Essay Sample on Vampirism in #8220;The Fall of the House of Usher#8221;

Essay Sample on Vampirism in #8220;The Fall of the House of Usher#8221; Free sample essay on Vampirism in The Fall of the House of Usher: Originally written in 1839, Edgar Allan Poes The Fall of the House of Usher has been the object of many literary questions and criticisms. One of the most interesting questions ever raised would undoubtedly pertain to the illness that Madeline Usher suffered. Many theories have been put forth about the disease of Lady Madeline [that] had long baffled the skill of her physicians. (Poe 786). The most obvious conclusion on this disease is that Madeline Usher suffered from vampirism. Although Poe never actually said outright that this is what affected Madeline, he did give enough evidence throughout the story for it to be a possibility and when paired with the society-of-the-time’s view of death and gothic literature, vampirism is the most logical answer. Most of the writing of Poe’s literary works occurred in the middle of the 1800s. â€Å"At the heart of nineteenth century romantic cult of the dead, lay a profound ambivalence towards the dead body† (Pike Par. 2). This enabled Poe to do many stories that dealt with the dying or deceased. It was a â€Å"hot† topic. â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher†, however, is slightly different. The â€Å"dead,† that America loved at the time, had a new side. Since, according to Kendall, â€Å"Both male and female vampires abounded in literature by the time [Poe] published his contributions to the genre in 1839† (Par. 2) the backbone, the popularity of vampirism, was already in place for the short story to be accepted in the society. In short, by afflicting Madeline with â€Å"living† death, Poe not only appealed to the audience of those infatuated with death in general, but he was also able to target those that were interested in the darker, more gothic side, as well. There are many characteristics to look for when deciding if one is a vampire or not. Roxana Stuart’s Stage Blood: Vampires of the 19th Century Stage explains the traits of vampirism. For example, â€Å"Vampires can be either victims of a contagious disease, similar to rabies, or they can be a separate species from man; they are not necessarily connected with Satan and the powers of hell† (Qtd. in Ashley 15). This is a possible solution of how the vampirism first got into the family. Poe makes it clear throughout the story that Madeline’s condition is not a new one to the family and the disease is something of a family condition. Roderick Usher, Madeline’s twin brother, states that the illness is â€Å"a constitutional and family evil, and one for which he despaired to find a remedy† (Poe 767). This allows the first connection between vampirism and the Ushers. Vampirism, as previously stated, can be a race entirely different f rom humans, which can be taken to mean that the condition is a family flaw. Obviously, through Roderick’s explanation, it is clear that Madeline is not the first of the Usher to suffer from this strange malady. Later in the story, Poe leads the reader to another possible solution on how the condition arrived into the family. This explanation is given cryptically through the recital of a favored poem of Roderick’s, which states: â€Å"But evil things, in robes of sorrow,/Assailed the monarch’s high estate;/(Ah, let us mourn, for never morrow/Shall dawn upon him, desolate!)/And, round about his home, the glory/That blushed and bloomed/Is but a dim-remembered story/Of the old time entomed† (Poe 770). Obviously, Poe is telling the reader that at some time during the history of the Ushers, vampires entered the house and attacked its inhabitants, thus leading to the disease that affected the later generations. Another trait of a vampire is that â€Å"They have superhuman strength, and are most powerful at night† (Ashley 15-16). As Poe’s short story neared the end, we find Madeline, who was encrypted several days earlier, breaking free from her burial chamber. Poe describes this vault as being â€Å"entirely without means of admission for light† and with a â€Å"door of massive iron† (Poe 772). He goes on to say that this door was difficult for even the men to close because of â€Å"It’s immense weight† (Poe 772). How could it be possible then for this woman to not only break free from her confinement of her coffin, but also open the huge and heavy weight of the door? Take into consideration as well, that her disease caused a â€Å"gradual wasting away† and that she had not eaten in several days (Poe 768). These facts make it abundantly clear that something much more was occurring within Madeline. One could say that the ability to open the do or came from the fear of being â€Å"buried† alive, but desperation can only add so much to one’s physical strength. Her being able to open the door obviously demonstrates that she had strength that was superhuman. Although it is unclear if Roderick was actually afflicted with the disease, or merely afflicted by Madeline, it is clear that Madeline exuded a strange and eerie presence. As the narrator talks to Roderick, he catches sight of Madeline passing through another room: â€Å"I regarded her with utter astonishment not unmingled with dread† (Poe 768). This type of reaction is actually quite common when a normal person is in the presence of a vampire. Although variations of the reaction can be found, vampires incense feelings of things askew, eeriness and spookiness, akin to what people would call the feeling of their grave being walked over, within the normal person, especially if the vampire is unaware of being watched, as in the case with the narrator and Madeline. Normally however, a vampire will wrap a psychic â€Å"shroud† around itself so that the normal person is unable to detect anything out of the ordinary. At one point in the story, Roderick states that the cause of his illness can be traced to his sister, saying â€Å"much of the peculiar gloom which thus afflicted him could be traced to a more natural and far more palpable origin- to the severe and long-continued illness- indeed to the evidently approaching dissolution- of a tenderly beloved sister† (Poe 767-768). While this can be taken sarcastically, it is much more likely that it should be taken for face value. What Roderick’s message reveals here is that the cause of his illness can be traced to his sister. Apparently, her appearance affects him just as it does the narrator and it is highly likely that Roderick is her sole food source. This contributes to the symptoms of Roderick’s illness, which included â€Å"cadaverousness of complexion† and â€Å"ghastly pallor of the skin† (Poe 766). However, this does not necessarily mean that she was literally feeding off his blood, which is the most comm on thought in association of vampire food. In the case of the Ushers, it is much more likely that Madeline was feeding off Roderick’s psyche. She was draining him of life through a â€Å"vampiric exchange of energy [that] occurred between the siblings† (The Vampire Book 527). However, this was draining was also starting to occur on the narrator as well, as shown later in the story. He began to develop some of the same mental symptoms as Roderick, saying at one point that he could almost feel the change in himself, wondering if it was not merely the atmosphere of the house that caused Roderick to carry such an illness. In conclusion, Poe’s vampire motif in â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher† is not just hypothetical- it is provable. Of course, many would argue that since it does not follow all traditional means of vampirism, then it could not possibly be true. However, it can be reasoned that Poe was not looking to meet all the regular vampire requirements or even create a story that follows basic and traditional vampire lore. Instead, it can be safely understood that the vampirism in this story was used to reach a deeper level- a more advanced reader, if you will. One must take into consideration that during the nineteenth century, many literary works were being produced in this genre. After all, the population loved the dead. Poe, being who he was, wanted to not only â€Å"jump on the bandwagon†, but make it his own as well. In creating the characters found in â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher†, he did just that.

