The eNotes Blog Vicious and Delicious The Best of Literatures FoulestCharacters

Vicious and Delicious The Best of Literatures FoulestCharacters To be sure, some of the best characters in literature are the so-called good guys, but lets face it: these goody-goodies are rarely the most interesting characters  in the story. Most of us, most of the time, want to see good triumph over evil in the end, but were really interested in what the villains are up to. Think about it: if not for Ursula in The Little Mermaid, Ariel would never have  even had the chance to get some land-legs; she wouldve  stayed a lady-fish and Eric wouldve  married a  human and had pretty babies. In honor of these dynamic characters and their  questionable motives, enjoy the following list  of some of our favorite fictional criminals/murderers/psychopaths from literary history. The White Witch from  The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe  by C.S. Lewis Photo Via Washington Monthly Imagine a world where its always winter. And not just any winter- the coldest, snowiest, windiest, most miserable winter youve ever seen. Now imagine that this winter is  never-ending and that three years and a few months from now youll wake up and it will  still be the same winter. Now what could possibly make that worse? An evil witch stealing Christmas.  Thats right, the White Witch  did what the Grinch couldnt. Add to that the fact that she had a tendency to turn her enemies into stone and that her lifelong ambition was to murder four unsuspecting children and youve got one bad witch. Iago from  Othello  by William Shakespeare Photo Via Pinterest Iago is one of Shakespeares most famous villains, and for good reason. Unlike Shakespeares other villains, who tend to be more discreet, Iago just goes for it. For no reason  other than a distinct dislike for Othello, Iago manipulates the man into believing that his wife is cheating on him with his Lieutenant. As if that isnt  enough, Iago somehow convinces Othello that he would be justified in killing his (completely innocent) wife. To be fair, Othello really shouldnt have taken  the word of this guy he barely knew, no matter how stand-up a fellow everyone seemed to think he was. But regardless of Othellos gullible little head, its pretty likely he wouldnt have committed the murder of his beloved without Iagos influence. Lord Voldemort from the  Harry Potter  Series  by J.K. Rowling Phot Via The Telegraph Like the previously mentioned White Witch, Voldemort (or He Who Must Not Be Named/The Dark Lord/You Know Who) is a villain geared toward  children and young adults. But we dont buy that. Voldemorts plans were pretty nasty for a kids book. In addition to  being the most evil wizard of all time (which is really saying something, since  there were a lot of other evil wizards before him and they did some pretty awful things), Voldemort creates an army of weaker but still  evil witches and wizards, magical folk, and creatures that likely wouldve just  minded their own business for the rest  of their lives and turned into ghosties when the time came in not for Voldemort. In fact, he was so obsessed with gaining followers, Voldemort used  dark curses to gather  more followers to do his bidding. As if committing countless murders wasnt enough, Voldemorts end goal really seemed geared towards the permanent misery of the people living under his charge. Not to mention that J.K. Rowlings description of him as a  monster with pale skin, red eyes,  slit-like pupils, and basically no nose. Thats  pretty nasty if you ask me. Nils Bjurman from  The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo  by Stieg Larsson Photo via Fanpop Just what we wanted: a more modern-day, relatable bad guy. That isnt to say that we can all relate to this man, but we can all read about his character and be reminded of the  horrendous stories weve heard on the news, whereas youre not going to turn on FOX and hear about the witch who stole Christmas. Nils is the man who eventually becomes Lisbeths guardian after her previous guardian falls seriously ill. Unfortunately for poor Lisbeth, Nils is a sexually depraved sadist who refuses her access to her own money without the act of various sexual favors. To end on a positive note, Lisbeth does get a sweet taste of revenge: she manages to secretly film one of her brutal rapes to use as collateral against her abuser and is able to tattoo Im a sadistic rapist pig onto his stomach. So at least theres some karmic retribution. Cruella de Vil from  101 Dalmations  by Dodie Smith Photo via Buzzfeed First and foremost, theres the characters name (de Vil = deVil = devil). They say not to judge a book by its cover, but in this case, its probably okay: Cruella is tall, has two-tone hair, and  skins puppies to make her fur coats. Its possible that  this is a commentary about the nature of the fur industry, as in, why is it okay to skin some animals and not others? To some, its never okay, but  everyone,  regardless of whether or not  they like mink coats,  will adamantly agree that no one should make a garment out of puppy fur. As if that isnt bad enough, Cruella also  drowns kittens and abuses  her pet Persian kitty. Maybe de Vil doesnt stack up against some of the other villains on this list, what with all their murders and whatnot, but theres really something about animal abusersit just makes you seem like the most despicable kind of person. But maybe thats just the animal lovers opinion. Ernst Stavro Blofeld  from  Thunderball  by Ian Fleming Photo via The Nerdist Mr. Blofeld is perhaps one of the most famous villains on this list. Even those of you who havent  heard the name will be familiar with the  trope of  the  bad guy with the bald head and a fluffy cat.  