Definition of Demonstrative Adjective or Determiner

Essay On Dementia Risk - 822 Words

A new paper suggested that people who never married all their life could have a 42 percent higher risk of developing dementia. The widowed have a 20 percent higher risk, while married people have lower risk, but it was not quantified. Even if their physical health is taken into account, singles remain at higher risk for the mental ailment, Andrew Sommerlad, a psychiatrist at the University College in London, said. He stressed that the relationship between dementia risk and marriage is not causal, CNN reported. Not in wearing a wedding ring The research, published on Tuesday in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, suggested the possible protective effect does not come from wearing a wedding ring. Rather, it could be linked†¦show more content†¦More of a social norm Sommerlad explained the lower risk to remaining single becoming more of a social norm that the lifestyle differences between married and unmarried people are lessening. The authors said that other factors, such as social isolation and depression, are also known factors for boosting the risk of dementia which is also linked to being widowed or unmarried. They also said that people who remain single for life may have some cognitive traits that place them at a higher risk for dementia such as communication difficulty or inability to be flexible in their thinking. When it comes to the higher risk among widowed people compared to divorced ones, the researchers believe that it may be because of bereavement which brings greater stress than divorce. They added that stress could take a harder impact on memory formation and cognitive areas of the brain, ABC reported. However, Time noted that a person’s marital status is not always by choice. It cited the case of a spouse’s death for widows. The publication also underscored the rapid changes in marriage as an institution since same-sex marriage and live-in arrangements have become more socially acceptable. Sommerlad said that more studies are needed to have a better understanding of what the single and widowed can do to reduce their risk of dementia. He said that in a society where isolation of seniors is becoming more common, steps might be needed to connect olderShow MoreRelatedHealth Promotion Essay1688 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿DEMENTIA The purpose of this essay is to look at dementia in details and get a clear understanding of the level at which this condition affects the society and how it raises public health concern. According to the NHS Choices (2010), Dementia is said to be a condition that carries a group of related symptoms, associated with an ongoing decline in the performance of the brain and its abilities. This condition affects the individual’s memory, thinking, language, and understanding together with judgmentRead MoreParkinson’s Associated Dementia665 Words   |  3 Pagescomponent shared by both Parkinson’s disease and dementia is the functioning of neurons, with a then understandable association. Dementia is caused by neuron demise or diminished capacity of communication with other cells, while Parkinson’s disease, neurons in the basal ganglia experience deterioration that disrupts the normal neurotransmitter dopamine balance where neurons waste and die. With this shared neuron deterioration, the prevalence of dementia associated with Parkinson’s disease is clearlyRead MoreAlcohol COnsumption and the Risk of Dementia1341 Words   |  5 Pagesconsuming alcohol could actually prove to have health benefits as well. A study by Dutch scientists suggests that a low-to-moderate intake of alcohol could actually reduce the risk of dementia in elderly victims from age fifty-five and up. The article that outlines the study, titled Alcohol consumption and risk of dementia: the Rotterdam Study, introduces the experiment as a part of the Rotterdam Study: a prospective, population-based cohort study that sought to investigate factors that led to healthRead MoreNursing Ethics : The Four Biomedical Principles Of Nursing1550 Words   |  7 PagesIn this essay I will be discussing and exploring the four biomedical principles of nursing which refer to: autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice. Specifically looking at autonomy I will further discuss and explain why I have chosen this principle, its value to good nursing practice and demonstrate its relation to mental health nursing, specifically dementia. Following this I will adhere to the conflicts that may impede its implementation in practice with autonomy, address the legal andRead MoreBiopsychosocial Model Essay1531 Words   |  7 PagesThis essay will focus on a patient diagnosed with Deliruim.it will adopt the biopsychosocial model to explore how the diagnosis affects the patient’s quality of life. Confidentiality will be maintained throughout this essay to adhere to the Nursing and midwifery council (NMC,2015) code of conduct, which states in section 5 that nurses or midwives owe a duty of confidentiality for all those receiving care. Therefore, patient chosen will not be known by real name but will be given a pseudonym throughoutRead MoreThe Between Intelligence And Longevity1373 Words   |  6 Pagespreserve knowledge. The prospect of mental abilities being associated to longevity has been an area of interest for social scientists. Scottish Mental Surveys (SMS) of 1932 and 1947 carried a major research on intelligence-longevity association. This essay will demonstrate how different studies have supported the association using the four mechanisms proposed in the Scottish Mental Surveys: (a) bodily insults, (b) bodily system integrity, (c) predictor of healthy behaviour, and (d) predictor of saferRead MoreThe Effects Of Music Therapy On Different Stages Of Alzheimer s Disease1488 Words   |  6 Pagesdeterioration of the brain’s wiring. Music therapy, although only deeply researched and experimented on during the past decade or so, has ignited new possibilities for treating agitation and anxiety in moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease. This essay investigates how effects of music therapy of different cultures help alleviate different stages of Alzheimer’s disease through autobiographical memory renewal. By reducing stress and enhancing cognitive function, music therapy enhances memory capacitiesRead MoreMental Health Problems Are Still With Us1406 Words   |  6 Pagesidentify how mental health issues are a problem in society today because the lack of development in pharmaceutical intervention. The essay will endeavor to give evidence on how the lack of understanding in some mental health illnesses has prevented the development in drug treatment. One such problem is seen in dementia, scientist have some understanding on what occurs in dementia but as yet have not found a cure (cited in Leys, Rostron and Heading 2011). Evidence will be given to explain that drug interventionRead MoreCritiquing A Qualitative Research Article1612 Words   |  7 Pagesis essential for nurses to develop the skills necessary to analyze a research article. Critiquing a research article helps nurse judge the creditability of the information presented. This essay reviews a qualitative study titled  "Factors Associated With Aggressive Behavior Among Nursing Home Residents With Dementia.† Title Ryan, Coughlan, and Cronin (2007); Beck (2009) suggest that a research title should be unambiguous. A clear, accurate and concise header forms a major component or guideline forRead More Effective Dementia Care Essay1562 Words   |  7 PagesDementia care offers support and services to an individual affected by the disease itself, which is dementia. It addresses the right and needs of the person with dementia and their families. Improving quality of life and changing attitudes towards dementia is the main goal of dementia care. Dementia care also provides quality of care, maintain dignity and promote health, security and comfort in consideration with the standard of care and ethical guidelines (Adams Manthorpe, 2003). Understanding

