Thursday, December 26, 2019
HIV/AIDS and Women - 4590 Words
Table of Content Content Page Table of content : 1 1. Introduction : 2 2. HIV/AIDS : 2 3. HIV/AIDS and women : 2 4. Special signs and symptoms of HIV/AIDS in women : 3 5. Vulnerability of women to AIDS : 3 6. The challenges that HIV/AIDS infected women faced : 4 7. Transmission of HIV to women : 5 8. Global distribution of HIV/AIDS among women : 5 9. The impact of HIV on women : 7 10. Prevention : 9 11. HIV treatment : 9 12. Prevention Challenges : 11 13. The Global Response to HIV/AIDS : 11 14. The Global Coalition on Women and AIDS : 12 15. Women and HIV related MDGs, its target and impact of HIV to achieve the target : 13 16. HIV/AIDS and women in Bangladesh : 14â⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Other symptoms often experienced months to years before the onset of AIDS include: Lack of energy or fatigue Weight loss Frequent low-grade fevers and night sweats Frequent yeast infections (in the mouth) Skin rashes or flaky skin that is hard to heal Short-term memory loss Most symptoms of HIV disease are similar in men and women. Women who have HIV can have additional symptoms that happen more often. These include: Vaginal yeast infections Other vaginal infections such as bacterial Vaginosis; common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like gonorrhea, Chlamydia and Trichomoniasis; Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infections that cause genital warts and can lead to cervical cancer; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) Infection of a women s reproductive organs and menstrual cycle changes, such as not having periods 5. Vulnerability of women to AIDS: There are vulnerabilities to HIV that are unique to women. These help to account for the differences in infection rates between men and women worldwide. Some of those vulnerabilities include: Physical Differences: Women are especially susceptible to heterosexual transmission physically because the mucosal lining of the vagina offers a large surface area to be exposed to HIV-infected seminal fluid. Easier to Transmit from Men to Women than Women to Men (biological vulnerability): Anatomical differences between men and women mean transmission from men to women is easier than the other way around. MuchShow MoreRelatedSubstance Abuse and HIV/AIDS in Women2505 Words à |à 10 Pagesï » ¿Substance abuse HIV/AIDS in women Introduction Drug and substance abuse has been known to be a major risk factor for HIV/AIDS in the world. According to reports by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), there are an estimated 1 million people who are living with HIV/AIDS in the US and about a third of these cases are directly and indirectly linked to some kind of drug abuse ADDIN EN.CITE National Institute on Drug Abuse2005823(National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2005)82382312National InstituteRead MoreAfrican American Women Living With Hiv Aids1576 Words à |à 7 PagesRunning Head: AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN LIVING WITH HIV AIDS 1 AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN LIVING WITH HIV AIDS 9 African American Women Living with HIV/AIDS Ruth Dionne Davis SCWK 620 Winthrop University Department of Social Work Abstract HIV/AIDS is a major concern in the African American community. African American women have the highest incidence rate of HIV infection with a steady increase over the years. Extreme poverty, unemployment, underemploymentRead MoreKnowledge and Awareness of HIV/AIDS among Women in India1405 Words à |à 6 PagesKnowledge and Awareness about HIV/AIDS among Women of reproductive age in a district of Northern India Introduction This paper is a review of the article titled Knowledge and Awareness about HIV/AIDS among Women of reproductive age in a district of Northern India. Article clearly identifies the low HIV/AIDS awareness and knowledge among women of reproductive age. Researcher is motivated to reduce the number of cases and prevalence of infectious disease through awareness. While introducingRead MoreTroubling The Angels : Women Living With Hiv / Aids By Patti Lather Essay1301 Words à |à 6 PagesThe book Troubling The Angels: Women Living With HIV/AIDS by Patti Lather (an educator) and Chris Smithies (a psychologist) troubles the dominant cultural and social meanings of HIV/AIDS, and draws attention to women with HIV/AIDS because they are often left out from the dominant rhetoric in the United States. The participants are women in Ohio who are members of four HIV/AIDS support groups that are specifically for women. Although many of the scientific realities and statistics cited in this bo okRead MoreCritical Analysis of an Article on HIV/AIDS Prevention Issues for Women970 Words à |à 4 Pagesnew insight on women HIV/AIDS prevention issues. As a society, we focus on individualist ways of prevention. We try to enforce and educate individuals on HIV/AIDS prevention on an individual level but itââ¬â¢s more complex because women have a lower status compared to men, this disempowerment can lead to violence in relationships with men therefore, negotiating condom use for women can lead to violence. The angle this review will be focusing on is how these gender roles affect womenââ¬â¢s HIV sexual risk behavioursRead MoreA Policy Regarding Women and HIV/AIDS: An Evaluation, Analysis, and Revision1557 Words à |à 6 Pagesï » ¿WOMEN WITH