Outcasts of Poker Flat Essay Example

Outcasts of Poker Flat Essay Example Outcasts of Poker Flat Paper Outcasts of Poker Flat Paper There, the armed men warn the outcasts not to return to Poker Flat under penalty of death. . On their way Into exile, uncle Billy and the women bitterly bemoan their fate while Croakers remains quiet. They head for Sandy Bar, a days travel away over steep mountains. The road is narrow and the air dry and cold in the foothills of the mountains. They plod on until noon, when the Duchess declares she can go no farther. Croakers wants to go on lest the party run out of provisions. However, his fellow travelers stay put, using liquor to comfort them. Uncle Billy goes into a stupor, the Duchess becomes tearfully emotional, and Mother Spittoon falls asleep. Croakers does not drink. As a gambler, he had cultivated the habit of staying sober. .. While observing his surroundings- the mountains, the pine trees, the cloudy sky, the valley below-he sees a horseman coming toward him. It Is young Tom Jimson, from whom Croakers had once won $40 In Sandy Bar. Croakers returned the money saying, Tommy, youre a good little man, but you cant gamble worth a cent. Dont try it over again. Because of that magnanimous gesture, Tom admires Croakers as something of a god. When Tom greets Croakers, he tells him a little about himself. He had decided to leave Sandy Bar and go to Poker Flat, he says, with his sweetheart Piney Woods to make his fortune and marry Piney. Her father, Jake Woods, had opposed the marriage, so they had no alternative but to run away. Piney, who is plumy attractive, rides up Just thendemure and embarrassed and innocentfrom behi nd a pine tree. Uncle Billy is about to say something untoward when Croakers kicks him. Anyway, it seems young Tom and Piney want to Join Croakers and his company of outcasts, but Croakers-who doesnt want them tagging along-points out that they have no provisions and no place to stay. However, Tom says he has a pack mule loaded with supplies. He also found an abandoned log house nearby. It Is a roofless ruin, but It goes have walls. .Piney can stay with Mrs.. Croakers, the youth says. He thinks ten Duchess Is narrators welt. NC e Billy Is auto to laugh Duty remembers Sauerkrauts foot. So he walks off up the canyon, out of hearing range, then does his laughing. When he returns, everybody is sitting by a fire talking. At that moment, an idea pops into his alcoholic brain, causing him so much amusement that he shoves a fist into his mouth to stifle a laugh. . That night, the women sleep in the cabin and the men near the fire. Just before dawn, Croakers awakens and sees snow. Uncle Billy is gone. So are all the animals. Fortunately, though, all the supplies had been placed in the cabin. . . At first light, the snow is coming down hard and further travel is out of the question. Croakers tells Tom that Uncle Billy must have gotten up in the night and spooked the mules, then ran off after them. No sense frightening the young people, he thinks. But the Duchess and Mother Spittoon realize what had happened-thieving Billy took them. .. Tom immediately offers to share his supplies and seems to look forward to the time all of them will be spending together. Well have a good camp for a week, he says, and then the snowball melt .. Len the evening, everyone is cheerful. As they sit around the fire, they sing songs. Piney manages to force tunes from Toms accordion while he raps two bone castanets. The storm stops at midnight and the skies open to glittering stars. Tom and Croakers take turns keeping watch, but the latter does most of the watching. Hes used to going without sleep because of his frequent all-night poker games. .. The next day, huge snowdrifts surround the cabin. In the distance, miles away, smoke curls up from Poker flat. Mother Spittoon curses the town. She then sets herself to the task of amusing Piney. After another day, they all sit again at the fire. However, the music begins to lose its magic as the food supply dwindles and hunger creeps into their stomachs. Piney proposes that they tell stories. Croakers, the Duchess, and Mother Spittoon are less than enthusiastic about this idea, but Tom takes to it, noting that he had recently read Alexander Popes rendition of Homers ancient Greek classic, The Iliad. So they listen as the youth recites portions of the tale and mangles the pronunciation of names He pronounces the name of famous Greek hero Achilles as Ash-heels. . A week passes and snow falls again. Eventually, the drifts around the cabin reach 20 feet. The fire is harder and harder to maintain because wood is less plentiful. But no one complains, although Mother Spittoon is sick and failing fast. . At midnight on the 10th day, Mother Spittoon-now in a very bad way-tells Croakers to open a bundle under her head and give the food in it to Tom and Piney. When Croakers opens it, he discovers a full week of rations. She had been saving her food for the young people. Mother Spittoon then turns away and dies. They place her body in the snow. . .. At daylight, Croakers reveals a pair of snowshoes he made out f a pack saddle, then tells Tom to use them to reach Poker Flat. Its the only way to save his sweetheart, he says. Croakers says he will walk out a little way with Tom, then return. Before leaving, he kisses the Duchess, which amazes her. . At nightfall, there is no sign of Croakers. It is snowing again. While the Duchess tends the fire, she notices that someone had piled wood next to the fire-enough to keep it going a good while longer. Tears well in her eyes, but she doesnt let Piney see them. The snow, meanwhile, continues through the next day and into the evening. The women now realize the end is near. In the morning, they lack the strength to keep the fire going, and it slowly dies. Piney, can you pray? the Duchess says. NO, dear. . The Duchess puts her head on Pines shoulder and they fall asleep. They sleep the rest of the day and into the next. Then voices and footsteps break the silence around the cabin and a hand brushes snow from the faces of the two women. The narrator says, Mimi could scarcely have told from the equal peace that dwelt upon them, which was she that sinned. Even the law of Poker Flat recognized this, and turned away, leaving them still locked in each others arms. . N a nearby pine tree is a knife stuck through the two of clubs. On the card is a message written in pencil: BENEATH THIS TREE LIES THE BODY OF JOHN CROAKERS, WHO STRUCK A STREAK OF BAD LUCK ON THE ADD OF NOVEMBER, 1850, AND HANDED IN HIS CHECKS ON THE 7TH DECEMBER, 1850. . At his side is a Derringer, which had put a bullet through his heart. He had been the strongest and yet the weakest of the outcasts of Poker Flat. Setting The action takes place in California between November 23 and December 7, 1850, when towns grew up from the influx of people seeking fortunes by mining for gold. Characters John Croakers: Professional gambler who is forced out of the town of Poker Flat as an undesirable because he wins so much money from the townspeople. The Duchess and Mother Spittoon: Prostitutes who are also