Role of Superstition in The Tiger’s Wife - Literature Essay Samples

Fear is one of the strongest emotions experienced by humans, so much so that it plays a drastic role in influencing the actions of men and women. This concept is one that appears frequently throughout Tà ©a Obreht’s The Tiger’s Wife, a riveting tale of the many odd occurrences that surround what is assumed to be the Balkan war. Fear cultivates superstition, manifesting itself in Obreht’s novel through the many characters’ fears of the unknown and of death. Throughout The Tiger’s Wife, superstition plays different roles for each individual, arising from strong emotional reactions that are usually rooted in fear. Superstition stems from a combination of ignorance and fear, and this amalgamation often invokes a powerful certainty in people regarding things they could not possibly know. Obreht illustrates the ease with which people come to rely on superstition frequently throughout the novel: â€Å"When confounded by the extremes of life – whether good or bad – people would turn first to superstition to find meaning, to stitch together unconnected events in order to understand what was happening† (Obreht 312). This phenomenon appears regularly throughout Obreht’s tale through parables such as that of the deathless man, rumors of the tiger’s wife, and the solution that the family in Barba Ivan’s vineyard uses in an attempt to cure their illness. Each of these stories results directly from the characters’ strong emotional reactions to their respective situations, which are driven mostly by fear. One of the most prominent mysteries in The Tiger’s Wife that fuels the discomfort and gossip of Galina’s inhabitants is the relationship between the tiger and the deaf-mute girl, Luka’s widow. The girl is already presented to the townspeople as somewhat of an enigma when she arrives at Galina as Luka’s new bride: as a young Muslim girl who suddenly appears with the butcher after his disappearance from the village for a number of years, she is a source of intrigue for the public, especially since she cannot offer any other information about herself due to her lack of communicative abilities. This trait immediately presents the people with cause for speculation, and, as her time there continues, the strange occurrences that follow her only heightens their intrigue and mistrust. They rise toward the peak of their suspicions due to the arrival of the tiger to the woods that neighbor Galina and her husband’s inexplicable death: â€Å"Isn’t it pla in? She’s made a pact with that tiger, hasn’t she? She probably done Luka herself, probably cut his head off in the night, left the body out for the tiger to eat†¦That devil give her strength to do it, and now she’s his wife† (218). The people of the village, already disturbed by the deaf-mute girl and frightened by the presence of the strange, fiery-furred creature, are further alarmed by the tiger’s affinity for the smokehouse by which the girl lives, so they place the blame entirely on the tiger’s wife. Although the deductions made about her are nearly entirely based on assumption, most of their conclusions are looked upon as fact: â€Å"People have seen it†¦ The tiger is her husband. He comes into her house each night and takes off his skin† (259). The definitiveness of the suppositions such as this results from the peoples’ desire to clarify the unknown; since they may not obtain the answers to inquiries relating to subjects such as the death of Luka and the relationship between the tiger and his wife, they create their own facts rather than waiting in vain to discover the truth. The superstitions that the villagers have regarding the tiger and his wife are a direct result of the intense fear they have of the escaped big cat and their desire for answers about the enigmatic, increasingly dangerous deaf-mute girl. Superstition has arisen in communities for centuries from the psychological craving for the elucidation of things that cannot be explained. Within each community, however, the facets of superstition are practiced in unique ways. Since the qualms that these irrationalities reflect on differ for each person, throughout The Tiger’s Wife superstition plays varying roles for each of the characters that are highlighted. The elements of superstition sometimes offer definitive solutions for circumstances that may not be