Romance Versus Reality Essay Example for Free

Romance Versus Reality Essay â€Å"The best laid schemes of mice and men go aft astray, and leave us naught by grief and pain for promised joy†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Robert Burns). This quote means that the romantic themes in the book vanish and leave behind realistic shock. In â€Å"Of Mice and Men† by John Steinbeck, Lennie, George and Curley’s wife’s romantic dream of owning a farm is crushed by the reality of death. The dead mouse symbolizes that Lennie’s dream of taking care of rabbits will never come true. The dead puppy also proves he will never own the rabbits. Curley’s wife’s death again proves they will never get the farm because they won’t get the money she promised. Finally, Lennie’s death makes George realize the farm house dream would never come true. The mouse Lennie hides in his pocket from George, proves the point that Lennie will never take care of the rabbits. Lennie tries to convince George, the mouse was dead when he found it, â€Å"’Jus’ a dead mouse, George. I didn’ kill it. Honest! I found it. I found it dead.’† (Steinbeck 6). Lennie wants to someday take care of the rabbits on the dream farm, and if George knew he lacked self-control and accidently killed the mouse, Lennie’s dream would never come true. Although, in reality Lennie has actually killed the mouse and most likely other creatures. Overall showing, he will never gain enough responsibility and self-control to own the rabbits. Later on, Lennie is given a puppy with the purpose of showing George, that he might someday be able to someday take care of the rabbits. George wants to believe Lennie can take care of a puppy because it is bigger than a mouse. But Lennie ends up murdering the puppy and only worries that George will not allow him to take care of the rabbits. â€Å"’Maybe if I took the pup out and throwed him away George wouldn’t never know’†¦ ‘Don’t you think of nothing but rabbits?’† (Steinbeck 98). George hopes the puppy will prove that Lennie will be able to take care of the rabbits, but in reality he is let down again. Lennie destroyed his last opportunity to care for the rabbits by killing Curley’s wife. She wanted to make something out of her life, â€Å"’ I coulda make somethin’ of myself†¦maybe I will yet.’† (Steinbeck 96). Curley’s wife gave up her life savings to help buy the farm, but never her death they would never get the money. Her death foreshadows that the romance of the farm will die causing the reality that they will never own the farm. Lennie’s death shows George that the farm could have never happened. George realized he wanted the farm only because Lennie loved the idea of it. Deep down George never thought they would ever get the farm. â€Å"’I think I knowed we’d never do her. He†¦liked to hear about it†¦I got to thinking maybe we would.’† (Steinbeck 103). George only told the story to trick Lennie into following his rules. George listened to his stories of the farm, and obeyed him, because he did if he did not listen, he would not take care of the rabbits. Due to Lennie’s death, George no longer needs to dream of the farm anymore. Robert Burns explains there is conflict between reality and romanticism among the characters in the novel, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. The character of the dead mouse shows to us that Lennie is not capable of taking care of the rabbits on the dream farm. The dead puppy again shows that Lennie cannot control himself, so he will never have the rabbits. Curley’s wife’s death shows they will never purchase the farm because they never will get her promised money. Lastly, Lennie’s death makes George realize they knew they would never actually get the farm, and that he only told the story for Lennie’s entertainment.

Nothing Can Bring You Peace But Yourself. :: essays research papers

Nothing can bring you peace but yourself." "Yourself,"†¦ I am thinking about the time when my best friend died, and when I stopped being myself and my life started going to hell. It happened maybe two or three years ago. The day is very clear in my memory. The weather was cold and nasty. The monotonous rain made everything outside look gray. I was at home, waiting for my girlfriend to arrive. I was sitting on the couch drinking hot tea and feeling warm and cozy. My cat was there too, I remember. We were watching a Mexican soap opera, and I think the cat was enjoying it, but I wasn’t paying much attention to what was going on. All I cared about was that my girlfriend was finally coming home and that we would be able to see each other again. She had left only four weeks earlier, but I missed her greatly. We had been friends since the first grade. In the beginning we were the worst enemies; we just hated each other. Oh, how we fought! One time she accused me of taking her marker, even though I did not know what marker she was talking about. I remember her mother came to school and everyone was mad at me and was convinced that I was guilty. Later she found her marker. It seems she had put it in a wrong box. This turned out to be the first, but not the last, accident that would occur. What didn’t we argue about? After a while, hmmm, five years, we became the best friends ever. We were perfectly compatible with each other. We began spending all of our time together. We were vital to each other. I came to know each and every detail about her as she did about me. My life was intertwined with her life and her life was intertwined with mine. It was the most enduring friendship of my life. I looked at the clock above my head. Four fifty. She was supposed to arrive at three o’clock. I felt uncomfortable; some weird feeling crawled around my heart. I did not understand it. I waited and waited. It was dark already and I was afraid of being in solitude. I couldn’t stand it anymore. Five o’clock. The phone rang and it startled me. Who might it be? I wasn’t expecting a phone call from anyone.

