Tag: Essay

How does Suskind use language to make Cedric’s education seem difficult?

October 19, 2016 / / 1 Comment

In this essay I will be explaining how Ron Suskind uses language to make Cedric’s education seem difficult. I will be doing so by comparing quotes to one another, explaining the different languages devices/techniques that have been used and by describing the quotes in detail in part one and two of his articles. The writer does in fact use various amounts of language devices that may suggest to you that it was extremely difficult for Cedric to get a good education because of the state that he was in

The first language technique that Suskind uses is a metaphor. This quote was used in article one. This can be seen when one of the teachers in Bellou High describes the school as a bad place to learn. ‘Failure is persuasive, even seductive’. The way how it links to Cedric’s education is because since he is one of most people who care about education in that school as many people have already given up, they are now attempting to bring Cedric down with them which makes it hard for Cedric to learn. This makes it hard for Cedric to get a decent education because of this. Whereas in M.I.T it is quite the opposite as people do in fact want to learn there. The reason I know that this quote is a metaphor is because of how the word failure cannot really be persuasive or seductive, as it isn’t a person. The word ‘persuasive’ in the quote suggests that failing subjects is easy to do, and could try and catch Cedric into failing as well. Also, the word ‘Seductive’ suggests that failing is tempting and attracting which means that people may temptate you to fail in Bellou High.

One of the reasons why M.I.T Is the opposite compared to Bellou High in Cedric’s perspective is because many students who have transferred there has quite a sum of financial support, and since Cedric comes from a poor area in poverty, it is hard for him to get his equipment, and pay for school fees. Also, since he comes from a school which drags him down, that’s also a problem for Cedric. The quote that is used here is, “Being a minority and a high achiever means you have to carry extra baggage about who you are, and where you belong. That puts them at risk.” Here, Ron Suskind uses the language technique of metaphor to suggest that Cedric is going to have to go on a long trip which you need a lot of baggage and equipment for. Here, he indicates that Cedric needs to be prepared for what he is about to get into, and to be prepared on how he is going to do so. This quote also explains that since Cedric is a minority as in Poverty, and also since he is a person who cares about education, he needs to bring more to show people who he is, and that he can do as well as everybody else. The word ‘extra’ in this quote suggests that he needs to bring more than who he is, to show people that he can achieve well, and just because he comes from a bad school doesn’t mean that he cannot do well. As most students there has had help from family, and most likely has been in a better school than Cedric, that makes a problem which now he needs to try extra harder than everybody else in order to gain success. In the paragraph above, which talks about how many students wants to bring Cedric down because he is more intelligent and cares about education more differs to this paragraph because Cedric needs to bring more with him, as many students are above him in this manner.

Another quote that shows that M.I.T is hard for Cedric is the quote “the hours of extra work that he begged for from his teachers, the years focusing so single mindlessly on school that he didn’t even have friends.” This quote explains that Cedric does carry that extra baggage, but because of that he has had to made a sacrifice, which has caused him to loose all of his friends. He has been trying to work so much extra than everybody else that he had forgotten about his social life. The word ‘begged’ in this quote suggests that he needs to get his extra work, as it is shown that he begged and not asked, this indicates that he is really desperate to work, and would even loose all of his friends for it.

One of the first impressions that we get from the story in part one is about how much violence there is. Violence is a very strong reason why it is a bad place for a person like Cedric to be in. the quote that explains this is “Just during the current school year, one boy was hacked by a student with an axe, a girl was badly wounded in a knife fight with another female student, fires were set by arsonists, and an unidentified body was dumped next to the parking lot.” This quote tells us that Bellou High is known for it’s crime and isn’t safe at all. Violence is a very strong reason why it is a bad place for a person like Cedric to be in as he isn’t as bad as everybody else. The way that this quote compares to the last quote is that the school that he was in before M.I.T is a school where the pupils simply don’t care at all for their education, and if Cedric was to beg for work in Bellou high, he would probably get beaten up for it.

