Identity (940 words) Essay Example For Students

The Legend of Romulus and Remus Essay Example

The Legend of Romulus and Remus Paper Romulus and Remus were twin siblings. Their dad was Mars, the God of War; their mom was Rhea Silvia, a vestal virgin and little girl of the King, Numitor. Numitors sibling, Amulius, had taken the seat from him and had constrained Rhea Silvia to turn into a vestal virgin with the goal that she would not have any kids who may attempt to reclaim the seat. At the point when the young men were conceived, Amulius held onto them, put them into a container and tossed them into the waterway Tiber. He trusted that they would suffocate. Nonetheless, the young men were saved by a she-wolf who took care of the children with her own milk and thought about them. A shepherd called Faustulus saw the wolf with the infant young men. He took them home to his significant other. They called the young men Romulus and Remus. At the point when they grew up the young men became shepherds like Faustulus. One day they had a battle with another gathering of shepherds. Remus was captured and sent to Numitor as a detainee. When Numitor heard the story he understood that Remus was his grandson! He mentioned to Romulus and Remus what had befallen him and their mom. For vengeance, Romulus and Remus assaulted their Uncle Amulius and murdered him. From that point forward, Romulus and Remus went to live with their granddad in Alba Longa, yet they got exhausted and missed the wide open where they grew up. We will compose a custom exposition test on The Legend of Romulus and Remus explicitly for you for just $16.38 $13.9/page Request now We will compose a custom exposition test on The Legend of Romulus and Remus explicitly for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Recruit Writer We will compose a custom exposition test on The Legend of Romulus and Remus explicitly for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Recruit Writer They chose to move back to River Tiber where Faustulus had discovered them and manufacture their own city however the twins contended over where the city ought to be assembled. Romulus needed to assemble it on the Palatine Hill and Remus needed to construct it on the Capitoline Hill. At long last they fabricated two urban areas. Shockingly, the contending didn't stop. They continued prodding each other about their urban areas. Remus prodded his sibling about the stature of his city dividers, saying they were excessively low. At long last the two urban communities did battle and Romulus won. Romulus became ruler of his new city which was called Rome in his respect.

Using 5-HTP to Treat Depression

Using 5-HTP to Treat Depression Depression Treatment Medication Print Using 5-HTP to Treat Depression By Nancy Schimelpfening Nancy Schimelpfening, MS is the administrator for the non-profit depression support group Depression Sanctuary. Nancy has a lifetime of experience with depression, experiencing firsthand how devastating this illness can be. Learn about our editorial policy Nancy Schimelpfening Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on February 04, 2020 Depression Overview Types Symptoms Causes & Risk Factors Diagnosis Treatment Coping ADA & Your Rights Depression in Kids Tetra Images - Jamie Grill/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images In This Article Table of Contents Expand Overview Symptoms 5-HTP Effectiveness   Safety and Side Effects   Pregnancy and Breastfeeding View All Research shows that using 5-HTP for depression may help alleviate depressive symptoms. 5-HTP, or 5-hydroxytryptophan, is an amino acid that our bodies produce from a dietary amino acid called l-tryptophan. It can be converted into the mood-regulating neurotransmitter called serotonin, as well as the sleep-inducing hormone known as melatonin. 5-HTP may also be synthesized in the laboratory by extracting it from the seeds of the plant ?Griffonia simplicifolia.?? Understanding Depression Depression, which is also referred to as clinical depression or major depressive disorder, is a mood disorder that creates feelings of sadness and hopelessness that can last for a long period of time.?? Eventually, it starts to creep into your everyday life, affecting the way you think, how you deal with stress, the way you behave, and how you feel. Your regular activities of daily life, like getting out of bed, brushing your teeth, and showering may feel pointless and overwhelming. Your energy may feel sapped too, making it even easier to skip these small tasks. Depression is more than the normal funk we all find ourselves in sometimes. The key to knowing its time to find help is determining when your symptoms are bad enough that theyre seriously impacting your life. Maybe youve stopped participating in activities you once enjoyed. Or maybe you find yourself sobbing on the bathroom floor all too often. Perhaps you dont even recognize yourself anymore as you hazily go through the motions of just barely living. You may have depression only once, but many people who deal with depression have multiple episodes during their lifetimes. Keep in mind that depression isnt a personal flaw. Its a real medical condition that needs to be treated, and depending on the severity of your depression, the treatment may end up being a long-term process. Take heart thoughâ€"the majority of people who have dealt with depression report feeling better once they start on medication, go to psychotherapy (counseling), or do a combination of both. Depression Symptoms Symptoms of depression are present during the majority of the day, just about every day, for two weeks or more and may include:?? Feeling sad, hopeless, or emptyCrying more than usualAnger or irritabilitySleeping too much or not sleeping enoughLoss of interest in normal activities or hobbiesFatigueLoss of energyAppetite changes, such as eating more or less than usualWeight changes as a result of appetite changesAnxietyFeeling worthless, guilty, and/or isolatedDifficulty concentratingMemory problemsFeeling agitated or restlessThinking about death and/or suicidePhysical symptoms like unexplained headaches, backaches, or stomachaches How  5-HTP Works The essential amino acid l-tryptophan can be obtained by eating foods that contain it, such as red meat and turkey, but its ability to be converted into 5-HTPâ€"and ultimately into serotoninâ€"is limited by