Nutritional assessment report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Nutritional assessment report - Essay Example Two types of methods have been used to measure food intake: precise weighed food record and 24-hour recall methods. 25 persons have been selected as sample size for the analysis BMR and total energy expenditure have also been found out. For understanding the nature and interrelationship between the variables, statistical tools like descriptive statistics, correlation and regression methods have been used. . The regression results show that the interrelationship between energy intake and total energy expenditure is statistically significant and the weighed energy intake seems to have strong relationship with TEE while that of recall energy intake seems to be insignificant. The energy expenditure indicators of BMR and total energy expenditure has also got significant statistical relationship and the total energy expenditure seems to be highly dependent on the BMR. Comparisons with FAO estimates, it is seen that our sample population does not have required energy expenditure as suggeste d by FAO. The BMR of our sample population also seems to be lower than that of FAO estimates. Introduction Nutritional status or energy of any person is measured in terms calories and calorie is hence known as the currency of nutrition and energy (Prentice, 1997). Energy keeps any mammal warm and drives all the activities of life. Energy is derived from the process of ‘chemical combustion’ of food intake which requires oxygen and produces carbon dioxide and water. Sufficient supply of food intake is needed for this process (Titchenal, 1988). The energy component of the food can be divided into chemical energy and metabolizable energy. Chemical energy of the food is the total energy which is liberated if it is combusted in oxygen. That is, its heat of combustion is normally the chemical energy and it can simply measured in a bomb calorimeter. The chemical energy is otherwise known as the gross energy (Durnin and Passmore, 1967; Cox 2005). The metabolic part of the total energy of the food is known as the megabolizable energy. Due to several reasons, a portion of the total energy of food intake would not be available for the body metabolism. The portion of the total energy which is digested and absorbed by the body is megabolizable energy or digestible energy. In the dietary and energy expenditure discussions, this metabolizable or digestible energy becomes relevant (Prentice, 1997; Gibney etal 2002; Lee and Nieman ,2003; Gibson ,2005). Objective and Methodology The present paper intends to make a strong understanding and conceptual discussion on the concepts energy, energy balance, energy requirements and energy expenditure. The interrelationship between food intake and food energy expenditure has also been analyzed in the paper. Hence, the main objectives of the paper are: 1) to integrate the understanding on the concepts like measures of intake, energy balance, requirements and expenditure 2) to give practical experience in methods of measurement s of food intake and expenditure 3) to examine the interrelationship between these variables. Methodology For achieving the above said objectives, a concrete and brief discussion has been done on the concepts like measures of food intake, energy balance and requirements and energy expenditure. Practical experiments have been done on the measurements of food intake and energy expenditure. Two types of methods have been used to measure food intake: precise weighed food record and

