Friday, December 27, 2019
Analysis of My Last Duchess Essay - 585 Words
ââ¬ËMy Last Duchessââ¬â¢ is a poem written by Robert Browning in 1845. Itââ¬â¢s a first person narrative of a duke who is showing the ambassador around his palace and negotiating his marriage to the daughter of another powerful family. As they are walking through the palace, the duke stops and looks at the beautiful portrait of his lovely last duchess. The duke speaks his thoughts about the girl, and as the poem progresses we begin to realize that his last duchess had been murdered. ââ¬Å"â⬠¦I gave commands, then all smiles stopped together,â⬠This metaphorical sentence tells us that his commands were the ones that caused her death and her ââ¬Ëstop of all smiles togetherââ¬â¢. The reason behind this is that she was flirtatious with all men because ââ¬Å"sheâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬Å"My favour at her breast, the dropping of the daylight in the Westâ⬠. Here the Duke tells us that he believed he had a seat at her heart. However her passion for him was diminishing as quickly as a dayââ¬â¢s sunset in the West. The daylight is such a beautiful thing, but her love for him was like the ââ¬Ëdropping of daylightââ¬â¢ meaning that he was losing such a beauty and he regretted. This metaphor used is a tragic metaphor. The rhetorical question used on line 23 reflects his anger. ââ¬Å"A heart ââ¬â how shall I say? ââ¬â too soon made gladâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ this quote explains that she was pleased by all men, and the Duke was struggling to find a way to express himself successfully. This is because he was so bothered by the fact that he didnââ¬â¢t satisfy her enough since she needed the satisfaction from other men. His frustration also reflects that there is an element of jealousy within him. ââ¬Å"Oh sir, she smiledâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ The poet makes use of a sibilant, which is an irritating sound to hear. This emphasizes his anger and frustration. He never refers to her by name, which reflects his disturbed character. After all of the Dukeââ¬â¢s anger builds up, we learn that he lets out all of his frustration in a very negative and disturbed manner. ââ¬Å"This grew; I gave commands; Then all smiles stopped together. There she stands as if alive.â⬠The deliberate ambiguity used in this sentence hints to the audience that he has murdered her. The poem is oneShow MoreRelatedMy Last Duchess Analysis929 Words à |à 4 Pages The characters of ââ¬Å"My Last Duchessâ⬠are the Duke and the Duchess. At the start of the poem the Duke is looking at a picture of his deceased wife, the Duchess. The Duke is remembering the day the Duchess posed for the painting, ââ¬Å"That piece a wonder, now; Fra Pandolfââ¬â¢s hands /Worked busily a day, and there she standsâ⬠(Browning lines 3-4). The Duke talks about how easily the Duchess was ââ¬Å"impressedâ⬠with small gifts given to her by others and that she had a wandering eye, ââ¬Å"Too easily impressed; sheRead MoreAnalysis Of My Last Duchess 1187 Words à |à 5 Pagesdifferent ways. ââ¬ËMy Last Duchessââ¬â¢ is a dramatic monologue, which describes the Dukeââ¬â¢s obsession with his Duchess. Similarly, ââ¬ËDo not go gentle into that good nightââ¬â¢ presents love and death as a battle to prevent deathsââ¬â¢ victory. ââ¬ËRememberââ¬â¢, in cont rast, explores love and death through subverting the sonnet form to guidance on coping with the death of your partner. The title ââ¬ËMy Last Duchessââ¬â¢ demonstrates from the outset the Dukeââ¬â¢s obsession by the use of the possessive pronoun ââ¬Å"Myâ⬠. Furthermore, theRead MoreAnalysis of Dramatic Monologue in My Last Duchess1866 Words à |à 8 PagesThe Analysis of Dramatic monologue In My Last Duchess Abstract: Dramatic monologue which is an important poetic form which invented and practiced principally by Robert Browning, Alfred Tennyson, Matthew Arnold in the Victorian Period. Though the technique is evident in many ancient Greek dramas, the dramatic monologue as a poetic form achieved its first era of distinction in the work of Victorian poet Robert Browning. Brownings poems My Last Duchess and Soliloquy of the Spanish Cloister, thoughRead MoreMy Last Duchess Character Analysis897 Words à |à 4 Pages In the short poem My Last Duchess, the author Robert Browning starts the story with the Duke introducing his pitch to one of his servants to let him marry the servantââ¬â¢s daughter. The duke later takes the servant upstairs and shows him around his prized possession art gallery. The duke finally proceeded onto his prize possession onto to which was a portrait of his ex-wife; he then started to describe to him what his ex-wife was like and he started to get very worked up and angry. He rambled on aboutRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem My Last Duchess 1837 Words à |à 8 Pagesmonologs. One of his monologs includes the famous poem ââ¬Å"My Last Duchessâ⬠which was first recognized in 1842. The pace of the poem builds towards the revelation that the Duke had his wife murdered, then to the quick addition of his terms for the marriage arrangement. The tone of assurance that he uses within the poem shows