HIV/AIDS HOW A TOPIC BECOMES A POLICY INTRODUCTION The women health is a subject of global interest. People and organizations round the world have realized that the health of a woman means the health of a family. Thus efforts are made to make policy regarding women and HIV/AIDS. A prior paper in this regard has discussed formulation, legislation and implementation of the policy and this is a sequel discussing the evaluation, analysis and revision stags of the policy making in thisRead MorePositive And Negative Factors Affecting Quality Of Life For Women With Hiv / Aids929 Words à |à 4 Pagesquality of life for women in Sub-Saharan African with HIV/AIDS. One major positive factor that increase quality of life is the support system that religion can provide. It is documented that ââ¬Å"Women s narratives also illustrated how their faith was an important source of ongoing psychological support as they learned to live with their diagnosisâ⬠(Maman et al., 2009). Churches and pastors provide support and a community for women with a HIV/AIDS diagnosis. This is crucial for women to fight depressionRead MoreHIV/AIDS acquisition is at an all-time high in todayââ¬â¢s society, especially for women in hidden or2000 Words à |à 8 Pages HIV/AIDS acquisition is at an all-time high in todayââ¬â¢s society, especially for women in hidden or illegal activities, such as drug-use and sex work (Beard et al. 2010). As a result of their hidden lifestyles, their children are at increased risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS through mother-to-child transmission (MTCT), especially due to the stigma surrounding the disease, keeping women from seeking services that could help both them and their children (Beard et al. 2010). The following paper explores theRead MoreHiv And The Immune System948 Words à |à 4 PagesWhat is HIV HIV , stands for human immunodeficiency virus, it is a virus that attacks the immune system, the immune system protects the body against infection and illness .If the body does not have a strong immune system, It may not be able fight off disease. The virus and the infection it causes are termed HIV. White blood cells are the part of the immune system that is important as far as fighting off infection. When a person catches HIV it infects and destroys certain white blood cells calledRead MoreHiv / Aids : A Virus That Attacks One s Immune System989 Words à |à 4 PagesIntroduction HIV/AIDS is a virus that attacks oneââ¬â¢s immune system, leading to one being immunocompromised and vulnerable to infections (Skolnik, 2012). According to Skolnik (2012), HIV is mainly spread through unprotected sex, through bodily fluids such as blood and can also be transmitted from mother to child through childbirth. HIV/AIDS remains one of the most highly known communicable diseases in South Africa (Avert, 2015). In addition to the 6.2 million people currently living with HIV, World Health
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
Critique Of Social Support And Migration - 2157 Words
Critique of Social Support and Migration in Scotland Project on Experiences of Social Security and Prospects for Long Term Settlement in Scotland amongst Migrants from Central Eastern Europe and Former Soviet Union. 1. Introduction Academics in the United Kingdom have a long experience of conducting research on migrants and refugees. However, when ten Eastern European states joined the European Union in 2004 and 2007, and many new migrants arrived, it became a challenge to an academic world to investigate this new phenomenon. One of the attempts to comprehend this unknown territory is the research conducted by the University of Glasgow and the University of Swansea; called the Social Support and Migration in Scotland (SSAMIS). Their research tries to study ââ¬Å"perspectives and experiences of social security amongst migrants from Central Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union in Scotland.â⬠The purpose of this essay is to critically discuss if in overall the SSAMIS project is a successful piece of research. This is a challenging task as the research still has not been finished. Nevertheless, it is possible to look at their research methods and initial findings to say if the research seems to achieve its aims. In order to do it, this essay will be divided into three main parts: 1) overview of the research conducted by SSAMIS, 2) research methods, and 3) initial findings. In each part, the discussion on the research will be conducted with the presentation of some examplesShow MoreRelatedA Brief Note On Impeded Economic Development And Its Effect On The Prevalence Of Migration1392 Words à |à 6 Pagespaper s statistical sophistication. However, Nunn s paper is still subject to critique. First, mapping ethnicities onto modern countries in Africa has been called ââ¬Å"ethnogenesisâ⬠(Austin 2008). The inconsistency of ethnic labels coupled with the prevalence of migration, ââ¬Å"makes it very difficult to be confident about assigning 18th century ethnonyms to 20th century- territoriesâ⬠(Austin 2008:1001). Second, migration in pre-colonial Africa was extremely common. Herbst (2000) talks of how the exitRead MoreA Research Article On Domestic Policies And The Legal Status Of Prostitution1383 Words à |à 6 PagesResearch Article Critique The research article ââ¬Å"Does Legalized Prostitution Increase Human Traffickingâ⬠was authored by junior professors of economics Seo-Young (the University of Marburg, 2015), Alex Dreher who, is also member of Development Economics and International Economics (University Heidelberg, 2015) and at last a professor of Environment and Development Eric Neumayer ( London School of Economics and Political Science, 2015). Importantly, all the authors have conducted several researchesRead MoreThe Common Denominator of Security and Feminism600 Words à |à 3 Pagespoliticization, suffers from gender bias, even is more widen than the traditional paradigm. Hansen arguments that a definition of the object blocks or limits the categorization of security issues, it distinguishes between social and international security and maintains that gender belongs to social security, concerning individual not collective security. Seems that women are marginalized, even present in the discourse, thi s being also the argument that male stream thinking about security is effectively universalizedRead MoreEssay on What is Sustainable Development?888 Words à |à 4 Pagesyearly to discuss the topic of sustainable development. Some things that they outline to work on in the upcoming year are ââ¬Å"climate change and clean energy, sustainable transport, sustainable consumption and production, public health, social inclusion, demography and migration, and global poverty and sustainable development challenges.â⬠(Sustainable Development) By addressing these situations now they are not only creating a sustainable place for the future generations, they are also creating a betterRead MoreThe Cold War And The Soviet Union862 Words à |à 4 PagesLocal elites, military groups, and the conservative wing of the church enjoyed the additional attention and aimed for support from the US to maintain the status quo. US support reached a new level in 1954 at Guatemala. Even before the Cuban revolution, Guatemala experienced a raise of communist and socialist influenced Guerrillas. These groups contained people from different social levels, mostly lower and middle class, expressing a nationalistic interest in solving the underdevelopment and miseryRead MoreAn Interview At A Social Service Centre Essay1444 Words à |à 6 Pages 1. Introduction In this report I will identify and critique an interview of important skills and lack of them towards a client by a social service practitioner. Within this report I will identify positive and negative aspects that affect the efficiency of the Help process. This meeting is held at a Social service centre by Barbara. It is the first meeting between the pracitioner and her client JinLing, a Chiniese migrant who is unhappy with her job situation. 2. Micro Skills 2.1 IdentificationRead MoreAdolf Marx : A Central Concern For The Young Karl Marx Essay1729 Words à |à 7 Pagesââ¬Å"Alienationââ¬Å¸ was a central concern for the young Karl Marx. Discuss the dimensions of this alienation in connection to Marxââ¬â¢s critique of capitalist society and comment on the contemporary relevance of this concept. Karl Marx is a critically renowned, prolific and revolutionary figure amongst historic academia and is considered to be one of the three founding fathers of Sociology. Working throughout the 19th century Marxââ¬â¢s work included the theory of ââ¬Ëalienationââ¬â¢. Born in Germany, young Marx wasRead MoreUrban Planning Models1712 Words à |à 7 Pagesinclude justice but still believes in their intentions and role in building the best community. Thomas (2005) writes, about the tenacity of urban planners. She states, in spite of false steps and inadequate tools, in spite of political turmoil and social upheaval, local efforts continued. At no time during this half century did such efforts stop, although sometimes they slowed and became practically invisible. Someone was always trying to plan and develop a better city, and someone always will, forRead MoreHuman Resource Management and Migrant Labour Essay1830 Words à |à 8 PagesHuman Resource Management and Migrant Labour Table of Contents: ââ¬Å½ ââ¬Å½1.ââ¬Å½ Introduction ââ¬Å½ ââ¬Å½2.ââ¬Å½ Literature Review ââ¬Å½ ââ¬Å½3.ââ¬Å½ Critical Analysis and Discussion ââ¬Å½ ââ¬Å½4.ââ¬Å½ Conclusion ââ¬Å½ Introduction:ââ¬Å½ Migration in every country leads to a change in the labour market. Countries like UK ââ¬Å½grant immigration rights to the large numbers of immigrants every year and openly allow ââ¬Å½immigrations from citizens of their former colonies. The attitudes of a country towards ââ¬Å½immigration vary greatly on theRead MoreFactors of Poverty in Namibia782 Words à |à 3 Pagesconsumption means that the poorest sector of the Namibian society only accounts for the 1 percent of general expenditure while the 5% of the Namibians that belong to the high-income group hold the 53 percent of it. According to the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare of Namibia, the 41% on Namibian homes depend on wages as their principal source of wealth. These data shows the utmost significance that salaries and wages have for the subsistence of Namibian homes. This is underlined by the point that around
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
The Arthur Andersen Debacle free essay sample
