An explanation of the strain and cultural criminology theories and the criminal elements Essay Example for Free

An explanation of the strain and cultural criminology theories and the criminal elements Essay The fast-changing society is demanding improvement of the existing legal frameworks each and every day. Indisputably, this is considerably challenging the decisions made by policymakers and more especially the judiciary sector. The challenge is more intensified by the way we define the defendant, victim, and penalty imposed for any crime committed. The underlying problem is that there exist various cultural norms and natural law; which significantly differ with constitutional requirements. In other words, legal procedures are not sufficient in providing criminal facts that can help us clearly understand the criminal elements mentioned above. Nevertheless, many scholars in the field of criminology such as Robert K. Merton and Keith Hayward now believes we can rely upon the strain and cultural criminology theories. Inarguably, the relationship existing between the two theories goes beyond our expectation, more especially when analyzing any criminology case. In fact, many people have been convinced it would be appropriate if policymakers integrate some of the facts unrevealed by these theories when making or amending the criminal laws. The paper offers a detailed explanation of the two methods and more importantly, how they can be applied in the criminal case study of Mr. Heffernan convicted of the crime of cultivating cannabis plant which is an illegal plant and supply of the same plant products as drugs to the community. The case took place in the district court, New South Wales and has since sounded the trumpet over how the proceedings were unraveling the case that Mr. Heffernan was convicted with. This will be discusse d along with the criminal elements and criminal facts which were evident in the case. Strain theory argues that when an individual is pressurized by the community or by the factors in his environment, the pressure overwhelms him which forces him to satisfy his cultural inequalities and material requirements by engaging in crime as stated by (Agnew, 2001, p319) The crime, in this case, is a subject to the strain that oversees a high level of pressure that the victim cannot bear the burden of. There are numerous forms of stress best explained by GST. The diverse forms of strain do not exclude financial requirements. The fear may force one into committing a crime that he never intended. Merton in his strain theory argues that it is only a small margin of the people who face stress end up committing crimes. The group that is involved in offenses that emanate from the strain from external forces is seen as deviant since they view the world as if there exists no other solution for their problems. Morten argues that the group is then forced into crime despite the fact that it is against their will. Cultural criminology theory, however, presents a different view of such an instance. It argues that the individual rather enjoys the self-fulfilling feeling that comes about with being involved in criminal activity. The theory explains that when the personal gains the social requirements that he or she could have otherwise not achieved legally, they are left with a sense of insecurity while others feel self-fulfilled and okay when they have their requirements fulfilled. According to Presdee, (2003) Cultural criminology is distinctively conjectural, procedural and domineering slant that places criminals, cases and the control mechanism in the context of culture Linking the theory to the case of Heffernan to both methods, strain theory argues that the convicted was involved in the crime due to the strain that he was facing.   It is evident that he as the criminal was suffering from an extraordinarily high degree of anxiety that he could have otherwise avoided if he had a well-paying job if the parents were not sick if his wife had no medical complications and if he was not unwell. On the other hand, cultural criminology argues that the occurrence of the crime was purely projected from the nature of the community the offender comes from as stated by (Ferrell et al., 2004). This, therefore, makes the community to be viewed as the actual cause of the crime due because the factors that led to the offense against which Mr. Heffernan is convicted are subject to the same community. The offender presents various evidence to the jury that when analyzed helped, in coming up with a valid judgment. The case presented states that the offender is a vict im of the drugs misuse and trafficking laws which inhibit one from growing plants that are otherwise termed as illegal. It also prohibits the supply of the same to the community. Mr. Heffernan was caught with 32kgs of cannabis leaves that are more than the monetary amount which is said to be 25 kilograms as stated by (Cerdà ¡ et al., 2012, p22). He had surpassed a commercial margin which otherwise inevitably presents the idea of the sale of the same to the community. He was rather much more cooperative by taking the police to the ranch where he grew the plant. The evidence was based on the idea that the man was found in the hold of a few bags of the leaves, showed where he grew the leaves and accepted to be the only person involved with the same. Evidence presented before the jury was photographs of these bags of leaves and the plant as well as the $1400 that was in his custody. The offender argues that he has been working on a farm for over 33 years and in his work life, he has been a victim of many injuries which have presented themselves as a limiting factor to the type and the amount of work that he can be engaged in evidenced by the numerous medical rec ords submitted to the coat regarding the same. His wife’s letter also backs up the issue since its content explains how those injuries have impacted negatively on their lives and the lives of their kids. This is seen as one of the strains that the convicted is battling with that could have otherwise presented to be the cause of the crime as stated by (Agnew, 2007, p319). The offender also claims that his family has been haunted by a trail of illnesses beginning with his mother who is suffering from breast cancer and osteoarthritis. His father is also suffering from a heart disease and osteoarthritis. He has diabetes and has been needing insulin to survive bearing in mind that his wife also has health conditions that make Mr. Heffernan the only breadwinner. This trail of illnesses presents themselves as another form of strain that led to the unusual character of the victim. An aggregate of such issues may result in so much pressure that needs a person with an unyielding personality to handle. While this is seen as strain, the cultural criminology finds it as social factors which when linked caused the occurrence of the crime. This presents the social and the crime as distinctively of a parallel nature. He is also faced with some more pressure of taking care of their 14 years high school kid and the younger one in primary education. The family had just married a year ago which rather increases the commitments of the breadwinner. The offender’s family has been selling their property which was around $80000 and has now depreciated to around $60000. His house is also being mortgaged at $70000, and this would render the family homeless. He argues that it is due to this pressure that he decided to engage in this criminal act. The jury well understands the pressure that the offender is facing pointing out that an offender is a man of substance whose life has not been presented as a threat to any criminal record. The only criminal record that exists seems baseless to make an overall conclusion that the man is a criminal. Evidence presented by  Ã‚   Mr. P. Harper, the offender’s defendant. The evidence is full of commendations for the man. This evidence is based on the peopl e who know Mr. Heffernan stating that the individual’s behaviors have been outstanding, something that even the judge recognizes by saying that Mr. Heffernan is a man of excellent character in the argument number 11 0f the case. The case presents itself from a criminal act that has been catalyzed by the excessive pressure faced by the convicted by strain theory which recognizes the existence of such anomalies in individual’s life when faced with extreme