that the Duke considers himself totally justified and he remains remorseless and confident in his sense of power. In ââ¬Å"My Last Duchess,â⬠Browning explores how absolute power can corruptRead MoreAnalysis of the Duke in Brownings My Last Duchess Essay494 Words à |à 2 PagesAnalysis of Duke In My Last Duchess, by Robert Browning, the character of Duke is portrayed as having controlling, jealous, and arrogant traits. These traits are not all mentioned verbally, but mainly through his actions. In the beginning of the poem the painting of the Dukes wife is introduced to us: Thats my last Duchess painted on the wall,/ looking as of she were still alive (1-2). These lines leave us with the suspicion that the Duchess is no longer alive, but at this point were areRead MoreAnalysis Of My Last Duchess By Robert Browning1523 Words à |à 7 PagesZografakis English Period 8 7 November 2014 Throughout history, gender roles have been an important barrier in society. Women are forced to satisfy expectations established by men and society. ââ¬Å"My Last Duchess,â⬠by Robert Browning, focuses on the powerful Duke establishing certain expectations of the Duchess, and attempting to control her. Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, concentrates on Laertes establishing certain expectations of Ophelia, and seeking to control her. A Room of Oneââ¬â¢s Own, by VirginiaRead MoreAnalysis of the Setting in My Last Duchess and Dover Beach Essay669 Words à |à 3 PagesAnalysis of the Setting in My Last Duchess and Dover Beach At first glance the setting of a poem is the psychological and physiological environment in which the story takes place. In some instances, the setting is used to develop the characters. Robert Browning and Matthew Arnold use the setting to expose their character traits. My Last Duchess and Dover Beach, respectively, portray the weaknesses of the characters using elements from the setting. The text, page 629 and 630, tells us thatRead MoreAnalysis Of My Last Duchess By Robert Browning2479 Words à |à 10 Pagesmore subtly by societal constructs such as marriage. For ââ¬Ëa man attaches himself to woman - not to enjoy her, but to enjoy himselfââ¬â¢ , and this concept of a one-sided, selfish relationship is apparent in literary pieces. Within the setting of ââ¬ËMy Last Duchessââ¬â¢, the Renaissance period, men held all-encompassing and direct control over their daughters and wives. The common practice in this era, of arranged marriage for dowry, consolidated the concep t of women as a resource for they represented moneyRead More Analysis of My Last Duchess by Robert Browning Essay examples1222 Words à |à 5 Pages Analysis of My Last Duchess by Robert Browning Murder mystery intrigue. All describe Robert Brownings poem, My Last Duchess. From the speakers indirect allusions to the death of his wife the reader might easily think that the speaker committed a vengeful crime out of jealousy. His flowery speech confuses and disguises any possible motives, however, and the mystery is left unsolved. The poem is a great example of dramatic dialogue, a poetic form used to narrate and dramatize. It consists
Thursday, December 19, 2019
Persuasive Speech Donating Organ For A Person - 1935 Words
Argument Donating organ to a person in need adds significant years to his life. The donor will be back to his normal life within a week after donation and will have no side effects if treated carefully. Here is an example of Tom Walker, a coach who decided to donate his kidney to one of his team player. Kevin Jordan, a left handed outfielder, was offered admission to Wake Forest University and their baseball team in his senior year at high school. He amazing talent on field was recognized by the baseball coach at Wake Forest, Tom Walker. Summer before college, Kevin was diagnosed with kidney failure and put on dialysis. Even after his parentââ¬â¢s advice to stay with them, Kevin decided to attend college and live life like a normal college kid. During his first semester, he was able to manage practice sessions, attend all classes and time for workout with his team in addition to dialysis. Due to worsening conditions, he discontinued college the next semester. After futile attempts of finding a match within his family and friends, his coach Tom, decided to test for the match with Kevin as they had the same blood group. It matched perfectly and Tom willingly donated his kidney to Kevin. Due to this noble act of kindness from his coach, Kevin can now live a normal life and play for the college like everyone else. Even Tom, is hale and hearty and back as a coach within two weeks after the operation. As the coach was readily willing to donate his kidney, this ended on aShow MoreRelatedPersuasive Speech : Donating The Medical Field1273 Words à |à 6 PagesPersuasive Speech Paper Donating to the Medical Field Introduction (Attention) Did you all know that most people think the only way to be a part of the medical field is to go to college for many years? Thatââ¬â¢s just simply not the truth. The most important thing in the hospital is done by people who may or may not have gone to college, may or may not have a job, and they may or may not be sitting next to