Gilgamed vs Aeneid Essay

The Evolution of the â€Å"Highway to Hell† in Classical Mythology Mythology, by denotation, is â€Å"a traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a people or explaining some natural or social phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or events.† Myths are an entity that evolve through time and through the changing of culture in order to tailor to the people telling the story; as such, we often see a series of different versions develop reflecting a relatively similar story. In this paper, the similarities and differences of the representation of the Underworld in The Epic of Gilgamesh and Virgil’s Aeneis will be analyzed and applied to the culture of the authors. We read these myths thousands of years after they were written in order to gain an understanding of the world’s past, analyze the minds of our progenitors, and ponder the mystery of human origins. In abridgment, The Epic of Gilgamesh, tells the four thousand y ear old Mesopotamian tale of Gilgamesh, the fifth King of Uruk and demigod. In this myth, the story begins with Gilgamesh and his former enemy and current best friend Enkidu. Together, they kill the Bull of Heaven, a deity sent in revenge by the goddess Ishtar to destroy their crops. When Enkidu kills the bull, he angers the gods, prompting them to kill Gilgamesh’s closest friend in retribution. After this traumatic event, Gilgamesh slips in to a state of infatuation with the meanings of life and death. Searching for the meaning of life and a path to eternal life, he sets off on a quest to find a man who lives in the Underworld and is called Utnapishtim; Gilgamesh believes him to be a mortal man who survived a great flood and was rewarded with immortality. On his quest to arrive in the Underworld, Gilgamesh encounters Siduri: the barmaid at the edge of the sea, Urshanabi: the boatman of the Underworld, and finally Utnapishtim: the immortal keeper of the Underworld. Upon meeting Utnapishtim, Gilgamesh coaxes him into revealing the secret to immortality: a flower at the bottom of the sea. This analysis will be focused on Tablet X. The second major work included in this analysis is the Roman, Virgil’s The Aeneid, Book VI. In synopsis, this myth tells t he story of Aeneas after the Trojan War and his quest to lead his people. The preluding chapters of The Aeneid describe Aeneas’s adventures after the fall of Troy and in the Underworld portion of the myth, Aeneas seeks the Underworld in order to obtain the advice of his late father. In the Underworld, not only does Aeneas meet his father but also his former lover. Virgil’s The Aeneid and The Epic of Gilgamesh both portray two heroes on an adventure mission to the Underworld to avenge the past and discover the future; however there are stark differences in these outwardly similar myths. Initially, when comparing these two stories, one must consider the context from which they come. Virgil’s epic poem is one which draws on the Roman culture and was written between 29 and 19 BC while in contrast, The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the oldest known works of literature and is centered around the Mesopotamian culture of the significantly older 2000 BC. Noting this substantial gap in not only geography, but also the time warp is important as we continue in our analysis of these two works. The Romans depicted in The Aeneid held clear beliefs that one who led a good life would reap the benefits in the afterlife whereas the Mesopotamians’ ancient culture seems to have left their ideas starkly vacant towards the concept of death and the afterlife. When Gilgamesh arrived at the first ingress of the Underworld, he met the barmaid Siduri in her tavern at the edge of the sea. She said to him the following: â€Å"There has never been a ferry of any kind, Gilgamesh, and nobody from time immemorial has crossed the sea† (Tablet X, p. 433). In a very similar style to The Epic of Gilgamesh, the Sibyl, The Aeneid’s fortune-telling equivalent of Siduri, also meets Aeneas at the edge of the Sea of Death and tells him, â€Å"All nights, all days too, dark Dis’s portals lie open. But to recall those steps, to escape to the fresh air above you, There lies the challenge, the labor! A few have succeeded†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Aeneid, Book 6, line 128-130). After this warning, she gives Aeneas somewhat cryptic instructions on how to collect a golden branch which, if fate allows, will grant him access to the Underworld. In juxtaposing these two quotes from these scenes of the myths, we can get a sense of the archetypes and ideals behind the people who wrote them. As depicted in the quote from The Epic of Gilgamesh, it comes to light that not only does Gilgamesh not know what to expect from the Underworld and the afterlife, but also Siduri doesn’t quite have a tangible notion of what should happen to someone who passes into the underworld and is not dead. In contrast, the apparently more experienced Sibyl tells Aeneid that it will not be easy, but makes this task sound much more feasible. She has exact instructions for him and quite simply, leaves the verdict of his eligibility to fate. Through this comparison we can begin to notice some of the culture of the respective  times which permeates these myths. Gilgamesh’s tale is older and the author was writing from a decidedly more undeveloped mythological perspective; for the people of The Epic of Gilgamesh’s time, death was undefined and impalpable. However, for the people living in the time in which Virgil was writing, death, although intimidating, was something that one who did not commit sins, did not need to fear. Looking a bit more in depth, we can see that these myths give us a glimpse in to the minds of the people who lived in the time in which they were written. In The Aeneid, Aeneas goes to the Underworld to seek counsel from the deceased whereas in contrast, G ilgamesh goes as part of a quest to ultimately avoid the underworld in immortality. We can see a complete lack of fear of death written through the words of Virgil when Aeneid addresses his deceased father in line 698, â€Å"†¦Father, give me your hand! Give it, don’t pull away as I hug and embrace you! Waves of tears washed over his cheeks as he spoke in frustration: Three attempts made to encircle his father’s neck with his outstretched arms yielded three utter failures.† Through this quote, it becomes apparent to us that Aeneid feels no fear for the dead; he feels simply frustration at the fact that he can’t embrace his father. In blunt contrast, in The Epic of Gilgamesh when the Underworld and death is described, it is described as the following: â€Å"Nobody sees Death, nobody sees the face of Death, nobody hears the voice of Death, Savage Death just cuts mankind down† (pg 435). This description from the older of the two works lacks the s ense of knowing and fate that is seen as a reoccurring theme in The Aeneid; it is an undefined mystery that still has not been conquered. In this ancient text, we are reintroduced to the idea of Gilgamesh fearing the after-life, verses Aeneas facing it and accepting a fate which has been predetermined. In the end, the Underworld experiences of Aeneas and Gilgamesh each bring forth experiences which are similar, yet are each one is molded in its own way to produce something that reflects their corresponding cultures. Both plotlines tell the account of a demigod hero with a god-invoked tragic past and their path to a quasi-interchangeable Underworld as a means of catharsis. Considering that these two myths, having been from as much as a thousand years apart and two different regions of the world, have so many striking plot similarities, one must marvel at the power of the story passed through the generations. Myths have survived the test of time and changing cultures to create the myriad of  memoirs that we still enjoy in the modern age. These myths, although no longer something that we typically consider a part of modern religion, allow us a peek into the past. The history of our development through anthropologic changes and our perpetually morphing understandings of the meaning of life is preserved in the mythological collections of our earliest predecessors. The perspective offered in classic mythology offers us a sense of the concept of life and death as it was viewed by those who lived so l ong ago.