the availability of an enzyme called tryptophan hydroxylase.?? The amount of tryptophan hydroxylase in our bodies can be inhibited by many different factors, such as stress, insulin resistance, vitamin B6 deficiency, and magnesium deficiency. Supplementing with 5-HTP overcomes this problem by eliminating the need to convert l-tryptophan to 5-HTP, thus allowing more 5-HTP to be available for conversion to serotonin. Effectiveness   Overall, the clinical trials published to date indicate that 5-HTP may be effective in treating depression symptoms, both on its own and when used in conjunction with prescription antidepressants.?? However, better quality studies are needed to firmly establish its effectiveness, especially since they have only been done in small groups of people. One study concluded that 5-HTP shouldnt be given by itself because its not very effective and it may actually deplete neurotransmitters in your brain like dopamine and norepinephrine, which can make your depression worse.?? Instead, the researchers noted, 5-HTP should be given with dopamine or serotonin amino acid precursors in order to minimize side effects, prevent neurotransmitter depletion, and to get the most efficacy from 5-HTP. However, these supplemental amino acids need to be kept in careful balance or theres a risk of depression symptoms becoming worse due to neurotransmitter depletion. A group of researchers who looked at the effects of 5-HTP in a slow-release form argue that this extended delivery method could make the supplement an important adjunctive (additional) therapy in people who have treatment-resistant depression.?? To support their beliefs, the researchers also did a related study on the performance of slow-release 5-HTP versus the immediate release formula in mice, which showed that the slow-release version was far more therapeutically effective. The scientists conclude that developing a slow-release 5-HTP drug is doable and could be a particularly beneficial treatment for patients who appear to have 5-HT deficiencies, typically indicated by suicidal actions, severe depression, and co-occurring borderline personality disorder (BPD), all of which tend to be more resistant to SSRIs. Additionally, the researchers believe that slow-release 5-HTP could potentially help people who have been diagnosed with mental health disorders that are only partially responsive to SSRIs like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety disorders. Safety and Side Effects   Doses of around 200 to 300 mg per day of 5-HTP seem to be fairly well-tolerated.?? The most common side effects reported with 5-HTP include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Less common side effects include a headache, insomnia, and heart palpitations. Gastrointestinal side effects appear to be dose-dependent and tend to lessen over time. There is one very serious safety concern with 5-HTP, however. When taken in conjunction with other medications for depression that also increase serotonin, such as SSRIs or monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), there is a possibility that your serotonin levels may become dangerously high.?? This condition, called serotonin syndrome, leads to symptoms such as high blood pressure, hyperthermia, flushing, hyperreflexia, dizziness, disorientation, and involuntary muscle twitching called myoclonus. Patients experiencing these symptoms should seek immediate medical attention, as this condition can be fatal. Pregnancy and Breastfeeding There is not currently enough data to tell whether 5-HTP is safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women to use. For this reason, you shouldnt take 5-HTP if youre expecting a child or nursing. A Word From Verywell Although you can buy it over-the-counter, talk to your doctor before starting on 5-HTP, especially if youre already taking other antidepressants or medications. Your doctor can make sure youre taking the right amount and that youre not susceptible to any potential drug interactions. The 7 Best Online Help Resources for Depression

Self-discovery in Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal Dreams Essay

Self-discovery in Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal Dreams Although, on the surface, Animal Dreams is a book about family conflict, the central theme is about self-discovery. Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver is a story about a family who lived in the town of Grace. The history behind Grace is very vivid and descriptive. The family that becomes the readers concern, is the Noline family. The family members are Homero Noline and his daughters Cosima and Halimeda. Cosima or Codi, as she is known in the book, comes back to Grace after fourteen years. Halimeda or Hallie, goes to Nicaragua, to help the farmers cultivate cotton in the war- torn area. Homer, the father, is the only doctor in Grace. He has Alzheimers disease. Codi comes back to†¦show more content†¦She has a past with him that she has managed to keep hidden successfully. She was pregnant with his child and had a stillbirth. Her father knew that she was pregnant. When she had the stillbirth, her father tried to help her, and show his love by giving her the medication she ne eds without being intrusive. As he was the only doctor around, he feels that, This is the full measure of love he is qualified to dispense to his own daughter. (142; ch.13) Codi thinks that her father has always been controlling of her life. She resents her father because she feels that he alienated her from the other children in Grace, when she was going to school. She talks to her father about the mishap that occurred when she was a first-year medical resident. Codi told [tells] him that ...and I lost my nerve. You cant lose your nerve. Youre the one that taught me that. At that point, she sees a side of her father that she has never seen before. He father admits to her, I lose my nerve a dozen times a day. She realizes that the women in Grace take care of her father, and that she is ..superfluous. Codi renews her relationship with Loyd. She is not sure about telling Loyd about the pregnancy. Loyd draws her out of her shell by sharing his life and perspective. He gives her the strength by loving her just the way she is. Codi is

Essay on The Media Effects American Culture - 1249 Words