you right now. The people I am talking about donate parts of themselves to extremely ill patientsRead MorePersuasive Outline-Organ Donation886 Words à |à 4 PagesPERSUASIVE SPEECH OUTLINE ââ¬â ORGAN DONATION Topic:à Organ donation Thesis Statement:à Becoming an organ donor after death is not only an important decision for yourself, but it is also an important decision for the life that you may have the power to save. Purpose:à To persuade my audience to consider becoming organ donors after death à Introduction: 1. Organ donation is a selfless way to give back to others, and to be able to make a huge difference by giving another person a second chanceRead MorePersuasive Speech : Organ Donor1480 Words à |à 6 PagesPirrie Persuasive Speech Kaitlin Keenan CRN: 22260261 Topic: Donating Life Audience: Communications 101 peers General Purpose: To persuade Specific Purpose: To persuade the audience of the importance of becoming an organ donor to save lives. Thesis: Becoming an organ donor can give severely ill people another chance at living a normal life. I. Introduction A. Attention Getter: Imagine having a loved one who is in end stage organ failure and has been put on the organ transplantRead MorePersuasive Speech Essay1278 Words à |à 6 PagesJoseph Froehle Public Speaking Class Persuasive Speech Outline Topic:à Organ Donation Specific Purpose:à To persuade my audience to donate their organs and tissues when they die and to act upon their decision to donate. Thesis Statement:à The need is constantly growing for organ donors and it is very simple to be an organ donor when you die. I.à INTRODUCTION A.à Attention material/Credibility Material: How do you feel when you have to wait for something you really, really want? What if it wasRead MoreEssay on Outline for Organ Donation Speech1009 Words à |à 5 PagesStudent Name: ashley singer Speech Type: Persuasive Organ Donation Organization Type: Comparative Advantages Pattern Attention Getter Type: Story, Quotation, or Poem Conclusion Type: Summary Goal/Purpose persuade my audience to give the gift of life and become organ donors. Introduction I. I have always decided i wanted to dedicate my organs to others once i have oassed but it was not until January of this year i learned the true value behind organ donation. II. Last January my brotherRead MoreOrgan Donor2701 Words à |à 11 Pagesoneâ⬠¦your grandparent, parent, spouse or significant other, even your own child, dying because one of their vital organs has quit working. Maybe because of a disease or an accident, maybe for a reason that cannot be explained, without any warning. The only chance of this person surviving is through an organ transplant, but there arenââ¬â¢t any available. à By a show of hands, how many of you are organ donors? I. There are 11 body parts that can be successfully transplanted : à à à à A. à Heart, heartRead MorePersuasive Speech1153 Words à |à 5 PagesPERSUASIVE SPEECH OUTLINE Topic: Organ Donation Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience to donate their organs and tissues when they die and to act upon their decision to donate. INTODUCTION Attention: How do you feel when you have to wait for something you really, really want? What if it was something you couldnââ¬â¢t live without? Ladies and gentlemen Iââ¬â¢m here today to share with you my views on organ donation, in the hope that you will take them on board and give someone the ultimateRead MoreInformation Processing Theory2744 Words à |à 11 PagesEntertaining Speech An entertaining speech is one whose sole purpose is to have the audience enjoy the presentation. The purpose of an entertaining speech is not to educate, inform or inspire â⬠¦ it is to make the audience smile, relax, enjoy and maybe even laugh their heads off. How do you make a speech entertaining? There are many ways to entertain an audience. You can: * tell jokes * tell funny stories * dramatize an anecdote * tell a scary story When it comes right down toRead MoreMultiple Intelligences Seminar and Workshop14464 Words à |à 58 Pagesinterviews with and brain research on hundreds of people, including stroke victims, prodigies, autistic individuals, and so- called idiot savants. According to Gardner, - All human beings possess all nine intelligences in varying amounts. - Each person has a different intellectual composition. - We can improve education by addressing the multiple intelligences of our students. - These intelligences are located in different areas of the brain and can either work independently or together. -Read MoreLogical Reasoning189930 Words à |à 760 PagesUnfortunately, she is not sure about the boiling. So the burden falls on your shoulders. Can you back up her reasoning even if she cant? Or can you show that her reasoning isnt any good? One way to support a statement is to point out that the person making it is an expert. So you think about Juanitas and Emilios credentials. Lets seeââ¬âJuanita is a student majoring in psychology, and Emilio is a communications major and works at a pet store. Does that make them authorities on Giardia and
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Making Important Life Decisions Essay Example For Students