Analysis of the Carlsberg Advertisements

Analysis of Carlsberg Advertisements Cultural differences and similarities between Denmark and Great Britain Consumer Behaviour RSM353 Chernenko Kirill The following examination of British and Danish versions of printed advertisements of Carlsberg beer is to determine role of culture in advertising and compare and contrast how the same brand is advertised in different cultures. I. Danish printed advertisement The poster shows 4 men in the forest having conversation and smiling, meanwhile everyone has a bottle in a hand.The background shows the connection to wild nature: large green trees together with five fallow dears, a magpie, a fox and a pheasant. The men have been hunting, possibly, and decided to take a break. The idea is to illustrate a moment of relaxation and enjoyment of Carlsberg beer in a good company. The slogan â€Å"Vores ol brygget pa det bedste vi har† (Our beer. Brewed from the best we have) at the bottom, involves different product characteristics. The first part â€Å"Vores ol† awakes the awareness of Danes, because their traditional beer connects people in Denmark.Per contra, the final part focuses on quality of a beverage, which worth to go hunting. The image and the content of a text box creates a unified whole. The advertisement illustrates the traditional myth of drinking beer since hunting is an old tradition and according to the text box â€Å"Only 11% of the Danish hunters are hunting to hunt† which implies social interaction with friends. And, therefore, the social belonging to that particular group is related to drinking beer.Furthermore, Carlsberg beer can be seen as a reward for hard-working process, going beyond the beverage and highlighting old traditional values which express the hunting myth. In addition, a humor takes special place in this print. Relaxed hunters are surrounded by animals, walking nearby very close. It seems that animals are not afraid of intruders. The beer is no longer just a beer. It b uilds community and harmony between the people, and also between the animals. This is a signal of weak uncertainty avoidance in Denmark.Carlsberg beer provides relaxing atmosphere and sense of peace as well as hygge (fun on Danish). Moreover, the poster represents the everyday culture, playing on the symbolic associations. Consequently, Carlsberg intends to tell a true story about the real product. Denmark is a very individualistic culture where independence is very important. Nevertheless, the Danish advertisement (the slogan â€Å"Vores ol†) contradicts individualism. Instead, the advertisement drives towards collectivism.It turns out that Danes are double-standard people: they keep distance from other people, sitting alone in public transit while they pursue the sense of belonging, seeking community involvement. Ultimately, Denmark is categorized as a low-context culture. That means that additional information and reasoning is required. Although this poster does not provid e explicit argumentation apart from slogan and little text box. In my opinion, information given is sufficient enough to deliver the message to Danish consumer. II. British printed advertisementUK version demonstrates 2 young men sitting on a terrace of a luxury house with a sea view and two beautiful young women in the background The woman standing next to swimming pool is showered by a cloud above. Next to her is another young woman, who is lying in the sun with a rainbow over her body. Aforesaid young men are both smiling and holding a bottle of beer. There is a snowing cloud between them, which keeps the beer on the table refrigerated. Perhaps, they talk to each other, sharing opinions and ideas about everything behind them, which is not realistic.It can be assumed that the man on the left is telling about his fantasy (which is the actual background of a print). This flight of imagination is correlated with a text box â€Å"Carlsberg don't do the weather, but if we did it would probably be the best weather in the world†. I will interpret it this way: Carlsberg is already producing the best beer in the world; if only Carlsberg made weather, it would also be the best in the world. The informal contradiction â€Å"don’t† is used to make the text ordinary, which links to the fact that Carlsberg beer is an everyday beer for any event, any time.According to this ad, the best weather is summertime, beautiful ladies either taking shower of rain or sunbathing and cold Carlsberg beer with a snowing cloud above. This idealistic lifestyle reflects the fantasies and desires of younger audience, which is the actual target population. This unrealistic weather is not only a castle in the sky, a dream, but also a myth of success which implies luxury, nice weather and exclusive alcoholic beverages. Young men stylish clothes and beautiful beach house proves that link.British small power distance is visible in this poster by the use of four independent yo ung people who are able to make ideals in countries, where individualism is highly valued. Beer-drinking culture in is also manifested in this advertisement. In Great Britain beer is a social drink, it is not consumed alone, it should be shared in a company. Just like in Denmark, British are double-standard people: individualistic community seekers. Overstatement in slogan â€Å"Probably the best beer in the world is a sign of masculine cultures, it is often used.The features of the product related to luxury and high status is another a signal of masculinity. On the other hand, slogan also has an understatement â€Å"probably† which represent feminine values. Weak uncertainty avoidance can be noticed in text box focused on what the product does rather than what it can. And again, if Carlsberg could modify the weather it would be just as good as their beer. Communication style is more high-context than low-context. This is caused by the indirect, implicit message the viewer h ave to understand (metaphor: snowing clouds performs the role of refrigerator). III.Cultural Differences and Similarities The above analysis of Carlsberg advertisements of Denmark and United Kingdom illustrates how dominant cultural values, believes and norms reflect the style and content of particular print. There are some characteristics in common while there are a few differences. In the first place, both advertisements involves myths. However, British one provides the myth of success, whereas Danish ad is linked to old Dane traditional values such as hunting and social interaction. Secondly, in both posters beer-drinking culture is related to social process and relaxing activity.The Denmark version possess harmony, peace and community while British focal point is high quality and exclusive luxury. Thirdly, both Denmark and Great Britain advertisements are high-context despite the fact that both countries are classified as low-context. Text boxes are not that informative such as the image scenario. Although Danish ad is more symbolic meanwhile British one has more high-context communication. Last but not least, in both prints all characters are smiling, expressing the joy and satisfaction. This is a distinctive feature of strong uncertainty avoidance cultures.On top of that, both countries are double-standard combining individualism with collectivism (as previously mentioned â€Å"individualistic community seekers†). Still, UK ad demonstrates more signs of highly individualistic values Appendix A Danish printed advertisement, 1999 Only 11% of the Danish hunters are hunting to hunt There is intelligence that can create intense peace as the taste of the original Carlsberg humble exclusively from flowers of the hemp plant Our beer. Brewed from the best we have Appendix B British printed advertisement, 2007

