Lost City of Z

Non-Fiction Literature Circle by Aidan Morrow Author: explained in presentation Audience: This book was written for an older audience of anyone who would love a good tale of adventure. This is because of the novel’s length and due to the fact of the death and sadness that finds its self in this book. Argument: A cautionary tale about over reaching ones personal limits, very much like the story of Icarus. Evidence: The evidence of the books truths are strewn upon the last 80 pages of the book.This novel has an extensive bibliography on many important facts in this novel. What’s left out: The rubber boom should have been explained more. It was the reason for most of the Indians death and would have played a part of the background story of the Indians. Most compelling quote: â€Å"Starvation sounds almost unbelievable in forest country, and yet it is only too likely to happen. – Percy Harrison Fawcett† Implications of your learning: Now after hearing this sto ry of Percy I care about finding him and the lost city of El Dorado (lost city of Z).With modern medicine and modern technology there must be a way to solve all the unanswered questions left by this book. Connections to other readings: One of the main connections to other readings I found was the story of Icarus. Icarus's father Daedalus, a talented and remarkable Athenian craftsman. Daedalus fashioned two pairs of wings out of wax and feathers for himself and his son. Daedalus tried his wings first, but before taking off from the island, warned his son not to fly too close to the sun, nor too close to the sea, but to follow his path of flight.Overcome by the giddiness that flying lent him, Icarus soared through the sky curiously, but in the process he came too close to the sun, which melted the wax. Icarus kept flapping his wings but soon realized that he had no feathers left and that he was only flapping his bare arms, and so Icarus fell into the sea in the area which today bears his name, the Icarian Sea near Icaria, an island southwest of Samos. A question for discussion: Do you believe that Percy could have found the lost city if he had Alexander Rice Jr. ’s funds for his exhibition?