pressure. The issue that revolves around the life of the convicted is a monetary issue. Money, in this case, could have been the solution to all his problems since if he had enough of it, he could have saved his parent’s property from being sold. He could also have been able to take care of his sick relatives, his sick wife and cater for the life of the kids who are still in school. He could also have not gone to the extent of growing and distributing cannabis which is the states laws and the drugs misuse and trafficking act of 1985. The judge recognizes all the burdens that the convicted has to bear in his life considering that he is 51 and has to take care of all this pressure. About GST and the reasons that the convicted gives regarding the c ase he has been charged with, there were a few goals that the convicted was unable to meet. His desire to cater to his family and his parents and the desires to have a well-paying job dragged him to committing this crime. The unfolding circumstances are in line with the arguments of strain theory. Cultural criminology which seeks to understand crime in the context of culture is inevitably applicable in the case. The crime was subject to subcultures which revolve around what the community around the offender does and the rules that exist governing this particular crime. The rules governing drug and substance abuse have given guidelines on the judgment against the convicted depending on the nature and the extent of the committed crime. In a nutshell, it is the society that leads to the development of the rules that exist against the offenses revolving around drug and substance abuse. The occupation of the offender and the circumstances revolving around his life which led him to commit the crime are part and puzzle of the culture and community. As strain theory argues that the crime that was committed was subjected to the pressure of the life of the convicted, cultural criminology sees it as just another culture of various subcultures that may have led to the crime. Growing of Cannabis and distributing it to the public is considered to be a crime since there are rules against it as stated by (Reuter, 2010). If the drug had to be distributed to the community, the general impact on the youths would have been dire since this is the most likely group to the issue. As such, the convicted is seen to have been an agent of community destruction since he was a man of age and a parent. He is seen to have not minded about the lives of the other kids in the community and committed the crime for monetary gain. The strain theory comes about to argue that withstanding the pressure of the life the convicted was facing needed him to have looked for an alternative way of getting money. The convicted argues that he had complications regarding his health and that he was nearing his retirement age. He was forced to grow cannabis after ordering seeds from the United Kingdom which he later planted. It is the same marijuana that was harvested and packed before it was confiscated by the police. The theory gives out a clear argument that the man had small means of supporting his family using whatever he was gaining. This case is brought out clearly by the fact that the convicted had no previous criminal records and that his life was clean therefore it is due to what seemed to be a sort of excessive pressure that led him to commit the crime. On the other hand, cultural criminology makes the mere mention of cannabis a criminal activity where any activity that is associated with the drug has been criminalized. With the building of a belief that this activity is already a crime, the theory argues that rules that forbid it are developed ensuring that those who are associated wi th cannabis are taken into justice without considering any argument or reasons behind the act. With all the associated facts and evidence having been presented, Mr. Harper claims that the case on which the offender has been convicted with is not a drug trafficking case since it was planned as a one-time business. The pressure under which the convicted was suffering from forcing him to establish a cannabis plantation which he prepared to sell only once and increase the value of the ranch. This was one of the strain factors that made him respond to the pressure by involving himself in the crime. The judge, however, argues that it is irresponsible for a man with a family to release cannabis of a monetary amount to the society which would impact negatively on the lives of the youths as stated by (Lowinson, 2005). The judgment against both crimes was supposed to be ten years for the crime of growing cannabis and 15 years for trafficking.   The judge at the end of it all understands the pressure that the convicted was facing and gives him a sentence of two and a half years. The strain theory gives out a sense of reasoning and weighing of matters such that the degree of pressure was duly recognized by the jury. The cultural criminology theory, on the other hand, views the crime generally as breaking the law that originated from the same issue. It argues that the moral standards of the community which harbors the roots of the law have declined. The argument here is that the community from which the convicted comes from and the crime that was committed is viewed as one and the same thing. With the weak empirical evidence in support of the strain theory, the presented arguments were not sufficient to ensure that the convicted was set free. Rather it just explains the problems that the law class individuals are facing without taking into consideration of the larger picture of the community and the white collar crimes as stated by (Aseltine et al., 2000, p256). Crimes in such levels are the ones that decapitate the community. The theory deals with individuals rather than the community on which the crime and the criminals thrive. These issues are well explained by the cultural criminology theory which does not only just present its arguments from a particular line or level of crimes. It digs into every crime be it white collar or any other sort of the offense. Conclusion The case presented above shows how strain can cause various crimes. The arguments put forward to show that some forms of tension can be so haunting such that the victim ends up being involved illegal activities that end up bringing peace to the life of the victim. The judge, however, takes into consideration the strain that the convicted is facing, and from this, a valid judgment is given. As the strain theory views this crime as a result of pressure, the cultural criminology sees it as the larger picture of the nature of the community from which the convicted comes from. However, the theories try to explain the kind of judgment that is passed as not usual from the rest since consideration depending on the prevailing circumstance is taken note of. Reference Agnew, R., 2001. Building on the foundation of general strain theory: Specifying the types of strain most likely to lead to crime and delinquency. Journal of research in crime and delinquency, 38(4), pp.319-361. Agnew, R., 2007. Pressured into crime: An overview of general strain theory. Aseltine Jr, R.H., Gore, S. and Gordon, J., 2000. Life stress, anger and anxiety, and delinquency: An empirical test of general strain theory. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, pp.256-275. Cerdà ¡, M., Wall, M., Keyes, K.M., Galea, S. and Hasin, D., 2012. Medical marijuana laws in 50 state: investigating the relationship between state legalization of medical marijuana and marijuana use, abuse, and dependence. Drug and alcohol dependence, 120(1), pp.22-27. Chan, J.B., 1997. Changing police culture: Policing in a Multicultural Society. Cambridge University Press. Ferrell, J., Hayward, K., Morrison, W., and Presdee, M. eds., 2004. Cultural criminology unleashed. Routledge. Lowinson, J.H. ed., 2005. Substance abuse: A comprehensive textbook. Lippincott Williams Wilkins. Mazerolle, P., Piquero, A.R. and Capowich, G.E., 2003. Examining the links between strain, situational and dispositional anger, and crime further specifying and testing general strain theory. Youth Society, 35(2), pp.131-157. Presdee, M., 2003. Cultural criminology and the carnival of crime. Routledge. Reuter, P., 2010. Marijuana legalization: what can be learned from other countries. Baltimore, MD: RAND Drug Policy Research Center, University of Maryland.