The Current State of Skoda’s Business in the Uk Free Essays

Introduction Skoda, as a car manufacturer with a long history, has become one of the companies of Volkswagen who is the largest vehicle manufacturer in Europe since 1991 (Volkswagen, 2012). There is a fast development of Skoda in recent years. Its deliveries to customers in 2011 increased by 15. We will write a custom essay sample on The Current State of Skoda’s Business in the Uk or any similar topic only for you Order Now 3% compared to 2010 (Skoda, 2012). This report aims to: Â · evaluate the current situation of Skoda in the UK using the SWOT analysis. Â · analyze the business environment of Skoda in the UK by using the PESTLE analysis in detail. Â · create the possible strategies for Skoda’s future development based on the analysis. Company Overview With twenty years development supported by Volkswagen, Skoda achieved a new high record of sales for 45282 vehicles in the UK, which occupied over 5% of the whole sales volume of the brand. In the market of the UK, Skoda has launched seven models, namely Citigo, Fabia, Roomster, Rapid, Octavia, Superb and Yeti (Skoda, 2012). SWOT analysis Both strong and weak points of the business situation about Skoda in the UK can be seen in the SWOT analysis (see appendix I). The most obvious strength is the satisfaction provided to customers. Skoda has been doing good job on improving their products and services to meet customers’ demands. The company surveys their feelings and opinions directly to get the correct needs of customers. At the same time, some chances might be taken by Skoda to boost sales. Focusing on the vehicle itself as the marketing strategy, Skoda’s competitors leave the space to Skoda to focus on ‘happy Skoda customers’. It avoided the direct competition focusing on the product itself with other rivals and became the ‘unique selling proposition’ of Skoda in the vehicle market (Times, 2008). In contrast, there are still some persistent weaknesses and threats of Skoda. One weak point, for example, is the negative effects from the ‘image of poor quality, design, assembly, and materials’ in the past. Although Skoda had tried to make many efforts to make the brand image better, it was proved to fail in the mid-market range by a brand named Health Check. Meanwhile, the threats for Skoda are ‘50 different car makers selling 200 models’ in the UK. That means there is a highly competitive market in the UK, ‘potential buyers would overlook Skoda’. Informing the customers effectively and developing potential customers are the challenges for Skoda (Times, 2008). PESTEL analysis There are six parts of PESTLE analysis about business environment in the UK which focus on the external elements, namely, political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental factors. Some changes of political element, such as raising the VAT, are made by the UK government to increase the cost of buying cars. Plus, the UK customers are encouraged by British government to buy cars which are environmentally friendly because the road tax will be reduced if people have small engines cars. That means the vehicle with smaller engine will attract more customers due to the financial reason. At the same time, the British car industry is affected by the economic recession. There is less demand which leads to fewer new vehicles being sold. People prefer to buy second hand cars instead of new cars because of the low price. The economic factors are more essential than the quality and design of cars because low consumption of new car means less profits the companies can gain (Gough, 2012). For the social element, the lifestyle changes of consumers may influence the design of a vehicle. Many bigger seats and larger space are provided in the cars for meeting the requirements of ‘the growing number of obese people in the UK’. In addition, the development of technology is a chance for companies to reduce production cost. Advertising their products widely on the Internet will attract more potential buyers. There might be some new legal limitations of driving cars in the future. The speed limits may be considered more to ensure the citizen’s safety. Finally, the environmental issues, for instance the global warming, will be the pressure of vehicle manufacturers. They have to think about how to reduce the pollutant emission to be responsible for their society (Gough, 2012). Future strategy Two main suggested approaches aiming to solve the challenges of Skoda according to SWOT and PESTLE analyses are as follows: Â · Invest a lot on promotion. Such as advertise their product on Internet and TV for informing UK customers the high quality and low price of the cars to change the bad brand image. Expand the model range for meeting different demands of British customers to increase the market share in heavy competition. Conclusion and Recommendations It can be found that the high satisfaction and high quality with low price are the strong points of Skoda. Although some weak points exist, they can be solved by advertising of telling the high quality and expanding the range of model to gain more British customers. In summary, Skoda shoul d overcome the negative effects by using its advantages to boost sales and increase market share in the UK. How to cite The Current State of Skoda’s Business in the Uk, Papers

