The Glass Menagerie, Tom Amanda Essay Example

The Glass Menagerie, Tom Amanda Paper The statement itself is quite complex; and alike the play it has to be carefully de-constructed in order to gain deeper understanding. It is evident from the outset that Williams uses different approach to present his production; he has strayed away from the plastic theatre which he sees as tired and unrealistic. Instead he opts for a unique blend of expressionism -surrealism that supposedly connects with you on both your conscious and subconscious level to reveal the truth. Williams calls his drama a sculptural drama in which the main characters are presented as multi- defecated and three-dimensional l. However is this true? Our initial impression of Amanda is of a selfish melodramatic woman who cares primarily for self. This image depiction of Amanda is highlighted in Scene two, we see Amanda confronting Laura about not attending Rubicams Business College. Amanda: I felt so weak Fifty dollars tuition, all our plans-my hopes Pg. 14 It is comments such as this that give us these initial impressions of her. We observe her groaning over her lost ambitions her shattered plans without showing any empathy for her daughters physical and emotional disability, Ive told you never, never to use that word (We are also given the impression that Amanda is a women in denial. This view is exacerbated by her frequent tales of her gentlemen callers that become more fantastic with every account and her disbelief in regards to her Lauras disability. Likewise our initial impression of Tom is of a moody sicastic character of which the family is dependent. We will write a custom essay sample on The Glass Menagerie, Tom Amanda specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Glass Menagerie, Tom Amanda specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Glass Menagerie, Tom Amanda specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We watch him addressing his mother with immense hostility on one occasion calling her an old witch and even stating he how lucky dead people are to be relieved from her rise and shines However Williams manages to turn these impressions around, through his use of structure and Form. Tom the self-aware narrator who tells us his narrative in the form of his memory and alike the character Joe from Enduring love we have to read between the lines to gather the truth. It is from him we receive the social background and context of the play. Williams make us evermore aware of a memory with (possible embellishments) with his use of music, lighting and a screen device which may contradict what happening on the stage; but always highlight significant issues in the scene. For instance although we initially saw Amanda as a selfish and deluded after we are educated about her history we forced to sympathise. We learn that her husband and left to cope with a disabled daughter and a son, in a period when society did not understand or equipped to deal with such dilemmas abandoned her. It can therefore be argued that she has to be pioneering, bossy to survive and cope with everyday life. Therefore her selfishness can be perceived as her struggle to succeed. Her background can also be used to explain why she dwells in the past, as it can be argued that is a brief escape and relief from the hash reality of her life. Likewise the technical devices can be used to reveal the other dimensions of Toms character. For instance in scene six there is a screen image of a sailing vessel with the Jolly Roger. This highlights Toms dream of adventure and change and underlines his detest for the brain numbing warehouse. When we look at it in this respect we can understand and emphasise with Tom, who is working in an institution he absolutely loathes -Id rather someone battered out my brains to support his family. Can we really criticise Tom for being so moody? Even our impression of Laura the (foundation of the play) changes. We initially see her as a shy, disabled young woman who cannot fend for herself. However as the play progresses and we watch how Tom and Amanda are strangled by of Laura needy state, and we start to see her as manipulative and uncompromising force. To conclude Williams does manage to create multi-feacted characters through his innovative sculptural drama. We constantly hit with the sense of nostalgia are forced to connect with the characters on a conscious and subconscious level. It can be said that the method works so successfully because we consciously watch Toms memory meanwhile we equate what we are watching with society in on a subconscious level, which gives us a deeper understanding of not only the characters but also the whole play.