banished from Poker Flat. Uncle Billy: Thief and drunkard who is likewise forced out of town. Tom Jimson: Young man who leaves town and Joins Croakers and the other outcasts. He admires Croakers, who returned $40 he had won from Billy after feeling sorry for him. Piney Woods: Toms sweetheart, who leaves town with him. They had planned to marry in Poker Flat. Jim Wheeler: Resident of Poker Flat who bemoans the loss of money to Croakers. Jake Woods: Pines father. He is referred to in the story but plays no active role in it. Type of Work and Publication Date The Outcasts of Poker Flat is a short story. It first appeared in Overland Monthly in January 1869, when Heart was the editor of the publication. Themes Hidden Goodness There is goodnessand even heroismin the heart of many of societys outcasts. John Croakers, the Duchess, Mother Spittoon all behave selflessly when death creeps up on them. For example, they treat the two young people with utmost consideration and kindness. Croakers could have used his snowshoes to return to civilization; instead, he gave them to Tom Jimson. Mother Spittoon and the Duchess act as surrogate mothers to Piney Woods. Except for Uncle Billy, all the characters are tolerant of one another as they attempt to keep up their spirits under extremely difficult circumstances. Mother Spittoon, the Duchess, and Piney Woods die nobly and courageously. Unrest snoozes silence, revealing Tanat en was at once ten strongest and yet the weakest of the outcasts of Poker Flat, the narrator says. Hypocrisy The citizens of Poker Flats secret committee appear upright and Just, at least to themselves. However, in regard to John Croakers, they are hypocrites. After all, they sat down at the poker table with him, becoming gamblers themselves. But after losing money to him, they run him out of town. One citizen, John Wheeler, even suggests hanging him, then taking back their money. Indifference of Nature Nature shows no mercy to the outcasts. After Poker Flat rejects them, heavy snow isolates them. The sky clears, offering them hope, only to form new clouds that bring more snow. John Croakers may be a poker player par excellence, but he cannot defeat Mother Nature. Climax The climax of The Outcasts of Poker Flat occurs when John Croakers fails to return o the cabin after seeing off Tom Jimson on the latters snowshoe trek back to Poker Flat. It is at this point that the Duchess and Piney accept the imminence of death. Heart as a Local Colorist Bret Heart is among the American writers associated with the local-color genre. Besides presenting narratives in a regional dialect, local-color writers, or local colorist, attempted to portray life in the various sections of burgeoning America. Heart, for example, focused many of his stories on the gold-mining camps and towns. However, rather than writing soberly realistic stories, local colorist tended to write Tories infused with eccentrics as characters and whimsical plotting, according to William Flint Thrall and Addison Hubbard, authors of A Handbook to Literature (266). Thrall and Hubbard also note that local colorist emphasized verisimilitude of detail without being concerned often enough about truth to the larger aspects of life or human nature (266). Work Cited Thrall, William Flint and Addison Hubbard. A Handbook to Literature. Revised and enlarged by C. Hugh Holman. New York: The . Odyssey Press, 1960. Critical Reception The Outcasts of Poker Flat and similar stories of Heart were highly acclaimed and ideal popular in the decade or so after Heart published them, earning him substantial money and a worldwide audience. Although this story and others of his remain popular today, critics now believe he was far overrated as a stylist because of his use of sentimentality and because of lack of originality in his themes and plots. However, there can be no gainsaying that he invented stock character types later imitated in western novels and films. These character types include the roving gambler, like John Croakers, and the tainted ladies with hearts of gold, like the Duchess and Mother Spittoon. Overall, one may fairly say that Heart was an appealing and influential writer, but probably not great one. Bret Heart 1869 The Outcasts of Poker Flat was first published in the January, 1869, issue of the Overland Monthly magazine, which Bret Heart edited. At the time, Heart was on the threshold of national fame. The success of his short story The Luck of Roaring Camp the year before had elevated the twenty-nine-year-old writer to a position of literary prominence. Critics praised The Outcasts of Poker Flat as a suitable follow-up that controller Hearts stature as one AT ten most promising new autonomous In ten unlace States. By 1871 Heart was not only the highest paid writer in the country, but also one of the most popular. He was a regular contributor to the Atlantic Monthly, one of the most popular magazines of the day. Although both Hearts popularity and critical admiration for his work have declined in subsequent years, The Outcasts of Poker Flat remains an important piece of American literature and one of the best tales of the rough-and-tumble days of the California Gold Rush. In his use of the Western setting and local color, Heart proved to be a model for other authors, including Mark Twain, whose career he helped launch. Indeed, the familiarity of many of Hearts characterizations ? the quick-witted gambler or the prostitute with a heart of gold ? attest to the durability of his impact on popular culture. Heart first Journeyed to the American West in 1854 and was advantageously positioned to observe one of the key events of the nineteenth century, the California Gold Rush. This setting in The Outcasts of Poker Flat is used as a forum to explore themes of tolerance and forgiveness, appearance and reality, and the ominous power of nature. Plot Summary The Outcasts of Poker Flat is set near a California mining community during November of 1850. Experimenting with the effectiveness of vigilante Justice, the residents of Poker Flat hope to improve the town by expelling a group of undesirables. Among these objectionable characters are professional gambler John Croakers; a prostitute known as Duchess; her madam, Mother Spittoon; and Uncle Billy, the town drunkard and a suspected thief. The foursome is escorted to the edge of Poker Flat and forbidden to return at the peril of their lives. With no apparent alternative, the group heads toward the next settlement, Sandy Bar. However, the journey requires passage over a difficult mountain trail. Less than midway to their destination, the group becomes exhausted and decides to camp for the night. Croakers argues that they should continue on because they lack the provisions to stop safely. The party is unconcerned, ignores him, and opts to consume its supply of liquor. Later, a horseman from Sandy Bar arrives at the camp. His name is Tom Jimson, and he is also referred to as the Innocent. He is traveling with his fifteen- year-old fiance, Piney Woods. The two have eloped and are on their way to Poker Flat to be married. Jimson is an acquaintance of