Love Essay Example for Free

Love Essay When I think about the concept of love, my thoughts are uncertain. When I think about the word love, the four letters arranged in a random pattern, nothing is simpler. Clearly, a distinct difference lies between a word and what it represents. The importance of the word love lies in the power it has over people. When asking someone what love means, not one person has a solid answer to the question. The word love is so abstract, as to which why I adore the word â€Å"Love. † While growing older, we have used the word love in many contexts. The word love can be referred to as a variety of different feelings and attitudes, ranging from just common pleasure I loved that meal to an intense interpersonal attraction I love my boyfriend. The word love can be used in numerous ways and with endless feeling. In certain situations, the word love is such an expression that sometimes ones relationship might even depend on it. For example, If for a long time someone has not said â€Å"I love you† to a loved one, they might think something is wrong. The word â€Å"love† is a word that makes one wonder how much power one word could have. Love does not have just one meaning, but rather many different definitions. It is a word used in many different contexts, with many different levels of feelings that are unexplainable. Love is a word that is universal in every language of the world. Everyone knows of it or has used the word. Although we know of it, no person has an actual definition of it. The uncertainty of this word makes me realize how powerful the word is, even though we still seem to know what someone is trying to say. Everyone uses the word love, but never took a minute to think about its meaning. I adore this word and will always think about as the future generations use the word love in ambiguity.

Self-Esteem and Self-Concept :: Self Image Self Perception Essays

In today’s age and the growing trend in American society of â€Å"what’s hot and what’s not†, is having a huge impact on young children’s self-concept and self-esteem. Self-concept â€Å"refers to the beliefs, attitudes, knowledge, and ideas people have about themselves,† whereas self-esteem is â€Å"a personal judgment of worthiness that indicates the extent to which the individual believes himself to be capable, significant, successful, and worthy (392).†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  My interest on this subject was peaked after spending the evening with my five year-old cousin, Sami, last week. We were sitting and eating dinner when she said, â€Å"Cali, I am fat and ugly.† Well, I almost fell out of my chair. At the age of five, she was already cutting herself down. â€Å"Research shows that physical appearance is the strongest correlate of global self-worth in childhood and adolescence (398).†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  However, our textbook explains that children around my cousin’s age have a hard time defining their sense of self. They tend to describe their physical characteristics, areas of interest, family life, etc (394). Nowhere in the text does it say that a child her age should be viewing herself in terms of physical attractiveness. Adolescence and high school students are more apt to make judgments of themselves, not children in kindergarten.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I feel that television, magazines, books and the internet make our youth have a lower self-esteem because they feel they are not as good looking as the characters on their favorite television show. My cousin watches Nickelodeon and even on children’s shows it seems there are no ugly or fat children. The actresses look older than I do because of all the make-up and their choice of clothing. What does that say to our youth? â€Å"Most American girls receive consistent and clear messages that beauty is defined in terms of being ‘slim and trim’ (398).†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the classroom, self-concept and self-esteem have a huge impact on how well a child does in school. When I was in elementary school and especially high school, I would classify myself as being a good language arts student, but a poor Math and Science student. In elementary school there isn’t as much competition between students, therefore I didn’t feel the need to comment on my strengths and weaknesses. Like the author says, â€Å"and older student’s self-concept may be further broken down according to success in individual subject areas, such as reading, mathematics, or science (394).† In elementary school, all of the subjects could be incorporated into one lesson, while in high school the students switch classes and concentrate on a certain subject per period.

