Heart of Darkness and Hollow Men - Literature Essay Samples

Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad, and Hollow Men, by T.S. Eliot have several comparative themes, though each author has an entirely separate way of conveying them. Each work displays a darkened and dismal mood, separation, and obscurity, which are depicted through different characters and environments. The authors both have a disdain for the hierarchy in society, which they cannot escape, and the destructive consequences that occur because of a higher authoritys demands. And, both authors portray characters who are observant, though one observes the tactile, and the other looks deeper into the spirituality of himself and others.Conrad and Eliot make darkness, death, impending doom, and separation the main focus in these two pieces of work. On page one of Heart of Darkness, Conrad uses descriptions like haze, dark, mournful, brooding, and gloom to set the general scene and mood for the continuum of the novel. Eliot sets up a similar scene by using death several times throughout the poem (line 14), and parallels life with fading or dying stars (line 28, 44, and 54). In lines 39-44 Eliot even goes so far as to give a morbid depiction of a graveyard,This is the dead landThis is the cactus landHere the stone imagesAre raised, here they receiveThe supplication of a dead mans handUnder the twinkle of a fading star.Although the setting is a huge part of depicting the mood, the characters and their personalities cannot be forgotten; their personalities also convey the theme of darkness. While Marlow is in the waiting room he feels slightly uneasy, and as if there is something ominous in the atmosphere (8). Conrad continues to use such descriptions through Marlow to delineate the feeling of darkness within himself. Marlow says that instead of going to the center of a continentŠ[he feels he is going into] the center of the earth (10). Conrad views this adventure as not only an exploration of the shadowy interior of the earth, but also a darkened descent into Marlows soul. Eliot uses confusing metaphors to convey his intent, instead of simply laying out average descriptions that the reader can easily understand; although the basic meaning of Hollow Men parallels that of Heart of Darkness. Eliot says that Between the emotion / And the response / Falls the Shadow (line 80-82), meaning that how one feels about something is distorted by the Shadow(line 82); so, the outcome is darker than it would be with normal emotions. This is what Marlow experiences on his journey to the Congo; trying circumstances directly affect the emotions of both characters. Both of the authors use a setting that is isolated from general society. In Heart of Darkness, Marlow and his crew are separated from the usual way of life on their journey to Africa. Likewise, in Hollow Men, the narrator and the men he is describing are isolated from their every day life. Eliot points out, they were in a field / behaving as the wind behaves (line 34-35). This shows the reader that Eli ots narrator, and the other men whom he describes are in a desolate environment. The authors use separation to give the reader a deeper sense of darkness, which anyone could relate to, and associate with loneliness.Another major theme of both works involves the journey, in which, each protagonist is on, and the purpose of that journey. Both characters talents are utilized by a higher authority in order to save themselves from the damnation that they know is bound to occur; obviously, the authors do not approve of such exploitation. In lines 1-7 Eliot uses evasive metaphors like,We are hollow menWe are the stuffed menHeadpiece filled with straw. Alas!Our dried voices, whenWe whisper togetherAre quiet and meaningless,This describes how the government has taken away the narrators free will, and soul, and has filled the hollow space with their ideals; he feels as though his voice is meaningless. He goes onto satirize the childrens song The Mulberry Bush, by calling it the prickly pear ( line 68-70). By calling it this he is implying that there is imminent danger in the situation that he is forced to enter. Comparatively, in Heart of Darkness Marlow is sent into a questionable situation by British who are trying to colonize the Congo. Both authors portray the purpose of these journeys as anything but noble, contrary to what the instigators of each scenario would have one to believe.Both Marlow, and the narrator of Hollow Men are observant individuals, although they display different kinds of observations. On page three of Heart of Darkness, the unnamed seaman makes the remark that Marlow is not typical, and to him the meaning of an episode was not inside like a kernel but outsideŠ The seaman clearly states that Marlow observes what is tactile, or what he can see and hear. Throughout the novel, Marlow never alludes to anyones personality, but instead describes his or her outward appearance and actions. On the other hand, the narrator of Hollow Men describes his in nermost feelings, and those of people around him. This is seen in lines 84-90 when Eliot says,Between the desireAnd the spasmBetween the potencyAnd the existenceBetween the essenceAnd the descentFalls the Shadow.This passage can be seen as an interpretation of the emotions of the narrator and the people around him; the want, the violence, the force, the struggle for existence, human nature, and mental descent all linger in the darkness of human souls.Both pieces of work display profound insight and description of what goes on in the human mind and soul. Eliots work gives the reader a picture of the human soul in trying circumstances, while Conrad shows a sort of superficiality through Marlow and the situations he faces. The reader can take away a better sense of themselves after reading these works and placing themselves in the narrators position.Eliot, T. S. Hollow Men. The Elements of Literature. Ed. Applebee, Arthur N., et al. Evenston, Illinois: McDougal Littell, 2000. 1067-1069 .Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness. New York: Dover Thrift, 1990.

