How The Other Half Lives, And Upton Sinclair s Book, The...

During the late 19th century and early 20th century, America increased drastically in industrialization, consumerism, and urbanization. With these increases a â€Å"Mass Consumerism† movement began and effected the middle class more than others. From the increase in consumerism, Thorstein Veblen introduced a new phrase called conspicuous consumption. This was indicated towards wealthy Americans that the best way to prove superiority is to show off their wealth. This negatively effected Americans and their perception on others. With the massive increase in industrialization and urbanization, Americans living in poverty and with poor jobs were mostly effected negatively than others. In Jacob Riis’s book, How the Other Half Lives, and Upton Sinclair’s book, The Jungle, it opened the eyes of Americans not living and working in these conditions. After the government and American people witness the horror some citizens must deal with, changes will occur and improve co nditions. Mass Consumerism affected American society by persuading Americans to buy certain items and making shopping more convenient. Middle class families were more affected from mass consumerism, because the middle class filled white collared jobs, and this would give them more disposable income to spend on whatever they like. Department stores were made to persuade and appeal to consumers, and these stores would carry all consumer needs, sitting and resting areas, and restaurants, to persuade people to stay longer inShow MoreRelatedThe Importance Of The Progressive Era1310 Words   |  6 PagesFrank Norris, Jacob Riis, and Upton Sinclair are a few muckrakers whose work aided to progressive political reform that cured some major problems in the industry. One muckraker who sensationalized the conflicts between railroads and wheat farmers through his writing was Frank Norris. One of his most well-known works was a novel called The Octopus: A Story of California. In this novel he uses made up characters based off of people he interviewed around California. In contrast to other muckraker’s worksRead MoreThe American Of American History4245 Words   |  17 PagesLearning about American history is an extremely fascinating topic. It’s intriguing how our great nation developed and changed throughout history. From wars to treaties, it’s all essential in understanding how our nation has grown to be what it is now. In our ever growing society today, immigrants are migrating to this nation with hopes and dreams. Hopes and dreams that lead them to live a better and more prosperous life. The United States of America is known as big â€Å"melting pot†. This melting potRead MoreFeminine Mystique12173 Words   |  49 P agesRosie to Lucy Questions students must answer in a 500-word (minimum) essay: 1) Describe the post-WWII frustrations felt by women such as Betty Friedan. 2) During the era of â€Å"Rosie the Riveter†, what gains did women make in the workforce? How did these women feel about themselves and their contributions? What did society as a whole think? 3) What role did mass media play during the 1950s and 1960s in regard to supporting or undermining the â€Å"feminine mystique†? 4) Which television heroine

Sympathetic and Unsympathetic Characters in Things Fall...

In the novel, Things Fall Apart, written by Chinua Achebe, Okonkwo is a sympathetic character and unsympathetic character in regards to his family relationships with his adopted son, Ikemefuna, his daughter, Ezima, and his father, Unoka, as a result of he appears to genuinely care about his family; but, the pride within himself prevents his expression of such pride and concern openly. The protagonist, Okonkwo demonstrates his sympathetic character solely to himself, personally, and infrequently not in the eyes of others. During the plotting of Ilemefuna’s death, Okonkwo was hesitant to make the boy aware of his fate and also hesitant to take part in his death. â€Å"‘I cannot understand why you refused to come with us to kill that boy,’ he†¦show more content†¦Okonkwo also tries to show himself as an unsympathetic character to show that he is not a weak man, like his father, Unoka. (Being a weak man is a very degrading quality for the culture of Umofia.) An example of Okonkwo’s unsympathetic personality is Ikemefuna’s death. Although Okonkwo treasured the presence of the adopted buy, Ikemefuna, Okonkwo contributes the last and fatal blow to Ikemefuna, causing him to die in the Evil Forest. Okonkwo, regardless of his love for the boy, killed Ikemefuna ultimately to prove his manliness and strength to the tribe, a valued aspect of the culture. â€Å"Okonkwo’s machete descended twice and the man’s head lay beside his uniformed body.† (Achebe 146) Okonkwo is also very unsympathetic in regards to his father, Unoka. Unoka was a poor man who was always in debt; he had an interest in music and enjoyed talking. â€Å"He [Unoka] was very good on his flute, and his happiest moments were the two or three moons after the harvest when the village musicians brought down their instruments, hung about the fire place. Unoka would play with them, his face beaming with blessedness and peace.†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ â€Å"U noka loved the good fare and good fellowship†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Achebe 5) In order to not become like his father, Okonkwo consciously strives to be prosperous, violent, resourceful, unable to show â€Å"soft† emotion, and denies music orientation. â€Å"And no Okonkwo was ruled by one passion—to hate everything that his