Making Important Life Decisions Essay Should I study or should I go out and do something? That was an easy question for Richard Rodriguez to answer. He was a high school kid who always chose to study over doing anything else. No one understood Rodriguez and his way of living life. Not even his own family. They would say things to him like What do you even see in your booksà (598). That became the family joke Rodriguez said. They always wondered where he was and sometimes he was locked in his bedroom or a closet reading a book or studying. Rodriguez was the kid in school who always answered the questions and had the right answers, but didnt know why he knew them. He always questioned the way he thinks and the way the teachers think. Teachers were his role models. He tried to imitate how they thought and the way they acted and the way they thought he should act. Rodriguez teachers always said that his parents must be proud of their son. He wished that was the case. Rodriguez was known throughout his school as the scholarship boy and he believe that he had to live up to that name. Even though Rodriguez was the opposite of me I can relate to his story in a different, but very similar manner. I was born in Rochester, Minnesota. After a few months my family and I moved to St. Louis. When I was one we moved back to Eyota. Then in second grade we moved to La Crosse, Wisconsin. When my family moved to La Crosse I stayed back and lived with my grandmother for five months until I finished school. We lived in Lacrosse, for three years and in seventh grade we moved back to Eyota were I would live the rest of my school life. I have six members in my immediate family. My mother Brandy, father Noah, and my three younger brothers Joe, Gabe, and Trevor. My mother Brandy is a secretary at the carpenters union in Rochester and my father Noah is self-employed. My dad owns his own business where he builds and sells computer servers. My dad likes to read Stephen King books and my mother likes love stories like every other woman on this planet. My grandmother Wanda has had a big impact on my life as well and she reads a lot of different types of books and papers. My first experience with reading and writing was when I was very young my mom told me she used to read me bedtime stories of different sports and Dr. Seuss. The first book I read back in first grade was the Berenstain Bears. I read that book over and over again. All of these books that I have read with my mom are interactive books. I believe that because these books are interactive they have shaped me into always wanting to read action pact book. Around the time I was in third grade I read a series of chapter books called Geronimo. This was a book about a mouse and all the adventures he went on. This series of books did change me as a reader though. These books started challenging me and made me want to read different more challenging books. I have never been a big reader so there was a long period from seventh grade too about tenth grade that I dont remember reading a book. I believe the biggest reason that I didnt read a book during this time was, I just moved to a new town and that time period was when I realized that I needed to practice a lot to achieve my dream. In tenth grade I read a true novel from Elle Wiesel called Night. It was a book about his personal experience in the concentration camps. The book Night was the best book I have ever read. Since it was a book we read in English class every day we talked about the book. Since I enjoyed it so much I would stay after and ask the teachers questions which made me and that teacher closer. Alfred Tennyson was born on August 6th, 1809, at S EssayThe books have also made me a better writer by reading professional writings. One of my biggest weaknesses throughout school was the ability to comprehend books. When I read a book that interests me, it is a lot easier to comprehend and follow along in the story. A lot of the true stories I have read make me think a lot about how I have to work to achieve my goals or how good of a life I actually have. For instance, in the book Night it makes me appreciate everything because I couldnt ever imagine going through half of what he had to go through. The readings I do outside of school are more pleasure books of things I am interested in and the books I have read in school are books about material that can improve on life and daily activities. When I was younger, the books that were read to me and the books I read played a huge role in the way I read now a days and the books I like these days. When I was younger and read my first chapter book it showed me how much time it took to read a full length book. Throughout my whole life many people have influenced my readings and have taught me many great aspects too reading. In my personal life I can relate to Rodriguez in a different way though. I always have been the kid that has excelled at sports and if I didnt get an athletic scholarship my parents were not going to pay for my college. I have always had that in the back of my head so I had to work extra hard to live up to their expectations. The big difference was that my parents always supported me through