To explain why he would get beaten up if he was to do well, is shown in this quote “that doing well here means you better not show your face.” This quote described that even if Cedric does well and ask for more work, people would pick on him, so he wasn’t able to do as well as he could because of this problem in his school. The word ‘not’ in this quote suggests that Cedric cannot do something in that school that may put him into a disadvantage. even though education is important for Cedric, the violence in Bellou High is to a point that it is too risky to do anything that may cause problems. The way that this quote is in comparison to the quote above, is because they both have something to do with violence. Both quotes affects Cedric in a way which means that he could potentially be hurt physically.

The last quote that describes Cedric’s difficulties is the fact about how Cedric’s journey has been like a race “But where I start from is so far behind where some other kids are. I have to run twice the distance to catch up.” Here, Ron Suskind uses the language of metaphor to suggest that Cedric is part of a competitive race which is tiring and challenging for him. And since he is a poor minority kid who lives in poverty and because of the people around him, he now needs to run twice the distance to catch up with the rest. This is explains when he says the words “So far behind where some of the other kids are” and “run twice the distance to catch up” which indicates that the writer is referring Cedric’s educational journey like a hard race.

After reading all the different paragraphs together, it is shown that it is actually hard for Cedric to get a good education. Not only in Bellou High, but also in M.I.T. The reason for this is mainly based on his wealth, and his nationality. The reason why wealth is a big problem for Cedric for both parts of his journey is because, in part one, his family didn’t have enough money to take him to different places so he could study, he maybe didn’t have enough money to buy his own computer so that he could study at home. Also, in part two of the story, it is shown that many people are doing better because of how Bellou High has affected him. The way this has happened is because of two reasons. The first reason is because of his nationality, because he is in a mostly black populated school, and they want Cedric to be like them and to just give up, they have been trying to slow down Cedric and try and make him think that education isn’t important for him. Also, because he wasn’t wealthy enough and wasn’t lucky enough to be in a better school, this has effected his time in M.I.T as he isn’t educated as everybody else.

 

 

How Is Hip-Hop Is Good For Society?

May 26, 2016 / / 1 Comment

In this essay, I will be discussing how Hip-Hop still has a positive message behind it. One way the emcees do this is by criticising the reel. I will explain what this is in the next paragraph

 

The reel is used in many Hip-Hop lyrics throughout the world. Hip-Hop used to be about social issues such as police brutality and other impacts that has to do with their life, but now it’s more or less to do with violent acts, getting a heap loads of money from illegal activities such as drug dealing and so on. The first Hip-Hop commercial emcee was the Sugar-hill gang, of which the song was called Rappers Delight. Hip-Hop used to be about social issues such as police brutality and other impacts that has to do with their life, but now it’s more or less to do with violent acts, getting a heap loads of money from illegal activities such as drug dealing and so on.  The reel was used mainly because of the marketing to white suburb. They didn’t want to hear music that criticises the police and their government, therefore when people rapped about the black community, and matters that doesn’t involve them. (Such as violence and drug dealing) The white suburbia didn’t seem to mind and just enjoyed listening to the music.  Going back to the point of why the white suburbia started to listen to hip-hop after the reel was created was because of the hyper-violent lyrics within the music. because of the fact about how Hip-Hop now have these type of lyrics within their songs, many people start to think that acting in the way of the song tells you to seems to be ‘right’

 

This emcee by the name of Akala is a good way to prove to you all that Hip-Hop is good for society. The reason why I’m choosing Akala as one of my points, is because of his freestyle in SBTV. His freestyle consisted on many socially conscious topics. He was talking about why do people basically not care about education, yet in countries like Brazil children are getting shot at and getting held of high calibre weapons such as 5.56 M16. “Next to kids holding hand grenades and M16s, When you come back to London it ain’t serious” The word serious suggests that London isn’t as bad as other countries who suffer much more than we do. This quote identifies when he states how children hold hand grenades and high powered weapons in general. Whilst children are complaining about education and making a waste of their life when they could be doing something much better to what they think is great. He also explains how people enjoy listening to black people getting shot, and how they enjoy the black community being affected by violence, being talked about badly in music videos and being involved in the life of crime. This goes back to MK Asante’s vision of the reel, about how people are getting lead into a world which is made by Hip-Hop artists that talk about these type of subjects.  yet if rappers talk about white people being shot in the streets, and being involved in crime then less people would enjoy listening to the music. “Black rappers claiming they clap a black in the face, Talked about killing white people as much, would he still get embraced?” Akala says this by using the form of rhetorical question, to make people think about what he means in a way that doesn’t need a verbal response, just a thought. This is why i think Akala is a good source to prove why hip-hop is good for society.

