Mrs. Alving From Henrik Ibsens Ghosts

Mrs. Alving From Henrik Ibsen's 'Ghosts' Henrik Ibsens play Ghosts is a three-act drama about a widowed mother and her prodigal son, who has returned to his dreary Norwegian home. The play was written in 1881, and the characters and setting reflect this era. The Basics The play focuses on the unraveling of family secrets. Specifically, Mrs. Alving has been hiding the truth about her late husbands corrupt character. When he was alive, Captain Alving enjoyed a benevolent reputation. But in reality, he was a drunkard and an adulterer- facts that Mrs. Alving kept hidden from the community as well as her adult son, Oswald. A Dutiful Mother Above all things, Mrs. Helene Alving wants happiness for her son. Whether or not she has been a good mother depends upon the readers point of view. Here are some of her life events before the play begins: Tired of the Captains drunkenness, Mrs. Alving temporarily left her husband.She hoped to be romantically embraced by the towns local priest, Pastor Manders.Pastor Manders did not reciprocate her feelings; he sends Mrs. Alving back to her husband.When Oswald was young, Mrs. Alving sent her son to boarding school, shielding him from the true nature of his father. In addition to the above events, it can also be said that Mrs. Alving spoils Oswald. She praises his artistic talent, gives in to his desire for alcohol, and sides with her sons bohemian ideologies. During the plays last scene, Oswald (in a state of delirium brought on by his illness) asks his mother for the sun, a childhood request which Mrs. Alving had somehow hoped to fulfill (by bringing happiness and sunshine into his world instead of despair). In the final moments of the play, Oswald is in a vegetative state. Although he has asked his mother to deliver a fatal dose of morphine pills, it is uncertain whether Mrs. Alving will adhere to her promise. The curtain falls while she is paralyzed with fear, grief, and indecision. Mrs. Alvings Beliefs Like Oswald, she believes that many of societys church-driven expectations are counterproductive to achieving happiness. For example, when she discovers that her son has a romantic interest in his half-sister, Regina, Mrs. Alving wishes she had the courage to allow the relationship. And lets not forget, in her younger days, desired to have an affair with a member of the clergy. Many of her tendencies are highly unorthodox- even by todays standards. It is important to note, however, that Mrs. Alving did not follow through on either impulse. In Act Three, she tells her son the truth about Regina- thus preventing a potentially incestuous relationship. Her awkward friendship with Pastor Manders reveals that Mrs. Alving not only accepted his rejection; she also does her best to live up to societys expectations by continuing the facade that her feelings are purely platonic. When she tells the pastor: I should like to kiss you, this could be seen as a harmless quip or (perhaps more likely) a sign that her passionate feelings still smolder beneath her proper exterior.

Free Essays on The Korean War

THE KOREAN WAR† WHY DID WE FIGHT IN KOREA? â€Å"WHY DID WE FIGHT IN KOREA?† The Korean War took place between the years of 1950 and 1953. The cause of the war was that Korea was under Japanese rule ever since the end of the Chinese-Japanese war in 1895. After World War II, in 1945, Korea was freed from Japan. The United States troops occupied the southern part of the country and Russian forces took the north. The very first and main reason we entered the war in Korea was because John Foster Dulles, the future Secretary of State under Dwight Eisenhower, said that it would be best if we entered the war. At the time Dulles was a special advisor to the Secretary of State Acheson. Dulles was in Tokyo when the Koreans staged war. Dulles sent a message to Acheson that if the South Koreans start losing and cannot hold back the North Koreans, they should send in United States forces. He said to do so, â€Å"even though this risks Russian counter moves. To sit by while Korea is overrun by unprovoked armed attack would start a disaster chain even leading most probably to World War III.† When Dulles got back to Washington he specified that he meant sending in United States Air and Naval forces only, not troops. Almost immediately after getting word of the invasion, Acheson decided that the United States should put the matter before the United Nations. He then called President Truman and got his approval. Almost fourteen hours after Washington got word of the war there was a conference set up among certain members of the United Nations. The final decision of the United Nations was to give arms and equipment to the R.O.K. army (Republic of Korea). Then they authorized General MacArthur to use his forces and the United States Seventh Fleet, â€Å"to stabilize the combat situation†. We first entered the war on June 25, 1950 because the United States felt that if Russia’s troops would fight for North Korea, we should fight for South Korea. Als o, since... Free Essays on The Korean War Free Essays on The Korean War THE KOREAN WAR† WHY DID WE FIGHT IN KOREA? â€Å"WHY DID WE FIGHT IN KOREA?† The Korean War took place between the years of 1950 and 1953. The cause of the war was that Korea was under Japanese rule ever since the end of the Chinese-Japanese war in 1895. After World War II, in 1945, Korea was freed from Japan. The United States troops occupied the southern part of the country and Russian forces took the north. The very first and main reason we entered the war in Korea was because John Foster Dulles, the future Secretary of State under Dwight Eisenhower, said that it would be best if we entered the war. At the time Dulles was a special advisor to the Secretary of State Acheson. Dulles was in Tokyo when the Koreans staged war. Dulles sent a message to Acheson that if the South Koreans start losing and cannot hold back the North Koreans, they should send in United States forces. He said to do so, â€Å"even though this risks Russian counter moves. To sit by while Korea is overrun by unprovoked armed attack would start a disaster chain even leading most probably to World War III.† When Dulles got back to Washington he specified that he meant sending in United States Air and Naval forces only, not troops. Almost immediately after getting word of the invasion, Acheson decided that the United States should put the matter before the United Nations. He then called President Truman and got his approval. Almost fourteen hours after Washington got word of the war there was a conference set up among certain members of the United Nations. The final decision of the United Nations was to give arms and equipment to the R.O.K. army (Republic of Korea). Then they authorized General MacArthur to use his forces and the United States Seventh Fleet, â€Å"to stabilize the combat situation†. We first entered the war on June 25, 1950 because the United States felt that if Russia’s troops would fight for North Korea, we should fight for South Korea. Als o, since...

Professional Dispositions in Educational Environment Essay

Professional Dispositions in Educational Environment - Essay Example I reckon that it is encouraging for students to know that their educator understands and accepts them. Empathy helps me not to judge learners unfairly and instead, accept and respect their perceptions and opinions unconditionally. Empathy is strength in me as it helps me create an environment conducive to harmonious learning. It would be chaotic trying to impart knowledge on to individuals whom I have not taken time to understand. Lack of an understanding of my learners’ subjective worlds would make me judge the things they do and the way they do them. Empathy saves me the trouble of getting agitated by something that my learners do or say and instead savors this energy for helping my learners to rise above their biases and any other opinion that can hinder effective learning (Reid et. al., 2011). As a strength empathy helps me identify the areas in which individual learners need assistance and as such, I can attend to individual needs besides attending to the needs of the larger class. Individualized attention helps students be free and express their fears and weaknesses to me as an educator out of trust. Individualized attention is instrumental in improving the performance of learners. Authenticity is my other professional disposition with which I approach my work as an educator. Authenticity helps me reckon that different learners have different needs and as such, I vary my methods and approaches to teaching. This comes with an understanding that the method or approach that works for an individual learner or group of learners may not work for another. I emphasize originality and uniqueness in the execution of my duties and in the delivery of content to learners. Authenticity helps me accept my weaknesses and shortcomings and allows me to express myself with genuineness and honesty (Reid et. al., 2011).