Black Codes Laws

Black Codes Laws Black Codes Black codes were slavery just in a different name, before black codes there was slavery but black codes. Black codes were an attempt from the white’s to recreate slavery. Black codes were new because it limited the rights of black people and segregated them from the white. When slavery ended it gave the Freemans just a little bit of equality, they got just a little bit more choices about where they work and what they own. The short term impact was that it gave the Freedman’s limited rights and the long term â€Å"change† was equality, and after black codes segregation started. Black codes were really bad but it was a lot better than what they went through which was slavery. Black codes gave more rights to black which was slowly and slowly starting to be taken away as southerners started inventing their own harsh black codes. â€Å"One by one southerners created their own black codes† (Perritano 21). African Americans were allowed to do things during black codes that they weren’t allowed to do in slavery which were things like they were allowed to own property, enter into contracts. Marry but not marry a white person because it was against the black codes and they would be sentenced to prison for life if they do so which did happen, and they were also allowed to sue in court, and also be sued. Although it was better than slavery it wasn’t enough because black code’s increasing and increasing, getting harsher and harsher. â€Å"Black codes were essentially designed to return the social and economic order of the south to a facsimile of antebellum times† (Jones 93.)When they wrote the new laws they used the words slave or freedman’s replacing the word Negro. The laws were different in each state, â€Å"In writing the new laws, postwar southern legislatures often turned to the old slave codes† (Jones 93). Freedman’s weren’t allowed to do a lot of things such as own homes , land, or any kind of property. They weren’t allowed to marry a white person, it was forbidden. They had to move aside when a white women were on the sidewalk, They had to remove their hats when they were wearing it near a white person was near them, in their presence to show respect, They had to address white people appropriately, They didn’t have the right to hold a public office, they weren’t allowed to participate in riots it was illegal and police could even arrest them for just standing in groups, they couldn’t have public education. , they had to obey commands that white people gave to them â€Å"Illegal for freedmen to preach the gospel without a license† (Jones 94).They didn’t have the right to serve in jury. Any black found after 10 at night with a note were sent to prison. They weren’t allowed to sell liquor, or allowed to use offensive language or gestures, it was illegal. It was Illegal for them to carry firearms. Their kids didn’t have the right to go to public schools, in some towns they weren’t even allowed to own rooms. In South Carolina they couldn’t open a store unless they had a license that the judge gave them, most importantly, they weren’t allowed to vote and last but not the least they weren’t allowed to leave their plantations. The white’s just kept going with these codes because they believed in white supremacy.

