Response Paper Gilgamesh Essay

The Epic of Gilgamesh is very complex, but it is also considered one of the greatest epics in the Western literature. In the story we can find several contradictions, from which I chose the friendship between Enkidu and Gilgamesh. The story of Gilgamesh starts off by the description of Gilgamesh, â€Å"the strongest one of all,the perfect,the terror† (Ferry 4). Initially, Gilgamesh appeared as someone who isn’t able to have feelings nor relationships. Although he fought with Enkidu, once Gilgamesh tested his opponents strength, he decided to let him into his world becoming best friends. Some people would say that Gilgamesh is using Enkidu for his journeys, which we can see when he allows the hunter to take his prostitute and bring him. He did this for nothing in return, where we can notice that he already had a plan for Enkidu. Whilst this is correct in some points there are other things involved that prove differently. In the beggining of the story, Enkidu was made by the goddess Arura in order to punish Gilgamesh with the same wild and stormy heart as Gilgamesh has. Having this into consideration, Enkidu owes life to Gilgamesh, or at least shall be thankful to Gilgamesh for his own existing. Also, the people shall be grateful for their city, because Gilgamesh is the one â€Å"who opened passes through mountains; and who dug deep wells on the mountainsides;† (Ferry 4). This indicates the strength of Gilgamesh and values he had in the city. Once friends, Enkidu has started living differently, not like the wild beast he used to be. Enkidu is lucky for the friendship he has gotten from Gilgamesh, but it has also costed him. Gilgamesh has always wanted immortality and fame in the city, and because of his wish Enkidu is the one who has suffered. Before going to Cedar Forest, Enkidu is the one who was discussing with the Elders about the dangers of the trip. One doesn’t notice anywhere in the text how Enkidu knew about dangers of the trip and the keeper of the Cedar Forest, the demon Huwawa. This is the privilege that Gilgamesh does not have. Furthermore, throughout the trip, Enkidu is the one who was communicating with the God of the sun, their protector, Shamash. Aditionally, the Elders are advicing Gilgamesh to  let Enkidu go first and † find the water to quench† (Ferry 19) his thirst and offers to the God. This is a big advantage/value for the Enkidu, since he is the one communicating with the Gods and able to know the road. Further in the story, their friendship becomes stronger, once they share their strenghts and weaknesses, courage and fear. The most intriguing thing in the whole story is the heroic side of Enkidu. The true friendship and loyalty to Gilgamesh are his biggest values. Once in fight with the demon Huwawa, Gilgamesh was scared of the speed Huwawa was possessing and, once Gilgamesh saw his face, he hid away, in some cases even weeped. In each time, despite the dangerous cicumstances, Enkidu had quick mind and knew what he had to do, which is show Gilgamesh he was not alone, â€Å"Two people, companions, they can prevail together against the terror† (Ferry 26). Going futher into the story we are finding out that, because of killing Humwawa and Bull of Heaven, the Gods have decided to punish Enkidu,although God of Sun Shamas tried to save him. He had the protection of the God, because he was compressed into this trip. Initially, the mother of Gilgamesh, Rimat-Ninsun, just before the trip has hit the biggest weakness of Enkidu, â€Å"Enkidu has neither father nor mother;† (Ferry 13). This proves the fact that he had no choice left because he was feeling worthless and there was no other solution but to go to this dangerous trip. Even at the end, when Enkidu knew he was destined for punishment, he did not have selfish heart, he accepted it and stayed loyal to Gilgamesh. This has me thinking, who is the real hero? By whose name should the book be named instead? By the great strenght and power Gilgamesh, or the loyal, great guide who turned into hero with his actions? Did Enkidu think he owed his life to Gilgamesh, or he did not want to go against the will of the Gods? Considering many tablets are not recovered, which made the text incomplete, there is complexity to this friendship and many questions that need to be answered. Here, after Enkidu dying, we also get the feeling of Gilgamesh being selfish, and not saving his friend. As soon as Enkidu has died, and Gilgamesh saw a worm falling out of his nose, he saw the reality where this can happen to him too. He was determined to find immortality. Although on a  new selfish quest, we can see his true grieving for a friend, a brother. Every individual Gilgamesh encounters with can see that he is full of sorrow. This is where the prevalent repetition happens. At first, I thought it was a literary element only. However, how the story grew, the significance of the repetition grew also. It became the emphasis of Gilgamesh’s sorrows. It keeps being repetead to keep our mind on the soft-hearted Gilgamesh, who truly grieves for Enkidu, who undoubtfely deserved it. It is engraved in our memory that he is truly lonely and has lost someone who was a big part of his life. But even so, that little part in the back of my mind is still set on Gilgamesh not urging for Enkidu’s sparing. In a conclusion, friendship between Enkidu and Gilgamesh is far more than important in this great epic. The contradictions are tempting to discuss, and because of the missing tablets, there will always be some questions. However, although Gilgamesh did not get his immortality, this prominent story, through many centuries, definitely has.

