And They Lived Happily Ever After

Almost every reader expects the same image at the end of any romantic book. Lovey-dovey promises, tender looks, passionate kisses – and then they lived happily ever after, despite unpaid bills, routine and unhealthy food habits. There is nothing new about marriages and sweet book endings, though sad endings and divorces do not sound especially unfamiliar as well. Well, why do we love happy endings so much? Some Hope Required Because they reassure us and make us a promise of happiness and better future. If to explain it from the biological point of view: every time we read a story, that ends with a marriage or, at least, with a hint of a marriage possibility, our subconscious gets another proof of the future existence of humankind on Earth. However, if to explain it from the psychological point of view, we often view marriage at the end of the book as a sacred symbol of peace, harmony and serenity. And it is so pure and wonderful that the author doesnt even dare to describe it any further. It is well known that in reality it is quite a rare phenomenon when the marriage indeed becomes a shelter, where the couple can rest from cruelty and injustice of our world. But we want to believe in that rare phenomenon so much, because it is exactly what we need in our lives – a relationship, a place, that will make everything seem right, at least for the time being. Professional Point of View Francine Prose, a famous American writer, shared her thoughts about happy endings and book marriage in her article, called â€Å"How Does the Classic Marriage Plot Stand Up in 2014?†. She wrote the following: â€Å"Whenever I hear the phrase â€Å"happily ever after,† I visualize the Don Martin cartoon I first saw in Mad Magazine and have loved since I was a child. The frog has been kissed and transformed into the handsome prince; he and his bride are riding off into the sunset. But in the next frame, a large housefly buzzes past. A long, ribbonlike tongue shoots out of the prince’s mouth and snags the delicious insect morsel. How will the princess’s happiness be affected by her husband’s unusual dietary preferences? So while the romantic thinks â€Å"happily ever after,† the realist thinks â€Å"housefly.† The Present and the Future Except for theâ€Å"housefly† bitter aftertaste, the problem of the happy endings that feature marriage is how old-fashioned they are. This world is not a place it used to be in previous centuries. It has changed. People have began to value their personal freedom way much more than before. Women have became less dependent in both economic and social meanings. Nowadays marriage is simply not necessary for those, who love each other and want to be with each other – they do not need to fear that somebody will judge their behavior, they can simply stay together. Well, perhaps writers should reconsider their concept of happy endings and replace marriage with love and nothing more?