Margaret Hilda Thatcher Essay Example For Students

Margaret Hilda Thatcher Essay Margaret Hilda Thatcher is the first woman to have held the office of prime minister in Great Britain. She was born Margaret Hilda Roberts in Grantham, Lincolnshire and educated at the University of Oxford, where she earned degrees in chemistry. After graduation she worked as a research chemist from 1947 to 1951. She married Denis Thatcher in 1951, and in 1953, having studied for the bar, she became a tax lawyer. Thatcher joined the Conservative party, and was elected to the House of Commons in 1959. She defeated Edward Heath for the minority leadership of the party in 1974, and then led the Conservative party to victory in 1979. Thatcher is the only British prime minister in the twentieth century to serve three consecutive terms. In 1990, controversy over Thatchers tax policy and her reluctance to commit Great Britain to full economic integration with Europe inspired a strong challenge to her leadership. Ms. Thatcher was ousted from leadership, and resigned in November 1990 and was succeeded as party leader and prime minister by her protà ©gà ©e, John Major: who, consequently, only served one short term. Margaret Hilda Roberts was born October 13, 1925 to Beatrice and Alfred Roberts in the flat above her parents small grocery store. Margarets father was the greatest influence in Margarets life, politically as well as religiously and socially. Alfred Roberts came to Grantham during the First World War where he met and married Beatrice Stevenson. The young couple worked hard and saved money with a passion. Before long Alfred opened his own grocery shop, and eventually he came to own two. (Mayer,1979) Alfred often discussed current events with his two daughters, and also his keenly-held political beliefs. Margarets father had a considerable effect on her political beliefs. Although he had once been a member of the Liberal party, he won a place on the local town council as an independent, which essentially meant conservative. He served in this position for twenty-five years, and later became the chair of its finance committee. In the 1940s, he was selected for the largely honorary but still prestigious post of Mayor of Grantham. (Mayer, 1979) When asked about the part her father had played in her life Margaret replied that of course, I just owe almost everything to my . . father, and the things which I learned in a small town, in a very modest home. . . . (Mayer, 1979) At the age of fifteen, Margaret had to start thinking seriously about what she wanted to do with her life. The British education system required young people at that age to choose between two totally separate curriculums which they would follow for the remainder of their secondary school career. One was an arts and humanities course, and the other was science. Margaret had little trouble making up her mind. Though she had always been interested in politics, the idea of a political career seemed out of the question. At the time Members of Parliament were paid only 600 Pounds a year and were given no allowances for secretarial or office expenses. That deliberately limited professional politics mainly to successful businessmen, lawyers, and the rich. At the same time, science seemed to be the coming thing; research was booming, and a science degree appeared to provide a passport to assured employment. Margaret chose science specifically, chemistry. At the age of seventeen, a year younger than most candidates, she took the examinations one had to pass to gain admittance to Oxfords Sommerville College. She did well and scored high marks in all categories, she tied for first in