Why Video Games Are Good For Youâ€Really Good For You

What if as part of your education you were required by teachers – encouraged and required – to play video games – because it’s good for you. And what if you entered a working world only to discover that your employer required – encouraged and required – you to allot some time each week for playing video games because it helps you to be a more productive and focused employee? Perhaps the coffee breaks of the future won’t involve coffee, but a game console instead. Here’s why: Dr. Daphne Bavelier, a neuroscientist at the University of Geneva, has conducted research on the effects of video games on the brain, and there’s a good chance she’d advocate one or both of the scenarios outlined above. Her research shows that video games actually help gamers focus (and maintain focus) better than non-gamers – more so the so-called violent, shoot ‘em up variety.   There is one qualifier, however, and Oscar Wilde probably said it best: â€Å"Everything in moderation, including moderation.† The positive effects of video games diminish or go away completely if you overdo it, but you probably knew that already, or possibly a parent has already made the effort (repeatedly) to communicate that to you. While professional video gaming is out for most of us, there are a lot of non-professionals out there, and they are not exactly spring chickens. The average age of a gamer is 33, and that factoid alone explodes the myth that video games are not the sole purview of teenagers and kids. Dr. Bavelier’s research has also effectively busted some video gaming myths. Fact: games do not have a detrimental effect on players’ vision; they actually seem to make players’ vision better. For example, they are particularly good at â€Å"distinguishing between different levels of gray, like when driving in fog,† says Dr. Bavelier. She hopes this finding will lead to games that help people with poor eyesight â€Å"re-train† their brains to improve their vision. Fact: gamers do not have the attention span of goldfish; they are really good at tracking data, meaning they are better than non-gamers at quickly parsing though mass amounts of information to identify specific data points. But it was the images of gamers’ brains that were the most telling. Dr. Bavelier scanned gamers’ brains as they played to see which areas experienced significant changes – and operated more efficiently.   She found three areas closely associated with the ability to pay attention: the parietal lobe (orients us to a particular task), frontal lobe (maintains our attention on a specific object or task), and the anterior cingulated (controls/regulates our attention). When compared to non-gamer brain images there was no ambiguity: gamer brains were faster and more efficient. Now, if you’re not a gamer but think that your own technological multitasking (constant switching from a computer to an iPhone, all while answering instant messages and listening to the latest Grizzly Bear album) is similar to gaming, you would be wrong, says Dr. Bavelier. There’s been a study on that (multitasking), and researchers concluded that while multitaskers think their modus operandi allows them to get more done (and more productively), it actually prevents them from accomplishing tasks quickly and well. â€Å"When theyre in situations where there are multiple sources of information coming from the external world or emerging out of memory, theyre not able to filter out whats not relevant to their current goal,† said Dr. Anthony Wagner, an Associate Professor of Psychology at Stanford University, who worked on the study. â€Å"That failure to filter means theyre slowed down by that irrelevant information.† In contrast, Dr. Bavelier found that gamers actually multitask fairly well. She’s continuing her research to identify the elements in video games that help gamers develop the skill to effectively juggle a myriad of tasks. She calls these helpful gaming elements â€Å"broccoli,† and their context – the video games themselves – â€Å"chocolate†(or, â€Å"appealing products that you can resist†). But, â€Å"who wants to eat chocolate-covered broccoli?† It’s now Dr. Bavelier’s goal to extract the good stuff from the broccoli and the chocolate to combine them, and develop new tools that will help non-gamers (especially in the fields of education and rehabilitation) hone their ability to focus and parse through information more efficiently. Sounds delicious. To see Dr. Bavelier’s TED Talk, â€Å"Your Brain on Video Games: Smarter, Better, Faster, Stronger† you can go here. If you would like to find out more about our business programs,  download a brochure here. Picture courtesy of Steven Andrew Photography. Hult offers a range of highly skills-focused and employability-driven business school programs including a range of MBA options and a comprehensive one year Masters in International Business. To find out more, take a look at our blog Business simulations: what can you learn from games? Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you to learn about the business world, the future, and yourself. Related posts Academics Beyond (narrow) business concepts: â€Å"Soft† skills turn out to be critical skills News Building success: Dual Degree students win at USASBE Community How going beyond business at Hult helped me launch my company Admissions Accepted Students Weekend: A weekend to remember Careers Career mapping: How to become an executive in the next 5 years 0 Thought leadership How to prepare for an uncertain future in a world of AI Instagram Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021 Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021"> During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . Happy New Year, Hultians! . Happy New Year, Hultians! .