Night Mother Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Night Mother - Research Paper Example By articulating the psychological motivations for their thoughts and actions, Marsha Norman is able to showcase the characters’ depth. Norman’s plays, including ‘Night Mother, feature recurring motifs. Some prominent motifs are: â€Å"the relationship between parent and child, usually mother and daughter; the inescapable encroachment of the past the present; and, perhaps most tellingly, the struggle between rationalism and faith. The plays encourage the possibility of religious faith, but with choice as an essential ingredient: Faith -- like feminism -- demands autonomy.† (Coen, 1992, p.22) In ‘Night Mother, we see all of these motifs at work. There are also references to Christianity and Jesus Christ, but the author keeps them at the periphery of the main narrative. Likewise, monologues are employed to capture the character and personality of the speaker. In ‘night Mother monologues serve as key devices for improving the theatrical and dramatic effect of the play. Through this device, we learn how, Jessie, despite her drastic resolution to end her life, is actually trying to gain control over her life. This is a reflection of how things outside her circle of influence have straddled on her will, autonomy and dignity. (The Christian Science Monitor, 2004, p.15) Through the exposition of the particular life circumstances of Jessie and her mother, Marsha Norman is treating universal human concerns. For example, one of the main reasons why Jessie decides to end her life is the deep sense of loneliness and helplessness she experiences frequently. She makes it clear to her mother that her company doesn’t alleviate her loneliness even a little. Jessie’s physical ailment in the form of epilepsy has led to a restricted lifestyle and limited job opportunities. These in turn have created numerous frustrations for her, which have led to frequent bouts of depression and suicidal ideation. But Jessie’s is not an un usual case in modern society. In America today, tens of millions of psychiatric prescriptions get written each year. People go through a high degree of stress in their workplaces. The work-life balance is often skewered in favour of the former. The institutions of family and marriage are falling apart gradually. In such a society, people increasing feel alienated, confused and desperate. When health complications like that faced by Jessie are added to the mix, life does appear hopeless and bleak. What Martha Norman seems to be suggesting is that Jessie’s life is a symbol of a broader social fact. In this vein, ‘Night Mother is a poignant dissection into modern human condition. Through the past and present lives of Jessie and her mother, a ‘bi-regional’ perspective is evidenced in the play. The bi-regional perspective in ‘Night, Mother is found in the â€Å"philosophical intersection of Midwest and South, though the regional poles are never identified as such or specifically grounded in either history or tradition. 'night, Mother enacts a more existential impasse that never gets resolved. In order to understand the fascinating bi-regionality of this award-winning play, we must position its characters, themes, and world-views in the context of two distinct American sub-cultures. 'night, Mother showcases a stark conflict between world views, both "epistemological and

Recycle (Indiana State recycle center) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Recycle (Indiana State recycle center) - Essay Example The center later turned into an educational center and a community-wide recycling center (ISU). Following the lecture about the recycling processes and the coverage of the recycling at Indiana University, I learnt that many materials, which I viewed as non-usable, are valuable resources that can be recycled for further use. Some of the materials that I discovered to be recyclable include news papers, old books, cardboards, waste paper, glass containers, plastic films and bags, metallic beverage cans, bottles and plastic containers. Before the lecture, I did not know that empty bottles – after using the contents they contain – could be used for a better course. Since the lecture, I started collecting all waste materials, and taking them to the neighboring recycling center – where they recycle all that is recyclable and effective dispose what they cannot recycle (Braungart and McDonough 47). Through the lecture on the recycling at Indiana University, I discovered t hat the heavy pressure on the production resources of the world could be reduced through recycling. For example, he explained that iron and aluminum deposits are reducing continually, but went further to explain that the waste cans that are disposed at the garbage collection area can be used to substitute the diminishing resource inputs. He gave us an example of plastic cans, demonstrating that the disposed cans are usually as good as new; therefore, through recycling these disposed containers, canning companies can reduce their costs of operation. Therefore, from the lesson, I learnt that recycling has many advantages, including that it reduces the pressure on production resources, reduces the impacts of waste disposal and reduces the costs of doing business – particularly in the area of sourcing for inputs (ISU). During the lecture, the agent from the recycling center explained the long term effects of recycling, including that it reduces the impacts caused by pollution on the environment. One example he used, made it clear to me that recycling is a channel for safeguarding the future of humanity. For example, when plastic cans and the waste materials from the health center are incinerated, they produce toxic smoke, which increases the rate of ozone layer depletion – which increases the levels of global warming. But in the case that these waste materials are not taken through the process of incineration, which uses a lot of energy and in some cases pollution-causing smoke, the waste can be recycled for newer use, over and over again. The recycling of the waster reduces the costs of producing new plastic cans and other plastic products; it reduces the energy levels consumed by industrial plants, and reduces the pollution caused by inappropriate waste material (ISU). Therefore, in the long term, the benefits of recycling reinforce the availability of resources, increase the sustainability of the environment and improve the profitability of differ ent enterprises. Through the lecture, I learnt that recycling can be practiced by all people, young and aged; poor and rich, as well as those in business and those that use the recyclable materials at home. For example, among the young, spoilt toys can be recycled for new plastic, and among the aged, many waste items like spoilt computers and vehicles can be surrendered for recycling. Among the poor, simple materials like paper bags