Character Analysis Ricky in American Beauty Essay Example

Character Analysis Ricky in American Beauty Essay Example Character Analysis Ricky in American Beauty Paper Character Analysis Ricky in American Beauty Paper Essay Topic: American Beauty Film Where is the beauty in a plastic bag, a deceased bird, a dead person? Strange questions you may think if you havent seen the film American Beauty but it is one persons obsession with beauty that creates a fascination and a particular attraction towards it that makes it all comprehensible. Ricky Fitz, the new next door neighbour to the troubled Burnham family, adds a new dimension to their mundane lives, in some cases simplifying their situation and in other cases, complicating it. Ricky is generally a very interesting character that really captures an audience and entices them to look at life from another angle. He has a poor, harmful family relationship that he looks to escape from through change, a characteristic of all the characters in the film. He shares a sensual and physical relationship with the girl next door, Jane, whilst he also has a strong relationship with her father, Lester, a some what complacent and immature character. It is Rickys vision of beauty though, that really makes him stand out and makes him so quizzical. Ricky is generally a very insightful person, curious and up front. He is very honest about his feelings and his past, illustrated many times, but particularly when Jane asked him why he was sent to a mental institution and he was able to answer calmly and confidently. He dresses in a very specific way which is ordered and neat, described by another character, Angela, as a bible salesman. This is understandable due to the regimented life he lived, ruled by an ex-army officer, his father. His house is very symmetrical and cold, a symbol of the lack of connection between family members. Everything in the house is in perfect order and very clean; the slightest thing out of place would have been recognised suggested by the situation when Rickys father was able to work out that Ricky had been in his room, violently reacting. His bedroom is very orderly, clothes neatly folded and shelves stacked very neatly. His room expresses no colour or warmth, it is just an imperfect and futile room. Emotionally, Ricky comes across as strong, saying, I dont get scared but was institutionalised for losing control and being pushed over the edge. Everything bad about Rickys character could be blamed on the morose state of his family relationship. It is worth contemplating that if Ricky didnt get out when he did he could have turned out like his mother, an abused, reclusive person. As a result she was always on edge and couldnt relax around her husband. Ricky was abused by his father, but obviously not to the extent of his mother. We know this by the two scenes when he was physically assaulted by his father, yet he just accepted it. The family is a picture of dysfunction, illustrated by the scene when they are all sitting on the couch and the mother is trying to face the other way and avoid confrontation, the father is sitting upright, trying to act as the boss and Ricky on the other end absorbing the awkward silence of the moment. Ricky is eighteen and yet his father still does not know how to act around him or hold a proper conversation with him. There is also no trust between father and son depicted by the scene when Ricky had supply a urine sample yet he deceived his father by giving him a false supply. It is like his father saw his role, solely to teach Ricky structure and discipline. When Ricky eventually leaves, although a touching moment, there is no real emotion shown, he was not sad to leave. Ricky found a rare and hidden beauty in Jane, the girl from the adjacent house. To the average person, Jane is portrayed as a confused, unattractive and depressed person. However Ricky sees a form of beauty that we cant, attracting the two toward each other. Jane is strangely comforted by the attention of being filmed by Ricky making her curious about what he found interest about her. She even believes that she is unattractive portrayed by her interested in plastic surgery. Ricky remains totally focussed on Jane. He sees that no other girl has this kind of beauty that she has represented by his filming when he avoids the stereotypical beauty in Angela and zooms in on Janes reflection in the mirror. The development of their relationship allows Jane to open up and become more honest to herself and others; she starts to develop some of the personal traits of Ricky. A good example of this is when she stands up to her father and tells him that she is embarrassed by the way he acts when Angela is staying over. Something that she wouldnt have done before she met Ricky. Despite growing in similarity, when they contemplated a life away from home, their differences become obvious as Jane still feels for her family despite not sharing a great relationship with them. Lester Burnham, a casual and unenthusiastic character, is almost brought to life and re-ignited by Ricky. Arguably it was the beauty of Angela that was responsible for the rebirth but his encounter with Ricky gave him confidence and mental strength to change depicted through the party scene when Ricky calmly and boldly quit his job, an issue that most of us would have a lot of trouble doing. Lester responded by say, You have just become my personal hero, so impressed by his actions. It was the turning point in Lesters stupid little life when he started to take responsibility for his actions and do something about his mundane life. He became more assured and gained a belief in himself that he had never had before. We can draw this conclusion due to his actions, such as buying a car he had always wanted, quit his job and started to work out. The two share a close relationship but not as close as Rickys dad thinks. It is this misunderstanding that brings about Lesters death. Therefore it is arguable to say that the relationship had a positive and negative effect for Lester. Ricky does not see beauty in a rose, perfection, or a slim blonde but in obscure, natural elements. He describes beauty as though God is looking at you. The most beautiful thing he has ever filmed was a plastic bag, describing the electricity in it and that this bag was just dancing with me. To us the bag is just swirling around in the air, but Ricky can see the beauty in the lovely transient movement of the bag. Earlier in the film Jane and Angela caught him filming a dead bird. To him this was another form of beauty as was Lesters dead body, with his head resting on the table, blood streaming from his head. It makes Ricky happy to think that Lester was now free and contented. It seems that the seductive beauty that Ricky sees is the only thing that is capable of making him drop his guard and show any sort of emotion. Teeming with tears, he explains, Sometimes there is so much beauty in the world that I feel I cant take it. It is just evidence that beauty has such a great impact on people, even the most mentally strong.