A discussion of whether or not auditing should be separated from consulting. We will write a custom essay sample on The Arthur Andersen Debacle or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Need order essay? Ask here how. This paper analyzes the accounting firm, Arthur Andersen and describes the role Andersen played in the Enron collapse. The paper uses this case to illustrate the debate of whether or not auditing should be separated from consulting. The writer states that the Andersen debacle has been instrumental in informing the public of the flaws of businesses in a capital market. In recent months the standards of the accounting profession have been the subject of great scrutiny. At the forefront of this ongoing debate is the accounting firm of Arthur Andersen. The firm has been found guilty of obstruction of justice in the Enron case on the grounds that the company shredded valuable documents relating to the financial collapse of Enron. The purpose of this paper is to explore whether or not auditing should be separated from consulting.
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
The significance of narrative perspective in Melvilles Benito Cereno and Douglass Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Essay Example
The significance of narrative perspective in Melvilles Benito Cereno and Douglass Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Paper Herman Melvilles Benito Cereno and Frederick Douglass Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, Written by Himself are two very different texts, both dealing with aspects of slavery in the early 19th century. The first is a work of fiction, told from a third person perspective whereas the latter: an autobiography, following the authors life from childhood to his state of affairs at the time of writing. The narrative structures in both these novels are significant within their own texts but are also interesting to compare because of the way they both portray the theme of slavery. The narrative perspective of Benito Cereno is that of Captain Amasa Delano, of the Bachelors Delight. However, he is not the protagonist of the tale, but merely a naive spectator of the events that mainly concern the eponymous Benito Cereno. His naivety is parallel to that of the first time reader. There is a mystery on board the San Dominick, one that is both obvious and yet so well hidden that it is difficult to figure out. For first time readers, this mystery is so frustrating because it seems obvious that there is something gone amiss on board the San Dominick but Delano, dismisses them so as to throw off readers from probing the truth. We will write a custom essay sample on The significance of narrative perspective in Melvilles Benito Cereno and Douglass Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The significance of narrative perspective in Melvilles Benito Cereno and Douglass Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The significance of narrative perspective in Melvilles Benito Cereno and Douglass Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer When Delano boards the San Dominick to help the crew, he notices Don Benitos unfriendly indifference towards himself1 and his sour and gloomy disdain. This is a strange reaction to Delanos company, which should be greeted as a form of rescue. However, Delano attributes this indifference to the effects of sickness2 and dismisses it. As a consequence, readers of Benito Cereno assume Delanos excuse as their own and also dismiss such a trivial observation. But Delano is good at making these trivial observations but instead of connecting them and drawing a conclusion, he rejects them as soon as it is noted. In the same page as the previous observation, he also notices the intimacy of Cereno and Babo. His first impression of Babo is that he is less a servant than a devoted companion3 to Cereno, often holding out his arm or handing him a handkerchief to help his master. It is this impression that has really sheltered Delano from the truth, because his perspective of the important relationship of Cereno and Babo is the foundation of excuses for everything else that occurs on the ship. Delano is truly naive in that he cannot conceive any real evil to occur on the ship. Melville narrates the story from a third person perspective, therefore creating a distance from the narrative perspective of Delano, but often, the narration agrees with Delano. However, at times, the narration takes a step back from Delano and observes his point of view (which is at times, accurate) but dismisses his interpretation of the events. One scene where this occurs is when Babo shaves Cereno. Delano witnesses this scene and observes: Altogether the scene was somewhat peculiar, at least to Captain Delano, nor, as he saw the two thus postured, could he resist the vagary, that in the black he saw a headsman, and in the white, a man at the block. 4 The narrator, though separate from Delano, is sympathetic to his perspective. However, to understand the true point of view of the narrator, particularly in the above passage, is difficult. Here, Delano sees the scene for what it truly is menacing and threatening. The rebellion is essentially, revealed in this trivial description. There is then, a sense that Delano and the narrator counters each other in order to maintain a state of naivety for the readers. Usually, the narration seems to be aware of the suspicious nature of the San Dominick, which is apparent through the revealing description throughout the novel. But if Delano starts suspecting something suspicious, the narrator turns and attributes it to Delanos own perspective. So, in the above passage the scene according to the narrator is not strange, but