How Is the Tragic Mulatto Literary Trope Defined

To understand the meaning of the literary trope tragic mulatto, one must first understand the definition of mulatto. It is an outdated and, many would argue, offensive term used to describe someone with one black parent and one white parent. Its use is controversial today given that mulatto (mulato in Spanish) means small mule (a derivative of the Latin mÃ… «lus). The comparison of a biracial human being to the sterile offspring of a donkey and a horse was widely acceptable through even the mid-20th century but today is considered objectionable for obvious reasons. Terms such as biracial, mixed-race or half-black are commonly used instead. Defining the Tragic Mulatto The tragic mulatto myth dates back to 19th century American literature. Sociologist David Pilgrim credits Lydia Maria Child with launching this literary trope in her short stories The Quadroons (1842) and Slaverys Pleasant Homes (1843). The myth almost exclusively focuses on biracial individuals, especially women, light enough to pass for white. In literature, such mulattoes were often unaware of their black heritage. Such is the case in Kate Chopins 1893 short story Dà ©sirà ©es Baby in which an aristocrat weds a woman of unknown lineage. The story, however, is a twist on the tragic mulatto trope.   Typically white characters who discover their African ancestry become tragic figures because they find themselves barred from white society and, thus, the privileges available to whites. Distraught at their fate as people of color, tragic mulattoes in literature often turned to suicide. In other instances, these characters pass for white, cutting off their black family members to do so. The mixed-race daughter of a black woman suffers this fate in the 1933 Fannie Hurst novel Imitation of Life, which spawned a movie starring Claudette Colbert, Louise Beavers, and Fredi Washington in 1934 and a remake with Lana Turner, Juanita Moore and Susan Kohner in 1959. Kohner (of Mexican and Czech Jewish ancestry) plays Sarah Jane Johnson, a young woman who looks white but sets out to cross the color line, even if it means disowning her loving mother, Annie. The film makes it clear that tragic mulatto characters are not only to be pitied but, in some ways, loathed. While Sarah Jane is portrayed as selfish and wicked, Annie is portrayed as saint-like, and the white characters largely indifferent to both of their struggles. In addition to tragic, mulattoes in film and literature have frequently been depicted as sexually seductive (Sarah Jane works in gentlemens clubs), effeminate or otherwise troubled because of their mixed blood. Generally, these characters suffer insecurity about their place in the world. Langston Hughes 1926 poem Cross exemplifies this: My old mans a white old manAnd my old mothers black.If ever I cursed my white old manI take my curses back.If ever I cursed my black old motherAnd wished she were in hell,Im sorry for that evil wishAnd now I wish her well.My old man died in a fine big house.My ma died in a shack.I wonder where Im gonna die,Being neither white nor black? More recent literature about racial identity flips the tragic mulatto stereotype on its head. Danzy Sennas 1998 novel Caucasia features a young protagonist who can pass for white but takes pride in her blackness. Her dysfunctional parents wreak more havoc in her life than her feelings about her identity do. Why the Tragic Mulatto Myth Is Inaccurate The tragic mulatto myth perpetuates the idea that miscegenation (the mixing of races) is unnatural and harmful to the children produced by such unions. Rather than blame racism for the challenges biracial people face, the tragic mulatto myth holds race-mixing responsible. Yet, there is no biological argument to support the tragic mulatto myth. Biracial people arent likely to be sickly, emotionally unstable or otherwise affected because their parents belong to different racial groups. Given that scientists acknowledge that race is a social construct and not a biological category, theres no evidence that biracial or multiracial people were born to be hurt, as miscegenation foes have long claimed. On the other hand, the idea that mixed-race people are somehow superior to others--more healthy, beautiful and intelligent--is also controversial. The concept of hybrid vigor, or heterosis, is questionable when applied to plants and animals, and theres no scientific basis for its application to human beings. Geneticists generally do not support the idea of genetic superiority, especially because this concept has led to discrimination against people from a wide range of racial, ethnic and cultural groups. Biracial people may not be genetically superior or inferior to any other group, but their numbers are growing in the United States. Mixed-race children are among the fastest growing population in the country. Rising numbers of multiracial people dont mean that these individuals lack challenges. As long as racism exists, mixed-race people will face some form of bigotry.

