad debt. The entire family, apart from Charles, were sent to Marshalsea along with their patriarch.Charles was sent to work in Warren's blacking factory and endured appalling conditions as well as loneliness and despair. After three years he was returned to school, but the experience was never forgotten and became fictionalised in two of his better-known novels ‘David Copperfield' and ‘Great Expectations'. Like many others, he began his literary career as a journalist. His own father became a reporter and Charles began with the journals ‘The Mirror of Parliament' and ‘The True Sun'. Then in 1833 he became parliamentary journalist for The Morning Chronicle.With new contacts in the press he was able to publish a series of sk etches under the pseudonym ‘Boz'. In April 1836, he married Catherine Hogarth, daughter of George Hogarth who edited ‘Sketches by Boz'. Within the same month came the publication of the highly successful ‘Pickwick Papers', and from that point on there was no looking back for Dickens. As well as a huge list of novels he published autobiography, edited weekly periodicals including ‘Household Words' and ‘All Year Round', wrote travel books and administered charitable organisations.He was also a theatre enthusiast, wrote plays and performed before Queen Victoria in 1851. His energy was inexhaustible and he spent much time abroad – for example lecturing against slavery in the United States and touring Italy with companions Augustus Egg and Wilkie Collins, a contemporary writer who inspired Dickens' final unfinished novel ‘The Mystery of Edwin Drood'. He was estranged from his wife in 1858 after the birth of their ten children, but maintained rel ations with his mistress, the actress Ellen Ternan. He died of a stroke in 1870. He is buried at Westminster Abbey.