It all started with this guy. He  became the inspiration for the bad guy stereotype as we know it today, even inspiring the character of Dr. Evil. Blofeld was the first evil genius/criminal mastermind to hit modern, mainstream media. As the head of SPECTRE, Blofeld was responsible for countless robberies, assaults, and manipulations of both individuals and political groups. Like many successful villains, Blofeld has been portrayed time and time again in adaptations since his inception in 1961. His first big screen appearance coming just two years later in 1963. Most recently, in 2015, this classic evil mastermind was  embodied by the magnificent Christoph Waltz in the latest Bond film,  Spectre. Professor James Moriarty from  Sherlock Holmes  by Arthur Conan Doyle Photo via Wired   Every  fan of the  Sherlock Holmes franchise is familiar with Moriarty. Originally, Moriarty was not the most prevalent of Doyles villains. In fact, this genius was only portrayed in one or two books throughout the original seriess creation. Over time, though, his character has evolved, as many things do, with the interest of the audience. Much like the aforementioned Blofeld has been inserted into adaptation after adaptation of Bond works, Moriarty finds a way to sneak into a wide multitude of Sherlockian lore. Its easy to see why Moriarty quickly became a fan favorite: hes brilliant, cunning, psychopathic, and the direct antithesis of Mr. Sherlock Holmes (a fine example of a dynamic and fascinating good guy). Moriarty as he was introduced by Doyle in The Adventure of the Final Problem was said to be a crime lord, in other words, he was owed allegiance  by just about all of the criminals in England and was paid by them accordingly. Ever since his creation, adapters have found ways to incorporate Moriarty into their Sherlock-based works. Perhaps most famously was the 2009 film,  A Game of Shadows, with Moriarty attempting to spur on a World War in attempt to turn a profit. Hannibal Lector  from  Red Dragon  by Thomas Harris Photo by Time   Hannibal the Cannibal, a title as succinct as it is  gross. Hannibal Lector is arguably one of the most famous and grotesquely wicked characters of the later 20th century. Not only was Lector a closeted murderer/cannibal, but he also worked for the FBI as a clinical psychologist, going so far as to assist Agent Graham in following a trail of murders that he, Hannibal, was guilty of. Now thats bold. Unfortunately for Lector, he was discovered as the murderer and locked away in a mental institution for a grueling, but deserved sentence. Everything changed when Agent Graham finds himself in need of Lectors insight into the criminal mind of a yet-to-be-captured murderer.  Not one to forgive and forget, Lector located the murderer and led him to the house of Agent Graham with the instruction of to kill  whoevers inside. Thats pretty twisted. Already infamous from his appearances in the novels  Red Dragon, Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal,  and  Hannibal Rising,  Lector was catapulted into the mainstream eye by the Oscar-winning portrayal of  Anthony Hopkins. Something about Hopkinss deadpan eyes and chilling delivery brings Lector to life in a way that the world could have done without. Still, were glad he did it, because this is  a stunning film. Professor Dolores Umbridge from the  Harry Potter Series by  J.K. Rowling Photo via Mashable And last but most certainly not least we have the worst person ever. Yes, worse than the manipulative, murderous cannibal, worse that the woman who skins puppies, and yes, still worse than the man who planned to start a world war with the intent of turning a profit. Indeed, anyone who is familiar with Umbridge  knows that on a scale from one to nasty, shes nasty +1. Why is she so bad? Shes prim, shes proper, she wears pink, and she loves cats. All that is potentially forgivable, but what really makes her a villain is  that shes the accidental servant of Voldemort, upholding the laws of Fudge (the Minister of Magic) which deny  the re-emergence of the Dark Lord and make it easier for him to gain control. Not to mention that she terrorizes students with her meaningless but painfully enforced rules, refuses her students the opportunity to learn, and is just generally the kind of person that everyone knows and despises. Let us not forget the time Harry attempted to stand up for himself and ended up having to write lines with his own blood. Seems a little extreme a punishment for talking out of turn, doesnt it? We think so too. And remember when she attempted to have Dumbledore arrested? Dumbledore.  Just as  no one puts baby in the corner, no one better put Dumbledore in Azkaban. Curious about these characters and their authors? Check out  Ã‚  to find detailed biographies of your favorite authors alongside full summaries and study guides of their most popular literary works!