Biography of Empress Elisabeth of Austria

Biography of Empress Elisabeth of Austria Empress Elisabeth (born Elisabeth of Bavaria; December 24, 1837 – September 10, 1898) was one of the most famous royal women in European history. Famed for her great beauty, she was also a diplomat who oversaw the unification of Austria and Hungary. She holds the title of the longest-serving Empress of Austria in history. Fast Facts: Empress Elisabeth of Austria Full Name:  Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie, Duchess in Bavaria, later Empress of Austria and Queen of HungaryOccupation: Empress of Austria and Queen of HungaryBorn: December 24, 1837 in Munich, BavariaDied: September 10, 1898 in Geneva, SwitzerlandKey Accomplishments: Elisabeth was Austria’s longest-serving empress. Although she was often at odds with her own court, she had a special relationship with the Hungarian people and was instrumental in bringing about the uniting of Austria and Hungary in an equal, dual monarchy.Quote: â€Å"Oer thee, like thine own sea birds  / Ill circle without rest / For me earth holds no corner  /  To build a lasting nest.† – from a poem written by Elisabeth Early Life: The Young Duchess Elisabeth was the fourth child of Duke Maximilian Joseph in Bavaria and Princess Ludovika of Bavaria. Duke Maximilian was a bit eccentric and decidedly more progressive in his ideals than his fellow European aristocrats, which heavily influenced Elisabeths beliefs and upbringing. Elisabeth’s childhood was much less structured than many of her royal and aristocratic counterparts. She and her siblings spent much of their time riding in the Bavarian countryside, rather than in formal lessons. As a result, Elisabeth (fondly known as â€Å"Sisi† to her family and closest confidantes) grew to prefer a more private, less structured lifestyle. Throughout her childhood, Elisabeth was particularly close to her older sister Helene. In 1853, the sisters traveled with their mother to Austria in hopes of an extraordinary match for Helene. Ludovikas sister Sophie, mother of Emperor Franz Joseph, had tried and failed to secure a match for her son among major European royalty and instead turned to her own family. Privately, Ludovika also hoped the trip might secure a second marriage in the family: between Franz Joseph’s younger brother, Karl Ludwig, and Elisabeth. A Whirlwind Romance and the Aftermath Serious and pious, Helene did not appeal to the 23-year-old emperor, although his mother expected he would obey her wishes and propose to his cousin. Instead, Franz Joseph fell madly in love with Elisabeth. He insisted to his mother that he would not propose to Helene, only to Elisabeth; if he could not marry her, he swore he would never marry. Sophie was deeply displeased, but she eventually acquiesced. Franz Joseph and Elisabeth married on April 24, 1854. The period of their engagement had been a strange one: Franz Joseph was reported by all to be full of joy, but Elisabeth was quiet, nervous, and often found crying. Some of this could certainly be attributed to the overwhelming nature of the Austrian court, as well as the reportedly overbearing attitude of her aunt-turned-mother-in-law. The Austrian court was intensely strict, with rules and etiquette that frustrated the progressive-minded Sisi. Even worse was her relationship with her mother-in-law, who refused to cede power to Elisabeth, who she viewed as a silly girl incapable of being an empress or mother. When Elisabeth and Franz Joseph had their first child in 1855, the Archduchess Sophie, Sophie refused to allow Elisabeth to care for her own child or even name her. She did the same to the next daughter, Archduchess Gisela, born in 1856. Following Gisela’s birth, the pressure increased even further on Elisabeth to produce a male heir. A cruel pamphlet was anonymously left in her private chambers that suggested the role of a queen or empress was only to bear sons, not to have political opinions, and that a consort who did not bear a male heir would be a scheming danger to the country. It is widely believed that Sophie was the source. Elisabeth suffered another blow in 1857, when she and the archduchesses accompanied the emperor to Hungary for the first time. Although Elisabeth discovered a deep kinship with the more informal and straightforward Hungarian people, it was also the site of great tragedy. Both her daughters fell ill, and the Archduchess Sophie died, only two years old. An Active Empress Following Sophie’s death, Elisabeth retreated from Gisela as well. She began the obsessive beauty and physical regimens that would grow into the stuff of legend: fasting, rigorous exercise, an elaborate routine for her ankle-length hair, and stiff, tightly-laced corsets. During the long hours required to maintain all of