Celebrities and Politics

Celebrities and Politics Politics have merged with showbiz affairs. The sense of public service have gone down since showbiz personalities started running for political positions even though they do not have the knowledge when it comes to politics. Having politicians coming from the showbiz sector can be disadvantageous. There are many candidates that are unfit for the position and the Philippine society should be more careful in choosing competent leaders. Introduction Having politicians coming from the showbiz sector can be disadvantageous for the Philippines. The Philippines society knows that Politics and Showbiz are two different things. Politics: having the authority or power where government officials use their knowledge to formulate and apply a policy and they have this common knowledge that the purpose of showbiz is to entertain us. They see a celebrity personality getting dragged down to different scandals in which media of course is responsible for exposing it. When people from the showbiz sector started their campaign for political positions their most common reason is to get more famous or get richer. It is unfortunate to know that the scandalous world of showbiz is merging with the busy world of politics knowing that most of the candidates do not have any political science in their background. The Philippines should brace itself for the busy-scandalous world of showbiz politics. Statement of the Problem These are the possible reasons on why showbiz artists are running for politics: They want to run because they want to be more famous. They want to run because being in the political position they can get more money. Celebrities mostly have more concern on their career by running for political positions they will have more responsibility therefore losing focus on the important matter. Significance of the Study This study aims to discuss the disadvantages of having people coming from the showbiz sector to running into political positions this study will explain different factors. This will help in informing what the possible effects of having celebrities in politics are. Politics and Showbiz Most people know that politics and showbiz are no strange bedfellows with so many politicians foraying into showbiz and vice-versa. A sport, however, is no strange bedfellow to both politics and showbiz, as many sports people or athletes are active in both. Entertainment personalities seem determined to compete with established politicians for positions of power in government, from the municipal council all the way to the halls of Congress. Could it be that celebrities have come to terms with the realities of politics in the country? Have they become as smart and knowledgeable compared to those who have been in mainstream politics for quite some time? Or have they learned to play the twist and turn game in politics and therefore ready to cast their lot in what has traditionally been the domain of the highly influential ruling class?ÂÂ  We can clearly see that the political link between entertainment and politics is not new in the Philippines (Daval, 2012). The media has always been a major player in Philippine elections. It has a considerable influence on the electoral process which could make or unmake any candidate. The power of television is also seen in its ability to imitated images and illusions that resonates with viewers since entertainment is often the subject of our conversations as it gives reflections of our daily lives. It has always been a part of election campaign by the political parties the used of celebrity stars with big names by making them to entertain voters in the political rallies of election campaigns. The Philippine society has been considered being an entertainment obsessed culture as celebrities have been marked so deeply in the societies collective minds as a persuasive force which could convince voters to change their minds about their favored candidates and certain political issues (Free Essays, 2012). The society bases their decisions on what they see on television because television has blinded them with false notoriety, and mostly false publications. In showbiz, as in politics, there are family dynasties. Royal families they are called. There have been so many political issues in the country these past few years. From impeachment hearings, meetings, debates or even campaigns, one thing is very much certain someone has to be the face of TV.ÂÂ  Its like a reality show of finding the newestÂÂ  it boy or girl.ÂÂ  Some of them started out as an unknown to the public eye and became a sensation overnight. They could imagine a director saying to themÂÂ  the camera loves your face (Vrank, 2012). Politics has its end, or goal, not only knowledge but action. The Politics as a whole is a hand-book for statesmen and lawgivers. Politics is addressed to those in power, not to those seeking power (Ackrill Judson, 1999). The role of politics is for the establishment of equal and just society under the governance of Politicians who has a good background in political science they are elected by the people whom they wish to govern knowing that they have a clean reputation and can keep promises for the common good. Politicians have become celebrities, and politics connected with the entertainment industry, has become much more complex. For the confluence of the world of politics and showbiz signals the collapse of some social categories. The entrance of showbiz values, techniques, and personalities into politics means the celebritization of politics (Combs, 1984). A celebrity is in the prestige business, since he or she is someone who at the moment has been successful in being famous. They are famous because we have learned that they are famous and when we no longer learn that they are no longer famous and disappear. The celebrity depends for his or her existence as a popular personage on us acting as interested spectators of the celebrated and their world (Combs, 1991). This is one of the reasons on why celebrities are running for politics; to get more exposure since their career is fading that have turned over a new life we might say A new chapter in their lives. Popular Culture seems at first glance non-political, but this does not mean that is has nothing to do with politics. And even though what we usually think of as politics-the comings and goings of Presidents, the deliberation of Congress, decisions of the Supreme Court also seems on face to have little to do with popular culture, on reflection we can discover relationships that are significant if subtle (Combs, 1991). Sometimes, the society thinks that showbiz is totally different but that was in the past. Now, at the dawn of the new age the two different cultures are merging into one since they have the power to influence other in terms of connection or power. But perhaps rely is too strong a word. Still, theres no denying the fact that in this country, celebrity endorsements have helped many a politician win. Too many cases even celebrities themselves have been voted into public office that they have little to show beyond their showbiz credibility (Jimeno Sabangan, 2010). Politics might be sometimes corrupt, but respectable politicians did represent an ideal of material and moral probity. Certainly the idea of, say, an actor becoming President would have been unthinkable. Even today many people feel that the dignity and authority of government has been debased by the introduction of showbiz into it (Combs, 1984). But our love of showbiz probably made it inevitable. We like glamour, hoopla, tinsel, beautiful people, and a good show. Since politics has becomes increasingly a media act, politicians have turned to showbiz advisors to help them be good actors and put on good shows (Combs, 1984). People do love good shows and since the exposure of celebrities to politics and the other way around we cannot determine if it is a product of reality from the politicians and celebrities or is it just a big hoopla to mislead the masses onto what is really going on inside the government. It is frequently said nowadays that all politics is becoming showbiz. There is a sense in which politics, especially in societies with means of mass communication, has always had an entertainment aspect. Politicians are celebrities, and we are as much interested in their private lives, and see them as popular representatives or material and moral values, as we do movie stars (Combs, 1984). To prevent media personalities or celebrities from gaining an advantage over lesser known candidates during a political campaign, all films featuring actors or media personalities running for a political office were banned from public exhibition in theaters, on television, or in any public forum during the campaign. Additionally, to prevent politicians fro, circumventing election regulations with guests appearances on talk shows or similar indirect promotions of their political views, the Fair Election Act carefully defines political advertisement any matter, published, printed, or exhibited which is intended to draw the attention of the public or a segment thereof to promote or oppose, directly or indirectly, the election of a particular candidate or candidates to a public office. In the TV shows and radio programs, love or taped announcements, teasers, and other forms of advertising messages or announcements used by commercial advertisers (Kaid Batcha, 2006). Because of flowery words that celebrities tell the masses, the Philippine society gets easily swayed from the main purpose of the election and that is to vote qualified candidates. They should remember in the constitution the Accountability of Public Officers. But now they can see that media being the most powerful thing between politics and showbiz the same policy that had been implemented from the past does no not apply today. They see celebrities here and there posters after posters that they too are interested in politics basically because of the influence and other reasons like political dynasty. Philippine election is very near, and candidates are busy preparing for their campaign. And when you look at Philippine politics it is full of people from the showbiz industry, from city councilor to the President (Joseph Estrada), and seems there are no stopping to them, they just keeps on coming. Philippine Politics is like the reality show Pinoy Big Brother where you vote who among them is the big winner and it is based on popularity and in not leadership skills. And that is why most of our leaders are useless; they just keep on making their pockets full while its people starve (Thunderdhuzt, 2012). Former President Joseph Estrada is a very good example of a showbiz politician. Because he was overwhelmed by the money and power he abused that power and the consequence was being stripped of the Presidency and some of his properties. Summary Having people coming from the showbiz sector in the politics can be disadvantageous for the Philippines. In the present day more economical and social problems are adding up not to mention the past problems that the past regimes left for the society to bear. Even the qualified politicians are having hard time to formulate policies that would cure the modern society problems. The society remains unaware that their actions in picking unqualified politician can bring harm to them most of all to the progress of their own country. They should not base their choice on popularity rate and the amount of riches that particular candidate has. The Philippines society knows that there are people who are fit for the position yet they still turn back to the weak promises that the glamorous candidates had offered. By emerging their selves in the common problem that we have know they can clearly see that basing our judges in the mere external capabilities of a person cannot suffice something like the economy problem the society always see that they have great plans for the benefit of the country but the question is can they still pursue the eagerness to help others why they themselves have been overwhelmed by the glamorous life they live in now? The society has line up of scandalous celebrities running like Annabelle Rama for her violent personality towards the press mostly she has been summoned in the court several times and Diether Ocampo that was accused of being gay. A good number of politician wannabes in Philippine tinsel town are optimistic that the people will elect them despite the fall from grace of Estrada, who was booted out of office last January by way of People Power 2. The former president was widely perceived as a corrupt, womanizing, crony-coddling politician, who was impeached by the House even before he was ousted from office we all know the scandal about the jueteng issue in which he was imprisoned for at least 40 years. The society has the power to choose its leader since it is the one which the power of the state emanates from. The whole country should be careful in choosing its head since in the future we will be the one who is going to harvest the so-called fruits of labor in which the chosen leader has planted. We all know what kind of jeopardy the government is going through right now. The citizens as part of state should contribute even the simplest task like following the rules. Popular culture is there to stay but the main thing is that the main purpose for that is to make us entertained. Seeing celebrity icons perform lessens our stress from the real world. They should not interfere with the issues of the political world they have their own career to take care. Politicians should continue being politically active being a politician has its perks but that should not intervene with the main goal of government and that is to serve the country. Being in power can be overwhelming but that passion for true service. Politics is not a theater stage where people get to act for the entertainment of the masses. It is the place where serious people collide with each other in needs concentration in formulation and implementation of ideas. The merging of politics and showbiz creates a different face for the government in which the society perceives that the leaders inside are those people who are not qualified. Politicians marry celebrities just for the benefit of publication and more exposure for the artists. Conclusion People from the showbiz sector should not run for political positions. They entered a glamorous life of being a celebrity they chose their career therefore they should focus on that. They have little knowledge about politics and most of them did not even finish their studies. They cannot survive the harsh environment of politics they will just be tricked by the so-called veterans of the government. Politicians should not use the celebrities for their popularity to rise in terms of exposing their self in a relationship with a famous celebrity and they are just wasting their time even if they have the publication and exposure there are no guarantee if they would win the election therefore wasting precious resources. To be a politician the candidate must have a background when it comes to political science or should have study the law in order to be qualified there are many candidates that are qualified for the position but since the is so powerful those who are already in the spotlight are the only ones who are getting the attention. They use their influence to lure the people into thinking they are fit for the job. But, that should not be the basis of the political class in our country. People tend to vote candidates base on their popularity because of public mesmerization, people are easily swayed by unending promises that since the last generation of politicians have been able to fulfill. The Philippines society should be more careful in choosing competent politicians.

