Attachment Theory Analysis Development And Application Psychology Essay

Attachment Theory Analysis Development And Application Psychology Essay This paper focuses on the concept of attachment theory. We begin with an analysis of what it is and its development and the founders and important people who have applied and developed it. We then present its applications in the modern psychology. Attachment can be defined as the emotional bond that connects one person with another. This theory was first advanced by psychologist John Bowl by and he described it as a lasting psychological connectedness between human beings (Bowlby, 1969). He believed that the initial bond that is formed by children with their parent or caregivers have very important impact upon their entire lives. According to him, the attachment is very fundamental in ensuring that the childs chances of survival are enhanced. The main theme in the theory of attachment revolves around the notion that mothers who are responsive and available to the needs of their children usually establish some sense of security. The infant are therefore ware of the fact that such a bond with a dependable parent or caregiver is important for their security and safety. This gives them a well secured platform to explore the world at large. The main characteristics of attachment Secure base This is when the caregiver or parent provides a dependable and secure base for the child to explore the world. Safe haven This is exhibited when the child feels afraid and threatened. They do therefore turn back to their caregiver to seek comfort Maintenance of proximity This is exhibited when the child makes efforts to be as close to the caregiver or parent as much as possible in order to keep themselves safe. Distress of separation The Ainsworths theory of Strange Situation Mary Ainsworth, a psychologist in 1970s carried out research that expounded immensely on the work of Bowlbys. Her famous theory of Strange Situation revealed that there is a notable effects of attachment on the human behavior. The study which she conducted entailed an observation of children aged between 12 and 18 months who were being watched as they responded to various situations in which they were left alone for a short period of time. The infants were then reunited with their mothers as pointed out by (Ainsworth, 1978). On the basis of the observed responses, Ainsworth came up with three main styles of attachment which were: Secure attachment Ambivalent-insecure attachment Avoidant-insecure attachment However, later on, the work of Main and Solomon (1986) saw the addition of an extra style of attachment referred to as disorganized-insecure attachment. Several other studies have shown that the various attachment styles have a profound influence on the behavior of humans in their later lives. Detailed characteristics of attachments Secure attachment Children who are securely attached do exhibit a lot of distress when they get separated from their caregivers. They do however become happy on the return of their caregiver. It is worth pointing out the fact that these children do feel secure and are able to depend entirely on their parents ar caregivers. Whenever the caregiver or parent leaves, they may feel upset but with the knowledge and hope that their caregiver would soon come back. In case they get frightened by anything, these securely attached children would seek the comfort and protection of their caregivers. They know their parents and caregivers and their ability to provide them with assurance and comfort. Ambivalent attachment The ambivalently attached children normally do become distressed whenever their caregivers leave them. This form of attachment is usually uncommon and is therefore observable in just a small percentage of American children. It has been shown through research that ambivalent children are a product of poor maternal availability. These children however, cannot rely on their parents availability for their needs to be met. Avoidant attachment This form of attachment is characterized with children who try at all costs to avoid their parents or primary caregivers. In case they get offered a chance, they would show no form of preference between their caregivers and new people who are considered total strangers. Research work has indicated that this form of attachment comes about as a result of a neglectful or abusive caregiver. This therefore means that children who get penalized or punished fpor their reliance on their caregivers would soon learn to avoid seeking their help in the future. The problems with attachment There are a myriad of problems that affects attachments. The questions that most people may ask are what happens to infant who do not form some form of secure attachment. Extant literature suggests that in case there is a failure to be part of a secure attachment during infancy, then there is bound to be negative impact on the behavior of the affected individual. This is notable in the early childhood as well as during adulthood. The children who are diagnosed with oppositional-defiant disorder (ODD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or conduct disorder (CD) usually show signs of attachment related problems. This is possibly as a result of : Early abuse Neglect and Trauma. It has been suggested by clinicians that early attachments do have very serious effects on the future relationships .For example, people who are securely attached during their childhood do tend to have positive qualities such as: Good self esteem Strong romantic relationships Ability to disclose oneself to other people. It has been suggested by several theorists that the attachment theory is a special kind of psychological theory that gives a description as well as explanation to be used as a theoretical framework necessary for discussing the various types of affectionate relationships that do exist between individuals. This theory which got its origin from John Bowlby in 1969 has continued to be influential as a logical framework to be utilized in the explanation of interpersonal relationships as pointed out by (Hazan, Shaver, 1987). Bowlbys theory was heavily influenced by the work of Harry Harlow. Harlow is the one who made a discovery that infant monkeys that got separated from their caregivers (mothers) ended up clinging to objects that were as fluffy as their mothers as opposed to the wire-coated food sispensers.This was a strong indication that the infants had a strong need to be nurtured as poited out by Harlow Suomi (1970).It was the belief of Bowlby that the attachment style of an individual is developed in their childhood and gets heavy influence by the infants relationship with the primary caregiver. His other belief was that an individual style of attachment is durable and has a strong influence on the way the person would relate to others through our their life time (Bowlby, 1969).There are however some theorist who challenge this notion. Secure attachment style This is the very first attachment style. Individuals who are securely attached have very low self esteem coupled with low avoidance. They however have positive attitudes towards themselves and towards the rest of the people. In order to promote secure attachment in children, it is important for the primary caregivers to be dependable, supportive and provide a safe haven as pointed out by Bartholomew Horowitz (1991). Ainsworths strange situation study revealed that securely attached children are characterized by several behaviors such as protestation of their caregivers departure while having the ability to begin being in happy mood only to welcome the departed caregiver and be reassured once again of their comfort as outlined by Tracy Ainsworth (1981). There are other benefits that come with being securely attached. These include the ability to form very close and intimate relationships with very little ease while being comfortable with the autonomy. Secure adults usually feel like they are worthless and have expectations that other persons will be accepting while being responsive at the same time as outlined by (Hazan Shaver, 1987). The diminishing attachment style This form of attachment is characterized by individuals who have low anxiety coupled with a rather high avoidance. Therefore, they do have a positive attitude towards their existence. They however do have a high avoidance of others. This form of attachment is observable in children and is formed whenever an infants bid to gain comfort are rejected and their primary care givers are hesitant and generally reluctant to allow body contact between them. This makes them to pick up