The media is the means of communication, as radio and television, newspapers, and magazines that reach or influence people widely. The growth of the media has spread vastly over the years. The media is also known as a â€Å"channel of mass communication.† â€Å"Mass Media incorporates all those mediums through which information is distributed to the masses. These include advertisements, magazines, newspapers, radio, television, and the Internet† (Sebastian). The media introduces many new things to the public, both positive and negative. The media harms the American culture by creating these celebrity idols, the glorification of violence, sex, and drug and alcohol abuse. The media positively affects the American culture by the quick and easy flow of†¦show more content†¦People become consumed in this â€Å"fame and money† way of living that they will do whatever it takes to be just like the rich† (Coleman). The media puts the reality into things wit h a twist of any kind of story, quote, or anything that appeals to the public. This showed Americans that the media can negatively affect anyone’s life forever. â€Å"The glorification of violence, drug abuse and other unhealthy habits has a major role in the outburst of unfortunate incidents where children have gotten extremely violent and out of control. Be it the advertisements touting products that promise a fairer skin or bods-to-die for or the television shows and films, which portray violence, sexually explicit content and abusive language. There are music videos and rock bands that give out the message that alcohol; drugs and sex are an inevitable part of life. These ideals created by the media might not be necessarily appropriate† (Manohar). There is this â€Å"media frenzy† going on in America that not only teens are being affected, but also adults. There are misleading commercials or articles in the newspaper that lead people to believe things that are not true. Tabloids, television, and the internet will do anything to attract attention and for people to buy whatever they are selling. One the other hand, the media is a positive influence on the American culture as well. The media promotes education and learning,Show MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Mass Media On American Culture951 Words   |  4 PagesEffects of Mass Media Introduction Why is mass media influencing the American culture? This is what we are going to be discussing in this essay. It’s important that we understand where the media has come from and where it is now and the journey that it is taking the American culture in the last century. America has now explored what un-traditional media and it has a major impact on the culture called new media. What were the major developments in the evolution of mass media during theRead MoreThe Effects Of Mass Media On American Culture777 Words   |  4 Pages Effects of Mass Media Amanda Shock Media Influences on American Culture (HUM/186) 10/19/2015 Allyson Wells Effects of Mass Media There are many different effects of mass media. Where would the world be today without mass media? The world has evolved so much. From the written era all the way to the digital era, communication has changed so much. For instance, when the radio was invented it changed the way the news was communicated and provided entertainment. The television came soonRead MoreThe Effect of Mass Media on American Culture614 Words   |  2 PagesMass media is communication that reaches a large audience. This includes television, advertisement, the Internet, newspapers, and so on. Mass media is a significant effect in modern culture in America. It creates ideas and sustained within society not only send ideological messages out to the public but to advertise this ideas which are tend to manipulate our mantalities. The mass media interperts the views of the majority of the people, the working class, to have their greatest influence on individualsRead MoreMass Media Enslavement and Stupidity: Effects of Media on American Culture and Communication1782 Words   |  8 PagesAlthough Americans have been concerned about the moral principles involved with mass media approaches, it hasn’t stopped our society from continually investing money and time into fueling the mass media fire. In Tom Cooper’s (2008) In Between the Summits: What Americans Think About Media Ethics, he states: While some concerns such as deception, invasion of privacy, advertising saturation, and excessive violence apply to multiple channels of communication, others are medium specific. For exampleRead MoreEssay about Impact of Mass Media on Individuals, Society, and Culture1178 Words   |  5 PagesImpact of Mass Media on Individuals, Society, and Culture Mass media, over the years, has had a profound effect on American society, on its culture, and on the individuals exposed to the media. Mass media is a form of socialization, having a long-term effect on each member of American society. While mass media targets the individual in short-term intervals, the overall influence on them has been established as the consumer moves from one impressionable age category to another. The long or short-Read MoreCoca Cola s Social Media Strategy Essay1459 Words   |  6 PagesCoca-Colonization is the spreading of American culture through popular products, especially the soft beverage Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola is an example of a cultural item that is repeatedly displayed in American television shows, movies, and other forms of media that are viewed throughout the world. For example, according to Kevin Shively, author of â€Å"Lessons from Coca-Cola’s Social Media Strategy: Cohesive Campaigns and Creative Content† on Simplymeasured.com, â€Å"Interbrand ranks them as the third largestRead MoreEssay on Mass Media Society1 080 Words   |  5 PagesImpact of Mass Media on Individuals, Society, and Culture Mass media, over the years, has had a profound effect on American society, on its culture, and on the individuals exposed to the media. Mass media is a form of socialization, having a long-term effect on each member of American society. While mass media targets the individual in short-term intervals, the overall influence on them has been established as the consumer moves from one impressionable age category to another. The long or short-Read MoreInfuence of Entertainment Essay961 Words   |  4 PagesEntertainment Media Latishia Weldon HUM/186 March 4, 2013 Brandale Mills Influence of Entertainment