 

This emcee by the name of Kendrick Lamar is also a good way to prove to you all that Hip-Hop is good for society. The reason why I’m choosing Kendrick Lamar as one of my other points, is because of his rap song called ‘The Blacker The Berry.’ His rap consisted of socially conscious topics as well as most of the emcees I will be talking about in this whole essay. One of his lines are ‘The blacker the berry, the bigger the juice’ Of which he repeats this line three times so that people understand this line and also so that it stands out more to people. This line means that the blacker people are, the sweeter and nicer they are. Yet, the forth line reverses that situation into reality, as he says “The blacker the berry, the bigger I shoot.” This line means that even though black people are good, people think of them as criminals and police within some parts of america suspect them of having illegal items on them, and treat them as bad people. Another line that stands out to me is his first opening line, “I’m the biggest hypocrite of 2015” The reason why this line stands out to me a lot is because it means that people complain about violence, police brutality and so on, yet they do almost the exact same to their own community, so they are being a hypocrite in that way. If we want to try and change things around, Kendrick is stating that we should try and help the situation our-self. This is why I think Kendrick Lamar is a good source to prove why hip-hop is good for society.

 

This emcee by the name of Mick Jenkins is also another good way top prove to you all that Hip-Hop is good for society. The reason why I’m choosing Mick Jenkins as one of my other points to prove why Hip-Hop is good for society, is because of this rap song called ‘Martyrs.’ His rap consisted of in depth details of what people may not be thinking about. His hook in his rap is meant to be said in a way that people think about is used a lot in most Hip-Hop/Rap music videos. “I’m a get all this money, I’m a buy all this shit, I’m a fuck so many hoes, Nigga I’m a fuck yo bitch” Of which he repeats this twice to get his message across. The reason why he says this, is to implement a message that people don’t understand what they are actually doing to themselves in a way of killing themselves, making people want to kill them and having a very high risk of going to jail, also, when he is saying this part he is wearing a noose around his neck to implement a way that people nowadays are killing themselves in a way that people used to be killed in the 1800’s during the slave trade. He also implements this in the other part when he says “I’m just with my niggas hanging, Hanging, I’m just with my niggas hanging,
Hanging.” This is why I think Mick Jenkins is a good source to prove why hip-hop is good for society.

Finally, the reason why I’m showing you this and explaining to you why these emcees are positive influences towards Hip-Hop today, is because of their lyrics that is said. As many people don’t listen to lyrics, or just listen to the music not the words, I am trying to explain why listening to the lyrics is as important as listening to the music. After reading this whole essay about why Hip-Hop is good for society, I hope you change your concept of what Hip-Hop actually is.

 

 

 

Is The Merchant Of Venice A Anti-Semitism play?

February 8, 2016 / / 1 Comment

Introduction

The merchant of Venice is indeed, Anti Semitic. I know this because of how the Christians in this play seem to target the Jew’s a lot, And also seem to be very disrespectful towards them as well. What I mean by Anti-Semitic? Well this word basically means Hostility/Discrimination against Jews. Which is a very bad racist action that some people still do in the society we live in now. Why do people do it? No idea, all I know is that it is wrong and is a bad thing to do, as the play in the Merchant Of Venice shows us just that.

First of all, Anti-Semitic means discrimination against Jewish people, which has clearly been notified in the play.