Business Proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Business Proposal - Essay Example The aim is to provide coffee services. Coffitoff will start its online business from England mainly London and then at later stage expand its market to other parts of the UK. London is the business hub of the UK and it is there where the product will be tested. The business will be started as a sole proprietor and if need arises it will go public to attain funds. The coffee beans are exported from other countries. This increases the cost of the coffee in the UK as compared to the American or Asian countries (Casenotes, 2004). Coffee is not easily affordable in the UK. The global recession that took place in 2008 has made consumers very careful of how they spend their money. Coffee is regarded by many as a product of surplus need rather than an immediate one. People in the UK can go without drinking it (Ireland, 2009). Consumers look to save every penny in these harsh economic times. As newer coffee machines are coming into the market it is becoming easier for people to purchase and keep these machines in their home. It is cheaper to make coffee at home rather than ordering online (Hashemi, 2002). The target market for Coffitoff comprises of business professionals who find it hard to stop by a coffee shop for a cup of coffee. Recent research shows that 60% of all business executives would like to have a cup of coffee at least once a day in London (Richardson, 2014). Out of the 60% only about 18% of the professionals make it to the coffee shops. This means that 42% of the people are deprived of this need as they do not have time for coffee. Coffitoff will look to cater this segment of people (Richardson, 2014). 1. Rivalry: Online business is still very new and is growing. At the moment, there are over a dozen online coffee shops in the UK. Brand identification is very important to maintain the rivalry and market position between coffee shops (Pride, 2008). 2. Threat of substitutes: The threat of