Seven Floors by Dino Buzzati Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Seven Floors by Dino Buzzati - Essay Example The theme of TIME In virtually all the short stories of Buzzati, time is a major player that is calculated and predicted in terms of its relationship with space, juggled into a confusion of days, locked into large crates, or thrown out of synch with the events that are supposed to compose it (p87). Accordingly, Buzzati says â€Å"time remains uncontrollable and the minutes and hours march forward like great lords with so much composure, no one would ever say they are our enemies† (p90). Buzzati thus declares â€Å"time to be the force that leads us into the clutches of death, which appears in Buzzati’s stories as it appears in life: waiting outside the garden gate, furtively entering our homes as we lie sleeping, or violently tearing away at the foundations of our homes† (p101). Seymour (p127) observes that â€Å"this objective and eternal time is seen as a real power, a living figure that ends up by identifying itself with death†. The element of CHARACTERIZATION Buzzati’s characters are never fully defined as they are given common Italian names. Their lives are filled with repetition, routine and monotony in what he calls â€Å"the absurd human condition† (p117). His characters are â€Å"humble, ordinary and unblessed as they are less important than the realities that determine the course of their lives†

Methods for Teaching Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Methods for Teaching - Essay Example The lecturer then winds up the lesson with an expanded explanation and demonstration concerning the topic to accomplish assimilation and understanding (Mertig, 2003). A good example is a teacher preparing to lecture on a topic on mental illness. The teacher will ensure that he or she provides adequate information to the students inform of narrating and demonstrations. Demonstrations include showing pictures of a mentally ill patient and showing their symptoms through a picture or video while teaching. Lecturing involves defining mental illness, stating the possible causes of mental illness in the society then providing methods of managing mental illness, which can be drugs or therapies. The students will take notes and ask questions at the end of the lecture before the teacher comes up with a test to determine whether his or her students understood what mental illness is all about. Simulated practices offer students with opportunities to be involved in patient care experiences they may not have an opportunity to encounter in actual clinical settings for example coming across a patient with mental illness. These patient situations may have high impact events they may not experience in their normal classroom learning. Simulation offers an opportunity to assess clinical verdict of a mentally ill patient. It gives an opportunity to students for them to critically analyze their actions, reflect on their own set of skills, and assess the clinical verdicts of others (Davis, 2007). Simulation promotes active learning and participation because it allows the students to participate in taking care of the mentally ill patients and be able to identify their strengths and weaknesses while handling the patients. It is through participation that they are able to judge and analyze critically whether class work is what happens in the mental institutions. Simulation provides a new avenue for educators and researchers to improve nursing education and practice as well as

International business strategy Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

International business strategy - Case Study Example UK-based multinational telecommunications company with headquarters in London, is the world’s second largest mobile telecommunication organization in terms of subscribers and recent revenues. It owns and operates networks in over 20 countries as well as has operations through partner networks in over 40 countries. As part of its international strategy, Vodafone expanded its resources through mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures. When viewed from contrary perspective, Vodafone started building its resources, particularly its physical and technological resources in the form of network infrastructure, through the above-mentioned three modes and thereby strengthened its international strategy further. â€Å"By 2013, it had established a significant presence in Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and the USA through mergers and acquisitions, international joint ventures, and other forms of foreign direct investment† (Case Study). As Vodafone mainly targeted successful or potential local players for acquisition, mergers, and JVs, during their foreign entries, they are able to garner optimal resources. For example, during its entry into India, Vodafone acquired Hutchinson Essar for a sizable sum and that led to the garnering of strong existing physical and technological resources, which it further optimized. The other key technological resource gained by Vodafone as part of its international strategy is wireless spectrums through auctions, which has increased its competitive advantage further. Normally, governments of various countries would auction 2G, 3G, and even 4G spectrums to telecommunication companies through a competitive bidding process thereby earning good revenue. In that direction, Vodafone has won many auctions in many countries and has got hold of sizable spectrums. After Vodafone has gained these spectrum allocations, they are able to introduce or provide more features to its customers in its foreign operations and that will natura lly lead to its

