Parkinson Disease

Parkinson Disease Introduction Parkinson’s disease is one of the neurological disorders referred to as motor system disorders considering that these conditions are implicated in the loss of brain cells particularly dopamine-producing cells. As a result, Parkinson’s disease is recognized by four primary symptoms including stiffness or rigidity (of the trunk and limbs), bradykinesia, tremor or trembling (in the hands, arms, face, legs, and jaw), and postural instability.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Parkinson Disease specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More On the other hand, progression of the primary symptoms leads to more pronounced symptoms such as difficulties in carrying out simple tasks, talking, or walking. Additionally, PD is common among the elderly people above the age of 50 years with the early symptoms being subtle and gradual while individual differences are obvious in terms of disease progression. Here, progression of the primary symptoms results into more pronounced effects such as interference with normal physiological activities in the patient’s body. Moreover, PD is associated with depression; emotional changes; skin problems; constipation; sleep disruptions; and difficulties in speaking, swallowing, and chewing (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke [NINDS], 2012a). Currently, there are no known diagnostic tests for PD, and hence, many doctors rely on medical histories and other neurological examinations for diagnosis. As a result, many challenges are encountered during PD diagnosis, and the accuracy of tests is not guaranteed. Moreover, differential diagnosis may be initiated to rule out the presence of other related conditions. On the other hand, there is no known cure for Parkinson’s disease, but various medications and therapeutic interventions, which provide remarkable symptomatic relief, are available (NINDS, 2012a; Claassen, van den Wilde nberg, Ridderinkhof, 2011; Wilkinson, Beigi, Lagnado, Jahanshahi, 2011; Tiihonen, Lankinen, Viemero, 2008). This research paper compares and contrasts the effectiveness of pharmacological interventions such as the administration of Levodopa, Carbidopa, anticholinergics, and other drugs; the deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgical therapy, and the cognitive-behavioral patient education programs in the reduction or management of symptoms in PD. Additionally, this paper will recommend the most appropriate approach to treating PD in addition to examining the neuro-physiological foundations of diseases and/or disorders, and the contemporary attitudes toward the three therapeutic interventions listed above.Advertising Looking for research paper on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Approaches to the Treatment of Parkinson’s disease Pharmacological Interventions Amid enormous progress in the treatment of PD in the last few years, Levodopa has been the most effective medical therapy for controlling symptoms in PD. Additionally, other drugs such as dopamine agonists (DA), non-dopaminergic agents, and catechol-o-methyl-transferase (COMT) inhibitors have shown considerable success in controlling PD symptoms (Jankovic Aguilar, 2008; Claassen et al., 2011). However, it is important to note that before initiating any form of medical therapy, there is the need to assess the levels of motor, sensory, autonomic, and mental impairment through correct diagnosis. Additionally, the medical interventions should be individualized for each patient. Accordingly, Levodopa is very effective in ameliorating bradykinesia-related symptoms in PD patients. Despite its efficacy, studies indicate that Levodopa is implicated in the development of motor complications (fluctuations and dyskinesias). However, the conventional preparation of Levodopa and Carbidopa improves the therapeutic efficacy of Levodopa . In addition, it is recommended that the onset of Levodopa therapy should be delayed to avoid the underlying motor complications associated with the drug (Jankovic Aguilar, 2008). In addition to the duration and cumulative dose of Levodopa therapy, other risk factors such as the genetic predispositions to PD have been implicated in the development of Levodopa-induced dyskinesias. As a result, reduction of the cumulative dosage, the use of antidyskinetic drugs, and surgery improves Levodopa-induced dyskinesias. Despite the effectiveness of Levodopa in controlling PD symptoms, studies indicate that the drug may be neurotoxic. Additionally, the duration of treatment with Levodopa has been implicated in the development of Levodopa-induced complications, which underlie delays in the initiation of Levodopa therapy until the PD symptoms start to interfere with the body functions and patient’s lifestyles (Jankovic Aguilar, 2008). As a result, it is recommended to use dopamine agon ists (DA) prior to initiating Levodopa therapy considering that DA agonists can improve PD symptoms, and hence, becoming an alternative to delaying the initiation of Levodopa therapy. The efficacy of DA agents depends on their ability to activate DA receptors by circumventing the synthesis of DA in the presynaptic membrane.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Parkinson Disease specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As a result, studies indicate that the activation of D2 receptors in concurrence with D1 stimulation mediates the effects of DA agonists in terms of improving physiological and behavioral effects associated with PD. Among the DA agonists in use, Pramipexole is the most effective and safe drug, which can be administered as monotherapy, and hence, achieving Levodopa sparing, exerting neuroprotective effects, and improving PD clinical symptoms. However, studies indicate that Levodopa still remains superior to DA agonists in terms of providing prolonged motor control; longer life expectancy; and lower levels of hallucinations, edema, and vomiting in comparison to DA agonists (Jankovic Aguilar, 2008). In the early stages of PD treatment, non-dopaminergic drugs including anticholinergics and amantadine have been shown to provide similar levels of symptomatic relief as their dopaminergic counterparts. Most importantly, anticholinergics are effective in controlling tremors among young PD patients. However, the usefulness of anticholinergics in controlling PD symptoms has been limited by various side effects such as urinary complications, dry mouth, and cognitive impairment. Generally, pharmacological approaches to the treatment of PD are quite effective despite the