Media America’s have shaped our culture though entertainment for media proposes for years. Entertainment media is how Americans attract the way of life. The social influences relay on the media entertainment for positive and negative images to help transform the minds of people. The culture of Americans have always been through television, computers, and entertainment. The values of our culture haveRead MoreInfluence of Entertainment Media969 Words   |  4 PagesEntertainment Media Latishia Weldon HUM/186 March 4, 2013 Brandale Mills Influence of Entertainment Media America’s have shaped our culture though entertainment for media proposes for years. Entertainment media is how Americans attract the way of life. The social influences relay on the media entertainment for positive and negative images to help transform the minds of people. The culture of Americans have always been through television, computers, and entertainment. The values of our culture haveRead MoreMass Media and Popular Culture953 Words   |  4 PagesMass Media and Popular Culture March, 2009 Let us face the facts, mass media and popular culture need each other to coexist. Furthermore, in todays society the mass media serves the interest of popular culture. Moreover, it is the vehicle of free speech in a diverse, multicultural society. In addition, mass media refers to communication via radio, televisions, movie theaters, television, newspapers, magazines, and, etc; thereby, reaching out to the larger audience. On the contrary, popular

The Da Vinci Code Chapter 1-3 Free Essays

string(29) " But the concierge was gone\." CHAPTER 1 Robert Langdon awoke slowly. A telephone was ringing in the darkness – a tinny, unfamiliar ring. He fumbled for the bedside lamp and turned it on. We will write a custom essay sample on The Da Vinci Code Chapter 1-3 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Squinting at his surroundings he saw a plush Renaissance bedroom with Louis XVI furniture, hand-frescoed walls, and a colossal mahogany four-poster bed. Where the hell am I? The jacquard bathrobe hanging on his bedpost bore the monogram: HOTEL RITZ PARIS. Slowly, the fog began to lift. Langdon picked up the receiver. â€Å"Hello?† â€Å"Monsieur Langdon?† a man’s voice said. â€Å"I hope I have not awoken you?† Dazed, Langdon looked at the bedside clock. It was 12:32 A. M. He had been asleep only an hour, but he felt like the dead. â€Å"This is the concierge, monsieur. I apologize for this intrusion, but you have a visitor. He insists it is urgent.† Langdon still felt fuzzy. A visitor? His eyes focused now on a crumpled flyer on his bedside table. THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF PARIS proudly presents AN EVENING WITH ROBERT LANGDON PROFESSOR OF RELIGIOUS SYMBOLOGY, HARVARD UNIVERSITY Langdon groaned. Tonight’s lecture – a slide show about pagan symbolism hidden in the stones of Chartres Cathedral – had probably ruffled some conservative feathers in the audience. Most likely, some religious scholar had trailed him home to pick a fight. â€Å"I’m sorry,† Langdon said, â€Å"but I’m very tired and – † â€Å"Mais, monsieur,†the concierge pressed, lowering his voice to an urgent whisper. â€Å"Your guest is an important man.† Langdon had little doubt. His books on religious paintings and cult symbology had made him a reluctant celebrity in the art world, and last year Langdon’s visibility had increased a hundred fold after his involvement in a widely publicized incident at the Vatican. Since then, the stream of self- important historians and art buffs arriving at his door had seemed never-ending. â€Å"If you would be so kind,† Langdon said, doing his best to remain polite,† could you take the man’s name and number, and tell him I’ll try to call him before I leave Paris on Tuesday? Thank you.† He hung up before the concierge could protest. Sitting up now, Langdon frowned at his bedside Guest Relations Handbook, whose cover boasted: SLEEP LIKE A BABY IN THE CITY OF LIGHTS. SLUMBER AT THE PARIS RITZ. He turned and gazed tiredly into the full-length mirror across the room. The man staring back at him was a stranger – tousled and weary. You need a vacation, Robert. The past year had taken a heavy toll on him, but he didn’t appreciate seeing proof in the mirror. His usually sharp blue eyes looked hazy and drawn tonight. A dark stubble was shrouding his strong jaw and dimpled chin. Around his temples, the gray highlights were advancing, making their way deeper into his thicket of coarse black hair. Although his female colleagues insisted the gray only accentuated his bookish appeal, Langdon knew better. If Boston Magazine could see me now. Last month, much to Langdon’s embarrassment, Boston Magazine had listed him as one of that city’s top ten most intriguing people – a dubious honor that made him the brunt of endless ribbing by his Harvard colleagues. Tonight, three thousand miles from home, the accolade had resurfaced to haunt him at the lecture he had given. â€Å"Ladies and gentlemen†¦Ã¢â‚¬  the hostess had announced to a full house at the American University of Paris’s Pavilion Dauphine,† Our guest tonight needs no introduction. He is the author of numerous books: The Symbology of Secret Sects, The An of the Illuminati, The Lost Language of Ideograms, and when I say he wrote the book on Religious Iconology, I mean that quite literally. Many of you use his textbooks in class.† The students in the crowd nodded enthusiastically. â€Å"I had planned to introduce him tonight by sharing his impressive curriculum vitae. However†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She glanced playfully at Langdon, who was seated onstage. â€Å"An audience member has just handed me a far more, shall we say†¦ intriguing introduction.† She held up a copy of Boston Magazine. Langdon cringed. Where the hell did she get that? The hostess began reading choice excerpts from the inane article, and Langdon felt himself sinking lower and lower in his chair. Thirty seconds later, the crowd was grinning, and the woman showed no signs of letting up. â€Å"And Mr. Langdon’s refusal to speak publicly about his unusual role in last year’s Vatican conclave certainly wins him points on our intrigue-o-meter.† The hostess goaded the crowd. â€Å"Would you like to hear more?