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1. A discussion of the cultural environment in which the play was written.

Everyman is known as one of the last surviving morality plays that falls into the genre of medieval drama. In fact there are “…four surviving versions of Everyman, two of them fragmentary” (Jokinen). The origins of the play are primary unknown as well as the author. There are however many speculations and estimated ideas to its birth. They play is said to have been written approximately near the end of the 15th century. Furthermore there are speculations that it is “…probably a translation from a Flemish play, Elckerlijk (or Elckerlyc) first printed in 1495, although there is a possibility that Everyman is the original, the Flemish play the translation” (Jokinen). Either way for the sake of this paper, the cultural environment researched was the late 15^th century and early 16^th century English era since that is what it is mostly identified with.

During the late 15^th century and early 16^th century in England there was a lot of death and despair, as well as wars and advances in weaponry were being made. But there was one event that stood out and really took its toll on all of England: the Black Death plague. The Black Death epidemic was going around England for at least three centuries and killed much of the population. This plague brought much despair and was considered unavoidable since there was no medicine that could cure or lessen this disease. Because of the fast spreading of this disease, regular common folk aided as doctors when they were clearly not trained in the field. Although there is no possible way of knowing now it is concluded that,

“…either the disease was such that no treatment was possible or the doctors were so ignorant that they did not know what caused it, and consequently could not administer the proper remedy. In any case very few recovered; most people died within about three days of the appearance of the tumors described above, most of them without any fever or other symptoms. The violence of this disease was such that the sick communicated it to the healthy that came near them, just as a fire catches anything dry or oily near it. And it even went further. To speak to or go near the sick brought infection and a common death to the living; and moreover, to touch the clothes or anything else the sick had touched or worn gave the disease to the person touching” (“The Black Death”).

With such devastation and fear about catching this disease it was only a matter of time before a society began to break. For those who were not carrying the disease there was no compassion towards those who were – no matter who they were.

People did everything and anything in their power to abandon or cease contact with the diseased. More troublesome was the fact how family members left each other to die, whether it was their brother, sister, uncle, or even father it did not matter. The worst-case scenario was when “…fathers and mothers refused to see and tend their children, as if they had not been theirs” (“The Black Death”). No matter whom they were, people of all social ranking including, were left without care and attendance. There were however some servants who for the right about of money would tend to the diseased. 

“…most of them were coarse-minded men and women, who did little more than bring the sick what they asked for or watch over them when they were dying. And very often these servants lost their lives and their earnings. Since the sick were thus abandoned by neighbors, relatives and friends, while servants were scarce, a habit sprang up which had never been heard of before. Beautiful and noble women, when they fell sick, did not scruple to take a young or old man-servant, whoever he might be, and with no sort of shame, expose every part of their bodies to these men as if they had been women, for they were compelled by the necessity of their sickness to do so” (“The Black Death”).

The level of morality fell to an all time low during this era and thus the creation of Everyman perhaps can be said to have served as an eye opener. Even though it is impossible to know for sure, I firmly believe that this plague directly influenced the play. The events that took place during the plague (people abandoning each other and others helping each other for money) can be seen in the play. When Everyman finds out about the journey he has to take there is no one, except for Good Deeds, that will/can go on with him. During this time people were left without anything (no Kinship, Fellowship, or Goods) and thus had only their good deeds to depend on, which most people had none to fall back on.

2. A thematic analysis of the play.

Although there are numerous amounts of theme in Everyman the one that prevails most is the one of atonement. Atonement is after all the main purpose/point that the play has managed to get across. Atonement in the play is seen as Knowledge because in order for Everyman to atone for his sins he must first see the sees he has committed. It is only when Everyman is “… feeling most afraid and alone, he is given the opportunity to atone for his sins” (“Everyman Themes”). By acknowledging that he has been living a sinful life, so in other words, by having knowledge on his side Everyman is able to see what he has been doing wrong and is then able to go to confession. Knowledge is the most vital character in the play because without her Everyman would have never been forgiven by God.

It is when Knowledge enters the play she has the ability to change the feeling of despair into a rising feeling of joy. She basically stands for Everyman’s only hope to see the errors he has committed through his life.  Knowledge being the principal belief of salvation has the ability to give Everyman a chance to begin his atonement. Prior to the entrance of Knowledge, Everyman believed all was lost and in his own damnation. His self-pity is not only not helping in his atonement but also making him blind to the true aid that is available to him. Upon the arrival of Knowledge she solely promises to accompany him in his journey thus the burden of having to be alone is lifted from Everyman’s shoulders. Obviously though in man’s journey to judgment day nothing can truly accompany him (besides good deeds) and so towards the end of his journey Knowledge must depart “…indicating that learning has only limited utility in saving one’s soul” (“Drama for Students”). Knowledge of his sins alone cannot save Everyman’s soul. But by having Knowledge on his side, she is able to lead Everyman to Confession.