The Penalty of Death by H.L. Mencken

The Penalty of Death by H.L. Mencken As shown in H.L. Mencken on the Writing Life, Mencken was an influential satirist as well as an editor, literary critic, and longtime journalist with The Baltimore Sun. As you read his arguments in favor of the death penalty, consider how (and why) Mencken injects humor into his discussion of a grim subject. His satirical use of the persuasive essay format uses irony and sarcasm to help make his point. It is similar in mode to Jonathan Swifts A Modest Proposal.  Satirical essays like Menckens and Swifts allow the authors to make serious points in humorous, entertaining ways. Teachers can use these essays to help students understand satire and persuasive essays.  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹ The Penalty of Death by H.L. Mencken Of the arguments against capital punishment that issue from uplifters, two are commonly heard most often, to wit: That hanging a man (or frying him or gassing him) is a dreadful business, degrading to those who have to do it and revolting to those who have to witness it.That it is useless, for it does not deter others from the same crime. The first of these arguments, it seems to me, is plainly too weak to need serious refutation. All it says, in brief, is that the work of the hangman is unpleasant. Granted. But suppose it is? It may be quite necessary to society for all that. There are, indeed, many other jobs that are unpleasant, and yet no one thinks of abolishing them- that of the plumber, that of the soldier, that of the garbage-man, that of the priest hearing confessions, that of the sand-hog, and so on. Moreover, what evidence is there that any actual hangman complains of his work? I have heard none. On the contrary, I have known many who delighted in their ancient art, and practiced it proudly. In the second argument of the abolitionists there is rather more force, but even here, I believe, the ground under them is shaky. Their fundamental error consists in assuming that the whole aim of punishing criminals is to deter other (potential) criminalsthat we hang or electrocute A simply in order to so alarm B that he will not kill C. This, I believe, is an assumption which confuses a part with the whole. Deterrence, obviously, is one of the aims of punishment, but it is surely not the only one. On the contrary, there are at least half a dozen, and some are probably quite as important. At least one of them, practically considered, is more important. Commonly, it is described as revenge, but revenge is really not the word for it. I borrow a better term from the late Aristotle: katharsis. Katharsis, so used, means a salubrious discharge of emotions, a healthy letting off of steam. A school-boy, disliking his teacher, deposits a tack upon the pedagogical chair; the teacher jumps and the boy laughs. This is katharsis. What I contend is that one of the prime objects of all judicial punishments is to afford the same grateful relief (a) to the immediate victims of the criminal punished, and (b) to the general body of moral and timorous men. These persons, and particularly the first group, are concerned only indirectly with deterring other criminals. The thing they crave primarily is the satisfaction of seeing the criminal actually before them suffer as he made them suffer. What they want is the peace of mind that goes with the feeling that accounts are squared. Until they get that satisfaction they are in a state of emotional tension, and hence unhappy. The instant they get it they are comfortable. I do not argue that this yearning is noble; I simply argue that it is almost universal among human beings. In the face of injuries that are unimportant and can be borne without damage it may yield to higher impulses; that is to say, it may yield to what is called Christian charity. But when the injury is serious Christianity is adjourned, and even saints reach for their sidearms. It is plainly asking too much of human nature to expect it to conquer so natural an impulse. A keeps a store and has a bookkeeper, B. B steals $700, employs it in playing at dice or bingo, and is cleaned out. What is A to do? Let B go? If he does so he will be unable to sleep at night. The sense of injury, of injustice, of frustration, will haunt him like pruritus. So he turns B over to the police, and they hustle B to prison. Thereafter A can sleep. More, he has pleasant dreams. He pictures B chained to the wall of a dungeon a hundred feet underground, devoured by rats and scorpions. It is so agreeable that it makes him forget his $700. He has got his katharsis. The same thing precisely takes place on a larger scale when there is a crime which destroys a whole community’s sense of security. Every law-abiding citizen feels menaced and frustrated until the criminals have been struck downuntil the communal capacity to get even with them, and more than even has been dramatically demonstrated. Here, manifestly, the business of deterring others is no more than an afterthought. The main thing is to destroy the concrete scoundrels whose act has alarmed everyone and thus made everyone unhappy. Until they are brought to book that unhappiness continues; when the law has been executed upon them there is a sigh of relief. In other words, there is katharsis. I know of no public demand for the death penalty for ordinary crimes, even for ordinary homicides. Its infliction would shock all men of normal decency of feeling. But for crimes involving the deliberate and inexcusable taking of human life, by men openly defiant of all civilized orderfor such crimes it seems, to nine men out of ten, a just and proper punishment. Any lesser penalty leaves them feeling that the criminal has got the better of societythat he is free to add insult to injury by laughing. That feeling can be dissipated only by a recourse to katharsis, the invention of the aforesaid Aristotle. It is more effectively and economically achieved, as human nature now is, by wafting the criminal to realms of bliss. The real objection to capital punishment doesn’t lie against the actual extermination of the condemned, but against our brutal American habit of putting it off so long. After all, every one of us must die soon or late, and a murderer, it must be assumed, is one who makes that sad fact the cornerstone of his metaphysic. But it is one thing to die, and quite another thing to lie for long months and even years under the shadow of death. No sane man would choose such a finish. All of us, despite the Prayer Book, long for a swift and unexpected end. Unhappily, a murderer, under the irrational American system, is tortured for what, to him, must seem a whole series of eternities. For months on end, he sits in prison while his lawyers carry on their idiotic buffoonery with writs, injunctions, mandamuses, and appeals. In order to get his money (or that of his friends) they have to feed him with hope. Now and then, by the imbecility of a judge or some trick of juridic science, they actu ally justify it. But let us say that, his money all gone, they finally throw up their hands. Their client is now ready for the rope or the chair. But he must still wait for months before it fetches him. That wait, I believe, is horribly cruel. I have seen more than one man sitting in the death-house, and I don’t want to see any more. Worse, it is wholly useless. Why should he wait at all? Why not hang him the day after the last court dissipates his last hope? Why torture him as not even cannibals would torture their victims? The common answer is that he must have time to make his peace with God. But how long does that take? It may be accomplished, I believe, in two hours quite as comfortably as in two years. There are, indeed, no temporal limitations upon God. He could forgive a whole herd of murderers in a millionth of a second. More, it has been done. Source This version of The Penalty of Death originally appeared in Menckens Prejudices: Fifth Series (1926).