everything with my commitment and understood that. There was a lot of times though that they would make me do my studies instead of going and practicing were Rodriguez parents would want him to do other activities instead of school. I did get made fun of though at school in the same way were my friends would make comments on how much I practiced and I didnt hang out with them. So I understand the effort it take that you need to achieve the goals you are working toward. I believe that education does shape who people are though Most everyone wants to achieve at education and the easiest way to achieve at something is to put the most effort into it. When you are in school though especially at the younger ages you look up to your teachers a lot and try to imitate them until you find other role models. You see your teachers as almost another set of parents and obey what they say and achieve as much as you can to make them proud as well as your parents. Rodriguez just never grew out of that stage and always kept his teachers as his mentors and role models. All he wanted to do was make them proud he didnt care much about how his parents felt because he thought it was a lost clause. I believe Rodriguez experience as a scholarship boy is a universal experience. Not everyone has the same experiences, but I believe everyone relates to him in some way. Bibliography: Bartholomae, David, Anthony Petrosky, and Stacey Waite. Ways of Reading, An Anthology for Writers. 10th ed. Bedford St. Martins, 2014. 338-355. Print.
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Modern Science and the Creation Story
Table of Contents Introduction The Creationist Theory The Big Bang Theory The Evolution Theory The Intelligence Design The Steady State Theory References Introduction Since time immemorial, the world has been in war for varied reasons, differences in ideological beliefs, aggression from other states, scramble for resources, and territorial violations. However, the longest lasting and most contested battle, pitting the worldââ¬â¢s largest groups, Christians and Scientists, against each other, is of the origin of man and the universe.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Modern Science and the Creation Story specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Religious groups like Christians, Muslims, and Jews believe in the biblical story of creation. The creationism theory states that God created Adam and Eve in his own image and placed them in the Garden of Eden where all forms of life began. According to this theory, the univer se is approximately 6000 years old as calculated by Archbishop Ussher in the sixteenth century. Scientists, who claim life form existed in the world millions of years ago, have watered the credibility of the creation theory. Fossils excavated from seabeds and sedimentary rocks ascertain this claim. Scientistsââ¬â¢ attempts to explain the origin of the universe have led to the development of many theories, all having their shortfalls. As a result, none of the theories has gained universal acceptance as the most probable origin of man and the universe. This has left moral, religious, and cultural forces to play a great role in shaping peopleââ¬â¢s stand on the origin of the universe. The Creationist Theory To establish the reason for the many scientific researches on the origin of the universe, it is prudent to explain the theory all works of science seem to tear apart, The Creationism Theory. Widely held by Christians, Muslims, and Jews, the theory explains that God is the crea tor and controller of the universe. In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first dayâ⬠¦And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit treeâ⬠¦Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.Advertising Looking for essay on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More And God created great whales, and every living creature that movethâ⬠¦after their kind, and every winged fowl after his ki nd and God saw that it was goodâ⬠¦ Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kindâ⬠¦ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earthâ⬠¦So God created man in his own image (New International Version BIBLE, Gen. 1.1-29). The creationists believe that God created living creatures on earth and can take them away at will. According to this theory, the world is 6000 years old. The theory draws its strength from the complexity of human life that science cannot explain. Furthermore, research has proven that some major occurrences mentioned in the bible are true. The big flood that swept the whole World and the Ark of Noah are examples of proven happenings. Balsiger (2010) supports the floodââ¬â¢s occurrence by saying, ââ¬Å"Geologists who have climbed mou nt Ararat, the landing site of Noahââ¬â¢s Ark, have discovered a varriety of seashells and other evidence that this mountain was once under water.