Bipolar Disorder :: essays research papers

The phenomenon of bipolar affective disorder has been a mystery since the 16th century. History has shown that this affliction can appear in almost anyone. Even the great painter Vincent Van Gogh is believed to have had bipolar disorder. It is clear that in our society many people live with bipolar disorder; however, despite the abundance of people suffering from the it, we are still waiting for definite explanations for the causes and cure. The one fact of which we are painfully aware is that bipolar disorder severely undermines its’ victims ability to obtain and maintain social and occupational success. Because bipolar disorder has such debilitating symptoms, it is imperative that we remain vigilant in the quest for explanations of its causes and treatment.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Affective disorders are characterized by a smorgasbord of symptoms that can be broken into manic and depressive episodes. The depressive episodes are characterized by intense feelings of sadness and despair that can become feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. Some of the symptoms of a depressive episode include anhedonia, disturbances in sleep and appetite, psycomoter retardation, loss of energy, feelings of worthlessness, guilt, difficulty thinking, indecision, and recurrent thoughts of death and suicide. The manic episodes are characterized by elevated or irritable mood, increased energy, decreased need for sleep, poor judgment and insight, and often reckless or irresponsible behavior. Bipolar affective disorder affects approximately one percent of the population (approximately three million people) in the United States. It is presented by both males and females. Bipolar disorder involves episodes of mania and depression. These episodes may alternate with profound depressions characterized by a pervasive sadness, almost inability to move, hopelessness, and disturbances in appetite, sleep, in concentrations and driving.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Bipolar disorder is diagnosed if an episode of mania occurs whether depression has been diagnosed or not. Most commonly, individuals with manic episodes experience a period of depression. Symptoms include elated, expansive, or irritable mood, hyperactivity, pressure of speech, flight of ideas, inflated self esteem, decreased need for sleep, distractibility, and excessive involvement in reckless activities . Rarest symptoms were periods of loss of all interest and retardation or agitation.

A Tale Of Two Cities vs. Beowulf Essay

When talking about renowned stories and strong characters in literature, there are two names that come up every time, A Tale of Two Cities and Beowulf. Both of these stories can be compared in many ways and in many ways they are extremely different with few similarities. These stories were written centuries apart yet they are both still notorious today. The diverse styles of writing in each of these tales show the different time periods. There are three similarities that I want to specifically discuss more about: the protagonists’ characteristics, how they change, and how they end their lives with meaning. One of the differences between the two books is that the protagonists, Beowulf and Sydney Carton, are more comparable than most people would think. In Beowulf the main character is obviously Beowulf and he is a strong and resilient character that fights to help those who need it. In Beowulf it says he was, â€Å"greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world†¦ .† (lines 109-111). Beowulf has to kill Grendel to save the people of Denmark and lose many of his own men along the way. He does eventually kill Grendel and then Grendel’s Mother to save the people. â€Å"But Beowulf longed only for fame, leaped back into battle† (lines 502-504) this shows Beowulf’s heart to finish what he started. He never gave up no matter how difficult it was to continue after his men were killed or no matter how hard it was to fight the monsters. Sydney Carton on the other hand first appears as a lazy, alcoholic attorney who cannot muster even the smallest amount of interest in his own life. He describes his existence as a supreme waste of life and takes every opportunity to declare that he cares for nothing and no one. Carton by the end of story changes immensely and becomes a better man. Now Carton isn’t strong resilient like Beowulf but he is courageous and he gives up his own life to save his friend’s life, Charles Darney. Darney is married to lucie, who Carton loves, but Carton still saves him from the guillotine because he wants to give his life some meaning. Another difference is that both main characters change so much by the end of the stories. When Beowulf is called on by King Hrothgar of Denmark to come save him and his people from Grendel he goes right away and shows his strength by defeating Grendel so the people of Denmark would not be bothered by him anymore. This is how Beowulf wounded Grendel, â€Å"He twisted in pain, and the bleeding sinews deep in his shoulder, snapped, muscle and bone split and broke. The battle was over, Beowulf had been granted new glory† (lines 389-393). Beowulf dies in the story so he changes a lot, but his story lived on, as he became a legend. As stated before Sydney Carton remarkably changes from this man who has no meaning in life to someone who is respected and finds fulfillment in existence. Carton changes from the moment he meets Lucie Manette, a French woman who grew up in England. Before Carton changed he was described as a â€Å"Jackal† throughout the story. â€Å" ‘Sydney,’ said Stryver, on that self-same night, or morning, to his jackal; ‘mix another bowl of punch; I have something to say to you’†(page 143). The third similarity between these stories is that they both end with these protagonists ending their lives with meaning. In Beowulf, after his tough fighting, he defeats the monsters in Denmark and saves the people, he eventually becomes the king of his home country, Geatland, when the king dies. By the end of A Tale of Two Cities Sydney Carton has changed enormously and ends his life with meaning. Carton takes Darney’s place at the guillotine and is killed for a crime he never committed, not exactly fair or just but that is how he wanted it. â€Å"Quickly, but with hands as true to the purpose as his heart was, Carton dressed himself in the clothes the prisoner had laid aside, combed back his hair, and t ied it with a ribbon the prisoner had worn†(page 372). After this he died at the guillotine knowing he had meaning in his life. In both of these fascinating stories we see how they similar they actually are. Beowulf acted on his feelings and was respected for it and Carton was someone who was looked down upon but changes his ways. These books are both well known throughout all of literature but for different reasons. Beowulf is well known for its language and diction and A Tale of Two Cities is known for its meticulous plot and scrupulous thought. As long as these stories are compared and talked about, these two tales will always be thought of as two of the best.