The Legalization of Physician-Assisted Suicide Essay

Support for the participation of physicians in the suicides of terminally ill patients is increasing. Much of the controversy surrounding physician-assisted suicide however focuses on the debate over whether the practice should be legalized. A woman suffering from cancer became the first person known to die under the law of physician-assisted suicide in March of 1998. In 1994, voters in Oregon approved a referendum called the Death with Dignity Act, which was enacted in 1997. This law allows patients who have been given six months or less to live that wish to hasten their deaths to obtain lethal doses of medication prescribed by two doctors. Between 1998 and 2000, ninety-six lethal prescriptions were written, and seventy patients took the†¦show more content†¦Dr. Kevorkian did his procedures in Michigan where at the time, did not have any laws against physician-assisted suicide. Also in the same year continued to assist patients. One patient in particular, Thomas Youk suffe red from Lou Gehrigs disease requested the assistance of Dr. Kevorkian had is procedure televised on the CBS television news program 60 Minutes. The Michigan legislature enacted a law making assisted suicide a felony punishable by a maximum five year prison sentence or a $10,000 fine soon after. This meant Kevorkians could be charged for his previous acquittals. On March 26, 1999 Dr. Kevorkian was convicted of second degree murder. In 1991, by a vote of 54 to 46 percent, Washington State voters defeated Initiative 119, a measure that would have permitted physicians to provide assisted suicide by a prescription for an intentional lethal overdose of drugs. After that, three attempts were made in the Washington State legislature to transform assisted suicide, which was a crime in Washington, into a â€Å"medical treatment.† All three attempts failed. However, in 2008, assisted-suicide proponents targeted the state for a massive effort to make Washington only the second state t o approve assisted suicide. With a voter initiative on the 2008 ballot, they succeeded, by a vote of 57.91 to 42.09 percent, in making it legal for doctors to help their patients commit suicide. There had been over 340 cases in the yearShow MoreRelatedThe Legalization Of Physician Assisted Suicide976 Words   |  4 Pagesmake the last months of a person’s life as comfortable as possible, ultimately palliative and hospice care become ineffective in helping with the excruciating pain. Thus, the legalization of physician assisted suicide provides a compassionate death while preserving the concept of patient autonomy. Physician-assisted suicide enables terminally ill patients to die comfortably and peacefully in their own homes. Terminally ill patients suffer through constant pain in their final months, and there remainsRead MoreThe Legalization Of Physician Assisted Suicide1265 Words   |  6 PagesParker March, 14, 2015 Assisted Suicide Introduction There are several ethical and legal issues that are raised by the majority concerning the legalization of physician assisted suicide and the role of nurses in the process. Assisted suicide is a legal act of assisting those who are suffering from a deadly illness in ending their lives by providing them the means to do it (Griffith, 2014). Netherland was the first country to legalize physician assisted suicide. In 1994, Oregon becameRead MoreThe Legalization Of Physician Assisted Suicide1720 Words   |  7 PagesIt is obvious discussing physician-assisted suicide is a very controversial issue that is discussed daily by those who wish to die to avoid loss of dignity and also by those who think it is unethical. For physician-assisted suicide to even be considered, the patient must be of sound mind when they are requesting death with dignity. Physician-assisted suicide should be a legal option for people who are unable to end their own lives. However, there should be safeg uards to prevent any sort of abuseRead MoreThe Legalization Of Physician Assisted Suicide1984 Words   |  8 PagesAnthony Zhang 4.29.15 Period 3B Living in Pain or Death with Dignity The legalization of physician assisted suicide (PAS) in Oregon in 1994 changed the face of the argument between those who believe in death with dignity and those who believe in letting nature take its course. It was a major victory for PAS advocates as the first state in America had legalized PAS in the country’s history. In 2008, the neighboring state of Washington followed suit with a similar law and legalized PAS by a 58-42Read MoreLegalization Of Physician Assisted Suicide820 Words   |  4 Pageslegalize physician-assisted death within a year. Physician-assisted suicide (PAS), in simple words, means doctors prescribe a lethal dose of medication that patients take themselves. The question that whether the Criminal Code provisions should prohibit physician-assisted suicide has been discussed in public for several decades. Actually, decriminalizing PAS may cause some sorts of abuses, but not decriminalizing it would make more patients dying with excruciating pain. Many doctors and physicians thinkRead MoreThe Need for the Legalization of Physician-Assisted Suicide2485 Words   |  10 Pagesprevent death. Many people turn to a procedure known as Physician-Assisted suicide, a process by which a doctor aids in ending a terminally ill patient’s life. This procedure is painless and effective, allowing patients to control their death and alleviate unnecessary suffering. In spite of these benefits, Physician-Assisted suicide is illegal in many places both nationally and internationally. Despite the fact that Physician-Assisted suicide is opposed by many Americans and much of the world onRead MoreLEGALIZATION OF ASSISTED SUICIDE IN THE U.S. Currently, physician-assisted suicide or death is2900 Words   |  12 PagesLEGALIZATION OF ASSISTED SUICIDE IN THE U.S. Currently, physician-assisted suicide or death is illegal in all states except Oregon, Vermont, Montana and Washington. Present law in other states express that suicide is not a crime, but assisting in suicide is. Supporters of legislation legalizing assisted suicide claim that the moral right to life should encompass the right to voluntary death. Opponents of assisted suicide claim that society has a moral and civic duty to preserve the lives of innocentRead MoreThe Controversial Debate On Legalization Of Physician Assisted Suicide1290 Words   |  6 Pagesis your life and no one else’s, right? This is the question at the very center of the controversial debate on the legalization of physician assisted suicide in the United States. Anti-physician assisted suicide groups often argue that no individual truly wants to end their life. However, that statement does not ring true to those who would actually utilize physician assisted suicide- terminally ill patients. Imagine being diagnosed with a terminal disease, followed by months and sometimes years ofRead MoreEthical Considerations in Dealing with Changes in the Healthcare System929 Words   |  4 Pagesconsideration that creates controversial discussion is the subject of physician-assisted suicide. Physician-assisted suicide is described as the act in which a physician provides the means necessary for the client to perform the act of suicide. The issue of physician-assisted suicide is viewed through many different perspectives. The topic of physician-assisted suicide has been debated since the development of medicine. Physician-assisted suicide was first legalized in the United States in Oregon in 1997.Read MoreShould Physician Assisted Suicide Be Legalized?1426 Words   |  6 PagesPhysician assisted suicide is also known as assisted suicide. It is a very controversial procedure. It is not favored by many. However, in present day society is little bit inclined towards assisted suicide. There is ongo ing debate on the legalization of assisted suicide. The main reason to oppose of assisted suicide is the fear of mistreatment of the patient, abuse of power and so on. In contrary, many see assisted suicide as a way to decrease pain in the end of life.

