Crime and punishment morally ambigous character Essay Example for Free

Crime and punishment morally ambigous character Essay Several morally ambiguous characters played different vital roles in Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky. In fact, most characters illustrated in this twisted novel can be evaluated as possesing good and evil qualities. Sonia Marmeladov is especially ambiguous and important in this novel. Her contradicting social and moral statuses along with her contrasting roles as a saintly liberator and sinner allowed Sonia to play a crucial role throughout the novel. Not only that but her character further strengthens the theme of religious awakening. At times Sonias character becomes hard to categorize as good or evil because of her actions. The first descriptions the reader gets of Sonia are from her drunk father, Marmeladov. She has lived her life with little money, poor housing conidtions described as having every sign of povery (294). Sonia tries to make an honest living by making linen shirts but do you suppose that a respectable poor girl can earn much by hard work? Not fifteen farthings a day can she earn(15). Not merely enough to support a family along with her drunk fathers habits. So Sonia eventually becomes a prositute in order to to support her family and gains a yellow ticket (16) This is what gained Sonia her title as a sinner and which puts her character at question. However, Marmeladov explains to Raskolnikov how Sonia goes to them mostly after dark, she comforts Katerina Ivanorna and gives her all she can( 16). This part of Sonias character depicts her as a loving daughter willing to sacrifice herself to save her family. This portrayal in some ways resembles Christ as He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness. He sarcrificed himself as she sacrifies herself. Does that change the fact that she is committing a sin? No of course not and that is exactly where the conflict of her morality takes place. The world sees her in such an attire(163)which puts her to shame in her guady finery (163) Yet the reader sees a young, timid girl who was pushed to take drastic decisions in her life. It is Sonias actions which are evil but her purpose and pure soul make her more saintly than most of the characters in the novel. Because her character plays this role, it is her who helps Raskolnikov find his religious faith and who leads him to finally come clean later on in the book. Another circumstance where Sonya is morally ambiguous is where she has to decide to either have a relationship with Raskolnikov, or leave him out of the picture when he tells her that it is he who murdered the pawnbroker. Sonya knows that it is right to help Raskolnikov because he could be lost and go even deeper into his madness. However, Sonya knows that Raskolnikov is a killer and it would be wrong to be associated with somebody who knowingly commits sins as extravagant as murder. Sonya is also aware that Raskolnikov has issues and his madness could drive him to do other things that could lead to even worse consequences. Sonia does tell Raskolnikov that he must turn himself in and confess his sins but she also hugs him and kisses him as to comfort him. Her odd response is to tell Raskolnikov I will follow you, I will follow you everywhere Ill follow you to Siberia (407). As she tries to find a valid excuse as to why he killed those women, she finds that there was no good intentions in his mind, yet she still sticks by Raskolnikovs side. This response leaves the reader wondering whether Sonia is doing this to help a lost soul and play her role as a saintly liberator or does her love blind her and is she simply not caring that what Raskolnikov committed was murder. However, even though the last part of the book depicts Sonia as an accomplice to a morally wrong crime, the epilogue illustrates her as a saintly liberator. In Siberia, the image which she carried back in part one and part two of the book are stripped and she is loved by the prisoners in the camp. They even called her â€Å"little mother Sofya Semyonovna†(538), and although it is clearly stated that Sonia herself did nothing special to be liked, their preference for her depicts that they sensed her moral â€Å"goodness. † Without direct statement, Sonia herself was the reason why Raskolnikov felt in some way his religious reawakening. Through her unconditional love, she and her role made this â€Å"story of a gradual renewal of a man† (542) happen. Dostoevsky theme of religion was carried on and developed by Sonia’s character through her moral ambiguity. Though her character appears to be immoral in several cases, in the epilogue the reader sees how it all comes together and how Doestoevsky uses Sonya illustrates important social and political issues that were of concern to him, such as the treatment of women, the effects of poverty, the importance of religious faith, and the importance of devotion to family.