Management and Work Organizational Behaviour

Question: Discuss about the Management and Work Organizational Behaviour. Answer: Introduction: Globalization means penetrating the international market. For an organization it can mean opening its market in other international countries. Among other benefits, Globalization can help an organization to meet internationals standards by competing with other established firms (Schermerhorn, 2016). By selling its products in different countries, an organization can be in a position to surpass its profit targets. Despite the fact that Data solutions has been doing well in the market since its inception twenty years ago, the companys CEO Mr. James is obliged to lead the company into the global market. With the rise in emphasis and adoption of globalization by many organizations in the present times it can be suicidal for an organization to choose to remain in its local market when its competitors are buying their space in the international market (Bloisi, Cook Hunsaker, 2016). With time such an organization will lose its grip of the market. Data solutions might have been doing well in the previous years but future success is not guaranteed and thats why the CEO needs to consider adopting globalization. Brians responsibility to himself is making sure that he reaches his ultimate potential in as far as Data solutions is concerned. Having led one of the most successful companies in his region is a clear signifier of the potential within him. This means that he can achieve much more and has the potential and ability within him to propel data solutions to greater heights and leave a legacy that will live beyond him (Young, et all, 2015). This is therefore his responsibility to himself, being the best that he can be and he can only achieve this by taking Data Solutions to the international market and letting it to compete with other similar firms. His responsibility to his family is ensuring that the business can still be able to survive even after he is no longer living so that the company can have a source of income to meet their needs. He therefore has to do everything to ensure that the companys position in the market does not deteriorate. Brian seems to be in a dilemma on whether to take the business to the next level and ecounter the challenges of globalization or maintain the current state of the business and continue enjoying the fruits of his hard work. These contemplations can be interpreted using rule based theory or what is called utilitarian ethical theory. This theory recognizes that there is substitution of ideas in the process of decision making whereby an idea is accepted or rejected based on its perceived benefits or harm to shareholder. Brian is the greatest shareholder of Data solutions and therefore his decision is likely to be one that has maximum benefits and least disadvantages. It can also be interpreted through virtue based ethical theory. According to this theory, there are those virtues that inform decision making. It puts emphasis on doing the right thing at the right time and in the right way (Bratton, 2015). Those are some of the questions that brain could be asking himself. Could it be the r ight move for the organization especially based on its previous exceptional performance among other queries that seem to be troubling him. References: Bloisi, W., Cook, C. W., Hunsaker, P. L. (2016). Management Organisational Behaviour (2nd European Edition). Berkshire: McGraw-Hill Education. Bratton, J. (2015). Introduction to work and organizational behaviour. Palgrave Macmillan. Young, W., Davis, M., McNeill, I. M., Malhotra, B., Russell, S., Unsworth, K., Clegg, C. W. (2015). Changing behaviour: successful environmental programmes in the workplace. Business Strategy and the Environment, 24(8), 689-703. Schermerhorn, J. R. (2016). Organizational behavior. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley.