Age of Consent in Canada

Age of Consent in Canada Beginning May 1, 2008, the age of sexual consent in Canada is 16 years old. The age of consent in Canada is the age at which the criminal law recognizes the legal capacity of a young person to consent to sexual activity. Under the Criminal Code of Canada, anyone under the age of 16 cannot legally consent to any form of sexual activity, from kissing to intercourse. It means that adults are criminally liable if they have sex with someone under that age. The offense carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The law has a close-in-age exemption of less than five years, which permits teens to engage in consensual sex with a partner who is less than five years older, as long as the older partner is not in a position of trust or authority and the relationship is not exploitive. The age of protection for exploitive sexual activity, such as sexual activity involving prostitution, pornography, or a relationship of trust, is 18. The age of consent for anal sex is also 18.

Diversity in Contemporary Feminism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Diversity in Contemporary Feminism - Essay Example The works reflect the priorities and opinions of four feminist authors, revealing some consistent ideas of and goals for the feminist movement, yet also manifesting different perspectives on how feminist ideology can and should be defined and realized. To begin, a recurrent thread in, and indeed the prominent thrust of all four readings, is the need to challenge and undermine the heterosexual value system embedded in our society. In "Lesbian Ethics," Sarah Hoagland succinctly explains heterosexualism as a "way of living" that accepts a balance between men "dominating and de-skilling women" and women "consequently valuing an ethics of dependence" (452). As such, men are always in the role of either protector or predator, thereby creating a self-perpetuating system of men preying on women, the victims, who thus require the protection of men (Hoagland 452-53). And, the woman who bravely attempts to break this vicious pattern by refusing to play the feminine role, such as the active feminist, is perceived as having surrendered her need for protection, thereby subjecting herself to the attacks of her predators (Hoagland 453-54). Such women suffer from a "vocabulary of abuse" (Ruddick 450) and erroneous depictions that not only indict t heir judgment and character (Ruddick 450), but threaten their physical safety as well (Hoagland 453-54). From this heterosexual value system arises a "concept of 'woman'" (Hoagland 456) that these four feminists recognize as an absolute deterrent to their ideas and goals. According to Hoagland, our current perceptions lack an awareness of female power, an understanding of the violence that women as a group suffer, and a sense of female resistance to male domination (457). It is this concept, depicting women as breeding sex objects with male-defined identities and values, that Hoagland seeks to destroy (458-60). Similarly, in "Feminism and the Environment: An Overview of the Issues," Karen J. Warren discusses theories of how the conceptualization of women and nature accounts for the historical domination of both (497). Warren recognizes that certain theorists have espoused the belief that our society perceives that which is associated with emotion, women and nature as inferior to that which is associated with rationality and men (497). Moreover, the tendency to discuss nature in terms that are both female and dominating - "[n]ature is raped, mastered, conquered, controlled, mined," "[v]irgin timber is felled," "[f]ertile soil is tilled," and unproducing land is "barren" - has given rise to an "oppressive conceptual framework" that has effected and perpetuated societal domination of women and nature by men (Warren 497, 501). The relevance of this same, oppressive concept of woman and its impact on the development of feminist theory is recognized and expanded by Bell Hooks in "Black Women: Shaping Feminist Theory." For Hooks, though, the formation of feminist ideology and its definition of "woman," originally dominated and skewed by white feminists who had more access to education, funds, and an audience than did black women, does not reflect the realities of the struggles and oppressions prevalent in society today (487). Indeed, according to Hooks, white women tend to maintain and perpetuate the