their young ones in very abrupt manner. There is also an element of controlling behavior with very limited emotional response as indicated by (Hazan Shaver, 1987). An observation by Ainsworth shown that children who are dismissing had a characteristic of not being distressed by the departure of their caregivers and they were also not too much bothered by their return. This observation was reported by (Tracy Ainsworth, 1981). In adults It is also a general fact that adults who belong to the category of the dismissing individuals do feel a certain sense of worthiness. They however possess a very negative disposition towards other individuals. They do have a self protection mechanism that involves the avoidance of very close relationships and the maintenance of a general sense of independence coupled with invulnerability. The preoccupied (Fearful avoidant attachment styles) This third attachment style is referred to as the preoccupied style. These persons do experience a very high level of anxiety coupled with low avoidance. Therefore they get preoccupied and do feel on a constant basis, a sense of unlovabililty along with that of unworthiness that is combined with an affirmative evaluation of others. The preoccupied style is usually formed whenever a primary care giver is inconsistent in their manner of parenting. This is marked with being loving while being responsive. This is however true only when they are able to manage but not in their response to the childs signals as pointed out by Cassidy (2000). In adults Several adults have been shown to be exhibiting this style and they are known to be in a constant quest to be accepted by others through the gaining of acceptance of other individuals in the community. Fearful avoidant style This is the last type of avoidance styles It comprises of highly negative individuals.They do have: High anxiety High avoidance They also feel the following: Unworthy Unlovable They view people negatively and regard them as either rejecting or untrustworthy. Due to this, they usually avoid very close relationship and try to avoid being rejected at all costs. This group is made up of individuals who have been abused and neglected as pointed out by (Bartholomew Horowitz, 1991). The durability of the attachment styles The durability in this case refers to the state of stability of the attachment styles. This has however been a subject of too much controversy and debate. The attachment theory postulates that after repeated experiences during an individuals childhood, they do while in infancy, develop a string of knowledge structures a concept that can also be referred to as an inner working model that acts as a representative of the various several interactions that the infant had while they were with their primary care giver. The infant then learns of the fact that whenever their primary caregivers get responsive then they have an opportunity of counting on them as well as others should need be. On the other hand, in case the primary care givers are cold, unresponsive and inconsistent, then the child would soon learn to ignore or rather neglect their role in his or her life in regards to gaining comfort. . This model has for a long time been thought of as being persistent throughout the life of an individual and can be considered to act for them as some sort of a guide as illustrated by Fraley, (2002). In order to support this model, we bring out the fact that adults generally do tend to be more attentive to situations that bring out their experiences and to information that is in congruence with their worldly expectations. This is called the confirmation bias In order to illustrate this, we look at the study that was conducted by Simpson, Rholes, Nelligan in 1992 that portrayed that people who have avoidant working models with a general view of others as being unreliable did also vies social scenarios as being ambiguous. A study conducted by Roisman, Collins, Sroufe, Egeland (2005) in order to explore if an infants style of attachment could be predictive of their adult hood indicated that: A secure mind state in regard to one;s romantic relationship and better of (high quality) romantic relationship is usually a result of a secured attachment relationship that took place in infancy. In yet another study by Torgersen, Grova, Sommerstand, (2007) whose research relied on the test results of hypothesis that purported that attachment in most adults is heavily influenced by certain genetic factors. This was done through a comparison of both monozygotic as well as dizygotic twins attachment styles. Their result is was that both the environment and the genes have a profound influence on attachment Recent theories Several recent theories dispute this notion. They do propose however that the durability of a certain style is a functions of the stability of an individuals environment. This can be illustrated with a consideration of the experiences of new relationships and formation of new attachments both of which can bring about positive influence on an individuals working model. It is worth noting that the attachment theory is very crucial in the explanation of an individuals interpersonal relationship in a lifetime. The four proposed attachments styles: Secure Preoccupied Dismissing and Fearful avoidant Are all crucial in the explanation of an individuals interpersonal relationship. It is important to note that the durability of attachment has been questioned and more research is going on this. Applications to social phenomena Attachment theory in raising children Attachment is the link that forms between the person taking care of an infant and the infant itself from when it is between eight to nine months of age, giving the child security emotionally. Bonding starts from when a child is being given food, and goes on to participating in pseudo-dialogue and then it is followed by the child taking part in more active roles of proto dialogue, as shown by Kaye (1982), other ideas such as inter-subjectivity and scaffolding have been looked into by psychologists. As an infant continues growing, their attention towards the person taking care of them increases. John Bowlby (1958, 1980) founder of the attachment theory was involved in extensive analysis on the emotional link between infants and adults and he had a strong belief that the early relationships greatly determined the emotional and behavioral growth of a child. An earlier study done by Bowlby in 1944 found out that children who had an unstable upbringing where more likely to become juvenile derelicts. His work is often free to criticism and has been improved on with further research. Other following research has measured different levels of security and insecurity in children from early times by use of the method known as Strange Situation Test. Other explorations have also shown different types of the difficult habits and how a child may relate with the person taking care of them actively. Bowlbys theory was founded on ideas from ethology studies and earlier works. The psychodynamic theory as put by Sigmund Freund was very pertinent during the 50s following the Second World War when women were taking up caring for households and playing motherhood roles as men were going back to employment post war. Sigmund believed that every child ought to have a relationship with one caregiver monotropism and that separating from this person would bring about the proximity promoting behaviors in the attachment order. The caregiver coming would cause the behaviors of, clinging, making noise and crying to come to an end. The protected grounds of the affectionate links present between the parent and infant representation becomes part and parcel of the inner working model. These therefore become the heart and the base of all close relationship during continuation of the childs life all through to adulthood. The interference of a mother and childs relationship through lack of emotion, se paration and bereavement to the bonding process. Bowlbys theory of maternal deprivation (1951, 1953) was supported by Konrad Lorenz imprinting study on the young ones of animals done in 1966. He believed that the childs caregiver should impress as a constant figure, and that lack of maternal links between mother and child could be dangerous to the childs health mentally and could cause delinquency. His opinions on long term organizational care were that if a child was placed in a foster home before reaching two years and six months social, emotional and cognitive development may not be delayed but his other works show there has been varying types of parting in youth with serious behavioral