Maiden Name Philip Larkin Analysis

Maiden Name Philip Larkin Analysis In a pocket diary note, Philip Larkin stated: At 1.45 am let me remember that the only married state I know (i.e. that of my parents) is bloody hell. Never must it be forgotten. Larkin expresses a loss of beliefs and ideals in marriage prominently in The Whitsun Weddings (TWW) and The Less Deceived (TLD) by examining the ideas that marriage signifies imprisonment and leads to a loss of identity, as well as that all marriages are banal and similar. However, there are notions of the idea that perhaps not all is lost, and this is summed up best in Larkins famous words from An Arundel Tomb, What will survive of us is love. Whether these words actually mean what they say is debatable either the romantic idea that love triumphs death or the realistic view that the couple in the poem had not actually intended to be eternally faithful to each other. Nevertheless, it is clear that Larkin holds a certain disbelief regarding the existence of a happy marriage through his observations of ordinar y people, his use of regular structure and the straightforwardness of his writing. Philip Larkin seems to have shared Russells views, as he rejected the idea of marriage and committed himself to bachelorhood, as he says, I see life more as an affair of solitude diversified by company than as an affair of company diversified by solitude (Hirsch, p.114). According to Edward Hirsch, Larkin never recovered from his parents cramped, loveless marriage, a bloody hell he vowed never to repeat (p.118). His parents marriage also led him to believe that Two can live as stupidly as one. Larkin enjoyed several sexual relationships without ever getting married, showing that he clearly did not agree with public institutions in the 1950s and 60s, but was more representative of the ideas of independence and freedom of choice of the common man. TWW was published in 1964, and brought [Larkin] a remarkable measure of popular esteem (Swarbrick, p.5). In this anthology, Larkin explores the various forms that love can take and what it meant to him. Andrew Swarbrick explains that love and death remain at the centre of TWW (p.92). This consolidates the overall theme existing in most of his poems loss and death. However, Larkins biographer, Andrew Motion, chose to look at it from a different point of view: Reading his poems in chronological sequence, it is clear that his obsession with death is inextricable from his fascination with love and marriage. (Hirsch, p.120) This suggests that Larkins constant fixation with death in TWW and TLD, published in 1955, is actually shadowed by an interest in the inner workings of marriage. Hirsch clarifies, What Motion calls fascination is more accurately described as fascinated revulsion. (p.120) Even though Larkin made no secret of his aversion towards marriage (he thought of it as a revolting institution), he actually presents a diverse range of feelings towards marriage in his poems. Love Songs in Age explores how an older woman feels about love, or the loss of love, when she recovers her faded sheet music that had vanished in the daily frenzy of marriage and family. Only once she enters widowhood is she given a chance to pause and reminisce about her youthful feelings about love, that hidden freshness. Motion identifies the widow in the poem as Larkins mother (Swarbrick, p.108). In Stanza 2, Larkin seems to adopt a tone of optimism, expressing the vivacity of youthful energy with the use of the simile, spread out like a spring-woken tree, implying that the widow had moved from the winter to the spring of her life, if only for that moment when she plays her love songs. This optimism seems to carry on to the next stanza, where Larkin describes love as that much-mentioned br illiance. This description of love seems to contradict Larkins pessimistic views on love, and complies with societys conventional views that love is brilliant. However, the use of the word glare downplays the bright incipience of love, as it suggests that the brilliance of love is too much to bear, and therefore impossible. The poem thus ends on a negative note, where the lady in the poem realises that love has not managed to deliver its promises to solve, and satisfy, as she is left alone after her husbands death, and has to admit lamely that love had not done so then, and could not now, referring to loves failure to last or to deliver. This poem therefore contradicts the feelings of some individuals, such as G.M. Carstairs, who in 1962, argued that young people are rapidly making marriage itself more mutually considerate and satisfying through premarital sex. (Lewis, p.259) Love Songs in Age dissipates the idea that marriage is mutually considerate, by looking at a marriage that ended too early and left one party alone and in tears, dispelling the fairytale conception of happily ever after. Even though TLD was published 9 years earlier than TWW, Larkin shows an early awareness of the reality of marriage, and the negative aspects it entails, suggesting that marriage causes a loss of identity in Maiden Name. This poem is about a womans role in getting married and is written in second person, such as in since you were so thankfully