the competitive exam. This exam was given to candidates to decide which would win the one scholarship the college had to offer. But Somerville officials decided to give the scholarship to the other top-scoring candidate, an older girl who had been waiting a year longer than Margaret to get into Oxford. Margaret was to be admitted to Oxford, however she would not go there on scholarship. The Deadly Social Cloud (Satire) EssayMrs. Thatcher continued her law studies even after she became pregnant early in 1953, and was five months along when she took and passed her intermediate bar exam that spring. In August, she gave birth prematurely to twins, a boy and girl who were named Mark and Carol. The birth of her children changed Mrs. Thatchers life somewhat, but not nearly as much as it did many women of that time. She decided not to seek elective office again until the twins were old enough for school. But, with the help of a nanny, she continued to work, and just four months after they were born, she passed her final and was called to the bar. When her children were at the age to go to school Margaret Thatcher decided to return to politics. She decided to restrict her search for a constituency to the London area, the metropolis itself and the immediately surrounding counties. Her reasoning was simple: if she were to represent a constituency farther away, she would on occasion be forced to leave the twins overnight, and that she refused to do. (Mayer, 1979) The first seat for which she tried to gain the nomination was an infuriating experience for her. The committee made it clear that it considered her talented, bright, and able, but that it also felt she really should be at home with the children. The same thing happened when she applied at the next location. Then Mrs. Thatcher heard that a veteran Tory MP for the north London constituency of Finchley was retiring. She along with nearly two hundred other would-be MPs submitted her name to the selection committee. The committee then, after interviews, was able to narrow the mob of 200 applicants down to four finalists, Mrs.. Thatcher included. The finalists were to appear before the local partys divisional council, a group of fifty rank and filers who represented all the Tory party workers in the district. The day before the final interview, one of the four finalists dropped out, and only the three candidates remained, but as far as the group selection committee was concerned, there was no real choice. (Mayer, 1979) A council member John Tiplady recalls I know it may seem like hindsight, but when we interviewed the candidates, we asked ourselves, Is this a future Prime Minister? And Margaret clearly was and everyone thought so. (Mayer, 1979) Margaret was selected as the Tory candidate for the Finchley constituency, and was elected to the House of Commons as a Member of Parliament in October 1959. Mrs. Thatcher rose quickly through the ranks of Commons, and by 1967, with the Tories in the minority, she was selected as the shadow cabinets minister of power, eighteen months later, she got the transport portfolio, and a year after that she got education. (Mayer, 1979) According to Mrs. Thatchers biographer Allen Mayer, the reasons for her rapid rise are not immediately discernable. Tory journalist Ferdinand Mount has suggested that she might be regarded as the Evita of the Tory party. Mrs. Thatcher, he wrote recently moved up so quickly not despite but because of her sex. It was not so much her own brilliance as the chronic shortage of Conservative women MPs that insured her rapid promotion. (Mayer, 1979) But according to one of Mrs. Thatchers speaches given at the time to