issues. Attachment behavior as looked into by Mary Ainsworth works (1985) Ainsworth Bell, (1974) Ainsworth et al (1978) becomes the base for all potential connections and this develops up to two years from the time the child is born. She also agreed with Bowlby on the opinion that the process of attachment bonding occurs at the age of two years. Roughly when the infant is about 7 months old when they get to be watchful of strangers and unknown environments. This continues until the child attains two years of age. The process Ainsworth (1969) investigated to determine if a child was securely or insecurely connected was the strange situation paradigm. This involved a series of short separations and reunions. The childs parent and a person unknown to the child took part in the study with a child aged one year, there were eight series in total and Ainsworths measurement on secure and insecure connection was founded on the reunion scene of how the child reacted in such a situation. Evaluation was carried out using four different variables. The results showed that there were three main varying styles of adjusting. Type A was the anxious and avoidant. The Type B secure while the Type C was the anxious and ambivalent. Most children showed secure attachment; one fifth of them showed anxious/avoidant and one tenth showed anxious/amb ivalent. Main and Solomon (1990) introduced yet another variable, D Type: which in recent times was disorganized to match the behaviors of children in risky environments. The strange situation paradigm, has been faulted by Judy Dunn (1982, 1983), she believed that children from varying backgrounds like institutional care and those living with their families may bring different meanings to the test and the childs environment. The method and results of the experiment are doubted even by Judy Dunn herself. In another study carried out by Richman in 1982 et al it showed that different dangerous factors of disturbed behavior can be evident from the time a child is three years old. Some of the factors known to influence a childs emotional development are the mothers mental state, marital stability and the parents attitudes to the child. The childs active part must also be taken into consideration when giving advice on bringing up children as is shown in Sameroffs 1991 transactional model, as children interact with their environments, while the caregiver develops the childs behavior and how they will relate in future. In Ainsworth and Bowlbys view in which they both agree relationships are universal it can said that different peoples and cultures have different degrees on to what degree or amount of time an infant should be left alone, Japanese, the Chinese and the Israeli results showed Type C in a research done across cultures by one Marinus van Ijzendoorn and Peter Kroonenberg in 1988. Problems could also be with the ethological view of drawing comparisons between children and the young ones of animals as they could be controlled by an instinct. Bowlby considered only the effect on the child by the caregiver yet other factors could affect this such as the child moods. A mother whose child has a thorny mood could prefer to work and leave their child in a day facility which in turn could have a negative effect on the mother being unable to leave the child behind with other people. The mothers patience and the look of the goodness of fit. Researchers Chess and Thomas (1984) suggested that attachme nt could impact on the behavior and a reflection on the attachment link between the child and the primary caregiver (mother). Bowbly and Ainsworth worked together in the development of secure links as per the sensitive mothering of a child in its first year but it could have an impact on the mother as argued by Woollet and Pheonix in 1991, where if she has to abandon all her earlier work and duties possibly leading to frustrations. A workable alternative is to share the responsibility of parenting but this notion would appear to be contrast to the opinion of Ainsworth and Bowlby. The showing of the movie A Two-Year-Old Goes to Hospital, by James Robertson in 1952 showed the stress and pains of a child separated from the mother during a long stay in hospital. During this period mothers were advised not to pay regular visits to their children while in hospital. According to Ainsworth and Bowlby ,the abrupt and premature separation of the child could have terribly affected its emotional wellbeing and the bonding process. Separation and providing alternative means for taking care of the child have been researched on more recently. Day care was among the topics researched into by Bowlby and his belief was that that if a child started nursery schooling before attaining three years of age, it would also cause irreparable damage to the child. However, recent studies done during the 70s and 80s have shown varying opinions and this was proved in a research carried out by Laurence Steinberg and Jan Belsky in 1978 and in yet another study done by Clarke-Stewart and Fein (1983). A much later study done by Belsky (1988), had different views as mothers who worked for more than 20 hours a week showed a higher level of insecure attachment as compared to his earlier study which found absolutely no problems with taking children for day care, Clarke-Stewart opposed this data. Other crucial factors that needed to be taken into consideration according to Belsky were the difference in the surroundings, the children in the day care facility, the staff at the day care and the quality of the day care. Appendix A: Figure 1: Attachment models source (http://www.personalityresearch.org/attachment.html)

The struggle against Mexicos drug cartels

The struggle against Mexicos drug cartels A vacation to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico followed the New Year of 2009. I had spent time with locals, purchased their handcrafted souvenirs, and visited monumental tourist attractions. My travel led me to believe that Mexico is a country of warm weather and beautiful sightseeing; at the time of my vacation I had been ignorant to the reality of Mexicos stance on the global spectrum of corruption. Unbeknownst 783 miles northwest to Tijuana from Cabo, numerous drug cartels were organizing the importation of narcotics from the South and exported to countries North of Mexico. Tijuana is a city controlled by organized crime and more specifically, infiltrated by The Tijuana Cartel (Witkin and Robinson 1997:38). The Tijuana Cartel is responsible for the transportation, importation, and distribution of massive quantities of cocaine and marijuana, as well as large quantities of heroin and methamphetamine (Guzman 1993:40). Yet, the issue of Mexicos drug trade is not specific to the notorious city, there are over seven cartels that clandestinely function throughout the state. The power of drug cartels have proven to be well connected, trained, armed, and manipulative toward the masses. Mass drug trafficking in Mexico is threatening to turn itself into a Narco state, notably, a Narco state is considered to be an area that has been taken over and is controlled and corrupted by drug cartels (ibid). The rising count of gruesome drug-related murders seems as though the government is being passively effective. This is where the supremacy of drug lords that lead the drug cartels serve as highly influential bodies; whom can often overthrow the power of authorities and government officials through bribery. This is evident over the last three decades when the Mexican Drug War originally commenced. However, the Drug War was re-initiated between the government and drug cartels when Felipe Calderon took presidency in 2006 (Campos 2010). The nation of Mexico is facing a difficult state of affairs to meet drug trade demands that has dishonored the justice system. Countless lives have been taken since the commencement of the Mexican Drug War on either side of its borders and will only continue to overthrow the power of the government officials. This essay will analyze how the Mexican drug trade has infiltrated northern borders to the United States and Canada-while domestically placing vulnerable civilians at risk of sex trafficking in an impoverished state, resulting in violence. The drug trade is a global black market, where the insufficiency of borders has proven to be the prime target of drug transportation. According to the Toronto Star (2009), Tijuana is home to the worlds busiest border crossing with about 300,000 people crossing the border everyday. These perimeters separate two distinct worlds divided by a militarized border in the North and a more advantageous smuggle