Sexual orientation and the Environment Essay Example for Free

Sexual direction and the Environment Essay Brain science in regular day to day existence second release is an extraordinary book with bunches of incredible data. In any case, I wind up contradicting you on section four Environment and Sexual Orientation. I feel that natural components have a great deal to do with sexual direction. You posed four inquiries: is homosexuality connected with issues in a child’s relationship with guardians, does homosexuality include a dread or scorn of individuals of the other sex, is sexual start connected with levels of sex hormones, and as youngsters were numerous gay people misled? I imagine that those things including your condition can be a central factor in your sexual direction. Sexual direction is a suffering sexual fascination towards individuals from either our own or other sex. I think your condition plays probably the greatest job in your sexual appointment in light of the fact that your condition impacts what you do. As a youngster you’re youthful and naive it’s simply like monkey see, monkey do. Our folks influence our connections in light of the fact that our folks are the primary relationship we see and as a kid all that we see our folks do we copy. There for If we grow up around an equivalent sex relationship and you are accustomed to seeing that in your ordinary circumstance that is the thing that you are use to and you may feel like that’s the manner in which you need to carry on with your life. So from what you saw as a kid caused you to decide to be in an equivalent sex relationship. I likewise feel that the sort of connections that you have with your folks additionally influences our sexuality. The relationship with your folks is one of the most impact connections that you have in your life so it can particularly have a positive or a negative impact on you. For instance you growing up having a terrible relationship with your father may leave the feeling that all men are hounds. That may make you float away from the other gender. A male could have an unpleasant relationship with his mom leaving a terrible impression of lady making him have ell sentiments towards ladies since he never encountered a decent connection with his mother. I think there are a variety of components in somebody enormous pulled in to a similar sex. Likewise somebody being defraud as a kid can make them be gay I don’t imagine that is the reason for each on however I do think it played a factor in certain people groups direction for living. Would that be the reason for everybody no not in any way however it would be for a few. Like hereditary impacts for instance, shared sexual direction is higher among indistinguishable twins than among congenial twins. There are likewise cerebrum contrasts for instance gay men’s nerve center responds as do straight women’s to the smell of sex-related hormones. Likewise the mother’s resistant framework may assume a job in the advancement of sexual direction. Another intriguing actuality is that men who have more established siblings are to some degree bound to be gay around 33% more probable for each extra more established sibling. Adjusted pre-birth hormones presentation may prompt homosexuality in people and different creatures. Additionally right gave men with a few more seasoned natural siblings are bound to be gay, perhaps because of a maternal safe framework response. Homosexuality appears to run in families gay men have more gay family members on their mother’s side than on their father’s as should be obvious yes there are many things that can go into somebody getting gay. Be that as it may, my feeling that I think your condition assumes the greatest job as it accomplishes for any other individual. Your condition shapes and moles you as an individual. It probably won't be the integral factor to what makes you gay, yet I think it assumes a major job. In the circumstance . So dependent on these discoveries I would need to differ with you I particularly accept that your condition assumes a colossal job in your sexual direction. I might want to think you for your time, and I imagine that section four has brought some awesome understanding and I have taken in a great deal. You made some very valet point’s thank you again for your knowledge.