In the play Confession “…represents an act he must go through to attain purification but also, since the parts of the sacrament are successive and cumulative, each stage carries him that much closer to Heaven” (Thomas). Knowledge and Confession go hand in hand because Everyman cannot get to “heaven” without having both. Confession is by far the finest chance for salvation that Everyman has. By agreeing to go to Confession, Everyman has shown that he has learned of and from his sins. Everyman now completely understands his separation from God and more or less asks for forgiveness. Knowledge helped Everyman see his sins but now he needs Confession to be able to help him do penance. Penance meaning working off sins committed; in other words Everyman must do some cleansing. Confession lets Everyman know he will help in anyway:

“I will comfort as well as I can, / And a precious jewel I will give thee, / Called penance, voider of adversity; / Therewith shall your body chastised be, / With abstinence and perseverance in God’s service. / Here shall you receive that scourge of me, / Which is penance strong that ye must endure, / To remember thy Savior was scourged for thee / With sharp scourges, and suffered it patiently; / So must thou, ere thou scape that painful pilgrimage. / Knowledge, keep him in this voyage, / And by that time Good Deeds will be with thee. / But in any wise be siker of mercy, / For you time draweth fast; and ye will saved be, / Ask God mercy, and he will grant truly”. (Crawley)

Confession advises Everyman every step of the way, and makes it clear that if he wants to be purified he must do penance. Confessions tells Everyman that in order to be forgiven he must suffer like their Savior did. He lets Everyman know that it does not matter how big his sins were as long as he wants and seeks forgiveness, then he shall be forgiven. God forgives all that ask for his forgiveness and so Everyman does not need to be worried. Confession assures Everyman that once he has done his penance Knowledge and Goods Deeds will accompany him. After doing penance Everyman has amended all his sins and can now go in his journey with peace of mind.

3. An answer to the following question: Why should people continue to read and discuss this play?

From the moment I read Everyman for a class over a year ago it has served to being one of my all time favorite plays. It is so simple and direct to the point but yet carries such a powerfully strong message. For that reason people should continue to read and discuss this play: because it teaches a lesson in life. It can serve to humanize people as well as remind people of the almighty thing called karma. The actions one do defines one – many people don’t realize that simple notion and thus are more or less corrupted. The good deed one does for others is what carries one and shapes our essentially being. No amount of money, power, or material possessions can buy a person into heaven – sort to speak – so it goes without saying that no amount of those things can make someone “good” in heart and soul. It is an amusing fact that even though when the play was written there weren’t as many material possessions as today it still carries the message. This play teaches how material possessions can condemn you rather than feel your essential being. This play effects everyman in this world: it transcends race, region, and social bearing. It has to be read and discussed for many years to come because it is rare that there is a play that everyone can relate to. The play is entitled Everyman for a reason after all – even people of all religion backgrounds can agree.

The story of Everyman is a story of morality; it teaches a lesson, a moral. No matter what time and place we are in, it is a safe assumption to say we all need a lesson in morality. The rate of crime is so high and it keeps rising with each passing day – why – it is because human beings have been come so engulfed in obtaining material possessions. What most people don’t understand – or want to understand – is that no matter how many material possessions they have or obtain, they will not make them happy. Happiness can only be obtained through good deeds, which is essential what the play teaches. Fun and good times (Fellowship) will not help any human being when it is time for judgment day. Not that there is anything wrong with having a good time, it is just not something one can depend on to help define them.

Works Citied

• Crawley, A.C., ed. Everyman and Medieval Miracle Plays. Orion Group, 1993.
• “Drama for Students.” 7 (2000). Literature Resource Center. Everyman. London: Orion Group, 1956.
• “Everyman Themes.” <http://www.answers.com/topic/everyman-play-4>.
• Jokinen, Anniina. “Everyman.” Luminarium. 30 Apr. 1996. 13 June 2008 <http://www.luminarium.org/medlit/intro.htm>.
• “The Black Death.” EyeWitness to History. <http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com>.
• Thomas, Helen S. “The Meaning of the Character Knowledge in Everyman.” Winter 1960. Literature Resource Center.

The classical tradition of rhetoric is dated back to being with a teacher in ancient time named Corax in around 476 B.C. Though rhetoric teachings did not only stop with Corax, during the fifth century B.C. in Greek city-states rhetoric teaching was becoming a popular thing. The Greek people called these speech teachers sophists, which basically meant wisdom bearer. These teachers were Antiphon, Lysias, Protagoras, and Gorgias. The most famous sophist was named Isocrates because he not only taught rhetoric, but he also taught people how to be statesmen.

These men were not the only rhetoric speakers: “…the most severe critic of the Sophists was the great Greek philosopher Plato” (Burkholder). Plato believed that the proper way of using rhetoric was to be used to influence the minds of the listeners, in other words to be persuasive. Plato’s view on this was influenced by his understanding of the truth in the world and the things around him. Plato thought that of rhetoric as “…a means of influencing the very souls of listeners, thus making them more virtuous” (Burkholder). As the author of this selection stated, Plato thought people didn’t have what it takes to achieve true knowledge in the first place.

