Comparing Death of A Salesman and The Zoo Story :: comparison compare contrast essays

Death of A Salesman and The Zoo Story         Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Arthur Miller's   Death of A Salesman , is considered a to be one of the great masterpieces of American Literature.   Comparatively, Edward Albee's, The Zoo Story, is also an incredible work of art. Miller and Albee both depict a the struggles of man in relationships.   Interestingly, both plays seem to parallel each other throughout both works of literature.        Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Death of a Salesman tells a story of a distressed father, named Willy who struggles with his tenous relationship with his son, Biff.   Willy's personal failures have led him to try an live vicariously through his son Biff. Willy Loman is an elderly salesmen lost in false hopes and illusions. The sales firm that he worked for no longer paid him salary. Working on straight commission, Willy could not bring home enough money to pay his bills. After many years with the firm, he was no a commodity to the company.   They have spent his energy and discarded him like an old pair of shoes. Willy's sons, Biff and Hap, are both failures, however Willy refuses to come to terms with this bleak reality. He wants his sons, especially Biff, to succeed where he has not. He believes his boys are great and cannot understand why they are not successful. This is a major source of conflict throughout the play. As Willy has grown older, he has trouble distinguishing between the past and present, between illusion and reality, and is often lost in flashbacks where much of the story is told. These flashbacks are generally during the summer after Biff's senior year of high school when all of the family problems began. Willy has had an affair with a women he meets on sales trips and once caught by Biff. Now, Biff does not respect Willy and they do not get along. Willy eventually commits suicide so that Biff can have the insurance money to become successful. Ben is Willy's dead brother who appears to Willy during his flashbacks and times of trouble. Ben was a rich man who made it big in the diamond mines of Africa. Willy once was given the chance to become partners with Ben, but refused and instead choose the life that he currently lives.

Police, Civil Liability and the Law Essay

At the onset of the 20th century, police work can best be described as very authoritative and policemen or law enforcers were themselves considered the law. Criminality was low principally because of the relatively stable economy and the population density in cities and urban centers were a hundred time, or even more, than today. As symbol of authority, the police was then looked up to by the citizenry with great respect and even with admiration. Through the years, the public image of the policeman is suspect. In truth city police departments today already employ spokesmen or public relations officers to ensure the respectability of the service is protected and preserved. The changes in the concept of police work tremendously changed over the last century, or to be more specific the 25 years. The situation was brought about by the growing public conscious on human rights which is guaranteed no less by the United Nations. While before police training was focused on proper handling of firearms and marksmanships, traffic rules and regulations, today’s police officer should be conscious of every person’s human rights. Otherwise he or she may end up in court being sued for civil liability or damages. Changing Concept on the Police Over the years the police service has underwent some sort of an evolution. From a strong image of authority, the police has to some extent been compelled to accept the fact that their functions or source of power emanates from the taxpayers who wanted them to be their protectors instead of oppressors. The situation is quite complex. While they have the mandate to enforce or implement the laws, the police are being restricted by a string of guidelines better known in their lingo as the rules of engagement. They have to comply with the rules in the performance of their duties because failure to do so could mean suspension or worse dismissal from the service. Unlike before when for instance, a traffic police officer can simply issue a citation ticket to a motorist who violated a traffic law today’s system places the supposed violator on a position of strength. He or she can write on the citation ticket the words â€Å"under protest† to signify the intention to question the actuation of the traffic officer for flagging him or her for a supposed violation. The situation for policemen whose duties are to run after criminal elements or members of the underworld is even more difficult. Unlike before when they would simply pick up a suspected person and have him or her placed under interrogation or â€Å"tactical questioning,† today’s detective or police intelligence officer need to first gather substantial proofs or incontrovertible eyewitness accounts in order to be able to apply for a warrant of arrest from the court. Down for a supposed violation Because of the complex nature in today’s justice system, police work now requires them to be conscious of the civil or human rights of every citizen. Additionally, they also need to be more aware of the rules of court or run the risk of being rebuffed or they cases they brought up for prosecution or litigation may end up dismissed for either insufficiency of evidence or non-compliance to the rules in effecting or carrying out arrests and raids. The preponderance of diligence in the performances of police duties and responsibilities in the enforcement of the laws is so emphasized that police officers are restricted from conducting investigations or questioning without the presence of the suspect’s preferred or lawyer of his or her choice. Civil Liability of Abusive Members of the Police Department Today’s police officers are made by law liable for their actuations as a result of an alarming pattern of abuse they commit in the process of dispensing their duties. Perhaps because of media attention or coverage on police work, abuses have eventually been documented or difficult to deny as far as the police officer is concern. Every now and then, the public would see on television brutal police handling of suspected offenders. The abuses have become so frequent that the time has now come where victims of police abuse have to get back at them by suing for civil liability or damages. Perhaps, as society experiences new trends in law enforcement more laws to ensure that the power or authority vested in police officers are only used for the public good and not make the police as a threat to society itself. By making them civilly liable for high handedness in the performance of the laws, police officers will be kept on their toes. Guide to Civil Liability In view of the above positions, it is notable to discuss a book manual for police officers’ to consider in the performances of their duties and in relation to their civil liability and the law. In a book entitled â€Å"The Police Officer’s Guide to Civil Liability,† Franklin (1993) emphasized the need for law enforcers, police officers in particular, to adhere to a standard guide to enable them to abide by their principles and at the same time uphold the concept of civil liability. Franklin noted that due to the increased number of court cases hurled against police officers, there is also a mounting need to teach these law enforcers on the dynamics of civil law. This is because such training or learning should be innate among police officers and within their profession and in order for them to survive the field (Franklin, 1993). While the required knowledge on civil liability totally varies from their abilities and expertise which are essential to be alive in a fatal shooting incident, having proficiency about civil law may avert a devastating possibility or outcome which will ultimate affect the career of the police officer and which is definitely dreadful as any form of shoot-out or gun battle. Additionally, the monetary and emotional implications of a civil case are often than not surpass the physical suffering which is likened to a gun shot wound (Franklin, 1993). The book noted that as professionals, police officers are, in one way or the other, are engaged in a civil case. Franklin noted the stress it had inflicted on law enforcers and their respective police departments in general. However, police officers are still limited with civil law or civil liability trainings which may assist them in their court battles. It is unfortunate to note that a large amount of money which will be used in the court proceedings as well as many lives of police officers could be saved if only there is a provision of civil liability education or training. This is because such kind of knowledge created a better and well-prepared police officer who can react to any kind of police situation or effectively carry out his duties to people and the society. Through this training, there will also be a reduction in the possibilities of a defeat in the civil case, and most importantly, this is the fundamental determining factor for the efficiency and value of police officer and his civil liability training (Franklin, 1993). Conclusion An increased awareness on the need for police officers to learn and adhere to civil liability in reference to specific laws of the country is a positive effort to undertake. This is because such consciousness will allow police officers to carry out their obligations, in a legal or appropriate manner, without the hindrance of possible civil lawsuit. While there are members of the police force who are undeniably amiss in their profession, it is worthy to consider that this is not the general view of the police department. Additionally, any misconception about the police profession may be corrected in such a way that the police officers are portrayed as important members of the society who are bound to protect people, property and the society as a whole. Hence, it is just but fair to provide police officers trainings and related means which will enable them to appropriately respond to the security or safety requirements of the people. Ultimately, the concept and the need to uphold civil liability will serve as a reminder for police officers that their authority entails responsibility.