Link Between Behavioral Inhibition and Social Anxiety

Link Between Behavioral Inhibition and Social Anxiety Social Anxiety Disorder Print Link Between Behavioral Inhibition and Social Anxiety By Arlin Cuncic Arlin Cuncic, MA, is the author of Therapy in Focus: What to Expect from CBT for Social Anxiety Disorder and 7 Weeks to Reduce Anxiety. Learn about our editorial policy Arlin Cuncic Updated on February 24, 2020 Social Anxiety Disorder Overview Symptoms & Diagnosis Causes Treatment Living With In Children Sandro Di Carlo Darsa / Getty Images Behavioral Inhibition characteristics are used to determine the potential for developing anxiety by examining  behaviors in children  like fear, shyness, or withdrawal in new or strange situations and environments.     While research on behavioral inhibition and its reliability for predicting anxiety later on in life is still in its infancy, studies completed to date suggest that this could be an important indicator that could enable earlier treatment.  Social anxiety can be an overwhelming mental illness with severe negative effects. Early identification and intervention are important to improve quality of life and to prevent other conditions like depression.   Onset of Social Anxiety While scientists have not identified the specific cause of anxiety disorders like social anxiety disorder (SAD), many believe that it is linked to biological, psychological, and social factors. Many people experience severe social anxiety for years without getting appropriate treatment, either because they do not seek help or because they are inaccurately diagnosed. Untreated anxiety can result in severe depression and even suicidal behaviors, so it is important to get help as early as possible. If your child is having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or your loved one are in immediate danger, call 911. For many, social anxiety begins in the teens and into young adulthood. By identifying people at an early age and giving them the opportunity for effective treatment options, the severity of social anxiety can be minimized. Behavioral Inhibition is an important aspect of childhood as it may be an early indicator of anxiety disorders and valuable for obtaining an appropriate diagnosis. Behavioral Inhibition and Social Anxiety A growing body of research indicates a connection between childhood personality styles and developing social anxiety later in life. Behavioral inhibition is a personality type that shows a tendency toward distress and nervousness in new situations. Behavioral inhibition in children includes shyness around unfamiliar people and withdrawal from new places. Early behavioral inhibition is not a guarantee of developing anxiety later on. As children grow older, many learn to respond to new situations and new people in a more rational way. However, others will continue to show anxious behaviors throughout their lives and into adulthood. Some research has started to examine how to decrease behavioral inhibition to minimize social anxiety. Caregiving strategies such as those that encourage independence, confidence, and resourcefulness in children may help overcome behavioral inhibition later on.Providing children with exposure to new social situations and activities can help them build their own social skills.Overprotective caregiving, such as giving help when it is not necessary, can increase behavioral inhibition and may reinforce anxiety in new situations. The limited research available suggests that the best way to encourage a child to be confident and not anxious is to encourage him or her to be independent and give him or her the opportunity to problem-solve for himself or herself. This may build a foundation on which the child does not need to rely on others in social situations, lessening the chances of social anxiety developing later on. Through the study of behavioral inhibition and social anxiety, therapists can intervene early  to prevent anxiety from worsening to the point of inhibiting daily activities. A Word From Verywell If your child is displaying behavioral inhibition, this is not necessarily a sign of social anxiety disorder. However, it is important to monitor your childs behavior to see if it worsens. As a parent, be sure to give your child lots of opportunities to problem solve before you jump to the rescue. As your childs confidence grows, you may notice that behavioral inhibition is lessened. If behavioral inhibition seems to grow rather than lessen over time, it may be helpful to talk with your doctor about your childs behavior. At that point, you may discuss whether an assessment for anxiety is warranted and if intervention might be appropriate. Remember that early intervention is key to managing anxiety, so dont feel discouraged if your child is given a diagnosis. It is better to identify a problem at an early age before it grows into something more unmanageable during the teen years.

Was Archaeopteryx a Bird or a Dinosaur

