Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Sport in school Essay Example for Free

Sport in school Essay Sport at school should NOT be compulsory. Sports training and PE take up time that could be better spent learning other subjects, and PE and Sport are not as important as other subjects like maths, science etc. It is also my belief that it students should have the right to choose whether or not we do sport/PE, because we are allowed to choose the subjects that are more important, so why are we not allowed to choose whether or not we do sport? Every year in PE, we do the same sports and the same practice drills, so after year 7, there is no point continuing to do PE, because the you are just doing the same things that you have done in previous years. 2 periods per cycle are spent on PE, 2 periods which could be spent on subjects like foreign languages, which are only allocated 4 periods per cycle or English or Science, which get 5 periods per cycle. These subjects are more important than PE and time the two periods given to PE would be better used if distributed to these subjects. As well as PE, we spent up to 3 hours a week at training and another 3 hours on Saturday for competition. Can you imagine students academic performances if we were to spent 6 hours a week doing homework or study? And it is not only the actual time you are at training that counts, because often, after training you are tired and cannot be bothered to do homework or study, again dragging down our academic results. If sport was optional, then the people participating in the teams would be the people that wanted to be there, the people who wanted to play and win. But instead, there are people in the teams who are not interested in the sport, not interested in winning and are only there because they have to be. These people drag down the team and ruin the sport for those that want to be there.

Monday, January 20, 2020

Humorous Wedding Speech - Some Advice for the Bridegroom (Groom)

Humorous Wedding Speech - Some Advice for the Bridegroom (Groom) Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen - If you didn't know already, my name is Alberto and I'm in the wedding party. That is the reason I?m dressed like this. What have I done to be blessed with such an honour? Who?s dropped out at the last minute? Had William?s other friends left the country? Could I turn the job down and still get an invite to eat and drink at William?s expense? I didn?t want to risk it, so lets get on with it. Sherry, you make a fine bride and looked absolutely stunning in the church this morning. William, you looked ? well ? a bit like me, but perhaps a touch thinner. But I think you'd all agree that it was a wonderful service. Mind you, those vows were interesting - William said, 'I do', to which Sherry said, 'You'd better'. Now, traditionally a wedding speech is not complete without a short anecdote, something that gives an insight into the bridegroom?s character. And I could stand here all evening telling you stories of ?boys nights out? or cricket club and rugby club tours. I could even recount the stag night (bachelor?s party), and that reminds me, William - you still owe me forty for those last two dances you had. But this is Sherry's day as well, and I don't want to ruin it with William's vulgarity. So I am going to stick to giving the bridegroom some advice. William, now that you are married, your level of d... ...uidance for the years ahead with William. So, - ?PLEASE SAY WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO SAY DURING THE AD BREAKS!? Which reminds me, William nearly didn't make it to the wedding today because of a minor operation. He was having the remote control removed from his hand. Well, that just about wraps things up - consider yourself advised! ? you?re on your own now William! As for me, I?ve known this man several years and I am extremely happy to see such a good friend get married to such a great girl. Ever since William and Sherry met, they have been inseparable. All that?s left is for you, ladies and gentlemen, to be upstanding and to raise your glasses in a toast to Sherry and William. To the bride and groom!