Television Violence Essay -- essays research papers fc

Television violence and its effects on viewers has been a controversial issue for many years. Some viewers believe that there is an increasingly large amount of violence on television and this widespread public concern has "led to calls for stricter controls on the depiction of violence in programmes" (Gunter and McAleer 1990:92). Exactly how much violence is there on television though? Many cultivation theorists have studied this, acquiring data in the form of content analysis. They agree on a definition of a violent act, for example Gerbner in his study used the definition, "an overt expression of physical force against self or other, compelling action against ones will on pain of being hurt or killed, or actually hurting or killing" (Gunter and McAleer 1990:94). This is an objective definition that can then be used to count the number of violent acts in whatever is being observed. Halloran and Croll (1972) used this technique to establish the amount of violence on British television in comparison with that of American television. For one week in April 1971, they observed the news, fictional drama, current affairs and documentaries on BBC1 and ITV Midlands and counted the number of violent incidents using Gerbner’s definition of violence. It was found that on average, 56% of British programmes contained some violence with four incidents of violenc e per hour. This was in comparison with American television which contained some seven incidents of violence per hour and where it was considerably more prevalent than on British television (Gunter and McAleer 1990:97). Focusing now on British television and violence, we can analyse Guy Cumberbatch’s research on television violence in 1987. He looked at all types of television programme focusing on four separate weeks between May and September 1986. All four channels were reviewed, totalling 1412 hours of television (930 BBC programmes and 1146 ITV and channel four programmes). He found, using his own definitions of a violent act, that 30% of all programmes contained some violence with an average of 1.14 acts of violence per programme (Gross 1992:455). It was also found that there was much more violence on television after 9pm and that violence was rare in children’s television programmes other than cartoons. It has been questioned however whether the violence in cartoons should actually b... ...er factors have also shown to be influential in this cause and effect relationship between television violence and violent behaviour. Such factors as age, gender, parental influence and amount of viewing contribute to how influential television violence is on an individual’s behaviour. Findings are still however inconclusive in this debate, although a large proportion of the evidence does appear to strongly favour the hypothesis that viewing violence on television does have an effect on a viewer’s violent behaviour. As a Washington Post article states "the preponderance of evidence from more than 3000 research studies over 2 decades shows that the violence portrayed on television influences the attitudes and behaviour of children who watch it" (Oldenburg 1992 cited at http://maple.lemoyne.edu/~hevern/ericdig.html). Bibliography Condry, J. (1989): The Psychology of Television. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum. Gross, R. (1992): Psychology: The Science of Mind and Behaviour. London: Hodder and Stoughton. Gunter, B. and McAleer, J. (1997): Children and Television. London: Routledge. Van Evra, J. (1990): Television and Child Development. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum.

Communications Between Parents and Children Essay example -- Communica

Healthy family relationships depend on healthy communications. â€Å"Good communication helps keep a family running smoothly and prevents misunderstandings from escalating into conflict or from being buried unresolved.† (Feiden, 68) There are many ways and times to practice and teach good communication to children. There are many times that without good communication, the parent-child relationship suffers and sometimes ends abruptly. Allen Schwartz, PH.D., states that he knows of â€Å"many cases where children are raised in an atmosphere of dark secrecy about both the matriarchal and patriarchal parts of their families. They grow up with a sense that something must be wrong but fear discussing this with their parents.† (5) Most people have grown up with family secrets, but some secrets can destroy a family. The act of hiding the secret(s) provides an excuse to limit self-disclosure, and reacts negatively on one’s self-esteem. When these become extremely limited or negative, there is an increased chance of a separation and possible ending of the relationship. The end of the relationship could mean that parent and child no longer talk, or they are forcibly separated for their own health in extreme cases. Unfortunately, â€Å"emotional health can be passed down from generation to generation just as easily as abuse and dysfunction,† (Bloch, 7) making such dysfunctions of communications a continu ous process. Sturges writes â€Å"children will learn how to communicate with the world based in large part on how they have learned to communicate with their parents.† (31) Children often learn their communication behaviors not only from what we say but also from our actions. For example, If you tell your child that they can talk to you about anything, but y... ... their minds. It is important for the parent to respect their wishes and let them know that they will be available when the child is ready to talk and that you won’t be judgmental. Let the child tell the whole story before interceding with your thoughts. There are also instances where the child won’t want your opinion; they just want you to listen to their problems. This can be tricky to know whether the child wants your opinion or your ears but if you are actively listening to your child, you will know what it is that they are wanting. Remember, good communication is the heart of everything you do in life. Without good communication skills, things won’t get done properly and could cause hurt relationships. Learning these communication skills begins at home from the day that the child is born and should be continued into adulthood and for the rest of their lives.