It was a warm summer day when his life turned upside down Essay Example For Students

It was a warm summer day when his life turned upside down Essay It was a warm summer day when his life turned upside down. He and some friends had been enjoying some delicious pizza you could only find at privately owned Italian restaurants. They took advantage of the luxurious warmth and sat on the front patio where they could watch people pass by on the busy Bloor Street. But soon the sunshine was cast aside, and as with most hot humid days the bright blue sky was overtaken with black masses. They were just finishing the last slice when a crash from the sky seemed to let loose an ocean of water. You look like drowned rats! exclaimed the owner with much amusement as they tore inside. Thats some fucked up weather, laughed one friend while examining his now see-through shirt. But he was no longer paying attention. His eyes had been diverted to a young woman who had just walked in. Her long brown hair, dripping wet and tousled, gave her a wild, untamed look. Her almond-shaped green eyes were captivating, and could lure anyone in who dared stare at them too long. Her heart shaped face didnt have a single blemish. His heart fluttered at a rate that must be unhealthy, and his breath was taken away by the amazing creature that stood before him. Yet at the same time his heart dropped and he felt sadness and regret wash over him as he realised the hushed words and party gossip had been true. Her eyes had lost their sharpness and were dull and blood-shot. Her hair had been slightly askew as she had ran in, a tell tale sign that her hair was not real. Her cheeks no longer had their adorable roundness and she looked as if she had lost at least 30 pounds. She walked with a slight limp. He never knew someone could change so much in two years. He never knew that after not seeing someone for so long that feelings long buried and forgotten could come back to you with such an over-whelming force his knees felt weak. She smiled a crisp smile of recognition, which revealed small creases in her young face. Creases that told the truth of a year of suffering, though the lips might tell other lies. Hey, how have you been? he asked, praying she would tell the truth and not just answer with a simple fine. Fine. Thats really great to hear, what have you been up to? A lot of stuff. She averted his eyes when she talked to him, talking past him, as if the wall behind him was a more interesting conversationalist. Thats cool. And you? Not really anything to tell you the truth. Im still in school, still working at Ponderosa. She smiled at the wall. Thats nice. He didnt want to continue this agonizingly meaningless small talk. He wanted to hold her and tell her it would be all right, that she could beat this disease that had consumed her body  until there was hardly anything left. He wanted to say call me when it hurts too much, call me when you feel like giving up, just call me and it will be all right. But that sort of talk wasnt allowed during a chance-meeting encounter with an ex two years after youd last spoken. All that was allowed was small talk. Horrible, un-fulfilling small talk. Are you okay Jetta? he blurted out. She giggled nervously. Yeah, just a bit wet, why? Some friends have been telling me that you havent been okay. .ucb7ea371b80109027d3c88a55f44bf46 , .ucb7ea371b80109027d3c88a55f44bf46 .postImageUrl , .ucb7ea371b80109027d3c88a55f44bf46 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ucb7ea371b80109027d3c88a55f44bf46 , .ucb7ea371b80109027d3c88a55f44bf46:hover , .ucb7ea371b80109027d3c88a55f44bf46:visited , .ucb7ea371b80109027d3c88a55f44bf46:active { border:0!important; } .ucb7ea371b80109027d3c88a55f44bf46 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ucb7ea371b80109027d3c88a55f44bf46 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ucb7ea371b80109027d3c88a55f44bf46:active , .ucb7ea371b80109027d3c88a55f44bf46:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ucb7ea371b80109027d3c88a55f44bf46 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ucb7ea371b80109027d3c88a55f44bf46 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ucb7ea371b80109027d3c88a55f44bf46 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ucb7ea371b80109027d3c88a55f44bf46 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ucb7ea371b80109027d3c88a55f44bf46:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ucb7ea371b80109027d3c88a55f44bf46 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ucb7ea371b80109027d3c88a55f44bf46 .ucb7ea371b80109027d3c88a55f44bf46-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ucb7ea371b80109027d3c88a55f44bf46:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: American Airlines Swot Analysis EssayAnd what friends would this be? her arms crossed her chest and she took a step back, but she allowed her gaze to meet his eyes. She saw the concern, the pity that she loathed. She was a walking contradiction, she cried at night because no one cared but she grew defensive when someone showed concern. Just some people, does it really matter? No, I guess it doesnt. She tried to remember the bitter words he had hurled at her during their last meeting, tried to remember the pain he had caused her, yet she couldnt repress the feeling that he was somehow right for her. Maybe it wasnt too lateà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ A throbbing in her skull brought her back to earth and she remembered how she had promised herself never to become involved with someone because she knew there was no possible future. I have cancer, she blurted out, and returned her gaze to the wall. I know, he said softly, placing an arm on her shoulder. And Im going to die. Im going to die soon, her voice trembled with tears restricted to nights alone in her room. He nodded. So I cant get involved with anyone, cant start any kind of relationship or try to fix any past mistakes. Theres no time. He thought his response out carefully before responding. Are you alive now? Yeah, obviously, she laughed through the tears she had allowed to well up in her eyes. Then theres still time, isnt there? His friends observed in amazement as a guy they thought they knew was hugged and kissed by a frail-looking girl whom would spend the last of her days with him by her side.