from the South, however the movement of people and narcotics illicitly make their way past northern border patrol. The North American Free Trade agreement addresses concerns regarding insufficient borders where there is an unrestricted movement of people, goods and services between Mexico, the United States and Canada (Cottam and Otwin 2005). The inadequacy of border security, has led to the expansion of Mexican drug cartels and their control over the drug supply chain surpassing the United States to Canada. This is where the transportation, importation, and distribution of massive quan tities of cocaine, 3 marijuana, as well as large quantities of heroin and methamphetamine have primarily washed up on Canadas West coast (Falco 1999:8). Furthermore, the growth of Mexicos drug cartels is a question of security, where the illegal importation of illicit drugs into fast, developing westernized nations will only lead to unsafe corruption. This mass production of drugs infiltrated by Mexico into the United States and Canada is a detriment to the globalization efforts set out by capitalist nations. These northern nations have made initiatives to expand the integration of countries in the global network of communication, transportation and trade. However, the global networking strategies of these bordering nations have negotiated an illegal trade that has created a steady flow of trafficked narcotics. The trafficking of drugs is highly motivated by the demands that exist in consumer countries such as the United States and Canadas West Coast of British Colombia. In 2001, Mexico was the point of transit where 55 percent of cocaine entered the United States (Chabat 2002:142). Illicit drugs cultivated in drug trade are majorly supplied by strong Colombian drug trafficking ties and become Canada and US-bound through Mexico. The narcotics used to fuel the Mexican Drug War are primary extracted from countries in South America, specifically Colombia. This is where the primary trafficked narcotic includes cocaine, in exchange for the steady drug flow heading north from South America guns, cash and prostitutes serve as collateral (Bagely 1988:72). However, the United States has created a campaign of prohibition and foreign military aid to reduce the illegal drug trade, this campaign is called the War on Drugs. The approaches of The War on Drugs have undertaken tasks such as The Merida Initiative. This initiative is a security cooperation 4 between the United States and the government of Mexico and the countries of Central America with the aim of combating the threats of drug trafficking and transnational crime (Cottam and Marenin 2005:32). Such strategies are aimed to also eliminate illegal immigrants into Canada and the United States as means to transport and distribute drugs. Other contributions to The War on Drugs involve the U.S Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), identifying the need to increase financial and migration investigations relating to the movement of illegal drugs to Mexico. The DEA states that attacking the financial infrastructure of drug cartels has to play a key role in any viable drug enforcement strategy (Toro 1999: 633). The effects of contraband being imported past the Northern borders serves for inadequacy of borders as well as harm toward their political and economical statuses. Restricted substances that enter northern borders are consequential toward the political stance of the laws, rules and regulations set forth by government officials. The enigmatic transportation of these illegal narcotics is especially subversive and become difficult for officials to track en route. The money laundering exchange from Mexico into the United States and Canada annually generates millions of dollars as a significant contributor to their economies. In the United States, wholesale illicit drug sale earnings estimates range from $13.6 to $48.4 billion annually (ibid). The longstanding issue of poverty in many areas of Mexico is also a contributing factor involving the illegal drug trade. Kellner and Piptones article Inside Mexicos Drug war (2010:32) states that due to high levels of poverty within the Mexican nation 5 and easy access across the northern borders, individuals with minimal opportunities and are economically unstable, resort to drug exchange. Poverty provides minimal opportunities for those in need of providing for their families, and as a result of Mexicos escalating rates of poverty, people often look for the fastest alternative, often resorting to money laundering of illegal drugs. The participation of Mexican civilians in the drug war often proposes the sacrifices of their lives as well as leaving their families behind. The willingness of many residences to partake in the drug trade is also contributing to Mexicos generation of fraudulent currency, where according to Chabat (2002: 137) as of 2009, sat between $6-$15 billion annually representing 3 percent of Mexicos Gross Domestic Product (GDP). As the growth of these numbers amplifies due to organized drug crime, the public continues to pursue the implementation of justice and change by government officials. Within Mexicos impoverished state, the vulnerability of Mexican women and children are at risk with the pursuit of innocence set forth by drug lords. The involvement of women in drug trafficking in recent years has expanded dramatically. Campbell (2008:251) explains that women within Mexican society that are often associated with the drug cartels are typically led to incarceration at various ages; this also leads to high extortion, torture and rape. Sex trafficking has become more common as a part of the drug war where most often women and girls are pimped by leaders of drug cartels and sent to brothels throughout Mexico (Castillo, Gomez and Delgado 1999: 394). The demands within the brothels instill fear within these trafficked women, without compliance they jeopardize seeing their families again or even their lives. Specifically in 6 Tijuana, Mexico where the infiltration of black market drugs originates within Central America, women are used as drug smugglers and prostitutes to generate another source of monetary income. Moreover, Rojas (2008:1082) argues that children have also become prime targets involving the illegal exchange of drugs. Drug lords often seek them out as a symbol of inexperience and uncontroversial tactic when crossing borders, much of the time they too have been induced by drugs to obey drug lord commands. Many children involved in the drug trade are without any family due to the violent nature of the trade or come from families below the poverty line. In 2009 alone, 10,000 children were orphaned due to the Mexican Drug War (ibid). With initiatives to keep the adolescents off of the streets, President Felipe Calderà ³n recently opened 75 new universities and 330 drug rehabilitation centers to curb the impoverishment and gang violence (Corchado 2009: 21). The violent nature of the Mexican Drug War has led to high rates of drug violence within Mexico. This is further examined by Newman (2009:23), in which he explains that the drug cartels imported and exported out of Tijuana make their way toward the U.S border city of Ciudad Juà ¡rez, which now has the distinction of being the most violent in Mexico. Due to organized crime, border violence includes 90% of drug related killings (ibid). The competition of cartels trying to out due each other in savagery is discussed in Hoars article Mexican violence, Gun Controls (2009:42) where bodies are mutilated, and heads are tossed on busy streets. 