Of Mice and Men †Most of the characters of the novel is loneliness Essay

‘Of Mice and Men’ is a novel written by John Steinbeck in 1937, based on Steinbeck’s personal experiences relating on life on the ranches. The characters, George and Lennie, are some of the characters that have Steinbeck’s aspects of his life seeing as they are the main characters of the novel. In the novel Steinbeck highlights the social conflicts of that time period, such as the climatic changes cause by drought and the financial collapse of 1929, which had increase unemployment and poverty throughout the United States of America. One of the most important aspects that is attached with most of the characters of the novel is loneliness. Steinbeck has purposely named the town Soledad because in Spanish Soledad means â€Å"loneliness† and it shows the reader how lonely the town is. Loneliness motivates characters to seek an alternate way of life. The characters that start off together end up being separated up in the end like George and Lennie, Candy and his dog and Curley and his wife. Everyone on the ranch is lonely; this is because all the men in the bunkhouse are single. An example of this is when George says â€Å"They got no family†. This means that they are like orphans because they do not have a family and no one to care for them. The men that live in the bunkhouse also have nothing to look forward to, except work for the rest of their lives. Even though George has Lennie with him, he is still feels lonely and an example of this is that in the story they show Lennie play the game solitaire, which is only played by one person and is not a team game which means that there is no social interaction. It is also because George has all the responsibility and to take care of Lennie because Lennie is not responsible. This makes the other characters find it strange that they travel around together because most of the ranch hands tend to travel around alone. This can be seen when Slim is surprised at the closeness of their relationship, â€Å"aint many guys travel around together.† This shows that having company is unusual and being lonely is now seen as normal. Candy is also very lonely because during the novella he loses his dog and he also loses his dream. His life is the total opposite of his name because the name ‘Candy’ gives us an image of sweet things but the character Candy is the total opposite. His dog provides him company and has been his life for a long time. This can be seen when he says, â€Å"I had him ever since he was a pup,† which shows that the dog was someone he was able to care for which provided him with a family. The killing of Candy’s dog is a reflection of attitudes of life on the ranch because the characters do not have any friends or family themselves, they fail to understand human attachments and relationships. This can be seen when Carlson says, â€Å"Why’nt you shoot him Candy?† It shows that Carlson isn’t very sympathetic and he can’t understand how strong a bond is between Candy and his dog. It also mirrors the attitude towards Candy himself as on the ran ch when you fail to be useful people just get rid of you. Another character who is lonely is Crooks. He is lonely because he is isolated due to the colour of his skin, he is the only black man in the book and at that time, America was a very racist place and Crooks is persecuted. He is only referred to as â€Å"nigger†, â€Å"stable buck† or â€Å"crooks† he is never referred to by his actual name which suggests that no one is bothered to get to know him. His loneliness is perhaps the worst in the novella as he lives alone away from everybody else. This can be seen where it says ‘he had his bunk in the harness’, this shows that he is more likely to be lonely as he is isolated from the other ranch hands purely based on the colour of his skin. This can be seen in the quote that says ‘ A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody’ , this suggests that he may have literally gone insane with loneliness. However, it is clear that he craves companionship and this can be seen when Lennie comes into his living quarters and he does not stop talking, clearly showing that he yearns for company as he is terribly lonely. It is ironic because he ahs a copy of the California Code in his room which is meant to protect the rights of black people in America, but it is very clear that this is in fact a symbol and not a reality for men like Crooks, who is unable to socialise or be accepted as a ranch hand due to the colour of his skin. Curley was aggressive man and is referred to fighting. This is because he looks like a boxer and Candy say that he is â€Å"handy†, which means that he fights well. Whit also says that he was in the finals for the â€Å"Golden Glove† which is a boxing competition and it shows us that he likes fighting. In relationships, no one likes Curley and he does not get any respect from anyone. This shows us that he is also lonely because even though he is married, his wife is not happy with him as she thinks she has missed many opportunities by living with Curley and the lonely men. The only time Curley is shown with his wife is when she is dead. Curley’s wife wants to have recognition, attention, her own identity and her own life. Steinbeck has not given her a name on purpose to show how she has none of these things. She does not have her own identity because she is seen as just someone’s wife and without Curley, she would be nothing. She is very lonely because no one seems to love her because Curley is not very affectionate. She is continually looking for companionship because she says â€Å"Think I don’t like to talk to somebody ever’ once in a while?† This shows that she too is lonely and possibly even more isolated as the other ranch hands do not want to talk to her for fear of upsetting Curley and it clearly shows that Curley does not give her the attention she craves and desires. She tries to desperately get the attention of the other ranch hands by dressing up when she goes to see them. She is described as having ‘red’ nails and lipstick, the colour ‘red’ suggests love and danger, which means that she automatically repels people that she needs for company. This shows she is incredibly desperate and sad, and she is going to the barn looking for cheap thrills and an ego boost. In conclusion, Steinbeck has presented the theme of loneliness successfully in various ways. He has explained how the life on ranches can be very lonely even if you are still around people. He has done this by making George tell Lennie how the life of a ranch-hand is among the loneliest of lives and by making some of the characters confess their deep loneliness to Lennie and George which shows how desperate they are by admitting to complete strangers.

