Guns,germs and steel by justin diamond Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Guns,germs and steel by justin diamond - Essay Example The above inquiry is referred to as the Yali’s question (13). Yali seems so energetic and charismatic to get the answers on why New Guinea at that time was still governed by Australia and were still living in the Stone Age yet independence was in the air, the last passage (13).In the second paragraph (14), Diamond explains to Yali about the colonization of New Guinea over the course of a million years. The white man had arrived and imposed central government on the people and bought all their valuable material goods â€Å"cargo†, second passage (14).This made them look â€Å"primitive† as the Whites enjoyed a higher standard of living yet they worked so hard but achieved nothing in return. The last paragraph argues that some societies will still remain poor as evidenced by the huge disparities in the separate lifestyle of the two groups of people where one acquires wealth while the other struggles to provide to the already wealthy (14, 15).In the third paragraph, Diamond also adds that Yali’s question is not only concerned with the New Guineans but it extends and relates to the modern world (15). Secondly, technological and political differences as of A.D 1500 were the paramount cause of modern world inequalities. Empires with modern weapons were able to conquer or exterminate societies with weapons of stone and wood, passage two (16).Different levels of development in different continents from 11,000 B.C to A.D 1500 were what led to technological and political inequalities. While many Native Americans remained hunters and gatherers, most of Eurasia, America and Sub-Saharan Africa progressively developed agriculture, metallurgy and complex political systems. (16).In support to this argument, the day to day communication between overwhelmed people is what established the contemporary continents through invasions, scourges and mass killings .For instance case studying Africa and their history toward independence clearly

Ethnic Identity and African Americans Essay Example for Free

Ethnic Identity and African Americans Essay Ethnic identity is the sum total of group member feelings about those values, symbols, and common histories that identify them as a distinct group (Smith 1991). Development of ethnic identity is important because it helps one to come to terms with their ethnic membership as a prominent reference group and significant part of an individuals overall identity. Ethnic reference group refers to an individuals psychological relatedness to groups (Smith 1991). These reference groups help adolescents sense, reflect and see things from the point of their ethnic groups in which they actively participate or seek to participate. What is ethnic identity? The establishment of identity is an important, complex task for all adolescents, and is considered a major developmental task for all adolescents. It is particularly complicated for adolescents belonging to ethnic and minority groups. Ethnic identity of the majority group of individuals is constantly validated and reinforced in a positive manner where as the minority group is constantly ridiculed and punished in a negative manner. What does this say for those adolescents who are the minority and not the majority? It is important to study or research ethnic identity because it provides better knowledge to help one understand striving for a sense of unity and connectivenesss in which the self provides meaning for direction and meaning of ethnic identity (Spencer, 1990). It is also important to study or research the differences between these groups due to beliefs and values. Adolescents that are the minority are confronted with their ethnicity at an earlier age then Caucasian adolescents majority and they are constantly aware of ethnic differences, which means it is of greater importance to understand the development of the minority individual. It should lead to different assessments when it comes to ethnic identity. For example, African American adolescents are psychologically compared to Caucasian American adolescence diagnoses, which are sometimes inaccurately assessed. Bronfenberner explains the theoretical perspective such as the ecological perspective by saying, The implications for clinical treatment of African American adolescents, mental health workers must be sensitive to the ecological context of their clients. Mental Health workers must realize that there is no single entity called the black family . The black families compared to the other families established their American family. He suggests that these families vary dramatically in backgrounds, social economic status, values, and degree of acculturation to the norms and values of mainstream America (1990). There are also, significant differences that may exist in preparation of African American adolescent, at the level of rearing family practices and in schools (1990). That is, schools continue to reflect historical values that deal with racial-stereotypes and prejudice and beliefs. At the same time there are families trying to avoid and make light out of such situations. These families and communities continue to show constancy by instilling their own beliefs and values through child rearing which maybe different