this, Elisabeth was not inactive: she used this time to learn several languages, study literature and poetry, and more. In 1858, Elisabeth finally fulfilled her expected role by becoming the mother of an heir: the Crown Prince Rudolf. His birth helped her gain a larger foothold of power at court, which she used to speak on behalf of her beloved Hungarians. In particular, Elisabeth grew close to Hungarian diplomat Count Gyula Andrassy. Their relationship was a close alliance and friendship and was also rumored to be a love affair – so much so that, when Elisabeth had a fourth child in 1868, rumors swirled that Andrassy was the father. Elisabeth was forced away from politics around 1860, when several bouts of ill health caught up with her, along with stress brought on by the rumors of her husband’s affair with an actress. She used this as an excuse to withdraw from court life for some time; her symptoms often returned when she returned to the Viennese court. It was around this time that she began standing her ground with her husband and mother-in-law, especially when they wanted another pregnancy – which Elisabeth did not want. Her marriage with Franz Joseph, already distant, became even more so. She relented, however, in 1867, as a strategic move: by returning to her marriage, she increased her influence in time to push for the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, which created a dual monarchy in which Hungary and Austria would be equal partners. Elisabeth and Franz Joseph became King and Queen of Hungary, and Elisabeth’s friend Andrassy became the prime minister. Her daughter, Valerie, was born in 1868, and became the object of all her mother’s pent-up maternal affection, sometimes to an extreme extent. The Hungarian Queen With her new official role as queen, Elisabeth had more excuse than ever to spend time in Hungary, which she gladly took. Even though her mother-in-law and rival Sophie died in 1872, Elisabeth often remained away from court, choosing instead to travel and to raise Valerie in Hungary. She dearly loved the Magyar people, as they loved her, and gained a reputation for her preference for â€Å"common† people over mannered aristocrats and courtiers. Elisabeth was shattered with yet another tragedy in 1889 when her son Rudolf died in a suicide pact with his mistress Mary Vetsera. This left Franz Josephs brother Karl Ludwig (and, upon Karl Ludwigs death, his son Archduke Franz Ferdinand) as the heir. Rudolf had been an emotional boy, like his mother, who was forced into a military upbringing that did not suit him at all. Death seemed everywhere for Elisabeth: her father had died in 1888, her sister Helene died in 1890, and her mother in 1892. Even her steadfast friend Andrassy passed in 1890. Her fame continued to increase, as did her desire for privacy. Over time, she repaired her relationship with Franz Joseph, and the two became good friends. Distance seemed to help the relationship: Elisabeth was traveling extensively, but she and her husband corresponded often. Assassination and Legacy Elisabeth was traveling incognito in Geneva, Switzerland in 1898 when news of her presence leaked. On September 10, she and a lady-in-waiting were walking to board a steamer when she was attacked by Italian anarchist Luigi Lucheni, who wanted to kill a monarch, any monarch. The wound was not evident at first, but Elisabeth collapsed soon after boarding, and it was discovered that Lucheni had stabbed her in the chest with a thin blade. She died almost immediately. Her body was returned to Vienna for a state funeral, and she was buried in the Capuchin Church. Her killer was apprehended, tried, and convicted, then committed suicide in 1910 while in prison. Elisabeth’s legacy – or legend, depending on who you ask – carried on in several ways. Her widower founded the Order of Elizabeth in her honor, and many monuments and buildings in Austria and Hungary bear her name. In earlier stories, Elisabeth was portrayed as a fairy-tale princess, likely because of her whirlwind courtship and because of the most famous portrait of her: a painting by Franz Xaver Winterhalter that depicted her with diamond stars in her floor-length hair. Later biographies attempted to uncover the depth of Elisabeth’s life and inner conflict. Her story has captivated writers, musicians, filmmakers, and more, with dozens of works based on her life finding success. Instead of an untouchable, ethereal princess, she was often depicted as a complex, often unhappy woman – much closer to reality. Sources Hamann, Brigitte. The Reluctant Empress: A Biography of Empress Elisabeth of Austria. Knopf, 1986.Haslip, Joan, The Lonely Empress: Elisabeth of Austria. Phoenix Press, 2000.Meares, Hadley. The Tragic Austrian Empress Who Was Murdered By Anarchists. History.

