Theme Of Racism In Heart Of Darkness - 782 Words

Depicting actual events and scenarios in a fictional setting can shed a new light on certain topics, but when the real and fictional meet problems can sometimes arise. In Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, the theme of race and white or national superiority is prevalent in the text, but it leaves the reader wondering if the text is truly racist or not. There are two sides to this argument, but for the most part the story is not racist. On the side on racism, the signs can be seen relatively early on in the work as show when Marlow is retelling about the death of Fresleven at the hands of the village chief’s son. Before Fresleven’s ruthless attack was described, the reader is given a description of him that is supposed to draw in sympathy†¦show more content†¦The reader also gets views and reactions of Marlow that shows that he’s has a better moral compass than the rest, as he is uneased by his aunt’s words, offers a dying native laborer a b iscuit, and being able to work with the so called â€Å"cannibals† to make it further along the river. Marlow is the saving grace in this story and helps it from being deemed entirely spiteful or even racist. When comparing other characters for example Kurtz to Marlow, he appears to be the most sensible or morally sound character. Both of these characters can be seen as two sides of the white Europeans. Kurtz demonstrates the superiority and more aggressive side as he initiates the conflict between the natives, uses the natives to his own advantage and for his own purposes, for example cheating on his fiancà © with a native, and having his last words or final request being â€Å"exterminate all the brutes!† (1990). Whereas Marlow demonstrates the more rational side who is fine with working with the Africans and using heir help to reach their goal, feels general unease on how people comment on the extermination of the â€Å"ignorant†, and he even laments the Afr ican helmsman’s death. That is one thing that Heart of Darkness was able to accomplish and that was showing both sides of the conflict and inflect upon them in a critical manner. Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness was considered by Chinua Achebe as being racist but that really is not the case. If anything, Heart of Darkness isShow MoreRelatedTheme Of Racism In Joseph Conrads Heart Of Darkness1008 Words   |  5 Pages6.13.17 Racism is misleading: Theme of TFA Racism is still a problem today, even though it has changed over time. In the past, it was more open and something that was normal. Now, there are less people who are racist, or, those who are racist have just gotten better at hiding their thoughts and changing their words so that they seem like normal comments. In Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, the main character, Marlow, journeys the Congo and describes what he sees. In a response to Heart of DarknessRead MoreComparing Shakespeares Othello with Conrads Heart of Darkness738 Words   |  3 PagesOthello with Conrad’s Heart of Darkness It is often that when we read great works of literature we come across similar themes. Authors use powerful ideas that they believe will move their readers and relate to them so they become engaged in the words written. William Shakespeare and Joseph Conrad were amazing writers of their times and even though their works were written almost 300 years apart, both, Othello and Heart of Darkness, have coinciding themes. The major theme that both ShakespeareRead MoreThe Heart Of Darkness By Joseph Conrad1166 Words   |  5 PagesUse of Darkness in Heart of Darkness Everyone claims to be equal, and nowadays people are working hard to create equality regardless gender and race. Meanwhile, race and ethnicity become one of the most popular topics of modern literature. The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad depicts a story of colonization took place in the Belgian Congo through Marlow’s perspective. In this book, the author portrays the European ideas of civilizing Africa as well as the ideas of imperialism and racism. AlthoughRead MoreRacism And Sexism In Joseph Conrads Heart Of Darkness1108 Words   |  5 Pagesundertaking VCE. From the time Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad was published in 1899 the novel has been held under considerable scrutiny as many interpretations have been developed over the novels true intent as well as the overall message portrayed within. Chinua Achebe’s â€Å"An Image of Africa† is a well-known criticism on Heart of Darkness that focuses on a Post-Colonial perspective to describe the nature of the novel. Jeremy Hawthorn’s â€Å"The Women of Heart of Darkness† is another well-known criticismRead MoreThe Heart Of The Congo852 Words   |  4 PagesSet in the heart of the Congo, Heart of Darkness is a tale of a man named Marlow who is hired as a steamboat captain by a Belgian owned company. During the late 19th century, Africa was divvied up, so to speak, by imperialistic powers and was the world’s hotspot for the much sought after i vory. Marlow was hired for a quest to set out and find a mystery man named Kurtz who was also part of the same company and was currently in the Congo. Kurtz had apparently gone crazy, so it was the mission ofRead MoreShakespeare s Heart Of Darkness1424 Words   |  6 Pages Relevance of Heart of Darkness Alexander Spirovski LITR 211 Professor David Auchter â€Æ' Joseph Conrad s Heart of Darkness contains both relevant and irrelevant elements to today s society. Issues present in the text such as imperialism, racism, and moral ambiguity are still present today but their formats have changed enough in society that Heart of Darkness approaches obsolescence in perspective. Concurrently, the characters and theme presented in Heart of Darkness are scarce in fictionalRead MoreAnnotated Bibliography Of The Heart Of Darkness1207 Words   |  5 PagesNoel Guillen Mr.Nigro English 8/12/17 The Heart of Darkness and the Secret Sharer Annotated Bibliography Zeitler, Michael. â€Å"Isolation in Heart of Darkness.