Sunday, January 12, 2020

Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: A Journal Article Beatrice St. Surin Liberty University COUN-506 September 23, 2012 Abstract According to the article Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, published in the Journal of Psychology and Christianity in 2007, Siang-Yang Tan talked about how prayer and scripture can be incorporated into the practice of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).Lately, in the field of CBT, there have been an increased on a suggestive awareness regarding a two-component model that involves self-regulation of attention in order to preserved on instant knowledge, centers on present circumstances, and implements an orientation to the acceptance of a person’s situation. Tan demonstrated that this model of CBT can be combined with prayer and scriptural truth to bring long-term benefit to clients.He mentioned a study by Hayes, Luoma, Bond, Masuda and Lillis (2006) that defined an ancient method of behavior therapy that was divided into three generational actions and involved a gradual transition from traditional behavior therapy and CBT to a collection of views and approaches like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) (Tan, 2007, p. 101). Tan referred to a self-developed biblical model to this approach that consists of an 8-part process. These processes consist of emphasizing agape love, the necessity to cultivate a sincere and open relationship with the client.While they ease the process of settling with past unresolved issues they also help with discovering spiritual meaning; by means of scriptural truth to stimulate behavior change; depend on the Holy Spirit’s ministering; concentrating on the main goal and stick to techniques that are biblical. The discussion of ongoing research before generated irrefutable statements about the advantage of CBT (Tan, 2007, p. 102). Tan also addressed the use of implicit and explicit integration in therapeutic situations.He vowed that the choice o f either an implicit or an explicit method should be decided first and foremost by the necessities of the client, and that the Holy Spirit should be relied upon for guidance (Tan, 200, pp. 102-103). According to the article, Tan however, did not emphasize to take for granted that all clients will be comfortable with the inclusion of prayer and scripture in the CBT process. He stated that this approach may not be suitable with more severely distressed or psychotic clients (Tan, 2007, p. 104).A complete intake interview will obviously reveal whether the client is open to this method or whether this technique is appropriate. Tan stressed that this type of approach is very beneficial to clients who are experiencing depression, anxiety and anger issues, as well as those struggling with addictions. One method, developed by Tan in 1992, is a 7-step inner healing prayer. This method is a form of communication between the Counselor and the client to concentrate more on Christ than upon the h urt or childhood trauma they have experienced.It is really good that Tan also described actual interaction between client and counselor (Tan, 2007, p. 105). Tan indicated that the appropriate and ethical use of Scripture and prayer in CBT can be a significant help to Christian’s clients who completely believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God and their definitive authority in life (Tan, 2007, p. 108). He also expressed how the use of Scripture can enhance cognitive restructuring.Although, this technique of combining prayer and scripture with CBT appeared to be a very good approach, Tan cautioned the readers that there are some clients who will not accept it, even though several empirical studies have shown its benefits. It is evident to see how the author is addressing an approach to therapy that has in the past been overlooked by many typical practitioners. The combination of CBT with prayer and scripture obviously provides most clients with durable, maintenance-free resolution.Since we are created by God (Genesis 1:27), in my opinion, it makes perfect sense to go to him when something is broken and need repairing. As Christians, we understand that absolute truth comes only from the Scriptures and that God alone is truth. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). I believe Christian counselors should, therefore, make positive use of what God has given them in their attempts to reconstruct an individual’s thought rocesses. Subsequently we all have bad thinking sometimes and are in need to reframe the mind. For instance, according to the word, Jesus died for all of our sins (John 3:16, 1 John 2: 1-2), but after we accepted Jesus Christ in our lives, most of us struggled with self- forgiveness. We can only count on the Holy Spirit to change our thoughts and reveal the truth through the Scriptures to replace all the lies and misconceptions, we formulated from old traumatic experiences.The knowl edge I accrued from this article are similar to what I went through myself last year around this time; but, I would say I found it very encouraging that experimental studies are beginning to demonstrate the benefits of incorporating prayer and scripture into CBT, and that the scientific community is beginning to take notice. After reading this article, I was inspired to look for more information on this subject, and see what others are doing in this area to help people who profoundly brokenhearted.It’s acknowledged that in CBT a therapist with the best intentions can convince a client to reason differently about themselves and to change their views about their history. Although, after I observed a family member fell into a deep depression after she lost of her husband, got better with Therapy then lost it completely when her mother passed away. It is apparent that at any particular time in a client’s life one day, something dramatic can happen and all the work accompli shed can be undone by another disturbing event that can cause the client to regress to the previous defective thinking.I would say, I truly believe until a client is set free by the Lord Jesus Christ, the giver of life (Genesis 2:7); they will never be completely free. Application As a Christian who had to face my own demons in life, I could say before July 2011 I never used the principles of the inner healing prayer. It was not until I was strike by a very rare illness that was destroying me mentally and physically, no doctor or specialist knew what was wrong with me when part of the sickness was visible physically. All tests ran was very good but no one new or could explain why I was so sick.It wasn’t until a friend of mine took me to his Co-Pastor at a new Church, and the pastor and his wife are both professional Christian counselors. They used that approach for me and I found it to be a very effective approach. Although, I have to say that I truly believed God did a mirac le for me due to the fact that I was not only healed mentally, but also physically. I will definitely use this method when I complete my degree and begin helping people. Furthermore, I plan to use this approach with references to the Scriptures, as the Lord guides me for all my clients who will be open to this method.Even though, right now I am working as an accountant, my line of work does not involve any counseling or helping people but I have many of my tax clients, business clients, Church brothers, sisters and friends with various problems. Many are depressed, suffer from gender confusion, childhood traumas and addiction issues. I believe with the help God, this extra education and with support from my husband and children, I will incorporate prayer and scripture with CBT in my ministry at my church and in my community. My approach with my clients will be to always begin a session with prayer.Then a complete intake interview, follow with encouraging the client to reflect and re trieve the memories that have been the most traumatic if it is a new client. I will help the client to develop a warm and open relationship with me, make he/she feels safe and that it is okay to accept the truth of what happened, and recognize the hurts and dishonesties associate with the memories. As the client re-live the events of what took place in the past, I will pray silently and call upon the Holy Spirit to take control, to give me discernment and reveal the truth to me about the memories.I will then encourage the client to tell me what he/she is feeling and discern from the answers what book of the Bible can be helpful according to the Word of God. I will also tell the client to do a confession prayer to ask God for forgiveness and help to forgive anyone that was not easy to forgive. This will then be followed by giving the client some homework that might include a 3 day of fast while asking God to reveal more memories. I will ask them to write down anything else that God r eveals during the fast after the previous session.After the client has obtained truth from the Lord regarding the painful event, we will then re-visit that place and see how the client feels about the memory and how he/she relates to the new experience. From there I will ask the Holy Spirit to guide me to what to do next. I will encourage prayer, reading the scriptures, meditation on the word and anything that transpires before the next session. I will end the session by asking the client to pray and thank God for revealing the truth.The use of prayer and scripture in combination with CBT seems to be a very effective technique to help clients make sense of their difficulties. I believe this approach can be the best medicine for a long-term change and freedom from memories who are affecting people’s lives. References Dake Annotated Reference Bible. Tan, S. -Y. (2007). Use of prayer and scripture in cognitive-behavioral therapy. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 16(2), p. 101-111.