Assess the impact of television and video technology on children's Research Paper

Assess the impact of television and video technology on children's attention spans - Research Paper Example In the modern world there are many temptations for our children. With the development of technology, they received an access to different technological achievements everyone has at home. If in 1980s only radio usually entertained young people, nowadays they have an unlimited access to TVs and computers. Playing computer games is now a favorite occupation for our children. They also like to watch TV very much and many children start their day by switching the TV set on. Computers and television can help develop children’s intellect but the question arises how this habit affects children’s health. Certainly, it is a well-known fact that excessive TV watching is a very bad habit, but it is necessary to define what exactly it affects negatively. Bad eyesight and sedentary life are not all the negative consequences as now scientists have already paid attention to children’s attention span. If a child is developing in normal conditions, its attention span is constantly improving. However, some factors can influence the process of development negatively. These factors are now actively studied by experts. The first factor is anemia that is usually caused by iron deficiency. Anemia is â€Å"a condition in which a lack of iron results in a diminished amount of blood cells that carry oxygen through the blood† (Bruce, 2013). Anemia is frequently met state and if it has a light form, it is not considered as dangerous and can be easily cured. Serious forms of anemia can affect cognitive functions of children and their attention span. The second state that negatively influences the attention span of children is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).... This factor deserves special attention as it was proved that if a little child watch TV or play games very often, it may have problems with attention span in future. The objects move in the screen fast and do not allow a child to concentrate, thus it may lose such ability. The investigation held by Peter Jensen came to the conclusion that: "Extensive exposure to television and video games may promote development of brain systems that scan and shift attention at the expense of those that focus attention" (cited in DeGaetano, 2012) Now when the development of the technology is very fast some parents make a strange decision to send their child to school where the process of study is not connected with the technology. They are afraid that technological achievements can influence their child’s brain negatively (Kessler, 2012). This testifies that many parents do believe that visual media prevents children from normal concentration. According to Dr Jane Healy, "A 'good' brain for le arning develops strong and widespread neural highways that can quickly and efficiently assign different aspects of a task to the most efficient system...Such efficiency is developed only by active practice in thinking and learning which, in turn, builds increasingly stronger connections. A growing suspicion among brain researchers is that excessive television viewing may affect the development of these kinds of connections. It may also induce habits of using the wrong systems for various types of learning" (Healy, 1991). As teachers and parents can trace every day, modern children are really less attentive; they become more hyperactive, impulsive with less ability to concentrate. Such a change in children’s

Corporate Strategy - Analysis of Michael Porter Essay

Corporate Strategy - Analysis of Michael Porter - Essay Example Companies were not willing to take risks and venture into path that was not trodden earlier by some one else. In the information technology sector, imitation became inevitable as emerging economies allowed inwards flow of FDI. When multinationals started expanding to low cost countries they had to enter in joint venture with a local partner, which means they had to transfer technology. When firms entered India, they had to opt for joint ventures. While older technologies are transferred through licensing agreement, new technologies or those with fewer previous transfers or where the transferors have little experience with technology transfers opt for FDI (Eapen & Hennart, 2002). Porter further says, in high-tech industries this imitation phase often continues much longer than it should. This is because once the companies become established they do not plan for anything new and do not have any clear strategic. Stagnation occurs, which results in mediocre returns. Companies that come out with fundamental advantages prosper such as Toyota in the automobile sector. The Big Three in the US automotive industry namely, Ford Motor Company (Ford), General Motors Corporation (GM) and DaimlerChrysler (DC) played a prominent role in the evolution of the automotive industry till the 1990s. The industry adopted the lean production technique from Japan in the 1990s. The auto industry is the most globalized in the world and has undergone turbulent changes. The industry has been facing issues such as facing issues such as slow time to market, costly inventories, overcapacity, and low customer satisfaction and loyalty (Deloitte, 2003). The Big Three did not take initiatives to bring about fundamental changes as technology evolved. This allowed others such as Toyota and Hyundai to dominate the world market. Today Toyota is America’s third most admired organization and enjoy a 17.4 percent share of the US retail market (SD, 2007). Toyota has