Aqueous Solution Definition in Chemistry

Aqueous Solution Definition in Chemistry Aqueous solution definition: An aqueous solution is any solution in which water (H2O) is the solvent.  In a chemical equation, the symbol (aq) follows a species name to indicate it is in aqueous solution. For example, dissolving salt in water has the chemical reaction: NaCl(s) → Na(aq) Cl-(aq) Although water is often called the universal solvent, it dissolves only substances that are hydrophilic in nature. Examples of hydrophilic molecules include acids, bases, and many salts. Substances that are hydrophobic do not dissolve well in water and tend not to form aqueous solutions. Examples include many organic molecules, including fats and oils. When electrolytes (e.g., NaCl, KCl) dissolve in water, the ions allow the solution to conduct electricity. Nonelectrolytes like sugar also dissolve in water, but the molecule remains intact and the solution is not conductive. Aqueous Solution Examples Cola, saltwater, rain, acid solutions, base solutions, and salt solutions are examples of aqueous solutions.   Examples of solutions that are not aqueous solutions include any liquid that does not contain water. Vegetable oil, toluene, acetone, carbon tetrachloride, and solutions made using these solvents are not aqueous solutions. Similarly, if a mixture contains water but no solute dissolves in the water as a solvent, an aqueous solution is not formed. For example, mixing sand and water does not produce an aqueous solution.