Saturday, January 4, 2020

The Complex Issues Surrounding The Agriculture Street...

Public Housing The complex issues surrounding the Agriculture Street Landfill are part of a much larger story about environmental justice and public housing that, while an entrenched part of the city’s history, came to the forefront post-Katrina. According to the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies Health Policy Institute in Washington, D.C., â€Å"a powerfully discriminatory tendency in planning is for environmentally vulnerable low-income neighborhoods to be deemed disposable, whereas equally vulnerable high-income neighborhoods are deemed indispensable because they are more valuable (Morse 2008).† Nowhere has this been more evident than in these poor, black New Orleans neighborhoods, historically dominated by public housing. New Orleans politicians, city officials, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) repeatedly stressed housing as their number one priority following Hurricane Katrina, which by some estimates damaged 434,000 homes in the New Orleans area and destroyed nearly 140,000 of them (Aldrich and Cook 2008). Yet, shortly after Katrina made landfall, the secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development spoke of not rebuilding all of the public housing lost during the storm. During recovery, the city closed down and fenced off many of the public housing developments, to the delight of some government officials. â€Å"We finally cleaned up public housing in New Orleans. We couldn’t do it, but God did,† Rep. Richard H. Baker, aShow MoreRelatedWaste Management Business Plan in Nigeria10989 Words   |  44 Pagesa very competitive price. In order to achieve these goals, we have design a self-sustainable waste processing and fertilizer production plant to deal with several issues regarding the disposal of sewage and municipal solid waste. Landfills are filling up and the costs associated with disposal are rising exponentially. Many landfills will no longer be able to accept municipal solid waste especially sewage and organic waste materials, as it poses a significant health risk. Our Solutions will solveRead MoreThe Theory Of Affect As Potential : A Body s Capacity2248 Words   |  9 Pagesrealise the impact of having a simple burger? Let me share a simple but personal experience. My flatmates and I watched the shocking, but incredible documentary ‘Cowspiracy - the sustainability secret’’. Not only did it inform us about the mono-agriculture that is killing the earth, it also affected us and our habits. In fact, everybody suddenly turned vegetarian and we are now becoming vegans. Whilst vegans may not save the world, since then, we are conscious about the products we eat, their provenanceRead MoreBhopal Gas Disaster84210 Words   |  337 Pagessurvivors as well as cleaning up of the hazardous waste. This compilation of selected news stories covering the last four years is a small effort to highlight this campaign as reported by the mainstream media. For an in-depth understanding of the issues see www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/indepth/term/2542. A comprehensive collection of these up-to-date news clippings, research papers, lab studies, reports, documents, opinions and court judgments etc h ave now been made available by the Centre forRead MorePower and Energy Crisis of Bangladesh13714 Words   |  55 Pagesestablishment of the Dhaka Electric Supply Authority (DESA) by promulgation of ordinance No. 6 of 1990 on 6th March (Published in the Bangladesh Gazette, Additional issue on 14th March, 1990). Act No. 36 of 1990 for establishment of the Dhaka Electric Supply Authority (DESA) was issued (published in Bangladesh Gazette, Additional issue, 23rd June 1990) in superseding the ordinance no. 6 of 1990 electricity for all by the year 2020. Projected Demand For Electricity Considering the growthRead MoreInternational Management67196 Words   |  269 Pagesdevelopments that have changed what international managers are currently facing and likely to face in the coming years. x DOH New and Enhanced Themes and Structure †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Thoroughly revised and updated chapters to reflect the most critical issues for international managers. Greater attention to and focus on a global and ethical perspective on international management. All new opening World of International Management features written by the authors on current international management challenges;Read MoreLogical Reasoning189930 Words   |  760 Pages........... 19 CHAPTER 2 Claims, Issues, and Arguments .............................................................................. 23 What is a Statement?............................................................................................................................ 23 What is an Argument?......................................................................................................................... 25 What is the Issue?........................................Read MoreNokias Human Resources System144007 Words   |  577 PagesShareholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dilution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Expenses of the Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 8 8 8 12 12 12 39 39 42 74 74 75 75 75 118 122 122 122 123 123 123 132