A World Not Neatly Divided Example

A World Not Neatly Divided Example A World Not Neatly Divided – Book Report/Review Example A World Not Neatly Divided Analysis: A World Not Neatly Divided is a well written essay by Amartya Sen in which the has discussed the idea that world is divided into different cultural diversities and civilizations. Sen has highlighted the fact that this man-made division is made on the basis of culture and civilization which are not the only components on which a separation line can be marked. Every civilization and culture has its roots deeply attached to another one. To prove his stance, Sen has stated the example of cultural diversity in India with the examples of emperors like Akbar and Aurangzeb. India is a culturally diverse country with different religious groups but still Muslims are considered as minorities in the region despite their presence in a large number. These man-made divisions are responsible for creating discrimination and hostile attitude towards one another. The process of establishing world peace can be disharmonized if we continued to expand this separation o n the basis of different elements. I agree with the author’s point that we can come over different conflicts which are based on race, religion, cast and other differences by realizing the fact that nationalism and humanity are fundamental elements in establishing peaceful relations with other neighboring countries. This essay represents an organized approach on author’s argumentative points. The author lacks the ability to influence the minds of the readers. According to me classification of people on the basis of different elements always leads to series of conflicts and issues but we humans tend to do it over and over again. We cannot classify a person or a nation on the basis of just one element. We need to see how many elements are there which makes a country different and rich in diversity. Here I can relate the example of a country like United States which holds different cultures and different nationalities and despite this diversity; America has maintained peac e and harmony within its society among all the groups. The groups of elements are responsible for the classification however we cannot blame a single component for this separation. Here we can give the example of America, where bilingualism is considered as an opportunity for the non-English speakers to learn English in order to integrate themselves in American Culture (Robert Gracia). Sometimes, cultural diversity can bring the nations or the groups together to understand each other in a better way and to make their learning from one another. Work Cited:Gracia, R. Bilingual Education Means Equal Opportunity. New York Times (1989) Retrieved from nytimes.com/1989/08/18/opinion/l-bilingual-education-means-equal-opportunity-513289.html?src=pm on April 24th 2012Sen, A. A World Not Neatly Divided. New York Times (2001) Retrieved from nytimes.com/2001/11/23/opinion/a-world-not-neatly-divided.html on April 24th 2012

party propaganda essays

party propaganda essays Nazism was a very destructive force, led almost solely by one man named Adolf Hitler. Hitler raised his power status skilfully through indoctrinating the public extremely well. Education of children and the promises of solutions to the most common and troublesome of problems brainwashed the public into following his every move. After gaining power in Germany, Nazism survived and flourished internationally through Hitlers maintenance of stern, authoritarian rule. A constant state of terror and bombardment of propaganda caused such a state. The Third Reich was founded on Nazi ideas, which Hitler supplied nearly entirely himself. Nazism could not have happened or succeeded without Adolf Hitler. Undoubtedly the most loyal of Hitlers following was the youth. Teen and especially child minds are especially vulnerable to propaganda and irrational thought, which made them the easiest target for Dr. Goebells job of brainwashing all the easier and more in-depth. From a very early age, children were told horrific stories and poems, telling the proposed evils and plans of the Jews. Der Giftpilz (The Poisonous Mushroom) was a popular book for young children, and was a compilation of many short stories and poems describing the metaphor between the Poisonous Mushroom and the Jew. At the beginning of the publication, the child would hear ideas of how "just as a single mushroom can kill a whole family, so a solitary Jew can destroy a whole city, even an entire nation." Injurious and abusive to children, Jews were portrayed as symbolising everything which is harmful and everything which opposes Germans or the German nation. Militarism also played a large role in the blasts to impregnate children with commonly thought immoral ideas. Innumerable publication praised the need for military use and conquest of the pure German race. "Hilf Mit!" was a magazine devoted entirely to militaristic ideas and glorifications; 12 million ...