Jews Were Separated From The Christians

My first sum of evidence here is the fact how Jewish people and Christian people have to live separate, and even worse that the Jewish people have to live in a ghetto. A Ghetto is ‘a part of a city, especially a slum area, occupied by a minority group or groups. An isolated or segregated group or area in or restrict to an isolated or segregated area or group.’ This is definitely no doubt a clear piece of evidence of how the Christians were being Anti-Semitic as they were separated from the Christians and were put into a ghetto. This is why I believe that this is evidence for this play being Anti-Semitic.

 Shylock Is A Money Lender
My second piece of evidence states how Jews are only allowed to be money lenders. This clarifies how the Christians only allowed the Jewish people to be money lenders and have no other types of jobs at all. The reason why I think this is Anti-Semitic is because, why on earth would Jewish people be set a certain job and no others. Don’t they have freedom? Firstly living in a ghetto. And now only allowed to have one job. This is like before, another reason why this play Merchant Of Venice is Anti-Semitic towards Jews.
‘Three Thousand Ducats’
This quote is spoken by Shylock when he looses his daughter Jessica, when she runs away, changes religion and steals Shylock’s money.
The reason why this is Anti-Semitic is because the first thing he thinks of first is his Ducats. Which is a strange thing for someone to say after loosing a member of their own family. As Jews were known for being ‘Good with money’ then this phase makes fun of that by making it seem that since Shylock is a Jew, then he cares about money more than his daughter. I also know this because the word ‘Ducats’ or ‘Ducat’ in his speech was said 6 times. and the word Daughter/Jessica was said 5 times, so somehow Ducats seem more important to him. This is why the quote
‘Three Thousand Ducats‘ is a good use of evidence to state that this play is Anti-Semitic.
‘A Pound Of Flesh’
This phrase is another piece of evidence that I found. I chose this phrase because it shows a Jewish Stereotype, which Shakespeare has used to make the audience laugh. The play shows Anti-Semitism because of how Shylock wanted a pound of flesh, maybe because of the stereotype of Jews preforming rituals on humans to get their blood. I know this because of this quote here, said by Jessica: ‘That he would rather have Antonio’s flesh than twenty times the value of the sum’ This quote shows this because of how Shylock wanted his blood, and didn’t care how much money people would give him not to do it. This is why I believe that this piece of evidence is a good point to show you that this play is Anti-Semitic.
‘Fair Sir You Spit On Me Wednesday Last’
This quote is a clear evidence of Anti-Semitism. This is because of how Antonio spits on Shylock, and expects nothing of it as he is a ‘Jew’ so he can do whatever he pleases. Antonio also states that he will spit on him again if he wants to. This quote was said during the time when Antonio asked for the 3000 ducats. Plus, as Antonio believes that Shylock’s only job is a ‘Money Lender’ then he would accept it. Antonio also calls Shylock a dog, and just expects Shylock to let it go as he is a ‘Jew’ and wouldn’t just say no to the offer. In return to this Shylock questions how a dog can lend people money ‘Hath a dog money? Is it possible a cur can lend three thousand ducats?’ This is why I believe that this quote is evidence for this play being Anti-Semitic.
‘Thou Naughty gaoler’
This quote is another piece of evidence to state how this play is Anti-Semitic. This line was said by Shylock when the gaoler let Antonio out of his cell to speak with Shylock. I chose this quote because since Antonio is a Christian he is let out of his cell to speak with Shylock. Yet if it was Shylock asking to let out of his jail to speak with Antonio for any type of matter, they will say no say no as he is a ‘Jew.’ This is why I believe that this quote is evidence for this play being Anti-Semitic.
Comedy play
This phrase is another valid point on how the Merchant Of Venice Anti-Semitic. I know this because of how Jews were treated in this play. Jews were treated like animals, the Christians didn’t seem to care about them at all. They spit on Jews, call them dogs and other horrible words. The reason why I believe that this play being a comedy explains how it is Anti-Semitic is clearly because Shakespeare wants us to think that treating Jews bad is funny, and is all just a laugh when clearly it is not and it is a terrible thing to do nowadays. This is why I think that this play being a Comedy explains how it is also Anti-Semitic.
So from all the evidence and explanations of my points given, this is why I believe that the Merchant Of Venice is Anti-Semitic.