from Caucasian Americas. Identity and ethnicity as adolescent issues Identity has been defined in many ways. It is the concept used to describe an individuals sense of who he or she is (Dashefsky and Shapiro, 1976). Changes in identity occur throughout the life cycle, however, the changes in identity are usually most notable during adolescence. Integrating a positive sense of ethnic identity into ones overall personal identity is an important task of late adolescence (Steinberg, 1996). Ethnic identity has been defined as the aspect of ones sense of identity concerning ancestry or racial group membership (Steinberg, 1996). Ethnic identity development is an essential human need because it provides a sense of belonging and historical continuity. Ethnic socialization Minority children are confronted with their ethnicity at an earlier age than their majority counterparts (Smith, 1991). Parents can help to speed up the early stages of ethnic identity development by taking an active approach to ethnic socialization. Ethnic socialization, according to Steinberg(1996), refers to the process through which parents teach their children about their ethnicity and about the certain experiences they may have with the broader society. Ethnic socialization consists of three themes: 1) understanding ones own culture, 2) getting along in mainstream society, and 3) dealing with racism (Steinberg, 1996). Possible outcomes of ethnic identity development. There are four ways to deal with ethnicity (Steinberg, 1996): Â ·Assimilationadopting the cultural norms of the majority while rejecting the norms of ones own culture. Â ·Separationrejecting the majority culture and associating only with members of ones own culture. Â ·Marginalityliving within majority culture but feeling estranged. Â ·Biculturalismmaintaining ties to both cultures. According to Steinberg (1996) many believe that biculturalism is more successful than the other four. With biculturalism minority youth have access to the norms of the majority and minority culture depending on the situation. References. Â ·Smith, Elise J. Ethnic Identity Development: Toward the Development of A Theory within the Context of Majority/Minority Status. Journal of Counseling and Development: JCD. v70. n1. Sept. 1991. p. 181-188. Â ·Spencer, Margaret Beale. Child Development. v61 n2. Apr. 1990. P. 290-310. Â ·Dashefsky, A. (Eds. ). (1976). Ethnic identity in society. Chicago: Rand McNally College Publishing Co. Smith, E. J. (1991). Ethnic identity development: Toward the development of a theory within the context of majority/minority status. Journal of Counseling and Development, 70, 181-187. Â ·Steinberg, L. (1996). Adolescence. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc.

Challenges Facing The Translator English Language Essay

Challenges Facing The Translator English Language Essay The personal pleasure derived from translation is the excitement of trying to solve a thousand small problems in the context of a large one. A translation obligates the translator to make a number of decisions so that a complete translation is produced. Such a translation must be written in a way which serves the same function as the source text and be culturally coherent between the source and target languages. In this essay I will discuss a range of decisions that the translator must make and making specific references to textual analysis, cultural mediation and some applied aspects of translation. The translation begins with the reading of the source text which allows the translator to identify the several key components which will form the foundations of the translation. The translator must do a detailed textual analysis so that the intention, readership and setting of the source text are identified. (Newmark P, 1988) I find this to be the first challenge that faces the translator as a number of decisions must be made to clarify where the translation will be published, who the translation is going to be targeted at; and what the function of the text will be. (Alfano V, 2012) Newmark (1988) states The intention of the text represents the source language writers attitude to the subject matter.For the translator, understanding what is meant by the author of the source text is vital as the attitude of the author will suggest the language function and setting of the target text. Bà ¼hlers theory of language functionality can determine a text to have an expressive, vocative or informative function depending on the core topic and status of the author. The challenge for the translator is to determine ones own status within the text in order to identify the language function. Newmark gives examples of the authors status being anonymous; he shows that this status can be used for an informative or vocative text depending on its main function. If the main function of the text was to tell the truth, it would suggest that the text takes an informative language function, whereas a text concentrating on the readership would suggest a vocative function. (Newmark P, 1988 ) During the textual analysis the translator must assess the readership; I consider this to be a particular challenge for the translator as one must try to assess the level of education, class, age and sex of the readership before determining it to be for an expert reader, uninformed reader or educated layman. (Newmark