ASSIGNMENT WEEK 3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

ASSIGNMENT WEEK 3 - Essay Example Despite the fact that I am against the implementation of SOX in the private sector this does not mean that the government should not promote ethical behavior in the financial dealings of private corporations. There are other stakeholder groups other than investors that rely on the validity of financial reports to make decisions regarding private corporations. Three of those stakeholder groups are lenders, suppliers, and the employees. Class Discussion 1: Topic B To test the value of an academic education from a particular university I would use some other alternative methods that do not necessarily take into account the cost of acquiring the education. The cost of an education will vary by state or country, university, and career field among other factors. A simple way to test the value of a college education is by comparing the average salary of one school’s graduates vs. another school’s graduates. Another good metric to measure how effective a college education of a particular school is to measure the unemployment rate among the graduates of different colleges. Universities with low employment rates among their graduates are doing a good job of fulfilling the purpose of college which is to graduate to obtain a good job in the workplace.

Invaluable fashion brands Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Invaluable fashion brands - Essay Example The essay "Invaluable fashion brands" explores the brands if fashion those are Invaluable. The Demeulemeester fashion shape became more extended and restructured with a close consideration to detail with the use of pioneered techniques and resources. Ann Demeulemeester regularly produces cloth wears that are unique and instantaneously recognizable. Her designs stand out among others in any display. The line began by drawing inspiration from gothic and punk styles while remaining focused to her ideas. Demeulemeester pieces, which have been labeled as "funereal", have delicate hints of sentiment and weight on sexuality (Socha, 2015). The Demeulemeester label is believed to have $50 million in annual incomes. The label runs separate stores in Hong Kong, Antwerp as well as Tokyo. In November 2013, Demeulemeester declared that she was exiting her eponymous fashion house. Rick Owens, a Southern Californian, instigated designing after a two-year period in design school in Los Angeles. Owens founded his namesake fashion line in 1994. However, he stayed mainly below the radar with a small but devoted clientele in the subversive glam rock and grunge groups who valued the slim-fitting leather jackets and unfinished jersey knits. The fashion trade ultimately took note of the abilities illustrated in Rick Owens skill to join a gothic, distressed susceptibility with fashion design like complexity. In 2001, Owens moved the making of his line to Italy where he relocated to Paris with his partner Michele Lamy.

BIOTECHNOLOGY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

BIOTECHNOLOGY - Essay Example In females, angiogenesis also occurs during the monthly reproductive cycle (to rebuild the uterus lining, to mature the egg during ovulation) and during pregnancy (to build the placenta, the circulation between mother and fetus).† Angiogenesis is considered to be a form of tissue engineering since it meets the definition when it is used either synthetically or naturally to repair damage. That definition is, â€Å"Tissue engineering uses synthetic or naturally derived, engineered biomaterials to replace damaged or defective tissues, such as bone, skin, and even organs† (ATP, 2005). Diseases could be treated by turning angiogenesis â€Å"on† in the case of a severe injury or in the case of coronary artery disease. Disease could be treated by turning angiogenesis â€Å"off† in the case of cancer or diabetic blindness (The Angiogenesis Foundation, 2008). b. Compare necrosis and apoptosis. Describe how we could we take advantage of apoptosis in the treatment of disease? What would be the advantage(s) compared to traditional approached? Hint: Think cancer, hepatitis, etc. According to MedicineNet (2008, pg. 1), necrosis is â€Å"The death of living cells or tissues. Necrosis can be due, for example, to ischemia (lack of blood flow).† According to CancerTherapy.net, â€Å"the P53 gene causes the abnormal cells to commit suicide.   This is called aptosis.† The main difference between these two is that necrosis is not planned and that aptosis is programmed by the body. Aptosis is a necessary part of human life and is not a bad thing, whereas necrosis is very negative. Both occur naturally, but may be influenced by external factors. Aptosis may be used to treat diseases such as cancer or hepatitis since it is programmed cell death. It could kill off the diseased and bad cells without harming the good cells. Cancer occurs when abnormal cells in the body begin to grow out of control. It is caused by DNA damage. There are many