On the face of it, Archaeopteryx wasnt much different from any other feathered dinosaur of the Mesozoic Era: a small, sharp-toothed, two-legged, barely airworthy dino-bird that feasted on bugs and small lizards. Thanks to a conflux of historical circumstance, though, for the last century or so Archaeopteryx has persisted in the public imagination as the first true bird, even though this creature retained some distinctly reptilian characteristics--and almost certainly wasnt directly ancestral to any bird living today. (See also 10 Facts About Archaeopteryx and How Did Feathered Dinosaurs Learn to Fly?) Archaeopteryx Was Discovered Too Early to Be Fully Understood Every now and then, a fossil discovery hits the zeitgeist--that is, contemporary trends in prevailing thought--square on the head. That was the case with Archaeopteryx, the exquisitely preserved remains of which were unearthed barely two years after Charles Darwin published his masterwork, On The Origin of Species, in the mid-19th century. Simply put, evolution was in the air, and the 150-million-year-old Archaeopteryx specimens discovered in Germanys Solnhofen fossil beds appeared to capture the precise moment in the history of life when the very first birds evolved. The trouble is, all of this happened in the early 1860s, well before paleontology (or biology, for that matter) had become a fully modern science. At that time, only a handful of dinosaurs had been discovered, so there was limited scope for understanding and interpreting Archaeopteryx; for example, the vast Liaoning fossil beds in China, which have yielded numerous feathered dinosaurs of the late Cretaceous period, had yet to be excavated. None of this would have affected Archaeopteryxs standing as the first dino-bird, but it at least would have put this discovery in its proper context. Let's Weigh the Evidence: Was Archaeopteryx a Dinosaur or a Bird? Archaeopteryx is known in such detail, thanks to the dozen or so anatomically perfect Solnhofen fossils, that it offers a wealth of talking points when it comes to deciding if this creature was a dinosaur or a bird. Heres the evidence in favor of the bird interpretation: Size. Archaeopteryx adults weighed one or two pounds, max, about the size of a well-fed modern-day pigeon--and much less than the average meat-eating dinosaur. Feathers. Theres no doubt that Archaeopteryx was covered with feathers, and these feathers were structurally very similar (though not identical) to those of modern birds. Head and beak. The long, narrow, tapered head and beak of Archaeopteryx were also reminiscent of modern birds (though bear in mind that such similarities may be the result of convergent evolution). Now, the evidence in favor of the dinosaur interpretation: Tail. Archaeopteryx possessed a long, bony tail, a feature common to contemporary theropod dinosaurs but not seen in any birds, either extant or prehistoric. Teeth. Like its tail, the teeth of Archaeopteryx were similar to those of small, meat-eating dinosaurs. (Some later birds, like the Miocene Osteodontornis, did evolve tooth-like structures, but not true teeth.) Wing structure. A recent study of Archaeopteryx feathers and wings suggests that this animal was incapable of active, powered flight. (Of course, many modern birds, like penguins and chickens, cant fly either!) Some of the evidence vis-a-vis the classification of Archaeopteryx is much more ambiguous. For example, a recent study concludes that Archaeopteryx hatchlings required three years to attain adult size, a virtual eternity in the bird kingdom. What this implies is that the metabolism of Archaeopteryx wasnt classically warm-blooded; the trouble is, meat-eating dinosaurs as a whole were almost certainly endothermic, and modern birds are, as well. Make of this evidence what you will! Archaeopteryx Is Best Classified as a Transitional Form Given the evidence listed above, the most reasonable conclusion is that Archaeopteryx was a transitional form between early theropod dinosaurs and true birds (the popular term is  missing link, but a genus represented by a dozen intact fossils can hardly be classified as missing!) Even this seemingly uncontroversial theory is not without its pitfalls, however. The trouble is that Archaeopteryx lived 150 million years ago, during the late Jurassic period, whereas the dino-birds that almost certainly evolved into modern birds lived tens of millions of years later, during the early-to-late Cretaceous period. What are we to make of this? Well, evolution has a way of repeating its tricks--so its possible that populations of dinosaurs evolved into birds not once, but two or three times during the Mesozoic Era, and only one of these branches (presumably the last) persisted into our era and gave rise to modern birds. For example, we can identify at least one dead end in bird evolution: Microraptor, a mysterious, four-winged, feathered theropod that lived in early Cretaceous Asia. Since there are no four-winged birds alive today, it seems that Microraptor was an evolutionary experiment that--if youll forgive the pun--never quite took off!

Genetically Modified Food Essay example - 1041 Words

Genetically Modified Foods. Everywhere where you go, there are fast food companies advertising their products. You take a road trip to your familys house, and what do you see? Rest stops filled with fast food restaurants. According to Google maps, there are close to 50,000 fast food chains across the United States. (with Mcdonalds being the largest restaurant chain.) Fast food companies go above and beyond to lure you to buy their products. But what exactly is in their food? Not many people look into that. All theyre looking for is a quick fix and convenient food. But, what is this food doing to your body? How do you know what youre†¦show more content†¦Most cattle today are being fed genetically modified corn, thanks to the Monsanto Corporation. Monsanto Corporation has been feeding the world with its genetically engineered food crops for many years. In 2001, Monsantos genetically modified crops accounted for 91% of the total area of genitcally modified crops planted worldwide. This resulted in Monsanto suing good farmers for copyright infringement. Monsantos crops would spread to neighborhood crops, and contaminate their vegetables When farmers purchase a patented seed variety, they sign an agreement