underlying side effects. Additionally, it is important to individualize therapies on the basis of scientific rationale, which should aim at controlling symptoms and disease progression (Jankovic Aguilar, 2008). Deep Brain Stimul ation (DBS) Therapy Due to the underlying side effects associated with pharmacological approaches to PD treatment, contemporary studies aided by technological advancements have increased the understanding of the mechanisms regarding neurodegeneration, and therefore, providing effective therapeutic strategies to PD treatment such as DBS.Advertising Looking for research paper on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Unlike the use of pharmacological agents for controlling PD symptoms, DBS employs surgical procedures to treat neurological symptoms such as tremor, walking problems, stiffness or rigidity, and slowed movement (National Institute of Neurological Disorder and Stroke [NINDS], 2012b; Wilkinson et al., 2011). However, despite DBS providing an alternative approach to controlling many debilitating symptoms in comparison to pharmacological agents, its current use is limited to patients whose response to medications is inadequate. Basically, DBS is a cognitive approach to treating PD, which utilizes a surgically implanted neurostimulator to send electrical signals to specific sections of the brain particularly the areas controlling movement. As a result, the artificial signals block the abnormal signals implicated in the development of essential tremor and other PD symptoms. In comparison to pharmacological agents whose administration is aided by diagnostic tests, which may be inaccurate an d unreliable, DBS surgical therapy is aided by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or Computed Tomography (CT) techniques for initial PD diagnosis. These techniques are used to scan the brain in order to locate the exact position of nerve signals, which produce PD symptoms (NINDS, 2012b; Jankovic Aguilar, 2008; Wilkinson et al., 2011). Additionally, DBS surgical therapy may involve the use of microelectrode recording devices to monitor nerve cells within a specific area to identify and locate precise brain targets more accurately. In most cases, initial PD diagnosis identifies and locates the globus pallidus, thalamus, and subthalamic nucleus as the target areas within the brain, which are subject to abnormal nerve functioning. Therefore, it is evident that the initiation of DBS surgical therapy is founded on accurate determination of specific brain regions exhibiting abnormal nervous functioning in order to administer accurate symptomatic interventions. Compared to pharmacological ag ents whose targets are non-specific, DBS surgical therapy is more specific, and achieves remarkable symptomatic relief in real-time (Jankovic Aguilar, 2008; Wilkinson et al., 2011). Accordingly, the basic DBS system includes the lead, the extension, and the neurostimulator. After identifying and locating the target area, the lead (electrode) is inserted through the skull with the tip of the lead reaching the target area. The extension (electrical wire) connects the lead to the neurostimulator, and in most cases, it passes under the skin around the head, neck, and shoulders. The neurostimulator is a battery-operated device inserted under the skin around the collarbone, chest, or the abdomen. Upon installation, artificial electrical impulses are delivered right from the neurostimulator through the extension to the lead, and finally to the targeted areas in the brain. As the impulses reach the brain, they interfere or block the activities of abnormal nerve signals, which produce PD sy mptoms, and hence providing immediate and prolonged symptomatic relief. In comparison to pharmacological agents, DBS surgical therapy is an effective PD treatment strategy that achieves symptomatic relief with minimal or no side effects. Furthermore, DBS does not cause damage to brain tissues or nerve cells as opposed to earlier surgical procedures (NINDS, 2012b). Most importantly, the stimulation generated by the neurostimulator can be adjusted whenever the patients begin to show remarkable improvement. However, most PD patients are required to take their medications post-DBS treatment, but studies indicate that a good number of patients experience low levels of PD symptoms after undergoing DBS surgery, and therefore, the frequency of taking medications is greatly reduced. Consequently, the reduced frequency of medication intake improves the associated side effects including dyskinesias (NINDS, 2012b). Cognitive-Behavioral Patient Education Programs From the foregoing discussions, it is apparent that both the pharmacological agents and surgical therapies improve various PD symptoms with remarkable effectiveness. However, none of the two therapeutic interventions seeks to address other aspects of PD such as the patients’ quality of life, psychosocial welfare, and depression. As a result, the cognitive-behavioral patient education programs for persons with PD are alternative symptom management approaches to treating PD through evaluating the patients’ capacity to adjust to the disease symptoms, training the patients to cope with symptoms, and providing supportive services (Tiihonen et al., 2008). Therefore, the initial approaches to these programs entail measuring the psychosocial effects of disease symptoms. For example, it is recognized that PD affects both the primary motor functions of patients and the psychological/social functions of patients through the physical symptoms, which influence the patients’ normal activities. Therefore, th e primary symptoms may lead to other secondary symptoms such as depression, social stress, lack of motivation, and lack of emotions. The prevalence of depression among PD patients ranges from 7-70%. Additionally, the motor symptoms associated with PD have been associated with social stigmatization. Subsequently, the behavioral symptoms may as well worsen the primary motor symptoms. For instance, studies indicate that stress increases the negative effects of motor symptoms in patients with PD. As a result, the synergistic association between the primary and secondary PD symptoms is a matter of concern for many scientists. Consequently, many researchers have recommended various intervention approaches aiming at reducing the psychosocial consequences of PD. Here, patient education forms the basis for supporting patients through their efforts to improve their lives. Therefore, patient education complements the work of medical and surgical treatments. Moreover patient education dissemina