Charles Dickens use of writing as a tool to change society in A Christmas Carol :: essays research papers

?Charles Dickens used much of his writing as a tool to change society. How does he attempt this in ?A Christmas Carol? and to what extent does he succeed During Victorian Britain, 1837-1901, the population of the country grew immensely. By the start of the twentieth century, there were three times as many people as there was at the beginning of the previous century. This led to a huge shortage of housing and work, for people to earn money towards their family budget. As there were too many workers in industries, each person was paid very little money and because of that they all had to work for very long hours. Therefore, children had to work too as they were expected to contribute to the family budget. Their size was often taken advantage of as they were sent to do very dangerous jobs which adults could not do for very long hours. Nevertheless, they only received a small amount of wages. The shortage in housing resulted in people having to settle for extreme and crowded conditions. ?Hideous slums, some of them acres wide and some more than crannies obscure misery, make up a substantial part of metropolis .........In big, once handsome houses, thirty or more people of all ages may inhabit a single room?. They had to live in such small rooms amongst so many others and they regularly died of starvation. There were also many poor civilians that passed away because of diseases. This was because sewers ran straight down the middle of the streets, often merging with the drinking water that was around. Also, the shortage of housing meant that the rich and the poor lived side by side as the cramped houses of the poor were right next to the large and spacious ones of the wealthy. This was the same chapter of history in which Charles Dickens grew up in and he, like many others, was from a poor family. At a very young age, he was forced to begin work as his father had been arrested.

Can Television Improve Social and Political Life in the United States?

Throughout history television has been used to improve social and political life in the United States in many ways. Television reaches millions of viewers in the United States on a daily basis. It is an important form of communication and has been for many years. Television brings important historical events, both positive and negative, directly into the homes of America. People do not only read about current events, they experience them in real time. Society and Television Television can be used as an education tool because there are many television shows on the air that are informative and educational. The right television shows can teach our children about morals and values. Educational television is not only for children, television channels such as â€Å"National Geographic† and â€Å"The History Channel† can serve as learning tools for adults. There are also programs that educate society about problems and concerns about the social and political aspects in America. Since there is at least one television in each household, it is the best tool to use when airing news broadcasts used address a large audience (Csun. edu). Issues such as the large rate of unemployment or political happenings in the country are made known to the American public. Using television to educate those who do not know all of the facts and data related to issues of society is one way these issues can be addressed. Airing programs that address these issues during prime time news or highly watched shows would utilize the influence that television has and reach a large number of people at one time. One way to improve social life in the United States is to let the majority of the population know what is going on in America. When awareness is improved, news coverage and politics begin to get involved with the issues that the American people are concerned about. Political Television The television can be used to improve political life as well. The news stations cover and dramatize the news when it comes to politics. There is always a politician arguing over the latest issue that has arisen. Even though these types of arguments are sometimes dramatized, it gives the American people a chance to view both sides of an issue. Television also airs messages from politicians who are campaigning for seats in the Senate or House. This is useful with providing American people with knowledge about candidates and what they stand for. The American people get to see the pros and cons of one side versus the other side and then decide who they agree with. Television can improve political life by informing Americans about who stands for what and what the politician’s goals may be (abelard. org). A person is better suited to make a clear and conscious decision about who they want to vote for in any election through the information that television provides to the public. Television helps improve both social and political life in by raising awareness of social issues and informing people about political aspects that are going on in the United States.

