Sophocles’ Antigone Essay -- Plays Literature Ancient Greece Papers

Sophocles’ Antigone The character of Antigone in Sophocles’ play, Antigone, is one of the most controversial tragic characters in classic literature. The war in her city has torn her family apart, caused the death of both her brothers, and created a reason for her to fight against the King, her uncle. Her uncle, Creon, makes a ruling that her brother, Polynices, is not to be buried because he is a traitor, but according to her religion, her brother’s soul will not go to the afterlife until he is buried. In defense of her brother, she buries his body illegally and is subsequently sentenced to death. With her complex patterns of thought, bold actions, and the end she encounters, the character of Antigone causes debate among critics as to whether or not Antigone is in fact a tragic heroine. She can be perceived as a martyred hero, dying for love and religion, or as a fanatic woman who lacks the ability to think rationally. The way in which Antigone’s role is interpreted can further hel p to interpret Sophocles’ view of women and politics. In taking the view that she is a hero who died for her beliefs, it shows that Sophocles was aiming to prove that women deserve to be treated as equals and as citizens of Greece. Sophocles, like Antigone, was born to a privileged family in 496 B. C. in Colonus, a small town near Athens. His life was full of war stories and heroism. When he was a young boy, the Athenians defeated the Persians at Marathon. Later on, he was subjected to watching the burning of his home and the Parthenon by the Persians as well as the building of a new Parthenon. During the last years of his life, the Peloponnesian War raged on full-scale. Sophocles was a general and war hero during some of this time, but also on t... .../sophocles.htm. 10 Dec 2004. Holland, Catherine A. â€Å"After Antigone: Women, the Past, and the Future of Feminist Political Thought.† American Journal of Political Science, Vol. 42, No. 4. October 1998. JSTOR. http://links.jstor.org/s. 8 Dec 2004. Saxonhouse, Arlene W. â€Å"From Tragedy to Hierarchy and Back Again: Women in Greek Political Thought.† The American Political Science Review: Vol. 80, No. 2. June 1986. JSTOR. http://links.jstor.org. 8 Dec 2004. Sophocles. Antigone. Ed. George Young. New York: Dover Publications, Inc, 1993. Sophocles. Antigone. Ed. R. C. Jebb. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/sophocles-antigone.txt 17 Dec 2004. Willner, Dorothy. â€Å"The Oeduipus Complex, Antigone, and Electra: The Woman as Hero and Victim.†American Anthropologist, New Series, Vol. 84, No. 1. (Mar., 1982), pp. 58-78. JSTOR. http://links.jstor.com 6 Dec 2004.

Molecular, microbial and environmental factors that affect the bioremediation of oil-polluted sites