Plato placed on his ideals to his student Aristotle who happened to be one influential cookie. However Aristotle has his own ideals and he thought of rhetoric as a form of art that could be taught to anyone. In the article Aristotle was said to define rhetoric as, “…the faculty of discovering, in any given case, the available means of persuasion” (Burkholder). Basically there are the three means of which Aristotle spoke of ethos, logos, and pathos. Through the things Aristotle would teach about speech making it was pretty clear that he was using an audience centered approach.

Aristotle along with other ancient Greeks and Romans created many of the theories to speech making that we still use today. In chapter seventeen of the book it discusses the methods of persuasive that can be used for public speaking. Like I previously stated, Aristotle “…defined rhetoric as the process of discovering the available means of persuasion” (Beebe). Well what chapter 17 does is explain the means of persuasion that Aristotle was talking about. These means of persuasion help to make the speech effective and memorable.

The article on the classical tradition of rhetoric and chapter 17 both share the same belief, that in order to be effective when being persuasive then you must tell the truth. Chapter 17 of the book starts of discussing how you have to have credibility to what you’re saying. In order to be persuasive you can not just base your knowledge on your own opinion. Whatever you are trying to be persuasive has to be supportive with facts or opinions from experts. The chapter also discusses various types of reasoning you should use when being persuasive and the dangers of fallacy. This is when the chapter starts to basically agree with Aristotle because using false information in your speech is a big mistake.

Aristotle was the first to really make it a point to be truthful when being persuasive. When giving a persuasive speech evidence obviously needs to be used, but the evidence can not be made up. Chapter 17 makes it a strong point to know about fallacies because, “you will be both a better and more ethical speaker and a better listener…” (Beebe). Plato, along with other future sophists, believed that the population was basically ignorant to see the truth. So in a sense they believed that the population was basically being persuaded by people using fallacies. This assumption makes sense because after all they were teaching to be rhetoric using truth as a basis.

Both Aristotle and chapter 17 stress the fact that there are other truthful methods to use to have an effective speech. One of the most effective ways is to use emotion in the speech and this also causes the speech to become a memorable one. Aristotle referred to this as pathos, but it is the same concept of using emotion to capture the audience. The chapter also goes into detail about some of the ways to use emotion to persuade:

“Use concrete examples that help your listeners visualize what you describe. Use emotion-arousing words. Use nonverbal behavior to communicate your emotional response. Use visual images to evoke emotions. Use appropriate metaphors and similes. Use appropriate fear appeals. Consider using appeals to several emotions. Tap audience members’ belief in shared myths” (Beebe).

Most of these approaches were used by a very important man in history in the single most known speech to America. That man was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with his speech I have a dream.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his speech famous speech “I have a dream” in 1963 and since that time there has not been such a remarkable speech. The speech uses emotion on so many levels and that is why it is so memorable. Dr. King constantly uses metaphors and similes; like for example when he said “…justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream” (King). This speech, in my opinion, is the best example of a rhetoric speech in history so far. Every single sentence of this speech is full of emotion and it connects with so many people. As I mentioned before, Dr. King used varies approaches in his speech, from metaphors to shared audience beliefs. Most importantly he never used one once of falsehood in his speech and that is what rhetoric speech making is all about.

Works Citied

• Beebe, Steven A., and Susan J. Beebe, comps. “Using Persuasive Strategies.” Public Speaking. Pearson Education, 2006.
• Burkholder, Thomas R. “The Classical Tradition of Rhetoric.” Public Speaking. Pearson Education, 2006.
• King, Martin L. Speech. Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C. 28 Aug. 1963. 20 Mar. 2007 <http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm>.

When we read a piece of writing from Edgar Allan Poe, we are immediately transported into a completely different universe then the one around us. We are forced to see things in a different light, a sometimes darker and more enticing light than the one we are accustomed to. His writing can be described as many things: weird, fantastic, and amazing. But these words cannot sum up the mind-blowing experience it is when examining his writing. In every one of his pieces there is a prevailing and creative theme that makes the reader have goose bumps. The themes that are shown in this writings vary from mysterious to fearful to serene. But one must ask, what exactly about his writing touches us the way it does? Making us feel in place of the characters, making us cringe with excitement or fear.

Edgar Allan Poe uses something called a passion, a passion that literary drips off every word. He, himself, once said, “poetry has been not a purpose but a passion” (Hoffman). Through his writing it becomes clear that he was as a symbolist writer, but not simply that. His writing is clearly different than other symbolist writers, “he belonged to no school or tradition, nor did he devise for himself a theory and method of literary symbolism” (Quinn). In poetry he wants to portray beauty, while in stories he wants to portray truth. He shows these things through a type of symbolism that cannot be determined by just one sentence. In order to gain the full extent of his words and meaning then every piece must be read as a whole. It is then, as a whole, which the symbolic and appeal of his mentally shines through the words.