Chinampa - Raised Field Agriculture in the Americas

Chinampa - Raised Field Agriculture in the Americas Chinampa system farming (sometimes called floating gardens) is a form of ancient raised field agriculture, used by American communities at least as early as 1250 CE, and successfully used by small farmers today as well. Chinampas are long narrow garden beds separated by canals. The garden land is built up from the wetland by stacking alternating layers of lake mud and thick mats of decaying vegetation. The process is typically characterized by exceptionally high yields per unit of land.  The word chinampa is a Nahuatl (native Aztec) word, chinamitl, meaning an area enclosed by hedges or canes. Key Takeaways: Chinampas Chinampas are a type of raised field agriculture used in wetlands, constructed of stacked alternating layers of mud and decaying vegetation.  The fields are built with a series of long alternating strips of canals and raised fields.  If properly maintained, by dredging organic-rich canal muck and placing it onto of the raised fields, chinampas are quite productive.  They were seen by the by Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes when he reached the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan (Mexico City) in 1519.  The oldest chinampas in the Basin of Mexico date to ca. 1250 CE, well before the formation of the Aztec empire in 1431.   Cortes and the Aztec Floating Gardens The first historical record of chinampas was by the Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes, who arrived in the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan (now Mexico City) in 1519. At the time, the basin of Mexico where the city is located was characterized by an interconnected system of lakes and lagoons of varying size, elevation, and salinity. Cortes saw agricultural plots on rafts on the surface of some of the lagoons and lakes, connected to the shore by causeways, and to the lakebeds by willow trees. The Aztecs did not invent chinampa technology. The earliest chinampas in the Basin of Mexico date to the Middle Postclassic periods, about 1250 CE, more than 150 years before the formation of the Aztec empire in 1431.  Some archaeological evidence exists showing that the Aztecs damaged some of the existing chinampas when they took over the basin of Mexico. Ancient Chinampa Aerial view over Xochimilco traditional agricultural fields Mexico City, March 16, 2015. Getty Images / Ulrike Stein / Stock Editorial Ancient chinampa systems have been identified throughout the highland and lowland regions of both continents of the Americas, and are also currently in use in highland and lowland Mexico on both coasts; in Belize and Guatemala; in the Andean highlands and Amazonian lowlands. Chinampa fields are generally about 13 feet (4 meters) wide but can be up to 1,300–3,000 ft (400–900 m) in length. Ancient chinampa fields are difficult to identify archaeologically  if theyve been abandoned and allowed to silt over: However, a wide variety of remote sensing techniques such as aerial photography have been used to find them with considerable success. Other information about chinampas is found in archival colonial records and historic texts, ethnographic descriptions of historic period chinampa farming schemes, and ecological studies on modern ones. Historical mentions of chinampa gardening date to the early Spanish colonial period. Farming on a Chinampa Chinampa Field Scene, Xochimilco. Hernn Garcà ­a Crespo The benefits of a chinampa system are that the water in the canals provides a consistent passive source of irrigation. Chinampa systems, as mapped by environmental anthropologist Christopher T. Morehart, include a complex of major and minor canals, which act both as freshwater arteries and provide canoe access to and from the fields. To maintain the fields, the farmer must continually dredge soil from the canals, and redeposit the soil atop the garden beds. The canal muck is organically rich from rotting vegetation and household wastes. Estimates of the productivity based on modern communities suggest that 2.5 acres (1 hectare) of chinampa gardening in the basin of Mexico could provide an annual subsistence for 15–20 people. Some scholars argue that one reason chinampa systems are so successful has to do with the diversity of species used within the plant beds. A chinampa system in San Andrà ©s Mixquic, a small community located about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from Mexico City, was found to include an astonishing 146 different plant species, including 51 separate domesticated plants. Other benefits include a damping down of plant diseases, compared to ground-based agriculture. Ecological Studies Instensive studies in Mexico City have been focused on chinampas in Xaltocan and Xochimilco. Xochimilco chinampas include not just crops such as maize, squash, vegetables, and flowers but small-scale animal and meat production, hens, turkeys, fighting cocks, pigs, rabbits and sheep. In sub-urban spaces, there are also draft animals (mules and horses) used to draw carts for maintenance purposes and take visiting local tourists. Beginning in 1990, heavy metal pesticides such as methyl parathion were applied to some chinampas in Xochimilco. Methyl parathion is an organophosphate which is extremely toxic to mammals and birds, which negatively impacted the kinds of levels of nitrogen available in the chinampa soils, decreasing beneficial types and increasing those not-so-beneficial. A study by Mexican ecologist Claudia Chvez-Là ³pez and colleagues reports successful laboratory tests removing the pesticide, lending hope that damaged fields may yet be restored. Archaeology Chinampa or floating gardens, Mexico, journey of Leon De Pontelli to Central America, from LIllustration, Journal Universel 886(35), February 18, 1860. De Agostini / Biblioteca Ambrosiana Getty Images The first archaeological investigations into chinampa farming were in the 1940s, when Spanish archaeologist Pedro Armillas identified relict Aztec chinampa fields in the Basin of Mexico, by examining aerial photographs. Additional surveys of central Mexico were conducted by US archaeologist William Sanders and colleagues in the 1970s, who identified additional fields associated with the various barrios of Tenochtitlan. Chronological data suggests chinampas were built at the Aztec community of Xaltocan during the Middle Postclassic period  after significant  amounts of political organization was in place. Morehart (2012) reported a 3,700–5,000 ac (~1,500–2,000 ha) chinampa system at the postclassic kingdom, based on aerial photographs, Landsat 7 data, and Quickbird VHR multispectral imagery, integrated into a GIS system. Chinampas and Politics Although Morehart and colleagues once argued that chinampas required a  top-down organization to be implemented, most scholars today (including Morehart) agree that building and maintaining of chinampa farms do  not require organizational and administrative responsibilities at the state level. Indeed, archaeological studies at Xaltocan and ethnographic studies at  Tiwanaku  have provided evidence that the meddling of the state in chinampa farming is detrimental to a successful enterprise. As a result, chinampa farming may be well-suited to locally-driven agricultural efforts today. Sources Chvez-Là ³pez, C., et al. Removal of Methyl Parathion from a Chinampa Agricultural Soil of Xochimilco Mexico: A Laboratory Study. European Journal of Soil Biology 47.4 (2011): 264–69. Print.Losada Custardoy, Hermenegildo Romn, et al. The Use of Organic Waste from Animals and Plants as Important Input to Urban Agriculture in Mà ©xico City. International Journal of Applied Science and Technology 5.1 (2015). Print.Morehart, Christopher T. Chinampa Agriculture, Surplus Production, and Political Change at Xaltocan, Mexico. Ancient Mesoamerica 27.1 (2016): 183–96. Print.-. Mapping Ancient Chinampa Landscapes in the Basin of Mexico: A Remote Sensing and GIS Approach. Journal of Archaeological Science 39.7 (2012): 2541–51. Print.-. The Political Ecology of Chinampa Landscapes in the Basin of Mexico. Water and Power in Past Societies. Ed. Holt, Emily. Albany: State University of New York Press, 2018. 19–40. Print.Morehart, Christopher T., and Charles D. Frederick . The Chronology and Collapse of Pre-Aztec Raised Field (Chinampa) Agriculture in the Northern Basin of Mexico. Antiquity 88.340 (2014): 531–48. Print.