Croakers, having once lost forty dollars to him in a poker game. However, Croakers had taken pity on the Innocent and returned his money, advising him never to gamble again. As a result, Jimson perceives Croakers as a genuine friend and quickly offers to share his provisions with the foursome. Jimson directs the party to an abandoned cabin nearby, and they take shelter there for the night. The next morning Croakers is the first to rise and discovers that Uncle Billy has stolen their mules during the night. Furthermore, the winter snows have begun and left the party trapped in the valley. To avoid frightening Jimson and Piney, Croakers persuades the Duchess and Mother Spittoon o keep Billys theft a secret. Jimson has enough food to last the party ten days and enthusiastically offers to share. Unaware of the gravity of the situation, he envisions the group enjoying a happy camp until the snow melts. During the next week, the party remains trapped in the valley. Jimson and Piney not only remain naive about their chances of survival, but also about the reputations of the outcasts. They view the other women with respect and admiration. Unaccustomed to such kindness, the prostitutes Decode motherly toward Plane Ana are move Day ten celerity AT ten couples love. After ten days in the cabin, Mother Spittoon dies of starvation. She had been saving her rations and makes a final request for Croakers to give them to Piney. Realizing they are probably doomed, Croakers instructs Jimson to attempt a hike to Poker Flat to get help. The gambler then gathers a supply of firewood for Duchess and Piney and disappears. Several days later a rescue party arrives, only to discover the frozen bodies of the women huddled together inside the cabin. Croakers is found nearby with a pistol by his side and a bullet through his heart, and with a suicide note written on a playing card pinned to a tree above his body. Characters Duchess Duchess, a prostitute, is one of four individuals expelled from Poker Flat when the townspeople there decided to evict the undesirables. As the group of outcasts are making their way to Sandy Bar, she complains constantly, causing the group to stop short of their destination. When Piney Woods and Tom Jimson Join the group and they become trapped by the snow, Duchess becomes more cheerful and nurturing toward Piney. When the rescuers finally reach the group, they find Duchess and Piney huddle d together, dead, and by then it is impossible to determine which was she that had sinned. Innocent, the See Tom Jimson John Croakers John Croakers is one of four individuals who were expelled from Poker Flat when its townspeople decided to run out the undesirables. Croakers is a professional gambler noted for his coolness, impassiveness, and presence of mind. When young Tom Jimson and Piney Woods Join the outcasts, the reader learns that Croakers once returned to Jimson forty dollars that he won from the youth in a poker game, advising him to stay away from cards. When the outcasts are trapped by a snowstorm, Croakers assumes leadership of the group. After putting together a shift pair of snowshoes, he gives them to Jimson, instructing him to go to Poker Flat and bring help. When the rescue party finally arrives, Croakers has killed himself, revealing himself to be the strongest and yet the weakest of the outcasts of Poker Flat. Mother Spittoon Mother Spittoon, presumably the madam of the prostitute Duchess, is one of four individuals expelled from Poker Flat when the townspeople decided to rid the community of undesirables. Although she is accused of immorality, Mother Spittoon displays her true qualities when the outcasts are trapped in the snowstorm. Hoping to save Piney Woods, Mother Spittoon hoards her own share of the food instead of eating it. Shortly before she dies of starvation, she tells Croakers to give her rations to the bride-to-be so that she will have a better chance of surviving. Tom Jimson Tom Jimson is a guileless youth who is traveling to Poker Flat with his bride-to-be, Piney Woods, when they encounter the outcasts. On the basis of an earlier encounter with Croakers, Jimson decides to assist the outcasts, whom he treats with respect, ignorant of their undesirable status. Jimson is the lone survivor of the ordeal that ensues. Uncle Billy Uncle Billy, a suspected thief and confirmed drunkard, is one of the undesirables cast out of Poker Flat. Unlike the others, Uncle Billy scoffs at the innocence of Tom Salmons Ana Piney coos. During ten inlet en makes Totally ten groups Norse Ana mules, stranding them as it begins to snow. Piney Woods Piney Woods, a stout, comely damsel of fifteen, is Tom Simians bride-to-be. Piney has no understanding of the outcasts unsanitary reputations and treats them with courtesy and respect. In response to this kindness, they develop an affection for her hat intensifies as they observe her love for Jimson. She and Duchess freeze to death before rescuers can reach them. Themes The Outcasts of Poker Flat tells the story of four individuals exiled from a frontier town because of their alleged immorality. A blizzard traps them and a pair of innocent young lovers, leading to tragic consequences. Appearances and Reality At the beginning of the story, the four outcasts are described as improper persons, and their initial actions suggest that, except for Croakers, they are foul-mouthed, lazy, and prone to drunkenness. However, because they come from another talented, Tom and Piney know little about these strangers, and their perceptions are not clouded by the prejudices of the people in Poker Flat. In a previous brief encounter with Croakers, Tom had found him to be kind and gentlemanly, so Tom treats him as a gentleman rather than as a shifty card shark. The young couple assumes that the prostitute Duchess is Mrs.. Croakers, and Piney imagines that the women from Poker Flat must be ladies of a high social standing who are used to fine things. The discrepancy between appearance and reality becomes most apparent when the party is trapped in the snowstorm. Mother Spittoon may indeed be a madam, but she also shows herself to be compassionate and heroic when she sacrifices her life in an effort to save Piney. Likewise Duchess, the soiled sister, evolves into a companion and protector for Piney. By the end of the story, observers cannot determine which was she that had sinned. Croakers, the member of the party who appeared the most calm during the ordeal, eventually cannot play against unfavorable odds any longer and commits suicide. Throughout the story, Heart demonstrates that where human nature is concerned, reality is often more complex than appearances indicate. Change and Transformation Related to the themes of appearance and reality are the issues of change and transformation. During their period of confinement, the outcasts, particularly the two prostitutes, experience a type of metamorphosis. At first the women appear self- centered and dismissive of Tom and Piney and contemptuous of their naivetà ©. But as the group grows closer, these feelings shift to motherly affection, particularly toward Piney. One suspects