Delano thinks that it is somewhat peculiar. Melville is being really smart here by never corroborating the narrator with Delanos perspective, which therefore throws readers off, making it difficult for readers to grasp what is happening until Melville finally reveals the twist. The point of Delano as narrative perspective is to relate to him. In an obvious way, readers relate to him insofar as his interpretation of the mystery and assume his judgments as our own. However, the narrator holds Delano up as a model of justice and legality5. His rescuing of the crew members at the end, the recapturing of the rebel slave and the court case at the end all contributes to this idea that Delano is the representative of an ideal American in the 18th-19th century. Indeed, his actions are what were required of an American citizen under the Fugitive Slave Act of 18506. His heroic act of recapturing the rebel slaves is legitimately supported by the law. The heroism of Delano is further supported by excusing his delay in reacting because had it been otherwise some of my interferences might have ended unhappily enough7. Thus, his naivety is justified because if he had realised sooner, Babo would have killed both captains instantly. Whilst this is undoubtedly true, it is still a lame excuse for the tedious amount of time it takes for him to realise. But this too, can be likened to the state of America at the time. Melvilles ambiguity in Benito Cereno is confusing especially to the topic of slavery. Whether it supports slavery or not is so difficult to comprehend. Delano is portrayed as a model for recapturing the slaves but the slaves are just revolting against the cruel system of slavery which gives them justification. The separation between Delano and the narrator is important because it gives room for this ambiguity and such as it is, never reveals what Melville truly believes. However, the point of pro- or anti-slavery is not an issue when analysing the significance of Delanos perspective and representation. If Delano is a representative of America, then it is because Delanos naivety mirrors that of America in the 18th-19th century. Americas incapability to recognise evil when it is displayed so obviously is similar to that of Delanos gullibility. However, Delanos slow process of realisation could be what Benito Cereno is trying to achieve Americas own realisation of the true evils of slavery. There is the sense that Melville is constantly trying to give us more hints, but with Delano dismissing the clues, it is very difficult for most first time readers to realise what is really happening until the end, when Melville chooses to reveal the twist. Therefore, most first time readers can be likened to Delano in that they too, are also tricked and are victims of Babos elaborate performance. Because there is a distance from the narration and the narrative perspective of Delano, there exists a different character in the form of the narration one of whom can be truly parallel to the second time reader. The second time reader can read the narration and understand why Delano can think the way he does about certain things but also have the insight of the actual occurrences on the ship. This is why Melvilles novel is such a hugely effective it is a text that needs to read twice so that readers can truly understand why it is that Cereno is the way that he is. On first reading, the narrative perspective of Delano seems to be guiding readers to a conclusion where Cereno has joined forces with the slaves of the San Dominick and is embarking on a villainous attempt to overthrow Delano. However, it is actually Cereno who is the victim, but this is not understood until reading the text again. The significance of Delanos perspective is then, integral to the mystery of the text. As a work of fiction, Benito Cereno was written in order to engender profit. This is a creative piece of writing by Melville in order to entertain the reader and to sell. This is unlike Narrative, as the novel is a way for Douglass to tell his own story and account of the true aspects of slavery as one of the first ex-slaves to write his own autobiography. However, that is not to say that Douglass text does not involve aspects of creativity and manufacture. Autobiographies are often victims of selective memory, or creative imagination in order to create more sympathy and a better reading experience for the reader. In order to write an autobiography, the author inadvertently exercises memory and shapes it in a specific way so that the history no longer is impartial or neutral, but one that is manipulated by the authors inspiration8. In Douglass case, this unintentional influence is littered throughout the text because the point of his novel is not to sell to make a profit, but to highlight the cruelty of slavery in hope that it will contribute to the abolitionist cause. For example, the scene in which Douglass witnesses his first introduction to the cruelty of slavery (i. e. Aunt Hesters whipping) is written with elaborate and particularly moving diction with the intention of creating an evocative scene: The louder she screamed, the harder he whipped; and where the blood ran fastest, there he whipped longest9 the rhythmic flow of the sentence and the evocative language he uses is poignantly expressed and readers cant help but to feel outrage at the cruelty of the master. His rich use of language and his ability