Thursday, December 26, 2019

Psy/230 Personal Narrative Essay - 803 Words

Final Project Personal Narrative PSY/230 September 23, 2012 Rehema Underwood Final Project Personal Narrative I would have to say looing back over the last five years my life has developed in to exactly what I have always wanted it to be. After going through a nasty divorce about eight years ago I went on a path of self destruction. I started drinking heavily and using drugs and a way to numb the pain I was going through. Finally after doing a few things that I’m really not proud of I had a wake up call. I got in to some legal trouble which opened my eyes to all the things I may have lost if I continued living my life that way. I then decided it was time to make some changes, I went back to school and obtained my G.E.D. and then†¦show more content†¦My parents sat me down and went over with me again the family values that they wanted to instill in my sibling and myself. They brought back our religious beliefs that we have also grown up with and we may not chose to live our life by all the ways of the Catholic faith but to live a humble and honest life is what my parents have wanted for us. I do feel that even though I may not go to church every Sunday, I do believe in the ways of the lord now. I have asked for forgiveness and try to make sure that I live the type of life that makes god and my family proud of me. I can truly say I would not change any choices or experiences that I have had in my life. I take every experience as a learning experiences and I do believe each and every one has made me the person I am today. When I got my divorce although the single life started out rocky I did find my independence again. I took the time to find out all things I wanted out of life and how I was not settling for anything less. They choices I made during this time made me value family a whole lot more. It brought me closer to my Children and made me appreciate them more also. My life experiences have taught me who I want to become and how I plan on getting there. Going back to college at the age of 39 as scary as it was has been on of the greatest experiences that I have done. I know that I am one step closer in becoming a sexual assault support counselor and making a positive difference inShow MoreRelatedPsy230 Final1203 Words   |  5 PagesPersonal Narrative Michelle Yates PSY 230 February 9, 2014 Aaron Thompson, MRC,  CRC, LVRC, CPM In 1979 Douglas Adams wrote in his book, The Hitchhikers’ Guide to the Universe, â€Å"The answer to life, the universe and everything, is 42† (Adams 1979). Of course we all know that the answers do not come quite so easily. Really, forget the answer; the question is what the meaning ofRead MoreMetamorphoses Within Frankenstein14861 Words   |  60 Pagesof ‘the vitalist deb ate’ over the years of the novel’s intellectual gestation, concentrating on the Shelleys’ r elationship w ith on e of its more articu late p articipants, William Lawren ce, and showing how the v ery language of th is of ten personal and 18 alw ays political deb ate enters the novel. One th ing th at beco mes incr easingly appar ent the closer th at scholar ship brings us to Regency Britain, especially to the h ybrid ‘scien ce’ of medical pr actice and its day to d ay, ofRead MoreMetz Film Language a Semiotics of the Cinema PDF100902 Words   |  316 Pagesstarted. CONTENTS A Note on the Translation by Bertrand Augst, ix Preface, xi A Note on Terminology, xiii I Phenomenological Approaches to Film Chapter I. On the Impression of Reality in the Cinema, 3 Chapter 2. Notes Toward a Phenomenology of the Narrative, 16 II Problems of Film Semiotics Chapter 3. Chapter 4. Chapter 5. The Cinema: Language or Language System? 31 Some Points in the Semiotics of the Cinema, 92 Problems of Denotation in the Fiction Film, 108 III Syntagmatic Analysis of the Image