that they will not save and replant seeds produced from the seed they buy from Monsanto. They CANNOT outline the rules of use, for example, they are not allowed to save any of the seed from their crop to plant the next season. Saving seed is a common practice used for thousands of years, but Monsanto forbids it, requiring farmers to buy new seeds from the company every year. This moves on to farmers feeding their cattle genetically engineered maize. In factory farms in eastern Colorado, genetically m odified corn grows next to the confined animal pens. Its DNA-altered pollen is blown over the stockyards, adding further to the contamination of theShow MoreRelatedGenetically Foods : Genetically Modified Foods1239 Words   |  5 PagesGenetically Modified Foods â€Å"70 percent of our corn farmland and 93 percent of soy farmland are planted with crops genetically engineered to resist pests and herbicides and increase crop yields. 60% of all the processed foods in the United States are genetically modified; a shocking statistic has the concern of many Americans. However, most people are uninformed about the beneficial impact that genetically modified food has on their diet. GM is the use of molecular biology technology to modify theRead MoreGenetically Modified Food : Modified Foods1165 Words   |  5 PagesCheenne 09/21/2014 Genetically Modified Food Accompany the growing population in the world and food shortages, in order to alleviate the immediate crisis, transgenic technology began to be used in the field of food production. Genetic engineering technology as a young technology, which gives us a lot of genetically modified food and gained unprecedented gains. But science is a double-edged sword. People are concern the topic about that whether genetically modified foods is safety. It is evidentlyRead MoreGenetically And Genetically Modified Food947 Words   |  4 PagesAs genetically modified food appeared into people’s consciousness, it had been at the center of vehement controversy. Because people lack information about genetically modified food’s potential influence, they wonder whether genetically modified food is a miracle or not. Genetically modified food can solve several problems. The potential effects of genetically modified food also should be measured. However, people should not assume that genetic ally modified food only has disadvantages, but understandRead MoreGenetically And Genetically Modified Foods822 Words   |  4 PagesGenetically Modified Foods What is it that we are eating? GMO’s are unnatural. Is it healthy to eat something that doesn’t belong in our digestive system? GMO’s are genetically modified food. Genetically modified foods are created by taking genes from plants and animals and inserting into our food to alter the genetic engineering. In 1984, GMO’s were first introduced when a plant was modified from antibiotic resistant tobacco. In 1994, genetically modifying food was approved by the FDA and theRead MoreGenetically And Genetically Modified Foods1979 Words   |  8 Pages Genetically modified organisms are plants and animals that have been biologically engineered with the DNA of other plants, animals, bacteria, etc. Such modifications and combinations cannot occur in nature through crossbreeding or by other organic means. While commonplace in the vast majority of our marketplace, the information and nature of genetically modified foods is not as common. Information is, in fact, available on these genetically modified products, but they have to be sought out. TheRead MoreGenetically Modified Foods1101 Words   |  4 Pages Ever wondered what has been put into everyday food and what the impact is on human health? Approximately 60-80 % of everyday food has one ingredient made from genetically modified foods. When hearing â€Å"genetically modified food† people automatically think it is only bad for health, but there is also a good impact surprisingly. The one bad thing is that people do not know what types food have been modified because the re are no labels for GMO products. Even though GMOs have a bad impact on humanRead MoreWhat Are Genetically Modified Foods?1236 Words   |  5 PagesWhat are genetically-modified foods? The term GM foods or GMOs (genetically-modified organisms) is most commonly used to refer to crop plants created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techniques. These plants have been modified in the laboratory to enhance desired traits such as increased resistance to herbicides or improved nutritional content. The enhancement of desired traits has traditionally been undertaken through breeding, but conventional plant breeding methodsRead MoreGenetically Modified Foods1787 Words   |  7 PagesPart 1 Genetically Modified Food ‘With genetically modified foods I believe we have reached the thin edge of the wedge, we are messing with the building blocks of life and its scary’ - Malcom Walker, Chairman and Chief Executive of Iceland Foods (Quotes from Scientists). Genetically modified organisms or GMOs are plants or animals made by splicing the gene and inserting DNA from different species of plants, animals, bacteria, and viruses. These genes would not naturally result in a cross breed.Read MoreGenetically Modified Food1213 Words   |  5 PagesThis report evaluate about the genetically modified food that why we need this, what are its key issues and how we can overcome these issues? In the field of biotechnology, the vast development was observed in the last few decades comprising the manipulation of genetic material to generate animal and plants with certain desirable attributes. Genetically Modified/Manipulated Organisms frequently termed as GMOs, refer to organisms whose genetic material has been modified through recombinant DNA (rDNA)Read MoreGenetically Modified Foods1928 Words   |  8 PagesAre genetically modified foods assessed differently from traditional foods? Genetically Modified Foods (GMOs) are known to cause a swarm of controversy; a lot of experts disagree with the notion that if it’s economically successful, then the potential health risks found in Genetically Modified Foods can be overlooked. The questions someone must ask themselves is this, can the Genetically Modified Foods be helpful? Does money matter more than your health? Ask yourself these questions. But before