The Tempest Essay Paper Example For Students

The Tempest Essay Paper The Tempest Gender issues in The TempestThe modern NBC miniseries adaptation of Shakespeares The Tempest shares many similarities and differences on certain issues. The miniseries is an Americanized version, set during the period of the Civil war. Many issues involving gender were changed in the miniseries to reflect the new setting. The result is a more believable and understandable Tempest to which people can relate. The gender issue changes make the characters reflect modern individuals, and to remove the absurd characters the play forces us to believe in. First, the characters in The Tempest have some basic differences in gender in the adaptation. In the play, the only beings that Miranda knows are her father, the nonhuman spirit of Ariel, and the half-man-half-monster Caliban. In the miniseries, the only people Miranda knows are her father, a black slave Ariel, and a human variation of Caliban: Gator Man. The miniseries uses male forms of Ariel and Caliban, which does not force the viewer into believing in non-human characters, which makes them easier to understand. In addition, in the miniseries, Miranda has relationships with these human characters, which is not seen in the play. Ariel is a companion of sorts to Miranda and Prospero in the miniseries, unlike the play, where Ariel is a spirit who can only be seen by Prospero. Ariels black slave character provides a masculine character that is a companion to Miranda and Prospero. Although he is a male, he is still portrayed as inferior to Miranda and Prospero because of his race. He serves as a huge source of labor, and security for Prospero and Miranda. Anyone, who knows the history slavery in the United States, can understand the difficult position that he has been put in. In the miniseries, Miranda has an active role in survival on the island. She is seen doing chores, such as collecting the traps for food in the swamp. Miranda working is barely seen in the play. In the play, upon seeing Miranda gathering logs, Ferdinand makes the statement I had rather crack my sinews, break my back, than you should such dishonor undergo while I sit lazy by 3.1.30-33.) Ferdinand was very upset that Miranda was working, and would rather do the work himself. The fact that Miranda has an active role in their survival in the swamp is more characteristic of a modern society, compared to the belief that woman were not supposed to perform manual labor in the past. When the play was written, it was probably not been acceptable for young woman to work at all, which is why Ferdinand was compelled to say something about Mirandas chores. Miranda does something in the miniseries that shows courage and strength that she does not display in the play. Miranda attempts to run away from her father with Ferdinand in the miniseries. In the play, Miranda does not exhibit any self-determination, and follows along with everything her father does. Mirandas willingness to run away with her boyfriend is very characteristic of a young female of our present society. In the past, such an act by a young female may have been unimaginable, because women were expected to follow the lead of males. Gator man is a portrayed as a lower c lass male, compared to Caliban, who is an inhuman monster. In the play, Prospero states he is inhuman; he was a born devil, got by the devil himself upon thy wicked dam (a devil when he say sounterpart in the miniseries, Gator man, is an unintelligent, poor, and love deprived male. Both characters are portrayed as being evil lower class individuals. Because of Calibans physical appearance, and the fact that he attempted to rape Miranda in the past, he is viewed as a threat. In the miniseries, Miranda is too trusting of Gator Man, before the rape attempt because he is a human, and has not harmed her in the past. Her character reflects a modern teenager, who does not know any better to not trust someone. In the end however, both Gator man and Caliban represent threats to MirandaThe miniseries adaptation of The Tempest provides a more modern look of the original play in a more modern setting. To accomplish this task, the physical genders of the character were changed, and with that, m ore modern social attributes to go along with their gender changes. The result is an easily believable adaptation of a normally difficult to understand work of art.