the sincerity of the young lovers allows Duchess and Mother Spittoon openly to display aspects of their personalities they had previously chosen to once. Croakers also undergoes a transformation, though a less uplifting one. Until the end of the story, Croakers is portrayed as others see him and as he sees himself, as a person noted for coolness, impassiveness, and presence of mind. He is the first to grasp the groups predicament and quickly assumes command in the emergency. Toms earlier experience with him shows that he has always had a streak of kindness and protectiveness toward those younger and weaker than himself, and in the isolated community of outcasts this quickly develops into a thoughtful solicitude for his companions. When it is revealed that he killed himself, it is hard to say whether this represents a change in him or simply reveals a weakness that has always been anneal Detent n Nils apparent strength n. Fate Ana chance Chance plays a critical role in the demise of the stranded travelers. Many developments within the narrative rely on random occurrences. Among the many examples, one can argue that if the outcasts did not stop for the night or had begun their Journey one day earlier, they would have missed the snow and reached Sandy Bar. Similarly, if Tom and Piney had continued on their way rather than staying with he outcasts, they could have avoided the storm. However, one could also argue that if Croakers had sent Tom for help earlier, or had struggled to keep the fire lit rather than killing himself, most of the group might have survived. Heart uses the character of Croakers to develop the theme of fate. As too much of a gambler not to accept fate, Croakers explains that with luck all you know for certain is that its bound to change. Once the party is stranded, Sauerkrauts gambling philosophy creates a dilemma for him. Having experienced a streak of bad luck since the group left Poker Flat, the gamblers experiences suggest that eventually this misfortune should pass. However, it is also the gamblers prerogative to opt out of the game if he does not like the odds, and Croakers estimates their odds of surviving as one in a hundred. His suicide note, declaring that he struck a streak of bad luck and handed in his c hecks, attests to his inability to resist despair when the odds on their fate seem stacked against him. Heroism To many readers, an important message of the story is that society often fails to recognize the true heroes and heroines in its midst. One can certainly argue this is the case with the sacrifice of Mother Spittoon as well as the selfless devotion of Duchess. In both cases, women condemned by society prove themselves to be morally superior to their Judges. The suicide of Croakers provides further comment on the nature of heroism. Throughout the story, he appears to be the leader of the party and the individual most likely to devise their escape, but ultimately he gives up the struggle and fails to save either the group or himself. Style The setting of The Outcasts of Poker Flat is of major importance. The story occurs in November, 1850, during the heyday of the California Gold Rush. At that time, law and order on the mining frontier was often synonymous with vigilante Justice, in which townspeople took matters into their own hands. Communities such as Poker Flat generally operated outside the reach of established Judicial systems, and the type of vigilante activity Heart depicts was an accepted part of everyday life. The story is set in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, a remote area in eastern California where the sudden occurrence of a winter storm could easily result in death for travelers. The most famous example of such a misfortune is the ill-fated Donned Party of 1846, in which twelve travelers starved to death and the remaining members resorted to cannibalism. This tragedy was highly publicized for years afterwards and was undoubtedly familiar to the original readers of this story. In an era before automobiles, or extensive railways, the fear of being stranded while traveling was real and vivid. Genre Genre is the term used to denote a category of literature. The Outcasts of Poker Flat is above all, a Western story. Other types of genre literature are science fiction, horror, and romance. Genre works can be identified by their conventions; some of the conventions AT westerns are Tanat teen take place on ten Trotter, teen contact g guys and bad guys, female characters are either virtuous or fallen, and conflicts that result in showdowns or gunfights often end in death. All of these elements are prominent in Hearts story; one might say that the showdown is the battle between the travelers and Mother Nature. Comic Relief Although Hearts story is essentially a tragedy, the narrative contains moments of humor. Rather than the story containing a humorous character per SE, the story pity arises from the narrators understatement and sometimes condescending tone towards the characters. As an example, the narrator comments that notwithstanding some difficulties attending the manipulation of this instrument, Piney Woods managed to pluck several reluctant melodies from its keys. Elsewhere, the narrator evaluates Toms recitation skills by stating he had thoroughly mastered the argument and fairly forgotten the words. Critics often cited Hearts ability to balance the tragic and the comic as one of his strongest skills as a writer. Historical Context Gold Fever and the Manifest Destiny During the late sass, Hearts tales of the California Gold Rush elevated him to a position of national fame. For the remainder of his career, he utilized the West as the setting for his stories and the inspiration for his lectures on life in the gold mines. Americans throughout the country were fascinated by the expansion of the country and tales of the wild West became part of the national consciousness. At the time of their publication, Hearts stories were primarily an idealized vision of an era that had recently passed. By the sass, the West was becoming more and more settled, and he vigilante Justice of the frontier days was fast fading. While the settlement of the West remained an important topic for books and magazines, it is important to note that The Outcasts of Poker Flat appeared less than four years after the end of the Civil War. For a nation exhausted by war, Hearts story of heroics and tolerance recalled a happier period of innocence and opportunity. It is difficult to exaggerate the importance of the Gold Rush as a historical event; within two years, the sparsely settled territory of California had become the fastest growing state in the union. As spring miners arrived from Europe, Asia, South America, and virtually every American state, the population of San Francisco leaped from approximately 800 people in 1848 to over 40,000 in 1850. Although the frenzy for prospecting subsided by the late sass, California was left with an infrastructure for industry, transportation, and agriculture that would have taken decades to develop under normal circumstances. For Americans of the day, the rapid