Save Girl Child Free Essays

Nuclear Main articles: Nuclear explosion and Effects of nuclear explosions In addition to stellar nuclear explosions, a man-made nuclear weapon is a type of explosive weapon that derives its destructive force from nuclear fission or from a combination of fission and fusion. As a result, even a nuclear weapon with a small yield is significantly more powerful than the largest conventional explosives available, with a single weapon capable of completely destroying an entire city. Properties of explosions Force Explosive force is released in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the explosive. We will write a custom essay sample on Save Girl Child or any similar topic only for you Order Now If the surface is cut or shaped, the explosive forces can be focused to produce a greater local effect; this is known as a shaped charge. Velocity This article is written like a personal reflection or opinion essay rather than an encyclopedic description of the subject. Pleasehelp improve it by rewriting it in an encyclopedic style. (May 2013) The speed of the reaction is what distinguishes the explosive reaction from an ordinary combustion reaction . Unless the reaction occurs rapidly, the thermally expanded gases will be dissipated in the medium, and there will be no explosion. Again, consider a wood or coal fire. As the fire burns, there is the evolution of heat and the formation of gases, but neither is liberated rapidly enough to cause an explosion. This can be likened to the difference between the energy discharge of a battery, which is slow, and that of a flash capacitor like that in a camera flash, which releases its energy all at once. Evolution of heat The generation of heat in large quantities accompanies most explosive chemical reactions. The exceptions are called entropic explosives and include organic peroxides such as acetone peroxide[2] It is the rapid liberation of heat that causes the gaseous products of most explosive reactions to expand and generate high pressures. This rapid generation of high pressures of the released gas constitutes the explosion. The liberation of heat with insufficient rapidity will not cause an explosion. For example,  although a unit mass of coal yields five times as much heat as a unit mass of nitroglycerin, the coal cannot be used as an explosive because the rate at which it yields this heat is quite slow. In fact, a substance which burns less rapidly (i.e. slowcombustion) may actually evolve more total heat than an explosive which detonates rapidly (i.e. fast combustion). In the former, slow combustion converts more of the internal energy (i.e.chemical potential) of the burning substance into heat released to the surroundings, while in the latter, fast combustion (i.e. detonation) instead converts more internal energy into work on the surroundings (i.e. less internal energy converted into heat); c.f. heat and work (thermodynamics) are equivalent forms of energy. See Heat of Combustion for a more thorough treatment of this topic. When a chemical compound is formed from its constituents, heat may either be absorbed or released. The quantity of heat absorbed or given off during transformation is called the heat of formation. Heats of formations for solids and gases found in explosive reactions have been determined for a temperature of 25  °C and atmospheric pressure, and are normally given in units of kilojoules per gram-molecule. A negative value indicates that heat is absorbed during the formation of the compound from its elements; such a reaction is called an endothermic reaction. In explosive technology only materials that are exothermic—that have a net liberation of heat—are of interest. Reaction heat is measured under conditions either of constant pressure or constant volume. It is this heat of reaction that may be properly expressed as the â€Å"heat of explosion.† Initiation of reaction A chemical explosive is a compound or mixture which, upon the application of heat or shock, decomposes or rearranges with extreme rapidity, yielding much gas and heat. Many substances not ordinarily classed as explosives may do one, or even two, of these things. A reaction must be capable of being initiated by the application of shock, heat, or a catalyst (in the case of some explosive chemical reactions) to a small portion of the mass of the explosive material. A material in which the first three factors exist cannot be accepted as an explosive unless the reaction can be made to occur when needed. Fragmentation Fragmentation is the accumulation and projection of particles as the result of a high explosives detonation. Fragments could be part of a structure such as a magazine. High velocity, low angle fragments can travel hundreds or thousands of feet with enough energy to initiate other surrounding high explosive items, injure or kill personnel and damage vehicles or structures. Notable explosions How to cite Save Girl Child, Papers

Systems Life Cycle Costing Cost Management