Finding A Middle Way Between Zen And Pure Land Buddhism

Finding a Middle Way between Zen and Pure Land Buddhism Introduction After the death of the historical Buddha occurred and his lineage had ended with Buddha Sakyamuni, his teachings spread in two main directions, southward (Theravada tradition) and eastward into China, Vietnam, Korea and Japan (Mahayana tradition)(Blake 16 March 2016). In East Asia, these teachings developed into ten different schools, several of which remain important to this day: Zen, Tantric and Pure Land (Li 4 April 2016). These schools of thought differ in many ways but also have overlapping similarities. The two schools can be seen as extremities and finding a najarjuna (middle way) is key to incorporate both schools in one’s practice. In my essay, I will explain†¦show more content†¦The goal of Zen Buddhism is to look towards the future, searching to attain satori (awakening). Through jiriki nembutsu (self-power chanting) the person is hakarai (calculating) their spiritual and material profit. Thus, Zen is an individual practice. Ultimately, Zen places a strong importance on embodying emptiness and not becoming attached to words said by the masters. For instance, in the koan, master Yanmen’s story shows that Zen is both verbal and actional, teaching his students that instead of getting attached to words, one must embody them. This was seen when one of his disciples asked if the dog has a Buddha nature, and the master replied: â€Å"no because he has the nature of karmic delusions† (Li 18 March 2016). In this example, the master was mocking the disciple’s lack of discipline because he got attached to the words. The master’s iconoclastic approach teaches its practitioners that one must embody the koan and zazen meditation. As in Zen, it is through embodiment that one reaches the Mahayana level of emptiness in order to reach their final goal- satori. In contrast to Zen, Pure Land views its practice through tariki (other-power). This reliance is referring to Amida Buddha’s compassion. The Pure Land practice is where one embodies the nembutsu (chanting) by repeating the words â€Å"Amida Buddha† several times until the tariki nembutsu (other-power chanting) becomes jinen honi (naturalness)(Shinran 142). Shinjing tells us to have true