Organizational Culture and Change in Southwest Airlines

Organizational culture and change in Southwest Airlines Organizational Culture and Change Introduction Organizations like the Southwest Airlines all have a culture, which demonstrates how the organization works and usually acts as its motivational tool. An organizational culture is important to the organization, as it is the major element in helping attain the organizations goals and objectives. Cultures in organizations are vast, with different organizations adopting their own type of culture. The examples of culture include; club cultures, where employees of the organization are assisted to fit into the culture. This is the most common type adopted by most organizations. There is also the academy culture, where the organization keeps its most skilled employees. The skills are developed by the company and an example of the organization that mostly uses this culture is the large corporations like the Southwest Airlines. The base team culture is designed to maintain high skilled employees, as these employees have great skills and can work for many other organizations. Other organizatio ns have cultures that are highly discouraged, like the fortress culture, where employees hardly know their fate, and can be laid off any time. These organizations often undergo changes through reorganization, and only the specialized skilled people have chances for positions in the organization. Despite these many types of the cultures, management should ensure culture that is reputable, andShow MoreRelatedLeadership of Southwest Airlines1148 Words   |  5 PagesLeadership of Southwest Airlines Southwest Airlines is often a modeled by other companies for its organizational structure. Organizations that have an effective management team are successful in developing a strong organizational culture, utilizing managerial controls, and leveraging diversity. Effective management teams are developed by cultivating leadership skills in those that supervise the company’s associates. Organizations want managers that can motivate their associates to achieve theRead MoreSouthwest Airlines Corp. Culture1727 Words   |  7 Pagesthis paper I have researched in to Southwest Airline, I have focused to write a three to four (3-4) page paper in which I will, determine how Southwest Airlines’ corporate culture differs from other airlines. I will then analyze three (3) ways that Southwest’s unique culture has benefited the airline and its employees and eventually I will speculate how Southwest Airlines would continue to thrive as a company if its current corporate cultu re would need to change in the near future. The specificRead MoreControl Mechanism1416 Words   |  6 PagesSouthwest Airlines: Control Mechanisms Southwest Airlines is a dynamic organization that is researched and studied by many. One reason for this attention is the positive corporate culture. This culture attracts dynamic people to the organization who are encouraged to be innovative and grow as leaders while supporting and promoting the mission of the airline. This culture was established through effective planning, organizing and leadership. To maintain this culture and the success of the airlineRead MoreSouthwest Airlines Strategy Implementation Analysis1199 Words   |  5 PagesSouthwest Airlines Strategy Implementation Analysis Executive Summary Southwest Airlines has clearly implemented one of the top operational strategies in the entire industry over the last few decades. It has claimed countless awards and recognitions for items such as employee satisfaction, customer satisfaction, profitability, as well as being able to command some of the lowest operating costs in the industry. Even though Southwest Airlines has achieved a level of excellence that is rare in almostRead MoreCulture Is The Shared Values And Beliefs That Shapes An Organization1117 Words   |  5 PagesOrganizational culture is the shared values and beliefs that shapes an organization (Bethel, 2016). Further, organizational culture defines how the employees and leadership treat each other and others (Parnell, 2014). Honestly, it appears Southwest has captured pieces of both an adaptive and inert culture. Why? Adaptive culture exhibits trust, employee involvement, positive change, and a willingness to embrace change relevant to their core values (Parne ll, 2014). Check, Southwest meets the criteriaRead MoreThe Merger Of Airtran By Southwest Airlines1234 Words   |  5 PagesTitle of Case: THE MERGER OF AIRTRAN BY SOUTHWEST AIRLINES: WILL THE ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURES MERGE? Date: 09/14/2014 Name: Sagar Mehta. Critical Facts: â€Å"On Sept. 27, 2010, Southwest Airlines announced it would purchase AirTran Holdings in a $1.42 billion deal that will expand the nation s largest low-cost airline to 37 new cities.† (Young) â€Å"After Merger â€Å"Southwest becomes the nation’s fourth largest airline†. The AirTran merger would give Southwest new or expanded presence in 63 markets includingRead MoreSouthwest Airlines Organizational Culture770 Words   |  4 Pages Southwest Airlines corporate philosophy can be credited to one of the founders Herb Kelleher. It is an airline company with a unique culture â€Å"goofiness†, which keeps the morale of its employees high (Smith, 2004), and is a company that welcomes fun, dedication, and effort. Southwest believes that a happy employee will create a happy customer, and will create loyal customers. Mr. Kelleher effectively implemented its style, culture and emphasis on quality in the daily actives at Southwest (SmithRead MoreSouthwest Airline Merger With AirTran Essay1450 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Southwest Airlines has come from an underdog to being one of the best airlines in the industry. This reputation translates from its strategic management of resources. The Co-founder and former CEO, Herb Kelleher, established a unique corporate culture that leads to high customer satisfaction, employees’ morale, and one of the most profitable airlines in the industry (Jackson et al., 2012). The corporate culture concentrates on empowerment the workforce. It shows through Southwest Airlines coreRead MoreThe Expansion of Southwest Airlines1503 Words   |  6 PagesBackground: Southwest Airlines has been in business for nearly 43 years and has over 44,000 employees. Southwest has a current operating income of $17.7 billion (Information for the Worlds Business Leaders - Forbes.com, n.d). Like all great companies Southwest is currently looking to expand its services beyond their current borders. With the acquisition of its newest company AirTran, another low-cost airline, the expansion is more of a reality. With this expansion come changes to services asRead MoreSouthwest Airlines Intellectual Assets Analysis1144 Words   |  5 PagesSouthwest Airlines Intellectual Assets Introduction Southwest Airlines Company (Southwest Airlines or ‘the Company’ SWA) is a passenger airline that provides scheduled passenger and freight transportation services. The Company primarily provides scheduled services throughout the US and near-international markets. It is headquartered in Dallas, Texas and employs 48,000 people and serves over one hundred million customers annually (â€Å"Southwest,† 2015). Southwest Airlines has accumulated over forty