Cortes Conquers the Aztecs: Spanish Conquest or Indian Civil War Essay

The Spanish conquests of Montezuma and the Aztecs were both a Spanish conquest as well as an Indian civil war. The thing that ties them both together is the Conquistador Hernan Cortes. You could argue for both sides as to which played a more significant part in the fall of the Aztecs, however, I feel they both played an equal role in the defeat of the Aztecs and the fall of Tenochititlan to the Spaniards. When Cortes first came to Mexico, he did not know the language spoken by the Indian tribes. He was fortunate enough to have two interpreters; Aguilar, a shipwrecked Spaniard who had learned the Maya language, and Malinche. Malinche was a young maiden â€Å"given† to Cortes as an offering. Between her and Aguilar, Cortes was able to become familiar with the way the Aztecs lived, thought, and fought. He used this tactic to aid in expedition and to guard against any attacks. By far, one of the biggest downfalls of Montezuma and the Aztecs was the role of the God Quetzalcoatl. The majority of the Aztecs’ lives and beliefs was centered on their Gods. One of their biggest beliefs was of the God Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent. Montezuma believed that Cortes was the human version of Quetzalcoatl. The legend of Quetzalcoatl depicted a bearded, white God who looked similar to Cortes. Quetzalcoatl was prominent during the Toltec rule and had supposedly left the valley because he was unhappy with the way things were. The Aztecs believed he was expected to return and bring back good times and good fortune. Cortes took advantage of their beliefs and immersed himself into the Aztecs lives. Against the advice of his royal family, Montezuma welcomed Cortes and the Spaniards with open arms. They wanted Montezuma to kill the foreigners. The Aztecs tried giving the Spaniards gold and other riches to get them to leave their city. This only fueled their desire and ambitions for more, and they refused to leave. The more they gave, the more the Spaniards wanted. Cortes made Montezuma a prisoner of his own city, which led to an uprising by the Aztecs known as â€Å"La Noche Triste†, or The Sad Night. Many lives were lost on both sides. Many other factors contributed to Cortes’ victory over the Aztecs. His soldiers had far more superior weapons and they had horses. The Aztecs were very afraid of the horses because they had never seen anything like them before. Disease also played a huge part in the defeat of the Aztecs. The Spanish brought ailments that the Aztecs had no immunities for. Three-fourths died from either violence or diseases such as small-pox and the measles in just the first century of the conquests. The Aztecs’ tactics of war were quite different from those of the Spaniards, and this was also a point in the Spaniards’ favor. The Spaniards fought to kill. The Aztecs did not. The Aztecs fought to capture and get prisoners so they could later use them as human sacrifices to their Gods. In fact, Cortes himself was captured several times but was re-captured by his men and rescued. The most important factor by far in the defeat of the Aztecs by Cortes, according to some historians, is the help he received from the other suppressed Indian tribes in the area. This is why I believe one could view this as not only a Spanish conquest, but also as an Indian civil war. These other Indian tribes chose to help Cortes fight because they felt they would benefit greatly from the defeat of the Aztecs. They were tired of living under the Aztecs’ rule and saw Cortes as a type of hero, or liberator. They were more than happy to help wage a war against the Aztecs if it meant they could have better lives. After many deaths on both sides, The Aztec capitol fell in August of 1521. After capturing Tenochititlan, the Spaniards destroyed the city and on top of it built was is now present day Mexico City. I believe the preceding statements support my argument that the most important factors in the demise of Montezuma and the Aztecs were from the equal combination of having to deal with a Spanish conquest and an Indian civil war. Sources: Vigil, James Diego From Indians to Chicano Internet site, Then Again Info World History Chronology Project; www.thenagaininfo Matthew, Roy T. and F. DeWitt Platt Western Humanities Sullivan, Richard E., Dennis Sherman and John B. Harrison A Short history of Western Civilization Wood, Michael A Legacy- The Search for Ancient Cultures