We Must Search for Alternatives to Animal Testing Essays -- Alternativ

Polio was once rampant all over the world and President Roosevelt, among many others , fought the war with this disease. Dr. Jonas Salk was the one who discovered a cure for this disease thanks to animal research but is animal research always beneficial? â€Å"Treat others as you would want to be treated,† is what the Golden Rule has taught us for many years. Should we not treat animals the same way we want to be treated in return? The topic of animals being used in medical research has been controversial for many years. One side of the argument says that using animals is the only way to safely test a product before it reaches the public, but others say alternatives should be pursued. Despite the medical discoveries animal testing has shown, alternative methods should be used whenever possible since some experiments have caused pain to animals and have been unsuccessful when the same products were used on humans. For hundreds of thousands of years animals have been used to further the knowledge in medical research and technology. The first recorded use of animals in experimentation was in 450 B.C.E. when Alcmaeon Croton severed the optic nerve of a dog and blindness resulted (Von Stein). Experiments continued as Greek and Roman civilization continued to develop. Around the fifth century during the Dark Ages and the Fall of Rome, animal experimentation began to disappear in Europe. It was during the Italian Renaissance when experimentation revived again with technological advances (Von Stein). Experimentation of this time was considered cruel and barbaric since anesthesia has not yet been created and animals were not given anything to ease the pain. Still since animals shared physiological and genetic characteristics wit... ... Jan. 2010. http://www.issues.abc-clio.com. Fano, Alix. â€Å"Chemical Testing on Animals Is Unreliable.† At Issue: Animal Experimentation. Ed. Cindy Mur. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2004. N. pag. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Web. 17 Dec. 2009. http://find.galegroup.com/â€Å'ovrc/ Haugen, David M. â€Å"Product Testing on Animals Is Cruel and Unnecessary.† At Issue: Animal Experimentation. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2000. N. pag. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Web. 17 Dec. 2014. Lawrence, Corey. â€Å"Animal Testing is Essential for Medical Research.† At Issue: Animal Experimentation. Ed. Cindy Mur. San Diego: Greenhaven, 2004. N. pag. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Web. 5 Jan. 2010. Von Stein, Thomson. Chronological Outline of a History of Knowledge and Beliefs http://history-of-knowledge.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/1-23-11chron.161205822.pdf

Divorce and American Culture

Culture surrounds us everywhere we go. It reflects the people of the times and when it changes, so do the very people it reflects. A general definition would say that culture, related to society, is a set of norms that govern behavior. Within this set of norms the people of a society do certain rituals and behaviors to fit in with the world around them. Different trends rule the times. Whether it be anti-war protests, to civil rights movements, to legalization of same sex civil unions and even divorce-the people of the times roll with many different ideas and tendencies. The idea of marriage is an old and sacred one. In the Bible, a marriage is seen a holy sacrament between a man and woman that leads to the raising of a family. There is one man and one-woman involved- then with the addition of the holy spirit, the union is supposed to be ever lasting. â€Å"Christian marriage is a sacrament (sacred act approved by God). As a result marriage was very difficult to end, and before the nineteenth century usually ended with death,† (Chan and Haplin, 2001). In the world today, marriage is interpreted in many different ways. Very rarely is it seen as an everlasting contract that can withstand all tests. The revolutions of the 60s, 70s, up through today have severely changed the way people think of marriage. The drug culture has helped redefine the meaning of peace and love and of course, holy unions. People today do not get married out of the idea of love. If they do, it is most often between two young and naive children or young adults that believe that love can conquer all. â€Å"People expect too much from specialized love marriages, and when the love goes so might the marriage. Other cultures unite families through arranged marriages, and these social functions may make them more stable,† (Chan and Haplin, 2001). People have begun to take advantage of the system and get married because of benefits they can receive. For the military couple, extra cash is a big incentive as well as extra leave time. A lot of times the benefits outweigh the costs and people today go into marriages knowing that it will be just as easy to exit the marriage. For a marriage to end, there needs to be either a death or a cause for divorce. Grounds for divorce include; a cheating spouse, an abusive partner, and mishandling of funds. Every so often though, there is no direct cause, but instead the couples just are not compatible. The constant fighting and disagreements make it difficult to raise a family and have a stable home. As society grows and culture changes, divorce still remains. In the early parts of the 20th century, divorce was a taboo idea that meant that you ultimately failed as a wife or husband. People viewed it as the easy way out and very rarely did they agree with it. In the 1950s, divorce was only 5 per 1000 women, as opposed to the rate of 20 per every 1000 women in the early 21st century (Relationships, 2008). The times influenced peoples decisions and instead of doing what might have been best for all the parties involved, couples stayed together so that they would not be viewed as such a failure to their friends, family and children. Culture put the message out to society that a divorce is an end all be all decision that means that you have failed. Of course, logically that is not true. Occasionally things do not go according to plan and you have to change your idea of the future accordingly. The idea of being a failure comes from the society that surrounds the couple. As the times began to change, so did the overall idea of separation and divorce. The more married couples got divorced, the more casual the idea has become. When a couple divorces and they have children, the children see the process and although it might hurt them tremendously, it also makes them learn and see things. As they see the process, the idea becomes to seem â€Å"normal† to them. According to a recent journal article, â€Å"growing-up in a divorced family can instill offspring with less unfavorable attitudes towards divorce (Greenberg and Nay 1982, Amato 1988, Trent and South 1989, Axinn and Thornton 1996, Kapinus 2004 as cited by Hiller and Recoules 2011). Sometimes the children involved begin to think that this is a normal thing that happens and makes it easier to do themselves. This could explain the rising divorce rates today. On the other hand, often times when a child witnesses the struggles of divorce, they are sometimes more reluctant to get a divorce themselves (Hiller and Recoules, 2011). The inevitable hurt and suffering from witnessing countless hours of parental figures fighting, getting sometimes physical, and the mental and emotional strains that the fighting causes sends some children into a downwards spiral. Their whole attitude on love in general is questioned. And from first hand experience, the sanctity of marriage itself is questioned. An idea that some children used to find so uplifting and amazing, now seems bleak and not worth it. If the two people I love the most in the whole world cannot seem to get along, and cannot make it work, then what are the chances that my marriage will fail? What is the point in even trying? Is love just another silly Disney ideation that really cannot exist in our world today? â€Å"American society may have erased the stigma that once accompanied divorce, but it can no longer ignore divorce's massive effects† (Fagan and Rector, 2000). Married couples do not always understand that their fighting and arguments are a lot bigger than just the two of them. It reaches out and branches down to all the people they know. Subsequent relationships between children and their partners become affected. Sometimes girls go crazy and give up on the concept of love and become promiscuous at a young age. They eventually fall into a routine and thanks to the invention of birth control, have no qualms and avoid the pregnancy scare that might have once deterred them otherwise. Boys may become rude and hostile towards their partners and begin to treat their ladies badly in response to how they see their fathers treat their mothers. Coworkers, neighbors, children, friends, everyone is affected. Some articles claim that