confused. This makes the reader feel drawn into the text, as if the persona is speaking directly to him/her, highlighted by the use of imperatives Try whispering it slowly. The poem was written about Winifred Arnott, with whom Larkin had a brief relationship. This relationship ended when she left for London and became engaged in 1954, which lends to the personas tone of betrayal in this poem, such as in since youre past and gone, implying that Arnotts marriage caused her old self to disappear. The persona insists that the five light sounds of her maiden name no longer means your face,/Your voice, and all your variants of grace. It is unusual th at a name should mean a face and a voice, rather than the person herself, and Larkin might do this in order to point out the different aspects of a person that a name can recall. In its regular rhyme scheme (a,b,b,a,c,c,a) and structure, this poem seems like a conventional love poem, according to societys ideas. This is highlighted in the intimate tone of Try whispering it slowly. Just like the hidden song sheets in Love Songs in Age, the womans name in Maiden Name has been abandoned in old things, eliciting a rhetorical question from the persona: Then is it scentless, weightless, strengthless wholly/Untruthful? The tone of voice here seems uncertain and the repetition of -less implies that the woman has been diminished after marrying. The persona is adamant that the woman has lost a part of herself after marrying, as he gushes, How beautiful you were, and near, and young, /So vivid, suggesting that she does not have as much of these qualities anymore. This poem therefore argues that marriage leads to the depreciating of a womans identity and beauty with the extra luggage that comes with marriage, referring to the husband. In doing so, Larkin discourages women from getting married and expresses his loss of beliefs in marriage. Nowadays, an increasing number of women are overcoming the problem of losing ones identity when getting married by simply keeping their maiden name and pairing it with their husbands name. The Larkin that is present in TLD seems more sentimental as compared to in TWW, where he is more discerning to the realities of relationships. Talking in Bed is about the gap between expectation and reality. The tone of the poem is set in the first line, where Talking in bed ought to be easiest, the word ought suggesting uncertainty and untruth. It suggests that there is no honesty in all relationships even at its most intimate. This is emphasized by the pun on the word Lying, in that the couple is lying next to each other as well as lying to each other. Larkin uses an extended metaphor to compare the relationship in the poem to the disturbing weather outside: the winds incomplete unrest. Larkin therefore exposes the turmoil of marriage and forces the reader to reconsider whether marriage actually results in security and comfort, or if it causes incomplete unrest. Jane Lewis essay explains that public institutions in the 1960s attempted to refute the idea that marriages are insecure by setting up marriage counsellors and stressed the importance of a personally grounded morality for a happy marriage. Larkin has a specific style throughout all his poems. Most of them follow a rigid structure, where each stanza has a fixed number of lines. For example, Talking in Bed consists of four tercets, which give the appearance of security and regularity. The structure of the poem thereby belies its content of uncertainty. This is also evident in the regular structure of The Whitsun Weddings, where there are 8 stanzas of 10 lines each, which also gives the impression that all marriages are standard. The title poem of TWW is perhaps one of Larkins most famous. The Whitsun Weddings describes a train ride Larkin took from Hull to London, and in a frail/travelling coincidence ends up on the same train all the newlyweds also take on Whitsun Day. The Whitsun Day celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit as described in Acts, Chapter 2, (Leach) and falls 50 days after Easter Sunday. It is financially advantageous for couples to be married for taxation reasons on this day, and as Larkin decided to write about Whitsun Day, he implies that marriage is cheap. Larkin uses vivid imagery (sound, sight, smell and touch) and a colloquial tone (We ran/Behind the backs of houses) to portray the English countryside through the windows of the train carriage. The images appear like snapshots, giving the reader a sense of immediacy: Wide farms went by, short-shadowed cattle, and Canals with floatings of industrial froth; A hothouse flashed uniquely: hedges dipped And rose: and now and then a smell of grass (14-18) This serves as an introduction that builds up to the fourth stanza, where the persona finally notices the fanfare and excitement surrounding the train, where the wedding-days/Were coming to an end. Larkin describes the newlyweds as fresh, implying that they will not last long. He also mentions the secret like a happy funeral, an oxymoron suggesting that marriage is joyful, but also signifies the end of freedom for the couple. Another bold figure of speech Larkin uses is the religious wounding, which could refer to the sexual anticipation