P, p.13) Depending on the readership the translator may need to pay more attention to the readers of the target text than that of the source text. A physical geography textbook aimed at an uneducated readership would use general vocabulary in order to aid the readership into understanding the text; The floor of the sea is covered with rows of big mountains, whereas for the educated layman, the translator may use topic specific vocabulary as there is an assumption that the context of the text would be enough for the reader to handle the key issues; The floor of the ocean is covered with great mountain chains and deep trenches. (Newmark P, p.p.13-14) The variation in style depends on the readership and setting of the target text. Newmark (1988) suggests using Martin Joos and Strevens stylistic scales when assessing the level of formality within the text. The final aspect of the textual analysis that I consider to be challenging for the translator is determining the setting of the target text in order to fulfil the requirements of the client. The translator must decide what the target text equivalent is for the source text, and then decide the type of language that must be used to suit the publication. For example, The Guardian newspaper is aimed at an educated upper-middle class readership; this means that the language used would be educated and written in a formal style. The translator in this example does not need to pay particular attention to the readership unless there are cultural discrepancies within in the text. This essay has referred to a number of issues that the translator faces before translating into the target language. Here, we can see that it is imperative that the translator makes the correct decisions whilst conducting a textual analysis in order to identify the key features within the text so that one can appropriately translate into the target language. Following the textual analysis there are further issues which cause concern for the translator. These issues come under the heading of cultural mediation; a translator must be aware that some expressions, professions and activities are not realised in every language, thus the translator must decide how to translate them. The translation of culture specific references poses a particular issue for the translator as some words may not be translatable, therefore the translator must employ the relevant translation method to suit the problem. During a translation the translator must ask oneself whether the words in the source language are transferable in the target language. The translation of cultural words such as les pieds noirs and les maghrà ©bins cannot be literally translated as they have no meaning in the target language. Cultural and descriptive equivalents can be used to solve this issue. The translator can give extra information in order to maintain a functional equivalency within the text. Descriptive equivalent: les pieds noirs ou les maghrà ©bins; 2nd generation immigrants originating from Algeria and North Africa. Cultural equivalent: les pieds noirs ou les maghrà ©bins  ; French Algerians (les francais dalgerie) Neutralisation: les pieds noirs ou les maghrà ©bins; black Immigrant    Newmark (1988) states that the translators role is to make people understand, not to mystify by using vogue words. thus literally translating the words may not be enough for the reader to understand what has been written in the text. le ministre de lintà ©rieur being translated as the minister of the interior holds no value in English whereas Home secretary or Director of homeland security is a known position to the readership in the target language. This is an example of using cultural equivalency in order to ensure that the Target text reader can understand the text. I will now discuss some of the applied aspects of translation. There are many fields in which a translator can practice ones profession; other than literary translation, one can work in an array of subject areas such as commerce, law and film. Even though the translators role is the same in every field, some challenges are presented to the translator more clearly in some practices than others. The translation of humour may seem straight forward in ones mind but the question must arise to the translator that some expressions and phrases that are funny in ones own language and culture may be different in another. Vandaeles definition of humour: Humour is what causes amusement, mirth, a Spontaneous smile and laughter. (eds Gambier Y and Van Doorslaer L, 2010) The translator must understand the catalyst which makes phrases humorous in the target language, so that one can appropriately replicate the effect of the source text. The translator must provoke feelings of positive arousal when enticing these emotive feelings from the readership; however a balance between fidelity and transparency must be maintained in the target language in order to receive the same humorous effect as one receives from the source language. (Vandaele J, 2002) How does the translator achieve this? There are a number of factors which make a phrase or expression funny. Often the topic, situation and presentation of a joke can evoke feelings of humour and could be seen as a branch of translating culture. Kopp J (2012) explains that current affairs play a big part in the context