the divorce rates among young adults today are lower than that of the past. This might be true, but this does not take into account the idea of young relationships failing. Couples that never got married, but might have had children at a young age with no intention of getting married and consequently leading to a single parent and broken home anyways. There was no sacrament done, but the damage still is the same. Repeatedly it is seen that parents will reluctantly â€Å"stay together† for the kids. This is a great idea on paper. It would seem that if the parents were to stay together, that the children would not suffer from the emotional and psychological damage done to a child because of a divorce. What is often overlooked is the fact that if parents stay together, and clearly are not compatible and cannot communicate like adults and actually raise the children, then the child will most likely suffer just as much or even more so than the child with divorced parents. Often times negative traits are learned from the parents during times of arguments that will debilitate the growth of the child. Negative traits would include, harsh tempers, awful communication skill development, and negative views of either parent based on the idea that parents will most likely isolate the children and try to get each on â€Å"their side. The strain of choosing between the two parents puts many over the edge. Children will sometimes develop different drinking or substance abuse problems in order to deal with the problems that they are facing at home leading to failing or dropping out of school, unwanted pregnancies, and even dangerous automobile accidents. â€Å"†Don't stay together just f or the sake of the children. † â€Å"If divorce is better for you, it will be better for your kids. † (Spohn, n. d. ) As the times are continually changing, so do the basic ideas that fuel society as a whole. Divorce rates will rise and fall with the times depending on society and culture. It is a trend that cannot be predicted and cannot be ignored. The overall effect of divorce is an everlasting one and before any decision is made about either marriage or divorce, all the options and pros and cons should always be weighed. Reference: Hughes, R. (2008, August 20). What is the current divorce rate in the United States? Has the divorce rate changed much over the past 5 to 10 years?. MissouriFamilies. org Home. Retrieved July 20, 2011, from http://missourifamilies. org/quick/divorceqa/divorceqa3. tm Fagan, P. , ; Rector, R. (n. d. ). World and I Magazine – The Effects of Divorce in America. Online Magazine: The World ; I Online Magazine. Retrieved July 20, 2011, from http://www. worldandi. com/specialreport/divorce/divorce. html Sociology of Divorce (GCSE). (n. d. ). The Adrian Worsfold Website. Retrieved July 20, 2011, from http://www. change. freeuk. com/learning/socthink/divorcesi mpler. html Spohn, W. C. (n. d. ). The American Myth of Divorce. Santa Clara University – Welcome. Retrieved July 16, 2011, from http://www. scu. edu/ethics/publications/iie/v9n2/divorce. html

English research paper

Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality. -â€Å"Edgar Allan Poe†. What a quote from one of the greatest writers of all time. Words have no power to Impress the mind without the horror of the world that we live In. People take their life for granted and everything they have for granted as well. It shouldn't be Like that. Although Edgar Allan Poe and Charles Dickens contrast interpretation, style, and characters they do compare In plot, theme, and setting. I believe that Poe is the better writer than Dickens.One contrast between the works of Edgar Allan Poe and Charles Dickens is style. Nicholas Neckline is an example of style from the author's works. Nicholas Neckline at that time was considered to be the funniest novel in the English language. I actually did read the summary for this book and to me it seems like a funny novel to read. In Dickens's time it was just as funny as some of our modern day books if not funnier than most bo oks. Dickens style helped reach the level of success that is held by his name. Charles Dickens linguistic creativity differs from Pope's works.Doomed and son one of Dickens more creative works highlight this. Dickens was a very smart man who knew how to Incorporate his life and surroundings Into his short stones. Doomed and Son Is Dickens greatest triumph In the sentimentalist tradition. His creatively helped him get there. Poe was as creative as Dickens was. Poses stories reined over the same topics. Death and love. Dickens was different. Poe did have the upper hand in one category. Gothic Fiction. Poe is considered to be the founder of gothic fiction. Throughout the works of Poe he includes the pervasive theme of death and decay.It is almost a staple in gothic fiction, the theme of presence of madness, insanity, other internal causes, the supernatural in all of its fans, and haunted creepy locations. Almost all if not all of Pope's stories posses gothic qualities. Peg. 2 Dickens a nd Poe include some interesting characters that differ in their own way. Grip one of the characters in the story of â€Å"The Raven† by Edgar Allan Poe was a loquacious Raven that Dickens admired In one of his stories. In Barney Rugged a local Idiot wonders In and out of the story with his pet raven Grip.It Is said that Dickens wanted to use a parrot Instead of a Raven In his story but decided to go with the Raven. In the story â€Å"Great Expectations† by Charles Dickens Pip the main hearted is a little boy living with his older sister and her husband who is a blacksmith. Pip is a poor orphan who lives a troubled life until he comes into good wealth and goes off to England to become a gentleman. Pip falls in love with Mrs†¦ Habitats adopted daughter who was raised to break men's hearts in. Needless to say Pip lives a very confusing traumatic life but is an outstanding character and plays an important role in Dickens novel.In the story of Barney Rugged there is a young boy named Barney Rugged who is considered to be the local idiot who owns a pet raven named Grip. In the story murder Is involved with a character named Steward. The suspected murderer was said to be the gardener. HIS motives for killing Steward were unknown. All of Dickens books have characters from people in his life and stories that reflect his past. Pope's characters are often tortured by guilt. One comparison between the works of Edgar Allan Poe and Charles Dickens is the plot. Revenge and death. These two highlight almost all of Dickens and Pope's works.The Tell Tale Heart is a story about a man who seeks revenge on his childhood bully but in the end ends up killing himself. The Cask of Amontillado also portrays revenge and death. Peg. 3 Both writers also love to write stories about love. A Tale of Two Cities is a story about love, imprisonment and death. We can't forget about Great Expectations where Pip falls in love with Estella. Pip was crazy for Estella but Estella w as raised to break men's hearts. Poe pretty much is summarizing his life and feelings towards the love losses that occurred to him in his life.Probably the biggest comparison between the two writers is their way about writing about death. In the black cat, Pluto (the cat) is murdered by a drunk man. I don't know how someone can Just write about death. In David Copperfield the death of Davit's mother ends his schooling at crackles institutional. But wait there's more, in the haunted man, a chemist named Bedlam is an isolated scholar beset by his memories of the death of his sister and betrayal his best friend. As I started earlier Barney Rugged and the Masque of the Red Death also portrayed death.If anything these writers best works involved death. Another area where Edgar Allan Poe and Charles Dickens do compare in is theme. Byronic Romanticism is an example of this. The influence of Byronic Romanticism evident in Poe is also apparent in the works of Withering Heights. Poe and dicke ns both were able to use this very well in writing a good amount of stories. Fate is also a big part in the works of Dickens and Poe. In the Masque of the Red Death a plague is going through town within 30 minutes a person would die of the plague.The king tried to avoid the plague by staying in his castle until the plague cleared up or went away. But Fate had the advantage as it always does and King Prospers caught the plague and eventually died of it. In the Cask of Amontillado fate would strike as pay back when someone is killed for crossing his friend who told him not to cross him. Long Tory short fate caught up to him. Peg. 4 Poe and Dickens love to write about people getting murdered. The black cat a story about a cat who is murdered by a drunk man. In Great Expectations Pip's sister is killed.The Tell tale Heart a story about a plan to kill an old man but in the end the man who tried to kill the old man ended up killing himself. In Barney Rugged, Steward gets killed by the Gar dner. A Trial of Murder a tale