Bioremediation is a process by which a polluted environment is treated with microorganism so that they are allowed to return back to the previously existed state of normal. This technology is very useful to control oil-spills and prevent greater problems from arising due to pollution. Bioremediation is useful to take care of organic pollutants, and usually harnesses naturally-occurring forms of the microorganisms. However, the ability of the microorganisms to degrade oil is improved in certain situations by altering their genes, especially by introducing genes of other microorganisms (especially bacterial or fungal strains).Some bacteria and fungi are capable of multiplying and degrading hydrocarbons. Chakrabarty, a Professor of the University of Illinois, was able to develop genetically-altered bacteria that were capable of degrading oil. Using genetically-altered microorganism in cultures may not help always be more effective to degrade hydrocarbons, compared to certain indigenous (naturally-occurring) microorganism. Studies have shown that it would be better to modify the environment that exists at the oil spill so that the naturally-occurring microorganisms can gain access to the oil, propagate in ideal conditions and be successful at degrading the oil.Introduction of a reporter gene (which expresses certain characteristics and makes the presence of the microbiological activity easily identifiable) may help to study the activity or presence of the indigenous microorganism population at the pollutant site. The ‘lux gene’ that expresses for ‘bioluminescence’ (production of light by living organisms) can be utilized to study biodegradation. Often, a competition may exist between naturally-occurring microorganisms and the genetically-altered ones for occupancy of the polluted sites.There are also chances that less effective genetically-modified microorganisms may occupy the site and cause fewer benefits. Further studies are needed in t his regard, to enable effective degradation of oil during oil-spills. Crude oil is composed of a number of hydrocarbons which have different types of structures. Different types of components are present in refined oils. Some pollutants may contain oil, pesticides and other compounds including organic and inorganic substances (such as heavy metals).An oil spill tends to spread over a large area. As oil contains a number of individual compounds, there is a need to utilize different types of microorganisms during the oil-spill. These microorganisms are capable of degrading the toxic substances present in the oil to less toxic forms by several processes such as aerobic respiration, anaerobic respiration, fermentation, dehalogenation, etc. The microorganisms can slow down movement of the pollutants by a process known as ‘biocurtain’ (absorbing hydrophobic organic molecules).They are also capable of being modified to other forms that are able to precipitate toxic metals. The microorganisms contained in a media capable of being dispersed by an aircraft or ship can be utilized to spread the substance. However, they also tend to spread to a large area. The importance of environmental modification was seen following the Exxon Valdez Alaskan oil-spill (1989). In this case, the environment was being modified in such a way that the conditions suited the naturally-occurring microorganisms to act and control the oil-spill.Fertilizers ware being added to the shoreline areas in order to help in the microbiological metabolism. These microorganisms needed three elements to survive, namely, carbon, phosphorus and nitrogen. Nitrogen and phosphorus were being supplied by the fertilizers, whereas carbon was provided by the oil-spill. These organisms then thrived in the ideal conditions, broke down the oil, at a rate three to five times faster than without the presence of the fertilizers.Several other environmental factors such as temperature, pH, oxygen concentration, pressure, salinity, turbulence, tidal flux, concentration of inorganic nutrients, and the nature and concentration of the pollutants play a very important role in the functioning of the microorganisms. In cold climatic conditions, ‘psychrophilic’ microorganisms seem to thrive, whereas in warm-environments, thermophilic microorganisms do better. Studies have shown that biodegradation of oil occurs at a faster rate at higher temperatures, and also decreases with a rise in the pressure.The microorganisms have to be appropriately chosen according to the conditions existing. Most of the microorganisms capable of degrading oil, use oxygen (aerobic respiration) and hence their activity directly depends on the oxygen concentration in the environment. Sometimes, during an oil-spill, the area may contain ideal indigenous microorganisms capable of degrading the oil, but there may be a reduced number of such microorganisms. Hence, efforts should be made to feed such microorganisms to the affected areas.