Communication Reflection - 1225 Words

Last week, my group partners and I had a discussion for the business which was to choose a company that was adaptive to construct in Italy. This group is combined with six students. However, I find a problem that I cannot really reflect my value during the discussion. At the beginning of the discussion, each of us expressed our own opinions that what appropriate companies we knew. As the only foreigner in the group, I know fewer firms than other partners do. I shared information I knew and communicated with them. Then, we had some discussions about everyone’s opinion. I came up with some ideas but I did not know how to express them appropriately to others. On the one side, I could not directly deny others ideas; on the other side, I need†¦show more content†¦Although communication is by mouth, the body behavior is also important in the process especially the eye contact. The expression of the eyes can obviously tells others what you are thinking and whether you are co ncentrating. So to speak, communication is not a single activity but a whole-body activity. Communication is also an interesting thing because of the culture diversity. For instance, currently we are living in the college which is combined with students all around the world. Therefore, the backgrounds for most students are different, which include the language, custom, living environment. There are many misconceptions and awkwardness happening when talking with others. While I am communicating with foreign friends about my hometown and my country, I always do not know how to express the things that only exist in my hometown because they have the terminology. At this time, I begin my performance because I just can use my action to let them know the meaning. However, I think the action is one of the useful and efficient ways of communication. Others can know the meaning easily and vividly. Meanwhile, because of the various cultures, some same words and expressions in different backgrounds are in different meanings. The language is a really magical thing. Even some words in th e same language have the different meanings. For example, China is combined with 56 nations that have their own manners and customs.Show MoreRelatedReflection Of Communication And Communication1152 Words   |  5 Pages The first resources that I’ve learned from this course are using the multiple job websites online, we’ve had excellent communication between classmates on how we can benefit from using these sites out and look for specific jobs in our area. This will assist in work as a counselor because it will help in my networking about the city I currently work in and learning about how to make my resume stick out. The second fact that I’ve learned in this course is finding balance in your life so that youRead MoreEssay on Communication Reflection1228 Words   |  5 Pagesworkplace, do everything that I can to create a sense of team, establish a good line of communication, involve everyone in the decision-making process, and develop a common goal (Peters on, 2007). Contributing to the Team Dynamics Once I knew my team members, to relieve my personal anxiety and address my bias, I took the initiative to send out an email to create a positive team atmosphere and encourage communication amongst the team (Greg, 2006). Within the first day, one of the team members took theRead MoreReflection On Interpersonal Communication1724 Words   |  7 Pageswhen we talked about non-verbal communication, I realized that it is impossible to not communicate. There are many activities, other than the use of language, that allow us to draw meaning from something we observe. When my mother widens her eyes at me without stating a word, I understand she is telling me to think twice about the action I’m about to take. It has been great to be able to assign concepts and vocabulary to interpersonal relationships and communication activity that I have been experiencingRead MoreCommunication Skills Reflection Paper1384 Words   |  6 PagesREFLECTIVE WRITING This essay is a reflection of my communication skills as shown in the attached video. I will reflect on the communication skills used, its effectiveness and ineffectiveness. Reflection aims at improving patient care and as part of the process, I will consider own future developmental needs and how this will help me in future. Ghaye and Lillyman (2010) defined reflection as a changing process for individual and their action. The communication skills demonstrated in the video areRead MoreCommunication Reflection Essay1431 Words   |  6 Pagesand casual dating relationship, we have experienced a fair amount of verbal and nonverbal communication. Our relational communication has brought along strengths and weaknesses that will become better after applying principles learned through a deeper understanding and analyzation of Social Penetration Theory, Expectancy Violations Theory, and conflict styles. Strengths Corbin and I have had good communication ever since we started to self-disclose more information about our lives to each other (GuerreroRead MoreCultural Communication Reflection Paper2206 Words   |  9 PagesThere were also smaller terms that dealt with the overall term. The terms I decided were the most that I found interesting and helpful. These terms helped me learn something out of this class, I never would of thought of specific ways of cultural communication is different for many. Understanding terms and talking about them in real life situations in class, was helpful to understanding these terms. They’re 6 key terms that are going to be explained, how they apply to class or life situation with myselfRead MoreCommunication Reflection845 Words   |  4 Pageslanguages, and health status. Communication is so important in our everyday lives and especially in the medical industry because we’re dealing with a person’s well-being. In addition to the whole idea of The Language of Caring lesson, the article â€Å"Are We Listening?† stressed how important positive communication was to be successful in the medical industry. It had a statistic from a study conducted by â€Å"CRICO Strategies that found 1,744 deaths related to communication failure† (Hadrych-Rosier 2017)Read MoreCommunication Reflection734 Words   |  3 PagesThroughout the course of our lectures, I was exposed to a vast array of knowledge that contradicted misconceptions that often went unquestioned. For example, the majority of university courses reinforce the notion of information assimilation and solely use this method of teaching. As a result, I blindly accepted the superiority of information assimilation over other teaching strategies. However, this course revealed the deficits within information assimilation and further enlightened students regardingRead MoreCommunication Reflection1068 Words   |  5 PagesCommunication II, only the first of many I will endure, was a successful one. This course was to make us better writers, and I certainly have improved. In this progress report, I will be discussing my strength and weakness, summary and respond by both audience and professor, and ways I learn to properly and effectively write each major reports, and my writing has improved in many ways. Strength This semester I was able to learn how to critically think through process of writing in ways I did notRead MoreCommunications Reflection Paper : Communication781 Words   |  4 PagesCommunications Reflection Paper Ethan Martin October 5 2015 Through a bullhorn, this world proclaims, â€Å"God is dead†. Under it’s breath, the earth whispers, â€Å"...at the very least, he is unplugged.†. Wholeheartedly I believe, as a result of my probing and questioning, these statements are simply untrue. Not only is He alive, the whole universe declares God to be a connected and loving being. Evidence to support God’s existence is unveiled through His communication towards us as a people