of supernatural retribution with the murdered mans spirit returning to ensure his killers execution. I can go on and on with this. These writers Just have a fancy way for writing death Tories. Poe has crafted a tale about the perfect crime whose criminal goes unpunished and about a crime that haunts a murderer. This is their bread and butter.Death. While Poe and dickens compared in plot and theme they also did compare in setting. Their dark and gloomy atmosphere really helped shape how the story was going to go. Poe incorporated a gloomy atmosphere and melodrama into his works because he read gothic stories as a child. So pretty much that's where Poe got that idea from. In Barney Rugged he would set the scene at the Village of Caldwell an evening of foul weather. In the Pit and the Pendulum the setting is dark, dreary, and scary. Poe is considered to be the inventor of the detective fiction genre.Both Poe and Dickens have written many of short detectiv es or short mysterious mysterious visit to a distraught lover, tracing the man's slow fall into madness. The mystery of Edwin Drop is about repression and rebellion breaking out. The melancholy setting that both writers have created really makes reading their stories that much more interesting. Dickens tells about the cold wet shelter less midnight streets of London and the foul drowsy dens. The Tell Tale Hearts setting sakes it hard for me to read but it adds so much meaning to it.In the Raven, Poe establishes an atmosphere/ tone of darkness, melancholy, suspense, fear, and anxiety. The settings in their writings made their writing powerful and to me really set the standard for their type of writing. But all in all Poe definitely was the better writer hands down. Best of all time. Reality. -â€Å"Edgar Allan Poe†. In conclusion I believe that Edgar Allan Poe is a better writer than Charles Dickens and in my opinion the best writer of all time. I Just feel that Poe was more m otivated to write than Dickens was. Poe went through so much in is life and his writings reflect that. English research paper Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality. -â€Å"Edgar Allan Poe†. What a quote from one of the greatest writers of all time. Words have no power to Impress the mind without the horror of the world that we live In. People take their life for granted and everything they have for granted as well. It shouldn't be Like that. Although Edgar Allan Poe and Charles Dickens contrast interpretation, style, and characters they do compare In plot, theme, and setting. I believe that Poe is the better writer than Dickens.One contrast between the works of Edgar Allan Poe and Charles Dickens is style. Nicholas Neckline is an example of style from the author's works. Nicholas Neckline at that time was considered to be the funniest novel in the English language. I actually did read the summary for this book and to me it seems like a funny novel to read. In Dickens's time it was just as funny as some of our modern day books if not funnier than most bo oks. Dickens style helped reach the level of success that is held by his name. Charles Dickens linguistic creativity differs from Pope's works.Doomed and son one of Dickens more creative works highlight this. Dickens was a very smart man who knew how to Incorporate his life and surroundings Into his short stones. Doomed and Son Is Dickens greatest triumph In the sentimentalist tradition. His creatively helped him get there. Poe was as creative as Dickens was. Poses stories reined over the same topics. Death and love. Dickens was different. Poe did have the upper hand in one category. Gothic Fiction. Poe is considered to be the founder of gothic fiction. Throughout the works of Poe he includes the pervasive theme of death and decay.It is almost a staple in gothic fiction, the theme of presence of madness, insanity, other internal causes, the supernatural in all of its fans, and haunted creepy locations. Almost all if not all of Pope's stories posses gothic qualities. Peg. 2 Dickens a nd Poe include some interesting characters that differ in their own way. Grip one of the characters in the story of â€Å"The Raven† by Edgar Allan Poe was a loquacious Raven that Dickens admired In one of his stories. In Barney Rugged a local Idiot wonders In and out of the story with his pet raven Grip.It Is said that Dickens wanted to use a parrot Instead of a Raven In his story but decided to go with the Raven. In the story â€Å"Great Expectations† by Charles Dickens Pip the main hearted is a little boy living with his older sister and her husband who is a blacksmith. Pip is a poor orphan who lives a troubled life until he comes into good wealth and goes off to England to become a gentleman. Pip falls in love with Mrs†¦ Habitats adopted daughter who was raised to break men's hearts in. Needless to say Pip lives a very confusing traumatic life but is an outstanding character and plays an important role in Dickens novel.In the story of Barney Rugged there is a young boy named Barney Rugged who is considered to be the local idiot who owns a pet raven named Grip. In the story murder Is involved with a character named Steward. The suspected murderer was said to be the gardener. HIS motives for killing Steward were unknown. All of Dickens books have characters from people in his life and stories that reflect his past. Pope's characters are often tortured by guilt. One comparison between the works of Edgar Allan Poe and Charles Dickens is the plot. Revenge and death. These two highlight almost all of Dickens and Pope's works.The Tell Tale Heart is a story about a man who seeks revenge on his childhood bully but in the end ends up killing himself. The Cask of Amontillado also portrays revenge and death. Peg. 3 Both writers also love to write stories about love. A Tale of Two Cities is a story about love, imprisonment and death. We can't forget about Great Expectations where Pip falls in love with Estella. Pip was crazy for Estella but Estella w as raised to break men's hearts. Poe pretty much is summarizing his life and feelings towards the love losses that occurred to him in his life.Probably the biggest comparison between the two writers is their way about writing about death. In the black cat, Pluto (the cat) is murdered by a drunk man. I don't know how someone can Just write about death. In David Copperfield the death of Davit's mother ends his schooling at crackles institutional. But wait there's more, in the haunted man, a chemist named Bedlam is an isolated scholar beset by his memories of the death of his sister and betrayal his best friend. As I started earlier Barney Rugged and the Masque of the Red Death also portrayed death.If anything these writers best works involved death. Another area where Edgar Allan Poe and Charles Dickens do compare in is theme. Byronic Romanticism is an example of this. The influence of Byronic Romanticism evident in Poe is also apparent in the works of Withering Heights. Poe and dicke ns both were able to use this very well in writing a good amount of stories. Fate is also a big part in the works of Dickens and Poe. In the Masque of the Red Death a plague is going through town within 30 minutes a person would die of the plague.The king tried to avoid the plague by staying in his castle until the plague cleared up or went away. But Fate had the advantage as it always does and King Prospers caught the plague and eventually died of it. In the Cask of Amontillado fate would strike as pay back when someone is killed for crossing his friend who told him not to cross him. Long Tory short fate caught up to him. Peg. 4 Poe and Dickens love to write about people getting murdered. The black cat a story about a cat who is murdered by a drunk man. In Great Expectations Pip's sister is killed.The Tell tale Heart a story about a plan to kill an old man but in the end the man who tried to kill the old man ended up killing himself. In Barney Rugged, Steward gets killed by the Gar dner. A Trial of Murder a tale of supernatural retribution with the murdered mans spirit returning to ensure his killers execution. I can go on and on with this. These writers Just have a fancy way for writing death Tories. Poe has crafted a tale about the perfect crime whose criminal goes unpunished and about a crime that haunts a murderer. This is their bread and butter.Death. While Poe and dickens compared in plot and theme they also did compare in setting. Their dark and gloomy atmosphere really helped shape how the story was going to go. Poe incorporated a gloomy atmosphere and melodrama into his works because he read gothic stories as a child. So pretty much that's where Poe got that idea from. In Barney Rugged he would set the scene at the Village of Caldwell an evening of foul weather. In the Pit and the Pendulum the setting is dark, dreary, and scary. Poe is considered to be the inventor of the detective fiction genre.Both Poe and Dickens have written many of short detectiv es or short mysterious mysterious visit to a distraught