Summary Of Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee - 1316 Words

This year, we read a few different texts. Of Mice and Men, Farewell to Manzanar, and To Kill a Mockingbird all taught me many valuable life lessons. In To Kill a Mockingbird, it taught me that people are people, and you should never judge somebody based on social class or race. Before you start to judge somebody, you need to put yourself in their shoes and look at the situation based on their perspective. The life lesson taught in Farewell to Manzanar is to always have a positive attitude towards everything in life, and if you have hope, you can overcome many difficult situations. In Of Mice and Men, it taught me that sometimes, dreams are not meant to be attained, but they are still meant to be strived for. Your friendship will always be with you, and sometimes, sacrifices have to be made for people that you care about. To Kill a Mockingbird taught many lessons, but the most important lesson that Harper Lee implied was regardless of people’s race or social class, people are all the same. You should always look at things from the other person’s perspective before you discriminate them. Discrimination was a key factor to all aspects of the story. â€Å"I wants to know why you bringin’ white chillun to nugget church† (Lee 158). Lula said this to Calpurnia when she brought Jem and Scout to her church. This falls under the category of discrimination because Jem and Scout should not be treated like this, they should be treated the same, regardless of the color of their skin. â€Å"IShow MoreRelatedSummary Of Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee1545 Words   |  7 PagesKKK. This populous is propagated to believe racist attitudes and behaviors, cultivated from generation to generation. Endorsing a community of white supremacy, believers build themselves up by suppressing min orities. Illustrated in To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee s novel tells a story of prejudice-poisoned, extremist Southern living. Such a guild in American society is the Ku Klux Klan. Their methodology advocates extremist views, such as white supremacy, anti-immigration, and anti-Semitism. TheRead MoreSummary Of Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee1259 Words   |  6 PagesLicked From the Beginning To Kill a Mockingbird, follows the story of a curious young girl named Scout, with a tomboyish nature. Her innocence is very clear at the beginning of the book, but as the story continues, Scout learns many valuable life lessons that dissolves her innocence. Through the adventures of her brother, Jem, her friend, Dill, and herself, they find that society isn’t always fair and equal in the very racist town of Maycomb, Alabama. Scout learns how to cope with her emotions,Read MoreSummary Of Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee1307 Words   |  6 PagesBruce Steinberg Ms Adamo May 1, 2015 Language Arts p.3 Topic 3 In To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, the main character Scout and her brother Jem become friends with a child by the name of Dill. They live in old tired town called Maycomb, in Alabama, where there isn’t much to see nor do, and the only excitement they obtain is from there own games and imaginations. Maycomb is also a old fashion town where racism is still very much alive. One day, the town becomes engulfed in a court case in whichRead MoreSummary Of Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee1272 Words   |  6 PagesEnglish 1 Honors Period 5 30 July, 2014 Integrity and Innocence When the young and inexperienced are tasked with facing the reality behind what the real world demands of them, just how well do you expect them to react? Jem Finch, from Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, is a ten year old boy growing up in Maycomb, Alabama, a