The passion that Edgar exhibits can be most seen in the way his characters are written: from the way they think to the things they do. The reader is able to connect with the characters because they so imperfect. These characters have an obsessive emotional need and want for whatever it is their doing. In his stories, everything seems to have an allegorically meaning and every character seems to have a powerful want/need. When reading his writing, it becomes clear that Poe tends to, “…work the physical setting often [and] reflects the inner personality or emotion of the central character” (Gioia). It is because of this creative style that the reader gets wrapped into the character as if one with the story. Also this, often called strange, showcase of the characters emotions is what touches readers so such a deep and passionate manner.

In his writing, the characters carry with the them what I believe is the darker side of human beings. The parts of us that we tend to hide from others, the part of us that we deny we have. In his writing, the characters seem to have a consciousness that is full of guilt, despair, solitude, and/or sorrow. But these emotions aren’t just dark; they have a light side to them as well. There is a beauty in the revelations that the characters have about themselves. His characters have this ability to perceive, with their senses, the truth in their own souls. It is because these characters have those abilities that it becomes strange to the reader, almost scary. Poe wants to put his readers, “…into a hypnogogic state in which one’s pores, even unwillingly at times, absorb the magic spell” (Claudel). It is how it is being described takes the reader and puts them under this enchantment; making them believe they are the character themselves.

Another characteristic of his writing is the night setting, which is apparent in almost all of his poetry and stories. With the exception of about a handful of works, his writing revolves the night. Why? Some critics have gone, as far as to say that it is because of his inner fear of the night, but I don’t believe this is so. Using the night setting is another one of his symbolic allegories. The night setting serves a very specific purpose, “it is only at night, when the veil is thrown over the senses, and is lifted from the soul, that beauty becomes most elevating and melancholy most intense” (Allen). People are most vulnerable at night; their true selves come out from hiding. The beauty of it is the mystery of it all, the fact that anything can happen. This along with, “…the gloom, the chill, the mystery, the dread, the disturbing strangeness, the unexplored recesses of sorrow, that constitute another group of his poetic attributes” (Allen).

Using the night setting ties into another symbolic movement he does, using emotions. Like mentioned before, his characters are so likeable because they are so emotional, but it isn’t just the characters who carry these emotions. Everything that surrounds these characters has some type of symbolic meaning behind it. For example, in his most famous poem The Raven, what he purposely uses “…is a bird of ill-omen, whose croaking signals the imminence of mourning in popular belief” (Zayed). But again, the true intentions of his poem aren’t as simple as that. The characters emotions don’t just linger on death in of its self, but instead thinks about the aftermath and a way to struggle against it. Ultimately, the poem ends up revealing “something more profound and more agonizing which constitutes its modernism: the anguish of the poet in the face of possible loss of identity, an unbearable thought against which all of his being rebels” (Zayed).

To answer the question of exactly wraps the reader into Edgar Allan Poe’s poetry is simple; it’s the symbolism he put behind every word. There is not one single poem in which Poe didn’t “confer upon them a high spirituality, for the symbol surpasses the exterior aspect of things and transcends them; it reveals their inner significance, and thereby unveils something of the mystery and the meaning of the universe” (Zayed). Each poem transports reader to another dimension in which the reader can reexamine things such as death, love, and fear. Of course, his use of verse and rhythm also contribute to his success, but it is ultimately the influence behind the words that have capture audiences all these years.

Works Citied

• Claudel, Alice Moser. “Poe as Voyager in ‘To Helen.’” In New Approaches to Poe: A Symposium, edited by Richard P. Benton, pp. 33-37. Hartford: Transcendental Books, 1970.
• Gioia, Dana. “Overview of The Raven.” Poetry for Students, Gale, 1997.
• Hoffman, Daniel. “Edgar Allan Poe: Overview.” Literature Resource Center. 3 Aug. 2007.
• Allen, James Lane. “Night Shadows in Poe’s Poetry.” The Continent 5, no. 4 (23 January 1884): 102-04.
• Quinn, Patrick F. “Four Views of Edgar Poe,” in Jahrbuch Fur Amerikastudien, Vol. 5, 1960, pp. 128-46.
• Zayed, Georges. “The Symbolism of the Poems.” In The Genius of Edgar Allan Poe, pp. 127-36. Cambridge, Mass.: Schenkman Publishing, 1985.

Don’t the people have the right to choose where they want to live anymore? Recent immigration laws are making it harder and harder to enter the country, but why? Under the constitution doesn’t every person have equal rights? One of main ethic groups facing major immigration problems is Mexicans. These people go through amazing lengths to get into the country only to be faced with a mountain of problems. All these people want to do is become a citizen of the “almighty” United States. They need work and they need money. What is better to get these things then the land of the free? Why is the United States so afraid of these incoming immigrants? After all is said and done, without immigrants from all over the world where would this country stand today?