† The crowd applauded. Somebody stop her, Langdon pleaded as she dove into the article again. â€Å"Although Professor Langdon might not be considered hunk-handsome like some of our younger awardees, this forty-something academic has more than his share of scholarly allure. His captivating presence is punctuated by an unusually low, baritone speaking voice, which his female students describe as ‘chocolate for the ears.’ The hall erupted in laughter. Langdon forced an awkward smile. He knew what came next – some ridiculous line about† Harrison Ford in Harris tweed† – and because this evening he had figured it was finally safe again to wear his Harris tweed and Burberry turtleneck, he decided to take action. â€Å"Thank you, Monique,† Langdon said, standing prematurely and edging her away from the podium. â€Å"Boston Magazine clearly has a gift for fiction.† He turned to the audience with an embarrassed sigh. â€Å"And if I find which one of you provided that article, I’ll have the consulate deport you.† The crowd laughed. â€Å"Well, folks, as you all know, I’m here tonight to talk about the power of symbols †¦Ã¢â‚¬  The ringing of Langdon’s hotel phone once again broke the silence. Groaning in disbelief, he picked up. â€Å"Yes?† As expected, it was the concierge. â€Å"Mr. Langdon, again my apologies. I am calling to inform you that your guest is now en route to your room. I thought I should alert you.† Langdon was wide awake now. â€Å"You sent someone to my room?† â€Å"I apologize, monsieur, but a man like this†¦ I cannot presume the authority to stop him.† â€Å"Who exactly is he?† But the concierge was gone. You read "The Da Vinci Code Chapter 1-3" in category "Essay examples" Almost immediately, a heavy fist pounded on Langdon’s door. Uncertain, Langdon slid off the bed, feeling his toes sink deep into the savonniere carpet. He donned the hotel bathrobe and moved toward the door. â€Å"Who is it?† â€Å"Mr. Langdon? I need to speak with you.† The man’s English was accented – a sharp, authoritative bark. â€Å"My name is Lieutenant Jerome Collet. Direction Centrale Police Judiciaire.† Langdon paused. The Judicial Police? The DCPJ was the rough equivalent of the U. S. FBI. Leaving the security chain in place, Langdon opened the door a few inches. The face staring back at him was thin and washed out. The man was exceptionally lean, dressed in an official-looking blue uniform. â€Å"May I come in?† the agent asked. Langdon hesitated, feeling uncertain as the stranger’s sallow eyes studied him. â€Å"What is this all about?† â€Å"My capitaine requires your expertise in a private matter.† â€Å"Now?† Langdon managed. â€Å"It’s after midnight.† â€Å"Am I correct that you were scheduled to meet with the curator of the Louvre this evening?† Langdon felt a sudden surge of uneasiness. He and the revered curator Jacques Sauniere had been slated to meet for drinks after Langdon’s lecture tonight, but Sauniere had never shown up. â€Å"Yes. How did you know that?† â€Å"We found your name in his daily planner.† â€Å"I trust nothing is wrong?† The agent gave a dire sigh and slid a Polaroid snapshot through the narrow opening in the door. When Langdon saw the photo, his entire body went rigid.† This photo was taken less than an hour ago. Inside the Louvre.† As Langdon stared at the bizarre image, his initial revulsion and shock gave way to a sudden upwelling of anger. â€Å"Who would do this!† â€Å"We had hoped that you might help us answer that very question, considering your knowledge in symbology and your plans to meet with him.† Langdon stared at the picture, his horror now laced with fear. The image was gruesome and profoundly strange, bringing with it an unsettling sense of deja vu. A little over a year ago, Langdon had received a photograph of a corpse and a similar request for help. Twenty-four hours later, he had almost lost his life inside Vatican City. This photo was entirely different, and yet something about the scenario felt disquietingly familiar. The agent checked his watch. â€Å"My capitaine is waiting, sir.† Langdon barely heard him. His eyes were still riveted on the picture. â€Å"This symbol here, and the way his body is so oddly†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Positioned?† the agent offered. Langdon nodded, feeling a chill as he looked up. â€Å"I can’t imagine who would do this to someone.† The agent looked grim. â€Å"You don’t understand, Mr. Langdon. What you see in this photograph†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He paused. â€Å"Monsieur Sauniere did that to himself.† CHAPTER 2 One mile away, the hulking albino named Silas limped through the front gate of the luxurious brownstone residence on Rue La Bruyere. The spiked cilice belt that he wore around his thigh cut into his flesh, and yet his soul sang with satisfaction of service to the Lord. Pain is good. His red eyes scanned the lobby as he entered the residence. Empty. He climbed the stairs quietly, not wanting to awaken any of his fellow numeraries. His bedroom door was open; locks were forbidden here. He entered, closing the door behind him. The room was spartan – hardwood floors, a pine dresser, a canvas mat in the corner that served as his bed. He was a visitor here this week, and yet for many years he had been blessed with a similar sanctuary in New York City. The Lord has provided me shelter and purpose in my life. Tonight, at last, Silas felt he had begun to repay his debt. Hurrying to the dresser, he found the cell phone hidden in his bottom drawer and placed a call. â€Å"Yes?† a male voice answered. â€Å"Teacher, I have returned.† â€Å"Speak,† the voice commanded, sounding pleased to hear from him. â€Å"All four are gone. The three senechaux†¦and the Grand Master himself.† There was a momentary pause, as if for prayer. â€Å"Then I assume you have the information?† â€Å"All four concurred. Independently.† â€Å"And you believed them?† â€Å"Their agreement was too great for coincidence.† An excited breath. â€Å"Excellent. I had feared the brotherhood’s reputation for secrecy might prevail.† â€Å"The prospect of death is strong motivation.† â€Å"So, my pupil, tell me what I must know.† Silas knew the information he had gleaned from his victims would come as a shock. â€Å"Teacher, all four confirmed the existence of the clef de voute†¦the legendary keystone.† He heard a quick intake of breath over the phone and could feel the Teacher’s excitement. â€Å"The keystone.Exactly as we suspected.