settlement of California validated the doctrine of Manifest Destiny: the belief that it was Gods will for the nation to expand across the continent. However, romanticizes depictions of the Gold Rush often overlook the unhappy outcome of the event for many prospectors. Relatively few of the errs managed to accumulate genuine wealth. Although most prospectors were successful in locating gold, the high cost of living in California prevented miners from pocketing much of their newfound riches. An additional consequence of the Gold Rush was the near-destruction of Californians Native American population. The area contained dozens of autonomous Indian tribes, most of which resided in the regions which were the primary centers for mining activity. As a result, these cultures were the victims of both disease and military attacks and ere nearing extinction Day ten B/Us country Longs Tort a More Simple Lime Hearts fiction was not only a depiction of the past, but it was also a reaction to contemporary events. The American Civil War had halted westward migration from 1861 to 1865. Once the hostilities had ended, though, the nation was anxious to resume its expansion. Although the Pacific shore had been transformed into a center for industry and commerce, the vast area of the Great Plains remained largely unsettled by whites. Like 1849, the late sass was an era of movement into new lands. Even though the post-bellum years were perceived to be a time of imminent opportunity, much of the nation was suffering from the effects of the war. The South was in ruins and resentful of the policies of Reconstruction. The country as a whole experienced a series of financial depressions as the economy readjusted to peacetime conditions. Ulysses S. Grants 1868 election to the presidency marked the beginning of an era of widespread and highly publicized governmental corruption. Therefore it is not surprising that Hearts vision of a Western society populated with shrewd but valorous individuals such as John Croakers would resonate with readers of the day. Anxious to overlook their own shortcomings and to escape the troubles of the present, audiences looked to authors such as Heart to evoke a noble past to which they could hope to return in the future. Compare Contrast sass: The United States embraces the concept of Manifest Destiny, a phrase coined in an article in the July-August, 1845, issue of United States Magazine and Democratic Review. The phrase imparts the view that it is Gods will that the young nation expand across the continent. In the resulting expansion, settlers race west to California in search of gold in 1849. 97: Although no longer claiming that expansionism is Gods will, the United States continues to explore new frontiers. U. S. Astronauts work side-by-side with their Russian counterparts aboard the Russian space station Mir in an effort to investigate the prospects of long-term cooperation in sass: American society at large perceives gambling at cards and other space. Games of chance, in which money changes hands, as the domain of drifters, con-men, and prostitutes. 1997: Casino gambling is no longer confined to Alas Vegas or Atlantic City, having come to be seen as a route to financial reinvigoration in large American cities. Candidates for municipal office often stake their political prospects on their success in bringing casino gaming to town, while political figures who oppose casinos are publicly vilified as out-of-touch prigs and Puritans. Critical Overview When The Outcasts of Poker Flat first appeared in the January, 1869, issue of the Overland Monthly, the story was an immediate critical and popular success. Critics such as Emily S. Forman, writing for Old and New, praised Hearts use of novel vernacular and Movie portraiture to thrill the very depths of the heart and soul.

Medical Ethics in Islam

Medical Ethics in Islam In our lives, we often face difficult decisions, some relating to life and death, medical ethics. Should I donate a kidney so that another may live? Should I turn off life support for my brain-dead child? Should I mercifully end the suffering of my terminally ill, elderly mother? If I am pregnant with quintuplets, should I abort one or more so that the others have a better chance of surviving? If I face infertility, how far should I go in treatment so that I might, Allah-willing, have a child? As medical treatment continues to expand and advance, more ethical questions come up. For guidance on such matters, Muslims turn first to the Quran. Allah gives us general guidelines to follow, that are constant and timeless. The Saving of Life ...We ordained for the Children of Israel that if any one slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people. And if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.... (Quran 5:32) Life and Death are in Allahs Hands Blessed be He in whose hands is the Dominion, and he has Power over all things. He who created death and life that He may test which of you are best in deed, and He is Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving. (Quran 67: 1-2) No soul can die except by Allahs permission. (Quran 3:185) Human Beings Should Not Play God Does not man see that it is We who created him from sperm. Yet behold! He stands as an open adversary! And he makes comparisons for Us, and forgets his own creation. He says who can give life to (dry) bones and decomposed ones? Say, He will give them life who created them for the first time, for He is versed in every kind of creation. (Quran 36: 77-79) Abortion Kill not your children on a plea of want. We will provide sustenance for you and for them. Come not near shameful deeds whether open or secret. Take not life which God has made sacred except by way of justice and law. Thus He commands you that you may learn wisdom. (6:151) Kill not your children for fear of want. We shall provide sustenance for them as well as for you. Verily the killing of them is a great sin. (17:31) Other Sources of Islamic Law In modern times, as medical treatments advance further, we come across new situations which are not described in detail in the Quran. Oftentimes these fall into a gray area, and it is not as simple to decide what is right or wrong. We then turn to the interpretation of Islamic scholars, who are well-versed in the Quran and Sunnah. If scholars come to a consensus on an issue, it is a strong indication that it is a correct position. Some examples of scholarly fatwas on the subject of medical ethics include: Organ donation is permissible as long as no financial incentive is given, and no permanent harm comes to the donor.Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide are prohibited.Mechanical life support should be continued until brain-death or imminent death has been confirmed by a physician or team of physicians, in which case it can be withdrawn.   Assisted reproduction is allowed as long as it is done with sperm and egg between husband and wife.Late-stage abortion is condemned unless necessary to save the mothers life. For specific and unique situations, a patient is advised to speak to an Islamic scholar for guidance.