† Encyclopedia of Themes in Literature, 3-Volume Set, Facts on File, 2010. Blooms Literature, online.infobase.com/HRC/Search/Details/38721?q=heart of darkness. Accessed 30 Nov. 2017. Early in the narration of the heart of the darkness, it starts as Marlow the fellow sailor traveler that has an adventuress mindset but he is a very quiet andRead MoreEssay on Another Heart of Darkness1021 Words   |  5 Pages Ignorance and Racism Joseph Conrad develops themes of personal power, individual responsibility, and social justice in his book Heart of Darkness. His book has all the trappings of the conventional adventure tale - mystery, exotic setting, escape, suspense, unexpected attack. Chinua Achebe concluded, quot;Conrad, on the other hand, is undoubtedly one of the great stylists of modern fiction and a good story-teller into the bargainquot; (Achebe 252). Yet, despite Conrads great story telling, heRead More Theme of Colonialism and Imperialism in Conrads Heart of Darkness1008 Words   |  5 PagesThe Theme of Imperialism in Heart of Darkness       Of the themes in Conrads Heart of Darkness, imperialism and colonialism are probably the most important. While Heart of Darkness is actually set on the Thames River, the events Marlow describes are set on the Congo River. The Congo is the river that brought about the partition of Africa that occurred from 1880 to 1890 (McLynn 13). This event marked the beginning of the colonization of Africa. In 1884, European nations held a conference andRead MoreAnalysis Of Conrad s The Heart Of Darkness 1612 Words   |  7 PagesThe 9th plague was Darkness. A darkness so thick, people could not see for three days. Darkness restricts vision and thus the way man understands the world. Conrad explores a similar darkness throughout The Heart of Darkness. He writes about how this darkness, a blindness towards others, can lead to the moral degradation of mankind in his novel. Throughout the novel, the reader is able to see Conrad’s perspective of humanity by discussing two integral issues of the time, Racism and Colonialism. More

Reaction to the Character of Mrs. Mallard in The Story of...

Reaction to the Character of Mrs. Mallard in The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin In â€Å"The Story of an Hour,† Kate Chopin describes to her readers a young woman’s response to her husband’s death, or at least his presumed death. The opinions readers will draw from this story will vary from person to person due to personal experiences. The experience and wisdom that I have gained through the trails and tribulations of my life help me to understand, relate, and even despise Mrs. Mallard’s character. On one hand, I feel pity for Mrs. Mallard. I think she felt trapped in a situation that she found to be inescapable. She felt lonely, restless, and did not know how to help herself. Yet, on the other hand, I do not feel sorry for†¦show more content†¦In addition, I believe this fact disappoints her to the point where she seems to feel that life is not worth living without freedom. I think Mrs. Mallard felt trapped in her marriage, a marriage where communication no longer existed. I believe this caused her to feel very alone and restless in her marriage. In the late nineteenth century, women basically had little or no rights. It was thought that women’s sole purpose in society was to marry, have children, and to care for their family and household. Women of this era were not allowed to satisfy their own wants and desires. Therefore, we can assume that Mrs. Mallard got married at a young age. This fact, along with the crumbling of her marriage caused her to feel lost in a world where she knew not even herself. The fact that she was unable to experience life for herself resulted in her yearning desire for independence. These explanations contributed to Mrs. Mallard’s overwhelming enjoyment of her newfound freedom. I know how it is to feel trapped in a relationship that is going bad. One feels there is no reasonable way out; this can cause a person to become lonely and impatient for independence. The fact that I have experienced a similar situation enables me to relate to the character of Mrs. Mallard and can justify the feelings of sympathy and compassion I have towards her. In addition, I know how exciting it is to be able to experience life, adventures, and independence. In this way, I understand Mrs.Show MoreRelated Irony in Kate Chopins Story of an Hour Essay796 Words   |  4 Pagesin Chopins Story of an Hour    Irony is a useful device for giving stories many unexpected twists and turns. In Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour, irony is used as an effective literary device. Situational irony is used to show the reader that what is expected to happen sometimes doesnt. Dramatic irony is used to clue the reader in on something that is happening that the characters in the story do not know about. Irony is used throughout Chopins The Story of an Hour through theRead More The Differences