The Social Context of Death and Dying

The Social Context of Death and Dying Introduction Using course materials from Death and Dying, I will discuss the idea that death is something to be feared. I will use course material from Block 1, The Social Context of Death and Dying, focusing on units 1 and 2. I will provide evidence of arguments for and against this notion and consider other attitudes of how these views are formed by society. I will also illustrate my answers using materials form the course website, reader and audio activities. I have also incorporated some personal and professional experience. in an attempt to illustrate my points. Death is portrayed and discussed in various ways by people from all walks of life, their upbringing and religious views can have an impact on how they perceive death. As discussed in Block 1, one indicator that death is something to fear is our use of language. This anxiety is demonstrated in the euphemisms individuals use when describing or explaining a death. For example when undertaking activity 1.1, Explaining the meaning of death, (Block 1, unit 1, pg 1). I discussed my first experience of death. I recall having to explain to my youngest sibling that our mother had died. My sister was 8 years old and I sat her down and spoke firstly about angels and the stars. I went on to tell her that God had decided he needed mum to be an angel. I couldnt bear to use the word dead as I was struggling with mum being dead and was of the view that using the word ‘dead would have been too painful and therefore spoke about angels to make it less emotive. Since then I have experienced the dea th of other relatives and friends and find that I will use euphemisms such as, â€Å"passed away† or â€Å"gone to a better place†. I have also heard myself use phrases such as â€Å"kicked the bucket, however, this is usually when referring to someone I didnt really know. A number of examples are provided in block 1 in relation to euphemisms used to describe what occurs after death. Spiritualist and Mediums use words such as â€Å"crossing over† or â€Å"passed over† as they see the death as the beginning of a journey from this world to what they describe as the ‘spirit world. Komaromy (2005) spoke of how she found that whilst exploring how death and dying were managed in care homes, was â€Å"frequently met with difficulty over the use of words ‘death, ‘dying and ‘dead† (Block 1, unit 1, section 1.2, pg 13). It would appear the fear of using these words were not necessarily from the residents themselves but by those who cared for them. The beliefs instilled in people from a young age from their family, educational professionals and religious sources as well as their personal experience of death can often have a profound impact on how they perceive death and dying. Roman Catholics appear comfortable when speaking about death as they see death as a momentous event that should not be feared. Catholics believe in life after death, stating the soul leaves the body and will normally spend a period in Purgatory and when the soul is cleansed of the temporal consequences of sin they will enter heaven. However some anxiety remains, as for many, there is uncertainty of how long their soul will remain in purgatory. â€Å"They do not fear the next world, but rather the passage, the crossing over..† (Toscani, et al(2003), OU course material, website). Professor Douglas Davis research highlighted that gender plays a significant role in the belief in life after death in contemporary British Society. He states that women are far more likely to believe in an afterlife, than men, with a ratio of almost 2:1. He informs 30% of the population with a similar gender imbalance believe the dead remain among us and have had contact in one form or another with their loved one. (Audio1, activity 1.8, Identity and Belief). This I would argue is based on a persons knowledge of the deceased and is linked to their sense of identity and the need to continue the link with their loved one, which in turn may offer comfort and peace of mind to those who are bereaved. People also seek comfort through contact with the dead via spiritualists and mediums, in an effort to communicate with loved ones. Justine Picardie describes this as attending a social gathering of the dead (Picardie in Making Sense of Death and Dying and Bereavement: An Anthology, pg 198, E arle, et al). Research and studies regarding the beliefs and views of individuals in life after death vary from person to person depending on their religious or non-religious beliefs. For example the article â€Å"Life at the end of Life: beliefs about individual life after death and â€Å"good death† models a qualitive study† Toscani, F., et al, highlights two different models and arguments regarding death and what would be classed as a â€Å"good death†. The attitudes and assumptions depend on whether the individual is a believer or non-believer but even then there can be conflicting opinions between faiths. Tibetan Buddhism describes in great detail the process of death and the passage over. Tibetan Buddhists are encouraged to read â€Å"The Tibetan Book of the Dead† and when an individual is dying, there is a common conception that it is good to read this book to the dying person. â€Å"By understanding the death process and familiarisingour self with it, we can remove fear at the time of death and ensure a good rebirth† (Death and Dying in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition, Hawter; V.P internet source: Buddahnet.com). In contrast, Seventh-day Adventist beliefs regarding death are totally different from those of other religions. Adventists believe that people do not die nor do they go to Heaven or Hell. It is their belief that the individual â€Å"goes to sleep and will rise again on the Day of Judgement†. (Kormaromy, 2005, Block1, unit 1, section 1.2, pg13). By this they mean the person will remain unconscious until the return of Christ. The views of atheists vary, although the consensus is that there is no life after death, that when we die, we die, and that is it. â€Å"If I am, death is not; if death is, I am no longer: why, then, fear death?† (Toscani,et al(2003), OU course website, pg 8). This does not mean that atheists do not have a fear of death, like believers there are similarities with regards to how they will die and where they would like to die. I worked with a family whose child was dying. When trying to support the family through this difficult period they spoke of feeling angry at individuals who had questioned why they were not in church praying. They informed me that as far as they were concerned that when their child died that was the end. They stated their only fear was that their child would die alone if they left his side. The management of death and dying has changed over time. French Historian, Phillipe Aries claimed that in the Middle Ages people appeared more optimistic with regards to death, as they acknowledged death as part of life, as it unavoidable. The death affected not only the family of the deceased but the community as a whole. With individuals being assigned particular roles, for example, preparing the body for burial, announcing the death and it was customary to view the body of the deceased. Death was a common occurrence and this may explain why death was seen as inevitable and therefore not feared. Aires argued that after the 19th century death in western society was hidden and following the First World War, death became a taboo subject and was no longer seen as a natural process of life. (Block 1, unit 2.2, pg 38). The explanation for this could be that it was due to what we know as the ‘nuclear family era? Norbert Elias (1985) would argue that in todays society the role of preparing the deceased has been taken over by funeral directors who offer a wide range of services to the family. This includes collecting and preparing the body for burial or cremation. In my own recent experience of the death of my son, the only duty the funeral director could not undertake was to register the death. Elias argument â€Å"is that dying people are now more isolated than in the past† (Block 1, Unit 2.2 pg40). It should be noted that some traditions continue, for example, the viewing of the deceased remains within many faiths be it within a church setting or funeral directors chapel of rest, although this is usually by family and close friends. This could explain why Aires theory that death after the 19th century did not have an overall impact on the community but rather than on a smaller network, family and friends. German Sociologist, Norbert Elias (1985), (Block 1, unit 2.2, pg 40) challenged Aires ideas, that in the past, death was accepted as being a natural process. Elias claimed death was painful as life was much shorter and more dangerous. Conclusion Perhaps the idea of life after death allows us to cope with what can only be seen as a natural fear as the alternative, non-existence is unimaginable and we are psychologically inept to deal with this. Therefore we need to ask the question is death something feared by all? Is this a hypothesis or could it be that for many individuals, especially, those in old age or with a terminal illness that death could be the beginning of something better. It can therefore be argued that whilst individuals and society have diverse opinions regarding death and what happens to them when they die, the majority do have a fear of how they will die. For example being alone, suffering pain, dying young or, being forgotten.