to articulate it is undeniable, but he humbles himself by stating: I wish I could commit to paper the feelings with which I beheld it10. This simple statement is both true but also a device of creativity. Because words cannot reveal the true extent of the horror, the profound emotions, associated with witnessing such a scene from a small age. Therefore, the imagination of the reader is intensified and is thus a clever writing technique that Douglass uses effectively. Even though Narrative is written in first person narrative, there is a difference between Douglass the protagonist and Douglass the narrator. Douglass as the narrator is reflecting on his life as it was and there are times when it is easy to see the difference between the naive protagonist and the experienced narrator. For example, when he recounts the songs of the slaves, he states: I did not, when a slave, understand the deep meaning of those rude and apparently incoherent songs. I was myself within the circle; so that I neither saw nor heard as those without might see and hear. 11 Douglass as the protagonist often plays a slighter role at the beginning but his importance increases as he gradually becomes the Douglass who is writing the narrative. Therefore, though he does not at that point understand the songs because he is within the circle itself and observing it as young Douglass, he can, as Douglass the narrator, truly understand the meanings of those songs. This raises an interesting point of comparison between the two novels. The way in which Douglass approaches this particular point about the perception of slave songs is comparable to the way in which Melville, or actually, Delano, perceives Babos relationship to Cereno. In Benito Cereno, Delano sometimes sees affection12 in Babos face for Cereno. This resembles the misconception that many slave owners believed about the happiness of slaves. It was speciously believed that the singing of songs whilst working showed that they were content with their situation. Douglass, on the other hand, believes that it was a testimony against slavery, and a prayer to God for deliverance from chains13. Delanos erroneous belief of Babos servitude is one that is similar to that of the larger part of Americans on the whole. It is not that Delano is being consciously racist in thinking or believing this view, but it is the culture of America at that time to have this constitutional attitude towards slavery. Douglass, in writing his narrative, is trying to teach the public what hes learnt himself through his own experiences. There is always a sense of progress from the inexperienced Douglass to the Douglass who is writing the narrative. It is as if he is projecting himself to his early childhood and living his life once again. This device, helped by certain phrases (I have now reached the a period of my life when I can give dates14), provide the readers with a similar sense of projection as if the readers themselves are being transported back in time to witness his accounts first-hand. This is a powerful tool of sympathy, which Douglass employs with effectual success. Both Douglass and Melville employ the use of a naive character in terms of narrative perspective. This has the effect of distorting the events at the time of occurrence by relating their own limited judgments. However, their naivety slowly transforms into a realisation of their own faults. With Delano, his naivety is required to maintain the mystery on board the San Dominick but it also serves as a mirror of America. Delano, so gullible and naive to the evils of slavery, finally realises his faulty belief system and can act to rectify it. This is an easy conclusion to make but it is really confusing as the evils of slavery is actually caused by the slaves themselves in Benito Cereno, but that in turn is caused by the evils of slavery as an institution. Melvilles novel is a very difficult novel to conclude. Delano is doing a heroic act, according to America, in recapturing the slaves but he is essentially, depriving them of their freedom. But Delanos significance in his naivety is important; if Melville chose to narrate the story beginning with the mutiny on board the San Dominick, the story would not be as effective, the implications of the text would be overshadowed and overall, the reading experience the revelation and understanding would be non existent. Douglass story is like Melvilles insofar as his character cannot truly recognise the significance of certain events until he reflects on them at a much later date. Douglass character however, is perhaps not as frustrating as Delanos is because Douglass young self is an empathetic and understandable character. His character can recognise the evils of slavery, not because he is a part of it, but because it is also in his nature to understand the cruelty of the institution. Delanos character does not have this inherent understanding unlike Douglass, who realises it even as a naive character though he can only reflect and analyse it once he is out of the system himself. Perhaps it can be said that both authors novels serve a didactic purpose in trying to teach America the true nature of slavery by revealing the inhumane aspect of it and portraying its cruelty. However, Melvilles ambiguity is so difficult to understand, that maybe, its safer to say only Douglass story achieves this aim.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)