Italian Renissance and the Reformation - 1233 Words

Could you imagine living in a time where you had to adhere to everything the church said? For the men and women of the fourteenth century, this was their life; marriages were arranged, men worked while the women would stay home and raise the children. You rested your faith solely in the hands of uneducated â€Å"spiritual† leaders. As Italy’s city-states grew through trade and commerce, they flourished economically and intellectually. This led to a peak in the interest of Classical literature, art, social, and political ideas of Greece/Rome. Humanism was a literary movement that occurred during the Renaissance. During this movement, authors began to deal with general questions of the soul. Dante wrote about the soul’s journey to†¦show more content†¦A political result of the Reformation was the Act of Supremacy. King Henry VII, of England, had wanted an annulment from his wife Catherine. However, marriages were authenticated by having sex; since the king had already had a child, Mary, with Catherine, there was no way of denying the marriage. When the pope denied him the annulment he created the Act of Supremacy, which declared him the only supreme head on Earth of the Church in England. After he annulled his marriage with Catherine, he married Anne Boleyn; three months after their marriag e, Anne gave birth to his second daughter, Elizabeth. Subsequently, her husband had her beheaded. Henry’s third wife, Jane Seymour, gave birth to a boy on October 12, 1537. The king finally had his male heir, however, just days after his birth his wife died. Henry was married a total of six times before his death in 1547. Nine year old Edward VI inherited the throne. Edward was an intelligent child who had been brought up as a Protestant; he began to purge England of its Catholic ways. All images in churches were to be dismantled; stained glass, shrines, and statues were defaced or destroyed; crucifixes were cut down; bells were taken down; vestments were prohibited and either sold or burned; the requirement of the clergy to be celibate was lifted as well. Edward’s accomplishments seemed to be sisyphean when he died in July of 1553. Mary, Henry’s eldest daughter, became queen. Mary,Show MoreRelatedItalian Renissance and the Reformation1005 Words   |  5 Pages The Renaissance and Reformation were two very important periods of time in European history that included change in culture and religion. The Renaissance happened before the reformation. The Renaissance was the rebirth of art, literature, and architecture. The reformation focused mainly on reforming the Catholic Church from its evil ways. Out of the Catholic Church came the protestant church. There were many different characteristics of the Renaissance. The main one is that society had a secularRead MoreItalian Renissance and the Reformation Essay example1452 Words   |  6 PagesThe European Renaissance was a turning point in the way people saw art, literature, and architecture. These new views soon led to the Reformation, or the reforming of the Catholic Church. These changes led Europe out of the middle ages and into modern times. The Renaissance began after Europe began recovering from the Black Death. Anyone who had survived was just happy to be alive and started focusing more on material things, rather than religious ones. Another reason the focus shifted from religious