in Josephine and Mrs. Mallard of Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour760 Words   |  4 PagesThe Differences in Josephine and Mrs. Mallard of Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour Free! Body and soul free!, Mrs. Mallard kept whispering. One persons ultimate freedom may be seen as a tragedy to another. Kate Chopin illustrates this idea in The Story of an Hour. The story is set in the nineteenth century. Chopin uses the death of Mr. Mallard to show the reader Mrs. Mallards deep feelings. In the story, Josephine and Mrs. Mallard are sisters. Although the women come from the sameRead More Irony in Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour Essays1295 Words   |  6 PagesIrony in Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour A very dull and boring story can be made into a great story simply by adding in something that is unexpected to happen. When the unexpected is used in literature it is known as irony. An author uses irony to shock the reader by adding a twist to the story. The author of â€Å"The Story of an Hour† is Kate Chopin. Her use of irony in the story is incredibly done more than once. Irony is thinking or believing some event will happen but in return the unexpectedRead MoreThe Story of an Hour† by Kate Chopin Essay1528 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"The Story of an Hour† by Kate Chopin â€Å"The Story of an Hour† by Kate Chopin is very intriguing, not only because of the emotional change Louise Mallard goes through the hour after her husband’s tragic death but also the way Chopin uses irony in the story. During this analysis of â€Å"The Story of an Hour† we will discuss the summary, plot, setting, tone, theme, point of view, emotions of Louise Mallard and other characters involved in the story. Chopin’s story uses the feelings of a married womanRead MoreThe Death From The Emotions1200 Words   |  5 Pagesthe Emotions In the short story The Story of an Hour written by Kate Chopin, Louise Mallard, the main character, is told that her husband, Mr. Brently Mallard, is dead in a railroad disaster. This short story is interesting mentioning the inner happenings of Louise character within an hour when she hears the news from her husband’s death until seeing her husband, peaceful and healthy, appearing at the downstairs. Although the story is told quite simple within only one hour of time, readers can realizeRead MoreThe Story of a Widow in Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour Essay840 Words   |  4 Pagespersistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature.† Kate Chopin’s â€Å"The Story of an Hour† is the story of a woman’s reaction to the news of her husband’s passing. Mrs. Louise Mallard is a young woman most would conclude to be saddened by the passing of her husband. Yet it is in that very moment we f ind her true feelings. Kate Chopin was born Katherine O’Flaherty on February 8, 1850 in St. Louis Missouri. She was the only child born to her parentsRead MoreHow Did Kate Chopin Influence Literature949 Words   |  4 PagesKate Chopin’s distinct influence in literature Kate Chopin was an innovative influence for literature in the late 1800’s. Her stories and characters conflicted with the societal norms of inequality towards women. Women in the 1800’s were oppressed, and treated more like property than individuals. Living in the 1800’s as a woman meant they had no rights, or power to create a life of their own. The men, in that period of history, held all prestige positions; therefore, formed all of the laws, and socialRead MoreA Womans Brief Freedom in The Story of an Hour Essay845 Words   |  4 Pages The Story of an Hour, was written and narrated by Kate Chopin. Chopin utilized an omniscient point of view, while exhibiting various types of irony throughout the story. The story takes place in the 19th century, an era when it was acceptable for men to regulate their wives. The setting is in a house where a discontented housewife is restricted. Women were obligated to take care of their domicile and care for the childr en--this was their primary purpose as a wife. The story focuses on theRead MoreStory Of An Hour Critical Analysis770 Words   |  4 PagesKate Chopin’s short story, â€Å"The Story of an Hour (1894),† portrays that the confinements placed on women due to gender roles was unjust. Chopin illustrates this through the progression of Mrs. Mallards emotions and thoughts after learning of her husbands supposed death, as well as alluding to their form of marriage. Chopins purpose is to point out how unjust woman were treated in society in order to bring about change on such treatment. Given the time period, Chopin dedicated her short story toRead MoreStylistic Features in The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin Essay1174 Words   |  5 PagesThe Story of an Hour Authors of literary work have always employed stylistic devices to pass their message, Kate Chopin was no exception. She employs a number of styles in her book, the story of an Hour. Just like any author she achieves storytelling in a simple and straight forward manner. Some of the stylistic devices she uses are: description, internal monologue, authorial intrusion contrast, figurative expressions, symbolism among others. This paper discusses the use of stylistic features