Mercy Among Children

Mercy Among Children tells the story of Sydney, a man who was separated from his family for various reasons and who had to find ways and means to fend off the loneliness that was beginning to consume him. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Mercy Among Children – The Story About Homesick specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More He had a sense of sadness that comes from the pit of the stomach, that aching for familiarity that he knew to be homesickness. It was difficult for him to be away from his family for so long. It was later on that he discovered that by reading books, he could feel that he was no longer alone. He was a proud man. He would never admit to others that he missed his family, nor that he wanted to go home. Instead, he hid his homesickness by reading books. The books broke his sense of isolation. His character explained within the story that when one is reading books: †¦ you are not alone — even along this broken tractor road. You need to know nothing else. (Mercy Among The Children) Whether he admitted it to himself or not, he missed his family. To quote from the story itself: †¦ he was ready to go home. He would walk nine miles out to the highway and catch the bus back to the Miramichi. Tomorrow night he would be with Elly again. he would hold and kiss Percy. He thought of the miles ahead of him and they seemed an insult; he wanted them to be gone in a second. (Mercy Among The Children) The longing for the love and care of his family was the source of his homesickness. Yet he tried to stay away for three long years so he could provide a better future for them. He sacrificed his personal happiness for them. Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Homesickness was a perennial illness for him and he knew that the only cure was to finally go home to the people he cared for and loved him back. Now, Sydney found himself ready and very much excited to go home, and go home he did. Being a student who is currently living in a foreign land, I find mysel ffully identifying with the sadness that Sydney felt. Sometimes, homesickness becomes unbearable,. Even though I know that I am doing this for my and my family’s future, it does not lessen the pining that I have for my family. This was a new world for me. It was world where I barely spoke and understood the language, nor did I have any friends. Time has not changed my longing for the presence of my family in my daily life. Now I realize that the saying â€Å"You never know what you had till you lose it† is true. I used to take my mother and father’s care for granted. I got so used to having them there for me all the time that it has become almost impossible for me to adjust to life without them, without the creature comforts that home offered me. In this world, I make do with phone c alls to my family, hearing their words of love and comfort that are meant to keep me strong — but only weaken my resolve not to miss them in the process. These days, I do not have the unconditional support of my family to fall back on. I am constantly surrounded by people and yet I feel so alone and lonely. I guess it is already obvious that just like Sydney in the story, I am consumed by homesickness and wish for nothing more than to finally go home to the loving embrace of my mother and father. The only thing that gives me the strength to go on with my life here, is the knowledge that eventually, I will be back home in Cambodia, and my homesickness will finally come to an end. It is not easy to be homesick. It takes a lot of effort to get through the day when you are dealing with it. But just like Sydney, you will find a way to make the loneliness go away. Then it won’t hurt so much and you can have a semblance of a life. Until the time comes when you can finally go home.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Mercy Among Children – The Story About Homesick specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This essay on Mercy Among Children – The Story About Homesick was written and submitted by user Lorenzo Pierce to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.