The fact of the matter is that there are millions of people presently living in the U.S. that recognize themselves as Mexican. A little known fact by many people is that “…Mexicans were already living in the Southern and Western regions of the North American continent centuries before the United States existed” (“Mexican”). During the 20^th century a lot of Mexicans started coming over to the United States and today they continue to do so. It was because of the revolution in Mexico that a huge increase in immigration rates began to happen. During this time Mexicans crossed back and forth between countries because of enhanced conditions that were happening in Mexico. Of course it is impossible to determine exactly how many people immigrated during this time period because of lack of credentials.

Do the natural born citizens know how lucky they are to be saved from the unruly process called citizenship? First of all what does is actually mean to be a citizen or to have citizenship? Citizenship is defined as being a member of a country and the having constitutional rights to political participation. Citizenship happens to be an indispensable component of maintaining democracy. Why? The reasons for that is that:

Citizenship is the social and legal link between individuals and their democratic political community. And the status of citizenship entails very important responsibilities and duties that must be fulfilled; if they are not, democracy is disabled (“Patrick”).

Since that United States is a democratic nation it does have legal procedures for people without a birthright to citizenship. For an immigrant to become a citizen they have to first go through a process called naturalization.

But, what is naturalization specifically? Naturalization is associated with migrants who have left their country and now live in the U.S. as aliens. The process requires the person to “…a period of continuous residence and physical presence in the United States, a knowledge and understanding of U.S. history and government, and attachment to the principles of the U.S. Constitution” (“Naturalization”). The Constitution does in fact talk about natural born citizens. The first naturalization act, which was drafted by Thomas Jefferson utilize the expression natural born and native born a great deal. So, that would lead one to believe that to be naturalized is therefore to become a natural born citizen. Consequently, where would that leave immigrants? Another place where naturalization is mentioned is in the fourteenth amendment. The fourteenth amendment states that “…all persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof shall be citizens of the United States and of the State in which they reside” (“Fourteenth Amendment”).

Becoming a citizen of the United States is not an easy process to do. In that case, why are these people leaving Mexico to come over to the United States? Simply said, it is to make money to help their families back in Mexico. For some families it is vital for someone to come to the United States and make money to send back. According to the national population council of Mexico, 1 out of 10 Mexican families is depending on the pocket money made in the U.S. for a living. Mexicans are coming in left and right to avoid this poverty in their country:

There are 8.5 million Mexican-born people in the United States, three million of whom are undocumented. About 300,000 Mexicans come to settle permanently in the United States each year, half of whom are undocumented. The Mexican immigrant population is highly concentrated, with 78 percent living in just four states, and nearly half living in California alone (“Beyond the Border”).

However since 9/11 immigration has gone and the immigration laws have gone up. Before 9/11 it was being considered to create a guest worker program where Mexicans could come in and out the country freely to work. But because of 9/11, U.S. officials cracked down on any thoughts of improving immigration laws. Why? It is because of the major fear the population and government has against terrorism.

So then, why do these make such a hard choice of coming to the United States? Mexicans are certainly not being encouraged by their government to come to the U.S. illegally. The only thing being done by the United States to stop these illegal immigrants is more force on the borders. But the border is so huge that it is a losing situation in the U.S. standing point. While I do believe that Mexicans, along with other immigrants have the right to be the United States they shouldn’t have to be doing it illegally. Entering the country illegally is terrible circumstance they ends up killing a lot of these people in the process. Cracking down on the American companies hiring these illegal immigrants is the start to stopping illegal immigrant, but not the complete solution. Stopping companies from hiring illegal immigrant workers is a terrible thing to do too. If you think about, it these people faced death to cross the border just so now they can’t find work. But unemployment is a real and harsh situation that Mexican immigrants have to now face.

Since the events that occurred on 9/11, Mexican immigrants are now facing an enormous raise in unemployment. It is getting so bad that they rather be returning to Mexico. Highly skilled workers are finding themselves working 3 times a week when they used to be working 5 to 6 times a week. They can’t afford to be sitting around trying to find work when they have starving families back home. Government officials are not making it easier for Mexican immigrants. New laws now state if they go over their visa, even by a single day, then they will be arrested and held in custody for as long as possible. Why are government officials doing this? It is so they can keep an even tighter gasp on immigration and terrorism. The only choices Mexicans are left with are to either become a citizen or go back home. I don’t think it needs to be said that this is not an easy choice.

Now the question arises, on why Mexicans have the right to live in the United States. I truly believe that the United States would not be what it is today if it were not for immigrants. I actually do think that it is a rather silly question to be asking in the first. People have the divine right to live wherever they so wish to choose. Unfortunately this does not occur in all countries, but isn’t the United States the ideal place of freedom. I was personally under the impression that every human being had the freedom of movement; it is after all “…recognized in Articles 13 and 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights’ and further developed in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights” (Gabor). Although these provisions do exist, the actually standing point of immigrants under both American legislation and international law still remains really divisive. It is an understatement saying that it is not fair for these people to have gone through things like terror and starvation just to be permitted to live in a country.