† According to lore, the brotherhood had created a map of stone – a clef de voute†¦or keystone – an engraved tablet that revealed the final resting place of the brotherhood’s greatest secret†¦ information so powerful that its protection was the reason for the brotherhood’s very existence. â€Å"When we possess the keystone,† the Teacher said,† we will be only one step away.† â€Å"We are closer than you think. The keystone is here in Paris.† â€Å"Paris? Incredible. It is almost too easy.† Silas relayed the earlier events of the evening†¦ how all four of his victims, moments before death, had desperately tried to buy back their godless lives by telling their secret. Each had told Silas the exact same thing – that the keystone was ingeniously hidden at a precise location inside one of Paris’s ancient churches – the Eglise de Saint-Sulpice. â€Å"Inside a house of the Lord,† the Teacher exclaimed. â€Å"How they mock us!† â€Å"As they have for centuries.† The Teacher fell silent, as if letting the triumph of this moment settle over him. Finally, he spoke. â€Å"You have done a great service to God. We have waited centuries for this. You must retrieve the stone for me. Immediately. Tonight. You understand the stakes.† Silas knew the stakes were incalculable, and yet what the Teacher was now commanding seemed impossible. â€Å"But the church, it is a fortress. Especially at night. How will I enter?† With the confident tone of a man of enormous influence, the Teacher explained what was to be done. When Silas hung up the phone, his skin tingled with anticipation. One hour, he told himself, grateful that the Teacher had given him time to carry out the necessary penance before entering a house of God. I must purge my soul of today’s sins.The sins committed today had been holy in purpose. Acts of war against the enemies of God had been committed for centuries. Forgiveness was assured. Even so, Silas knew, absolution required sacrifice. Pulling his shades, he stripped naked and knelt in the center of his room. Looking down, he examined the spiked cilice belt clamped around his thigh. All true followers of The Way wore this device – a leather strap, studded with sharp metal barbs that cut into the flesh as a perpetual reminder of Christ’s suffering. The pain caused by the device also helped counteract the desires of the flesh. Although Silas already had worn his cilice today longer than the requisite two hours, he knew today was no ordinary day. Grasping the buckle, he cinched it one notch tighter, wincing as the barbs dug deeper into his flesh. Exhaling slowly, he savored the cleansing ritual of his pain. Pain is good, Silas whispered, repeating the sacred mantra of Father Josemaria Escriva – the Teacher of all Teachers. Although Escriva had died in 1975, his wisdom lived on, his words still whispered by thousands of faithful servants around the globe as they knelt on the floor and performed the sacred practice known as† corporal mortification.† Silas turned his attention now to a heavy knotted rope coiled neatly on the floor beside him. TheDiscipline. The knots were caked with dried blood. Eager for the purifying effects of his own agony, Silas said a quick prayer. Then, gripping one end of the rope, he closed his eyes and swung it hard over his shoulder, feeling the knots slap against his back. He whipped it over his shoulder again, slashing at his flesh. Again and again, he lashed. Castigo corpus meum. Finally, he felt the blood begin to flow. CHAPTER 3 The crisp April air whipped through the open window of the Citroen ZX as it skimmed south past the Opera House and crossed Place Vend;me. In the passenger seat, Robert Langdon felt the city tear past him as he tried to clear his thoughts. His quick shower and shave had left him looking reasonably presentable but had done little to ease his anxiety. The frightening image of the curator’s body remained locked in his mind. Jacques Sauniere is dead. Langdon could not help but feel a deep sense of loss at the curator’s death. Despite Sauniere’s reputation for being reclusive, his recognition for dedication to the arts made him an easy man to revere. His books on the secret codes hidden in the paintings of Poussin and Teniers were some of Langdon’s favorite classroom texts. Tonight’s meeting had been one Langdon was very much looking forward to, and he was disappointed when the curator had not shown. Again the image of the curator’s body flashed in his mind. Jacques Sauniere did that to himself?Langdon turned and looked out the window, forcing the picture from his mind. Outside, the city was just now winding down – street vendors wheeling carts of candied amandes, waiters carrying bags of garbage to the curb, a pair of late night lovers cuddling to stay warm in a breeze scented with jasmine blossom. The Citroen navigated the chaos with authority, its dissonant two-tone siren parting the traffic like a knife. â€Å"Le capitaine was pleased to discover you were still in Paris tonight,† the agent said, speaking for the first time since they’d left the hotel. â€Å"A fortunate coincidence.† Langdon was feeling anything but fortunate, and coincidence was a concept he did not entirely trust. As someone who had spent his life exploring the hidden interconnectivity of disparate emblems and ideologies, Langdon viewed the world as a web of profoundly intertwined histories and events. The connections may be invisible, he often preached to his symbology classes at Harvard, but they are always there, buried just beneath the surface. â€Å"I assume,† Langdon said,† that the American University of Paris told you where I was staying?† The driver shook his head. â€Å"Interpol.† Interpol, Langdon thought. Of course.He had forgotten that the seemingly innocuous request of all European hotels to see a passport at check-in was more than a quaint formality – it was the law. On any given night, all across Europe, Interpol officials could pinpoint exactly who was sleeping where. Finding Langdon at the Ritz had probably taken all of five seconds. As the Citroen accelerated southward across the city, the illuminated profile of the Eiffel Tower appeared, shooting skyward in the distance to the right. Seeing it, Langdon thought of Vittoria, recalling their playful promise a year ago that every six months they would meet again at a different romantic spot on the globe. The Eiffel Tower, Langdon suspected, would have made their list. Sadly, he last kissed Vittoria in a noisy airport in Rome more than a year ago. â€Å"Did you mount her?