of humour and uses the example of topic based current affairs programs such as Have I got news for you, (by the BBC) to elaborate this: Alan Davies: Eight hundred Americans die in a McDonalds every year. Rich Hall: Which one? Best to avoid that one. (QI.wikiquote, 2013) The above quote shows that context is important in order to find the joke humorous. Even though it is possible that the presentation of the joke can affect the recipients perception of the joke, those living in the west are knowledgeable that America is facing a crisis in terms of the levels of obesity within the country. Alan Davies is portrayed to be giving a fact about the number of deaths that occur within the fast-food franchise McDonalds each year. However Rick hall plays on Davies use of the singular proper noun, a McDonalds, giving the impression that eight hundred Americans die in one particular franchise of the fast-food chain each year. Why is this funny? Kopp J (2012) suggests that the ridicule of a nation or group of people can evoke a humorous outcome; here, the emphasis on the death of Americans suggests a cultural elitism amongst those who are not of an American nationality, thus creating a humorous situation. She also states that the knowledge shared by the recipient is important as one that does not know of the situation on Americas obesity crisis or does not have knowledge of the McDonalds fast-food chain cannot readily understand the joke. The translator must understand that some communities may not recognize this because they do not have knowledge of the subject. Therefore the translator may add information to the translation in order to achieve the same humorous effect. [FR] Alan Davies : il y a 800 amà ©ricains qui meurent dans un McDo chaque annà ©e. [FR] Rick Hall  : Ça cest Vrai  ? On ne devrait pas aller du mà ªme McDo alors  ! Here we can see that all of the key elements from the source language remain in the translation as the audience of the target language are culturally aware of the situation created by Davies and Hall during their sketch. However the use of meme by Hall clarifies his point of not wishing to go to a restaurant in which 800 people have died. The next challenge I will refer to is the issue of legal translation. I find this to be an issue for the translator as one must show transparency in ones translation. The fidelity to the source text is no longer sacred as one must be even more conscious of the technicality of the subject matter. The translator must be faithful to the law and communicate it effectively, rather than concentrating on the translation of idiomatic expressions in the source text, the translation must remain transparent enough so that the message of the law remains clear whilst maintaining a functional equivalence to the source text. The requirement for legal translation is increasing due to an increased access for people and businesses to travel freely. This means that the law in every country needs to be translated so that there is access for people to read on the law of the country they plan to visit or work. This only becomes an issues for translators when legal conventions and government institutions do not have a cultural equivalent in the target language or that the running of the institution is governed in a different way to that of the same institution in the source language. (Riberi, 2012) thus the greatest obstacle in legal translation is the incongruity of legal systems between countries. (Ã…Â  arcevic S, 2000) This poses a problem when translating legal texts as there are a number of functions which a legal text can perform. However I find that the problematical legal text takes a prescriptive function; it is used to inform the reader about actions and sanctions that will occur if one does not co nform to a specific ruling. However, how does one translate a course of action that does not exist in the target language? Continental law does not prescribe the death penalty, yet a French holiday maker traveling to a country, such as Thailand, which does prescribe the death penalty could unknowingly be put under this sanction without knowledge of it unless the translator appropriately translates the term. Thus the translation of prescriptive legal texts is a challenging practice for a translator. Throughout this essay I discussed a number challenges that face the translator. Even though this essay has not explored all of the issues that face the translator, it gives a broad perspective on the decisions that the translator must make during ones practice and that the translator can sometimes be accountable for the reader not receiving the same effect from the target text than that of the source text. I have answered the question to what I consider to be the biggest challenges facing translator and I think the work to be done during the textual analysis is the hardest challenge that translator faces during ones work. The decisions which the translator makes during this time will affect the quality of the final translation. Thus making the correct decisions in the textual analysis is vital to a complete translation. A key theme shown within the essay is cultural mediation. The translator must assume what the readership knows and what the readership is culturally able to understand. When one is translating the text, the translator must make