of losing the brides virginity that their friends feel or the fact that the religious act of marriage is painful. Lewis clarifies: Marriage as a public institution had traditionally been supported by a rigid code of Christian sexual morality. An interesting note about this poem is that Larkin does not mention where the train stops, and this suggests that marriage has no direction, and is therefore uncertain. In Stanza 7, Larkin shows how all marriages are the same in that their lives would all contain this hour, dissipating any notions that each wedding is unique. On the other hand, Larkin is inevitably caught up with the couples as We hurried towards London. He seems to be immersed in the excitement of the Whitsun Weddings, seeing himself as part of them. The image of something as dangerous as an arrow-shower changing into cleansing rain gives a sense of rebirth and rejuvenation. However, only somewhere does it become rain, which could mean that the arrow-shower is still lethal in other places. It could also signify the inevitable breakdown of marriage, as the arrows descend and rain could mean mould and cause floods. Martin Amis elaborates that, to Larkin, Hull was as dull as rain. Rain was what Larkin felt marriages turned into, rain was what love and desire eventually become. (http://ghrendhel.tripod.com/textos/amispolitical.htm) This highlights Larkins belief that all marriages are banal and dull. Where Larkin looks at multiple simultaneous weddings in The Whitsun Weddings, he focuses on a specific wedding in The Wedding-Wind, published in TLD and completed in 1946. This poem explores the feelings of a farmers bride a day after her wedding. She is evidently delighted, seen as my wedding-night was the night of the high wind, the strong wind suggesting passion. However, the wind could also symbolise unrest, just like in Talking in Bed. However, the image in the final line, Our kneeling as cattle by all-generous waters, depicts the womans appreciation for being married. It echoes the feelings of most women after they marry, believing that they are on the path to completing their purpose in life. Marriage guidance advocates in the 1960s concurred that womens needs were above all for traditional marital relationships. (Lewis, p.235) Although The Wedding-Wind expresses the womans ecstatic mood, Andrew Swarbrick believes that there is beyond her a lurking sense of threat. This is evident when the bride is abandoned for a while on her wedding-night, leaving her stupid in candlelight. It is interesting as well to note that the husband is mostly absent from the poem, leaving the bride to stare. This implies that women are neglected in marriage. The three questions that end the poem suggest uncertainty, and expose her vulnerability (Swarbrick, p.45). Larkin thereby conveys the ambiguous feelings of the woman, leaving the reader unsure as to whether marriage brings happiness or loneliness. The final poem in TWW is An Arundel Tomb, which discusses the fate of marriage and love after death. It describes the tomb of the Earl and Countess of Arundel at Chichester Cathedral that Larkin had visited. The gentleness with which Larkin describes, One sees, with a sharp tender shock, /His hand withdrawn, holding her hand, shows the pleasant surprise he felt to see everlasting love set in stone. However, this is dismissed with the next line, They would not think to lie so long, which suggests that the couple had not expected to be next to each other for so long, and the pun on the word lie in that they lie next to each other, and also lie to the world that they are in love just like in Talking in Bed, implies that such faithfulness in effigy is actually just a fabrication. The final stanza confirms this, as Time has transfigured them into/Untruth. As mentioned before, this poem (and thus the entire anthology) ends with What will survive of us is love. Yet this has been taken out of context, so the previous one and a half lines have to be looked at: 2544 Words and to prove Our almost-instinct almost true: What will survive of us is love. (40-42) The repetition of almost gives a sense of being so close to the truth, but not actually reaching it; and therefore the last line is thrown into a different perspective. Our almost-instinct seems to be our need to believe in everlasting love after death; but since it is only almost true and not entirely true, the last line is one that the persona wants to be true, but is not necessarily so. Therefore, Larkin still expresses a loss of beliefs in love and marriage. He commented on An Arundel Tomb, a rather romantic poem I dont like it much, which confirms his dislike for the romantic ideas about marriage the poem imparts. As he chose to end the anthology with this poem, it makes it all the more significant that Love isnt stronger than death just because statues hold hands for 600 years, which is what Larkin wrote on the manuscript draft (Swarbrick, p.114). Even through Larkins evident distaste for marriage, his literary executor, Anthony Thwaite, claims that, The fact that he has never married and has no children doesnt entail ignorance of, or contempt for, the institution or its usual result. Larkin rearticulates: Ive remained single by choice, and