† the agent asked, looking over. Langdon glanced up, certain he had misunderstood. â€Å"I beg your pardon?† â€Å"She is lovely, no?† The agent motioned through the windshield toward the Eiffel Tower. â€Å"Have you mounted her?† Langdon rolled his eyes. â€Å"No, I haven’t climbed the tower.† â€Å"She is the symbol of France. I think she is perfect.† Langdon nodded absently. Symbologists often remarked that France – a country renowned for machismo, womanizing, and diminutive insecure leaders like Napoleon and Pepin the Short – could not have chosen a more apt national emblem than a thousand-foot phallus. When they reached the intersection at Rue de Rivoli, the traffic light was red, but the Citroen didn’t slow. The agent gunned the sedan across the junction and sped onto a wooded section of Rue Castiglione, which served as the northern entrance to the famed Tuileries Gardens – Paris’s own version of Central Park. Most tourists mistranslated Jardins des Tuileries as relating to the thousands of tulips that bloomed here, but Tuileries was actually a literal reference to something far less romantic. This park had once been an enormous, polluted excavation pit from which Parisian contractors mined clay to manufacture the city’s famous red roofing tiles – or tuiles. As they entered the deserted park, the agent reached under the dash and turned off the blaring siren. Langdon exhaled, savoring the sudden quiet. Outside the car, the pale wash of halogen headlights skimmed over the crushed gravel parkway, the rugged whir of the tires intoning a hypnotic rhythm. Langdon had always considered the Tuileries to be sacred ground. These were the gardens in which Claude Monet had experimented with form and color, and literally inspired the birth of the Impressionist movement. Tonight, however, this place held a strange aura of foreboding. The Citroen swerved left now, angling west down the park’s central boulevard. Curling around a circular pond, the driver cut across a desolate avenue out into a wide quadrangle beyond. Langdon could now see the end of the Tuileries Gardens, marked by a giant stone archway. Arc du Carrousel. Despite the orgiastic rituals once held at the Arc du Carrousel, art aficionados revered this place for another reason entirely. From the esplanade at the end of the Tuileries, four of the finest art museums in the world could be seen†¦ one at each point of the compass. Out the right-hand window, south across the Seine and Quai Voltaire, Langdon could see the dramatically lit facade of the old train station – now the esteemed Musee d’Orsay. Glancing left, he could make out the top of the ultramodern Pompidou Center, which housed the Museum of Modern Art. Behind him to the west, Langdon knew the ancient obelisk of Ramses rose above the trees, marking the Musee du Jeu de Paume. But it was straight ahead, to the east, through the archway, that Langdon could now see the monolithic Renaissance palace that had become the most famous art museum in the world. Musee du Louvre. Langdon felt a familiar tinge of wonder as his eyes made a futile attempt to absorb the entire mass of the edifice. Across a staggeringly expansive plaza, the imposing facade of the Louvre rose like a citadel against the Paris sky. Shaped like an enormous horseshoe, the Louvre was the longest building in Europe, stretching farther than three Eiffel Towers laid end to end. Not even the million square feet of open plaza between the museum wings could challenge the majesty of the facade’s breadth. Langdon had once walked the Louvre’s entire perimeter, an astonishing three-mile journey. Despite the estimated five days it would take a visitor to properly appreciate the 65, 300 pieces of art in this building, most tourists chose an abbreviated experience Langdon referred to as â€Å"Louvre Lite† – a full sprint through the museum to see the three most famous objects: the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory.Art Buchwald had once boasted he’d seen all three masterpieces in five minutes and fifty-six seconds. The driver pulled out a handheld walkie-talkie and spoke in rapid-fire French. â€Å"Monsieur Langdonest arrive.Deux minutes.† An indecipherable confirmation came crackling back. The agent stowed the device, turning now to Langdon. â€Å"You will meet the capitaine at the main entrance.† The driver ignored the signs prohibiting auto traffic on the plaza, revved the engine, and gunned the Citroen up over the curb. The Louvre’s main entrance was visible now, rising boldly in the distance, encircled by seven triangular pools from which spouted illuminated fountains. La Pyramide. The new entrance to the Paris Louvre had become almost as famous as the museum itself. The controversial, neomodern glass pyramid designed by Chinese-born American architect I. M. Peistill evoked scorn from traditionalists who felt it destroyed the dignity of the Renaissance courtyard. Goethe had described architecture as frozen music, and Pei’s critics described this pyramid as fingernails on a chalkboard. Progressive admirers, though, hailed Pei’s seventy-one-foot-tall transparent pyramid as a dazzling synergy of ancient structure and modern method – a symbolic link between the old and new – helping usher the Louvre into the next millennium. â€Å"Do you like our pyramid?† the agent asked. Langdon frowned. The French, it seemed, loved to ask Americans this. It was a loaded question, of course. Admitting you liked the pyramid made you a tasteless American, and expressing dislike was an insult to the French. â€Å"Mitterrand was a bold man,† Langdon replied, splitting the difference. The late French president who had commissioned the pyramid was said to have suffered from a† Pharaoh complex.† Singlehandedly responsible for filling Paris with Egyptian obelisks, art, and artifacts. Franà §ois Mitterrand had an affinity for Egyptian culture that was so all-consuming that the French still referred to him as the Sphinx. â€Å"What is the captain’s name?† Langdon asked, changing topics. â€Å"Bezu Fache,† the driver said, approaching the pyramid’s main entrance. â€Å"We call him le Taureau.† Langdon glanced over at him, wondering if every Frenchman had a mysterious animal epithet. â€Å"You call your captain the Bull?† The man arched his eyebrows. â€Å"Your French is better than you admit, Monsieur Langdon.