Sense and Sensibility Neo-classicism vs Romanticism

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austin was a moralistic novel depicting the two main forms of attitudes at that time; the neo -classics and the romantics. The period in which it was written, nineteenth century England, was laden with social etiquette and customs imposed on people of that time; and thus the characters of Jane Austins novels. The novels two main protagonists; Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, exemplify the Neo classical era and the romantic era, respectfully. Jane Austin instils Neo-classic and romantic ideals in Elinor and Marianne as to present a view of each attitude and to further enhance the discrepancies of social nineteenths century England. Neo- Classicism derived from the 17-18th centuries intellectual pursuit into†¦show more content†¦and she could have no lasting satisfaction in the company of a person who joined insincerity with ignorance (p108) Throughout sense and sensibility, Elinor is shown to be fair and just in her personal judgements. Elinor is also distinguished for her ability to self govern her feelings. The neo classics disprove of one indulging in feelings and believe one should instead conceal them, suffering silently. An example of this can be seen when Edward breaks Elinors heart, thus Austin places Elinor and Marianne in parallel situations. Marianne, the romantic, focuses solely on her own feelings and disregards the feelings of others. However, Elinor follows Neo Classic ethics by remaining a pillar of support for those who depend on her. She does not withdraw away and contemplate her life but instead carries on with the duties she undertook since the beginning of the novel. She continually self sacrifices her desire to the needs and benefit of those around her, showing a magnanimous concern to others while silencing her own feelings; dealing with issues with an unbiased outlook: She was very far from wishing to dwell on her own feelings, or to represent herself as suffering much, any otherwise than as the self command she had practised since her first knowledge of Edwards engagement... (p220) A major example of her self-sacrifice can be seen when Elinor agrees to bear theShow MoreRelatedSense and Sensibilty by Jane Austen2297 Words   |  9 PagesSense and Sensibility by Jane Austen is a satirical clash of the two cultural movements: †¯Romanticism, a movement focused on how imagination and emotion are more important than reason and formal rules, and Classicism, a movement centered on the qualities of formal etiquette, logic, and rationality. Austen focuses on the moral and social attributes of each, mainly their concepts on love. †¯She portrays these traits in all the characters in the book, mainly the two oldest Dashwood sisters, Elinor andRead MoreRomanticism versus Neoclassicism2775 Words   |  12 Pagestradition, society, intellect and formal diction, Romanticism allowed people to get away from the constrained rational views of life and concentrate on an emotional and sentimental side of humanity. In this movement the emphasis was on emotion, passion, ima gination, individual and natural diction. Resulting in part from the liberation and egalitarian ideals of the French Revolution, the romantic movement had in common only a revolt against the rules of classicism. There are obviously a lot of distinctions