Essay about Heart of Darkness - 989 Words

The Real Heart Of Darkness Heart of Darkness is not only the title of Joseph Conrad’s novella, it is also a main theme. This is portrayed through different images of darkness, black and evil throughout his story. The setting is often used with images of darkness; even as Marlow tells his tale, it is night. This ‘darkness’ is inside many concepts of the novella such as Africa, women, black people, maps, the ivory trade corporation and Kurtz. Through these images on his journey, Marlow has a realization about the inner darkness of man, and thus brings out the theme, and title, Heart Of Darkness. At the time, the Europeans often referred to Africa as the ‘Dark Continent’. This is the main setting of Marlow’s story and his destination is the†¦show more content†¦The journey he takes down the river into Africa is symbolic of a journey into ones soul, to the center of darkness in mans heart. The darkness of the soul becomes more and more apparent to Marlow as the crew goes deeper into Africa. This is because they start to feel more isolated and Marlow has the opportunity to see a clear vision of himself. As Marlow begins to realize the darkness within man’s soul, he feels that women are too weak to face this world he sees. â€Å"They – the women, I mean – are out of it – should be out of it. We must help them to stay in that beautiful world of their own, lest ours gets worse.† (p.376) Marlow feels that the women should not be allowed to see the darkness, as they are too weak and fragile to face the truth, and he believes they should continue to live in their own world. Marlow even lies to Kurtz’s Intended, telling her the last thing Kurtz said was her name, because the real truth was to dark to tell. However, women are not the only people in this novella used to symbolize darkness; black people are also exercised as an image of darkness. Conrad uses the darkness of their skin in comparison to the white people’s skin. Darkness is used to represent barbarism, savages and evil while white represents all that is good. This black and white comparison also becomes apparent when the white string on a black person is pointed out in detail, â€Å"He had tied a bit of white worsted round his neck – Why? Where did he get it? Was it aShow MoreRelatedHeart of Darkness1958 Words   |  8 PagesSTUDY GUIDE Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness Each detail to which your attention is drawn by the Study Guide is part of the puzzle of Heart of Darkness. It is important to notice the details, to ponder them, to see how patterns repeat themselves, and to see how the pieces fit together. Marlows journey and your reading about the journey require constant alertness, discipline, patience, and a willingness to look for what is not immediately apparent. Section 1 A. The Thames Setting 1. NoticeRead More The Darkness of Colonialism and Imperialism in Heart of Darkness1235 Words   |  5 PagesThe Light and Dark of Colonialism in Heart of Darkness      Ã‚  Ã‚   In the opening of his novel, Heart of Darkness, Conrad, through Marlow, establishes his thoughts on colonialism. He says that conquerors only use brute force, nothing to boast of because it arises, by accident, from anothers weakness. Marlow compares his subsequent tale of colonialism with that of the Roman colonization of Northern Europe and the fascination associated with such an endeavor. However, Marlow challenges this viewpointRead MoreThe Meaning Of Heart Of Darkness Essay1138 Words   |  5 PagesNishi Natalia AP Literature Comp The Meaning of Heart of Darkness Although, as a society, we discourage the process of not judging a book by its cover, we have all been guilty of doing it at some point. The first item we look at when we pick up a new book is the title and the cover as a whole. These are two key components when it comes to using our heuristics to decide if a book is worthwhile reading or not. With only two items to judge by, each has to hold significant importance in orderRead MoreHeart of Darkness Essay1068 Words   |  5 Pages1. Some critics believe that in Heart of Darkness Conrad illustrates how ‘’the darkness of the landscape can lead to the darkness of the social corruption.† This statement means that if the environment is dark, then the people in that environment will match the surrounding feeling, which is dark and depressing. For example, if it is a gloomy rainy day, most people feel tired and not as happy. If it is a bright sunny day, the most people feel motivated to get things done and joyful . Yes, thisRead MoreHeart of Darkness Paper984 Words   |  4 PagesHeart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad, is an intriguing and extremely disturbing portrayal of mans surrender to his carnal nature when all external trappings of civilization are removed. This novel excellently portrays the shameful ways in which the Europeans exploited the Africans: physically, socially, economically, and spiritually. Throughout the nineteenth century, Europeans treated their African counterparts savagely. They were beaten, driven from their homes, and enslaved. Heart of DarknessRead MoreEssay on Heart of Darkness981 Words   |  4 PagesHeart of Darkness The nightmare of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness is found in its stark portrayal of madness under the influence of an environment filled with desolation. Its protagonist, Mr. Kurtz, was raised amongst civilized people, adapted virtues that were regarded proper in society during the Victorian era, yet when he travels into the Congo, where these qualities are of no consequence, he abandons them to become wild. To understand how Kurtz fell to this emotional corruptness, a readerRead MoreEssay on Heart of Darkness1208 Words   |  5 PagesJoseph Conrads The Heart of Darkness is a dark and haunting tale about the search for a substantial and mysteriously powerful man named Mr. Kurtz. Heart of Darkness centers around Marlow, a sailor and also narrator of the novella. Throughout the work, Conrad uses an array of literary devices to suggest his style of writing. The title of the work itself, The Heart of Darkness, is an example of the use of metaphor. Darkness is a significant part of the books title conceptually. However, it isRead More Heart of Darkness Essay941 Words   |  4 PagesHeart of Darkness Darkness permeates every circumstance, scene, and character in Joseph Conrads novella, Heart of Darkness. Darkness symbolizes the moral confusion that Charlie Marlow encounters, as well as the moral reconciliation he has within himself while searching for Kurtz. Marlows morals are challenged numerous times throughout the book; on the Congo river and when he returns to Brussels. Charlie Marlow characterizes the behavior of the colonialists with, The flabby, pretendingRead MoreEssay on Heart of Darkness934 Words   |  4 PagesHeart of Darkness The dark thoughts, which are usually ignored and not allowed to be brought up in conversation, are pushed back into the remote corners of the mind, but have the ability to run free when man is in his most vulnerable state. Sleep, the unconscious. It is in dreams where twisted stories of malevolence and horror take place. The soul’s core is full of sin from the first minute man is born. Even Adam, the original man, who was born when the earth began its timeline, has sin runningRead MoreHeart of Darkness Essay4410 Words   |  18 PagesThe Visions of Light Vs Darkness When Joseph Conrad composed Heart of Darkness he created a literary masterpiece which embodied the essence of light contrasting with darkness. Throughout the novel Conrad constantly utilizes the images of light and dark and uses them to mold a vision, which the reader is then able to use to decipher the literal and metaphorical meanings of the novel. As Conrad said, my task which I am trying to achieve is, by the power of the written word to make you hear, to