Child Labour in Pakistan Free Essays

Internet Internet has been perhaps the most outstanding innovation in the field of communication in the history of mankind. Ten years ago, the term internet was practically anonymous to most of people. Today internet has become the most ever powerful tool for man throughout the world. We will write a custom essay sample on Child Labour in Pakistan or any similar topic only for you Order Now The internet is a collection of various services and resources. Internet has its advantages and disadvantages. But usually, the advantages of internet outweigh its disadvantages. Communication is one of the greatest services of the internet. By using MSN, FACEBOOK or something else, we can communicate in second with a person who is sitting in the other part of the world. Today for better communication, we can chat for hours with our loved ones. With the help of such services, the internet has become very easy to establish a kind of global friendship and share our thoughts. Also we can explore other cultures of different ethnicity on the internet. Information also is a big advantage that internet is offering. The internet is a virtual treasure trove of information. Any kind of information on any topic under the sun is available on the internet. The search engines like Google, Yahoo is at your service on the internet. You can almost find any type of data on almost any kind of subject that you are looking for. Students and teens are among the top users who surf the internet for research. Today, it is almost required that students should use the internet for research for the purpose of gathering resources. Teachers have given assignments, which require research on the internet, to students. Entertainment is another reason why many people prefer to surf the internet. Downloading games, visiting chat rooms or watching online movies are some of the uses people have discovered. There are numerous of games that may be downloaded from the internet for free. Chat rooms are popular because users can meet new and interesting people. When people surf the Web, there are numerous things that can be found such as music, hobbies, news, sports. Theft of personal information is one of the biggest disadvantages of the internet. When you are using the internet, you may be facing grave danger as your personal information such as name, address, credit card number etc. Spamming Spamming refers to sending unwanted e-mails in bulk, which provide no purpose and needlessly obstruct the entire system. Such illegal activities can be very frustrating for you. Virus threat Virus is nothing but a program which disrupts the normal functioning of your computer systems. Computers attached to internet are more prone to virus attacks and they can end up into crashing your whole hard disk, causing you considerable headache. Pornography This is perhaps the biggest threat related to your children’s healthy mental life. There are thousands of pornographic sites on the internet that can be easily found and can be a detrimental factor to let children use the internet. How to cite Child Labour in Pakistan, Essay examples

What is Hockey free essay sample

What is Hockey?Hockey is a fast and fun game played between two teams of 11 players. Its a team sport played by both males and females. Playing hockey helps develop essential social skills like teamwork, communication, and individual persistence. I started playing hockey aged six in a training squad run by my local team. I have progressed through time, as a result, Im now playing on a Ladies team for Lydney. There is a field and ice hockey, in the following paragraphs I will be discussing field hockey.The equipment you useIn hockey, theres a lot of equipment you need to get beforehand to ensure that you are safe. The type of equipment is different if youre playing as a goalie, but if not, then you can just get the standard kit. Your hockey stick is like your weapon on a battlefield because once youve become comfortable with it, then it will become part of you. We will write a custom essay sample on What is Hockey? or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Another vital thing is a ball as you cant play hockey without one. Hockey balls are rubber-like, hard and dense this makes them travel at high speeds. The average player can hit a ball to anywhere between 80 and 100 km/h, however, Christopher Wesley a German player topped the listing with a hit measuring 140 km/h. Although the primary function of a mouth guard is to prevent dental injuries, recent research may lead to another role, preventing concussions. A study done at Notre Dame University showed fewer concussions once it became compulsory to wear a mouth guard for hockey games.The general rules In hockey, there are lots of rules, some of the main are:1) Hockey players can only hit the ball with the flat side of their stick 2) Players must not raise the stick above shoulder height when hitting the ball.3) Hockey players (other than the goalie) arent allowed to use their feet.4) Goals can only be scored if the ball is hit inside of the D (part of the pitch marked out around the goal)5) Hockey is a non-contact sport.During a game, there are two umpires on the pitch, who are responsible for each half of the pitch. They have the authority to make decisions according to the rules of the game. They issue punishments like free hits, short corners, and penalties. These are normally for fouls like obstruction, back of stick, interference, and raising of sticks.Pitch formationsIn hockey, each side has 11 players. The outfield player positions can be put into three categories – defenders, midfielders, and attackers. †¢ The defenders main aim is to prevent the opposition from scoring, †¢ The midfielders have to work the most because they have the role of attacking and defending. †¢ The attacker has the most rewarding job, scoring!Famous playersIndian hockey player Dhyan Chand is considered to be one of the greatest players of all time. He is remembered for his goal-scoring and for his three Olympic gold medals (1928, 1932, and 1936) in hockey. Chand joined the Indian army in 1922 and toured New Zealand with the army team. During Indias world tour of 1932, he scored a total of 133 goals and in his, whole international career, he scored a staggering 400 goals. Dhyan Chand is known as the Wizard for his amazing ball control and he will be still be remembered for years to come.Nicola White is an English international hockey player who plays as a forward for England and Great Britain. She plays club hockey in the Investec Women hockey league premier division for Holcombe. White won a gold medal at 2016 Olympic Games and a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympic Games. After her international debut for England in May 2009, White has won silver at the Champions trophy and bronze medals at the World Cup, Commonwealth, and European competitions. She once said, A dream doesnt become reality by magic, it takes sweat, determination, and hard work.The history of hockeyGames like hockey involving sticks and balls have been played for thousands of years. Records show that a form of hockey was played in Egypt 4,000 years ago and in Ethiopia around 1,000 BC. Hockey in England in the 17th and 18th century consisted of whole villages playing the game with the objective of hitting the ball into the opposing villages common ground. Teams often consisted of 60 to 100 players that occasionally lasted several days. In 1852 the sports master of Harrow Public School advised his pupils that, among other things, no more than thirty players per team were allowed on the field at any one time. The game we know today emerged at Eton College in England in the 1860s when the first rules were written down. Why is hockey such a great sport?Hockey is one of the most physically demanding sports on the body. Players cover greater distances over a shorter period of time compared to most other team sports. Hockey players are required to be fit, fast, strong, powerful, agile and perform many sprints throughout the game. Furthermore, hockey is one of the most skilled based games, most other sports only have a ball but using a stick requires a higher level of skill and coordination. Hockey is for every age, sizes, and sex. It is one of the few sports where males and females can play in mixed teams with a range of different abilities. In my opinion, scoring is the most rewarding part of the sport. It isnt easy, so when you do score it shows that hard work does pay off.