What does Tiberius' life and death tell us about Roman society at that Essay

What does Tiberius' life and death tell us about Roman society at that time - Essay Example Tiberius throughout his life fought for one cause; to eliminate the line of discrimination between rich and poor through a revolutionary change in law. Yet, Rich gentry of Rome depicted how ‘influence’ deciphers power and law. The bright Tiberius was educated in ‘Augurs College’, which was embarked as a supreme institution for excellence in academics. Upon inspecting his skills and talent, Appius Claudius offered him his daughter ‘Claudia’ in marriage. Fortitude and determination in armed conflicts was observed in Tiberius, whilst he served in Africa for ‘Young Scipio’s Army’ (Kishlansky et al., 142-146). ‘War against Numantines’ provided an opportunity to Tiberius; to resolve frenzy conflicts in the presence of senior generals. Twenty thousands and more were saved due to his successful dialogues with the victor Numantines. In the times of Tiberius’ rule, literacy was valued most and due to his love for tomes; he went back to the defeated zone and requested only for his literary treasure. He was offered to take back more from his personal possessions, but Tiberius only chose his esteemed collection of books. Humiliating punishments (stripping captors in public) were imposed by victors; as it was a common practice in the past, but Numantines did not practice it for Roman consul officers due to prestigious Tiberius presence. This event setup benchmark in Tiberius’s administration career and he eventually became a legislator. The conquered regions of neighbour-state were allotted to deprived citizens on meagre rents, yet; wealthy Romans drove away the poor and paid huge rents. These illicit actions became the stepping stone for ‘five hundred acre-property ownership law’. Yet, through false-name-ownership act influential people violated law and poor farmers became more deprived and eventually, were not able to pay heed towards education or warfare. Subsequently, Tiberius

Capital punishment Essay Example for Free

Capital punishment Essay Capital punishment, also dubbed the death penalty, is the pre-meditated and planned taking of a human life by a government in response to a crime committed by that legally convicted person. Passions in the US are sharply divided, and equally strong among both supporters and protesters of the death penalty. Arguing against capital punishment, Amnesty International believes that The death penalty is the ultimate denial of human rights. It is the premeditated and cold-blooded killing of a human being by the state in the name of justice. It violates the right to lifeIt is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. There can never be any justification for torture or for cruel treatment. Arguing for capital punishment, the Clark County, Indiana Prosecuting Attorney writes that there are some defendants who have earned the ultimate punishment our society has to offer by committing murder with aggravating circumstances present. I believe life is sacred. It cheapens the life of an innocent murder victim to say that society has no right to keep the murderer from ever killing again. In my view, society has not only the right, but the duty to act in self defense to protect the innocent. And Catholic Cardinal McCarrick, Archbishop of Washington, writes the death penalty diminishes all of us, increases disrespect for human life, and offers the tragic illusion that we can teach that killing is wrong by killing. Death Penalty in the U.S. The death penalty has not always been practiced in the U.S. although ReligiousTolerance.org states that in the U.S., about 13,000 people have been legally executed since colonial times. The Depression era 1930s, which saw a historic peak in executions, was followed by a dramatic decrease in the 1950s and 1960s. No executions occurred in the US between 1967 to 1976. In 1972, the Supreme Court effectively nullified the death penalty, and converted the death sentences of hundreds of death row inmates to life in prison. In 1976, another Supreme Court ruling found capital punishment to be Constitutional. From 1976 through June 3, 2009, 1,167 people have been executed in the U.S. Latest Developments The vast majority of democratic countries in Europe and Latin America have abolished capital punishment over the last fifty years, but United States, most democracies in Asia, and almost all totalitarian governments retain it. Crimes that carry the death penalty vary greatly worldwide from treason and murder to theft. In militaries around the world, courts-martial have sentenced capital punishments also for cowardice, desertion, insubordination and mutiny. Per Amnesty Internationals 2008 death penalty annual report, at least 2,390 people were known to have been executed in 25 countries and at least 8,864 people were sentenced to death in 52 countries around the world: Executions in 2008, by Country †¢China 1,718 †¢Iran 346 †¢Saudi Arabia 102 †¢United States 37 †¢Pakistan 36 †¢Iraq 34 †¢Vietnam 19 †¢Afghanistan 17 †¢North Korea 15 †¢All others 66 Source Amnesty International As of October 2009, capital punishment in the US is officially sanctioned by 34 states, as well as by the federal government. Each state with legalized capital punishment has different laws regarding its methods, age limits and crimes which qualify. From 1976 through October 2009, 1,177 felons were executed in the U.S., distributed among the states as follows: Executions from 1976 Oct 2009, by State †¢Texas 442 (38%) †¢Virginia 103 †¢Oklahoma 91 †¢Florida 68 †¢Missouri 67 †¢Georgia 46 †¢Alabama 44 †¢North Carolina 43 †¢South Carolina 42 †¢Ohio 32 †¢Louisiana 27 †¢Arkansas 27 †¢All others 149 Source: Wikipedia States and U.S. territories with no current death penalty statute are Alaska, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands. New Jersey repealed the death penalty in 2007, and New Mexico in 2009. Background The case of Stanley Tookie Williams illustrates the moral complexities of the death penalty. Mr. Williams, an author and Nobel Peace and Literature Prizes nominee who was put to death on December 13, 2005 by lethal injection by the state of California, brought capital punishment back into prominent public debate. Mr. Williams was convicted of four murders committed in 1979, and sentenced to death. Williams professed innocence of these crimes. He was also co-founder of the Crips, a deadly and powerful Los Angeles-based street gang responsible for hundreds of murders. About five years after incarceration, Mr. Williams underwent a religious conversion and, as a result, authored many books and programs to promote peace and to fight gangs and gang violence. He was nominated five times for the Nobel Peace Prize and four times for the Nobel Literature Prize. Mr. Williams was a self-admitted life of crime and violence, followed by genuine redemption and a life of uniquely and unusually good works. The circumstantial evidence against Williams left little doubt that he committed the four murders, despite last-minute claims by supporters. There also existed no doubt that Mr. Williams posed no further threat to society, and would contribute considerable good. The case of Stanley Tookie Williams forced public reflection on the purpose of the death penalty: †¢Is the purpose of the death penalty to remove from society someone who would cause more harm? †¢Is the purpose to remove from society someone who is incapable of rehabilitation? †¢Is the purpose of the death penalty to deter others from committing murder? †¢Is the purpose of the death penal