Sense and Nonsense

Sense and Nonsense Sense and Nonsense Sense and Nonsense By Maeve Maddox A reader who heard a doctor describe a patient as â€Å"fluent and sensicle† has asked if sensicle is a word. Sensicle (more often spelled sensical) is a word in the sense that couth is a word, or combobulate or ept. Humorists have long delighted in making comical back-formations of unpaired words like nonsensical, discombobulate, and inept. unpaired word: a word that appears to have a related word that does not in fact exist in contemporary usage. Such words may have a prefix or suffix that implies an antonym that replicates the word minus the supposed affix. Nowadays, when so many native English speakers are lightly educated in the mother tongue, what begins as a witticism may be taken seriously by readers or listeners who lack the information necessary to understand the joke. For example, the following statements are not intended to be funny: I think the real issue that most people take with Iraq was simply that it  wasnt sensicle.   Their recommendation to remove that foam piece  wasnt sensicle  to me.   [Sufferers of] Brocas aphasia cant produce  fluent,  sensical speech. In terms of tax dollars, the Court found that to continue to waste dollars during the appeal  wasnt sensical. The ban to serve sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces in restaurants proved [to be a] law that just  wasnt sensical  enough to pass. Nonsensical is a â€Å"real† word. It means, â€Å"making no sense, absurd.† The -ical ending also appears in the unwieldy but acceptable adjective for the term common sense: commonsensical. Used alone, sensical is nonstandard usage. The frequently seen use of sensical in a medical context may derive from statements like this in texts about aphasia: In 1874, Carl Wernicke reported patients with a different type of difficulty: fluent but often non-sensical speech. Hyphenating the word nonsensical contributes to the notion that sensical is detachable. The notion of â€Å"non-sensical† is that the speech of the afflicted person â€Å"makes no sense.† The noun for that kind of speech is nonsense. The adjective is nonsensical without a hyphen. Another possibility is: incoherent (adjective): without logical connection or natural sequence of ideas; inconsistent, rambling, disjointed. Here are suggested corrections for the above examples: I think the real issue that most people take with Iraq was simply that it  wasnt sensible.   Their recommendation to remove that foam piece  didn’t make sense to me.   [Sufferers of] Brocas aphasia cant produce  fluent,  coherent speech. In terms of tax dollars, the Court found that to continue to waste dollars during the appeal  wasnt reasonable. The ban to serve sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces in restaurants proved [to be a] law that just  wasnt practical enough to pass. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:The Yiddish Handbook: 40 Words You Should Know3 Cases of Complicated HyphenationContinue and "Continue on"