The Battle for the Scarlet Letter Essay Example For Students

The Battle for the Scarlet Letter Essay The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is, on many levels, a struggle between good and evil. Each character falls on the spectrum of good and evi. Arthur Dimmesdale, an agent of God, is the towns most respected reverend. He is a deeply moral man who regrets the sins he has committed. He practices self-mutilation to punish himself for an affair with a married woman, Hester Prynne. Hester wears the Scarlet Letter, said to be the mark of the Black Man, as a punishment for her sin. Pearl, her daughter, asks her mother, IS there such a Black Man? And didst thou ever meet him? And is this his mark? (170)Bibliography: We will write a custom essay on The Battle for the Scarlet Letter specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now

The Boy Who Cried to a Wolf Essays

The Boy Who Cried to a Wolf Essays The Boy Who Cried to a Wolf Essay The Boy Who Cried to a Wolf Essay William finished his meagre breakfast and left the house. He strolled through the town without purpose until he came to the cobblers, his fathers place of work. He went inside seeking his fathers counsel. His father was busy studying the stitching on a new boot he had made. Ah, young Will what brings you here? Nothing much, mother is doing my head in with this farmer Sykes business, I didnt have anything to do with it. Oh, dont worry son, when I was your age I got up to all kinds of mischief. But I didnt do anything exclaimed William,Of course you didnt son. With that Mr Hallwater descended into anecdotes of times when he was younger. William slowly backed out of the cobblers. William decided that no one believed that he had nothing to do with the orchard incident and retreated to his sanctuary, the tree in the field. As he wandered slowly, caught up in his reverie he was brought back to the reality of his surrounding by a dark figure leaning against his cherished spot. Upon closer inspection the figure was coated from head to toe with matted dark grey fur. Upon even closer inspection William deduced that the figure was in fact a wolf. William did not fear the wolf, he saw it as an opportunity to talk to someone about his oppressed life. The wolf looked William blankly in the face, William, unfazed looked straight back. The wolf was confused, usually his reputation was enough to send people sprinting back to the town. He saw this as an opportunity to talk to someone about his crafty and revered lifestyle. What brings you here kid? the wolf eyed William up and down slowly. Just came here to escape Replied William. Escape from what? Life in general That bad is it? The wolf and William got drawn into a long conversation about how hard their lives were. So you dont like your folks, eh? They just dont listen to me. Doesnt it just drive you mad? Definitely Dont you just want to get revenge on them for the way theyve treated you so far? Actually, yeh, yeh I do. Well maybe I can help you out the wolfs wide mouth broadened further into a smile. So what are we going to do? enquired William.