Use Spanish Words for Pets to Become Fluent

Use Spanish Words for Pets to Become Fluent If you are looking for someone to talk in  Spanish with, how about talking directly to your pet? Learning Spanish can be easy with ongoing practice - even with your pet dog or cat. There are benefits of talking to an animal over a human. You will not get any nasty corrections, and you will  get a chance to practice talking without any interruptions. Plus, even when you make a mistake, your  pet will still be there unconditionally throughout your Spanish-language learning journey. Learn how to say phrases referring to pets in Spanish. Phrases Referring to Pets in Spanish Note that a pet in Spanish can be referred to as una mascota,  the same word used for a mascot, such as an animal symbolizing a team. The term un  animal domà ©stico  and the adjective domà ©stico can also be used to mean pet as an adjective, as in un perro domà ©stico, a pet dog. Additionally, the phrase  un animal de compaà ±Ãƒ ­a  and the phrase de compaà ±Ãƒ ­a can be appended to an animals name to indicate it is a pet. Remember that most of the time the genders given below for animals remain the same, whether the particular animal is male or female. Canary: el canarioCat: el gatoPopular cat types include:el bobtailel gato de pelo largo (long-hair)el gato persa (Persian)el gato de pelo corto (short-hair)el gato siamà ©s (Siamese)Chinchilla: la chinchillaCockatoo: la cacatà ºaDog: el perroPopular dog breeds include:el dogo argentino  (Argentine dog)el terrierel perro San Bernardo (St. Bernard)el caniche (poodle)el xoloitzcuintle (Mexican hairless)el mastà ­n (mastiff)el perro esquimal (husky)el gran danà ©s (great Dane)el galgo/la galga (greyhound)el dlmata (Dalmatian)el perro salchicha (dachshund)el collieel bulldogel bà ³xer (boxer)el sabueso (bloodhound or beagle)el basset (basset hound)un chucho  is a muttFish: el pez. A tropical fish is un pez tropicalFrog: la ranaGerbil: el jerbo, el gerboGuinea pig: la cobayaHamster: el hmster (usually pronounced as jmster; plural can include either versions  hmsters or hmsteres)Horse: el caballoIguana: la iguanaLizard: el lagarto, la lagartijaMouse: el ratà ³nParakeet: el peric oParrot: el papagayo, el loro ï » ¿Rabbit: el conejoRat: la rataSalamander: la salamandraSnake: la serpienteSpider: la araà ±aTortoise, Turtle: la tortuga Talk to Your Pet in Spanish After discovering what to call your pet in Spanish, you can progress to learning the  animal sounds  your pets might make, just in case they do make some noises or otherwise talk back to you while you are speaking to them in Spanish.

Internet Banking (E-Banking) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Internet Banking (E-Banking) - Essay Example This paper will analyze the concept of E-banking. More specifically, it will try to provide answers to the following questions in relation to E-banking. What is E-banking? What are the advantages and Disadvantages of E-banking? How are people accepting and using E–banking?Internet banking is another concept of web based banking. The deployment of whole sale or retail banking services can also be referred to as E-banking. It involves individuals, and corporate customers. The deployment of whole sale or retail banking services can also be referred to as E-banking. It involves individuals, and corporate customers. E-banking involves payments and settlements, bank transfer, household lending, documentary collection and credits and card businesses. E-banking services and products are accessed by customers who own accounts with E-banks. Customers make a request for information and conduct most of their retail banking transactions through computer, television and cell phones . E-bank ing also describes the electronic connection between customers and bank so as to help in preparing, managing and controlling financial transactions. From a broader perspective, electronic banking is the provision of banking services through other means rather than the physical bank branches. E-Banking provides financial services to customers through various means. These means include home banking, telephone banking, Internet banking, mobile banking and Automated teller machines .(Sarlak and Asghar, 2010). The driving force behind the adoption of E-banking by banks is to provide high interest rates and reduce service charges on the customers’ saving accounts. E-banks help to eliminate costs associated with virtual banks branches. This increases competitive advantage of e-banking with other banks (Sarlak and Asghar, 2010). Advantages and of E-banking Internet banking has numerous advantages as discussed below. More efficient bank rates The absence and reduction of virtual branc hes to serve customers has reduced overhead costs. This allows banks to pay higher rates of interest on customer savings and consequently, reduces charges on the loan rate on the mortgage and loans. Some banks have resorted to offering a high yield certificate of deposit (CDs), high yielding checking accounts and even non-penalty certificate of deposit (CDs) for making an early withdrawal. Additionally, minimum deposits are required to open bank accounts. The bank accounts do not carry any minimum balance or service charges (Koskosas, 2012). Customer Convenience E-banks operate full time at various locations provided internet connections are available. Electronic banks operate 24 hours in a day, 365 days a year if internet services are available. Mobile phones are used by customers to access services. The real-time accounts information and balances are readily available through the internet. Banking transaction services are made easier, faster, and more efficient. The changing of ma iling address by a customer on his or her account facilitates the updating and maintaining of a direct account. Through account update, the request of market interest rates and ordering of additional checks is made easy (Koskosas, 2012). Services E-banks have more websites that provide more feature than the website of physical banks. These features are forecasting and budgeting tools, financial planning capabilities, loan calculators, investment analysis tools and equity trading platforms- banks website also offer online tax forms, tax preparation and free online bill payments (Koskosas, 2012). Mobility Internet banking services are mobile. This means one can access them even when traveling. The designing of new applications, smart phones and other mobile accessories has improved mobility of E-banking services (Koskosas, 2012). Transfers Money can easily be transferred from the physical banks account in various branches