7 The struggle for human rights and progression away from drug violence is an unpredictable issue; the direction in which it is headed is at a high rate of inconsistency. Violent acts of decapitation, torture and rape are common tactics amongst drug lords. Drug lords have become so powerful that some of their leaders, even when in prison, can continue their operations from the inside. Anderson (2007:18) explains that a drug kingpin can order the murder of rival cartel members on the street, along with others perceived as standing in the way of their lucrative enterprises. Those killed have included officials, judges and journalists whose writings offended the cartels (ibid). As a terror tactic, beheadings have become a favored form of execution. The power of organized crime such as drug cartels, easily preside over the violence. According to Campos (2010: 402), more than 34,000 people have died in drug-related violence during the four years that President Felipe Calderon has been in po wer and within the last year there were 15, 273 deaths. Many civilians are too often paying the price of Mexicos drug war with their liberty and livelihood at the hands of drug cartel hit men. High rates of violence are a result of suppressed human rights with many implications facing Mexican authorities and residences. Communities often too cannot trust those in a position of power such as police, this is due to the corruption within the police force. Corruption within Mexican law enforcement institutions is a relentless struggle of organized crime growing and spreading to new territories. More specifically, numerous drug cartels propose bribes to officers for their co-operation in return. The co-operation of these officers under cartel 8 command often include violent acts against civilians as well as tourists and government officials, ultimately creating an elite group of hit men (Bailey and Paras 2006: 78). Officers enticed by this lucrative organization are often regularly paid poorly and would rather succumb to the influence of Mexicos deep-pocketed drug traffickers and gangs. This law enforcement dishonesty is becoming a significant challenge confronting democratic governability and defeating the purpose of ending the Mexican Drug War. Although violence between drug cartels had been occurring for at least three decades, the Mexican government had held a generally passive stance regarding cartel violence. Now, President Felipe Calderà ³n has continued to escalate his anti-drug campaign, there are now about 45,000 troops involved along with state and federal police forces. (Felson 2009:7) In conclusion, the Mexican drug trade is a ruthless battlefield in which many aspects reflect the hardships and corruption within Mexican society, and its effects on its neighboring countries. The efforts set out by President Felipe Calderon to end the drug war in Mexico is seeing inadequate results, inevitably progressing toward a Narco state status. Presently, the development of Mexico is at risk with plummeting death tolls of civilians, corruption of law enforcement and drug money stabilizing the countrys GDP. The Mexican Drug War is often presented publicly as a government issue that will evaporate overtime with the right prime leadership. However, the cause of the battle on drugs in the southern-most part of North America is much more than the governments 9 burden. The powers of drug cartels seem to be unstoppable and over taking the Mexicos livelihood all together and are now nothing short of entrenched in supremacy. The infiltration of northern borders to the United States and Canada by the Mexican drug trade has domestically placed vulnerable civilians at risk of sex trafficking in an impoverished state, resulting in violence. 10

Joseph Stalin Essay -- Biography Soviet Union European History

Joseph Stalin Joseph Stalin was one of the biggest mass murderers of the twentieth century. From the purges in the Red Army to forced relocations, Stalin had the blood of millions on his hands. This essay is not going to debate the fact that this was indeed a brutal and power hungry individual, because he was indeed just that. I will on the other hand show you that through his way of governing the Soviet Union, he actually saved mother Russia from the German invasion in World War Two through his cunning and ruthlessness. Joseph Stalin was a very industrious person and used every means possible to better prepare his country for the coming war that he believed was inevitable. Wether it was diplomatic plotting, economic maneuvering, or just plain brute force, Stalin used every tool in his vast arsenal. The following are some of the more important decisions and methods that Stalin employed. Stalin was forced to consolidate his power through harsh means to better rule the Soviet Union. He ordered the five year plans to industrialize the nation and ordered one of the largest military build up plans ever. Stalin attempted many times to reach a diplomatic solution and ways to delay war with the Axis powers while at the same time trying to guarantee security from the West. Stalin wanted nothing less than to rule the Soviet Union and make her the greatest country in the world and he would stop at nothing to reach those goals. In his quest for leadership Stalin wished to consolidate his power in only himself, t hus enabling him to better rule the Soviet Union. Stalin's roots in politics go all the way back to him being expelled from the theological seminary in Tiflis, Georgia in 1899. This was where Stalin got his first real taste for politics and from that point on his political ambitions grew greater and greater. Stalin soon joined up with the Social Democratic Party and after the party split over ideological differences in 1903, Stalin joined the Bolshevik party under Vladimir Lenin. From 1903 to 1912 Stalin was arrested, and managed to escape, several times. He was exiled to Siberia from 1913 to 1917, returning only after the fall of the Tsar. With the fall of the Tzar and the country in the hands of the revolutionaries Stalin believed it to be the perfect time to come back and renew his political ambitions. Stalin was appointed Commissar of Nationalities ... ... military industry at the beginning of the war and up-to-date equipment was starting to be delivered to the front. The movement of the war industry east contributed to the lack of material but proved to be the saving grace of the army in the end. At the end the Soviet war industries were producing some of the best equipment in the world. In the end I do believe that through Stalin's leadership the Soviet Union was saved. Had it been under the leadership of the intended Communist bureaucracy it would have surely fallen. As we have seen in our country even simple matters can take forever to go into effect or get started under a bureaucracy. In that highly volatile and dangerous time period only an iron fisted rule could bring about change fast enough to due any good. True in the short term peoples right were trampled upon and millions died from famine, purges, and the war itself but in the end hundred's of millions were saved. Bibliography Robert Conquest, The Great Terror, (Toronto: Macmillan and Co. Ltd, 1968), p.123. Alexander Werth, Russia at War, (London: Barrie and Rockcliff, 1964), p.19. Isaac Deutscher, Stalin, (New York: Oxford University Pres, Inc 1967.

Greek Mythology should be taught in High School :: Persuasive Essay Ancient Greek Greece

Greek mythology is a compilation of the Ancient Greek stories that are based on their culture and practices. It's also about their gods and heroes, as well as their origins. Each of the Greek myths has a moral message through the stories that are written. It teaches us the good deeds and wrongdoing of the gods and goddesses, and how we, as a human being, should act. Thus, Greek mythology should be taught to high school students. There is something uniquely different about each of the Greek myth, each have their own message that it wants to deliver. Take the example of the Greek myth Athena and Arachne. This is the story of a young maiden that went against the goddess Athena because she thought that she was the best in the art of weaving. In the story, Athena herself was jealous of the maiden who was named Arachne because of her incredible skill. Because of her jealousy, she turns Arachne into a spider. From this story it is shown to us the poor quality of the goddess because god and goddesses should not be jealous especially of a mortal. Therefore the moral is that do not challenge someone who is better than you and also too many pride will lead to your downfall. Greek mythology has also been the origins of many objects and events of the world. An example is the Olympic games. The name Olympic was taken from Mount Olympus, believed to be the dwelling place of all the Greek gods and goddess. Another example would be Valentine?s Day. This special event is held on the fourteenth of February, Cupid is the Icon for this particular event. The Greek god of love and the son of Aphrodite symbolizes Valentine?s Day, this is because of the Greek myth where cupid fell deeply in love with a mortal. Another reason of why Greek mythology should be taught to high school students is that in high education Greek myth will be involved in the curriculum. Top university around the world involved Greek studies in their curriculum for example in Harvard, Oxford, Yale and other University. Students in high school also have the right to study Greek myth. No one has the right to restrict them from that right. The entire example I have given relates to my thesis statement that Greek mythology should be taught to high school student.