Reflection Paper 1 page about Eveline and the other page about the Essay

Reflection Paper 1 page about Eveline and the other page about the lottery - Essay Example r home.† Everybody can relate to hoping for something better, for change that might improve their life, and are often faced with difficult choices. In weighing up the possible advantages of going far away, gaining status as a married woman, looking at the bad things in her present situation, Eveline seemed to be trying to convince herself to make the changes. â€Å"She had consented to go away, to leave her home. Was that wise?† The doubts are always bubbling beneath the surface of the narrative, this is a universal dilemma when life is not ideal and something better seems to be available. The chance to travel, to have a loving husband might make a young woman happy and excited, or so I thought. Eveline’s dilemma reflects how many of us would feel and there is also a question as to whether she loved Frank. The ideal of a love that could overcome every obstacle is missing; Eveline might well be running from one controlling man to Everybody hopes their choices will lead to change for the better in their life, but sometimes fear of the unknown, and taking stock of what you already have helps to make the decision for you. This is what I think Eveline did, but I am left with the question – did she make the right choice for the right reasons? Maybe the answer is in these words: â€Å"Her eyes gave him no sign of love or farewell or recognition.† Told from the objective point of view, this story was shocking and horrific, as the tension built, and what at first appeared a positive, pleasant village custom, became something very sinister. I thought the stones were for some childish game, to be played after the lottery finished. I saw nothing significant in â€Å"..eventually made a great pile of stones in one corner of the square and guarded it against the raids of the other boys.† I believed that somebody was going to win a pot of money and life would go on, with everybody pleased at the winner’s good fortune. But this story had a darker meaning about

Race & television Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Race & television - Essay Example Racism is tagged as humor to make it sound acceptable to the audience. Racial concepts are inculcated in our minds as a secondary outcome while the prime focus remains upon the comedy. On the other hand, real life racial interactions are much more hostile and obviously offensive in nature. Real life racial interactions include frequent use of abusive language and bullying, that is either physical or verbal or both. The fictional views projected on TV assume great tendency to influence our personal interactions. â€Å"Just as people can develop their views about others through dialogue and interaction with others in society, the same types of outcomes can emerge based simply on watching television† (Mastro, Behm-Morawitz, and Kopacz, 2008). In my childhood, I tried to maintain distance from my blonde class fellows because they were stereotyped as fools in certain cartoon series. Nevertheless, over the time, I have become more critical in my analysis of the validity of information provided about specific ethnicities and races on TV, which is why, I am not as influenced now as I used to be