Question: Describe about the Systems Life Cycle Costing for Cost Management? Answer: Using the FIFO method in process costing the costs incurred in the mixing department. Costs which enter the marketing department first are recorded first, which shows the FIFO method. The units are calculated: Direct Materials Conversion Costs Transferred In Units in Opening WIP 5000 liters % of completion in opening WIP in previous year % of opening WIP being completed this year Transferred units in opening WIP 3000 liters 3000 liters Units produced in January 90000 liters 1000 liters 89000 liters Units transferred in January 89000 liters 89000 liters 89000 liters Units in Closing WIP 6000 liters 6000 liters % of completion in closing WIP in this year Transferred units in closing WIP 3600 liters 3600 liters Total Units 95600 liters 95600 liters 91400 liters (Eldenburg and Wolcott, 2011) Opening WIP includes 40% of 5000 liters was completed in the prior period, which is 2000 liters. Thus, in this year the opening WIP will be 5000-2000= 3000 liters. The closing WIP includes 60% of the total closing inventory, which is 6000 liters* 60%= 3600 liters. Cost per Unit Total Costs Direct Materials Conversion Costs Opening Inventory Period Costs Total Costs Total Units 95600 liters 95600 liters Cost per unit $5 (approx) $2 (approx) (Farr, 2011) Cost Allocation Total Costs Direct Materials Conversion Costs Opening Inventory Units Produced Closing Inventory Total Allocated Cost $669,200 $478,000 $191,200 The direct material cost is calculated by multiplying the total unit with $5 and the conversion costs are calculated by multiplying the total unit with $2. The total cost allocated is $669200. This question involves the basic concept of process costing. The processing cost can be utilized to calculate the manufacturing costs of the product. In this question the manufacturing costs of the unit is calculated in context to the mixing departments. However, when the manufacturing costs of the cooking department will be done there will be some difference. It is given that no extra direct materials included in the cooking department so, the direct material will remain unchanged. The overhead costs, operations and direct labor is carried out throughout the cooking process. Thus, there will be some changes in the manufacturing costs of the cooking department (Grewal, 2011). The factors which will increase the manufacturing costs are- Direct Labor- In the cooking process, the company will require more labor to carry out the process, which will need extra labor costs. The labor costs are likely to increase the conversion costs along with the manufacturing overheads. Operations overhead- The overhead that are related to the activities, which are not directly related to the production process, is operations costs. The operations cost of the process will increase indirect cost related to the cooking department. Overhead costs- Oexpenses are likely to increase the indirect expenses, which may increase the conversion costs (Geiger, 2011). References Eldenburg, L. and Wolcott, S. (2011).Cost management. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley. Farr, J. (2011).Systems Life Cycle Costing. Hoboken: CRC Press. Geiger, D. (2011).Cost management and control in government. [New York, N.Y.] (222 East 46th Street, New York, NY 10017): Business Expert Press. Grewal, S. (2011).Manufacturing process design and costing. London: Springer.

An Epitome of the Gothic Novel free essay sample

Dracula, by Bram Stoker, is quite the epitome of the gothic novel. Towards the beginning of the story, the setting takes place in an old and ominous castle, which is highly characteristic of gothic literature. Harker’s tribulation begins when â€Å"the driver was in the act of pulling up the horses in the courtyard of a vast ruined castle,† (Stoker 18). There is also a gloomy and menacing tone given to the setting of the novel, as in most pieces of gothic literature. This gloom is evident early on in the novel, as it reads, â€Å"Then a dog began to howl somewhere in a farmhouse far down the roada long, agonized wailing, as if from fear. †(Stoker 16). Also coinciding with the nature of gothic novels is the ever reoccurring supernatural events, such as Count Dracula scaling the castle walls, up-side down: â€Å"I saw the whole man slowly emerge from the window and begin to crawl down the castle wall over that dreadful abyss, face down, with his cloak spreading out around him like great wings. We will write a custom essay sample on An Epitome of the Gothic Novel or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page † (Stoker 39). Another common theme of gothic novels is one of women in distress. This theme is evident throughout Dracula, as Lucy Westenra is in a constant struggle for her life for many days. â€Å"She was ghastly, chalkily pale; the red seemed to have gone even from her lips and gums, and the bones of her face stood out prominently;† (Stoker 133). In novels where there is a theme of good versus evil, there is usually a â€Å"villain† with ill intentions and a hero or heroin who tries to thwart the villain’s malevolent plans. Dracula, by Bram Stoker, is a perfect example of a â€Å"good versus evil† novel. Stoker uses the Christian characters such as Mina, Dr. Seward, Van Helsing, Harker, and others to portray the side of good in the story. Dracula and his fellow vampires are depicted as the evil characters of the gothic novel. The novel begins with the evil Count Dracula holding Harker captive, in order to attain his ultimate goal, to drink his blood. Harker states in his journal that he wishes to die rather than suffer the evil of the count’s desires: â€Å"He might kill me, but death now seemed