tes knowledge and instrumental skills to persons with PD in order to increase capacity in terms of self-management (managing behavioral and emotional stressors). Basically, the programs utilize stress resistance training, relaxation training, cognitive restructuring, and social skills training to achieve various goals particularly improving self-management skills among the patients (Tiihonen et al., 2008). Therefore, compared to the other two therapeutic interventions, cognitive-behavioral programs employ different approaches toward reducing psychosocial consequences of PD, which are directly associated with motor symptoms. Overall, this is a very effective therapeutic strategy compared to the other two in ameliorating the psychosocial symptoms of PD such as depression and social stigmatization. Hence, it is obvious from the foregoing discussions that no one therapeutic intervention is effective in controlling all the symptoms associated with PD. This is because pharmacological agen ts have side effects despite their remarkable efficacy in controlling some of the PD symptoms. On the other hand, DBS surgical therapy is quite effective in reducing a good number of PD symptoms, but it must be used concurrently with other medical therapies. Further, cognitive-behavioral approaches to treating PD are very effective in reducing psychosocial consequences of PD with minimal or no effect to motor symptoms of PD. As a result, the most effective approach to treating PD should entail the use of all the three treatment options. The reason why the three treatment options will work together is that they complement one another. For example, pharmacological agents cannot achieve complete treatment due to inherent limitations and side effects, and thus, DBS surgical therapy may compensate for these limitations. Conversely, the two treatment options may not be effective in controlling psychosocial symptoms of PD, and therefore, cognitive-behavioral therapies should come into play . The Neuro-physiological underpinnings of Diseases and Disorders The discussions above highlight different approaches to diagnosing and treating PD, which is a neurological disorder or disease. Therefore, it is important to analyze the scientific foundations underlying these approaches. Over the years, scientists in the field of clinical neurophysiology have been involved in neuro-physiological studies with the aim of providing insights into the diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases and disorders. Here, these scientists measure and assess the activities of the central nervous system, the peripheral nervous system, and the skeletal muscles using various neuro-physiological procedures. The most common procedures underlying various neuro-physiological studies include polysomnography, EMG, EEG, MEG, movement monitoring, and intraoperative monitoring among others (Walton, 2001). Some of these procedures such as EEG and EMG are employed in the measurement of direct signals or potentials originating from the body systems or muscles. These mechanisms underlie the process of identifying and locating specific target areas exhibiting abnormal functions as noted earlier. On the other hand, chemical and mechanical techniques are used in measuring various parameters such as respiratory effort, blood pressure, behavioral monitoring, oxygen saturation, and body motion among others. Moreover, these techniques may be used together or separately for epilepsy monitoring, neonatal EEG recording, and movement analysis (Walton, 2003). Therefore, the correct selection and application of the procedures described above requires that one understands the scientific foundations of clinical neurology and normal neurophysiology in order to identify and locate abnormal functions associated with different neurological diseases and disorders under investigation. Here, it is important to note that the specialty of clinical neurophysiology deals with many diseases and disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, polyneuropathies, myopathies, epilepsy, dementia, sleep disorders, developmental or genetic disorders, and many more (Walton, 2003). On the other hand, with the advent of the current technological advancements, more accurate and faster procedures of diagnosis are becoming available to the field of neurophysiology. As a result, there is the need to embrace the efficiency and effectiveness that comes with the new technologies by incorporating them into the existing procedures in order to realize the full benefits of both. Currently, many people are of the opinion that the current diagnostic procedures and even the therapeutic interventions for different diseases and disorders are not adequate or effective in one way or another. Consequently, these contemporary attitudes toward the current procedures and treatment options will guide the future of diagnosis and treatment of various neurological diseases/disorders including Parkinson’s disease. Ultim ately, the future of treatment approaches for PD will be marked by the advent of more advanced procedures, which will utilize the neuro-physiological foundations underlying the three treatment options described in the foregoing discussions. Besides the future treatment strategies will be tailored to fit into the requirements of individualized therapies. References Claassen, D.O., van den Wildenberg, W.P.M., Ridderinkhof, K.R. (2011). The risky business of dopamine agonists in Parkinson Disease and impulse control disorders. Behavioral Neuroscience, 125(4), 492-500. Jankovic, J., Aguilar, L.G. (2008). Current approaches to the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat., 4(4), 743-757. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke [NINDS]. (2012a). NINDS Parkinson’s disease. USA: National Institutes of Health. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke [NINDS]. (2012b). NINDS Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson’s disease. USA: National Institutes of Health. Tiihonen, S., Lankinen, A., Viemero, V. (2008). An evaluation of a cognitive behavioral patient education program for persons with Parkinson’s disease in Finland. Nordic Psychology, 60(4), 316-331. Walton, J. (2001). Neurology-history: The oxford companion to medicine. New York: Oxford University Press. Wilkinson, L., Beigi, M., Lagnado, D.A., Jahanshahi, M. (2011). Deep Brain Stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus selectively improves learning of weakly associated cue combinations during probabilistic classification learning in Parkinson’s disease. Neuropsychology, 25(3), 286-294.