Tragic Imagination Shakespeares Macbeth Essay - 585 Words

An individual’s imagination is an incredible and persuasive influence on his or her actions. Imagination is defined by Google as â€Å"the. . . action of forming new images or concepts . . . not present to the senses.† Many tales and stories have a protagonist with a game-changing imagination. Imagination often persuades people to think one way or another, even though it is often obvious that the reality is much different from their perception. In William Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, the main character is often influenced by his imaginative mind, and evidence of this can be found in three scenes: act 2, scene 2 after the murder of king Duncan; act 3, scene 4 when banquo’s ghost haunts the feast; and act 5, scene 3 before the final battle. To†¦show more content†¦Lady Macbeth, being the only other one in the room who knows at this point what has happened, tries to excuse her husband’s actions. Not only does this scene ad more to the guilty c onscience of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, but it sets many of the people of the country into unrest and suspicion over their king(later called â€Å"tyrant†)’s actions. At this point in the play, people such as Macduff start to piece together the puzzle and figure out that Macbeth has done all the killing but has attempted to blame it on others. Finally, act 5 scene 3 adds to the plot by using Macbeth’s stubbornness of the witches prophecy against him. Because of the seemingly impossible requirements that need to be met before Macbeth’s death, Macbeth develops a feeling of immortality to all things. In line 2, he reports, â€Å"Till Birnam Wood to Dunsinane I cannot taint with fear.† The reality of this event’s likelihood has struck Macbeth. This makes him seemingly unaware and unprepared for the army that approaches the castle and lessens the distance every hour. At this point in the story, Macbeth can be seen as either a protagonist or an ant agonist. Macduff seems to be the one working for the cause of good, while Macbeth strives for power and immortality. This statement that Macduff makes leads us to the climax of our story, where the thought and imagination of Macbeth get’s ruined by the reality of Macduff’s birth. Obviously, Shakespeare was a very creative author at using hisShow MoreRelatedThe Tragic Tragedy Of William Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet1684 Words   |  7 Pagesdifferent characters. The death of a hero or heroine is often the tragic ending of a tragedy, as well as other deaths generally caused by the hero or heroine. Tragedy endings often include separation, loss, sadness, and death (McDonald 157). Shakespeare tends to emphasize the importance of each individual’s death in his tragedies. However, these deaths are caused by the people in the play rather than forces of fate (Carlin 151). The actual â€Å"tragic† element in tragedies comes from the characters’ decisionsà ¢â‚¬â€œwhichRead MoreIs Macbeth A Tragic Hero Or A Tyrant? Essay920 Words   |  4 PagesIs Macbeth A Tragic Hero Or A Tyrant? Macbeth, one of Shakespeares most emotive plays, is set in Scotland during the 11th Century and follows the downfall of a man who is led by temptation to mass murder and cruelty. Macbeth, at different stages in the play, demonstrates many of the characteristics of both an evil tyrant and a tragic hero. However, a tragic hero is defined as a great man who falls because of a fatal flaw and Macbeth bests fits this description. ThereforeRead MoreMacbeth English Ib-Hl Essay1229 Words   |  5 PagesENGLISH HL SHAKESPEARE- MACBETH ESSAY It is human nature to be intrigued by all things mystical and dangerous. We fear the unknown but seek it nonetheless out of greed. Most of Shakespeare’s works hold an element of the supernatural and the play Macbeth is no exception. In this play we see a contemporary morality that warns of the dangers of trafficking with instruments of darkness; the witches in the play prophesize of Macbeths future as king, and Macbeth blinded by his hunger for power failsRead MoreIrrationality in Dostoevskys Crime and Punishment and Shakespeares Macbeth1378 Words   |  6 PagesShakespeares Macbeth and Dostoevskys Crime and Punishment both explore the significant psychological damage caused by their protagonist’s crimes. They both explore varies forms of existential beliefs in tragedies. The existentialist theory explains the idea that man can satisfy his own needs if he has the power to act on his desires, although its against the social ruling. Raskolnikov and Macbeth both have the power to act, but they both face an internally struggle of action and inaction. BothRead MoreMacbeth, Act II Scene II : When dealing with scene II act II from Macbeth, we can’t miss900 Words   |  4 Pages Macbeth, Act II Scene II : When dealing with scene II act II from Macbeth, we can’t miss Shakespeare’s mastery in stagecraft. This story of crime and punishment culminates here in a climax of horror and terror, which exposes to the 17th century spectator the features of the two plotters of Duncan’s murder. Thus, the audience are invited to attend the inevitable and tragic downfall of these protagonists. When the scene is about to begin, the spectator has been plunged into the horror of warRead MorePower and Tragedy in Macbeth by William Shakespeare Essay examples768 Words   |  4 PagesWilliam Shakespeare’s play Macbeth tells the story of the noble thane, Macbeth, becoming corrupted due to his rise of power. Macbeth, who is the centre character, qualifies as a tragic hero. People are able to identify with Macbeth, see his nobility before corruption, and witness him acquire new knowledge from his dark story. Readers and watchers of the play are attracted to Macbeth, despite his faults. Most people would not see Macbeth and say that they want to be exactly like him, yet they cannotRead MoreMacbeth As A Tragic Hero1685 Words   |  7 PagesThroughout a variety of Shakespeare’s tragedies, the audience is presented with a protagonist who appears to be a â€Å"tragic hero† in the overall play. In other words, this character is one who has made an error in his judgement, providing that this error eventually leads to their own ruin or destruction. Within Macbeth, Macbeth the character is regarded as a tragic hero, but with the distinct and evident explanation of his evil and the succession of his acts of violence, it may not be as clear cutRead MoreTheme Of Ambition In Macbeth915 Words   |  4 Pagesramifications are extensively portrayed within William Shakespeare’s tragedy; Macbeth. Within this play, ambition is portrayed as a corrupting and unquenchable force through the main concepts of mental imbalance, supernatural behaviors and betrayal. The consuming desires of Macbeth and their repercussions are vividly enhanced through the use of various expressive literary techniques. Ultimately, Macbeth is a play that explores and reiterates the tragic and pestilent nature of unreasoned aspirations. WithinRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hometown Of The English Language And The World s Best Dramatist1266 Words   |  6 Pagesrelate to all human beings making his writing more personal to the audience, but it usually includes a troublesome and tragic mischance. We do not know to what degree Shakespeare s personal experiences are reflected in his sonnets; nor do we know if the characters described in these poems are based on specific individuals or are solely the product of Shakespeare s observation, imagination, and understanding of the human heart. Love was mentioned many times in Shakespeare s sonnets such as TheRead MoreMacbeth as a Tragic Hero985 Words   |  4 Pages In William shakespeare’s Macbeth,Macbeth is a classic example of a tragic hero in shakesperean work.Macbeth display the major characteristics of a tragic hero throughout the play until his tragic end.The play potrays Macbeth as a lost cause by showing how he fell from being a honest and just man who fought for whats right, to a cruel,superstitious,ambicious dictator.In william shakespreares Macbeth,Macbeth is a tragic hero because he compromises his honor and negates his moral values in order