resolved, or lend the feeling of safety when no protection is truly there. The family that slaves away in Barba Ivan’s vineyard, digging and searching for the bones of a relative who had not been properly laid to rest, illustrate how boldly some hold on to their superstitions in times of desperation. The patriarch of the sick family says with certainty that the cause of their illness is due to their relative having been buried improperly: â€Å"I got a body somewhere under here that needs to come up so my kids can get better† (91) In all likelihood, however, the long days of hard work under the hot sun probably only worsened their conditions, particularly those of the children. The family carries pouches of herbs with supposed medicinal properties as they dig, but in spite of these precautions, the health of the family continues to decline. At one point, Natalia even sees two of the youngest boys sharing a cigarette. The family appears to be using the idea that they can cure themselves through their relative’s remnants in lieu of truly knowing how to take care of their own health, telling Natalia that â€Å"work has nothing to do with [the children’s illness]† (89). This superstition offers the family a false comfort, an absolute way to fix their current situation when, in reality, their idea of the cause and effect are unlikely to be correlated. The family does not know how to take the proper precautions in order to recover, so they put their faith into an illogical method that provides them with what they believe to be a definitive way to cure their illness. Their fear of an illness they do not understand brings them to form superstitions based on their ignorance. The rumors accumulated by the inhabitants of Galina regarding the tiger’s wife demonstrate a case in which superstition plays a specific role in the lives of those who believe in it. The townspeople grow increasingly uncomfortable with the presence of the tiger and its interaction with the deaf-mute girl. So, to cope, they fashion new ideas that soon make the transition from idle hypotheses to accepted fact. Whether or not these falsehoods are perpetuated as means to distract from the danger they feel about the neighboring carnivore or to have someone to blame for their lack of safety, the superstitions they harbor act as a small comfort to the people of Galina. Once again, the role that superstition plays in the lives of Tà ©a Obreht’s characters is specific to their fears and offers a false escape from their own ignorance in times of desperation. Later, when DariÃ… ¡a the Bear arrives and the town is relieved at having someone to kill the tiger, fables of his previou s deeds surface, describing several different stories including his being â€Å"raised by bears – or, he ate only bears† and that his â€Å"tremendous success as a hunter [was] derived from his ability to actually turn into a bear† (239). The people of Galina put so much faith in DariÃ… ¡a and the many falsehoods they tell of him because it makes them feel safe, like they have a protector who appeared just when they needed him. When DariÃ… ¡a is killed by the tiger, however, their positive superstitions about him are crushed and the negative ones involving the tiger are further strengthened: â€Å"DariÃ… ¡a is dead. God has abandoned us† (304). The people of Galina rely on their embellishments to help them feel a false sense of security, using their ideas as temporary panaceas for their anxieties, and the ease with which they were able to jump from superstition to superstition illustrates their willingness to believe what they have to in order to feel saf e. Fear is a powerful emotion, and in times of panic or desperation it may muddle the mind and dominate the decision-making process. This notion precedes a prominent theme throughout Tà ©a Obreht’s The Tiger’s Wife: The origins of superstition are rooted firmly in fear, as manifested through many of Obreht’s characters within the separate storylines. Throughout The Tiger’s Wife, superstition serves different purposes for each highlighted character but is all resolutely based on fear. Bibliography Obreht, Tà ©a. The Tiger’s Wife. New York: Random House, Inc., 2011. Print. â€Å"Superstition.† Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated, 2014. Web. Date accessed: April 21 2014. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/superstition