Green Knight :: Arthurian Legends

Green Knight One of the most misunderstood characters from the Arthurian Legends is the Green Knight, especially in comparison with Sir Gawain. At first glance, the Green Knight seems to be very overpowering in his challenging of the knights of King Arthur’s court. He even indicates that everyone in the court is weak, and he cannot believe that this is the famous Arthur’s house: â€Å"What, is this Arthur’s house,† said that horseman then. (Norton, 309) The Green Knight knows that he will not die from a strike of an axe, and so he is offering to play this game to mock the knights of the Round Table. But, as it turns out later, the Green Knight is more noble and fair than it seems and is also very kind. He will not kill his challenger but gives him a more fair test, a test of character. The Green Knight, or Bercilak de Hautdesert as he introduces himself, is not such a bad guy and is actually a very good host. He gladly takes Sir Gawain into his home and offers him everything, a nice bath, food, clothing, and ironically, even his wife. He also offers to the Sir Gawain a very good deal, to share everything they both get in a day: Said the good host, 'agree now to this: Whatever I win in the woods I will give you at eve, And all you have earned you must offer to me; Swear now, sweet friend, to swap as I say, Whether hands, in the end, be empty or better.' (Norton, 1105-1109) And, while Sir Gawain just sits at home, sleeps late and enjoys his day with a beautiful lady, Bercilak de Hautdesert goes out to hunt for game. In reality the Green Knight wants to give Sir Gawain an opportunity to show his inner self. The Green Knight tests Sir Gawain by sending his own wife to seduce him, to check first of all, if he’ll bite the bait, and second, if he will be honest about it. The Green Knight realizes that it is not completely fair for him to challenge a mortal person, Sir Gawain, and so he wants to give Sir Gawain another chance to stay alive.