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

The Crucible By John Proctor - 849 Words

The Crucible Analysis: Is John Proctor a tragic hero based on Aristotle`s definition of a tragic hero An array of Aristotelian tragic heroes can be found throughout American literature. One of which includes John Proctor, main character farmer in mid-30s, from Arthur Miller s play, The Crucible. Yet, in order for him to obtain such a title he must possess specific characteristics. Five of which include possession of hubris, a flaw or decision leading to desire for revenge, a reversal of good fortune brought forth by the error of judgement, acceptance of poor fortune brought forth by their actions, and lastly the fate dealt to these characters must be greater than deserved. Aristotle once said that â€Å" A man doesn t become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall.† Before the play even begins John Proctor has already conducted adultery, a fatal flaw in judgement, with Abigail Williams, a sneaky seventeen year old. This crucial crescendo leads to the development of the Salem Witch trials and the downward spiral of John`s comfortable lifestyle. Proctor produces a s elf-inflicted wound, which, only enlarges as Abigail’s jealousy of his wife, Elizabeth, increases. After Elizabeth Proctor, John Proctor s wife, is taken away by Cheever, the lawman, Proctor has a revelation, which entails, exposing Abigail`s lies with Mary Warren’s testimony. But when Abigail’s and her posse accuse Mary Warren of witchery he soon comprehends that a confession of his adulterous waysShow MoreRelatedThe Crucible By John Proctor968 Words   |  4 Pagescharacters in The crucible and show how Miller presents the motivations for their actions. Think about: Reputation- is this a motivating factor for any of the characters Power – Which characters are motivated by power Witchcraft – how are the accusations used? Who benefits? How? The individual and the society – how might the particular community situation in Salem be a motivating factor for some characters? 800 – 1250 words The theme of the crucible is a tragedy. In the crucible characters are motivatedRead MoreThe Crucible By John Proctor895 Words   |  4 PagesJohn Proctor, a prominent individual in both the Salem Witch Trials and The Crucible, was tried and executed for witchcraft in 1692. When the witchcraft hysteria first began in Salem village in the winter of 1692, Proctor became an outspoken opponent of the trials and stated to many that the afflicted girls, who had been accusing many of the villagers of witchcraft, were frauds and liars (Brooks). There were many parallels between John Proctor and his character in The Crucible, including his vocalRead MoreThe Crucible By John Proctor1091 Words   |  5 PagesJohn Proctor, a character in Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, was hung for â€Å"witchcraft.† Owen Lattimore’s, a former editor for the Institute of Pacific Relations Journal, reputation was tarnished after falsely being accused by Joseph McCarthy of being the number one spy for the Soviets. David Kato, a Ugandan gay rights campaigner, was beaten to death on January 26, 2011. These are just three examples of how witch hunts ruined and ended lives. Throughout history, many people have been persecutedRead MoreThe Crucible By John Proctor1134 Words   |  5 PagesIn The Crucible, Abigail Williams, John Proctor, and Elizabeth Proctor are arguably the most important characters. The affair between Abigail and John drives the plot of the play. Abigail begins accusing societal outcasts as witches and gradually works her way up the social ladder until she is able to accuse an upstanding citizen like Elizabeth Proctor of being a witch and having people believe the accusation. She accused Elizabeth of being a witch so that Elizabeth would be hanged. Then, AbigailRead MoreJohn Proctor In The Crucible Essay783 Words   |  4 PagesIn â€Å"The Crucible,† a play by Arthur Miller about the Salem Witch Trials, we are shown the roles and fates of various characters, one of which is the far mer John Proctor. Throughout the play, John Proctor is shown to be an honest albeit hotheaded and stubborn man as he crusades to disprove the claims of witchcraft against his wife and other townsfolk. John Proctor best shows his honesty within â€Å"The Crucible† when he repeatedly admits to both his wife, Elizabeth Proctor, and the court about his relationsRead MoreExamples Of John Proctor In The Crucible712 Words   |  3 Pages The Crucible John Proctor shows himself to be a very powerful and charismatic person right. From the time he first appears in Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible, he is presented as an intelligent, sharp-tongued man with a strong independent mind. These traits would seem to make him a good person to question the motives of those who cry witchcraft. However, his guilt over his affair with Abigail makes his position problematic because he is guilty of the very hypocrisy that he despises in others.Read MoreExamples Of John Proctor In The Crucible985 Words   |  4 Pages John Proctor; Tragic Hero or Ordinary Joe Plays have been used as a method of storytelling and form of entertainment for hundreds of years. A tragedy is one type of play where the audience pities the characters and fear the same consequences that the characters face. In addition, tragedies often include a tragic hero who has a tragic flaw causing his or her downfall. One example of a play that is a tragedy and includes a tragic hero is the The Crucible. John Proctor in The Crucible is a true tragicRead MoreThe Role Of John Proctor In The Crucible1242 Words   |  5 PagesMiller Arthur’s play â€Å"The Crucible† takes place in Salem, the event of this play is about the witch trials. These witch trials had many different reactions and results, it influenced people in many different ways. The trials broke the whole village into different sides of their view of the trials, people get accused of being a witch or studying/practicing witchcraft and their trial could come with many different consequences. The trial would either lock up or hang those who are accusedRead MoreThe Importance Of Common Core Standards1114 Words   |  5 Pagessituation. In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible; the character of John Proctor is an honorable man despite having committed wrongful acts. He was able to redeem himself through acts that is considered courageous, such as when he refuses to contribute to the lie of witchcraft in Salem, when he fights for the people who were convicted of witchcraft and when he regrets being a dishonest man. John Proctor showed his good nature many times throughout the play. In the last act, John Proctor refused to confess to theRead MoreThe Importance Of Common Core Standards1114 Words   |  5 Pagessituation. In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible; the character of John Proctor is an honorable man despite having committed wrongful acts. He was able to redeem himself through acts that is considered courageous, such as when he refuses to contribute to the lie of witchcraft in Salem, when he fights for the people who were convicted of witchcraft and when he regrets being a dishonest man. John Proctor showed his good nature many times throughout the play. In the last act, John Proctor refused to confess to the