Geopolitics and Non-State Actors

Question: Discuss the similarities and dissimilarities between ungoverned spaces, geopolitics and geopstrtrategies. Answer: Ungoverned spaces refer to the latest incarnations of states that are poorly or under-governed states. The states will have interdict access in using fossil fuels, launch attacks, and pursue terrorist and criminal activities along with transit lanes. Ungoverned spaces need more protection and security. Geopolitics is a subdivision of geostrategy. Geostrategy is a foreign policy that is guided by different factors of geography. It affects military planning and political aspects of a country. The concept of ungoverned space is very different from geopolitics and geostrategic concepts. However, they have similarities too. Previously, the strategies of geopolitics are formulated in a different way. However, after the attack of 9/11 in the United States of America, the concept of global terrorism has changed. Ungoverned states are different from formal states. They exist under authorities [1]. They are fragile and are considered as the hub of drug trafficking, terrorism, illegal migrants, etc. For instance, there are ungoverned spaces in Africa, such as Kenya, Nigeria, Mali, etc. which are considered as the hub of criminal and terrorist activities. Policies of geostrategy are implemented on focusing on the geopolitics of the state. After the terrorist attack in Afghanistan on 11 September, a global terrorism is created that has changed the military action and geostrategies to the ungoverned spaces of Iraq, Mali, and Afghanistan. The old geopolitical strategies are gradually changing after this incident [2]. However, the similarity between these concepts is based on the degree of criminal activities before or after the event of 9/11. The Western Communities have developed a terror on the ungoverned spaces present in different countries of the world. Reference List Kraxberger, Brennan M. "The United States and Africa: shifting geopolitics in an" Age of Terror"."Africa Today52, no. 1 (2005): 47-68. Oakley, David P., and Patrick Proctor. "Ten Years of GWOT, the Failure of Democratization and the Fallacy of" Ungoverned Spaces"."Journal of Strategic Security5, no. 1 (2012): 1.