decisions to change the ideas in the text to suit the readership in order to evoke the same effect given when reading the source text. This concept is clear in the translation of humour as some cultures are not able to readily understand western humour, and therefore must be given an alternative discourse to the source text in order to maintain a functional equivalent; which is to evoke laughter from the readership. (Vandaele J, 2002) My final point on challenges for the translator is legal translation and this essay concludes on the difficulties that the translator faces when trying to maintain function equivalents between texts whilst coping with incongruent legal systems and maintain the fine between fidelity and transparency in the target language. The translator must make decisions when facing sanctions which are not realised in other countries and find ways to inform the readership of this whilst holding ones fidelity to the effectiveness of the plurilingual communication of the law. (Riberi J, 2012)

Essay on Toni Morrisons Beloved - Sethes Act of Filicide

Sethe's Act of Filicide in Beloved      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Shortly after the publication of Beloved, Toni Morrison commented in an interview that Sethe's murder of Beloved "was the right thing to do, but she had no right to do it.... It was the only thing to do, but it was the wrong thing to do."1[1]   Does this remark prove the moral ambiguity of the infanticide, as Terry Otten argues?2[2]   Yes, it was right but wrong, and wrong but right.   However, the most important thing is that "It was the only thing to do."   Sethe had no choice.   If there is anything wrong, it must be either, in Paul D's words, her "too thick" love, or the inhumane institution of slavery.   However, as Sethe answers back to Paul D, for her, "Thin love ain't love at all" (164).   For Sethe, there is no such thing as "thin" love, and it is true.   Her love is not "too" thick but "so" thick that she would kill her own child rather than see the baby live as a slave.        Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another interview in 1994 makes it even clearer that Toni Morrison has been sympathetic to Sethe from the start.   She talks about Margaret Garner, whose story gave Morrison the inspiration to write this novel.   Sethe's story is almost identical with Margaret Garner's.       I had an idea that I didn't know was a book idea.... One was a newspaper clipping about a woman named Margaret Garner in 1851....   she had escaped from Kentucky with her four children.   She had run off into a little woodshed right outside her house to kill them because she had been caught as a fugitive.   And she had made up her mind that they would not suffer the way that she had and it was better to die.   She succeeded in killing one; she tried to kill two others....   That the woman who killed her children love... ...she was able to keep the longest.   Twenty years.... Her two girls, neither of whom had their adult teeth, were sold and gone and she had not been able to wave goodbye.   To make up for coupling with a straw boss for four months in exchange for keeping her their child, a boy, with her - only to have him traded for lumber in the spring of the next year and to find herself pregnant by the man who promised not to and did.   The child that she could not love and the rest she would not. (23) She could not claim any child as hers.   Being someone's property, she could not and would not love her children.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   7[7]   Eric Jerome Bauer, "Beloved: The Paradox of Freedom," <http://www.viconet.com/~ejb/belovedweb.htm >   It is almost annoying to read such a naà ¯ve opinion based on "too abstract" humanism, but it is worth thinking of what makes the opinion possible.   

THe Operating budget

It will recognize one to two difficulties a Budget Analyst will have in dealing with the monetary allowance. This paper will suggest two to three techniques the org ought to survey with respect to new activities and plan cuts throughout the following five years. Introduction With roots traversing the distance once more to the sass's, The City of New Orleans is the Largest Metropolitan city in the State of Louisiana. It is a port city, which had a populace of 343, 829 as of the 2010 U. S. Statistics (Bureau, 2012).The mission, objectives and targets of the city are to have more open security, more occupation reaction, more entertainment for the young, and to decrease curse in the city. New Orleans is still in a move stage. Despite the fact that it has been 9 years after Hurricane Strain, one of America's Deadliest Hurricanes, the city is as of now remaking, even now rebuilding regardless really developing. Typhoon Strain influenced the city's monetary wellbeing. The city has a few div isions that they need to help run the city and keep it going easily.In this modifying move, the key arrangement of the city is attempting to keep the city's financial plan streamlined without slicing crucial administrations to the subjects of New Orleans. The Mayor's 2014 Budget was ready utilizing a methodology called Budgeting for Outcomes (BOO). Planning for Outcomes is intended to enhance benefits and improve degree of profitability of open dollars. BOO begins with a set of comes about that