HR Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

HR Management - Essay Example hree expatriates were assigned the positions of Director of Engineering, Manufacturing and Finance however, they had very little knowledge to Chinese market for example, Director of Finance was from Singapore and he did not have much knowledge about Chinese financial system. Before starting the JV in China Filtration Inc should have also considered the development and maintenance of the competencies of its people especially the expatriates. Although company provided language tutorials to its expatriates and orientation trainings however, to reduce the operational difficulties in an entirely different environment, company did not focus on inadequate health conditions, performance management systems, morale problems and discipline. To select the expatriates company did not follow any strong selection process. When the company showed its intentions to expand internationally, James showed his interest to his international human resource manager to take part in international assignments. Moreover, he has been showing his interest for international assignments during performance appraisals. When the company planned to start its JV in Tokyo, the company announced to hire a younger, more politically connected fast tracker. The company made a formal announcement and the expatriate position was promoted as a consolation prize. However, no interview or any kind of test was conducted. James was selected entirely based on his long term association with the company and because of his interest. Following is the model presented by Ronen to select an expatriate. The model shows that a company should consider job factors, relational dimensions, motivational stat, family situation and language skills while selecting an expatri ate. On the other hand, only motivational state and family situation of James were considered to select him as an expatriate in an entirely different culture of China. Although James was very enthusiastic and motivated for this assignment which makes him a

Topic on Dicrimination - Crytically analyse sexual harrasment relating Essay

Topic on Dicrimination - Crytically analyse sexual harrasment relating to women under the 2010 Equality Act - Essay Example This act puts on notice to all people who deal with the group termed as protected individuals, which women are covered. Any organization, business, schools and institutions of higher learning as well as government offices have to be aware of this rule. Disregarding this act can lead to severe penalties and adverse consequences. The equality act 2010 promises to safeguard the rights of women against any form of harassment and it is the responsibility of all institutions having women employees or students to be aware of it, what needs to be done and the possible consequences of disregarding this law. The 2010 Equality Act The equality act 2010 is one of the key milestones the United Kingdom legislatures have achieved in the last few decades. It has come to attention to them that some people in the society are discriminated to some extent. Since they are in the developed and modern world, they should have equal opportunities. Women are discriminated against in so many ways; for example, most of the high ranking jobs are mostly men dominated. Looking at the United Kingdom for example, more than half of United Kingdom populations are women. However, more than 80% of the United Kingdom parliaments in both houses are men.2 Although men maybe capable of passing laws and policies that impact the whole jurisdiction, would it not be better for women to be better represented in the Parliament? This is not any different in the other sectors of the economy. At the same time, women are exposed to a lot of harassment including sexual harassment in their places of work. 3 Women are constantly harassed by men in their work places. The managers and directors may not harass women in their quest for employment but when they get the job, they may be harassed by the male colleagues they get in their new place of work. Some of the highest management officials may be aware about such behaviour but do nothing about it. These findings were important in the inspiration of making the equal ity act 2010. 4 The ideas of equality in the United Kingdom started well back in the 1970s. However, there are some laws and policies made in the 1960s that had an impact in this act for example the commonwealth immigrants’ act in 1962 and the race relations act in 1965. 5The United Kingdom parliament passed the equal pay act in 1970. This was followed by the sexual discrimination act in 1975, the Race relations act in 1976, the disability discrimination act in 1995, the equality act part two in 2006, the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003, the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003, the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 and the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007. Despite the passing of these laws and regulations, it seems like the United Kingdom parliament was just but mincing words. Little differences were reported in all the sectors involved in this. Some even went from bad to worse, for example the salarie s disparities between men and women. BBC reported recently that the salary gap between men and women has been increasing recently. That would not be expected even in 1975, after the passing of the equal pay act in 1970 assuming that the five years were used for implementation of the policy. 6 Experts claim that the United Kingdom Parliament has been relaxing in implementation of

Preventing Limb Amputations Across Borders In Latin American

Preventing Limb Amputations Across Borders In Latin American The collaborative partnership was established to raise the awareness of diabetes. The project showed that with a collaborative partnership among countries would enable a stronger health care system. (Long, Rodriguez, Holtz. 2008) The five countries that participated were Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Columbia, Venezuela. The focus was on education, treatment, care of diabetes to improve reduction and prevention methods. Long J., Rodriguez B., and Holtz C., (2008), Global Perspectives on Diabetes and Respiratory and Orthopedic Chronic Diseases, In Holtz (ED), Global Healthcare: Issues and Policies, (pp. 267-297), Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. What are the philosophical and practical pitfalls encountered? The philosophical and practical pitfalls were the implementation and prevention of foot amputations among health care professionals. The health care workers had local knowledge and it was difficult to implement new knowledge of diabetes care. 3. What is the most difficulty boundary to work across? The most difficult boundary to work across was foreign and local knowledge (Long, Rodriguez, Holtz. 2008). According to the World Bank Group, indigenous knowledge is the knowledge of a particular society, and foreign knowledge is short solutions into society (n.d). So in order to overcome this boundary the project has had to explain any foreign knowledge and implement it into local knowledge. Long J., Rodriguez B., and Holtz C., (2008), Global Perspectives on Diabetes and Respiratory and Orthopedic Chronic Diseases, In Holtz (ED), Global Healthcare: Issues and Policies, (pp. 267-297), Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. World Bank Group, (n.d.), What is indigenous knowledge, revised from www.worldbank.org/afr/ik/basic.htm 4.  How was the projects action plan developed? The projects action plan was developed to reach many different individuals or organizations affected by diabetes. By reaching everyone involved, the project would be able to implement the plan so that everyone would have the same knowledge of the projects purpose. 5.  What was the projects priority? The EVA (Eja Vascular Andino) Project was implemented to inform health care providers and society about potential risks. The priority of the EVA was the abatement and prevention of amputations in diabetes patients in the Andean countries. 6.  What was the commitment of the five Andean countries? The commitment of the five Andean countries was the EVA project, Program for prevention, and early detection of the diabetic foot (Long, Rodriguez, Holtz. 2008). The five countries constructed all parts of the programs and followed up with the results. Long J., Rodriguez B., and Holtz C., (2008), Global Perspectives on Diabetes and Respiratory and Orthopedic Chronic Diseases, In Holtz (ED), Global Healthcare: Issues and Policies, (pp. 267-297), Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. 7.  What was the EVA project community-based initiative? The EVA project community-based initiative was to focus on only people with diabetes and health professionals. With the projects focus, they could implement education about diabetes and prevention methods to people with diabetes and health care professional. 8.  What was the geo-political goal of the Diabetes Intervention Project? The geo-political goal of the diabetes intervention project was to bring together the five Andean countries, and the IDF-SACA. By combining all of these regions within the project, the healthcare providers and people with diabetes can improve the health care system and prevention methods. The foot care knowledge will also be increased and will ensure better foot care to people with diabetes. 9.  What was the purpose of the Project? The purpose of the project was to bring more people with diabetes to get interventions (Long, Rodriguez, Holtz. 2008). Interventions include education on amputations of the foot in order to prevent foot injuries. Prevention methods such as annual checkups would be introduced to the healthcare professional and diabetic patients. Long J., Rodriguez B., and Holtz C., (2008), Global Perspectives on Diabetes and Respiratory and Orthopedic Chronic Diseases, In Holtz (ED), Global Healthcare: Issues and Policies, (pp. 267-297), Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. 10.  What were the objectives of the Project? The objectives of the project were to prevent complications and amputations of the foot of people with diabetes. Interventions and prevention was the main focus to achieve this objective with people who already had neurological and vascular complications. 