AMERICAN GOVERNMENT LESSON 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

AMERICAN GOVERNMENT LESSON 1 - Essay Example According to Glidden and Hill (2008, pg. 1), â€Å"The people elect public officials to represent them in free and frequent elections. People start voting to tell the government what they need at the age of eighteen.† An example of this is the upcoming presidential election. Anyone who is eligible to vote can cast a ballot for whom they wish to be president. The principle of limited power was born out of the fear that Americans had at the time since they had just gained independence. They now had their own power and freedoms and were not about to hand it over fully and freely to the government. Essentially, tyranny was their greatest fear because of the circumstances. According to Glidden and Hill (2008, pg. 1), â€Å"Many states pressured the framers of the constitution to add a Bill of Rights, or a list of the basic rights of citizens. The framers also made the national and state governments share power. But whatever the power, the people gave it to the government and they could take it away.† An example of this in today’s world is the rules governing equal opportunity rights. The next principle for discussion is the sharing of power. According to Glidden and Hill (2008, pg. 1), â€Å"Americas government was based on Federalism, where power is divided between the Federal (national) and state governments. The constitution states what powers the Federal government has and leaves the rest for the states. Whenever a dispute arises the constitution is the â€Å"supreme law of the land.† An example of this is gambling. Some states allow it, and some do not. There is no federal law outright forbidding it, though. The fourth principle to discuss is separation of powers. As it stands today, the federal government consists of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. According to Glidden and Hill (2008, pg. 1), â€Å"The legislative branch includes the congress and House of

Prject Management review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Prject Management review - Essay Example The two major categories of estimation are ‘Macro or Top-down approach and Micro or Bottom-up approach’ (Sihombing). The Macro or Top-Down approach This approach is used to make a quick and rough estimation of project cost and time, when the time and expense of a detailed estimate are some issues. Often macro approach is carried out during the conception stage as there is no full design or Work Breakdown Structure available. The macro approaches may have high chances of inaccuracy and therefore, only well experienced personnel can do the estimation. With the help of a similar previous project, the estimation becomes easier. As Gray and Larson (2008, p. 134) point out, the expenses for the foremost subunits of the new project would be proportional to foremost subunits in the previous project. The Micro or Bottom-UP approach The Micro approach takes the project design and a ‘roll-up’ of Work Breakdown Structure elements into consideration (Project management). As it is a detailed approach, it requires multiple personnel and much time to complete the process. If the bottom-up estimate is done properly, it can yield accurate cost and time estimates. The costs for the higher level units are obtained by rolling-up the estimated time and cost connected with the lowest level Work Breakdown Structure packages. And this approach renders the most accurate estimation within the time devoted to developing the estimate. Factors affecting the estimation of Cost and Time There are several significant factors that affect the estimation of project cost and time. The most important factors are; Task Definition: The comprehensiveness of the definition of the project helps to determine whether all tasks have been taken into account. Project Structure: The structure compacted with a dedicated project team will always focuses on the effective completion of the project. Padding: there are chances of increasing the estimates in order to consider the unknown risks which in turn may cause an unwanted trade-off. Culture: It refers to the acceptable behavior of the organization which influences the estimation. Downtime: It is the lapse of time which affects the time estimate due to equipment repairs, holidays, vacations, etc. II An Ideal Approach According to Rosenau and Githens (2006, p. 133), planning, estimating, and resourcing are the most important elements of a successful project; and these elements may seem to be separate issues, but required to be conducted in parallel as they directly influence each other. Estimation of time and cost is needed per each type of resources for every part of the work to be done. An ideal approach from the part of the project manager would be to hold all the different elements and criteria together in a multi-dimensional model. The project manager should mak e sure that the estimation is done by a person who is most familiar with the task. And if possible, it is better to collect estimates from several people and find the variation of risk assessment. In order to avoid the ‘group think’, multiple estimates must be conducted independently. The project manager should use consistent units while estimating task time and the estimates should be based on normal conditions. The