matter to nationals and empower imaginative methods for attaining them inside the assets accessible.In accordance with the Mayor's planning standards, BOO accentuates responsibility, development and cooperation. Like execution planning, BOO concentrates on what general society gets, the extent to which it costs and how results will be measured. BOO begins with the results natives need from their City government and attempts to adjust those necessities to the monetary allowance choice making m ethodology. Offices are welcome to submit â€Å"offers† to clarify how they can attain the best comes about that matter to natives for the least cost and what execution measures they will use to exhibit achievement.The Government Finance Officers Association (GOOF) has received this methodology to planning as a â€Å"prescribed best practice. † (Nolan. Gob, 2014) For the 2014 financial plan, The City of New Orleans has assessed aggregate income of 837,516,571 and evaluated aggregate sees of 837,516,571. This figure does exclude the 247. 4 million in capital consumptions. In reference to financing, in the improvement of the 2014 Budget, the City created a multi-year income estimate for the General Fund. The figure considered key components, for example, expected financial development, development standpoint, populace development, and different pointers.Real income sources, for example, deals expense were determined utilizing national and nearby projections of financial action and noteworthy patterns and examples of income accumulation. Sources utilized within creating these projections incorporate national monetary gauges for expansion, and development in true GAP. The City's obligation commitments might be partitioned into two classes: working obligation and general commitment obligation. These classifications are overseen by the Department of Finance and the Board of Liquidation.The obligation incorporates retirement and annuity for city workers, including fire and police laborers. It additionally incorporates a few securities and advances. (Nolan. Gob, 2014) Plan Challenges One significant test will be the Consent Decree ordered by the legislature, for the New Orleans Police Department. A Consent Decree is a request issued by a Judge that communicates a deliberate understanding by the members in a claim. Now and again a suit closes when a Judge issues an assent declaration, or an assent Judgment.This is particularly the situation when the decla ration is issued after one side of the case willfully consents to stop a specific activity without confessing to any illicitness of the activity. For an assertions between two gatherings to be viewed as tying and legitimate, it should additionally be perceived by the court. An assent proclaim for this situation is legal distinguishing of the understanding. The announcement frequently bans one side of the case from specific activities. (weeklies. Com, 2013) The City of New Orleans was included in an assent order with the New Orleans Police Department.The full and supported execution of this Agreement is proposed to secure the protected privileges of all parts of the group, enhance the wellbeing and security of the populace of New Orleans, and expand open certainty in the New Orleans Police Department. With the death of the commanded statue, there will be extra financing required to verify things are done as ordered. Those expenses have not yet been uncovered. Plan Recommendations Thr oughout the following five years two procedures the office ought to survey with respect to new activities would and plan slices would be to go to the natives and figure out what they need, need and longing.As opposed to making arrangements and commitments from the hip, the city ought to captivate with the nationals. The second technique that the City ought to assume is figuring out how to sway its residents to return to the city. A considerable measure of nationals left the city after Hurricane Strain, the popularization was unconquerable. In the event that the city an do a push to recover the subjects that would accumulate more income to the economy.

Although the women’s characters in Frankenstein are more underlying they are vital to the structure of the story

Although the women's characters in Frankenstein are more underlying they are vital to the structure of the story. Because not only do they add depth and give moral guidance to the male characters such as Walton and Victor Frankenstein, they are also full of kindness, compassion and social consciousness. This has the effect of stressing the importance of taking care of family and friendship and especially feminine influences in your life in order to retain both your humanity and sanity. They represent the good women of the world and make it easier for the target audience of the time to identify with the story. Shelley also uses them to explore several themes such as the role of women in the society of the time. For example the way women were judged and valued only for their beauty and/or their usefulness to men. That the women in Frankenstein are not given a voice and that they seem not to have any opinions or power over their future, may be a comment from Shelley about the injustice of women's treatment in her society. Walton's letters to his sister Mrs Margaret Saville, have several effects. They make his