Essay Writing Tips - How to Find the Best Essay Sample

<h1>Essay Writing Tips - How to Find the Best Essay Sample</h1><p>There are a few reasons why such a large number of individuals go to the web to discover verifiable exposition tests. Maybe it is because of their online school or college classes, perhaps they have to round out a lifelong profile or to be set up for a discourse on the best time to buy a home or vehicle. Whatever the explanation, there are various sources where you can discover the data you need.</p><p></p><p>The most significant activity is discover what the choice you are utilizing for your report is. There are a few free examples to browse. You might need to visit the sites of schools to check whether they have numerous alternatives available.</p><p></p><p>There are likewise various sites that offer free examples and aides. Numerous colleges will post their current on-line prospectus. At the point when they do this, you can go to their site and see wh at kinds of subjects they cover.</p><p></p><p>You can likewise utilize scholarly composition as a base for every one of your expositions. For instance, in the event that you were wanting to go after another position, you could compose your resume toward the start of your article. At that point you could polish off your papers concerning your experience.</p><p></p><p>Free composing tests are typically exceptionally essential, however there are some paid expositions to assist you with building up a progressively compelling style. This may help you in a couple of territories, yet at the same time a ton of work should be done to make the style you need. You might need to check the official site of the college you are applying to, or have a go at looking online.</p><p></p><p>To discover the resume test that is directly for you, take a gander at the resume completely. Don't simply concentrate on the outline. Take a ga nder at the particular employment data, contact data, and reference records to perceive what you have to plan for your new employer.</p><p></p><p>Resume composing tips are accessible online to assist you with beginning. Regardless of whether you don't have the opportunity or the cash to enlist an article author, you can get bunches of thoughts via looking through on the web. You ought to pick the organization or foundation you are keen on joining when possible.</p>

Tips For Writing Your AP Spanish Essay Sample

Tips For Writing Your AP Spanish Essay SampleIf you are thinking about writing an AP Spanish essay sample, then you might want to find out a little more about how to write them. These papers are a lot different than the type of writing you will find in most high school classes. This is because this type of material has to be very much longer, and therefore, more difficult.Some students often feel intimidated when they get ready to write a Spanish assignment. You might have noticed that many students have more difficulties with reading short passages, rather than trying to read longer paragraphs. Here are some tips on how to write the AP Spanish essay sample.The first thing you should do before taking any Spanish course is to take a test on your native language. This will help you to be familiar with the vocabulary that you will need to use. Using a dictionary and looking up words and meanings will help you learn. Most people tend to forget words as they become more accustomed to spea king the language.When you go to college for Spanish, you will find that there are often AP practice tests that you can take. This can help you see how well you did on your previous tests. Also, you should look into some of the best materials to help you write your own AP Spanish essay sample. This can save you time and also help you understand how things work.The very first thing you will need to do when writing your Spanish paper is to identify the major ideas or topics of the essay. After that, you will need to figure out what type of paper you will need to write. There are several different types of writing assignments for this subject, and you will find a great deal of information online to help you figure them out.The next step you will need to do is todetermine how long the paragraph or section of the paper should be. You will find that there are different lengths for the paragraphs that you are required to complete. You will also find that you have different amounts of writi ng time for each topic. Take time to figure out what kind of pace you need to write at, and then begin writing.One very difficult problem for some students is when they find that they need to write a paragraph or several paragraphs after they have finished one. It is not unusual for some students to find that they have no idea where to begin. You will find that many resources online are available to help you figure this out. Also, it can be helpful to look at some of the best AP Spanish essay samples that you can find to help you work through this problem.Once you know how to write an AP Spanish paper, you will find that it will be easier to write each paragraph and sentence. If you stick to the tips above, you will find that the task becomes easier. When you take a review course, you will find that your grades will increase.

Analysis Of The Great Awakening - 1809 Words

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Prevention Of Environmental Pollution Essay Example For Students