â⬠Similarly, Harris (1997) provides crucial evidence of the detention and enslaving of the Israelites in Egypt as mentioned in the bible. It is easier to believe the creation story and let life continue. However, scientists are leaving nothing at stake in their bid to answer questions on the existence of the universe they consider not addressed by the theory. Further, they claim incorrect timing and unmentioned crucial facts about the creation theory ââ¬Å"cast doubtâ⬠on the overall theory (Caputo, 2006). First, the creation theoryââ¬â¢s timeframe calculated by Archbishop Ussher, and generally accepted by creationists, is far from what scientists consider the true age of the world.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Modern Science and the Creation Story specifically for you for only $16.05 $ 11/page Learn More ââ¬Å"The discovery of fossil types of man or manlike organismsâ⬠¦from South Africa, in the early Pleistocene strata of 1,000,000 million years agoâ⬠¦now classified as Homo erectusâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ is evidence that the world has existed for at least a million years, as opposed to the 6000 years advocated by the theory (Adler, 1993). In fact, according to Fortey (2009), the oldest documented case of living animals is over 540 million years. The theory is also under condemnation for failing to explain the beginning of human races just as it explains language diversity. If all human beings, as explained by the theory, are descendants of Adam and Eve, why is the worldââ¬â¢s population so diverse? Why do we have Whites, Blacks, Reds, and the Colored races? Lack of answers for such crucial information has led to the emergence of many theories attempting to provide the much-needed answers. These theories include, Evolution proposed by Charles Darw in, Intelligent Design, the Steady State Theory, and the Big Bang Theory. The Big Bang Theory In 1984, Long claimed, ââ¬Å"The big bang theory is the most popular of all the scientific theories that attempt to explain the origin of the universe.â⬠Georges Lemaitre, a Belgian priest and professor who lectured at the University of Louvain, developed the theory. Georgesââ¬â¢ argued that the fast movement of other galaxies away from our own in all directions is symbolic of an ancient force pushing them away from our universe. Long (1984) confirms that the proponents of the big bang theory believe the vast universe was compressed into a tiny finite volume, which exploded and has been flying apart as the universe ever since. This compressed state is believed to have existed for just split seconds before the big bang. According to this theory, a massive explosion caused the universeââ¬â¢s matter and energy to disperse ten to twenty billion years ago. Immediately after the big b ag, the universe expanded with speed beyond understanding from the tiny size to the current astronomical scope. Even though the expansion continues, it is now happening at a much slower speed. Fox (2002) describes this phenomenon in details. In the beginning, there was nothingâ⬠¦nothingness in which packets of energy fleeted in and out of existence, popping into oblivion as quickly as they appearedâ⬠¦One of these fluctuations had just enough energy to take off. It inflated wildly out of control ââ¬â one-moment infinitesimally small, moments later, light-years across. All of space and time was created in that instant, and as that energy slowed, it cooled and froze into matter (p. 9).Advertising Looking for essay on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The theory seeks to justify the occurrence of a massive blast by pointing out the existence of cosmic microwave background radiation throughout the universe. The theory asserts that these waves are leftovers from the big bang. Despite its wide acceptance by scientists as the most probable origin of the universe, the big bang theory is equally criticized as it leaves many scientific questions unanswered. For example, the theory gives no explanation on the evolution of the universe after the big bang. Worst still, the theory completely fails to explain the ââ¬Å"origin of the big bangâ⬠itself (Edwards, 2001). How then can it be good enough to explain the origin of the universe when its own origin is blurred? The Evolution Theory In 1959, Charles Darwin published his book, ââ¬Å"The origin of Speciesâ⬠in which he explained that man evolved from tiny living creatures through environmental adaptation over millions of years (Darwin, 1958). He further argued, ââ¬Å"Animals t hat were incapable of adapting to environmental changes perishedâ⬠(p. 27). The depth and breadth of Darwinââ¬â¢s research findings easily convinced many scientists that natural selection provided the most concrete and firm foundation on origin of man. In fact, Darwin himself exuded a lot of confidence in his findings when he said, ââ¬Å"I cannot possibly believe that a false theory would explain so many classes of factsâ⬠(p. 27). Darwinââ¬â¢s study of evolution was triggered by observation of life in South America. He stated, ââ¬Å"When on board H. M. S. Beatle as a naturalist, I was much struck with certain facts in the distribution of organic beings inhabiting South America, and the geological relations of the present to the past inhabitants of that continentâ⬠(p. 1). Darwin further explained that the facts ââ¬Å"seemed to throw some light on the origin of speciesâ⬠and went ahead to give a detailed account of the facts (p. 1). In furthering his exp lanations, Darwin gives the example of a giraffe. He said taller giraffes had a better chance of survival because they could reach taller tree leaves even during drought as compared to shorter ones. In order to survive, the giraffes gave birth to progeny that grew taller and taller over time. In this same manner, Darwin holds that animals and humans have adapted, evolved, and survived. Animals that were incapable of adapting themselves perished. This principle of survival of the fittest is what Darwin called ââ¬Å"means of natural selection.