The Impact Of Technology On Financial Accounting Research Paper

The Impact Of Technology On Financial Accounting - Research Paper Example It has been observed that, while, on one hand, technology proves to be an asset for a business organization, it leads to the increase in liability for the accountants. Some of the technological tools like manufacturing of products through computer integrated systems, internet, expert systems, image processing etc. have a positive impact on accounting by facilitating collection, recording, and communication of accurate information about the various business transactions in a timely manner. However, technology has a negative impact on accounting, too. With technological advancements, the risk of losing confidentiality and accountability of the financial accountants has increased. Technology has paved the way towards creating more opportunities for different fraudulent activities in financial and management accounting. Furthermore, there are some impacts of technology on accounting, which cannot be termed either as positive or as negative ones. The pattern of hiring in different organiz ations has changed considerably, and the training and educational pattern of accountants have also changed because of the technological impact on this sphere. ... often we find that technological advancement has proved to be an asset for a business concern, but at the same time it has added to the liability of the accountants of the organization. As an instance, correct information is provided on a timely basis, but only at the cost of confidentiality. A few of the technological impacts on accounting are only changes in simple terms and can be termed neither as positive nor as negative. Hence, in a nutshell, technological advancements have neutral, positive, and negative impacts on accounting, but each of these impacts calls for the accounting profession to be in conformity with the changes. Positive Impacts of Technology The advent of various types of tools because of the technological advancement is quite obvious. It is one of the positive impacts of technology on accounting. Some of these tools are manufacturing process using computer-integrated system, the internet, communications technology, image processing, and the experts systems. All these are examples of few tools out of many, which have been designed to facilitate presentation of accurate information in a timely and detailed manner. Manufacturing processes in organizations using computer integrated system had an impounding effect on the cost accountants in the financial world. With the manufacturing process being automated, information is collected by the computers and reported instantaneously. This gives rise to a system of operational information which is characterized by the integration between manufacturing and other organizational processes like accounting and marketing. Activity-based costing systems are the results of this type of integration, which has a significant impact on cost accounting. Overheads are efficiently allocated by the accountants using this

Research Response Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Response - Research Paper Example In-depths into Global Climate Change There have been increased concentrations of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere following different human activities. Scientific evidence points out that this has seen the average Earth surface temperature rising by approximately 0.80C. About two thirds of this temperature increase was recorded in the year 1980 (Emmanuel 689). Scientists link these changes to increased combustion of fossil fuels as well as high rates of deforestation across the globe. The main contributors are industrialized nations as they emit a greater percentage of greenhouse gases which further translate into adverse changes in the global climate. This has mainly been boosted by increased human activities. Kiehl and Trenberthnotes that â€Å"Atmospheric concentrations of some of the gases that produce the greenhouse effect are increasing due to human activity and most of the world's climate scientists consider that this is a significant part of the cause of observed climate change† (203). The effects are however, felt worldwide. ... Therefore, a greater portion of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere is linked to anthropogenic sources and the effects are felt fromradiation of gases through the atmosphere. Moreover, most sources of human emissions are able to be identified in specific nations, but the impacts are felt in all areas of the Earth. Greenhouse effects occur and are felt when solar radiation heats the Earth surface after which the heat is radiated into the atmosphere in long wavelength radiations (Emmanuel 688). From scientific view, the radiation is captured by atmospheric carbon dioxide and water vapour then reradiated. This causes heating of land, atmosphere and sea surfaces which then results into intense temperature levels worldwide. This is mainly attributed to the fact that warming effect of the land, oceans and atmosphere affect the global climate by increasing temperature levels across the entire globe. There is enough scientific proof of greenhouse composition and changes in levels in water bodies, land surface and in the atmosphere. This rates carbon dioxide as the most steady greenhouse gas with a consistent increase especially in concentration. Other greenhouse gases have also been observed to substantially increase both in the concentration and volume thereby contributing to increased levels of temperature worldwide. Regarding all these, Kiehl and Trenberth point out that â€Å"these atmospheric concentrations to emissions sources and sinks are a steadily evolving sphere of scientific inquiry; certain inputs to the climate could be observed and promptly quantified† (198). Electricity generation has been responsible for a higher contribution of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as compared to other greenhouse gases emitted. Even though