It is possible for the “almighty” United States to be afraid of immigrants. Or in fact could it be probable for the United States to be suffering from xenophobia? According to Britannica Online xenophobia is, “fear and hatred of strangers or foreigners or of anything that is strange or foreign”. If one sits down it really would make sense that the United States has a bit of xenophobia. The United States is suffering from the second form of this phobia which involves culture. How? Well for starters the U.S. is so narrow-minded against the incoming Mexican immigrants. If they do not speak English then there is a big uproar and their legal entry into the country is further postponed or denied.

But how can the United States push their ideals and customs on these immigrants? Mexicans have to stay true to their culture while at the time adapting American culture into their lives. I don’t believe there is anything harder then being a Mexican American. Culture is a really blank term and sometimes not quite understood. So then, the question that remains is what exactly is Mexican culture? Culture itself is defined as “the perspectives, practices and products of a social group” (Definition). Mexican culture contains, “…the complexity of Mexico’s history through the blending of pre-Hispanic Meso civilizations and the culture of Spain” (Culture). Culture is not something that can be easily defined and it can not be torn down easier either.

Mexican immigrants make up a significant part of the U.S. population that I believe it is impossible not to consider them part of America. It is a fact that they “…have become one of the most influential social and cultural groups in the country” (“Mexican”). These people have the right to be in the U.S. if they so wish to do so. U.S. officials should make their laws and immigration process much more easier for them. This is not a probably outcome because of the lack of understanding of how it is to be in their shoes.

Works Citied

• “Beyond the Border.” PBS. 12 Mar. 2007 <http://www.pbs.org/itvs/beyondtheborder/immigration.html>.
• Britannica Online. Keyword: Xenophobia.
• “Culture of Mexico.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 15 Mar 2007, 02:47 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 15 Mar 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Culture_of_Mexico&oldid=115230808>.
• “Definition of Culture.” About. 15 Mar. 2007 <http://racerelations.about.com/od/skillsbuildingresources/g/culturedef.htm>.
• “Fourteenth Amendment.” 9 Mar. 2007 <http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/constitution/amendment14/>.
• Gabor, Francis. “A Proposal for Recognition Under Existing International Law.” Texas International Law Journal Summer 2006. ProQuest. 15 Mar. 2007.
• “Mexican.” Immigration. <http://memory.loc.gov/learn/features/immig/mexican.html>.
• “Naturalization.” U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. 9 Mar. 2007 <http://www.uscis.gov/>.
• Patrick, John J. “The Concept of Citizenship in Education for Democracy.” ERIC Digest. 9 Mar. 2007 <http://www.ericdigests.org/2000-1/democracy.html>.

For many years back in the late sixties and seventies there was one man deeper feared and hated across the United States. That man was Ted Bundy, a serial killer with over a hundred victims – all of which were young women in universities. What led this average man to commit murders? On a blind eye opinion basis, Ted was concerned to be a fairly successful and attractive individual who seemingly had a lot going for him. Yet deep down was the heart of a serial killer – some people going as far as to say that he was born to be a killer. It is not far fetched to say that a person becomes what their surroundings conspire them to be. Then what about Ted, is he too a victim of his environment or was it the passion he felt for killing that fueled him. Was it psychological tribulations or deluded personal satisfaction – conscious choice – that drove him to be what is now known as the most frightening of serial killers? More importantly were his killings of these young women at random or was there an inner complexity behind his targets? The line between sanity and insanity is a thin but in the case of Ted Bundy it was almost nonexistent.

Ted Bundy’s initial identity was a scrambled one from even before he was born. His mother, Eleanor Louise Cowell, was unwed and never revealed who Ted’s father was. While on the birth certificate she stated one man as the father she later mentioned being seduced by another older man. In order to avoid social scandal Eleanor’s parents claimed him as their own son and he grew up believing Eleanor was his older sister. Around the time he was five years old, Eleanor and him moved away to live with some other relatives. It was around that time when Eleanor decided for an unknown reason to change her sons’ last name. Obviously there were a lot of changes going on about this time, which probably confused him and alienated him. Especially when considering the fact that within a year of moving Eleanor decided to get married and start a large family. It was from this new man in his life that Ted acquired the new last name of Bundy.