Ethical Decision Making Models Essay -- Ethics

Introduction Ethical responsibilities are relevant in business, education, and other institutions and communities. In seeking a higher education position, making ethical decisions will be significant. Assessing ethical conduct is a key element to improving the resolution of ethical conflicts. Asking questions and surveying individuals in the medical field, businesses, colleges, and other areas will provide useful information about the impact and influence of ethical conduct. Empirical research indicates various factors influence and affect ethical behavior. Family and religion play a dominant role in producing positive ethical decisions, especially as people get older. Graduates and business executives’ perceptions inform researchers about the need for more ethical decision-making role models in business and the nursing community. Effective leadership demonstrates ethical characteristics for optimal decision-making. Studies Ellie Kaucher (2010) conducted a study to examine moral and immoral behavior, in order to establish guidelines for acceptable behavior. She explored ethical decision-making to see the relationship to effective leadership. Also, common characteristics of effective and ethical educational leaders were identified as honesty, integrity, and motivation. Results indicated effective educational leaders are sensitive to subordinates’ needs, provide support and advocate for all students, and are accountable for student success and achievement. Educational leaders who are effective and demonstrate ethical responsibilities create learning environments that are ethical, visionary, motivational, and people-centered. Learning about ethical issues and ethical decision-making models could help develop e... ...., & Ulrich, T. A. (1988). A Longitudinal Survey of Business School Graduates' Assessments of Business Ethics. Journal of Business Ethics, 7(4), 295-302. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Cameron, M. E., Schaffer, M. M., & Park, H. A. (2001). Nursing Students' Experience of Ethical Problems and Use of Ethical Decision-Making Models. Nursing Ethics, 8(5), 432-447. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Herndon Jr., N. C. (1996). A new context for ethics education objectives in a college of business: Ethical decision-making models. Journal of Business Ethics, 15(5), 501-510. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Kaucher, E. (2010). Ethical decision making and effective leadership. Ed.D. dissertation, Alliant International University, San Diego, California. Retrieved March 28, 2011, from Dissertations & Theses: The Humanities and Social Sciences Collection. (Publication No. AAT 3401776).

Making America a Better Place Essay

America has had many great leaders in its history. They were all great though they all had different strategies. Leaders also come in different packages like some were presidents and some were just common people that influenced people. It does not matter what they were or what strategies they used they all wanted the best for America and led it through tough times and change. Two leaders American leaders that admire are Martin Luther King Jr. and Eisenhower. They both gave meaningful speeches our nation. Dr.  King gave a great inspirational speech in Memphis, Tennessee in order to push civil rights forward, while Eisenhower gave a farewell speech saying good bye to our nation. One thing that Dr. King and Eisenhower had differently in their speeches was their purpose. Dr. King’s purpose was to motivate the black community to fight for their equal rights and fix America’s racism problem. On the other hand Eisenhower was motivating the citizen to keep America progressing forward and cautiously without him. The only similarity that their purpose has is that they motivate a group of people living in America. A similarity is that they both repetition in their speeches. Dr. King uses it to engage more motivation form his audience. For example Dr. King repeats â€Å"If I had sneezed† to show that great things have happened and will continue to happen. Eisenhower also uses repetition, he repeat â€Å"Night† to his audience to emphasize that he is leaving the presidency to become a common citizen. These great leaders might have had different purposes and different strategies but their main goal was to make America a better.