Should Marijuana Be Legalized - 1010 Words

The legalization of marijuana became a heated political subject in the last few years. Twenty-one states in America have legalized medical marijuana. Colorado and Washington are the only states where marijuana can be purchased recreationally. Marijuana is the high THC level part of the cannabis plant, which gives users the â€Å"high† feeling. There is ample evidence that supports the argument that marijuana is beneficial. The government should legalize marijuana recreationally for three main reasons. First, I will present two common arguments against the legalization of marijuana and then refute them. Second, I will explain how there is no proof of harmful effects from marijuana and that there are many health benefits prominent. Third, I will describe how legalization would bring in tax revenue for the government. Finally, I will go into detail on how legalization would decrease crime rates. There are opposing viewpoints to the idea of legalizing marijuana. One counter-argume nt is that marijuana is highly addictive. If the belief exists that anything highly addictive should not be out on the market, than it can be reasonable to argue that cigarettes or prescription drugs should not be available to consumers as well. The argument of marijuana being highly addictive is false. Dr. Riggs argues, â€Å"About nine percent of individuals who repeatedly use it [marijuana] may become addicted† (The Dr. Oz Show, 2013). She uses the key word â€Å"may† which is not concrete. Nine percent ofShow MoreRelatedShould Marijuana Be Legalized?849 Words   |  4 Pageswhether marijuana should be legalized. Around 23 states have legalized marijuana for medical and recreational use. In the state of Illinois, medicinal use of marijuana has been passed on April 17, 2013. Since January 2014, patients are able to obtain marijuana with a doctor s recommendation. The new debate is whether marijuana should be legalized for the general public as a recreational drug. A lthough some believe that marijuana is harmless, and that it has beneficial medicinal uses, marijuana shouldRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1715 Words   |  7 PagesMarijuana in Society Cannabis, formally known as marijuana is a drug obtained from the tops, stems and leaves of the hemp plant cannabis. The drug is one of the most commonly used drugs in the world. Only substances like caffeine, nicotine and alcohol are used more (â€Å"Marijuana† 1). In the U. S. where some use it to feel â€Å"high† or get an escape from reality. The drug is referred to in many ways; weed, grass, pot, and or reefer are some common names used to describe the drug (â€Å"Marijuana† 1). Like mostRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1489 Words   |  6 Pagescannabis plant or marijuana is intended for use of a psychoactive drug or medicine. It is used for recreational or medical uses. In some religions, marijuana is predominantly used for spiritual purposes. Cannabis is indigenous to central and south Asia. Cannabis has been scientifically proven that you can not die from smoking marijuana. Marijuana should be legalized to help people with medical benefits, econo mic benefits, and criminal benefits. In eight states, marijuana was legalized for recreationalRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1245 Words   |  5 PagesMarijuana is a highly debatable topic that is rapidly gaining attention in society today.   Legalizing marijuana can benefit the economy of this nation through the creation of jobs, increased tax revenue, and a decrease in taxpayer money spent on law enforcement.   Ã‚  Many people would outlaw alcohol, cigarettes, fast food, gambling, and tanning beds because of the harmful effects they have on members of a society, but this is the United States of America; the land of the free and we should give peopleRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1350 Words   |  6 Pagespolitics in the past decade would have to be the legalization of marijuana. The sale and production of marijuana have been legalized for medicinal uses in over twenty states and has been legalized for recreational uses in seven states. Despite the ongoing support for marijuana, it has yet to be fully legalized in the federal level due to cultural bias against â€Å"pot† smoking and the focus over its negative effects. However, legalizing marijuana has been proven to decrease the rate of incrimination in AmericaRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1231 Words   |  5 Pagesshows the positive benefits of marijuana, it remains illegal under federal law. In recent years, numerous states have defied federal law and legalized marijuana for both recreational and medicinal use. Arizona has legalized marijuana for medical use, but it still remains illegal to use recreationally. This is absurd, as the evidence gathered over the last few decades strongly supports the notion that it is safer than alcohol, a widely available substance. Marijuana being listed as a Schedule I drugRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized? Essay1457 Words   |  6 PagesSHOULD MARIJUANA BE LEGALIZED? Marijuana is a drug that has sparked much controversy over the past decade as to whether or not it should be legalized. People once thought of marijuana as a bad, mind-altering drug which changes a person’s personality which can lead to crime and violence through selling and buying it. In the past, the majority of citizens believed that marijuana is a harmful drug that should be kept off the market and out of the hands of the public. However, a recent study conductedRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1596 Words   |  7 Pages But what needs to be known before a user can safely and completely make the decision if trying Marijuana is a good idea? Many do not want the drug to be legalized because they claim that Cannabis is a â€Å"gateway drug†, meaning it will cause people to try harder drugs once their body builds up a resistance to Marijuana, because a stronger drug will be needed to reach a high state. This argument is often falsely related to the medical si de of the debate over legalization. It is claimed that this wouldRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?985 Words   |  4 PagesLegalize Marijuana Despite what people believe about marijuana, it hasn’t once proved to be the cause of any real issue. It makes you wonder what the reason as to why there is a war on drugs. Why is marijuana the main concern? Since the time that alcohol and tobacco became legal, people wonder why marijuana isn’t legal yet. The fact that marijuana is illegal is mainly caused by the amount of money, jobs, and pride invested in the drug war. Once the government starts anything, they stick to it. AtRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1145 Words   |  5 PagesLegalizing Marijuana Marijuana is a drug that has been actively used for centuries. This drug can be traced back to 2737 BC by the Chinese emperor Shen Nung. He spoke about the euphoric effects of Cannabis and even referred to it as the â€Å"Liberator of Sin.† Since early on, marijuana was seen as a medicinal plant that was recommended for medical uses. Marijuana is currently in schedule I, which means that physicians are not allowed to prescribe it in the United States (Hart, Ksir 2013). This drug