Identity In The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood and The...

Identity In The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood and The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro The Remains of The Day and The Handmaids Tale are two novels from opposing ends of the fictional literature spectrum. On one side we have THT a novel set within a dystopian future using relationships between characters to emphasise the strictness of the regime currently being operated in Gilead most fitting would the relationship between The Commander and Offred. In a totally different end of the metaphorical literature spectrum we have TROTD which sets its main characters†¦show more content†¦Harvard university in Boston, Massachusetts where the dreaded wall offers its sick service just outside the campus) where men are in charge of society using women plainly for reproductive purposes therefore being a patriarchal orientated society. Again with Steven s we also have this male dominated hierarchal society but its entirely circled around a single most significant symbol, as we see that Stevens applies the same standards of greatness to the landscape of England as he does to himself. He feels that this English landscape is beautiful due to its restraint, calm, and lack of spectacle-the same qualities Stevens successfully cultivates in his own life as a butler aspiring to greatness. This use of setting in both novels is important as it gives Stevens and Offred noticeably pressuring conditions in which their relationships must triumph, blossom and most importantly evade. TROTD tells the story of an elderly English butler named Stevens as he confronts disillusionment through a recalled life spent in service with his long remembered memories viewed against a backdrop of war and the rise of Fascism. THT Offred is a handmaid in the Republic of Gilead, a totalitarian and theocratic state that has replaced the United States of America. Because of dangerously low reproduction rates, Handmaids are assigned to bear children for elite couples that have troubleShow MoreRelatedA Postmodernist/Posthumanist Reading of Kazuo Ishiguro’s, Never Let Me Go Using Fredric Jameson’s Theory of Postmodernism and Late Capitalism.4659 Words   |  19 PagesA Postmodernist/Posthumanist reading of Kazuo Ishiguro’s, Never Let Me Go using Fredric Jameson’s theory of Postmodernism and Late Capitalism. Posthumanism neologism is used to describe what comes after humanism and the question of what it means to be human. It is often and most frequently used to describe a dystopian life form that is created and crafted by humans themselves. Posthumanism is not to be confused with postmodernism, although their paths do cross intrinsically throughout this essay