Down the River Essay Example for Free

Down the River Essay Edward Abbeys essay Down the River reveals his strong belief that the existence of life revolves around nature itself. Abbey conveys these views through syntax, imagery, and his choice of structure. Abbey’s varying detail and syntax in the first half of the passage conveys an amazement toward nature. He states while gazing at the lion that there was a â€Å"mutual curiosity: [he] felt more wonder than fear†. His unexpected reaction to the mountain lion when they shared â€Å"mutual curiosity† implies that man is not alone in this journey towards knowledge, and there is a deep connection between man and nature. He varies the syntax from short to complex sentences with distinct differences in clauses. He states that later on they â€Å"see no mountain lions,† and the following sentence in a series presents all of the other wildlife that has been observed in great detail instead of the lion. He describes these plants and animals with enthusiasm and also calls Aravaipa â€Å"full of life† and extremely â€Å"beautiful†. The impression is that even though the lion that drew the explorer in is nowhere to be seen, there is still a vast amount of beauty in the desert. The structure is meant to contrast the two types of nature, urban nature and nature in Aravaipa. We see an immediate switch in tone when Abby says, â€Å"We stumble homeward over the stones, and through the anklebone-chilling water. † Abbey displays a hint of bitterness towards his home that is so bad even the journey to get there is torturous. He discusses the stars and how they seem to fade when he leaving the desert, as if the world he is used to has no stars, no beauty, no life. Abby then states that the memories of the beautiful desert are enough to keep him satisfied for days to survive the â€Å"urban life†. Nature is so rich in details and relationships and so wonderful and mysterious that it is impossible to completely understand it. This incomprehensibility can provide an unlimited source of learning that will eventually redeem us from a lifeless urban existence.

Power Of The Few Over The Many :: essays research papers

The Eleventh Commandment portrayed the state church as being the supreme dictator. It is through the eleventh commandment that the church held it's power and control over the masses. Without the church and it's leaders to guide the masses, their society would have collapsed. However, compared to Brave New World, the whole society is conditioned to "work for everyone else"(Huxley 67) by the abuse and daily consumption of soma. Without the drug called soma, their society would have also collapsed due to withdrawal symptoms. The underlying reality between the two societies is that the masses are manipulated, controlled, and brainwashed, without resistance, to obey and follow their leaders through various methods of enforcement. The Brave New World is controlled by a select few who call themselves Resident Controllers and Directors. These elite few are able to control the production and selection process of societies masses. Mustapha Mond, Resident Controller for Western Europe, and the Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning, oversee the conditioning of embryos. Their powers and control over these particular jurisdictions gave them great power, and with that the ability to manipulate others. "'You ass'... said the Director,... 'Hasn't it occurred to you that an Epsilon embryo must have an Epsilon environment as well as an Epsilon heredity'"(Huxley 23). Through a hierarchy of Alaphas and Betas down to the lower cast Epsilon, everyone was suited for their job. The Director however, through his position of authority, was able to "... condition the masses to hate the country,"(Huxley 30). In doing so, the Director succeeds in creating an obedient society, which obeys and bows to every whim of his commands. The Resident Controller and Director were two authoritative figures that were able to control whomever and whatever each person worked at, even before they were conceived. Each cast had pre-conceived morals preached to them through conditioning, and to this end effectively brainwashed to the point of utter obedience. The outcome of this brainwashing by conditioning sets forth a society that exists in two tiers, the guardians and the domesticated animals. [who? why?->BNW] [who? why?->11th C] The church and it's head archbishops are able to control and manipulate the masses in North America by preaching the eleventh commandment through strict laws and enforcement practices. The eleventh commandment ordained that every man and women must be fruitful and multiply. Because of this commandment and of the militant ruling religionist enforcement, North America alone had four billion people, and yet the church continued to preach the eleventh commandment and it's practices. The competition between continents was the driving force behind the eleventh commandment. If it was not the competitiveness between ruling church states,