the happier choice of evils,’ (Stoker 57). There is a constant struggle between the good and evil characters of this story to survive. As Dracula drinks the protagonists’ blood, he becomes stronger and revitalized. He is mentioned in renewed form in Mina’s journal when it states, â€Å"’I believe it is the Count, but he has grown young. My God if this be so! ’† (Stoker 187). His transformation into a younger and more powerful being depends on the carrying out of his devious plans. Lucy Westenra struggles to survive as Dracula slowly drains her life away in order to sustain his in good health. Eventually the side of good prevails as in most â€Å"good versus evil† plots, and Dracula is defeated. The death of the Count is finalized, as the novel states, â€Å"It was like a miracle, but before our very eyes, and almost in the drawing of a breathe, the whole body crumbled into dust and passed from our sight. † (Stoker 398). The entity of Dracula embodies many themes and motifs. He is a sign of pure evil, even taking the form of a devil-resembling man. Count Dracula’s features are described as devilish in the beginning of the novel: â€Å"The mouth†¦with peculiarly sharp white teeth†¦his ears were pale and at the tops extremely pointed. † (Stoker 22-23). Count Dracula also embodies sexual desire and lust. One can see his sexual side and desire being fulfilled as he forces Mina to drink his blood, resembling a different swapping of body fluids: â€Å"†¦his right hand gripped her by the back of the neck, forcing her face down on his bosom†¦a thin stream trickled down the man’s bare breast†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Stoker 300). One may even venture to say that he portrays homosexuality. The Count desires to save Jonathan Harker as his own: â€Å"Back, I tell you all! This man belongs to me! † (Stoker 44). He is a symbol of corruption, as he turns pure women into shameless, sexually hungry harlots. Lucy’s transformation by Dracula into one of these creatures is portrayed by the words of Dr. Seward as he states, â€Å"The sweetness was turned to adamantine, heartless cruelty, and the purity to voluptuous wantonness. † (Stoker 226). Lastly, Dracula embodies a symbol of great and overwhelming power. Dracula proclaims his own might as he declares, â€Å"My revenge is just begun! I spread it over centuries, and time is on my side. Your girls that you all love are mine already; and through them you and others shall yet be mine my creatures, to do my bidding and to be my jackals when I want to feed. Count Dracula has a profound effect on all the characters in the work of literature. Jonathan Harker’s true determine and courage is brought about to prove that he is more than just a mere solicitor when he is faced with the troubling dilemma of being trapped in a vampire’s castle. His testament that he will escape may be observed in his journal as so: â€Å" I shall not remain alone with them; I shall try to scale the castle wall farther than I have yet attempted. I shall take some of the gold with me, lest I want it later. I may find a way from this dreadful place. † (Stoker 59). One may also observe the complete distraught the Count reeks on Harker. Mina’s diary reveals that he â€Å"raved of dreadful things,† (Stoker 116). Lucy Westenra is affected at great lengths also. Dracula causes her horrible nightmares, and transforms her dreams into â€Å"a presage of horror,† (Stoker 138). Eventually the Counts consequence is so heavy upon her that she is transformed into a vampire, â€Å"working wickedness by night,† (Stoker 230). Dr. Seward is perhaps revealed as very courageous man through the actions of Count Dracula. His dedication to help save the life of the woman he loved and could not have is commendable. His love is exposed as he journals the entry, â€Å"No man knows till he experiences it, what it is like to feel his own life-blood drawn away into the woman he loves. † (Stoker 141). When one is dealing with a book about vampires, blood is obviously going to play a key role in the story. To Dracula, the blood is his source of energy, youthfulness, and nourishment. He bites humans and sucks their blood in order to fulfill his undying thirst. The whole bed would have been drenched to a scarlet with the blood the girl must have lost (Stoker 137). This quote refers to poor Lucy after Dracula has feasted on her blood in order to sustain himself and his desires. Humans on the other hand do not need to constantly replenish their blood supply to live nor is it a form of nourishment for them. However, it is absolutely necessary for them to live. This is evident throughout the novel as Lucy struggles for her life each time Dracula drains her blood. â€Å"Young miss is bad, very bad. She wants blood, and blood she must have or die. † (Stoker 135). In the novel, blood is not only a means of life for the humans but also a sign of love. Arthur proclaims his love for Lucy as he states, â€Å"My life is hers, and I would give the last drop of blood in my body for her. † (Stoker 134). The mentally disturbed Renfield sums up the importance of blood in the novel when he proclaims, â€Å"The blood is the life! (Stoker 155). I believe Stoker chose to write Dracula by using letters and journal entries to give readers an omniscient perspective while still allowing the story to be in first person and for readers to feel a sense of empathy for the characters. One can understand and relate to the true emotions of all the characters and understand the authenticity of the story’s plot through the use of letters and diary entries. For example, readers can realize Lucy’s true feelings for her fiance when she proclaims in a letter to