What is a characterization of Mother Shipton from "The Outcasts of Poker Flat" by Bret Harte?

Clearly a dynamic character, Mother Shipton transforms from a hardened, self-centered female in a profession of "impropriety" to an altruistic, tender, and motherly woman.

Ironically named Mother Shipton as the apparent madam of a house of ill repute, this hardened woman has a colorful repertoire of "bad language" that she fluently expels as the town rids itself of the "improper people." Later, after the escort of the group of which the disreputable Mother Shipton is a member disappears from her view while returning to Poker Flat, her pent-up feelings find expression in some rather "bad language" as she eyes the reprobate Uncle Billy with "malevolence."

When they have only gone a short ways, another woman of ill-repute named Duchess dismounts from her horse and declares she will go no farther. The group stops their journey to the next town, Sandy Bar, although they have not yet covered half the trail. A snowfall comes in the night, and the group is snowed in the next day and cannot travel. Fortunately, a young couple has stopped on their way to Poker Flat, and they graciously share their provisions. The young man, who is acquainted with the gambler in the expelled group, entertains the company, and Mother Shipton relaxes "into amicability" as she listens.

The next morning, Mr. Oakhurst, the gambler, discovers Uncle Billy absconded with all the mules in the night. Fortuitously, however, they stored the provisions in the abandoned hut, so they have enough to last them for ten days. The young couple entertain that night, but the snow continues to fall. One clear day, Mother Shipton sees smoke coming from Poker Flat and utters "a final malediction." After this, Mother Shipton, "the strongest of the party," seems to weaken and become ill.

In the middle of the night on the tenth day, she summons Mr. Oakhurst and tells him,

I'm going. . . but don't say anything about it. Don't waken the kids. Take the bundle from under my head and open it.

After Oakhurst takes the bundle, Mother Shipton tells him, "Give 'em to the child." The bundle is full of Mother Sipton's rations, which she did not eat to increase Piney's chances of surviving. Turning her head away, she dies. In this act of unselfishness, Mother Shipton demonstrates what love is. She lay down her life so the innocent Piney can live. There is no more unselfish and loving act, and given the opportunity, Mother Shipton proves herself to be heroic.

With the debate surrounding global warming, much emphasis has been placed on how humans have negatively impacted the natural state of nature. The...

Unlike the Urrasti landscape, the Anarresti landscape is the antithesis of all that is fertile. Its barren topography admits for very little of the lushness that characterizes the Urrasti countryside. Furthermore, Anarres is naturally arid, chilly, and windy. The air is thin; the "sun burned, the wind froze, the dust choked." Very few natural vegetation grows on Anarres. Perhaps the most fertile area is Abbenay (what used to be called Anarres Town), where Old World grains can flourish.

While the natural state of Anarres does not allow for widespread agriculture, it has rich reserves of natural minerals that allowed for commerce between the two worlds for a period of time. Although the natural state of an environment is not always conducive to life, the inherent nature of humans and animals allows civilizations to thrive despite difficulties.

As the book shows, any natural environment can be useful, despite the challenges inherent in its topography. In the Urrasti year IX-738, a settlement was founded at Anarres Town (Abbenay) for the purposes of mining the mercury in the area. The Urrasti discovered that it was more profitable to "mine the Moon than to extract needed metals from low-grade ores or seawater" on Urras. To aid the project, groups of Urrasti technicians and miners signed on for two to three-year assignments on Anarres. Yet, despite the formidable terrain, a small group of gold-miners and their families secretly settled on the Moon without the knowledge and express permission of the Council of World Governments. In the end, it was settled that the Moon should be given as an independent world of sorts to the International Society of Odonians.

That was how Anarres came to be populated by those who eschewed Urrasti materialism. So, although the natural state of an environment isn't always desirable, the human predilection for freedom and self-determinism often ensures the viability of a civilization within that environment. From the example of Anarres and Urras, it is possible for humanity to transcend the natural state (despite the harshness of the environment or the habits of human and animal life) to thrive above its circumstances. As is evident on Anarres, more laws will not so much reverse the negative contributions of humans and animals as impede personal agency and initiative. It is a fine line to walk, and the author contends that centralization will always be "a lasting threat, to be countered by lasting vigilance."

Compare and contrast the characters of Lord Henry and Basil, and their relationship to Dorian Gray.

Basil Hallward is a talented and kind painter who sees Dorian as a sort of muse, a subject for his paintings who makes him reconsider the way he makes art. Basil maintains an intense emotional investment in Dorian throughout the book, and feels very protective of him- especially against the influence of Lord Henry. Lord Henry is a hedonistic and incredibly charming member of London's upper class who strongly influences Dorian towards a life of seeking pleasure and disregard for morality. He provides Dorian with a book that drastically changes his worldview and a philosophy of seeking new pleasures and experiences.