shouldnt have liked anything else. Public institutions from 1920-1968 tried to appealà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦to the biologically determined needs of women for traditional marital relationships (Lewis, p.262) by publicising marriage guidance. Through the fact that they needed to do this, it can be inferred that there were rising divorce rates or fewer marriages in the 1960s, showing that Larkin was part of, and his poetry appealed to, a growing group of people who were unmarried. For the rest of society, Larkins poetry was a basis for reconsidering the purpose and effect of marriage. Larkins most effective technique, arguably, of portraying his messaging is his use of the casual, colloquial tone paired with enjambement that imitates daily speech, which is easily understandable and allows him to connect with people from different walks of life. Thus, it is easy for the reader to comprehend Larkins views about marriage and his poems make the reader reconsider what marriage actually constitutes. Is it imprisonment, a happy funeral, an almost-instinct or is it a loss of identity? Regardless of the answer, Philip Larkin effectively conveys his message through the use of regular rhythm, rigid structure, enjambement, imagery and observations of ordinary people. Since Larkin never married, most of his poems are a generalisation of marriages that he observed and felt what marriage was like. Thus, we cannot whole-heartedly agree with all his views. As Larkin chose the path of bachelorhood, he probably used poetry as a replacement for marriage.

Domestic Violence in Canada Essay -- Violence Against Women Essays new

Violence has become prevalent within society; it is something the western world has learned to accept. With every minute that passes Canadians come face to face with certain acts of violence they may not have previously encountered (citation). Although, violence is not a subject that one can escape, women and children have unfortunately become the prime victims of violent acts. The media glorifies violence in other countries around the world it fails to address the presence of violence within Canada. Although violence is usually associated with gangs and guns, Canada experiences more violence related to bullying, sexual, verbal, cyber and domestic abuse (citation). Amidst the changing societal views towards treating women equally and eliminating objectification, of all these types of violence and abuse in our society, the most common still happens to be domestic abuse, which is mainly targeted at women and affects children. Domestic abuse is described as a form of abuse that takes pl ace in the confines of the household (Citation). Though 51% of Canadians have said to have experienced or witnessed domestic abuse only 20% of those cases related to domestic violence are ever reported (citation). Domestic abuse has become more prevalent in modern society; however, it is an issue that is left un-noticed simply because its effects are invisible outside the walls of ones home. In reality the effects of domestic violence have severe negative effects on women, children and the social structure of today’s society. Without any notification of domestic violence the re precautions of this abuse can be dire. When an individual thinks of domestic abuse, their ideas quickly relate back to women, simply because women are the usual and most common victims of domestic violence. And therefore is an issue that must be resolved rather than ignored. An abused woman is always faced with a number of different choices from which she may consider, with regards to seeking help or ending the relationship with a variety of alternatives, the woman knows each decision involves a variety of risks. Time after time, the common question arises, â€Å"why doesn’t she just leave?† This question can be answered by analyzing the psychological effects domestic abuse has on women. Many women are unable to cope with the emotional and psychological stress of domestic abuse and resort to violence and extre... ...mestic violence become homeless, their social economic status begins to decline. Going from a potentially middle class lifestyle they must resort to living in a shelter or on the street, simply because they are mentally or physically unable to find work due to the abuse they have experienced. As individuals lose their social economic status the social gap between the rich and the poor grows inevitably. The widening social gap can lead to discrimination and disparities such as growing food insecurities which can be described as the struggle for poor and homeless minorities to obtain food. The result of homelessness due to domestic violence will, negatively affect interaction between individuals, consequent to the social gap that will detach the victims of violence from their desired social economic status. In conclusion, the invisibility of domestic violence has caused numerous negative effects on women, children and the overall structure of modern day society. Women have been affected psychologically as well as socially. Children have been disadvantaged by the effects of domestic abuse within the school environment and in the latter parts of their lives. (worldly statement).

