Learning Temperance in Homer’s Odyssey Essay -- Odyssey

Learning Temperance in Homer’s Odyssey Being a work of importance in the western tradition of philosophy, The Odyssey is much more than some play written by Homer ages ago. Though The Odyssey certainly is a dramatic work and partially intended for entertainment, it also provides insight into the ways of thinking of the time it has been written in. Aside from illustrating the perspective of early Greek philosophy The Odyssey also raises certain questions pertaining to virtues and the morality of actions undertaken therein. Such questions and the pursuit of their answers may also lead to a better understanding of the actions taken in present-day society and the human condition in general. One of the virtues that is present throughout The Odyssey is temperance, or the lack thereof. In the course of Odysseus' journey, numerous events take place which are determined by the actions of Odysseus' himself, as well as those of his shipmates. In fact, the endeavor here is to portray how the delays and troubles encountered by O dysseus and his crew are due to their inability to exhibit proper self-restraint in conduct, expression, and indulgence of the appetites. This is undertaken in the proceeding text by an examination of two specific episodes from Homer's The Odyssey. The first episode being Book X of The Odyssey, entitled "The Grace of the Witch", containing Odysseus' encounter with the goddess Kirke. The second being Book V under the title of "Sweet Nymph and Open Sea," of how Odysseus departs the island of the nymph Kalypso. Both episodes are intended to demonstrate the importance of temperance in the journeys of Odysseus. Prior to a discussion of how temperance affects The Odyssey, it is good to discuss the concept of... ...ry for him to learn the virtue of temperance. If he is not able to moderate his impulses towards revenge, feasting, and lovely goddesses, then he shall always be doomed to roam upon the wine dark seas. Obviously he does learn this, since he does return to Ithaka without being smitten down by the gods, but he returns a different Odysseus. The new Odysseus realizes that there is more to living than a feast of roast meats and wine each night before the flawless bed of love of a lovely goddess. The new Odysseus wipes a salt tear from his cheek at the sight of an old hound that lays neglected (17.394). Works Cited Baird, Forrest E., and Walter Kaufman. "Aristotle." Ancient Philosophy. 3rd ed. Philosophic Classics, vols. 1. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2000. 304 - 444. Homer. The Odyssey. Trans. Robert Fitzgerald. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 1998.

Alfred Doolittle’s Lower Class Representation In Pygmalion Essay

Alfred Doolittle’s Lower Class Representation in Pygmalion Realist author George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion challenges England’s upper class to realize the pointlessness of their flamboyant lifestyle and pokes fun at this society. Shaw writes to expose the differences in the lifestyles of the social classes and how different characters react to their status. Shaw uses Alfred Doolittle and his social status to depict a character that freely accepts his status and his reaction to eventually moving up social classes. Because of his dislike of â€Å"middle class morality†, appreciation of and the freedom that accompanies his lower social status, and his eventual climb into the upper class, Doolittle presents a desire to remain in â€Å"undeserving poverty.† Doolittle, throughout the play, demonstrates a dislike for â€Å"middle class morality.† Before he becomes rich, Doolittle defines middle class morality as â€Å"an excuse of never giving me an ything.† Doolittle represents a dislike for middle class morality and wishes for â€Å"cheerfulness and a song† like those in the upper classes. Doolittle believes â€Å"middle class morality claims its victims.† Eventually Doolittle becomes a â€Å"victim† when he is given money to lecture. Doolittle becomes apart of the upper class but dislikes being viewed as a member of this society. Doolittle says that he believes lower class men look at him and envy him. Doolittle says he, in fact, will look down to the lower class â€Å"helpless and envy them.† Doolittle does not like the upper classes and â€Å"middle class morality.† Throughout the play, Doolittle presents characteristics that suggest he accepts his current lower class social status and enjoys the freedom associated with his status. When asked by Colonial Pickering if he has no morals, Doolittle Stokes 2 establishes his status and distance from upper class characteristics by replying, â€Å"I can’t afford them, Governor.† Doolittle comments to Henry Higgins that â€Å"undeserving poverty is my line.† Doolittle represents an individual who lives in poverty and accepts his current placement in society. He continues by saying, â€Å"I’m undeserving; and I mean to go on being undeserving.† Doolittle does not want to be apart of the upper class society because so much is expected of them. Doolittle is extremely happy being in his current social status. He says, â€Å"They (â€Å"millionaires†) don’t know what happiness is.† Doolittle believes the upper class is unhappy because they are living an imaginary life. Doolittle does not wish to be apart of the upper class because he would be expected to speak and act properly in order  to retain his status within the class. Doolittle, an â€Å"undeserving† member of the lower class, is comfortable and happy in his lower class social situation. Doolittle suddenly encounters money and is thrust into upper class society. Doolittle receives a share in a trust and is required to lecture for â€Å"three thousand a year.† Doolittle freely accepts the financial gain but soon realizes the social obligations that accompany it. Doolittle says, â€Å"I have to live for others and not myself.† Individuals who seek to take advantage of his newfound wealth surround him. Doolittle believes that â€Å"everybody touches me for money.† Doolittle sights one example of how individuals with money are treated better than those without money. Before he had money doctors would â€Å"shove† him out of the hospitals. Once the doctors realize Doolittle has money they â€Å"can’t live unless they looks after me twice a day.† Doolittle, who retains the personality of a Stokes 3 member of the lower class, is upset because people are using him for money. Doolittle feels his is now â€Å"expected to provide for everyone.† Doolittle says he â€Å"was happy before† he got the money. Doolittle, who is propelled into the upper class, recognizes people are using him. He wishes and strives to remain the same person he was before he encountered money. Doolittle’s dislike of â€Å"middle class morality†, appreciation of and the freedom that accompanies his lower social status, and his eventual climb into the upper class presents his desire to remain in â€Å"undeserving poverty.† Doolittle, a character who emerges financially from poverty to being rich, strives to maintain his lower class status and the way of life they accompanied this status. Shaw, by using Doolittle, successfully presents a character that is happy with and comes to appreciate his status in the lower class society and wishes to remain in that social class.

Risk Management at the Llondon 2012 Olympics Essays

Introduction and Background Introduction The objective of this paper is to define and analyse what risks management was carried out during the London Olympic Games, aspects of risk management such as how risks were identified, the type of risk analysis that was carried out, the risk responses opted in order to minimise threats, and how risks were monitored and controlled will be analysed further. After obtaining this information, a comparison with other Olympic Games will be analysed in order to learn what they did right, wrong, and how they managed risks. The comparison will be made to support recommendations on how The London Olympic games could have managed risks more effectively. Background The Olympic Games are one of the†¦show more content†¦The London Olympics had a total workforce of 200,000 people from whom 6,000 were staff, 70,000 volunteers and 100,000 contractors (International Olympic Committee (IOC), 2013). Knowledge area Risk management Risk management is used in a project in order to identify potential risks that can somehow affect its objectives. Risks can occur at any time and at any stage during the project, and they may be associated with a particular task, person or it can also be from an element outside the project. Any risks that occur at a very late stage in the project are more likely to have a bigger impact than those that occur at the beginning, because valuable work that has already been done can be loss or damage. Risk management is also important in large projects as it can help to minimised the impact of a risk or totally avoid it, it also can determined what are the actions to take in order to reduce the impact of a particular risk (Lock, 2007, p.99). Processes 1. Plan Risk Management In Plan risk process, the main objective is to define how to carry out all risk management activities. This process is very important as of it depends the success of the other five processes, thus it has to be a carful and precise planning. â€Å"Planning risk management is important to ensure that the degree, type, and visibility of risk