The two characters are quite different; where Basil is conventional, focused, and extremely protective of Dorian, Lord Henry is pleasure-seeking, radical, and interested in pushing Dorian towards a life of decadence and disregard for conventional morality. Basil is dedicated to protecting his favorite subject, while Lord Henry is determined to introduce him to new experiences, regardless of whether or not they are moral. The major thing they have in common is an intense interest in Dorian, and an investment in his personal decisions.

How might a historian use the source Gilgamesh to understand the nature of ancient Mesopotamian society? What specific themes, plot devices,...

The Epic of Gilgamesh was written c. 2150-1400 BCE in Babylonia/Sumer in ancient Mesopotamia. The work is regarded as one of the first or the first example of literature in the western world. In this epic, Gilgamesh, the King of Uruk, starts as an oppressive leader until he meets and befriends Enkidu, a wild man. Together, they defeat the Bull of Heaven, which the goddess Ishtar sends as punishment for Gilgamesh's refusal to get involved with her. For this act, Enkidu is sentenced to death by the gods. Gilgamesh is overcome with grief by Enkidu's death and visits Utnapishtim, who has eternal life, to figure out how to become immortal. In the end, Gilgamesh does not become immortal, but he realizes that he can become great by treating his people well and being a good leader.

Some of the values reflected in the poem are the importance of good leadership, as the gods send Gilgamesh to befriend Enkidu to teach Gilgamesh to become a better leader and man. He is described in the epic as "very strong, and like a wild bull he lords it over men." In other words, Gilgamesh is likened to an animal in his instincts to mistreat others, but the gods want him to become superior to animals. In the end, he gives up the idea of immortality so that he can become a good leader. The symbol of the walls is often repeated in the epic. The beginning of the epic reads, "Look at it still today: the outer wall where the cornice runs, it shines with the brilliance of copper; and the inner wall, it has no equal." The repetition of the symbol of the walls emphasizes the importance of civilization and of Gilgamesh's dedication to building his city. 

From the epic, we also know that gods and goddesses were seen as having human qualities. For example, Ishtar falls in love with Gilgamesh, but when he refuses her, she "fell into a bitter rage, she went up to high heaven. Her tears poured down in front of her father Anu, and Antum her mother." Ishtar is described like a mortal, subject to feeling rejection and sadness as any human would.

From Ishtar's power, historians might also be able to surmise that women held a great deal of power in society. Ishtar is the goddess of fertility, war, and love. Fertility was very important in Sumerian society because of the importance of growing crops, so Ishtar was a very powerful goddess. The society saw women as powerful. 

What are the similarities and differences between behavioral deviance and the possession of involuntarily acquired, undesirable physical...

Behavioral deviance refers to actions voluntarily performed by individuals; these actions often inspire societal disgust, condemnation, and disapproval. For example, acts of behavioral deviance can include acts of sadomasochistic sex, animal torture, and bestiality. Such behavioral deviance perpetrates suffering on others; because of this, they invite the moral condemnation of the larger public.

On the other hand, involuntarily acquired, undesirable physical characteristics are only considered deviant based upon individual perception and biases. For example, someone can be born with a physical anomaly that causes him to be excluded from most social interactions. Claudio Vieira de Oliveira was born with an upside-down head due to a congenital anomaly. He did not choose to be born with such a disability. While many people admire his courage and perseverance in the face of his disability, others may react with disgust and horror at what they consider his deviant physical characteristics.

So, those with undesirable physical characteristics (for example, those who are extremely obese, deformed, or crippled in some way) are often subjected to ridicule, harassment, condemnation, and scorn. Those with such characteristics are labeled deviant not because of their abusive behavior towards others but because of the public's perception of their physical appearances.

Both behavioral deviance and the possession of involuntarily acquired, undesirable physical characteristics are similar in that both often result in negative attitudes from the larger public. Someone with a bad hump might be viewed as inept and untrustworthy as well as socially deviant. At the same time, possession of certain physical features may indicate a predilection for certain deviant beliefs, which in turn can cause the larger public to react in distrust and fear. For example, people who look like they might practice Islam may invite greater scrutiny from society, whether they are actually Muslims or not.

After the 9/11 attacks, a Time poll found the majority of Americans (61%) was against building a mosque two blocks from Ground Zero. These Americans feared the mosque project would not be a gesture of reconciliation, but rather a monument to Muslim hegemony. Fully 70% of Americans felt the mosque would be an insult to the victims of 9/11 (from Erich Goode's Deviant Behavior). So, any Muslim politician or dignitary who spoke in support of the mosque invited public condemnation and anger. Basically, an involuntarily acquired physical characteristic (looking Muslim) can inspire the same attitudes engendered by those who commit acts of atrocity (the deviant behavior exhibited by members of ISIS, for example).

As for your last question, these generalizations don't apply to all societies at all times. For example, marijuana use has been legalized for those 21 and older in Colorado, and consumption is permitted in the same way that alcohol consumption is authorized in the state. Still, there have been and still are people who consider the public consumption of marijuana to be deviant behavior.