My Classmates

Patricia’s classmate is a young man about in his late teens early twenties. He is quite tall, slender build about six feet one inch maybe a little shorter. He looks as if he weighs about one hundred and seventy pounds maybe a little more or a little less. He has chestnut brown hair and it is very short, his hair is cut with a fade so it gets shorter towards the bottom he has side burns but they are very short to about the top of his ear. This classmate is a very good looking guy, he has a square shape face. He doesn’t have a lot of freckles but a few. He is Caucasian his skin tone is a natural beige color.His eyes are a pretty hazel, pale green on the outside and towards the middle a light brown, he also has pretty long eye lashes. His facial hair looks as if he has a five o’clock shadow all the time. He has nice teeth, not bleach paper white but they have a little tint of yellow to them kind of like you can tell he drinks coffee, his teeth also are straight exce pt the top center teeth are a little crooked and slant towards the inside of his mouth. This classmate doesn’t seem like a shy person, he seems to be outgoing and likes to have people around he likes to be sarcastic towards others too.His voice is not very high or loud, he has a low soft timber. Which is soothing to others when it’s been a hectic day. The classmate doesn’t have a distinctive type of clothing he dresses casual and seems to be comfortable in anything he throws on. He tends to wear Vans shoes all the time. He doesn’t seem to have a certain brand of anything he wears besides his shoes so probably just any jeans he feels comfortable in. So in all this classmate is an everyday kind of guy, he is casual, good looking, nice trimmed hair, with a five o’clock shadow all the time, and seems like a really nice guy to keep around as a friend.

Free Essays on Pond

The Trolley Track Pond The duck pond by my grandfather’s house still holds a feeling of adventure and fun as well as calmness that I have never experienced anywhere else. It has crystal clear water and trees that have grown just so perfect for climbing. When I was younger I would climb these trees, tying to reach as far as I could before getting too scared and returning to the ground. Then there were days I would climb to a spot in my favorite tree, my â€Å"Pooh Tree† as I called it, which leaned out over the water just right. From this spot in my tree, I could sit there and stare at my reflection in the perfect water, looking at my face with a beautiful background and not have a care in the world. For some reason, I could always go to that spot, sit in that tree and be as far away from all the problems I had in my young life at the age of thirteen. The duck pond was originally dug in 1915 when the trolley tracks that connected from what I remember, Albion and Medina. My grandfather Ronald Haylett dug it to supply water to his orchards and it was also a rest stop for the trolley to pick individuals up for travel. There are still rocks and rails from the old trolley track surrounding the west side of the pond, but it is no longer used for anything, except the pond for spraying orchards, and fishing. Even so, my cousin Stephen and I spent countless days adventuring around there. Our days always began with Stephen sprinting out the front door and me following right behind him yelling for him to slow down and wait as he darted through the backyard. Stephen and I were only two years apart, so it seemed natural for us to be spending our summers together. This was the way summer began for us, early mornings and late nights, from fishing to helping grandfather fill the orchard sprayer. The east side of the tracks held lots of entertaining things to do: running through the pond agitator, games of hide-and-seek, and taking... Free Essays on Pond Free Essays on Pond The Trolley Track Pond The duck pond by my grandfather’s house still holds a feeling of adventure and fun as well as calmness that I have never experienced anywhere else. It has crystal clear water and trees that have grown just so perfect for climbing. When I was younger I would climb these trees, tying to reach as far as I could before getting too scared and returning to the ground. Then there were days I would climb to a spot in my favorite tree, my â€Å"Pooh Tree† as I called it, which leaned out over the water just right. From this spot in my tree, I could sit there and stare at my reflection in the perfect water, looking at my face with a beautiful background and not have a care in the world. For some reason, I could always go to that spot, sit in that tree and be as far away from all the problems I had in my young life at the age of thirteen. The duck pond was originally dug in 1915 when the trolley tracks that connected from what I remember, Albion and Medina. My grandfather Ronald Haylett dug it to supply water to his orchards and it was also a rest stop for the trolley to pick individuals up for travel. There are still rocks and rails from the old trolley track surrounding the west side of the pond, but it is no longer used for anything, except the pond for spraying orchards, and fishing. Even so, my cousin Stephen and I spent countless days adventuring around there. Our days always began with Stephen sprinting out the front door and me following right behind him yelling for him to slow down and wait as he darted through the backyard. Stephen and I were only two years apart, so it seemed natural for us to be spending our summers together. This was the way summer began for us, early mornings and late nights, from fishing to helping grandfather fill the orchard sprayer. The east side of the tracks held lots of entertaining things to do: running through the pond agitator, games of hide-and-seek, and taking...