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Feelings through Flippancy Arts Deceptive Imitation of Life Essay Example For Students

Feelings through Flippancy Arts Deceptive Imitation of Life Essay Surrounded by scandal caused by his own deception, Oscar Wilde left this world with a legacy of often misunderstood wit, a brilliant collection of writing, and sordid tales of an extramarital homosexual affair. The playwright progressed from a fashionable, flippant fop immersed in London society to a man broken by the public discovery of his relationship with Lord Alfred Douglas. In his prime, Oscar Wilde was a social butterfly, admired and accepted by an artistic circle until his illicit affair became public; throughout his plays, he mocked the same London society with which he himself was quite involved. Within these plays, Oscar Wilde frequently created a character to represent himself, usually a witty, slightly devious dandy who could be a direct voice for the playwright. In An Ideal Husband, the characteristically clever Lord Goring cloaked wisdom in triviality, much like Wilde himself; in The Importance of Being Earnest, the deceitful but good-hearted Algernon embodied many of the qualities of his creator. In each of these plays, struggles within Wildes life often surfaced within the plot and dialogue. At the time they were written, the frenzied affair between Douglas and Wilde was at an apex, and the issues surrounding the situationmarital problems, conflicts with the government, and deceptionpermeated the works. The concept of deception woven throughout Oscar Wildes plays An Ideal Husband and The Importance of Being Earnest both reflected and drew inspiration from the artifice within his own life. Within An Ideal Husband and The Importance of Being Earnest, deception pervaded the formation of both plot and characters. Wildes self-referential Lord Goring flirted frequently with the concept of deception, though he is not the instigator of the concealment and craftiness around which the plot revolves. One critic related Goring to the essential schizophrenia of his creator: careless wit and moral arbiter at one and the same time (Stokes 163). Goring first explained to Sir Robert Chiltern, the main character who stood to lose everything in the exposure of a long-kept secret, that he must begin by telling wife the whole story (Wilde 58), but soon afterwards Goring proclaimed, the truth is a thing I get rid of as soon as possible! (Wilde 63). Lord Goring deliberately tempt Lady Chiltern into sin (Eltis 161), but his character did not create the intrigue that necessitated Gorings temptation of Lady Chiltern in order to preserve the Chilterns marriage. In contrast, The Importance of Being Earnests Algernon, while not technically the central character, was essential to the plot through his lies. Algernons imaginary invalid, Bunbury, created an excuse for him to pursue Cecily, and his appearance as Jacks imaginary brother Ernest perpetuated the confusion of the story. Algernon deceived nearly everyone in the play, with the exception of Jack; the two men were close, without many secrets, and had several things in common, most noticeably their commitment to deception (Raby 60). Algernons careless lying left no damage in the end of The Importance of Being Earnest, just as Lord Gorings deception was for the best; in Wildes life, his deception was not so fortunate. Algernon and Lord Goring represented the playwright himself and showed his wishful thinking in the happy outcomes of their deceit. While Lord Goring and Algernon both displayed many aspects of the deception Wilde emphasized in An Ideal Husband, the other characters symbolized, alluded to, and predicted much of Wildes struggles in his personal life. In An Ideal Husband, the serious threat to Robert Chilterns reputation loomed as menacingly as the serious threat to Wildes reputation if his homosexual relationship were to be found out. Wilde also within the play alluded to events that occurred during the run on stage; at one point, Lord Goring commented, Oh, why will parents always appear at the wrong time? (Wilde 90). This question became ironic upon the