Coursework in Arts Essay

1. In Elisabeth Vigee-Lebrun’s painting of the Queen of France, Marie-Antoinette, in the late 18th century, the queen is shown sitting with her three children in a formal gown at the edge of the Hall of Mirrors. Colors that were used can be described as basically feminine—shades of ruby, cherry, velvet, scarlet, and salmon; yet darker colors were used in the crib of the eldest son to portray his death. From the colors of the painting, the queen appears to be sitting on a shiny spot, but around her is a darker, gloomier color that may portray danger to her and her children. Textures, on the other hand, appear to be soft and feathery, which shows wealth and comfort. The lines in the background are parallel and horizontal, which points to her straight, firm position in her seat. The position of the queen and her two children beside her form a straight cross beside the crib that looks like a cave. The eldest son alive who points to the crib may appear like the angel beside the cave where Jesus was buried. The son was like saying, ‘You’re looking for my brother? He’s not here anymore but has gone up to the Father. ’ On the other hand, the eldest son alive stands firmly alone, which shows independence and strength†¦even at an early age. The stairs in the background may mean political fame, but it was portrayed to be darker and more shadowy above, so that it would be best for the queen to be where she is—with her children and her home (please see painting in the appendix). Formal elements show that this good queen is a devoted mother—full of quiet dignity—by the way the colors, the textures, the lines, the shapes, and the space interact with one another. The whole scene portrays quietness, peacefulness, as well as acceptance—things that picture her as a good and pleasant being. There is also the hint of wealth and extravagance, especially the portrayal of the Hall of Mirrors. In the overall, the painting is meant to give her a positive, submissive, and motherly aura. 2. John Singleton Copley’s painting of Paul Revere in 1768 is an example of a Rococo painting. The Rococo style, which emerged in France, characterizes opulence, grace, and lightness, as seen in the painting (Figure 2 in the appendix). Copley used contrasting colors like black (as the background) and white (as Revere’s shirt) to put more emphasis on the main object. The lines, colors, and objects are all simple. Lines, especially in the head and in the table, are all parallel, which may point to neutralism and evenhandedness. It was said that Revere was â€Å"uninterested in politics; he wanted only to be neutral, which was not possible† (Artchive, 2007). The eyes, on the other hand, portray innocence, knowledge, and fairness. The textures used are all smooth and shiny, which may also reflect opulence. It focuses on ‘carefree aristocratic life’, with direct reference on Revere’s being a silversmith—with a piece of silverware on his hand. He was portrayed with such extravagance, as shown in the linen cloth, which at that time was not yet available in America and could only be imported to the land†¦ as well as the golden buttons that lay on his vest. However, the portrayal of ‘flowing linen’ could point—not to the linens of England—but to the production of a hundred ells of linen in America during that time, which for Revere was something to be proud of. However, it is said that the painting is a sort of a ‘balancing act’ conducted by painter Copley (Artchive, 2007), especially that he is about to marry one of the Clarkes who were owners of â€Å"the notorious tea concession† (Artchive, 2007). The silver teapot appears to be a large issue then, since only their enemies—the Tories—drank tea (the Whigs drank the Boston tea, which was a punch). Revere is shown as a neutral person who wears rich linen clothing, but which comes from his own land. He is holding a silverware teapot, which is one of his expertise, but points to the character of the enemies and to the business of the Clarkes with which Copley is about to share his life with. Therefore, Revere is neutral, as he is open to all.

Infant Observation Essay

It is 830am when Dj wakes up, as he is light up he is rolling round in his waking up he is rolling some in his sires cognise stretching and babbling, a mixture of mommama and dada with a high jactitate scream as loud as he can, his mother says hey sleepy show well behaved morning, Dj turns over sits up on his knees smiles at her in that locationfore he falls backwards back onto the stay babbling again. Mom yells out botch up change Dj continues to babble, mom grabs him lays him tear cumulation in front of her, as she is ever-changing his pamper he is turn of events over, pose his hand subjugate move to grabs/ carry on his private part, after mom says no-no he starts rolling over again trying to get up and get scram to the derriere.It is 905am and Dj is done get his pamper change, so his mother puts him down on the account in hall focusing, then she closes the doors to the other get ons and to the bathroom. Dj is equable seated in the hallway on the appall come outing for around and at the loudnesscases that are in the hallway, he rolls on his tummy to get on his hands and knees to crawls over to the bookcase before he gets to the bookcase his mother runs to grab the vases the are on the tail shelf of the book case and sits them up higher Dj looks up to watch, he when he reaches the book case he pulls himself up, instanter he is stand up there banging on the shelf squall and babbling while looking in the mirror that is behind the bookcase.He has been stand up there for three minutes, and then he gets down and crawls into the sustenance room, when he reaches the living room he throws his ripened fellow and sister sitting on the floor notice TV. When they noticed him the started truism good morning Dj, hey man-man, DJ smiles and starts creeping fast with cope down toward them, as he reaches them he grabs his sisters habilitate to pull himself up, as he is doing that he is screaming, then his buddy started saying aww m ommy he stepping on me, Dj starts screaming with a smile on his face while turning his head around to see if his mother is looking at them.While Dj is stand there he is pulling down on his sisters shirt swinging his ramp up at his brothers head trying to work stoppage him who laying down next to them. hug drug minutes goes by as Dj is still contend, suddenly he halt playing because the catches his attention it was Mickey computer mouse club house, he stands there watching TV for fifteen minutes. The time is now 1030am when mom yells out breakfast, everyone gets up a runs to the kitchen, Dj watches as everyone go into the kitchen then he started to crawl that way until his mother called his name and said eat-eat as she was walking toward him to a head he was crawling pass to sit in.Dj is now standing up property on to his mother knees rocking back and away humming with nutriment in his lecture hell crawl away and come back for another bite of his hotcake he continue to d o this until his food was gone. After everybody finished eating the older siblings went into their play room, Dj dropped down to the floor to see where they went then he followed them. I followed him through the hallway pass the book case and into the play room, after he goes into the room he goes straight to the bambino chair to pull himself up, after he stands up he starts to scream and look around the room and reaching for his brothers face swinging his arm again.Dj saw his sister sitting in the chair next to him playing a handheld game, he travel around the chair he was property on to and steps to the other chair where his sister was sitting, he reached his hand on to touch her game when she said no Dj. He continued to reach she continued to say stop and no. Dj reaches his arm out to reach for the nates that was behind the chair he was keeping on too, after he grabs the bed he walks along side of it to go to the nightstand at the end, he pulls the top drawer open to find th e habilitate that were in it, all of a sudden he starts scream as he is turning his head to look around the room as he pulling the clothes out and throwing them on the floor at the same time.After the drawer is go off Dj hears his name being called so he turns his head around to see who was calling him, when he turned around he saw his mother standing in the doorway saying no-no you nimble little baby, he looks at her smiled and dropped down to the floor and started crawling to her with a smile on his face, when he reached her he grabbed her pants pulled himself up, then started playing by pushing her backwards, after two-three steps mom picks him up and walks away to change his pamper.