Babinski Condition

Babinski Condition The significance of a positive Babinski finding in an adult trauma patient is that indicates a dysfunction within the central nervous system (CNS) of the patient. Specifically, the finding indicates that the problem within the CNS is at the pyramidal track.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Babinski Condition specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Thus, the medical personnel will have an overview of the problem area within the CNS without having to perform other tests especially when the medical practitioner is very sure of the finding. Besides, the medical personnel will be in a position to offer advice to the patient on the best strategies of copying up with this ailment (Singerman and Lee 2008). Positive Babinski in adults and older children is abnormal. Specifically, when the test indicate asymmetry finding, that is, when the Babinski symptom is detected on only one side of the patient, it is a clear indication of troubl e which can focused to the side of the Central Nervous System involved. Reflectively, positive Babinski may only be normal in small children since their CNS is not fully developed. Patient education The Babinski condition is characterized by weakness of the muscles, challenges in coordination and control of the muscles and irresponsiveness or abnormal responsiveness to touch. However, it has not been possible to put a figure on the number of human beings suffering from this condition. It has been shown that lack of pre-exposure to the condition could lead to extreme behavior habits and response to stimuli. This condition is not very frequent but may be causes by secondary disorders that occur in the brain or the nervous system. There is no single cause of this condition though it may be common among the children of less than one year old since their nervous system is not fully developed (Miller and Johnston 2005). In the normal occurrence, the Babinski condition will disappear among the minors after the age of one to two years. Causes of Babinski There is no specific cause of this condition. However, it is often occurs a result f disorders in the nervous system. These are some of the disorders which may lead to occurrence of the Babinski condition in adults; Brain injury or brain tumor Injury in the spinal cord The Lou Gehrig disease Multiple sclerosis Occurrence of meningitis Stroke Signs of the Babinski condition Loss of sensors in the affected foot or arm General weakness within the plantar flexion part Absence of the reflex in the ankle jerk Treatment of the Babinski condition The behavioral risk factors in relation to Babinski should be identified to combat the condition. The success of this intervention will require the involvement of experts, mainly social anthropologists, and social scientists. The patient should also be empowered in prevention measures, as well as have effective methods, put in place in order to control and prevent the condition. Those who undergo exposure programs should limit the time period between exposure and treatment.Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Although there is little treatment related to this ailment, a medical specialist may offer vital assessment and preventive advice to a patient. Basically, the main form of care is precaution to avoid injury. A patient should remain calm and live in an environment that does not promote occurrence of injuries (Purdy 2010). Besides, the patient can be treated for causal ailments such as brain tumor, stroke, meningitis, and nervous system defects. References Miller, T., Johnston, C. (2005). Should the Babinski sing be part of the routine neurologic examination? Neurology, 65(2), 1165-1168. Purdy, R.A. (2010). The most important neurologic reflex. American Journal of Medicine, 123(2), 793-795 Singerman, J., Lee, L. (2008). Consistency of the Ba binski reflex and its variants. European Journal of Neurology, 15(1), 960-964.