appearance of Douglas father within Wildes life; QueensburyDouglas fatherwrote an abusive letter to his son explicitly denouncing his relationship with Wilde, threatened to make outlandish scenes that implicated Wilde as a sodomite (Beckson 298), and left Wilde bankrupt from court costs from his lengthy, painful trials (Holland 159). Franchisingfuture1 EssayWildes deception of society was necessary; discovery of his relationship with Lord Alfred Douglas would and did mean imprisonment as well as major tarnish on his reputation. Wilde also hid his true emotions and often his intentions from the people, writing plays that were capricious, deceptive, and deliberately intriguing (Eltis 132). Again, like Robert Chiltern, Wilde feared for his reputation, but instead of covering up the past at all costs like his character, the playwright wrote plays exploring deception and romantic relationships that helped him to express that fear. As Stokes put it, the final lesson to be drawn from these recent productions, appropriately paradoxical, is that the plays are, more than ever, inseparable from their authors experience, and depend greatly on our seeing that to be the case (180). Both An Ideal Husband and The Importance of Being Earnest drew their inspiration from the fear within Wildes personal life, and beyond the clever dialogue lay a reflection of Wildes emotions regarding his uncertain position. The similarities between Wildes art and his life did, however, have a limit; in Oscar Wildes deception plays, a neat and happy conclusion left every character contented. Sir Robert Chiltern maintained the facade of honesty without compromising his newfound morals, his wife renewed her faith in and love for him, and Lord Goring ended up engaged to his love, Mabel Chiltern. Jack got his Gwendolyn, Algernon got his Cecily, and all were pleased. The deception earlier in the play was forgotten and left behind in the race for communal happiness. These unrealistic endings appeared to be Wildes wishful thinking as much as an attempt to make the audience question our affinity for the deceivers. While the deceiver went unpunished, somehow we felt that justice had been served. Wilde set the plays up to make the audience empathize with Sir Robert Chilterncheckered past and alland with Algernon and his imaginary companion Bunbury. The overly simplistic endings could not have been merely Wildes attempt to force the audience to question that empathy, however; the unpunished deceit seemed to be a wish for his own painless redemption. Unfortunately for the playwright, the resolution of deception was not so easily obtained in his personal life. Wilde, with his excesses and love affair exposed and prison sentence served, died poor and estranged from his wife and children (Holland 175-187). The happy endings he wrote for his plays were unrealistic not only as literature but also in his own enactment of the deception theme. Oscar Wildes plays frequently consisted of social criticisms and parodies; these imitations of life were joined by the theme of deception he drew from his more personal life. Wildes art was often quite accurate in its imitation of life, and through this imitation Wilde voiced his opinion. The critical eye that summed up the absurdity of London society also searched inward to express the fear and hope that abounded from Wildes experience with deception. An Ideal Husband and The Importance of Being Earnest were not by any means exact accounts of Wildes life; to the contrary, the shared theme and attitude were the aspects of life that Oscar Wilde used to express his situation, as opposed to imitation through shared events and outcomes. Art imitated his life in a much more subtle way, as would be appropriate for the clever playwright. The self-referential characters and related plots were a large support for the interpretation of Wildes emotions through his plays, but the subtler use of self-referential attitudes and related themes was the true voice of Wildes inner self. Perhaps every work of art chooses some way to expressand therefore imitate, in some fashionthe life of the artist, just as Wilde imitated himself in his deceptive art.