â⬠If variations useful to any organic being ever do occur, assuredly individuals thus characterized will have the best chance of being preserved in the struggle for life; and from the strong principle of inheritance, these will tend to produce offspring similarly characterized (Darwin, 1958). The evolutionists hold that humans grew from particles that randomly clang together to form DNA molecules. These molecules grew continuously to be th e humans we know today. The possibility of man evolving from tiny living creatures, as proposed by Charles Darwin, is mathematically near impossible. Sapse (2000) states, ââ¬Å"For life to be formed, the right mix of life sustaining amino acids must be united.â⬠Webb (2002) reinforces the idea by claiming that the probability of random processes creating a nucleic acid or a protein is tiny. In further support of this claim, Davis (1999) says that hundreds of thousands of proteins are required to sustain life, and that the probability of these proteins coming together ââ¬Å"randomlyâ⬠is 1040000. Additionally, the theory fails to highlight the origin of the tiny particles that randomly unite to give forth life. It could be easy to believe the evolution process, but without a strong foundation on the origin of the tiny living creatures, it is baseless. The theory also claims that the earth is four billion years old, a time not long enough for the tiny particles to form the complex human life we know today. The Intelligence Design The idea that humanââ¬â¢s complexity is a result of a superior, powerful, and all knowing designer whose ability is beyond manââ¬â¢s understanding has existed for years. In fact, the theory existed long before Charles Darwin came up with the evolution theory. William Paley, a renowned English theologian, is the accredited exponent of the theory. Paley illustrated the theory with the famous watchmaker analogy. He claimed that if one found a pocket watch in the field whiles walking, concluding that it is a product of evolution is unfounded. Rather, one should know that it is a result of a designing beingââ¬â¢s intellect. Likewise, he concluded that the existing complex life in the world is a result of super natural creatorââ¬â¢s activities. The intelligence design theory is linked to the creationist theory because it supports the existence of a supernatural deity as the designer of the universe. The proponents of t his theory differ with the creation theoryââ¬â¢s timeframe. Rather, they agree with the evolutionists in the belief that the world has existed for millions of years. Some believers of the theory claim God designed life and the universe, while others claim it is not clear who designed the universe, but agree that it must be a civilization superior to ours. Still others believe our existence on the universe is the work of aliens, using human race as subjects of experiment. There is not a single evidence of this claim, but refuting it is equally hard as there is no evidence to the contrary of the belief. This theory may hold ground to some extend since the modern manââ¬â¢s appearance on earth seems sudden and unexplained. Whereas there are many discovered fossils of animals dating back to 540 million years old, the oldest fossil of modern man, Cro-Magnon, is only thirty to forty thousand years old (Fagan, 2010). Furthermore, there seems to be no fossil evidence of humans evolving from any other animals or beings. The lack of evidence of existence of man until 30 million years ago could probably point out that they ââ¬Å"droppedâ⬠from somewhere. The supporters of intelligent design argue that the theory offers explanation to some concepts that evolution cannot account for. Irreducible complexity is an example of a concept evolution cannot account for. Here, they argue that some components of nature or biochemical systems are so well matched to be mere products of evolution. Irreducible systems are only complete as a whole, any attempt to remove any part results to error as all their parts are necessary. The characteristics of the parts being so intricate and interdependent cannot be a result of evolution. The stand by intelligent design theorists that no evolution has taken place is widely criticized by a section of scientists who believe it is based on ignorance. The critics claim it is unrealistic, improper, and grave to deny evolution as it continu es even today. For example, they claim if an individual cuts himself, the blood responds by producing plasma cells that clot the blood around the cut to reduce and eventually end the blood flow. ââ¬Å"The key proteins that clot blood fit this pattern, too. They