Why inventory management is important to a production company Term Paper

Why inventory management is important to a production company - Term Paper Example to enhance overall internal organizational efficiency, and dictates the degree to which raw materials are ordered as part of the supply chain strategy. Managing inventories involves maintaining an understanding of the exact quantity of finished product which is currently sitting idle in company inventories. Some companies produce larger volumes of finished product based on forecasts or customer demand, allowing their finished goods inventories to remain well-stocked in order to maintain a prepared business stance. Others prefer a more lean production schedule, avoiding issues of high taxation due to large inventory volumes and as a means to reduce the costs of securing raw supply chain products. Whatever methodology of production deemed necessary to meet customer demand, it is highly crucial to manage inventory volumes from a manufacturing forecast perspective. If the organization maintains a wide variety of external customers, each with a differing supply schedule, coordinating manufacturing activities to satisfy this demand becomes increasingly difficult. Thus, there are generally capacity issues on the production floor, stemming from the tangible ability to produce high volumes of product in a fast turn-around production floor. For instance, consider a company which produces zippers for a wide variety of clothing companies. This company’s largest customer orders thousands of zippers each month, thus the production facility will produce a high volume of product in several batch runs, eventually storing them in finished goods inventory to await final delivery to the customer. However, this customer suddenly reduces its forecasted totals and radically reduces its zip per orders for the next three months consecutively. It is at this point that the company must have a clear understanding of what currently exists in its inventories to avoid the labor costs associated with over-production. When planning production schedules, the responsible individuals can view a

The Financial benefits of employee training and development Essay

The Financial benefits of employee training and development - Essay Example Additionally, the turnover also affects the profit maximization tendencies in the organization. The labor turnover can be reduced by ensuring employee stability and decreasing the entry and exit of employees. Training and development of the employees decreases the labor turnover rates. It will make sure that human resource department has a constant rate of hiring and firing. Training the employees will reduce the chances of firing since they will be competent in their jobs. Additionally, the development process will prevent employee productivity. Investing in the present employees will cause the firm to reduce the turnover. It will include hiring professionals who ensure perfection in their work. As a result, providing practical and theoretical training to professionals is advantageous to the firm in terms of cost and employee comprehension levels. For example, when an organization hires professional, the knowledge provided to them during training will be used to firms advantage. The vetting processes should be strict to ensure the division of labor. Additionally, the specialization helps in the training processes because experts can be hired based on the various divisions of labor (Saks, Robert and Jack 51). Training and development will ensure the employees are coached and equipped with current market trends. The employees can socialize and form groups at the workplace; hence, increasing the productivity and reducing labor turnover. Training emphasizes on extra skills in specific job descriptions. The expertise, on the other hand, will increase self-confidence in the employees helping them in handling the allocated roles. As a result, the human resource department will be satisfied with the current labor and eliminate cases of employee exits that may cause a firm extra resource. Development will have an impact on the professionalism of