Specialized Investment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Specialized Investment - Essay Example vidual with the opportunity to focus his money in the desired industry or sector, and spread his investments in the various companies in that industry or sector. The diversification of investments allows investors to reduce the risk of their respective investments. Another important advantage of mutual funds is liquidity. One can redeem mutual fund shares on any day at the funds net asset value per share. Another benefit is that an investor would not pay any commissions or other fees upon redemption of the mutual fund. It is only when an investor owns certain classes of shares that he may be required to pay a deferred sales charge if the shares were not held for a specified period of time. As a way to reduce the negative effects of short-term trading in mutual fund shares, mutual funds have implemented redemption fees if shares are held for less than a specified period of time. The deferred sales charges and redemption fees increase the cost associated with redemptions. (Braham, 2007) Mutual funds enable investors to avail of the services of a professional asset management. A mutual fund is managed by a professional manager, who initiates and leads investment decisions on behalf of the fund. The portfolio manager is assisted by competent analysts who conduct research on market conditions, industries and individual companies. Small investors would not be able to avail of the services of a professional fund manager outside of a mutual fund. A mutual fund is easy to manage as investors are continually purchasing and redeeming shares of the fund. Mutual funds offer intra-day pricing which helps investors get a good price for their shares at the end of the day. Before investing in a mutual fund, there are several caveats one must observe. First, determine how the fund impacts one’s tax bill.The law requires a mutual fund to make a capital gains distribution to shareholders if it sells a security for a profit that cant be offset by a loss. If one gets a capital

Statment of purpuse for MBA school Personal Statement

Statment of purpuse for MBA school - Personal Statement Example The MBA prepares a student in the field by motivating one to use and develop analytical decision-makings which are very useful for employers because such preparation demand less assistance from other employees. Creative skills are also developed while one analyses a situation and develop solutions to the problem posed and the ingenuity of how it is resolved can measure an individual’s ability to look into strategies that are commendable. Consequently, the person is now trained to be self-reliant and would not always need other people’s attention to himself rather could be trusted to be able to complete a task without much assistance. As the title of the course suggests, entrepreneurship is one of the paths that one is developed, being given information that would be virtually important to this endeavor, not to mention being updated with the latest business trends. Effective communication, presentation and negotiation skills are also deemed important in the current compe titive business world and the MBA prepares a student to such through intensive training not only in theory but especially through immersion to the tasks and business people through ‘on the job’ training programs.

The Lives Of Others Film Studies Essay

The Lives Of Others Film Studies Essay The Lives of Others is set in 1984 East Berlin, five years before Gorbachevs glasnost policies, and the fall of the Berlin Wall. The film centers on the East German Ministry for State Security, which is a secret police known as the Stasi, created by the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in an attempt to maintain its power and protect the survival of Socialism in East Berlin. The secret police force consisted of 100,000 investigators and over 200,000 informants. The Stasi investigated any and all citizens in Berlin who posed a threat to socialism. The investigations often included wiretapping and tailgating, with every action being meticulously documented. As a result of the Stasi, those who were found guilty were arrested, interrogated, imprisoned, and in many cases, blacklisted. In the film, loyal Stasi officer Hauptmann Gerd Wiesler is assigned to spy on playwright Georg Dreyman. Wiesler wiretaps the apartment, and investigates Dreymans activities, writing a detailed report every ev ening. Fear is a common theme throughout the film. Every citizen fears the GDR and the Stasi, knowing that their lives can be critically altered if they do not oblige to the system placed before them. Early in the film we see Dreyman neighbor watching the surveillance team bug his apartment. Wiesler is aware of the womans observations and provides strict orders for her to keep quiet, and reminds her of the consequences if she does not obey. Later in the film the Dreyman asks the woman to help him with his tie, and the neighbor is uneasy about associating herself with Dreyman because she does not want to be associated with him. That scene conveys a message about how a Stasi investigation can harm not only a persons career but their social lives as well. Dreymans friend and former director Albert Jerska is an example of how the Stasi can damage and destroy an individuals life. Jerska was once a prominent stage director with an optimistic outlook on life, after an investigation Jerska was blac klisted and could never direct again. The effects of his blacklisting affected the way others treated him, as they wished to distance themselves from him in fear of the Stasi. As a result of the Stasi, Jerska lost all hope in life and took his own life in order to escape the restrictions placed on him under the GDR. The power of blacklisting is displayed maliciously in the film, as Dreyman girlfriend, Christa-Maria Sieland is forced to become an informant for the Stasi in order to preserve her career as an actress. That scene offers the audience and explanation on how the GDR was capable of convincing citizens to report on their friends and family. Hauptmann Gerd Wiesler, the loyal Stasi investigator, is an example of the ideal German citizen in the GDR. He is introduced as an educator, teaching his students how to become Stasi investigators. He never doubts the GDR and shows no mercy in fighting the enemies of socialism. His personal life in the film conveys a message of what life was like for the investigators living the socialist lifestyle in the GDR. Wiesler lives a lonely life in a dull apartment, eating food from a tube, and watching the evening news. His life is dedicated to the GDR and because of that, his life is empty. To suppress his loneliness, Wiesler orders prostitutes to fill the void in his life. Listening to the lives of others makes Wiesler aware of his loneliness, and he compares his life to Dreyman, envying his happiness. After discovering the motives behind the investigation, Wiesler cannot help but feel compassion for the writer he is spying on, and ignores