Business Law Legal Environment Australia â€Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Business Law Legal Environment Australia? Answer: Introducation The law of tort requires people to be responsible while dealing with others. Also, the law expects occupiers to make sure that their promises are safe from endangering the lives or the properties of those who come to their premises. Similarly, businesses should ensure that their products or services are safe and reliable to the customers who purchase them. In a deeper discussion, this paper will be illustrating different applications of the law of tort. Tort of Negligence and Misrepresentation As the common torts, negligence, and misrepresentations are some of the torts that people face on a regular basis. Starting with the tort of negligence, these are circumstances where one persons misconduct causes injuries to the other person (Kubasek, Browne, Dhooge, Herron Barkacs, 2016). On the part of misrepresentation, this one happens when a partys conduct or utterances present conditions that are untrue and convinces the other party to rely on those conditions (Beatty, Samuelson Bredeson, 2013). While misrepresentation can happen in both the law of contract and the law of tort, this paper will focus on the law of tort where the law punishes it by awarding compensation and even punitive damages (Kubasek, Browne, Dhooge, Herron Barkacs, 2016). Tort of Negligence and Its element There are essentially three elements of negligence, but the same elements can be broken down to sub-elements. The first element is the duty of care (Miller Cross, 2010). When a case of negligence comes to the court, courts start by determining whether there was a duty to care that the defendant owed to the claimant(Mann, Roberts Smith, 2012). The case of (Donoghue v Stevenson, 1932) was the first instance to determine a duty to care when it established the concept of the 'neighbor principle.' The case involved a claimant who found a decomposed snail in a bottle of beer when she poured the remaining content into her glass. The judgment in this case established that the defendant who was the manufacturer had breached his duty of care. With that, he was liable for the claimants damages of 500 as claimed by the claimant. For fear of the misuse of this case, the decision of (Lords in Caparo v Dickman, 1990) set out a three-stage test for the determination of the duty to care. After establishing a duty of care in the defendant, the court moves forward to find the second element of negligence. This element seeks to find whether the defendant breached that duty (Varuhas, 2014). Since the law requires each person who owes a duty of care to act reasonably in executing that duty, the law seeks to find whether the actions of the defendant were unreasonable. By reasonable, the law expects that a person should act in the same way a reasonable person would have acted in such circumstances. Take for example the case of (Nettleship v Weston, 1971). The driver was a third lesson student who caused an accident injuring the claimant who was his instructor. When the court examined this case, they found that the defendant had acted unreasonably hence liable for the damages. The courts third step or third element is to connect the claimants damages with the defendants reckless actions. The working mechanism for this step is the but for test which tests for the direct relationship between the breached duty and the loss (Steele, 2017). The but for test goes hand in hand with establishing whether the claimed damages are reasonably foreseeable (Twomey, Jennings, Fox Anderson, 2011). That is to say; the damages should not be too remote. Take for instance the case of (Barnett v Chelsea Kensington Hospital Management Committee, 1969) Though the law found the lack failure to examine a patient as a neglect of duty, it court did not find a connection between the death of the Barnett husband and the breach of duty by the hospital. No one could survive the arsenic poison meaning that in either way, the husband would have died. In brief, the widow claimed that the death of the husband was caused by the failure of the doctors to examine him. Despite that, the husban d conditions resulted from the deadly arsenic poison. Misrepresentation and Its elements The law of tort defines misrepresentation as an untrue statement or conducts that lures another party into the contract or agreement (Clarkson, Miller, Cross Clarkson, 2015). Gergen (2013) states that when a case of misrepresentation comes to court, the court starts examining whether there was an oral, written or conduct statement. After finding this first element, the court then considers the falsity of the statement. A change of facts does not count what matters is whether the person who had given a statement updates the other party on the changes. Take for instance the case of (With v O'Flanagan, 1936). The doctor had true figures in January while making the statement, but by May, the facts had changed. The statement turned to be false, and the defendant sued for damages. The second element is finding whether the statement was a fact as opposed to opinions. In the tort of misrepresentation, what counts is the untrue facts but not untrue opinions. In (Bissett v Wilkinson, 1927), Mr. Wilkinson told the Mr. Bisset that he thought the land would accommodate 2,000 sheep. Mr.Wikinson knew for sure that the land had not been used for rearing sheep. When the statement turned to be untrue, the judge said that the sellers statement was just an opinion but not a fact. In reality, the statement became untrue and the Mr.Wikinson claim for damages. However, the claimed failed because the court did not find the statement from