Similarly, white supremacy, genocide, and torture have at different times and by different groups of people been viewed as acceptable. Today, most people do not believe so. For example, many Americans believe waterboarding terrorists is an unacceptable practice. Other Americans believe torture is permissible if many lives can be saved as a result of it. For more examples, please refer to the links below.

Source: Deviant Behavior by Erich Goode.

Using emotional intelligence, what would be the best way for one to handle the incident presented in the following scenario:One of your direct...

Assuming that the manager values all of these employees and wishes to retain them, he or she can use emotional intelligence as one tool in the management toolbox.  Emotional intelligence, the topic of much of Daniel Goleman's writing, is a term that seems to be tossed about a great deal but disregarded in action, much like critical thinking.  It is important, and it needs to be used far more than it is now.  Emotional intelligence, to me, is having empathy or insight into the behavior of others and oneself and acting in a way that defuses harm and produces positive outcomes. 

The manager who has been approached by the shaken employee needs to first have some empathy for that employee, understanding that she has been verbally attacked and threatened, and that she needs some assurance about the safety of the workplace, both mentally and physically, for herself and others.  If this attack on her has just happened, returning her immediately to the place where the problematic worker is without having done anything about him yet is not going to be particularly reassuring. I would say that some discussion about getting this fellow some help for his problems (and meaning it) will be helpful, and I would be inclined to tell her to take a long lunch or a long break while you sort this out with the fellow.  I also think that taking the "He will be punished" tone with her is a mistake, escalating the problem, particularly since she has already explained that he seems to be under stress.  She is not approaching the manager in a vindictive mood, I would say, just an upset and frightened one. She needs to be calmed down, removed from the situation, and assured that the manager is on the case.  We have all ready too many tales of employees going "postal," and that is likely to be her biggest fear, so words of assurance are the most important. 

The manager needs empathy to deal with the troubled employee, too.  Given that this troubled employee's problematic behavior is recent and reportedly caused by stress, something is clearly wrong.  Approaching him in a spirit of helpful inquiry is the key to learning what the problem is and then helping him, if possible, to solve it. This should be done immediately after meeting with the reporting employee, not delayed for any other reason. A meeting should be private, not a public questioning or chastising.  The manager must find out what the problem is and offer assistance.  Many organizations have an employee assistance plan (EAP) that provides counseling for employees.  Some problems can be solved simply by working with the employee.  He might have a new child at home and does not get enough sleep.  Perhaps his hours could be adjusted to allow him to sleep a bit later in the morning. He may be having marital problems, and all the manager can do is to sympathize.  But the employee who can articulate what the problem is is on the road to being helped. 

Having said all of that, the manager also needs to explain to this fellow that his behavior is unacceptable in the workplace, no matter what his reasons are.  His workmates are upset and afraid, with good reason.  The manager can ask this employee to use a little empathy too, asking "How would you feel if your fellow employees spoke to you and threatened you like this?" I would not at this point discipline or terminate.  Assuming that the manager has the discretion to decide upon this, he or she should give the person a chance to work on the underlying problem and his behavior.  It should be made clear that another incident will not be tolerated, though.  Followup with this employee is a must, to see if he is getting assistance, what kinds of arrangements can be made to accommodate him, and so on. The manager needs to keep a close eye on his behavior, too, but this could be done in a supportive way, by stopping by the department and asking everyone how things are going. 

Should there be a meeting to discuss violence and bullying in the workplace? I am not convinced this would be an emotionally intelligent step right away.  The rumor mill has already let everyone know what has happened, and a meeting might very well keep people gossiping.  After some time has passed, a manager might invite employees to a meeting to discuss what kinds of policies would work well to ensure that the workplace is safe for all. 

A manager who is calm and empathetic can deal with this problem in the workplace. Emotional intelligence is certainly applicable to this situation. 

What do the lives of great men teach others in "Psalm of Life" by Longfellow?

The lives of great men set an example for people, teaching them that they can make their lives "sublime," or lofty in thought and purpose, and then leave behind something worthwhile, such as noble deeds. In this manner, then, others can follow in their footprints:

 Lives of great men all remind us 

   We can make our lives sublime, 

And, departing, leave behind us 

   Footprints on the sands of time;

In his poem, Longfellow exhorts his fellowmen to live worthwhile lives with a strong heart for any fate. In this way, people set examples for those who follow, hopefully inspiring them in turn.

Let us, then, be up and doing, 

   With a heart for any fate; 

Still achieving, still pursuing, 

   Learn to labor and to wait.

"The Psalm of Life" verses carry a strong and encouraging message to live life fully and with the idea that one's life serves as an example to those who come afterwards and may wish to follow those "footprints on the sands of time."

Just as the Psalms of the Bible inspire, Longfellow's "A Psalm of Life" is meant to inspire those who read it to live better, more productive lives: "Learn to labor and to wait."