Dreymans anti socialist actions in his nightly re ports. Although Wiesler is a loyal socialist, he becomes dissatisfied with the Minister of the GDR, and questions the ethical reasons behind government monitoring. Within a few months, he went from a proud socialist citizen to an apathetic Stasi employee. In November 1989, the GDR police unexpectedly opened the borders in Berlin, and reunited east and West Germany. Germans began tearing down the Berlin Wall and were making way for reunification. The end of the GDR marked a turning point for capitalism in East Germany. The film Goodbye Lenin! centers on Alex, a young man whos proud socialist mother falls into a coma weeks before the fall of the Berlin wall. Eight months later, she wakes up in the unified Germany, but has no idea that these changes have happened. The doctors explain her fragile condition to Alex, explaining that any excitement could lead to a fatal relapse. Alex and his sister Ariane are placed as caregivers to their mother and are forced to come up with creative ways to keep their mother from discovering the truth that everything she believed in has collapsed. Different from the Lives of Others, this story follows the lives of an ordinary East Berlin family struggling to cope with the changing world. Goodbye Lenin! is set during the fall of the Berlin Wall, which allows the audience to witness the changes in East Germany and how they affect the population. By opening up to the western world, Berlin was introduced to capitalist markets, and easterners wanted to become a part of it. The film displays how the youths in East Germany were more excited about the reunification than the older generation. The young people traveled to the west for the first time, and viewed West Germany as though it was a huge shopping mall. Ariane represents the younger generation, and how the youth was attracted to consumerism due to the division. Ariane changes her style from the old bleak colors of the GDR and adopts the bright colors of the west. She even starts changing things around the house by throwing away all the furniture and piling it outside with the rest. The new open market economy offered a variety of products from different brands allowing citizens to purchase items of higher quality that had not previously been available. There is a scene in the film in which Alex is desperately trying to maintain the illusion that the GDR still exists, while Ariane grows upset with his behavior because she prefers the new products. She makes a statement about the diapers in the scene explaining how the ones from the old GDR are of poor quality and how she prefers to use the new ones that are available. Ariane is eager to adopt change since it is completely new to her, and she makes choices that are not always in her best interest, such as leaving the university to sell hamburgers at Burger King. The actions made by Ariane represent how eager the East Germans were to get rid of socialism but failed to question how the German economy will be affected by the reunification. The former and the new economic system displaced many citizens, especially those who were most comfortable with the GDR. Following the fall of the wall, citizens in the East experienced massive unemployment due to the overcrowded job market. In the film, Alex finds a new job by submitting his name into a job lottery, which he is lucky enough to win. The unemployed characters in the film, mostly the older generation, have a difficult time adapting because everything they believed in was over. Economic change not only effected employment but also the currency of the former GDR. After discovering the location of his mothers money, Alex goes to the bank to convert the old currency into deutschmarks only to learn that the deadline has passed. Alex immediately becomes distressed when he discovers that his mothers life savings had become useless pieces of paper. That scene reminds the audience that although East Germany has been freed from socialist oppression, they now face new economic ch allenges. The cultural wave of capitalism that Germans openly support is the same capitalism that has destroyed the savings of millions. Throughout the film, Alex is desperately trying to maintain the illusion that the GDR still exists for the sake of his mother. He seeks out old food brands, forces everyone to wear the old style of clothing, and creates fictional TV report. His extreme tactic to preserve a world for his mother is not so different from the way she raised him. In the most powerful scene in the film, Alexs mother confesses the truth about his father. She reveals that she had once had a plan to move the family to West Berlin to meet with their father, but changed her mind because she feared the GDR. Her confession challenges everything her children were taught to believe, as she reveals that her loyalty towards the GDR was not genuine, but was instead a product of fear. She never left for Berlin and dedicated her life to socialism to ensure that her children would not be taken away from her. The mothers confession relates to the Lives of Others because it displays the fear that ordinary citizen felt towa rds the Stasi and the GDR. Goodbye Lenin! tells a fun, heartfelt story about an ordinary family during the reunification of Germany. The power of the Stasi and the influence they have on people is depicted very gently in the film. The director shows the forcefulness of the agents and how they would go about investigating a home, but failed to show how and why the Stasi provoked fear, and instead relied on the audiences memories of the horrific past. The film pokes fun at the old system of the east while conveying the hardships that citizens experienced in a pleasant and family-friendly tone. The film did not accurately represent the dark time in the German past. The Lives of Others on the other hand, is a harsh, realistic depiction of the dark side of former East Germany. The film has a darker tone and is shot with low lighting to convey the dreary feeling of what it was like to live in East Germany. The films story included death, drugs, and corruption to accurately portray Germanys past. The most disturbing aspect in the films are the scenes with Stasi officers discussing surveillance operations. Their conversations are casual, and spying on the lives of others is an everyday norm. The Lives of Others and Goodbye Lenin! are two films that allow an audience to relive Germanys gloomy past. The films displayed every aspect of life in East Germany, and the restrictions citizens faced. The clothing available to the Germans were dull and grey, and the single product markets demonstrate how oppressed these people were, and they all knew it. On the other side of the wall capitalism flourished, and citizens were not forced to follow a government they did not support. It is this unbelievable to think that twenty years ago such oppressive governments existed throughout Europe. It is important for films like these to be made to show people around the world the realities of what it was like to live during the GDR.