are actually modified versions of proteins used in the digestive systemâ⬠¦evolution duplicated, retargeted, and modified these proteins to produce the vertebrate blood-clotting systemâ⬠(Curry Chang 2006). Such responses, they claim have existed from the very existence of man and have ensured his survival (Campbell, 2009). The Steady State Theory A group of renowned scientists developed the steady state theory in 1948 as an alternative to the Big Bang theory. The scientists involved in the development of this theory included, Hermann Bondi, Thomas Gold, and Fred Hoyle all whom were Cambridge physicists. Bondi states, ââ¬Å"The Steady State Theory differs from other creation theoriesâ⬠¦the problem of creation, is brought within the scope of physical inquiry, and is examined in detail instead of, as in other theories, being handed over metaphysicsâ⬠(Bondi, 1952). The theory made it acceptable in the late 1960s that the universe had no known beginning at all. Instead, it held that matter is created continuously during the expansion of the universe, which ensures perfect adherence to cosmological principle. This theory further asserts that despite the continuous expansion of the universe, its appearance has not changed over time. Due to the continuous expansion of the universe, a notable change to its components is only impossible if new matter is continuously created to maintain the average density of matter in the universe. The scientists claimed that hydrogen is the continuously produced matter that keeps the universe stable. In 1993, the theory was reinforced and additional information that lacked in the initial version added. Quasi-steady state theory is a result of the modificati ons, which suggest that there are pockets of creations occurring within the universe commonly referred to as mini-bangs. Even though the steady state theory is widely discredited, there are people who believe its premises. Evidently, the scientific theories put forward by various scientists have failed to address, comprehensively and conclusively, the ââ¬Å"missing linksâ⬠in the creation theory. Instead, they have torn the world into different directions, pitting people against each other, consequently spinning the world to a completely irrelevant direction, of seeking the dark and little known past, instead of focusing on the future and how to make his stay in the world most comfortable. Humanity has greater enemies in diseases, famine, and poverty. Therefore, greater effort should be directed at fighting these enemies. Scientific discoveries have helped humans greatly by inventing medicines for curing diseases thereby reducing mortality rate, explaining phenomena that were once mysteries, and introducing new technologies, which have improved living standards. However, it must be accepted that scientific research on the origin of the universe, has hardly contributed towards improving manââ¬â¢s well being. Instead, it is divisive and baseless. Every individual has the freedom to choose what theory to believe concerning the origin and existence of the universe and all the creatures in it. Whichever the choice, every individual must put effort in tolerating others who hold contrary opinion. References Adler, M. J. (1993). The Difference of Man and the Difference It Makes. New York, NY: Fordham University Press. Balsiger, D. W. (2010). Miraculous Messages: From Noahââ¬â¢s Flood to the End Times. Florida: ReadHowYouWant.Com. Bondi, H. (1952). Cosmology (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Dover Publications. Campbell, B. G. (2009). Human Evolution: An Introduction to Mans Adaptations (4th ed.). New Jersey: Walter de Gruyter. Caputo, J. D. (2006). The weakness of God : a theology of the event. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press. Curry, J., Chang, I. (2006). Evolution. Bronx, NY: Halsey William Wilson. Darwin, C. (1958). On the origin of species (6th ed.). New York, NY: Sterling. Davis, P. (1999). The 5th Miracle: The Search for the Origin and Meaning of Life. London: Penguin. Edwards, R. B. (2001). What caused the big bang? Amsterdam: Rodopi. Fagan, B. M. (2010). Cro-Magnon: how the Ice Age gave birth to the first modern humans. New York City, NY: Bloomsbury Press. Fortey, R. (2009). Fossils: The History of Life. New York City, NY: Sterling. Fox, K. C. (2002). The big bang theory: what it is, where it came from, and why it works. New York, NY: John Wiley and Sons. Genesis. (2011). In Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. Harris, N. (1997). The history of ancient Egypt. London: Chancellor Press. Long, B. (1984). The origins of man and the universe: the myth that came to life. London: Barry Long Books. Sapse, A. (2000). Molecular orbital calculations for amino acids and peptides. Basel: Birkhà ¤user. Webb, S. (2002). If the universe is teeming with aliensââ¬â where is everybody?: fifty solutions to the Fermi paradox and the problem of extraterrestrial life. New York City, NY:Springer. This essay on Modern Science and the Creation Story was written and submitted by user Bennett Odom to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.
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