Prevention Of Environmental Pollution Essay ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTIONEfforts to improve the standard of living for humansthrough the control of nature and the development of new productshave also resulted in the pollution, or contamination, of the environment. Much of the worlds air, water, and land is now partially poisoned by chemical wastes. Some places have become uninhabitable. This pollution exposes people all around the globe to new risks from disease. Many species of plants and animals have become endangered or are now extinct. As a result of these developments, governments have passed laws to limit or reverse the threat of environmental pollution. Ecology and Environmental Deterioration The branch of science that deals with how living things, including humans, are related to their surroundings is called ecology . The Earth supports some 5 million species of plants, animals, and microorganisms. These interact and influence their surroundings, forming a vast network of interrelated environmental systems called ecosystems. The arctic tundra is an ecosystem and so is a Brazilian rain forest. The islands of Hawaii are a relatively isolated ecosystem. If left undisturbed, natural environmental systems tend to achieve balance or stability among the various species of plants and animals. Complex ecosystems are able to compensate for changes caused by weather or intrusions from migrating animals and are therefore usually said to be more stable than simple ecosystems. A field of corn has only one dominant species, the corn plant, and is a very simple ecosystem. It is easily destroyed by drought, insects, disease, or overuse. A forest may remain relatively unchanged by weather that would destroy a nearby field of corn, because the forest is characterized by greater diversity of plants and animals. Its complexity gives it stability. Population Growth and Environmental Abuse The reduction of the Earths resources has been closely linked to the rise in human population. For many thousands of years people lived in relative harmony with their surroundings. Population sizes were small, and life-supporting tools were simple. Most of the energy needed for work was provided by the worker and animals. Since about 1650, however, the human population has increased dramatically. The problems of overcrowding multiply as an ever-increasing number of people are added to the worlds population each year. Air Pollution Factories and transportation depend on huge amounts of fuelbillions of tons of coal and oil are consumed around the world every year. When these fuels burn they introduce smoke and other, less visible, by-products into the atmosphere. Although wind and rain occasionally wash away the smoke given off by power plants and automobiles, the cumulative effect of air pollution poses a grave threat to humans and the environment. Although the release of toxic chemicals into the atmosphere is against the law in most countries, accidents can happen, often with tragic results. In 1984, in Bhopal, India, a pesticide manufacturing plant released a toxic gas into the air that within a few hours caused the deaths of more than 2,000 people. Water Pollution Since the beginning of civilization, water has been used to carry away unwanted refuse. Rivers, streams, canals, lakes, and oceans are currently used as receptacles for every imaginable kind of pollution. Water has the capacity to break down or dissolve many materials, especially organic compounds, which decompose during prolonged contact with bacteria and enzymes. Waste materials that can eventually decompose in this way are called biodegradable. They are less of a long-term threat to the environment than are more persistent pollutants such as metals, plastics, and some chlorinated hydrocarbons. These substances remain in the water and can make it poisonous for most forms of life. Even biodegradable pollutants can damage a water supply for long periods of time. As any form of contamination accumulates, life within the water starts to suffer. Lakes are especially vulnerable to pollution because they cannot cleanse themselves as rapidly as rivers or oceans. How english works Essay54o F and 1.08o F . Internationally, 1990 was the hottest year on record since official weather records first started being kept by the British in about 1860. Noise Pollution The hearing apparatus of living things is sensitive to certain frequency ranges and sound intensities. Sound intensities are measured in decibels. For example, a clap of thunder has an intensity of about 100 decibels. A sound at or above the 120-decibel level is painful and can injure the ear. Noise pollution is becoming an unpleasant fact of life in cities, where the combination of sounds from traffic and building construction reverberates among high-rise buildings, creating a constant din. Efforts to Halt Pollution The solution of some pollution problems requires cooperation at regional, national, and international levels. For example, some of the acid rain that falls in Canada is caused by smokestacks of coal-burning power plants in the United States. Thus, rejuvenating the lakes of eastern Canada requires the cooperation of electric utilities in Indiana and Ohio. The Clean Air Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (known as Superfund) are among the laws that set standards for healthy air and water and the safe disposal of toxic chemicals. In 1990 President George Bush signed the Clean Air Act of 1990, the second amending legislation since the original Clean Air Act of 1970. The new law called for reductions in emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide by half, carbon monoxide from vehicles by 70 percent, and other emissions by 20 percent. The number of toxic chemicals monitored by the EPA would increase from 7 to about 250, and industry would be required to control their waste release by means of the best technology available. In the same year, the California Air Resources Board introduced the strictest vehicle-emission controls in the world. By 2003 the hydrocarbon emission of all new cars sold in California would have to be at least 70 percent less than that of 1993 models, and by 1998, 2 percent of all cars (rising to 10 percent by 2003) would have to release no harmful emissions at all. Several Northeastern states followed suit by introducing similar, though slightly less severe, controls.