In what ways does Shakespeare make the opening scenes of Macbeth dramatic? Essay

The play Macbeth written by William Shakespeare is skilfully structured to engage an audience’s interest through effective techniques in the opening scenes. These are the use of setting, characterisation, language and the structure of the play. The setting is cleverly used to create the appropriate atmosphere to the scene and plays on the 17th century expectations and assumptions of weather. The characters introduced in the opening scenes are captivating, Shakespeare’s use of rhyme, rhythm, repetition and dialogue help establish this. The play’s structure in the scenes and character’s dialogue create an engaging and inquiring effect, helping to make the opening scenes of Macbeth captivate the audience’s interest. The setting in the opening scenes is crafted to create a dramatic effect through the place its set in and the weather used. In act one, scene one, the stage directions are given as â€Å"An open place†¦Thunder and lightening. Enter three witches.† This is quite significant, especially in the 17th century, as in those superstitious times it was believed that storms were representative of and released forces of evil. The audience is already informed that it’s a spooky and eerie atmosphere and are then intrigued as to what frightening or supernatural event might follow. A stormy setting is used prior to the witches’ entrance in both scene one and three, which acts as an effective prelude to a sinister and immoral mood. Act one, scene three’s stage description â€Å"A heath†¦thunder†¦Ã¢â‚¬  is not only using pathetic fallacy to set the evil and unsettled tone, but also landscape. A heath can be described as wasteland overgrown with shrubs, uncultivated. This uncared for and abandoned environment reflects that the witches are socially unacceptable and rejected, emphasising and reminding the audience how ill-favoured and god-awful these witches are. This provokes the audience’s curiosity as they’re ‘sheltered’ or not used to seeing this kind of living, and shows the dramatic impact Shakespeare crafts through setting. Another technique used to maintain interest and stimulate inquisitiveness is the structure of the opening scenes. Shakespeare purposely organises the order in which the characters are introduced and limits the storyline revealed to the audience to captivate them. The first scene with the witches mentions their plans involving Macbeth. â€Å"There to meet with Macbeth†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and as the character of Macbeth hasn’t yet made an entrance, the audience indecisively creates an image of doom around him, as his name is associated with the witches. However, scene two sets up a more assuring perception of Macbeth. The Captain praises his name and noble actions to King Duncan, â€Å"For brave Macbeth†¦disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel†, this follow through scene leaves the audience assured, but having the preceding thought of Macbeth being doomed creates curiosity in the audience. Having been introduced to two completely contrasting personas of Macbeth, the audience wants to know whether he will turn out to continue being noble or change to being evil. In scene three Macbeth meets with the witches, as they’d predicted at the beginning of the play. They then foretell Macbeth’s destiny as becoming Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor and then King, â€Å"All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!†¦Thane of Cawdor!†¦that shalt be King hereafter!† In sequence, Macbeth is informed that he’s now Thane of Cawdor. â€Å"And for an earnest of a greater honour†¦call thee Thane of Cawdor.† The audience is now aware that the witches’ predictions have been proven correct. Macbeth is also now aware of this, and a curious seed of greed has been planted into his mind. This is where he then starts brooding on thoughts of becoming King, and what he might have to do to achieve this, â€Å"†¦My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Aside to the audience, Macbeth is explaining his thoughts of killing Duncan, in order to be King. This creates a lot of interest amongst the audience as Macbeth was described as being a noble, respectable and courageous man prior to his soliloquy, yet now after the witches’ prediction has come true, Macbeth is falling into the witches hands- favouring their other prediction of him becoming King. This order of events is effective in the way that intrigue is raised as to whether Macbeth will become King or not. Structure is not only used in the scenes, but also in the dialogue to build up an alluring and tense effect. In scene two the Captain has been delivering victorious news about a battle Macbeth had led to triumph. In sequel he begins â€Å"†¦whence comfort seemed to come, discomfort swells.† The Captain raises Duncan’s expectations of defeat by using ‘comfort’ and ‘discomfort’ as contrasting words. Duncan now assumes an unsuccessful loss, as well as the audience, â€Å"Dismayed not this our captains, Macbeth and Banquo?† However the Captain continues to announce Macbeth’s second victory, â€Å"†¦As cannons overcharged†¦strokes upon the foe.† His order of dialogue, by preparing Duncan for loss, effectively emphasises the victorious event of Macbeth’s second triumph in battle. So Shakespeare’s use of structure in scenes and dialogue contribute to making the opening scenes of Macbeth dramatic. Setting and structure in the opening scenes are used effectively to engage the audience’s interest. Furthermore the characters and language Shakespeare constructs are the utmost intriguing, completing the dramatic tone in the opening scenes of Macbeth. In act one, scene one the witches’ dialogue is in rhyme and rhythm, â€Å"When shall we three meet again In thunder, lightening, or in rain?† This gives it a sense of chanting and makes it spell-like, emphasising the supernatural characterisation of them. Another example of the witches speaking in rhyming couplets is in scene 3, â€Å"But in a sieve I’ll thither sail, and like a rat without a tail†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This habit is not only spell-like, but it also separates the witches from the other characters in the play, accentuating the fact that they’re evil and opposing to the natural ways of humanity. The three witches also take it in turns to speak, completing and answering each other’s speech. This pattern and unity suggests that they act together like one, almost as if they’re representing an inverse of the holy trinity. This underlying image of them is significant in the way of reversing the ‘natural order’ that God had originally set up- again opposing to the natural ways of humanity. This is also shown through a spell they chant together in scene one, â€Å"Fair is foul, and foul is fair†. They believe everything evil is good, contradicting what the society they live in believes- that everything evil is bad and sinful. Another habit of the witches’ speech is repetition of threes. In scene three witch 1 is discussing taking revenge on a woman’s husband, as she’d not given her chestnuts, â€Å"†¦and munched, and munched, and munched†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢Aroint thee witch,’†¦I’ll do, I’ll do, and I’ll do.† The woman tells the witch to get lost, ‘aroint’, and this angers the witch to take revenge, ‘I’ll do’. To speak words or phrases in triplets really states how powerful or magical they are as in Shakespeare’s time the number 3, and multiples of 3, were regarded as magic numbers. The witches cite triplets and magic numbers a number of times in the opening scenes, â€Å"†¦nine times nine†¦thrice to thine, and thrice to mine, and thrice again, to make up nine.