lover, tracing the man's slow fall into madness. The mystery of Edwin Drop is about repression and rebellion breaking out. The melancholy setting that both writers have created really makes reading their stories that much more interesting. Dickens tells about the cold wet shelter less midnight streets of London and the foul drowsy dens. The Tell Tale Hearts setting sakes it hard for me to read but it adds so much meaning to it.In the Raven, Poe establishes an atmosphere/ tone of darkness, melancholy, suspense, fear, and anxiety. The settings in their writings made their writing powerful and to me really set the standard for their type of writing. But all in all Poe definitely was the better writer hands down. Best of all time. Reality. -â€Å"Edgar Allan Poe†. In conclusion I believe that Edgar Allan Poe is a better writer than Charles Dickens and in my opinion the best writer of all time. I Just feel that Poe was more m otivated to write than Dickens was. Poe went through so much in is life and his writings reflect that. English research paper Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality. -â€Å"Edgar Allan Poe†. What a quote from one of the greatest writers of all time. Words have no power to Impress the mind without the horror of the world that we live In. People take their life for granted and everything they have for granted as well. It shouldn't be Like that. Although Edgar Allan Poe and Charles Dickens contrast interpretation, style, and characters they do compare In plot, theme, and setting. I believe that Poe is the better writer than Dickens.One contrast between the works of Edgar Allan Poe and Charles Dickens is style. Nicholas Neckline is an example of style from the author's works. Nicholas Neckline at that time was considered to be the funniest novel in the English language. I actually did read the summary for this book and to me it seems like a funny novel to read. In Dickens's time it was just as funny as some of our modern day books if not funnier than most bo oks. Dickens style helped reach the level of success that is held by his name. Charles Dickens linguistic creativity differs from Pope's works.Doomed and son one of Dickens more creative works highlight this. Dickens was a very smart man who knew how to Incorporate his life and surroundings Into his short stones. Doomed and Son Is Dickens greatest triumph In the sentimentalist tradition. His creatively helped him get there. Poe was as creative as Dickens was. Poses stories reined over the same topics. Death and love. Dickens was different. Poe did have the upper hand in one category. Gothic Fiction. Poe is considered to be the founder of gothic fiction. Throughout the works of Poe he includes the pervasive theme of death and decay.It is almost a staple in gothic fiction, the theme of presence of madness, insanity, other internal causes, the supernatural in all of its fans, and haunted creepy locations. Almost all if not all of Pope's stories posses gothic qualities. Peg. 2 Dickens a nd Poe include some interesting characters that differ in their own way. Grip one of the characters in the story of â€Å"The Raven† by Edgar Allan Poe was a loquacious Raven that Dickens admired In one of his stories. In Barney Rugged a local Idiot wonders In and out of the story with his pet raven Grip.It Is said that Dickens wanted to use a parrot Instead of a Raven In his story but decided to go with the Raven. In the story â€Å"Great Expectations† by Charles Dickens Pip the main hearted is a little boy living with his older sister and her husband who is a blacksmith. Pip is a poor orphan who lives a troubled life until he comes into good wealth and goes off to England to become a gentleman. Pip falls in love with Mrs†¦ Habitats adopted daughter who was raised to break men's hearts in. Needless to say Pip lives a very confusing traumatic life but is an outstanding character and plays an important role in Dickens novel.In the story of Barney Rugged there is a young boy named Barney Rugged who is considered to be the local idiot who owns a pet raven named Grip. In the story murder Is involved with a character named Steward. The suspected murderer was said to be the gardener. HIS motives for killing Steward were unknown. All of Dickens books have characters from people in his life and stories that reflect his past. Pope's characters are often tortured by guilt. One comparison between the works of Edgar Allan Poe and Charles Dickens is the plot. Revenge and death. These two highlight almost all of Dickens and Pope's works.The Tell Tale Heart is a story about a man who seeks revenge on his childhood bully but in the end ends up killing himself. The Cask of Amontillado also portrays revenge and death. Peg. 3 Both writers also love to write stories about love. A Tale of Two Cities is a story about love, imprisonment and death. We can't forget about Great Expectations where Pip falls in love with Estella. Pip was crazy for Estella but Estella w as raised to break men's hearts. Poe pretty much is summarizing his life and feelings towards the love losses that occurred to him in his life.Probably the biggest comparison between the two writers is their way about writing about death. In the black cat, Pluto (the cat) is murdered by a drunk man. I don't know how someone can Just write about death. In David Copperfield the death of Davit's mother ends his schooling at crackles institutional. But wait there's more, in the haunted man, a chemist named Bedlam is an isolated scholar beset by his memories of the death of his sister and betrayal his best friend. As I started earlier Barney Rugged and the Masque of the Red Death also portrayed death.If anything these writers best works involved death. Another area where Edgar Allan Poe and Charles Dickens do compare in is theme. Byronic Romanticism is an example of this. The influence of Byronic Romanticism evident in Poe is also apparent in the works of Withering Heights. Poe and dicke ns both were able to use this very well in writing a good amount of stories. Fate is also a big part in the works of Dickens and Poe. In the Masque of the Red Death a plague is going through town within 30 minutes a person would die of the plague.The king tried to avoid the plague by staying in his castle until the plague cleared up or went away. But Fate had the advantage as it always does and King Prospers caught the plague and eventually died of it. In the Cask of Amontillado fate would strike as pay back when someone is killed for crossing his friend who told him not to cross him. Long Tory short fate caught up to him. Peg. 4 Poe and Dickens love to write about people getting murdered. The black cat a story about a cat who is murdered by a drunk man. In Great Expectations Pip's sister is killed.The Tell tale Heart a story about a plan to kill an old man but in the end the man who tried to kill the old man ended up killing himself. In Barney Rugged, Steward gets killed by the Gar dner. A Trial of Murder a tale of supernatural retribution with the murdered mans spirit returning to ensure his killers execution. I can go on and on with this. These writers Just have a fancy way for writing death Tories. Poe has crafted a tale about the perfect crime whose criminal goes unpunished and about a crime that haunts a murderer. This is their bread and butter.Death. While Poe and dickens compared in plot and theme they also did compare in setting. Their dark and gloomy atmosphere really helped shape how the story was going to go. Poe incorporated a gloomy atmosphere and melodrama into his works because he read gothic stories as a child. So pretty much that's where Poe got that idea from. In Barney Rugged he would set the scene at the Village of Caldwell an evening of foul weather. In the Pit and the Pendulum the setting is dark, dreary, and scary. Poe is considered to be the inventor of the detective fiction genre.Both Poe and Dickens have written many of short detectiv es or short mysterious mysterious visit to a distraught lover, tracing the man's slow fall into madness. The mystery of Edwin Drop is about repression and rebellion breaking out. The melancholy setting that both writers have created really makes reading their stories that much more interesting. Dickens tells about the cold wet shelter less midnight streets of London and the foul drowsy dens. The Tell Tale Hearts setting sakes it hard for me to read but it adds so much meaning to it.In the Raven, Poe establishes an atmosphere/ tone of darkness, melancholy, suspense, fear, and anxiety. The settings in their writings made their writing powerful and to me really set the standard for their type of writing. But all in all Poe definitely was the better writer hands down. Best of all time. Reality. -â€Å"Edgar Allan Poe†. In conclusion I believe that Edgar Allan Poe is a better writer than Charles Dickens and in my opinion the best writer of all time. I Just feel that Poe was more m otivated to write than Dickens was. Poe went through so much in is life and his writings reflect that.