Deception Point Page 1

Prologue Death, in this forsaken place, could come in countless forms. Geologist Charles Brophy had endured the savage splendor of this terrain for years, and yet nothing could prepare him for a fate as barbarous and unnatural as the one about to befall him. As Brophy's four huskies pulled his sled of geologic sensing equipment across the tundra, the dogs suddenly slowed, looking skyward. â€Å"What is it, girls?† Brophy asked, stepping off the sled. Beyond the gathering storm clouds, a twin-rotor transport helicopter arched in low, hugging the glacial peaks with military dexterity. That's odd, he thought. He never saw helicopters this far north. The aircraft landed fifty yards away, kicking up a stinging spray of granulated snow. His dogs whined, looking wary. When the chopper doors slid open, two men descended. They were dressed in full-weather whites, armed with rifles, and moved toward Brophy with urgent intent. â€Å"Dr. Brophy?† one called. The geologist was baffled. â€Å"How did you know my name? Who are you?† â€Å"Take out your radio, please.† â€Å"I'm sorry?† â€Å"Just do it.† Bewildered, Brophy pulled his radio from his parka. â€Å"We need you to transmit an emergency communique. Decrease your radio frequency to one hundred kilohertz.† One hundred kilohertz? Brophy felt utterly lost. Nobody can receive anything that low. â€Å"Has there been an accident?† The second man raised his rifle and pointed it at Brophy's head. â€Å"There's no time to explain. Just do it.† Trembling, Brophy adjusted his transmission frequency. The first man now handed him a note card with a few lines typed on it. â€Å"Transmit this message. Now.† Brophy looked at the card. â€Å"I don't understand. This information is incorrect. I didn't-â€Å" The man pressed his rifle hard against the geologist's temple. Brophy's voice was shaking as he transmitted the bizarre message. â€Å"Good,† the first man said. â€Å"Now get yourself and your dogs into the chopper.† At gunpoint, Brophy maneuvered his reluctant dogs and sled up a skid ramp into the cargo bay. As soon as they were settled, the chopper lifted off, turning westward. â€Å"Who the hell are you!† Brophy demanded, breaking a sweat inside his parka. And what was the meaning of that message! The men said nothing. As the chopper gained altitude, the wind tore through the open door. Brophy's four huskies, still rigged to the loaded sled, were whimpering now. â€Å"At least close the door,† Brophy demanded. â€Å"Can't you see my dogs are frightened!† The men did not respond. As the chopper rose to four thousand feet, it banked steeply out over a series of ice chasms and crevasses. Suddenly, the men stood. Without a word, they gripped the heavily laden sled and pushed it out the open door. Brophy watched in horror as his dogs scrambled in vain against the enormous weight. In an instant the animals disappeared, dragged howling out of the chopper. Brophy was already on his feet screaming when the men grabbed him. They hauled him to the door. Numb with fear, Brophy swung his fists, trying to fend off the powerful hands pushing him outward. It was no use. Moments later he was tumbling toward the chasms below. 1 Toulos Restaurant, adjacent to Capitol Hill, boasts a politically incorrect menu of baby veal and horse carpaccio, making it an ironic hotspot for the quintessential Washingtonian power breakfast. This morning Toulos was busy – a cacophony of clanking silverware, espresso machines, and cellphone conversations. The maitre d' was sneaking a sip of his morning Bloody Mary when the woman entered. He turned with a practiced smile. â€Å"Good morning,† he said. â€Å"May I help you?† The woman was attractive, in her mid-thirties, wearing gray, pleated flannel pants, conservative flats, and an ivory Laura Ashley blouse. Her posture was straight – chin raised ever so slightly – not arrogant, just strong. The woman's hair was light brown and fashioned in Washington's most popular style – the â€Å"anchor-woman† – a lush feathering, curled under at the shoulders†¦ long enough to be sexy, but short enough to remind you she was probably smarter than you. â€Å"I'm a little late,† the woman said, her voice unassuming. â€Å"I have a breakfast meeting with Senator Sexton.† The maitre d' felt an unexpected tingle of nerves. Senator Sedgewick Sexton. The senator was a regular here and currently one of the country's most famous men. Last week, having swept all twelve Republican primaries on Super Tuesday, the senator was virtually guaranteed his party's nomination for President of the United States. Many believed the senator had a superb chance of stealing the White House from the embattled President next fall. Lately Sexton's face seemed to be on every national magazine, his campaign slogan plastered all across America: â€Å"Stop spending. Start mending.† â€Å"Senator Sexton is in his booth,† the maitre d' said. â€Å"And you are?† â€Å"Rachel Sexton. His daughter.† How foolish of me, he thought. The resemblance was quite apparent. The woman had the senator's penetrating eyes and refined carriage – that polished air of resilient nobility. Clearly the senator's classic good looks had not skipped generations, although Rachel Sexton seemed to carry her blessings with a grace and humility her father could learn from. â€Å"A pleasure to have you, Ms. Sexton.† As the maitre d' led the senator's daughter across the dining area, he was embarrassed by the gauntlet of male eyes following her†¦ some discreet, others less so. Few women dined at Toulos and even fewer who looked like Rachel Sexton. â€Å"Nice body,† one diner whispered. â€Å"Sexton already find himself a new wife?† â€Å"That's his daughter, you idiot,† another replied. The man chuckled. â€Å"Knowing Sexton, he'd probably screw her anyway.† When Rachel arrived at her father's table, the senator was on his cellphone talking loudly about one of his recent successes. He glanced up at Rachel only long enough to tap his Cartier and remind her she was late. I missed you, too, Rachel thought. Her father's first name was Thomas, although he'd adopted his middle name long ago. Rachel suspected it was because he liked the alliteration. Senator Sedgewick Sexton. The man was a silver-haired, silver-tongued political animal who had been anointed with the slick look of soap opera doctor, which seemed appropriate considering his talents of impersonation. â€Å"Rachel!† Her father clicked off his phone and stood to kiss her cheek. â€Å"Hi, Dad.† She did not kiss him back. â€Å"You look exhausted.† And so it begins, she thought. â€Å"I got your message. What's up?† â€Å"I can't ask my daughter out for breakfast?† Rachel had learned long ago her father seldom requested her company unless he had some ulterior motive. Sexton took a sip of coffee. â€Å"So, how are things with you?† â€Å"Busy. I see your campaign's going well.† â€Å"Oh, let's not talk business.† Sexton leaned across the table, lowering his voice. â€Å"How's that guy at the State Department I set you up with?† Rachel exhaled, already fighting the urge to check her watch. â€Å"Dad, I really haven't had time to call him. And I wish you'd stop trying to-â€Å" â€Å"You've got to make time for the important things, Rachel. Without love, everything else is meaningless.† A number of comebacks came to mind, but Rachel chose silence. Being the bigger person was not difficult when it came to her father. â€Å"Dad, you wanted to see me? You said this was important.†