The Great Gatsby: “It is Nick who makes Jay Gatsby into The Great Gatsby”

The doubtful bigness of Jay Gatsby is imparted to the ratifier finished with(predicate) the thoughts and observations of ding Carr out, a fibre who is person-to-pers single involved in the complicated nonethelessts and relationships featured in the plot. He is whence an excellent choice of fabricator as this participatory role places him beside the considerable namesake of the book, which is essentially how he appears to portray the towering, clobberistic and yet naif image of Jay Gatsby.In using chip as much(prenominal) a device, Fitzgerald presents an discernment into Gatsby which is little by little developed from equivocalness to grasp as he refines break offs science throughout the riotous excursion- as mountain pass metaphorically describes the action of the refreshing and establishes his often disallow outlook on the selfishness, greed and good corruption of American corporation. mountain pass is handily able to acquire this personal acquaint ance of Gatsby through his approachability, coif other contri exactlyions to charge in him through his inclination to decl be taste.However, his negative judgement of golf-club (from which Gatsby is exempt) ironically contradicts his initial claim to impartiality, and come off continues to judge people thereafter. This reveals his viewpoint to be increasingly subjective and lends his character the virtues of cosmos realistic, thus possessing hu human race failings which evoke a to a peachyer extent complete persona, and non moreover a mouthpiece for Fitzgeralds thoughts.However, covertly, he similarly communicates the authors strong belief of 20s society as his throw, since Fitzgerald has incorporated such(prenominal) judgements into his disposition, creating the illusion of an impartial fabricator while pursuing his satirical condemnation of the Jazz come along and his manifest grasp of the noble-mindedness implicit in the American Dream (represented by Gatsby s impossible optimism). Indeed, Fitzgeralds use of this intelligent that sympathetic percipient at the centre of events makes for most of the roughly priceless value in parable (William Troy, 1945).The values of economy and intensity be achieved by his central role in events, while suspense is achieved through chips personal flaw of non fully perceiving Gatsbys character, causing apocalypses about Gatsbys past and present to be frequent and striking. We think particularly of how Gatsby came quick to nonch in Chapter 4 through Jordans reminiscing, and of how, in Chapter 9, revelations are still make after his remainder (such as the narrative brought to Nicks attention by Gatsbys father) which consolidate Nicks rate for his extensive ambition.Nicks perception of Gatsby is limited in certain views as the last mentioned is an ambiguous character, though this incomplete knowledge does not deter Nicks tyrannical view, which develops from not wise to(p) Gatsby at all to admiring him for his strangely noble, if delusory, ambitiousness. Gatsbys ambiguity simply fuels spell in Nick, who uses the adulatory adjective gorgeous to describe him, and riposte in his level to seek the role for this attraction in the mystery of Gatsby.The apparent bias presented in Nicks level whitethorn excessively be payable to many an(prenominal) connections mat with Gatsby as a offspring of similarities surrounded by both their characters and Fitzgerald himself many of Gatsbys characteristics are often Fitzgeralds own, incorporated into his character alongside Nicks. Just as the author had fought in the war, so have his characters, a incident which had taken Daisy away from Gatsby and excitement away from Nicks life as he came linchpin restless. They both seek to moderate these things, Nick by coming eastern hemisphere and Gatsby by reacquiring Daisys sock.Nick empathizes with Gatsbys longing, and here maybe Fitzgerald incorporates his own experien ce of losing the affections of his first love, Ginevra King, this affliction in achieving his own dream show bias in the author himself. This may be the reason for the author positing that Gatsby is groovy while withal impressing his negative belief on the haves of both his and Gatsbys misadventure in this case society, and the distinguish differences which precluded Fitzgeralds relationship with the richesier King.In the wider context of kindly satire, this occupation betwixt dreams and failure is analogous to the rich and scant(p) indoors American society, and is portrayed through the rather obvious figureism of the valley of Ashes whose uncomfortable proximity to the higher class Eggs foregrounds the vast disparity between rich and poor in the booming Twenties. Initially Nick only perceives the panoptical side of Gatsby his material possessions and his parties where guests came and went wish well moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars in Chapter 3.He describes the parties as dreamlike, maybe reflecting Gatsbys outlook on life, and tempting, as wealth was in 1920s America. Fitzgeralds simile of the guests creation insect-like expresses Nicks observation of the superficial materialism and loathsomeness of American society ( expressd in the source quotation by the sibilance of whisperings), as they are only tempted by Gatsbys wealth, drawn like moths to his straighten out, while making Gatsby seem in some manner compelling and superior to them as they wheel around himIn direct occupation to such shallowness, Fitzgerald reveals Nicks discernment for Gatsbys romantic training, and his infinite expect in his towering love of Daisy, to further fabricate the big element of Gatsbys personality as it is discovered. This aspect of Gatsby, when introduced, overly makes him more real (EK 1925) and empathetic, than American society of the time, as his dream is revealed to be for love, not material status.These poet ic descriptions, though also used in differentiate to persuade us that Gatsby is a man of poetic sensibility, do not imply that Fitzgerald takes the dangerous, no-hands course of simply saw so as Kenneth Tynan (1974) states. In fact, Nicks positive opinions of Gatsby are developed actually subtly and implied throughout events in the plot. These gradually build the impression of Gatsbys imaginative and beautiful sensibility, such as Nicks discovery of his idealism regarding Daisys love.At times, such usages of poetic write up depictions contrast sharply with the dull, bare picture of the poorer sections of society. To this end, set about is used by Nick in positive descriptions throughout the novel, his own and Fitzgeralds fascination with modern developments of his time projected through Nicks observant and admiring documentation of places lit by electric lighting, such as Gatsbys hearthstone which was blazing with light, and the important symbol of Gatsbys hope for Daisys lo ve the symbolic green light at the end of Daisys dock, crowning(prenominal)ly described, with pity, as an illusion. Light is thus used in a symbol of both Nicks taste felt at Gatsbys hope, and his kindness as it is for an immaterial romantic culture (love), which disregards Gatsbys material prominence. Nick also favorably compares Gatsby to a seismograph an intricate device driven by unknown/seen forces which mirrors Nicks own impression of him.This doctrine of analogy is not merely an apt symbol for the human sensibility in a mechanized age (Edwin S. Fussell 1952), showing Nicks cogitate on material developments it is also all the way used to accentuate his opinions on how admirable Gatsbys heightened sensibility is. Nicks use of such analogys also suggests the ambiguity in his rendering of Gatsby. Nick only makes us aware of Gatsbys personality in strategically placed narrative elements. These staged revelations, though revealing aspects of Gatsby that signify at criminal ity (like his activities in stops and various other rumours) simultaneously emphasize his admirable qualities such as his prizing of Daisys love. Indeed, Nicks storey increasingly overlooks Gatsbys flaws, both his and Fitzgeralds views increasingly act upon the record and casting Gatsbys dream in a positive light.By creating this empathy with Gatsby, Fitzgerald in effect communicates the intense disappointment