Mr. Bisset as a fact but rather an opinion. The third element deals with induction. The question is whether the statement intended to induce one party to accept the agreement and whether the statement indeed induced the party (Mann, Roberts Smith, 2012). The fourth element links the damages to the misrepresentation. If there is a direct connection, the claim succeeds. If the damages are too remote, the court may neglect to award the compensation. Approach on Negligence and Misrepresentation within Business Context. Both torts happen regularly in business. More often, they may happen in situations of product liabilities and premises liabilities. Product and service liabilities Businesses are liable for dangers caused by their defective products or services. (Mann, Roberts Smith, 2012). When a defective product causes some damages, customers may elect a cause of action through customers protection act. A good example is the illustrated case above (Donoghue v Stevenson, 1932). Similarly, misrepresentation in products can happen through a deceptive product where the business claims that a product would offer benefits which in reality the traders knows that it is untrue. However, the law allows sales puff. Defective services may also result in an action in court. In (Andrews v Hopkinson, 1957) The claimant received a car with defective steering from the defendant. As a result, the claimant got involved in an accident and sued the defendant for his negligent service. The court did find the defendant liable and awarded the claimant a compensation for his loss. Premise Liability Premise liability deals with issues where a person would get injured in another persons premise. If the court finds that the defendant errored in providing reasonable care, the court is likely to award compensation to the injured party (Mann, Roberts Smith, 2012). People injured could be occupiers visitors or just trespassers, but the court takes each case differently. An example of this situation is the case of (B v JJB Sports,2006). The injured party was a boy of 10-years old. The defendant had cleaned the floor leaving the floor wet under which posed a risk to children let alone unlike adults who would have read the signs. The court awarded compensation to the boy as it found the defendant liable for his negligent conducts of leaving the floor wet. Issues of Advice Advisors also owe a duty of care to those people relying on their advice (Clarkson, Miller, Cross Clarkson, 2015). The court did find the defendant liable for a wrong information in (Chaudhry v Prabhakar, 1988). The claimant had asked the defendant who was a skilled trader in cars to find her a solid secondhand car. However, the defendant brought a car that had been involved in accident which was against the instructions given by the claimant. Defense to Claims of Negligence A claim brought could suffer frustrations if the defendant raises a defense. Even though the defense would not succeed in wavering the entire claim, it can help in reducing the burden of damages that the defendant would have paid (Clarkson, Miller, Cross Clarkson, 2015). Some of the special defenses are an act of God and trespasser. An act of God means dangers caused by natural forces. Trespassers defense argues that the defendant cannot protect someone who he does not have knowledge as to whether the person is on the premises. Apart from these two there are other defenses such as contributory negligence. Contributory negligence This defense requires the defendant to prove that the claimant proceeded deliberately to the risk despite being warned by the defendant. For example, in (Froom v Butcher, 1976). The claimant sued the defendant after sustaining injuries in an accident. The claimant alleged that the negligent conduct of the defendant caused the accident though the court found that he was not wearing his seatbelt. The court only allowed him to recover 80% of the claimed damages. Volenti non fit injuria(Consent) Where the claimant consents to get into the risk, cannot turn back to claim for the damages. An example is a case of (Morris v Murray, 1990) In this case, the claimant knew his friend was drunk, but he proceeded to take a ride with him in the aircraft. The claim failed as the court found enough evidence that the claimant consented to the ride. Illegality The court does not award damages where the claim involves injuries where both parties were executing an illegal action. Take for example the case of (Ashton v Turner, 1980). Since the claimant was injured in a getaway accident after committing a crime with the defendant, the court refused to award him damages suffered in the accident. Other Torts in a business Breach of statutory duties. This is a tort that happens when where the defendant breaches the set standard for a workplace resulting in work injuries. Another tort in business is a conspiracy. This tort occurs when two or more parties collude to deprive a third party. Another tort in business is conversion (Clarkson, Miller, Cross Clarkson, 2015). This one is a trespass to goods where the court finds that a defendant takes possession of another persons goods without authority. Deceit is another tort in business. It may happen when one party provides untrue information with an intention to defraud the other party (Mann, Roberts Smith, 2012). Role for statutory or public authorities There are various roles in statutory authorities in protecting the interests of the parties. An example is how aking tort law statutes help in shaping