Electrophoresis of Amino Acids free essay sample

Electrophoresis is a separation technique based on the movement of charged ions under the influence of an electrical field. This technique is primarily used for the separation of amino acids and peptides on the basis of their charge. All amino acids contain ionizable groups that cause the amino acids, in solution, to act as charged polyelectrolytes that can migrate in an electric field. The amino acids with a net positive charge will migrate toward the negative electrode. Those with a negative net charge will move toward the positive electrode. An inert substance such as paper or gel is used as a supporting medium for the conducting liquid in most electrophoretic methods. In this experiment of separating amino acids, a phosphate buffer (pH 6) will be used as the conducting liquid and cellulose as the supporting medium. Purpose: The purpose of this experiment is to determine the effect of an electrical field on charged particles and to use this information to identify the amino acids present in an unknown sample. We will write a custom essay sample on Electrophoresis of Amino Acids or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Equipment/Materials: Electrophoresis apparatus Graduated cylinders, 100 mL Hot plates Kimwipes Kodak Chromogram cellulose sheets with fluorescent indicator Metric ruler Ninhydrin spray Pasteuer pipets/bulbs Phosphate buffer pH 6 Pulled capillary tubes Scissors Standard amino acid solutions, ~0. 1M Unknown amino acid solutions Safety: * Goggles must be worn at all times. * Ninhydrin must be used under the hood. * Make sure the electrophoresis apparatus is off when inserting and removing the plate. * Wear gloves when handling plates and ninhydrin. Procedure: 1. Obtain a strip of a cellulose chromagram sheet that is approximately 5cm wide and 15cm long. REMEMBER: wear gloves. 2. Using a pencil, mark one end of the plate with a plus sign and the other end with a minus sign. (See the diagram on the following page. ) 3. Divide the two ends by drawing a line through the middle of the plate. Wipe the ruler with a Kimwipe before it touches the surface of the plate. 4. Place a tic mark on the line for each sample. Samples should be at least 1cm apart and 1cm from the edge. Place 3 samples on a sheet. 5. Label on one end of the plate what samples are on each tic mark. 6. Fill each electrode compartment with ~35mL of buffer. . Obtain 2 standard amino acid solutions and an unknown solution. 8. Use pulled capillary tubes to apply small volumes of the samples to the plate. Draw sample into the capillary tube by inserting the pointed end of the tube into the sample bottle. Use a different capillary tube for each sample. Do not contaminate samples by using a capillary tube from a different sample. Apply the sample to the plate by touching the end of the capillary tube to the proper mark on the line. Touch the plate lightly and quickly; the spots should be small. Reapply the same sample twice more to the same spot, allowing the plate to dry between applications. 9. Once the samples have dried, apply buffer to the plate using a Pasteur pipet. Begin by dropping the buffer at one end of the plate and then at the other end, allowing it to move toward the sample spots in the center. Continue in such a way that the buffer meets exactly at the middle line to reduce the migration of sample spots. 10. Carefully place the plate in the apparatus so that the plus corresponds to the positive electrode (red jack) and the minus side to the negative electrode (black jack). Be careful not to tilt the plate in any direction to avoid migration of the sample. 11. Turn on the apparatus and record the time. 12. Allow the sample to run for 45 minutes, or as long as possible, given time constraints. Each plate in the class must run for the same amount of time. 13. Turn the hot plate on low a few minutes before removing the plate. 14. Once the time has expired, turn off the apparatus and carefully remove the plate. Be sure to wear gloves. 15. Under the hood, spray the plate with ninhydrin. 16. Place the plate on the hot plate until it dries and spots appear.