11.  The Eje Vascular Andino Project (EVA) objectives guided a process to identify three objectives. What were those? The EVA guided a process to identify objectives of people with diabetes and foot complications. The first objective was to discover patients with diabetes that were most at risk for foot complications. The second objective was to educate about foot complications, promote early detection, and how to get proper treatment for any foot problems. Lastly, the third objective was to provide knowledge to people with diabetes about prevention of foot complications. 12.  What was the Problematic Situation addressed by the Project? The most problematic situation that the project addressed is the diabetic foot. The diabetic foot refers to all injuries of the lower body parts in diabetic patients. The biggest problem that occurs with the diabetic foot is lower extremity amputations (Long, Rodriguez, Holtz. 2008). Long J., Rodriguez B., and Holtz C., (2008), Global Perspectives on Diabetes and Respiratory and Orthopedic Chronic Diseases, In Holtz (ED), Global Healthcare: Issues and Policies, (pp. 267-297), Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. 13.  What were the five basic steps for prevention? There are five basic steps to prevention according to IDFs International consensus of the diabetic foot. Diabetic patients must regularly check the foot and footwear used. Discover who is at risk the most and focus on those patients. Educating people with diabetes of any complications that may arise with a diabetic foot. Making sure adequate footwear is worn with people that have diabetes. Lastly, the treatment of the diabetic foot. 14.  What was the relevance of the project? The project was relevant due to many factors. One factor is the high percentage of diabetes mellitus in the five Andean countries. Physical ability and healthcare costs impact high costs to the patient and the health system is another factor relevant to the project. 15.  What was the intended outcome of the project? The intended outcome of the project was to promote prevention of amputations among patients with diabetes. With having more patients with diabetes receive treatment and education on prevention, injuries and amputations would be decreased dramatically. 16.  What was the challenge of the project? The biggest challenge the project faced was foot complications. With so many living with foot complications, one can assume the costs involved. The implementation of prevention awareness to those with diabetes is imperative to not just the patient, but the health system as a whole. 17.  Who were the key team members? There are several key team members who participated in the project. Representing each country is the PAHO/WHO, PAHO Washington, societies related to diabetes, people with diabetes, the five Andean countries and the IDF-SACA (Long, Rodriguez, Holtz. 2008). All of the participants played a key role in developing and implementing the project. Long J., Rodriguez B., and Holtz C., (2008), Global Perspectives on Diabetes and Respiratory and Orthopedic Chronic Diseases, In Holtz (ED), Global Healthcare: Issues and Policies, (pp. 267-297), Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. 18.  What were the protocols developed? The protocols developed were the clinical protocol and the project protocol. The EVA used the protocols already developed and introduced them into the Andean countries along with what was already happening within the countries. 19.  How was training provided? The training was provided by people trained with knowledge of diabetes of the EVA. A work shop was provided to each country so that the country may train the health care professionals (Long, Rodriguez, Holtz. 2008). It was very helpful to be trained by experts within the field when it came to training the health care professionals. Long J., Rodriguez B., and Holtz C., (2008), Global Perspectives on Diabetes and Respiratory and Orthopedic Chronic Diseases, In Holtz (ED), Global Healthcare: Issues and Policies, (pp. 267-297), Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. 20.  How were the training sites selected? Several factors helped select where the training sites would be located. First the amount of individuals with diabetes played a role in selecting the sites. The ministries of health of each country and the PAHO also had input about where the training sites would take place. Lastly, the five Andean countries chose how the training sites would be selected (Long, Rodriguez, Holtz. 2008). Long J., Rodriguez B., and Holtz C., (2008), Global Perspectives on Diabetes and Respiratory and Orthopedic Chronic Diseases, In Holtz (ED), Global Healthcare: Issues and Policies, (pp. 267-297), Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. 21.  What facilities were targeted? The facilities that were targeted were the public and private facilities (Long, Rodriguez, Holtz. 2008). Both of these were targeted because in order for a patient to be treated properly for diabetes, they must work together to ensure adequate treatment. Long J., Rodriguez B., and Holtz C., (2008), Global Perspectives on Diabetes and Respiratory and Orthopedic Chronic Diseases, In Holtz (ED), Global Healthcare: Issues and Policies, (pp. 267-297), Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. 22.  How was information related to foot care transmitted? The information related to foot care was transmitted to the diabetic patients as they went to seek treatment. The health care workers were responsible of the education and training of patients on how to properly take care of the diabetic foot. 23.  Who was responsible for monitoring the implementation of the project in each respective country? In each of the countries, there is a head of the project. The head of the project was responsible of their country in the monitoring and implementation. (Long, Rodriguez, Holtz. 2008). Long J., Rodriguez B., and Holtz C., (2008), Global Perspectives on Diabetes and Respiratory and Orthopedic Chronic Diseases, In Holtz (ED), Global Healthcare: Issues and Policies, (pp. 267-297), Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. 24.  What were the four components of the project? The four components of the project was delivery of care, education, promotion, and referral system. Delivery of care ensured that all diabetic patients received care. Education was ensured to all health care professionals about the diabetic foot and to make sure the patients are being educated by the health care professionals. Promotion of knowledge and how to care for one-self was shown to the patients. The referral system is the last of the components and it was implemented to ensure treatment and follow-up was received. 25.  What are the Current Status and Expected Outcome for the EVA Project? The current status is considerably lower than what the expected outcome is. The number of people receiving treatment is only 10% compared to the expected 90%. There is yet to have implementation of standards and protocols when it comes to treatment, expected outcome are that clinics have the use of the necessary tools to achieve diabetic protocol and technical capabilities. There is no promotions set in place for the diabetic patient, while they expect at least 90% of patients to know how to self help themselves. There are limited referral systems so far, when the project would like to have high standards of referral system in all health settings. 26.  How was the project implemented? In order to implement the project, the treatment protocol must be implemented, training of health care workers and patients and a referral system must be set in place. All of these must be successful in order for the project to work effectively. 27.  What were the parts of the projects evaluation? The evaluation process had four parts involved. First the implementation of treatments in all parts of the diabetic foot process. Training health care workers and people with diabetes was second and third part of the evaluation, and this process was very essential for the understanding of the disease. The last was the implementation of the referral system and counter referral system. All parts of the referral system are vital to ensure proper treatment of patients. 28.  What are the expected results? It is projected that there will be a minimum of ten care facilities in each of the five countries. A minimum of fifty people were trained in the three to four training sessions. Three hundred individuals are expected to attend per clinic, resulting in about three thousand patients in each country (Long, Rodriguez, Holtz. 2008). Long J., Rodriguez B., and Holtz C., (2008), Global Perspectives on Diabetes and Respiratory and Orthopedic Chronic Diseases, In Holtz (ED), Global Healthcare: Issues and Policies, (pp. 267-297), Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. 29.  What conclusions are expected to be drawn for the study project? The conclusions expected are similar among the different countries. These include services provided, duties and rights, centralization of social services, coverage issues and domination of a powerful structure. Although all of the countries have differences, the EVA project tries to implement the plan so that it may be similar and easily implemented to all. 30.  What is the key to the EVA project? The key to the EVA project is the five Andean countries. The project may be able to focus on the differences in diabetes knowledge, laws, and treatments of the five Andean countries and help improve the quality of care of diabetic patients. 31.  How will the project be sustained? The project will be sustained by the cooperation of the Ministries of health, scientific societies, trained health workers and evaluations of the project. With the help of all of these, the program can ensure that it will sustained and improve the quality of care for people with diabetes. 32.  What is the Andean community? The Andean community is made up of five countries (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. These countries combined are the organization that supports the people with diabetes.

