War And Peace :: essays research papers

The book â€Å"War and Peace† by Leo Tolstoy is a story about the lives of the Russian royal family from 1805 to 1815. This book describes things and events that happened during the war. The story begins at a cocktail party being held at the home of Anna Pavolvna in St. Petersburg. Most of the action, however takes place in Moscow, at the home of the Rostov family, and the battle front in the war with Napoleon. Their are the good people and the bad people. The good people being Natasha Rostov, a teenage girl who grows and matures throughout the book and Pierre Bezuhov, the son of Kirill Vladmirovitch Bezuhov, who speaks much of the novel expressing his purpose on earth. Prince Andrei Bolkonsky, the leader of the Bolkonsky family and a great war hero. The â€Å"bad† people are: the protagonists themselves, as they torment themselves and Napoleon Bonaparte, (who, by some, is believed to be an impostor) the emperor and military leader of France. Bent on world domination. Secondary characters are the families of Bolkonsky and Kuragin, Anna Pavolvna, a famous St. Petersburg socialite and Kutuzof, the military leader of the Russian forces. The basic conflict is the effects of the changes to the protagonists through the Napoleonic wars. One important event occurs when Prince Andrei is wounded during the battle of Austerlitz, and he is given a chance to recollect on his wartime experiences. Another important event occurs when Pierre is take prisoner by the French, (this is where he has the chance to look into his feelings and come to a peace with himself.) The climax of Pierre’s story occurs when he is held before a firing squad by the French. This is his climax because he is convinced that he is going to die, and after he is spared he becomes more caring and it is obvious that he will continue on this course until the end. The climax of Natasha’s life occurs when Andrei dies. It makes her reconsider the way she has lived her life, maturing her further from her state of mind as a seventeen year-old. The climax for Andrei occurs when he is mortally wounded while attempting to protect Moscow from Napoleon’s forces. This is his climax because his outlook on life becomes so negative and morbid that he can only wait to die.

Death Be Not Proud

The novel, Death Be Not Proud, by John Gunther, is the story of the struggle of a child to stay alive. Johnny Gunther Jr. ’s constant hope got him out of bed every morning with a positive attitude. His outright opposition to the fact that he was going to die and his determination not to, kept a fiery spirit in him so that he didn’t give up. Johnny’s stubborn determination to not accept defeat at so early an age, along with the tremendous courage he showed when realizing that he must accept his defeat, is a strong point portrayed in this novel. Johnny’s hope, determination, and courage kept his death at bay. One of the main reasons that Johnny remained alive for so much longer than he should have lived, was the hope that he possessed. He hoped every day of his illness that he would get better, that his parents would be spared their grief, or that some doctor would come up with a revolutionary idea that would heal him. Because of his hope, Johnny never complained or protested during the entire course of his illness. He always obeyed the doctors’ wishes and followed their instructions to a  «T » because he wanted so desparatly to get well. Although he realized that eventually his life would end, he still never gave up the hope that perhaps he could outsmart his fate to die, if just to steal a few extra hours. Each day, until his last, the determination Johnny had to get well, live a normal life, and even maintain his schoolwork was phenominal. After being away from school for sixteen months, being tested constantly by doctors, and having a rapidly deteriorationg brain, Johnny still managed to graduate with his class and be accepted into Harvard. Throughout his illness, Johnny always had an unwavering will to survive, to awake the next morning and find that he was well, that he had only been dreaming the nightmare of his illness. When Johnny awoke each morning however, he felt the bandage on his head and realized that he was living this horrific nightmare. But even through this tremendous disappointment, Johnny kept fighting, determined to recuperate. Johnny should be admired for not giving up under the intense emotional burden of knowing that each breath may be his last. Johnny’s story is one that will be remembered because of the courage he had. If he had had any fears of death, they were unknown because of his consideration for others and not wanting to burden others with his troubles. One can only imagine what it must have been like to lie awake at night alone in a hospital room, wondering what it is like to die and to awaken the next morning, shed all questions and fears of the night before, and cheerfully greet those around you. Johnny’s inner struggle and turmoil was something that no one knows nor will ever know. Throughout his many medical treatments and moments of pain, Johnny was always strong and brave. He always smiled and hung in there fighting. Even with his final unconcious breath, there was still animation in him, he was still determined to live. Thankfully he died with a smile on his lips, without pain, with dignity, and with courage and strength to face the next world he would enter. Johnny’s gallant fight for life, against the most hopeless odds, should convey a message to anyone who has ever been ill. Through a child’s hope, determination and courage when about to die, a for of a hero is made. Johnny’s manner in facing the awful reality of dying is something that is looked up to by all and we should all strive to achieve this manner. Johnny Gunther accepted his fate to die and not live his life to the fullest with complete acceptance, if not full understanding. By the story of his life and death, we are in awe of how one so young could have achieved an attitude that most people will never reach.

Political Machines And Political Power - 1086 Words

Political Machines Political Machine is a term given to an unofficial organization designed to keep a certain political party or political group in power. Although Political Machines were originally designed for positive actions, a group of political leaders turned this positive intention into devastating corruption. As power was put into the wrong hands, large cities of the United States were put in jeopardy. Political Machines caused corruption in the larger cities and states of the United States, especially New York. Political machines are an unofficial city organization designed to keep a certain boss or group in power. Political Machines were designed to create organization, but as the machines came in the picture the political†¦show more content†¦The phrase â€Å"vote early and often† started in this era. â€Å"In most years between 1865 and 1930, Patronage Machines ruled many large states of America such as, Minneapolis, Pittsburg, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Detroit, Chicago, Philadelphia, New Orleans, and New York† (Reid). For example, according to Steffens, â€Å"one of the most significant early muckraking stories happened here in Minneapolis, and although it is sometimes overlooked in the general journalism histories of the time, it remains important to our understanding of how the field evolved†. â€Å"Fifteen of the seventeen united state’s senators were Republicans, and both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia were controlled by powerful and long-lived Republican city â€Å"machines† (Pennsylvania). Chicago had one of the longest lasting histories of the use of Political Machines. â€Å" In some areas, Political Machines, such as Chicago’s Democratic Party organization continued to be important until the 1970’s.† Although these states we re all controlled by Political Machines, New York’s city hall, Tammany Hall, was the most affected. During this time period, â€Å"reformers opposed the machine, calling for such improvements as civil service test for jobs, closer control over how the city spent its money and watching the polls on election day. Over time such reforms weakened the power of Political Machines† (Rosenfeld). Political Machines power waned during the tenure of New York City.† Mayor Fiorello La Guardia (1934-1945), and the