Driving Under the Influence Essay Example for Free

Driving Under the Influence Essay 1. A. A trip to the ocean can be a relaxing escape from the everyday pressures of life. B. You should always be careful to avoid overexposure to the sun at the beach. 2. Check for correct punctuation, including capitalization. Learn to spell the words you use. Learn the spelling rules and the exceptions to those rules. Keep a list of words you’ve misspelled and looked up. Use your list as a reference when you write, edit, and proofread your work. Watch for grammatical errors. Keep an alert eye out for errors such as fragments, run-ons, faulty agreement, and incorrect comparisons. 3. A sentence or phrase usually used expressing a popular or common thought or idea, which has lost originality, ingenuity, and impact by long overuse. Opposites attract: This means that people who like different things and have different views are likely to fall in love or to become friends. 4. Brainstorming: Where you right down what you think might be a focus for your paragraph in which some will end up not being used. Webbing: A web in which it shows a relationship between some of the ideas you have. 5. C. How to make my favorite sandwich: First, lay out the bread on the preparing surface. Second, take out the sliced meat, making sure to get as much of the liquid off as possible. Third, put the meat on the sandwich until the desired thickness is reached. You can also add cheese at the point, if you want it to be soft and melted. Fourth, put the sandwich in the microwave for 40 seconds, flipping it once every 10 seconds. Fifth, let cool and enjoy. 6. The best way to stop drunk driving is to enforce stiffer penalties for anyone caught drinking and driving. The fines need to be much higher and their license should be much harder to get back. It should be made that a zero tolerance breathalyzers machine should be mandatory in every new vehicle that you buy. Make it so that the car just wont start even if you have a drink or two. There should also be designated drivers in every town and city all over the world. A designated driver is simply a person who agrees not to drink alcohol and be responsible for driving others home. The clubs should also have it in place so you cant leave and drink and drive. Then just maybe if we get this all in place, maybe we can save a lot lives each year and keep the drunk drivers off the highways.

On the Rainy River Essay -- Literary Analysis, OBrien

Life can bring unexpected events that individuals might not be prepared to confront. This was the case of O’Brien in the story, â€Å"On the Rainy River† from the book The Things They Carried. As an author and character O’Brien describes his experiences about the Vietnam War. In the story, he faces the conflict of whether he should or should not go to war after being drafted. He could not imagine how tough fighting must be, without knowing how to fight, and the reason for such a war. In addition, O’Brien is terrified of the idea of leaving his family, friends and everything he loves behind. He decides to run away from his responsibility with the society. However, a feeling of shame and embarrassment makes him go to war. O’Brien considers himself a coward for doing something he does not agree with; on the other hand, thinking about the outcome of his decision makes him a brave man. Therefore, an individual that considers the consequences of his acts is nobler than a war hero. The Vietnam War was a conflict that many people did not comprehend. In fact, the war was atrocious and bloody. According to The Vietnam War: a History in Documents, 58,000 US soldier died and more than 700,000 came back with physical and emotional marks (Young, Fitzgerald & Grunfeld 147). For many Americans this war was meaningless. In the same way, O’Brien admits, â€Å"American war in Vietnam seemed to me wrong; certain blood was being shed for uncertain reason† (40). O’Brien believes the war was not significance. Furthermore, the lack of logic in the matter makes him confused about going to war. That’s why, he does not understand why he was sent to fight a war for which causes and effects were uncertain. The author continues by saying, â€Å"I was too good for... ...hermore, going to war was an act of cowardice. He had to put aside his morals and principles and fight a war he did not believe in. Overall, the author showed us the courageous and coward s acts of O’Brien the character. The fact that he was a coward made him do a heroic act. O’Brien made the valiant decision to go to war. It would have been easier and cowardly to jump and swim away from all his fears. However he decided to turn back, and fight for something he did not believe in. Thinking about the consequences of running away makes him a hero. He went to war not because he wanted to fight for his country, but for his own freedom. Either choice he could have made would take some kind of courage to carry out. Going to war required some sort of fearlessness. In other words, running away from the law would have been brave; but going to war was even tougher.