account feel more personal and believable for the reader. Especially as the locations described in the novel are likely to be alien to them. The introduction of Mrs Saville, an English, middle class, married woman, would have made it easier for similar people to identify with the story and therefore bring the events closer to home for them. The letters also stress the importance of family. For example in Letter One, Walton is feeling low and lonely and says â€Å"†¦ I bitterly feel the want of a friend. I have no one near me gentle†¦ to approve or amend my plans. † which stresses the importance of friendship and sharing for a person's mental well being and happiness. Then in Letter Two, after Walton has happened upon Victor, his spirits are significantly raised because he sees Victor as an equal and a potential friend. The letters also provide an early contrast between Walton and Victor and their attitudes. As Walton speaks of his â€Å"†¦ conviction that a man could boast little happiness, who did not enjoy this blessing. and Victor replies â€Å"†¦ I once had a friend, the most noble of human creatures†¦ But I – I have lost everything,†¦ â€Å". Therefore Shelley illustrates that by seeking his sister's moral guidance, reassurance and love and by valuing friendship, Walton is more humane than Victor who has sacrificed everything and everyone to reach his goal. This may be a warning from Shelley of the possible disastrous consequences of isolation and the healing powers of friends and family. However, it is notable that Mrs Saville lacks a voice or opinion as her letters are not included. Her lack of voice may be a comment from Shelley that despite her obvious importance to her brother and indeed to his well being, her voice, views and opinions are of little importance to the world at large. The story of Victor's mother Caroline, stresses the fact that at the time of writing a woman's future was dependent upon the men in her life. Beaufort, a good friend of Victor's father, flees from society in shame when he loses his wealth and as a result his health fails. As a consequence Caroline is forced to nurse him and take on menial work below her noble station in order for them to survive. That Victor says of his mother â€Å"But Caroline Beaufort possessed a mind of uncommon mould; and here courage rose to support her in her adversity. † it may be a comment from Shelley, in that despite her status as a lowly women she had the wit, intelligence and courage to find a way to survive with the need for a male supporter. Also it may be evidence of Shelley's disgust at how unfair it was that a woman could only seek such low status and low paid employment, despite possessing equal intelligence and strength of character as that of a man. Victor's father clearly values friendship highly and goes to great effort to seek out his friend. When he eventually finds him, it is too late to save Beaufort but he ‘rescues', and eventually marries, Caroline. Thus saving her from what would almost certainly have been an existence of poverty and hardship alone with no family and friends to support her. The character or Caroline also portrays the way women bring compassion and social consciousness into society, when Victor says of he parents â€Å"Their benevolent disposition often made them enter the cottages of the poor. and that to his mother â€Å"†¦ it was more than a duty; it was a necessity, a passion – remembering what she had suffered†¦ † and that she was so caring and compassionate that she saw it has her duty â€Å"†¦ -for her to in her turn be guardian angel to the afflicted. † Indeed throughout the novel women are portrayed as virtual angels lacking any malice or negative influ ences. They are innocent victims, who meet undesirable ends at the hands of and due to the careless and violent actions of men. It is Caroline who adopts Elizabeth on finding her in one of the â€Å"†¦ cottages of the poor. It is notable, however, that it is not simply here ‘angelic' nature that leads her to this action but also Elizabeth's outstanding beauty and the rumours of her nobility. This is seen when it is said that by contrast to the four other â€Å"†¦ dark-eyed, hardy little vagrants;† â€Å"She appeared of different stock. † as â€Å"her hair was of the brightest living gold,†¦ † â€Å"†¦ her blue eyes cloudless,†¦ † and she was â€Å"†¦ fairer than a garden rose among the dark-leaved brambles. † So it is her beauty and the aforementioned rumours of a noble birth that save Elizabeth from a life of poverty. That she is given to Victor as a â€Å"†¦ pretty present†¦ † and Caroline's wish that they should someday marry, is a further example of women's lack of power over their futures. Elizabeth is a vital character in the novel as she provides a contrast within the Frankenstein family by which to compare Victor. Indeed Victor admits that she â€Å"†¦ was of a calmer more concentrated disposition;†¦ † than himself while his â€Å"†¦ temper was sometimes violent†¦ † and his â€Å"†¦ passions vehement,†¦ â€Å". Indeed, it is Elizabeth who takes motherly responsibility for the household when Caroline dies. However, despite this great responsibility she has little or no power. We also see the depth of Victor's selfishness and disregard for others when despite the Creature's threat to kill Elizabeth should Victor marry her, he goes ahead with it