† My French stinks, Langdon thought, but my zodiac iconography is pretty good.Taurus was always the bull. Astrology was a symbolic constant all over the world. The agent pulled the car to a stop and pointed between two fountains to a large door in the side of the pyramid. â€Å"There is the entrance. Good luck, monsieur.† â€Å"You’re not coming?† â€Å"My orders are to leave you here. I have other business to attend to.† Langdon heaved a sigh and climbed out. It’s your circus. The agent revved his engine and sped off. As Langdon stood alone and watched the departing taillights, he realized he could easily reconsider, exit the courtyard, grab a taxi, and head home to bed. Something told him it was probably a lousy idea. As he moved toward the mist of the fountains, Langdon had the uneasy sense he was crossing an imaginary threshold into another world. The dreamlike quality of the evening was settling around him again. Twenty minutes ago he had been asleep in his hotel room. Now he was standing in front of a transparent pyramid built by the Sphinx, waiting for a policeman they called the Bull. I’m trapped in a Salvador Dali painting, he thought. Langdon strode to the main entrance – an enormous revolving door. The foyer beyond was dimly lit and deserted. Do I knock? Langdon wondered if any of Harvard’s revered Egyptologists had ever knocked on the front door of a pyramid and expected an answer. He raised his hand to bang on the glass, but out of the darkness below, a figure appeared, striding up the curving staircase. The man was stocky and dark, almost Neanderthal, dressed in a dark double-breasted suit that strained to cover his wide shoulders. He advanced with unmistakable authority on squat, powerful legs. He was speaking on his cell phone but finished the call as he arrived. He motioned for Langdon to enter. â€Å"I am Bezu Fache,† he announced as Langdon pushed through the revolving door. â€Å"Captain of the Central Directorate Judicial Police.† His tone was fitting – a guttural rumble†¦ like a gathering storm. Langdon held out his hand to shake. â€Å"Robert Langdon.† Fache’s enormous palm wrapped around Langdon’s with crushing force. â€Å"I saw the photo,† Langdon said. â€Å"Your agent said Jacques Sauniere himself did – â€Å" â€Å"Mr. Langdon,† Fache’s ebony eyes locked on. â€Å"What you see in the photo is only the beginning of what Sauniere did.† How to cite The Da Vinci Code Chapter 1-3, Essay examples

s Dream

Gatsby’s dream was the story of how he was constantly striving towards something, some goal he wished to conquer. Some dream he wished to live. He constantly moved around searching for the one goal he felt he could focus his energy on. Gatsby’s dream was inspired by the craving to conquer his goals. This striving always pushed Gatsby to better himself so that he might reach his goals. Even as a young child Gatsby revealed a strict list of daily activities that keep him busy from morning till night, physically mentally improving himself. It was this disciplined attitude that consistently pushed him towards improvement that inspired him to â€Å"pick out the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock† (189). For he needed that focus point he could strive for, to work for, and to make himself better for. His â€Å"believed in the green light† (189), as he believed in his goals. He believed in the â€Å"future†¦ that eluded [him]† (189). And he promised himself that â€Å"tomorrow [he would] run faster, and stretch [his] arms further†¦.† so that â€Å"one fine morning† (189) he could reach his goal. Gatsby had â€Å"come a long way†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and was so close to his goal he felt â€Å"he could hardly fail to grasp it† (189). Gatsby sees his hard work about to pay off, he is about to conquer the goal he worked so hard and long for. However he failed to realize that his dream â€Å"was already behind him somewhere back in† (189) the west. His future and his dream had always been in the West, where the land of opportunity could quench his thirst an exciting new frontier. This dream was originated from the â€Å"Dutch sailors† who saw opportunity in the â€Å"new world† (189). They left their homeland in search of adventure, to expand and strive for some new frontier that could offer them the rewards and prizes their yearned for. This is very much Gatsby’s own story, he moved east seeking for his dream; riches, fame, maybe even the love of his life. He ... 's Dream Free Essays on A Midsummer Night\'s Dream A review of: A Midsummer Night’s Dream While viewing this production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, it was clear to the audience the intentions of the playwright. This was a story of love during the longest night is the summer season, and a story of immortals interfering with the relationships of mortal relationships. The play was intended to be comedic. Its dialogue contained much euphemism and perverted gestures, such as when the craftsmen performed their play before the Duke, there was a hole in the wall between the craftsman’s legs, and through this hole people kissed. It provoked good laughs out of the audience. As far as I know, the director kept the production true to the playwright’s intentions, although, as far as I understand, the play was cut significantly for time’s purpose. When interpreting a script, an actor or actress can put his or her own twist into their character, these actors did it well. The set was actually quite amazing. An incredible amount of time must have been invested in the building of the trees and walkways in the forest. The only objection I have to the scenery is the canopy that dropped from above during the Duke’s wedding. It was very basic, which was probably the intention of its designer, but gave it a lower quality look. The costumes of the craftsmen seemed too new to me, perhaps I was looking for a more crinkly, dirty look for the lower class of the society. Puck’s costume was boring, and I’m sure I could have found a person in the audience wearing nearly the same thing. Other than those few objections, I thought the costum es fit the characters well. The script, by William Shakespeare, was of course written the best it could have possibly been written. This was a great story, which begins slowly, to set up the second half of the play. The depiction of two separate worlds was clear, and the meekness of mortals versus the faeries was shown well. The actors did a proficient jo...