What Is An American Essays - Libertarian Theory,

What Is An American What Does American Mean? Websters Dictionary defines American as or its inhabitants. But is that all America and an American truly is? Is a person American simply because of geography? According to Identities, America is a confluence of cultures. Americans are people whose lives depict men and women who are trying to be as successful and robust as possible, this quest is symbolic to citizens of many other countries. This is why America illustrates the Statue of Liberty, a structure that symbolizes freedom throughout the world. America is composed not only of these peoples, but the cultures and the ways of life of these people. The Statue of Liberty symbolizes a fearless and powerful figure. Steinbeck agrees that Americans are fearless when he writes, Americans seem to live and breathe and function by paradox. Americans are fearless and risk taking, spending time and money doing things like skydiving, bungijumping, and other extreme sports. Ignoring in most cases the risk factors involved in such activities, believing that nothing is going to go wrong, that it will occur perfectly and flawlessly. This is a trait that many Americans have the refuse to believe that they are in danger. Most Americans believe that even though the limb they are on is weak, its strong enough for their safety needs. Americans daily routines are can also be described as fearless. Case in point for many is the commute to and from work. Most people speed and drive aggressively because they always are in a hurry. Americans have the idea of being perfect drives, for instance, and never making mistakes. The Statue of Liberty can also be described as fearless. The Statue of Liberty is what most people think of when asked what symbolizes America. First, the Statue of Liberty is a massive structure. Second, it is located on the edge of the ocean, able to endure all the elements the weather can throw at it. Third, it has one hand raised in a charismatic fashion, symbolizing fearlessness and powerfullness. Steinbeck writes no one can define the American Way of Life or point to any person or group who lives in it, but it is real nevertheless. The way an American lives their life differs from person to person. Two Americans from the same country, living on the same street, have different ways of practicing their religions, celebrating holidays, and pursuing their culture in general. Americans can act freely, just as the Statue of Liberty depicts freedom to Americans. The Statue of Liberty is a statue of freedom, giving Americans the right to live and practice their culture however they want. There is no such thing as a true American identity. According to the essay Identities, Identity has always been a difficult question nagging the collective American mind. No two Americans are the same, no two live in the same manner. One person cannot tell another how to live ones life; one person cannot define him/herself as living the American way of life. This is because the Statue of Liberty symb olizes to people all over that America is the land of the free. Americans are free to make their decisions about what it is to be an American and how one lives. According to Identities Americans have argued and wondered about who they are. The Statue of Liberty once was the first thing that immigrants saw when they came to America. However, there is no set of rules or guidelines on it that say what is to be American. No one person can tell another that he/she is not an American because there is no recipe on what attributes a true American has. In Whats Happening to America, John Steinbeck writes, we work to hard and may die under the strain. An American can often be termed a hard worker. The Statue of Liberty is a woman who works to escape the chains of tyranny. An American is also a hard worker, and many look to the Stature as a role model. The Statue is a huge structure that requires the work of many hard working Americans to maintain every year. In Whats Happening to America? Steinbeck also discusses the government. He writes We are