The Journey of Olaudah Equiano free essay sample

He wrote his narrative in order to teach his readers about the horrors and atrocities that took place every day to people just like him in the hopes that he could advance the movement against the slave trade. In order to do this, Equiano focused not only on the physical journey he took, but the spiritual journey as well. His expedition, from Africa to enslavement to freedom, closely corresponds to his spiritual journey, from ignorance to conversion to religious completion. This allowed his readers to understand his struggles in a way that was more familiar to them, which tied a closer bond between the reader and the author. Since his readers could relate to the two separate but intertwined journeys, Equiano could now enlighten his readers on the revulsion of the slave trade just as he was enlightened through Christianity. Colonial North America was a brand new world, where the opportunities for wealth were plentiful, ever-present, and over-powering and the slave trade was a direct result of man’s greedy drive for wealth. We will write a custom essay sample on The Journey of Olaudah Equiano or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It took over one hundred years for slavery to be abolished, but Equiano’s journey, both physical and spiritual, presented to the world the true dreadfulness behind the slave trade, a paramount mistake on mankind. Equiano opens his narrative with a description of his native African culture, including the customs of clothing, family, food, war, and religious practices. Equiano describes Africans as â€Å"rude and uncultivated† (43) and that all are â€Å"ignorant of their language, religion, manners and customs. (44) His time in Africa ties into his religious ignorance as he suggests that Africans could be the indirect relatives of Christian Europeans. Although this could be considered accurate from today’s standpoints, in the colonial era, this would be taken as an ignorant, blasphemous statement. The African customs and traditions were foreign to most of the world during this time and Equiano presents his former customs, particularly his pagan religious practice s, as not necessarily a result of sin, but rather a result of ignorance. Although Equiano acknowledges the coarse rituals of the African continent, he also notes the unfairness of this situation. â€Å"Are any pains taken to teach them these? Are they treated as men? †¦ Did nature make them inferior to their sons? † (45) While Equiano concedes the savageness of the African people, he still argues that slavery is as an affront to humanity, â€Å"Does not slavery itself depress the mind, and extinguish all its fire† (45) Here, slavery is simply shown as an imbalanced product of European greed and the opportunity of wealth the New World provided. Next, Equiano describes his grim voyage through the Middle Passage and his eventual enslavement on a merchant ship for a British captain. After the ship’s arrival in England, Equiano is exposed to Christianity for the first time, â€Å"a great man in the heavens, called God: but here again I was to all intents and purposes at a loss to understand him. † (67) As Equiano becomes more assimilated to European culture, he develops a deeper understanding of Christianity and is eventually educated and baptized. Equiano’s entire enslavement is closely connected to his religious developments; as more time progresses as a slave he becomes a more erudite follower of Christianity. His religious conversion reaches its precipice when Captain Pascal betrays him and turns him over to be enslaved in the West Indies. â€Å"with contrition of heart, acknowledged my transgression to God, and poured out my soul before him with unfeigned repentance. † (95) In that instant, Equiano gave his life to God and became as Christian as any of his readers. Consequently, it is at this moment his life begins to turn around as he is sold to a kindly Quaker merchant who gives him the opportunity to make his own money in order to purchase his freedom. Equiano’s enslavement is filled with hardships and poor treatment, but is emphasized by his religious transformation. He shows his readers that even as an educated Christian, his life as a slave is meager and dangerous and he questions how Christians could treat others so grotesquely, â€Å"How he, as a Christian, could answer for the horrid act before God? (104) Once again, Equiano shows there are no boundaries that man, when blinded by greed, will not cross. After some time, Equiano acquires enough money to purchase his freedom and completes his long excursion to becoming free. Just as his physical journey becomes complete, his spiritual journey reaches an endpoint. Equiano now bases his life around God and â€Å"Now the Bible was my only companion and comfort. † (191) When hi s ship picks up some men stranded at sea, Equiano takes the most impactful step in Christianity as he starts to spread the word of God. and took great delight in him, and used much supplication to God for his conversion. † (203) Equiano links his freedom from slavery to his religious completion in order to help his readers fully grasp his journeys completion. Both are immense accomplishments, but the reader can more adeptly understand the end to a spiritual journey rather than the journey from a slave to freedman. Although Equiano is no longer a slave, he hopes his story enlightens readers of the terrors of the slave trade, just as Christianity had enlightened him to leading a life for God. Olaudah Equiano’s slave narrative was one of the first published works of a firsthand account of the American slave trade. Equiano introduced the world to how slaves, such as himself, were treated on a daily basis. However, what makes his narrative so effective is the way he connects his physical and spiritual journeys together. Anyone who was to read his narrative would have a hard time relating to his physical struggles beyond his descriptions, so he effectively connects them with his spiritual voyage and struggles. This allows the reader to connect to Equiano in a more relatable way and helps strengthen his case against the slave trade. Today, we can use his narrative to find out about what colonial North America was like during this time. The New World was, simply enough, a vast farmland with an unlimited crop yield and in order to harvest these crops, sufficient labor was needed. The quest for wealth helped formulate the slave trade, but man’s greed turned it into a business. Colonial North America was a time full of growth and opportunities, all tried to take advantage as much as possible. Equiano was one of the luckier slaves and his life fits into the popular American success story of patience, hard-work, and endurance as important qualities. Equiano was enlightened through Christianity and he hoped the story he shared would enlighten the world about affront to humanity that slavery was. Over two hundred years later, we are still reading his narrative.