Mina, â€Å"But, oh, Mina, I love him; I love him; I love him! (Stoker 63). The use of journal entries also allows for readers to consume multiple perspectives of the same situation from separate characters. Stoker gives Dr. Seward and Van Helsing the important professions of being men of medicine and science. This proves to be key in the struggle to maintain Lucy’s life, as Seward and Van Helsing both use their medical expertise and intelligence to attempt to co nquer her malady. Seward is smart, but not as smart as Van helsing, who is the backbone of the life-saving effort. Van Helsing uses his medical knowledge and quickly assesses what must be done in order to save Lucy’s life by proclaiming, â€Å"There must be a transfusion of blood at once. † (Stoker 134). Van Helsing’s knowledge of science also gives him insight into the realm of the supernatural. Although science and the supernatural are polar opposites, his experience has taught him that both are equally prevalent in life. His knowledge of the upernatural can be observed as explains how to kill Dracula: â€Å"Find this great Un-dead and cut off his head and burn his heart or drive a stake through it, so that the world may rest for him. (Stoker 219). In Dracula, Christian mythology can be seen with an inverted twist. Count Dracula can be directly related to an inverted form of Christ himself, as Dracula is persecuted by those who wish to rid the world of his evil doings, and is eventually impaled, relating to the crucifixion. The drinking of blood in order to sustain the vam pires’ lives parallels inversely to that of the story of the last supper. As the vampires â€Å"must go on age after age adding new victims and multiplying the evils of the world,† they only achieve physical immortality (Stoker 230). But the story of the last supper in the New Testament teaches us to drink the â€Å"blood† of Christ in order to attain spiritual immortality and purify our souls. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up in the last day (John 6:54). This subversion of Christian â€Å"myth† is important because shows the true tragedy of Dracula and the other vampires’ lives. They will never truly be fulfilled as they go on being the undead, unlike those of the Christian faith who are spiritually fulfilled by the partaking of Jesus’ blood and life. The major female characters of Dracula are Lucy Westenra and Mina Harker. These women are both noted for their innocence and intrinsic worth as women of there society. Mina is the purest and most submissive of the two, as she has only desires to serve and love her husband Jonathan. Van Helsing credits her for these attributes as he says, â€Å"She is one of Gods women, fashioned by His own hand to show us men and other women that there is a heaven where we can enter, and that its light can be here on earth. So true, so sweet, so noble, so little an egoist and that, let me tell you, is much in this age, so skeptical and selfish. †(Stoker 203). Lucy, on the other hand, has a more desirable physical appearance and has a slightly more lustful and sensual side to her. Early on in the novel she writes to Mina in a letter about the three men who have proposed to her. Her almost lustfully unattainable desire to have all of them is written in the letter: â€Å"Why cant they let a girl marry three men, or as many as want her, and save all this trouble? † (Stoker 66). Her sexual side is amplified when she becomes a vampire, as she is seen trying to seduce her fiance Arthur. She approaches him seductively and says, â€Å"Come to me, Arthur. Leave these others and come to me. My arms are hungry for you. Come, and we can rest together. Come, my husband, come! † (Stoker 227). Minas importance as one of the major storytellers through her insightful diary and Lucy’s role as the damsel in distress makes them key factors in the development of the plot in this novel. According to the novel, vampires are attracted by the blood of humans. It would seem as though the blood of the opposite gender is the most alluring, depending on the sex of the vampire. Dracula tends to hunt the female characters such as Lucy, and the three vampire women have a strong attraction to the blood of Jonathan Harker. The vampires are highly opposed to items such as a crucifix, or cloves of garlic. Lucy;s strong opposition to the crucifix can be when â€Å"Van Helsing sprang forward and held between them his little golden crucifix. She recoiled from it, and, with a suddenly distorted face, full of rage, dashed past him as if to enter the tomb. (Stoker 227). In order to permanently destroy a vampire, one must thrust a stake through its heart. â€Å"Mr. Morris’s bowie knife plunged into the heart†¦the whole body crumbled into dust and passed from our sight. † (Stoker 398). Other precautions can also be taken to ensure the vampire’s death: â€Å"I shall cut off her head and fill her mouth with garlic,† (Stoker 2 16). Dracula still remains an icon in today’s society as many shows and books such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the Twilight saga have captured the imaginations of many people. The vampire figures in the Twilight novels are similar to those in Dracula in that they are both very attractive and alluring to the human race. Physically they are very strong, and both need blood to sustain themselves. However, the vampires in Twilight can be either bad or good. The good vampires choose not to feed on the blood of humans but rather on that of animals, in order to keep other humans from experiencing the cursed life that they are damned to. Vampires in this novel are also limited to their human forms, and may not transform into bats, wolves, or any other forms.