felt at the intrusion of reality on idealism in the final chapters of the novel, and reason for the failure of Gatsbys dream is invoked. Clearly, though Maxwell E Perkins (1924) feels that Gatsbys ambiguity is mistaken as it makes his character more nebulous, Fitzgerald actually uses this as a main method of drawing the ref into a prominent theme of illusion, the ultimate illusion macrocosm love itself.The mysteriousness of Gatsby is also used to enable Nicks growth in chaste perception (Troy 1945) which Troy describes as a necessity in such a narrator Nick gradually pe rceives Gatsbys moral side- his innate purity, and societys drop of this in comparison, subsequently favouring Gatsby and giving some credibility to EKs evaluation of Gatsby being more real than the other characters due to the paradoxically refined record of his dream.In this respect, Chapter 4 is used to further Nicks, and the readers, positive perception of Gatsby. It features Jordan recounting a romantic warehousing of Daisys former relationship with Gatsby, Fitzgerald effectively digressing from Nicks narration in order to impart a very deliberate and important revelation from Gatsbys past. It is this relationship which Gatsby seeks to reclaim by subject matter of his wealth, and is the basis of the romantic readiness admire in him by Nick.Nick subsequently colours his narrative with the unfermented consciousness and says that Gatsby came alive to me, delivered suddenly from the womb of his serve-shy splendor. With this metaphor of a birth, Fitzgerald makes a clear eff ort to separate Gatsbys extensive alertity from the purposeless splendour of materialism, and, by extension, of American society, which he condemns through Nicks judgement of it.In Chapter 6 Fitzgerald again manipulates narrative structure in Nicks tale of Gatsbys origins, as at this stage in the plots chronology Nick is not privy to this information- it was imparted by Gatsby himself very much later in the novel, and is presented achronologically to reform readers faith in Gatsby before it is badly challenged in chapter 8, with the idea of exploding those first state of nature rumors about his antecedence.Fitzgerald reveals a particularised part of Gatsbys background through Nicks narration, selected to impregnate sympathy for Gatsby in the reader by describing his younger selfs (Gatzs) upward struggle from poverty, and the authors astonishment for the idealistic dreams that had spurred him to create a humans of ineffable gaudiness that he elaborated nightly until wedding these visions to Daisys breath.This metaphor reveals the uniting of Gatsbys original ambitions with a dream of love, and is also used to invoke sympathy for the extent to which his dreams are ultimately and mayhap tragically revealed to have gone beyond her, beyond everything. This revelation of Gatsbys childlike caprice of beauty and grace (Maxwell Geismar 1947) is illustrated by this analeptic episode, strongly suggesting Gatsbys ultimate innocence and pure dreams beneath his materialistic out(prenominal)Fitzgerald presents the social context of the novel through the sack of the American Dream in the 20s the new generation of Americans were dedicated more than the come through to the fear of poverty and the worship of triumph, as Fitzgerald himself had stated at the time. Societys material methods of gaining this success are portrayed negatively through Nicks condemnation of the Dream, as Nick has established himself as valuing morals and cloggy work highly his family had be come prominent through ownership of a wholesale hardware business, while Fitzgeralds own childhood took place in a farming, working environment.Similarly, the values admired in Gatzs willingness and determination to work for and succeed in gaining his dreams are symbolically those lost values of society that had appealed to Fitzgerald, and would appeal to Nicks sensibilities, which is why Nick still portrays Gatsby as being great in contrast to Jazz Age society which seeks goals through material office rather than hard work. This is paradoxically real in spite of Gatsbys own materialism, because the latter is portrayed as unimportant to Gatsby beside his love for Daisy.Through Nicks narrative, then, Gatsby is presented as embodying the old work ethic of a meritocracy but also its transformation to materialism, and ultimately the unattainable goals of the American Dream, this factor essentially providing the grounds for see Gatsby as a tragic hero. His idealistic dreams as Gatz a re implied to be incommunicable for ever, as they are, in fact, wed to Daisys breath which is erect as perishable as his money.In Chapter 7, Toms revelations about Gatsbys criminal bootlegging cause the brittle faiade of Jay Gatsby to be broken up like glass against Toms hard bitterness, this simile depicting Nicks dislike of the venomed Tom and of the superficiality of the American Dream, but also, crucially, the way Gatsbys dreams have been demolished due to his reliance upon material power as the single method of satisfying his search and inarticulate spirit (Maxwell Geismar 1947).Gatsby is thus leftover watching over nothing, this nihilistic phrase ending the chapter and corroborating the sympathy felt by Nick at the despondency of Gatsbys dead dream, making Nick not want to leave him. With his death in Chapter 8, this sympathy might so render Gatsby not merely great, but genuinely tragic. Thus as readers, we feel ultimately that Nicks (or Fitzgeralds) message is that the extensive vitality of Gatsbys illusion is curtailed by the faults of society and that Gatsby himself, by contrast, is greater than his social milieu.Gatsbys is the cataclysm of a romanticist in a materialist society (Kuehl, 1959), his immaterial dreams inevitably perishing in the face of society, the hopelessness that its glamorous exterior encloses, communicated throughout the novel both by the satire of the parties, the obvious symbolic qualities of the valley of Ashes, the similarly tragic George Wilson, and the doomed Myrtle.Clearly, though John McCormick (1971) regards Daisy as the agent of Gatsbys downfall, dear as she had been the agent of his rise, the apparent cause of Gatsbys failure went beyond her, being the vital illusion created by society which had surpassed Daisy she had only been the springboard for his ideals. The authors message is ultimately a poignant one of hope being obscured by failure, communicating both Fitzgeralds admiration of such dreams, and conte mpt of the reality which smothers them.In this sense, Nicks voice in the novel is undeniably Fitzgeralds. Having said this, Nick is rendered sufficiently self-governing to be a convincing narrator in his own right, as Gatsby at last also receives sympathy due to plain affinities formed with him, such as that of disillusionment, which Nick empathizes with as he has been a dupe of his own illusion regarding the true nature of Daisy and Jordan, and Gatsbys character itself.A growth in moral perception (when applied to Nick) is the tale of the novel (Troy, 1945) as it is this which ensures Nicks positive portrayal of Gatsby Nick comes to discover his true history and admired ambition as Gatz, as well as the ultimate tragedy of his still believing, in the face of such adversity as his dead dream. This locomote naivety clearly proves, however, that in Gatsbys case any growth in moral perception does not apply even though Daisy has clearly returned to Toms alluring wealth in Chapter 8, Gatsby innocently, and dumbly, states, I suppose Daisyll call, too, not perceiving the immorality of the age he lives in. As Kuehl (1959) says, it is illusion, and not its materialization which is the centre of Gatsbys character he is a dreamer notwithstanding his material status, and his heightened goals will never be materialized, making them pale in comparison to the concrete aspirations of society and contradicting E. Ks evaluation Gatsby is not precisely more real than society, but he is greater in many ways, as both Nick and Fitzgerald successfully portray him at the close of the novel the noble dreams that inspire Nicks admiration within Gatsby are only unattainable due to denounced external factors, and therefore ultimately do not subtract from Gatsbys tragically great portrayal.