There is no doubt that Ted Bundy displayed abnormal behavior as a child. From the books and journals written about Ted it is learned that he was an introverted child. There was an incident with Eleanor’s younger sister Julia told from Ted’s childhood that single handedly supports the great influence his grandfather’s behavior had over him. After lying down for a nap Julia awoke surrounded by kitchen knives and a smiling three year old Ted next to her. These behaviors that Ted displayed as a young child could lead one to believe he suffered from childhood depression. His grandfather was known as a violent and abusive man – who surely didn’t hesitate in showing his lack of tolerance while Ted was growing up. In a child’s thinking if it is okay for him to hit women or belittle women than it is okay for me to do. If that mind set is all a child knows then that is all a child will believe. On many interviews with specialists, Ted had repeatedly mentioned his lack of being sociable:

“He maintained a facade of social activity, but he had no natural sense of how to get along with other people: I didn’t know what made things tick. I didn’t know what made people want to be friends. I didn’t know what made people attractive to one another. I didn’t know what underlay social interactions” (“Ted Bundy”).

While a period of feeling sociable awkward is considered normal and something that every child goes through, what Ted was feeling was something much deeper. This social awkwardness lasted him throughout his life and was not a mere phrase, but instead a personality disorder that with time further escalated.

As his mother began having other children it likely alienated him further since at that point in his life he believed her to be his sister. What were actually his half siblings he thought were his nephews and in that sense he was further awkward. Even as a child he must have realized something was off and different about his living arrangements. He probably often wondered why he didn’t live with his parents like other boys and girls. And he was living in a home with his “sister” and watching her tend to her children while he had no mother figure just a sister taking care of him. After all children naturally want what they see around them – if that little boy has chocolate why can’t I have it too? The constant questioning in his mind likely arose further self examination about his existence and possible burden on family members, which in turn bought the issue of abandonment. Studies have shown that, “…childhood depression increases the chances that a child will develop another psychological disorder by at least 20-fold” (Nevid). Having this depression is what most likely contributed to his other mental instabilities throughout the risk of his lifetime.

The fact of the matter is that family is without a doubt an important aspect in any young child’s life. The way that Ted’s childhood was developed and the disturbances in his household contribute to his later psychodynamic formulation. Various researchers have found that and “…link childhood physical or sexual or neglect to the development of personality disorders” (Nevid). Growing up with his silent depression, it seems likely that it also aided Ted in developing multiple personality disorders. Like mentioned earlier, issues of abandonment were probably a constant feeling to Ted due to “…failure to develop secure bonds with paternal attachment figures in childhood due to paternal neglect [and] rejection” (Nevid). Years and years of constant downsizing by his family members resulted in Ted growing with lack of attachment to others or consideration for warm feelings. Not experiencing compassion as a child resulted in him not showing empathy and naturally showing indifference to those around him – in other words showing no care to his victims.

Even after his capture, Ted never shows a moment of regret or remorse for his actions. As he speaks about the murders he committed in detail he perceives his way of thinking as normal, in other words as ego syntonic. It is evident that Ted can be classified as a sociopath judging on his behavior, which can be defined, as “…amoral and asocial, impulsive, and lacking in remorse and shame” (Nevid). Findings imply that “the pattern of behavior that characterizes antisocial personality disorder in childhood or adolescence and extends into adulthood” (Nevid). It is known that even before he entered high school Ted “…was a compulsive thief, a shoplifter, and on his way to becoming an amateur criminal” (“Ted Bundy”). Taken into consideration all the things that tie antisocialism with criminality such as unstable relationships, lack of commitment and empathy further aids the theory of Ted having this disorder.

During his days and the days awaiting his execution Ted confided in * and revealed more insight into his criminal thinking. Pornography was a major contributor to his mind set when murdering his victims. Ted himself repeated on several occasions “…while pornography didn’t cause him to commit murder, the consumption of violent pornography helped shape and mold his violence into behavior too terrible to describe” (“Ted Bundy”). As Ted spoke about his murders in gruesome details he always seemed to be happy, that is in the way someone is telling a wonderful story or fairytale. There is no doubt that he took pride in what he did. In a way it can be seen, as he feels happy because he affected so many people – because he is being the center of attention. This speculation again reveals some backup in his personality disorders. But again a question remains and that is where did this man who was once an innocent child learns this type of normality mind set when it comes to violence?

Samuel Crowell, his grandfather, was a strong religious man and deacon in his church but underneath his pacifist appearance had a conflicting personality. While he would preach good faith, he himself kept a large collection of pornography at his house to which Ted and cousin would sneak to look at. But the pornography was not the only message that Samuel was sending the Ted. It was known that Samuel was an angry violent man and Ted once “…described him as a bigot who hated blacks, Italians, Catholics, and Jews” (“Ted Bundy”). Worse were the acts of brutality he would often showcase in front of a young Ted: “…his grandfather tortured animals, beating the family dog and swinging neighborhood cats by their tails” (“Ted Bundy”).  All this childhood pain and conflicting emotions towards women harvested within him until the time the trigger was pulled. This mind trigger came shortly after the revelation about his mother and grandparents during the time after his college graduation.