still. This action begs the question; if he loved her at all why marry her and put her in mortal peril? As had he not gone ahead with the marriage she may have survived. Again, excepting her letters, Elizabeth like Mrs Saville and Caroline lacks a voice. Further evidence of Victor's disregard for others and the more compassionate nature of Elizabeth is seen when Justine is wrongly accused of the murder of their brother William. For although Victor knows that it was the Creature that killed him, he does nothing for fear of the discovery misdeeds in creating the Creature in the first place and also for fear of how it would appear to others. On the other hand Elizabeth, even though she has less of the facts, feels it is her moral responsibility as a friend to see justice is done. Aware of the detrimental affect it may have on her social standing and the evidence against Justine, in the form of the broach, she still speaks up for her in court to say that Justine had neither the nature, motive nor means to commit such an awful crime. This is, yet further evidence of the lack of value Victor places on friendship, family, loyalty and justice compared to Elizabeth. Justine too is adopted into the family, but is not as beautiful as Elizabeth and as a result, although she is a blood relation, she is treated as a special servant rather than a proper member of the family. This could be seen as a comment from Shelley on the unfairness of the value put on beauty and the unfairness of a class system that judges a persons moral worth by using their beauty and class position as a guide. Justine's name may also be a play on words, in that is resembles Justice and ironically she receives non. Instead she is forced to confess to a crime she did not commit in order to save her soul. Justine's character also illustrates the influence of the writings of Godwin on social and political justice and her mother's feminist works on Shelley's view of both political and female injustice within the society of the day. Both Safie and Agatha also play and important role, as it is by observing them that the Creature learns about many aspects of life. For example the Creature discovers deeper emotions within himself when he sees Agatha cry and hears man made music for the first time. However, the arrival of Safie is vital to the story as she provides a way for him to learn much more. Because she speaks a different language and is from a different culture, it is necessary for Agatha and her father to teach her their language and customs. By listening and observing her tuition, the Creature is able to gain a better understanding of the language and with the addition the some books he happens upon in the forest he learns to read. Also, due to Mr DeLacey's minute attention to detail and eagerness to teach Safie as much as possible, the Creature gains valuable knowledge of many subjects. These include some history, a broader view of the world and its â€Å"†¦ empires†¦ â€Å", governments, religion, death, the difference between the sexes and the importance of family. He also learns more about the structure of society and the class system for example the value of possessions/wealth, lineage and family connections in relation to a persons place within society. Armed with this knowledge he begins to understand that as he has neither family, wealth nor possessions that he has little or no status within society and this compounded with his ugliness saddens him greatly. His ability to read also means that he is able to read Victor's journal and learn of his creation, which is obviously vital as his memory of his creation was incomplete. His ability to read and the geographical knowledge he gains from Safie's tuition also helps him in his search for Victor. However, Safie is and important character for other reasons to. In that her escape from non-Christian Asia and an undesirable existence in a Harem, to a Christian culture where by comparison women are free and â€Å"†¦ allowed to take rank in society,†¦ † may be a comment from Shelley that although the fate of women in the western world is unfair their fate is worse in some other cultures and religions. Safie's story also gives the Creature hope as he sees that although her father was very unkind to the DeLacey family they welcome her into their home all the same. It is also a classic romantic tale of how love can conquer all, which would have appealed to the readership. In conclusion, I do not agree that the women in Frankenstein play an insignificant part in the story. Indeed without them the male characters would lack depth and the novel would have been less appealing to its audience. They bring the far away and foreign locations closer to home and make what is often an unbelievable story more believable. Without Safie's character the Creature would not have been able to learn so easily or convincingly. Also Shelley's views about women's contribution to the balance of society, their relative lack of power, freedom or control over their future's when compared to men could not have been expressed so strongly. Her point that society tends to judge people by appearances and wealth rather than their moral character and the misconceptions this causes could not have been made so convincingly. Overall I believe the story is strengthened and made more complete by their existence.