† So in addition to speaking in rhyming couplets and rhythm, Shakespeare uses society’s superstition to enhance the witches’ dark and forbidden characterisation. In addition to these unusual ways of speaking, the witches are portrayed to be physically unappealing. Banquo’s first impression was dismayed and confused, â€Å"What are these, so withered, and so wild in their attire†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He describes how unattractive and degraded they appear, â€Å"†¦look not like th’ inhabitants o’ th’ earth†¦Live you, or are you aught that man may question?† Banquo is suggesting that they look nothing like humans, and is hesitant to ask if they are as he fears they’re evil spirits. This really exemplifies the witches’ characteristics to be spooky, eerie and devious. This would be more so appealing to an Elizabethan audience as they’d been sheltered and kept away from anything dark and sinful. Being able to witness these strange characters on stage would be extremely interesting. By constructing the witches to be physically unattractive enhances the intrigue, as they’re even more u nfamiliar and ‘different’. This helps to capture the audience’s intrigue and make the opening scenes dramatic. As well as the witches, Macbeth is set up to be a very interesting character successfully captivating the audience in the opening scenes. As discussed in the structure of the play, Macbeth is portrayed to be a very loyal, courageous and noble man. To depict these qualities, Shakespeare uses descriptive language which is very effective, especially when the Captain compares Macbeth to Macdonwald, â€Å"†¦multiplying villainies of nature do swarm upon him [Macdonwald]†¦like a rebel’s whore† Using a harsh and sinful tone about Macdonwald sets up a great contrast against Macbeth, â€Å"For brave Macbeth†¦ with his brandished steel, which smoked with bloody execution, like valour’s minion carved out his passage†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The Captain’s description of Macbeth not only seems incredibly worthy compared to Macdonwald, but also mighty and potent due to using bold words such as ‘brandished’, ‘smoked’ and ‘carved’. The Captain also glorifies Macbeth through the use of irony. As in the discussion on the play’s structure, the Captain had prepared Duncan for bad news only to praise Macbeth’s second victory. He says the second attack dismayed Macbeth and Banquo as much â€Å"As sparrows [dismayed] eagles, or the hare [dismayed] the lion.† Macbeth is being described as an eagle or lion that prey upon the sparrows and the hare, which represent the King of Norway- the second opposition. Eagles and lions are very majestic animals in the animal kingdom, giving Macbeth a high authority and status. The dialogue is kept very enthralling through different techniques. Assonance keeps the pace quick and poetic to listen to, â€Å"†¦doubly redoubled strokes upon†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Some of the similes used are very effective â€Å"As cannons overcharged with double cracks†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The Captain is describing the power and conquest Macbeth has over the King of Norway, ‘overcharged with double cracks’ creates a very powerful image as it’s described to be immoderate- more than enough. Another technique common in the character’s dialogue is the use of metaphors. Again when the Captain is lauding Macbeth, he refers to him as â€Å"Bellona’s bridegroom†. This trope instantly gives Macbeth a high status and supremacy as it’s referring to him as Mars, the god of war, who was wedded to Bellona. All these high praises have set up the audience’s perception of Macbeth to be very valiant, and this makes his developing characterisation to be intriguing because the audience wants to see if he can be both n oble and associated with the witches. Even though Macbeth’s persona is portrayed to be noble, his righteous ways are uncertain when the audience meets him which hooks the audience. His first words in his first entrance mimic the witches’ in scene one, â€Å"So foul and fair a day†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Although Macbeth is presumably referring to the bad weather yet satisfying victories, this echo of ‘foul and fair’ suggests that Macbeth is sub-consciously crossing over to the evil ways and beliefs of the witches. It could also be suggesting that even though Macbeth isn’t aware, the witches are already in control of him. Either way, the echo of ‘foul and fair’ underlies a connection to the witches and their evil characteristics. This possibility of Macbeth being villainous only increases after the witches’ prediction of him becoming thane of Cawdor comes true. Macbeth then obsesses with the idea of becoming King and tries to evaluate this occurrence, questioning whether the wi tches only let this come true to gain his trust so they can betray him. â€Å"If ill, why hath it given me earnest of success, Commencing in a truth? I am Thane of Cawdor.† Macbeth questions why these predictions might be bad if it has made him successful as a Thane. â€Å"If good, why do I yield to that suggestion†¦Ã¢â‚¬  By suggestion, Macbeth means the thought of him killing Duncan to be King, â€Å"†¦my thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical†¦Ã¢â‚¬  As he’s in this state of confusion, it intrigues the audience to think whether Macbeth will turn evil or stay true to his virtues. In the end of his deliberation, he decides to let destiny take its place without his interference, â€Å"†¦chance will have me King†¦without my stir† This lessens the tension of the audience until noble Macbeth hears that Duncan is naming his son future King. â€Å"We will establish our estate upon our eldest, Malcolm†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Despite Macbeth originally deciding to let destiny take place, he instantly sees Malcolm as an obstacle to becoming King, â€Å"The Prince of Cumberland-that is a step, On which I must fall down, or else o’erleap, For in my way it lies.† His obsessing ambition now makes him consciously think evil deeds. â€Å"†¦Stars hide your fires, Let not light see my black and deep desires.† By referring to his thoughts as ‘desires’, it’s evidently showing that Macbeth is crossing over to the witches ‘side’- believing in what they believe. The other characters are unaware of this; it’s only Macbeth and the audience who know. This makes the development of the play enthralling to the audience, as they want to know how the other characters fall into Macbeth’s other persona, his dark side. He continues his obsession, describing how awful his thoughts are. â€Å"The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be, Which the eye fears when it is done to see.† Macbeth’s saying ‘the eye’, any witnesses, should be blind to what he’s about to do (in thought) as, if anyone’s exposed to what he’s done they’ll be in fear. Alternatively, Macbeth could be suggesting that his eyes should be blind to what his hands are doing (his actions) as if he let’s both his personas clash (his noble side and evil side), he’ll regret what he’s done. Macbeth’s character is so episodic, changing his beliefs and qualities from scene to scene. The language in the dialogue is so varied and interesting through assonance, irony, similes and metaphors, that the audience are immediately absorbed and inquiring. The opening scenes of Macbeth are made dramatic through a series of techniques including setting, structure, characters and language. Shakespeare effectively uses weather and landscape to create and enhance an eerie and immoral mood, mostly prior to the witches’ entrance. Intrigue is also stimulated through the play’s structure, in both Shakespeare’s order of scenes and use of dialogue. Limiting the storyline revealed and purposely organising the order in which characters are introduced develop anticipation and inquisitiveness amongst the audience. Overall the characters and language introduced in the opening scenes are the utmost captivating. Their characterisations are constructed through language compiling of techniques such as similes, assonance, metaphors, rhythm, rhyme and irony. All of these effectively help to make the opening scenes of Macbeth extremely enthralling, interesting and dramatic.