Sophocles Antigone †Comparing the Symbolic Alignment Utilized by Creo

Sophocles' Antigone – Comparing the Symbolic Alignment Utilized by Creon and President George Bush ... he who has not first laid his foundations may be able with great ability to lay them afterwards, but they will be laid with trouble to the architect and danger to the building. - The Prince by Machiavelli Sophocles addresses this very problem in his play Antigone by the methods Creon uses to rule Thebes. Creon begins ruling Thebes in a very difficult time and circumstance. The polis has been embroiled in tragedy for over a generation. Creon must rule the city and consolidate the Theban citizens behind him. He resorts to symbolic means to unite the people, but he goes too far-- he is unyielding in his adherence to the symbolic policy he adopts, and too late becomes aware that he is actually losing the people he tries to lead.Creon capitalizes on recent tragic events in Thebes to consolidate his power and legitimize his position. The latest war in Thebes was waged between two brothers-- Eteocles and Polyneices. Polyneices, the elder brother, was to have the throne; but Eteocles drove him out by convincing the people that Polyneices carried Oedipus' curse. Polyneices went to Argos and raised an army, then returned in order to drive Eteocles out and retake control of Thebes (Oedipus at Colonus 1532-5). In the ensuing battle, the brothers killed each other-- they "worked out their share in common death" (Antigone 162). Their strife is over. Polyneices' army has returned to Argos, leaving the kingship of Thebes to Creon.Creon has just come to power in a city that has had more than its share of grief: King Laius was murdered, then the Sphynx and a plague tormented the polis with death. Next, Oedipus discovered his own crime... ...e question is not unique the ancient Thebes, however, and it behooves us to examine Creon's methods and goals in light of current events. For example, President Bush is currently using the tragedy of the World Trade Center attacks last year to unite the American people... more importantly to unite them under his leadership. His approval ratings are sky-high, up in the 70th percentile, according to polls by Gallup, CNN, USAToday, Fox, the Christian Science Monitor, Time, and others (http://www.pollingreport.com/BushFav.htm). By making his policy one of "Good vs. Evil," he has polarized the conflict, and who wouldn't want to be on the side of the Good? This method is not inherently wrong or bad, but with it come many caveats, as Creon discovered, and as Machiavelli warns. Symbols can be useful tools, but like any good tool, they can be dangerous if used without care.

Elementary School and Middle School Essay

Transitioning from elementary school to middle school is something we all have or had to do! Most kids cringe at the thought of making this huge step in life. For many students this transition can be a time of mixed emotions. Having been through this experience, I will compare and contrast the two, hoping that this will give you a clear picture of elementary and middle school. Elementary and middle school have distinguishable characteristics. In elementary schools, you basically have your homeroom teacher and one other teacher. The movement of students is very limited and you are mostly escorted by a teacher. Teachers are more understanding and are not as demanding because of the student’s age. Fun days are set aside as an award for students that have done what is expected of them. Most of the children are placed in classroom with the same students each year. Elementary school is very important in our young student’s lives; this is where it all starts. However, middle school students are expected to execute their daily tasks without assistance. Teachers are there to direct the students in right direction; everything else is left up to the student. Middle school students have several different classes, in each class it is usually a different teacher. Students have lockers to store their books and other supplies. In middle school students are required to be more independent and serious about school. Elementary school set the pace for all other levels of schooling. Students enter elementary school learning all the basic aspects of school system and the learning process. At this stage in life most students are eager to learn and get excited to learn new things. Elementary is the main point of delivery, it introduces social skills, behavioral adjustments, and basic academic learning. Middle school prepares students for higher education. Ultimately, middle school bridges the gap between elementary and high school. It is definitely a different experience than elementary, but it prepares students for their future and encourages them to be more independent. Elementary schools and middle schools also have common qualities. They are both open Monday through Friday on the same days. Each day students eat lunch at a designated time. All students are expected to sit in desks in an appropriate manner. Teachers require students to be respectful and display good behavior at all times. Homework is given on a daily basis and class discussions are routine also. School is essentially school with minor differences. Each school level has its own pro’s and con’s, they are also very similar. They each have their own benefiting factors and they are used to their advantage. School systems up this way because it is initially what works in our culture. Elementary and middle schools are stepping stones that that help us get from one place to another in our academic life. Each level is an important standpoint for academic excellence and they should be taken seriously so that you can be an effective student/learner.