Culture briefing for a US based company selling bicycles Essay

Culture briefing for a US based company selling bicycles - Essay Example These divisions include the pre-colonial era, colonial era, and the post-colonial era. Kenya is widely known to comprise forty two tribes each with a distinct mother tongue language. Historically, each and every tribe has its own distinct history in terms of relocations and resettlements, development, communication and relations with other tribes, customs, traditions, as well as in trade and industry. On the basis of resettlements, Kenya’s population is groups into Bantus, Nilotes, and Cushites. Cushites include Somali and Borana among others. Some examples of the Nilotes include Nandi, Pokot, and the Luos. Examples of Bantus include Kikuyu, Embu, Meru, and Kambas. During the pre-colonial era, most individuals in Kenya depended on crops and animals. In 1985, Kenya was colonized by Britain. The country got its independence in 1963 (Hornsby, 2013). Geography According to Hornsby (2013), Kenya is a unique country with an extensive shoreline, a large proportion covered by vegetati on, beautiful mountains, arid region, lakes, as well as home to the Great Rift Valley. The Indian Ocean touches Kenya towards the south east direction. The country has a total of five countries as its neighbors. These countries include Uganda, Tanzania, Somalia, Sudan, and Ethiopia. Available sources assert that the country comprises of five climatic regions. These include the Coast, the Rift Valley, Semi-desert, desert, and the lake region. Only twenty percent of the country is considered appropriate for both crop growing and animal keeping. A whooping seventy percent of the country is either desert or semi desert. Political system Since independence, the country has upheld and preserved a centralized form of government. It is important to point out that this centralized form of government brought with it individualistic leaders such as Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel Arap Moi. These rulers were above the law during their tenures as presidents. The current president is the fourth since in dependence. The country adapted a multi-party system in 1992. This saw the emergence of new parties unlike the time of Jomo Kenya and partly during Moi’s era whereby the country had only one political party, Kanu (Hornsby, 2013). Currently, Kenya is divided into forty seven counties each being represented by a governor and a senator. Economic perspective Economically speaking, Kenya is a developing nation. Consequently, this country can be termed as a capitalist nation in terms of the economy. It depends on a large proportion with the international markets for trade and commerce. The country gets most of its revenue through the importation of cash crops such as coffee and tea. Tourism is also well structured and coordinated in Kenya and is a source of foreign exchange. Tourist throng the country’s wildlife reserves, game parks, as well at the coastal region for its favorable and warm climate (Hornsby, 2013). Traditions and customs Kenya comprises of forty two tribes ea ch practicing its own customs and traditions. For instance, Kambas undergo various rites of passage. They undergo initiation to become adult members of the community as early as the age of twelve. Young men are given the responsibility of upholding, preserving, as well as preservation of the community. The final stage among the Kambas is becoming an elder. The Maasai on the other hand are known for keeping animals and making ornaments. There are

Hinduism Paper Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Hinduism Paper - Assignment Example Hinduism has its roots in India and dharma, which is their way of life, has similar beliefs that every follower should follow. The religion absorbs beliefs and practices from a variety in the world and incorporates them into their practices to make the unique religion. This absorption of ideas from various sources extends to a wide range of life issues, which guide the followers’ way of life. They share the same themes of ethics and duties, rebirth, right action, liberation from the cycle of rebirth. Hinduism shares common ethical standards and they believe in telling the truth and karma. Karma is the belief that people should act knowing that the same actions they do to others could happen to them later. Hinduism is deeply rooted on the cultural practices of the ancient days, and they believe that followers should ensure that they stick to the Hindu Dharma (Rood, 2008). This is because it lays down the actions to take for different life issues using the traditional beliefs th at their ancestors were practicing. Dharma is the pivotal law, which governs actions of every Hindu follower with their basic scriptures being the Shastras. 2 Hinduism is an ancient way of life and dates back to millions of years ago and its unique due to the fact that it has no founder. It also does not have a specific doctrine that governs how the followers should live, but its doctrines are associated with the place it originated, India. It has picked religious beliefs of people from different religions to come up with the Hindu umbrella. It originated from India and the cultural and society practices of people of ancient India are the core values that people from this religion practice. In 1500 BC, India was invaded by the indo-Aryan tribe, which took over the territories of the Mohenjo-Daro who were the main tribe in the area. These two tribes interconnected and they started sharing commo0n beliefs and practices with the first one being worship of goddesses and performing simil ar practices such as bathing in temples and performing yoga. As time progressed, they started forming idols of god’s of war which they could worship. The invasion of Sakas further transformed Hinduism and they started building temples, and came up with their sacred laws, which could govern their way of living. As time passed, the Hindus incorporated the practices of the time into their way of living, and they continued to gather a following over the years. They continuously took up the traditional practices they came across over time and altering them to fit into their religion, and this has continued to the present times. Today, their beliefs still have the ancient beliefs in their practices, and they believe that people are free to believe as they desire provided the actions are good. The cultural and societal practices such as worship of idols and reincarnation have survived over the years, and they are still under practice today. 3 People from all religions seek from eart hly liberation so that they can escape from earthly suffering, to continue into the after life, and for the purpose of spiritual blessings. However, Hindus do not believe that when people die they either go to heaven or hell. They believe in reincarnation and the way people live their lives determines what they will come back on earth as. They believe that when good people die, they will come back as good creatures, and when the bad people die, they come back as bad or