Debate on Indian Removal Essay

In the contemporary world the idea of removal of an entire people from its native land would sound wickedly and would perhaps be considered a genocide, yet in the XIX century this idea was quite permissible and corresponded to the ruling concept of civilized nations which were to rule those uncivilized and determine their existence. Therefore, in our estimation of pro and contra Indian removal arguments I shall attempt to evaluate the named arguments first and foremost from the point of view of the time and base my conclusions on such evaluation. The first argument proposed by Andrew Jackson to the Congress in 1829 is that that no new state may be established without consent of the people of that state, and since Indians are living on the territory of existing states and do not constitute a majority, they may not establish their own government and have to obey the laws of the state or immigrate. A harsher version of the argument is provided in the North American Review, January 1830, blaming that Indians are barbarous people â€Å"incapable of sustaining any other relation with the whites, than that of dependence and pupilage. † Francis J. Grund is even more acrid, as he claims Indian’s cruelty towards the Founding Fathers. A counterargument can be found in the â€Å"Memorial of the Cherokee Indians†, published in the Weekly Register vol. 38, and it is that a white man is a ruler of the land, and the red man is weak, yet there were times when whites were week and reds were strong, and the whites received warm welcome from the Indians. Also the Indians argued that previous treaties guaranteed their rights to land. The situation with the Indians is similar to the one with the colonists before the Revolution. The colonists appeared to be weak and Britain was strong, yet the colonists were able to gain their independence by force. However, the Indians were unable to win the war and they had to obey those who are strong. Therefore, the US Government argument was nothing but a sword law, not a just law. This is well confirmed by the Decision of the U. S. Supreme Court in Worcester v. State of Georgia (1832), where the Court has found that treaties between the Indians and the Government, as well as Indian self-government are guaranteed as long as the Indians obey the general laws of the state. Since the Indians did not obey, all they privileges have to be annulled. Yet the laws of the state themselves made the Indians chose between â€Å"becoming civilized† in other words not leading their traditional lifestyle and immigration. So, it may be concluded, that removal has logically followed from the previous relations between the Indians and the Government, in which the Government used sword more frequently than justice. The second pro argument proposed by Andrew Jackson in 1830 were advantages of immigration both for the whites and for Indians. For the US government is was an opportunity to protect the frontiers, for the states of Mississippi and Alabama these were new territories and opportunities for development, and for the Indians, under Jackson, it was an ability not to have contacts with the civilized people, follow their customs and live under the government supervision, gradually becoming a civilized community. A counterargument of the Indians is explained in the mentioned Memorial, as well as in the article published in the North American Review, October 1830 where they claim their right to stay on their land and continue their traditional life same as any nation has title over its land. In fact, we once more face the sword law: the Government determined what is â€Å"civilized† and what is â€Å"law† and the Indians had to obey or disappear. Another Indian argument may be found in the letter from John Ross: the Government was just willing to get rid of the Indians. This is an argument with no counterargument. Government’s desire to make away with the Indians was undisputable. Concluding my analysis I have to recognize that the arguments of the Indians look stronger even for the XIX century. An independent international tribunal of the time would perhaps take their side. Yet there was no such tribunal, but only the will of the Government which caused Indians to be removed.

The Bond of Communion An Analysis of the Communal Bonds...

The Bond of Communion: An Analysis of the Communal bonds throughout Dante Alighieri’s The Inferno Human beings are odd creatures, possessing abilities no other living species have. These abilities being Intelligence, Reason, and Free Will. These attributes allow human beings to value and destroy whatever they deem necessary to them. One of the most valuable things to a human being is the communal bond. This bond comes in many shapes and forms and is ultimately a form of love, and is usually a connection we share with others and with God. The communal bond works like a relationship, in which the persons involved are expected to and obey the instructions specified. This bond is a weak love, one that is easily influenced and most likely to†¦show more content†¦Dante’s use of symbolism is most evident in this passage, where light is a symbol for reason and love. The fact that the second circle is void of these two attributes amplifies that the Lustful abandon their reason and love in order to pursue and satisfy their physical body. Dante having successfully establishe d the setting moves on to establish his concept of Contrapasso. Dante describes â€Å"[the] hellish flight [of the sinners] / of storm and counter storm†¦sweep[ing] the souls of the damned before its change. / Whirling and battering†¦ / their shrieks begin anew.† (5.29-35) The punishment of the Lustful and Carnal is the inability to control their actions in Hell. They are forever controlled by the winds of Hell, this is due to their inability to control their earthly passions in life. Another punishment the Lustful face are the inability to be with their loved one, in Hell they can see and speak to their loved one but are forever denied the right to touch their lover, causing them suffering and anguish. The readers sympathize with the sinners and Dante himself pities the lustful in this circle. Dante structures his Inferno in circles, with the higher circles being composed of lesser sins and the lowest circles being the gravest sins. Dante structures the circles wis ely in order to stress the belief of the importance of community. The higher circles of Hell contain the sinners who sought unity and community,