the law of tort. Some of the common ways in which statutes affect the interest of the parties is in limiting liabilities, expanding them or restating some areas of private law. For instance, consumer protection statute aims to regulate cases of misrepresentation, negligence, and fraud among others. A claim brought under consumer protection statutes helps the claimant where the statute punishes the defendant under strict liability for defective products. Even though, the statute does not act to replace common law. Other acts are like the occupies liability act which seeks to award damages when someone sustains injuries in a defective premise. Conclusion The Law of Torts encompasses various civil wrongs such as trespass, negligence, defamation and nuisance, among others. The law deals with each tort differently depending with its rules that guides on thee liabilities. However, almost all torts would require certain elements meaning that the court can only impose liabilities on circumstances where one party either negligently fails or does something that harms the other party. References Beatty, J., Samuelson, S., Bredeson, D. (2013). Business law and the legal environment. Australia: South-Western Cengage Learning. Clarkson, K., Miller, R., Cross, F., Clarkson, K. (2015). Business law. Text and Cases (13th ed.). Cengage Learning. Gergen, M. (2013). Negligent Misrepresentation as Contract. Califonia Law Review, 101(4). Retrieved from https://scholarship.law.berkeley.edu/californialawreview/vol101/iss4/2 Kubasek, N., Browne, M., Dhooge, L., Herron, D., Barkacs, L. (2016). Dynamic business law (3rd ed.). New York. NY: McGraw-Hill Education. Mann, R., Roberts, B., Smith, L. (2012). Smith Roberson's business law (15th ed.). Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning. Miller, R., Cross, F. (2010). The legal environment today. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning. Steele, J. (2017). Tort law. OUP Oxford. Twomey, D., Jennings, M., Fox, I., Anderson, R. (2011). Anderson's business law and the legal environment. Mason, Ohio: South-Western Cengage Learning. Varuhas, J. (2014). The Concept of 'Vindication' in the Law of Torts: Rights, Interests and Damages. Oxford Journal Of Legal Studies, 34(2), 253-293. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ojls/gqt03

Negative Body Images Essay Example For Students

Negative Body Images Essay Understanding the Causes of Negative Body ImageI chose to read the book titled Understanding the Causes of Negative Body Image by Barbara Moe because I plan on focusing my research paper on how the media has strong control over womens development of self-esteem and body image. The message that the media is sending creates the context within which people learn to value size and shape of their body. Moes book focuses on how our culture is preoccupied with weight and appearance. She begins her book with the history of body image and how at different periods over centuries, fat and thin body types have both been considered fashionable. From the late Middle Ages until the 1800s, the rounded figure of a womens body remained the prevailing image. The rounded figure was a sign of wealth, fertility, and prosperity. The thin waif look didnt enter our society until 1967 when Leslie Hornby, known as Twiggy, began showing up in the media. Moe also discussed the emergence of the mass media which confronted people with many ideal bodies to look at and quickly, body image became a widespread obsession. The book did a great job of going into depth on how television and movies and magazines and newspapers are powerful promoters of the be thin message. Moe concluded her book with ways people can re-create body images and learn to love their own bodies. The environment in which people live influe nces body image concerns. Today, we live in an environment that is surrounded by the media. Advertisements, celebrities, magazines, television, etc. all have immense influences on women, defining a perfect body. Seeing overly skinny models in the media does not enhance womens self-esteem, self-worth, or self-image. The degree of thinness exhibited by models is both unachievable and biologically inappropriate and provides unhelpful role model for women. I liked the chapter of Moes book where she discussed the history of womens body image. She included a section on the Miss America Contests. I thought it was very interesting to read that the average bust-weight-hip measurements for women were (in inches) 32-25-35 when the contests began in 1921. Flat chests were in and some women even bound their breasts to flatten them. It is amazing how over time womens body image has changed. Miss Americas weight has significantly decreased over the years and the average bust-weight-hip measurements have decreased about 2 inches. Today, bigger breasts and skinnier bodies seem to be fashionable. In conclusion, there is a great need for more diverse and realistic body shapes to be shown throughout the media, especially on television and in magazines. The pressures many people feel to make their bodies conform to one ideal would be reduced, lessening the feelings of body dissatisfaction. Because the media and public idolize and emulate ultra-thin act resses and models, as a result, are many women in America led to self-destruction and suffer from psychological illnesses such as anorexia? Has the rate of anorexia increased during the years when the thin look has been in and how many women are dieting on any given day?Words/ Pages : 534 / 24