The Female Who Is Twenty One Years Of Age - 929 Words

The next interviewee is a female who is forty-one years of age. Let us begin with, her most pleasant and positive healthcare experience, which was with a Breast Oncologist, Dr. Howard Burstein at Dana Farber. The staff at Dana Farber goes over and beyond to make every one of their patients feel comfortable. The staff welcomes the patients in a cordial way and helps them with any given question or concern. The registration (front desk) provided her with a badge to wear after checking in for her appointment. This badge can locate your whereabouts for the staff. This is to a great degree accommodating and the staff informs the patient if the doctor they are seeing is running behind, this allows the patient to get a bite to eat at the†¦show more content†¦This provides comfort, which aided her through such a difficult time. The medical professionals were involved, as far as calling and emailing to see how she was feeling during chemotherapy treatments. Having assigned medical pe rsonnel close by during the duration treatments was beneficial because they would get to know you so if you have a reaction to your treatment they can detect it instantly. (D. Walenten, 2014) The most unpleasant healthcare experience was with a plastic surgeon at Faulkner Hospital. This was her first time at this healthcare professional’s office, in which she was visiting for a biopsy on a lump located in her right breast. The reason for this visit being the worst experience was not completely to do with the hospital or its staff; it was the consequences of the biopsy. She was exceptionally apprehensive and on edge while she was, sitting tight waiting to be seen for the biopsy procedure and the staff was not very comforting. (D. Walenten, 2014) She was feeling a range of emotions due to fear and she was in a sense powerless. This is the point at which the staff ought to be consoling for the patient’s sake. The staff member lacked empathy, which is critical. (Communicating about health., 2014) The nurse practitioner then proceeded to call her and bring her to an examination room, where the biopsy took place. The nurse practitioner was