The Social Work Profession And Core Values Essay - 1636 Words

USC Statement of Purpose My understanding of the social work profession and its core values is that social workers are caregivers, they provide assistance to people in need and they address social problems. The social worker goal is the improvement of society in order to ameliorate the lives of individuals in need. The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance the well-being of people and to help them meet their basic needs, with special emphasis on the needs of the poor, and the vulnerable individual. The social work mission is based on a set of core values. These core values are the foundation of the social work profession. These core values are incorporated into the social worker daily practices. Service to others, is one of the core values of social work. Social workers goal is serving others and putting the needs of their clients ahead of their own. Social justice, is another core value of social work. Social workers aim at improving the lives of the underprivileged, vulnerable people who are less fortunate or unable to advocate for themselves. Social workers understand the essential value of every human life, regardless of ethnic background, cultural differences or religious beliefs. They respect the dignity and worth of every person. Another key value of social work is integrity. The social workers conduct themselves in a trustworthy, honest, and responsible manner at all times. Competence, is another important core value of the social workShow MoreRelatedThe Social Work Profession And Its Core Values Essay1624 Words   |  7 Pagesthe social work profession and its core values is that social workers are caregivers, they provide assistance to people in need, and they address social problems. The social worker goal is the improvement of society to ameliorate the lives of individuals in need. The social work profession mission is to enhance the well-being of people and to assist them in meeting their basic needs, with particular emphasis on the needs of the poor , and the vulnerable individual. The Social Work profession has sixRead MoreThe Code Of Ethics And The Social Work1562 Words   |  7 PagesWithin the social work profession, one of the main goals is promoting social justice and changing the lives of individuals, and with that goal in mind, it is imperative that the Core Values are followed closely. By definition from DuBois and Miley, â€Å"eradicating injustices and inequalities to ensure social justice and to protect human rights is the call to action for social workers† (DuBois Miley, 2014, p.47). Over time the profession of social work evolved, and eventually the National AssociationRead MoreSocial Work Values And Ethics1441 Words   |  6 PagesRunning head: Social Work Values and Ethics 1 Social Work Values and Ethics Unique to the Profession Jessica A. Rosario Arizona State University Social Work Values and Ethics 2 Abstract The history and evolution of social work dates to the late 1800’s. Since the profession was recognized many concerns arose regarding the values and ethics of social workers. The key points of theRead MoreThe Profession Of Social Work1290 Words   |  6 PagesOne of the main purposes of my interest in the profession of social work is to gain the knowledge and skill set to effectively help, counsel, and accordingly, provide services for all individuals so that their problems and needs are met. The profession of social work can be rigorous, yet it is a rewarding career that I am ready and willing to engage in. With the career being very diverse, it allows me to devote to my community in a number of ways from working in mental health to provide adequateRead MoreThe Social Work Code Of Ethics1059 Words   |  5 Pagesof the social work profession is deeply rooted in a specific set of core values. These strict set of beliefs are embraced by professional history and are the framework to social work s unique purpose and mission. The six core values inclu de Service, Social Justice, Dignity and Worth of the Person, Importance of Human Relationships, Integrity, and Competence. As Social Workers begin or continue their journey in social work it is significant to always properly represent, and advance the values and goalsRead MoreMy Career As A Social Worker Essay1477 Words   |  6 Pages Social work has evolved over centuries and social work as a profession has gone through a constant change that even continues today. As I begin this journey into my career as a social worker I have to consider so many things; understanding the history of the social work profession and what it means to my career, understanding that social work is a profession and not just a discipline, why it is important that this kind of work be done by a professional, what organizations can help throughout myRead MoreSocial Work s Journey As A Profession And Its Resulting Values913 Words   |  4 Pagesset of values they must analyze their lives and determine wha t is important to them. The time period in which a person was born, their cultural origins, religion, and life experiences all affect what their values will be. In the same way, the social work profession established its values by analyzing its origins, its successes and its failures. This paper looks at social work’s journey as a profession and its resulting values. This paper then discusses my personal life experience, my values, and howRead MoreSocial Work As A Practice And The History Of The Reformers That Helped Create The Very Career Itself Essay1007 Words   |  5 PagesThis paper will include a description of social work as a practice and the history of the reformers that helped create the very career itself. In this section, I will include topics such as the mission, goals, and purpose of a social worker and attributes of the profession. Next, I will discuss the definition and the elements of General Practice in the field. This section will include examples from the lifestyle paper written previously in the year. For this paper, I was required to visit a placeRead MoreValues Ethics in Social Work 1298 Words   |  6 Pagesprofessional values in the ‘British Association of Social Work’ (BASW). With this the concepts of ethics and how this operates in social work practice and analyse the general role in governing and representatives bodies in social work practice†. Values are described as set of rules and guides in the right and wrong decisions we make. Values facilitates the decisions in recognising what is worthy and valuable, with this, weighs out the important and less important, when there is a conflict of values. EthicsRead MoreNational Association Of Social Workers Essay765 Words   |  4 PagesNational Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics Overview National Association of Social Workers created a Code of Ethics to determine how and when social workers should conduct their work to ensure clients are being treated effectively. The mission of social workers is to enhance human well-being and help to meet the basic human needs of all people. (National Association of Social Workers, 2008) The main focus population for social workers is those that are vulnerable, oppressed, and