1950’s/ 60’s in Music

The 1950’s and 1960’s represented a turning point for music – it was the first time when teenagers started to have there own image and as a result, their own music. The instrumentation, subject material for lyrics and use of harmony changed drastically in the 50’s and continued to develop into the 60’s. New genres developed at the same time as this turning point such as rock, R&B, swing and pop. The use of electric guitar, drum kit, keyboard, bass guitar and vocals as a common set up started in the 60’s with The Beatles.Songs such as â€Å"Hey Bulldog† and â€Å"Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Heats Club Band† saw the transition from twelve bar blues to rifts and rock. Other genres such as R&B saw use of horns, piano, vocals, background vocals and electric guitar before its demise in the 60’s. Subject material for lyrics in the 50’s tend to be about romance and sorrow. â€Å"AA boy without a girl† by Frankle Aval on contains themes of both love and sorrow, through lyrics such as â€Å"†¦And since you've come to me All the world has come to shine, Cause I found a girl who’s mine. The Beatles broke away from this tradition with their nonsense lyrics in â€Å" I am the Walrus† but other bands did not replicate this. Another trend in the late 50’s early 60’s was to sing about dance and freedom such as â€Å"Jailhouse Rock† by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller for Elvis, one of the later songs to continue the use of twelve bar blues. The 50’s progression was a chord progression and turnaround used in the 50’s and early 60’s by doo-wop and later rock. The progression follows the pattern I vi IV V.Well known examples of the progression include The Beatles â€Å"Strawberry Fields Forever† and Penguins â€Å" Earth angel†. A modern version of the progression can be heard in Green Day’s â€Å" Jesus of Suburbia† and Justin Bieber’s â€Å"Baby†. Most classic rock in the 50’s saw use of the twelve bar blues. Twelve bar blues is a chord progression, which most often follows the pattern of I I I I IV IV I I V V I I. With the end of the 60’s came a demise of classic rock and the emergence of new genres such as funk and disco.

One Simple Trick for Extended Essay Maths Topics Explained

One Simple Trick for Extended Essay Maths Topics Explained When you're writing an essay on biology, you should be sure that your topic is all up to date. Be that as it could, the topic for your essay is a fundamental thing that has to be chosen carefully and with higher precision. A great history essay topic is a lot more important than you can think. Besides having an intriguing essay topic, you should use develop it in an appropriate way. The selection of topic is all-important in regards to writing an elongated essay and certainly in the topic of history. The sole thing that's left is to restrict your topic to a single aspect and stick with it in your essay. The next issue to discuss is an elongated essay format. There is an extensive selection of definition essay ideas a student could utilize to compose an essay about. Expect a certain quantity of political correctness from these types of sources but with some reading between the lines you might secure some rather interesting suggestions for your paper. The overall goal is to provide exposure to research ahead of plunging in the core research field. A lot of people don't understand well what types of papers are these. Lies You've Been Told About Extended Essay Maths Topics Ensure your subject of choice is specific. Talking over your preferred topic with your supervisor should hopefully avoid choosing a poor topic. Know the minimal sources you're predicted to use so you do not use fewer research materials than predicted. Do a comprehensive research on the subject. Events that occur somewhere now, aren't historic. You've got to narrow down the subject and select a region that it is simple to address. Begin the research possible whenever possible. Hearsay, Deception and Extended Essay Maths Topics Some schools will provide you with a timeline of when you have to produce a topic, when you want to meet up with your advisor and when certain drafts are due. Some teachers might just take on students since they have to and might not be passionate about reading drafts and might not offer you a good deal of feedback. At the close of the research, the students are expected to submit a 4000-words research paper. High school students who complete the programme receive a chance to earn their college application seem more attractive for the committee, together with obtain some exceptional interdisciplinary understanding. The History of Extended Essay Maths Topics Refuted The final, formal item of writing of 3,000-4,000 words is something which studen ts can take pride in, present to teachers, parents and perhaps even future employers. At the very start, students should get the proper topic for their undertaking. Take a look at our guide to finding your intended school. Therefore, if there's any reason why you cannot have your extended essay written on time yourself, all you have to do is place your order on our site, and leave the rest to us! You will be encouraged to check your own comprehension and use what you've learned to your own work as you cooperate. In the majority of cases students are confronted with a challenge of landing a topic and they're in dilemma on which topic to write on. A thesis is a rather important document that you may always use. You'll develop skills that you can be relevant to your extended essay, to aid you succeed in this region of the IB. You pick a topic that has to be accepted by IB (which is not too difficult). It is normal for students like you to seek out expert support in writing a protracted essay for International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Rather than that, you compose a paper and provide an oral presentation. For that reason, it's very critical that you seek the advice of your professor to provide you the essential format. Say, by way of example, you're a high school student, and you should compose a 3-page essay. Each grade of the essay is going to be written by means of a writer who's qualified to that level maths for wa two homework book or higher, to make sure you receive the degree of content that is needed. Extended Essay Maths Topics Features If you're not certain of who you'd like to be your advisor, I would start by making a list of your top few choices. The important thing here is that the comparison should be significant. Picking out the topic has become the most important aspect. Start looking for the corresponding info on the net to practice writing.