The Dream of the Red Chamber by Cao Xueqin Summary free essay sample

Dream of the Red Chamber is a long and extremely complicated domestic chronicle—the novel contains more than four hundred characters—that is at once a lively comedy of manners, a realistic fable of moral seriousness, and a metaphysical allegory. The title is capable of expressing several meanings. For example, it may be translated as â€Å"Dreams of Young Maidens,† since the younger women of the Chia clan lived in the traditional â€Å"red chamber† of a palace compound. The term may also be interpreted as a reference to the metaphor â€Å"Red Dust,† which in Buddhist usage is a designation for the material world with all of its pleasures, follies, and vices.On the metaphysical level of the novel, the stone and the flower, originally located in the Ethereal, suffer a fall when they enter earthly reality in the Red Dust. Here the novel may be read as an allegory endorsing a Taoist-Buddhist system of otherworldly values (represented by the mysteriously recurring priest and monk) and rejecting the this-world view of Confucianism (represented by Chia Cheng). We will write a custom essay sample on The Dream of the Red Chamber by Cao Xueqin Summary or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Interestingly, this novel’s critique of feudalist and Confucian China won praise from Marxist readers.The Ethereal stone’s fortunes translate into a novel of manners when the stone falls into earthly existence as the protagonist, Chia Pao-yu. In this mode, the novel becomes, through its portrayal of the Chia family, a brilliantly realistic document of upper-class life during the Ching Dynasty. It encompasses financial affairs, sexual aberrations, fraternal jealousies, and tragic suicides. The Chia fortunes reach their apogee when Cardinal Spring becomes the Emperor’s concubine. The Takuanyuan Garden, built to honor Cardinal Spring, symbolizes these halcyon days; it becomes the domain of the younger Chia generation led by Pao-yu. In the garden, their way of life is carefree, innocent, almost Edenic, but, just as Pao-yu must grow into adulthood, so evil must invade this Eden. The fall begins when an indecently embroidered purse

Gradualism vs. Punctuated Equilibrium

Gradualism vs. Punctuated Equilibrium Evolution takes a very long time to become visible. Generation after generation can come and go before any changes in a species are observed. There is some debate in the scientific community as to how quickly evolution occurs. The two generally accepted ideas for rates of evolution are called gradualism and punctuated equilibrium. Gradualism Based on geology and the findings of James Hutton and Charles Lyell, gradualism states that large changes are actually the culmination very small changes that build up over time. Scientists have found evidence of gradualism in  geologic processes, which the  Prince Edward Island Department of education  describes as the ...processes at work in the earths landforms and surfaces. The mechanisms involved, weathering, erosion, and plate tectonics, combine processes that are in some respects destructive and in others constructive. Geologic processes are long, slow changes that occur over thousands or even millions of years. When Charles Darwin first began formulating his theory of evolution, he adopted this idea. The fossil record is evidence that supports this view. There are many transitional fossils that show structural adaptations of species as they transform into new species. Proponents of gradualism say that the geologic time scale helps show how species have changed over the different eras since life began on Earth. Punctuated Equilibrium Punctuated equilibrium, by contrast, is based on the idea that since you cannot see changes in a species, there must be very long periods when no changes occur. Punctuated equilibrium asserts that evolution occurs in short bursts followed long periods of equilibrium.  Put another way, long periods of equilibrium (no change) are punctuated by short periods of rapid change. Proponents of punctuated equilibrium included such scientists as  William Bateson, a strong opponent of Darwins views,  who argued that species do not evolve gradually. This camp of scientists believes that change happens very rapidly with long periods of stability and no change in between. Usually, the driving force of evolution is some sort of change in the environment that necessitates a need for quick change, they argue. Fossils Key to Both Views Strangely enough, scientists in both camps cite the fossil record as evidence to support their views. Proponents of punctuated equilibrium point out that there are many  missing links  in the fossil record. If gradualism is the correct model for the rate of evolution, they argue, there should be fossil records that show evidence of slow, gradual change. Those links never really existed, to begin with, say the proponents of punctuated equilibrium, so that removes the issue of missing links in evolution. Darwin also pointed to fossil evidence that showed slight changes in the body structure of the species over time, often leading to  vestigial structures. Of course, the fossil record is incomplete, leading to the problem of the missing links. Currently, neither hypothesis is considered more accurate. More evidence will be needed before gradualism or punctuated equilibrium is declared the actual mechanism for the rate of evolution.

Becoming Influential Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Becoming Influential - Essay Example Second, this could mean lower-cost and in-time PHC delivery to a broader population. Third, it will remove or at least lessen the legal barriers, caused by different state laws that hinder APNs to provide PHC (Hansen-Turton et al., 2010; Safriet, 2011). Lastly, it will give the nursing profession the due recognition that has long been denied of it. As such, I hope; my message will accomplish three things: First, it will convince our policy makers address the legal barrier that only they can resolve in order to make the Affordable Care Act truly realizable. Second, it will allay lingering fears among the general public regarding APNs’ competence and reliability as PHC providers. Lastly, it will challenge APNs to continue improving and loving their profession in order to achieve the respect and recognition they long sought for. Deciding on How to Share My Message Being an ordinary nurse, I don’t think that sending a personal letter to President Obama or anyone in the US C ongress will be influential. I believe that using the social media will be the best thing I can do to make my message most influential. I know that I am not the only one who believes that APNs should be given a wider role in the provision of PHC. Other APNs share the same belief as demonstrated by the lobbying of the American Nurses Association (Appleby, 2013). However, if lobbying for this will involve only the nursing profession, this may be perceived as self-serving. It is therefore important to get involved in this fight those who are at the receiving end of the USHCS. The time for this is right, as the recent study by the Association of American Medical Colleges' Center for Workforce Studies reveals that more people, especially the younger ones (aged 18-34 years old), prefer nurse practitioners or physician assistant (Kliff, 2013). Hence, I will appeal to these people to help APNs convince the President and the Congress to once and for all settle this legal barrier for APNs to become PHC providers. I know that the medical community, especially those who are used to the traditional physician-nurse hierarchy will speak against the competence of APNs to do this job. Yet more than this, I still believe that reason supported by empirical evidence will prove that APN-delivered care are actually at par with physician-delivered care in terms of safety and quality (O’Grady, 2008). My Message From this assignment I learned three sad realities. First, transforming the USHCS is truly difficult, because it is marred with vested interests from various stakeholders. Second, commitment and competence of APNs are not enough to ensure the provision of quality healthcare to a broader public due to legal barriers. Lastly, the important role the APNs consistently play in the delivery of safe and quality healthcare remains undervalued and unrecognized within and outside the medical community until today. This is despite the many empirical evidences affirming the equal c ompetence and reliability of APNs and despite their heightened qualifications, training, and experiences. These happen because nurses tend not to get involved