Around the time of his college graduation a lot of things started falling apart for Ted. His then two-year girlfriend Stephanie Brooks had finally had enough with what she called immaturity and lack of ambition and decided to break things off with Ted. Days after his break up, Ted traveled back to his hometown where he found out about his parentage. It appears that both the desertion by his girlfriend and the truth about his parentage were too much and overwhelmed his psyche. It broke the final wall he had keeping in the beasts that were created throughout his childhood. The feeling of rejection triggered his sort of revenge and also a new part of himself. Many people claim that after finding out about his family secret he sort of became another person. Introverted and refrained Ted Bundy now became a dominant, confident, and determined man. This new man wanted women – women who evidently had similar features of his former girlfriend Stephanie Brooks. It was as if he was taking his emotional pain and physically bestowing it on “Stephanie” look a likes. Whether it was a conscious or unconscious act cannot be determined but there is no denying the fact that he was permanently hurt by his breakup with Stephanie. The internal hurt and sadness he felt over losing her probably ten-folding due to his mental instabilities.

Depression is something that can turn a person into something they can no longer control or in some cases recognize. Tie in depression with a violent and/or neglectful growing environment and it can literally drive a child to internal madness. In the case of Ted Bundy, depression only fueled his personality disorders and rejection aided his resented towards people. During an interview he described and recognized himself as a murder and furthermore admitted that he  “…was fascinated by images of sex and violence, calling it the entity” (“Ted Bundy”). So what was it that drove Ted Bundy to murder these women? The answer is not black and white; there is no simple explanation but rather many contributors. Ted Bundy was a twisted individual but in the end everything he was, was just a manifestation of his environment.

Works Citied

• Nevid, Jeffrey S., Spencer A. Rathus, and Beverly Greene. Abnormal Psychology in a Changing World. 6th ed. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall.
• “Ted Bundy.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 8 Mar 2008, 21:17 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 8 Mar 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ted_Bundy&oldid=196853541>.

Being creative is something that is always praised and is something that many people strive to achieve. However there are people who seem to be creative and have it just seem to flow naturally. Creativity isn’t normally something people question or at least not in the sense of associating it with mental illness. Not that creativity should always be associated with a mental illness it is undeniable that many people who do have manic depression are artists in some way or another. In simple terms creatively does not stem from mental illnesses but instead sometimes contributes it. Otherwise if it is assumed “…that such diseases usually promote artistic talent wrongly reinforces simplistic notions of the mad genius” (Jamison). A better statement would be that the emotions generated by mental illnesses could sometimes be converted into an artist form and/or concept.

Yet it seems throughout time people who presumably have suffered from this mental illness have been able to deal through artistic means. It goes without saying that people with mental illnesses, such as manic depression, don’t think the way ‘normal’ people do. The depression these people suffer seems to pull them away from the reality everyone else lives through. That notion is not necessarily a bad thing either because it makes them different and outside the norm. In other words, having this condition helps people bring new sides of themselves to life. Edgar Allan Poe, a man who is believed to have suffered manic depression, can be a prime example of a person who turned his distraught feelings into works of art.

A manic depression illness allows the person to have a variety of emotions on a profound and intense level unlike those people without the illness. Rather people with normal emotions see the world in black and white except for the few that can see a shading of grey. Well a good majority people with manic depression illness can see that grey shading and tap into their creativeness much easier. Because people with mental illness think differently, the intense emotions they express can make them see things in another light. This different sense of thought can help them convey their emotions in music, writing, and etcetera. But it isn’t as simple as that because people with depression are suffering in a sense and therefore may express their thought in morbid musings. The majority of the time Edgar Allan Poe’s poetry for example tends to draw on dark emotions – emotions people consider insane because of the fact they are so intense.

Furthermore, people with manic depression go through many other stages such as elevated self-esteem. Having that sense of high self-esteem enables these people to think further outside the norm and create new dimensions. Their own self image is so embodied that; “…they usually hold tremendous conviction about the correctness and importance of their own ideas” (Jamison). Basically what is seen to people, as a disability is actually a fuel of confidence that causes creative sparks to fly freely. Because of the mania this disorder causes these people are able to think at a fast pace and so their thoughts are rapid. But because they are so rapid, people with this disorder ideally are able to “…transcend it or shape it to their will” when and if they are able to they “…can provide a familiarly with transitions that is probably useful in artistic endeavors” (Jamison).

As a person with a mental disability I do suffer from mild mood disorders and so am able to associate myself with that grey area mentioned early. Mood swings help develop people and their way of thinking. Given the choice, I think a majority of the world would rather have their mood swings than live in a flat sense of being. For certain my life is perfect just the way it is – mood swings and all. In some way or another I have found myself being able to take advantage of my mood swings and turn them productive. My mood swings help motivate me but more importantly allow me to express myself creativity. Through writing, acting, and singing I am able to release the tension I am feeling but also give other people a view of how certain emotions feel like.

Works Citied

• Jamison, Kay R. “Manic Depressive Illness and Creativity.”