small and quaint town, during the Great Depression. Throughout the entire tale, his moral integrity is challenged as he deals with a variety of issues ranging from the spiteRead MoreSummary Of Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee1320 Words   |  6 PagesSociety will never be perfect like one wants it to be. There comes a time when the power of evil takes over and society is blinded not by darkness but something greater. Not only is this shown in society today but in the book To Kill a Mockingbird. As the author Harper Lee grew up in a time period of great discrimination and hardships she gained a unique perspective of the world. Through her writing in the novel she brings to life the character of Jean Louise Finc h (Scout) who embodies a mischievousRead MoreSummary Of Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee1773 Words   |  8 Pagesfeel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.† Mandela was an anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician, and philanthropist. His life experiences and the quote he left us with show a direct reflection to the lives in many characters in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. In this novel, one of the main characters was Atticus Finch. Mr. Finch’s life was very similar to Mr. Mandela’s, as he was appointed to represent Tom Robinson for the charge of rape against a white woman in Maycomb, Alabama. Deep insideRead MoreSummary Of Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee1773 Words   |  8 Pagesfeel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.† Mandela was an anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician, and philanthropist. His life experiences and the quote he left us with show a direct reflection to the lives in many characters in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. In this novel, one of the main characters was Atticus Finch. Mr. Finch’s life was very similar to Mr. Mandela’s, as he was appointed to represent Tom Robinson for the charge of rape against a white woman in Maycomb, Alabama. Deep insideRead More To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee - Summary Essay1320 Words   |  6 Pages The book quot;To Kill a Mockingbirdquot; is a story of life in an Alabama town in the 30s. The narrator, Jean Louise Finch, or Scout, is writing of a time when she was young, and the book is in part the record of a childhood, believed to be Harper Lee’s, the author of the book.. The story begins as Scout describes her family history and her town, Maycomb during the time of the Great Depression. Atticus is a prominent lawyer and the Finch family is reasonably well off in comparison to the restRead MoreTo Kill A Mockingbird Societal Structure Essay997 Words   |  4 PagesIn To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee explores the consequences of a societal structure founded on bigotry, racism, prejudice, and the hunger for power. Lee employs a variety of literary techniques to portray the consequences of Maycomb’s errant societal structure or even social hierarchy. Thus, Lee uses 1930s Maycomb to critique and evaluate the flaws in her own 1960s America. A particular incident which is central to Lee’s underlying message is the trial of Tom Robinson. Robinson’s trial servesRead MoreEssay Justice System in To Kill a Mockingbird897 Words   |  4 PagesAlthough the dedication of Mr. Finch in â€Å"To Kill a Mockingbird†, even though it turned out against his favor due to an absence of evidence and a debauched court hearing. This court hearing makes readers question whether or not the justice system of that era was fair and in retrospect, a good question is whether or not our justice system today is fair and lawful. If you think that a false conviction was unfair, Tom is eventually killed for his false conviction under a faulty justice system. To me