Local Public Health Systems Assessment - 844 Words

Local Public Health Systems Assessment (LPHSA) in San Joaquin County Public Health Services (SJCPHS) SJCPHS hosted external stakeholders to evaluate the strength of the public health systems as a step towards accreditation. Many different organizations contribute to the structures that influence public health. I compiled the contact information into a database for invitations. During the actual evaluation, I assisted in the preparation of the event. Throughout the day, I co-facilitated discussions with senior staff from the health department. Participants provided feedback about laws, coalition efforts, and research practices. They also rated efficiency levels of the different core functions. I worked with my host site supervisor to collect artifacts and ensure that the process complied with guidelines provide by the CDC and NACHO. Drafting the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) from Reinvent South Stockton Coalition and the City of Stockton RSSC worked with members from the City to apply for the HUD Promise Zone Grant. This group created a strategic plan for improvements of the community’s education, economic, and crime rates. Promise Zone designations provides eligibility for federal grants. I worked on the education committee to determine outcome and indicators for students. I researched previous grant recipient’s applications and discussed the status of schools. I assisted in compiling data about schools’ performance within theShow MoreRelatedCase Study Part Two. Ceirra Knight. Mha 624: Continuous934 Words   |  4 PagesCeirra Knight MHA 624: Continuous Quality Improvements Risk Management Instructor: Rhonda Hatfield May 2, 2017  From the perspective of a health care administrator, I will identify, develop, and discuss strategic issues in planning a model by prioritizing issues facing a community when dealing with a natural disaster using the four MAPP assessments that align with the shared community mission. Lastly, I explain how you would promote collaborations among clinical professionals, explain methodsRead MoreMobilizing For Action Through Planning And Partnerships1582 Words   |  7 PagesUniversity Executive Summary of the Assessment Plan (Atlantic County) Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) is a community strategic plan to improve community health. Atlantic County Department of Public Health used MAPP for creation of a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). The MAPP process is done by three committees: 1-MAPP Core Committee: a public health professional’s team and their responsibility is daily monitoring for activitiesRead MoreThe City Of Baker Is Destroying Subdivisions And Commercial Properties938 Words   |  4 Pages Baker has numerous health care facilities to offer that help clients holistically such as, mental health, optical/ audiology health, and other specialty areas. The closest hospital near the City of Baker is Lane Memorial Hospital, which is in Zachary, La. The distance of is approximately 6.3 miles and 11 minutes. Baker health care system does not offer a continuum of care resource for clients that may have anger issues or mental illness after they are discharged from a local hospital, which causeRead MoreWe Call This A Community Health Needs Assessment ( Chna )1705 Words   |  7 Pagesthat â€Å"every public health agency regularly and systematically [collect, assemble, analyze, and make] available information on the health of the community, including statistics on health status, community health needs, and epidemiologic and other studies of health problems.† Today, we call this a community health needs assessment (CHNA). This is based on data collection, analysis, a list of health needs, and issues (Reed Fleming, 2014). This systematic process helps to determine the health needs ofRead MoreEvaluation Of The Public Health Services Provided By My Practicum Cite789 Words   |  4 Pagescite, Department of Health, White River Junction, Vermont is a local public health agency. It serves part of Windsor County and part of Orange County. For this assignment I chose to elaborate 3 of the public health services provided by my practicum cite - monitoring and evaluation of the community to identify community health problems (Assessment), mobilizing community partnerships to identify and solve health problems (Policy Development), and linking people to needed health services and assureRead MoreThe Vision Of The Hudson County s Community Health Needs Assessment886 Words   |  4 Pagesvision of the Hudson County health officials for the residents of the county. The paper will further elaborate on the enactment of the county’s community health needs asse ssment. To this end, the paper will further discuss the strategic planning process proposed by the county for improving the health of their community. The strategy for Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnership (MAPP) will be featured in this paper. The Strategic plan of the Hudson Health Care Officials as depicted byRead MoreThe Basic Role Of The Nurse1729 Words   |  7 Pageswill enable students help the authorities in saving lives. To beginning with it will be good to get the meaning of disaster and the various types of disasters because each of them have different forms of intervention (Lunilee, 2011). Our educational system should include the training programs to the students from school level to rouse the helping nature in them at times of need. A disaster can be defined as any tragic event with great loss from events such as earthquakes, floods, accidents, fires, cyclonesRead MoreHealth Services And Health Care1672 Words   |  7 Pagesincrease over the years, but as long as population continues to grow so will the health concerns. The community will need to continue to provide assistance to does in need from health financial services and health education some system like the CHIP has taken place, but more is needed of the city to continue to provide services. With our nation current health law (Obama care), many should financial relief when it comes to health insurance. The population and races of Jacksonville, FL has increased theRead MorePublic Health Nursing ( Phn ) Uses The Nursing Process Essay1577 Words   |  7 PagesPublic Health Nursing (PHN) uses the nursing process every day to help the community on a local, state, and national level. The PHN is a vital part of the health care system because they are part of the interdisciplinary team. The government on federal, state, and local levels rely on the PHN to uses their nursing skills and critical thinking in order to provide information; which then influences funding. PHN work in conjunction with the three core functions of public health, according to the IOMRead MoreDifferences Between Public And Community Health1220 Words   |  5 PagesPublic and community health both have a common goal which is to promote, preserve, and maintain health of individuals whether it is through entire population or group of individuals within a society. Personal health is universal term which is associated wi th an individual or a community that focus on health of individual(s). This paper discusses differences between public and community health along with its benefits and disadvantages. It also focuses on public health assessment as well as management