Review on the Biomedical Importance of Taurine

Review on the Biomedical Importance of Taurine M.K.Vanitha, K. Baskaran, K.Periyasamy, D.Saravanan, A.Ilakkia, S.Selvaraj, R.Venkateswari, B.Revathi Mani, P.Anandakumar, D. Sakthisekaran ABSTRACT Objectives: To briefly outline the effects of taurine on different organs, in order to elucidate the biomedical importance of taurine. Summary: Taurineis a sulfur-containing amino acid that is found in mammalian tissues.Taurinehas different biological and physiological functions. It is a component of bile acids, which are used to help absorb fats and fat-soluble vitamins. It also helps regulate the heartbeat, maintain cell membrane stability and prevent brain cell over-activity. In addition,taurine chloramine, an endogenous product derived from activated neutrophils, has been reported to suppress obesity-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in adipocytes. Conclusion: This review is an attempt to reveal the biomedical importance of taurine including its effect on heart, lung, kidney, bone, fetal tissue, retinal photoceptors, oxidative stress and cancer. Key words:taurine, endothelium, lung, kidney, antioxidant 1. INTRODUCTION Taurine originated from the Latin word taurus, which means bull or ox, as it was first isolated from ox bile in 1827 by Austrian scientists Friedrich Tiedemann and Leopold Gmelin.1 It is often considered an amino acid in scientific literatures. It is a vital nutrient for cats, and probably also for primates, since it is essential for the development and survival of neural cell.2 In healthy humans, dietary foodstuffs are the main sources of taurine. High concentrations of taurine are found in animal sources whilst undetectable in vegetables.3 Figure 1: Structure of taurine Since vegetarians have no dietary intake of taurine and often eat low sulphur amino acid diets, plasma concentrations are lower in vegetarians. Methionine and cysteine are precursors of taurine, however synthesis ability varies widely amongst species, the maximal human synthesis rate is unknown. The average daily synthesis in adults ranges between 0.4 1.0 mmol (50-125 mg) 4 under stress the synthesis capacity may be impaired; therewith some authors consider taurine as a conditionally essential amino acid, whereas for others it remains non essential. Fish is a good source of taurine and tests for taurine content for a variety of fish have been conducted. Figure 2: Biosynthesis of taurine 2. CHEMISTRY OF TAURINE The molecular formula of taurine is C2H7NO3S and its molecular weight is 125.15. It has a pKa of 1.5 (at 25 Â °C) and a melting point of 300 Â °C (decomposition) and shows a bulk density of 0.65–0.75g/cm3 and a density of approximately 1.7g/cm3. It is soluble in water (10 g dissolves in 100 mL at 25 Â °C) and insoluble in ethanol, ethyl ether and acetone. The pH of a 5 % solution in water is 4.1 – 5.6. Taurine is a white crystalline powder that is almost odourless but with a slightly acidic taste. It contains by specification at least 98.0 % taurine in dried substance. Taurine is a monobasic acid that has unique physical constants compared to other neuroactive amino acids. The uniqueness of taurine is mainly due to the functional group containing sulfur, the sulfonic group, unlike the carboxylic group typical of all the other natural amino acids. This difference may provide the rationale behind the unique biological nature of taurine which is not shared with other ne uroactive amino acids. With its sulfonate group, it is a stronger acid (pKa 1.5) than glycine, aspartic acid, ÃŽ ²-alanine, and ÃŽ ³-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Similarly, having a pKb value of 8.82, it is less basic than GABA, ÃŽ ²-alanine and glycine. Its solubility in water is 10.48g/100mL at 258Â °C, which is lower than that of ÃŽ ²-alanine, GABA or glycine. Table 1: Properties of taurine 3. BIOMEDICAL IMPORTANCE OF TAURINE 3.1 TAURINE IN FETAL DEVELOPMENT AND NEONATAL GROWTH The human fetus has no ability to synthesize taurine, but considerably high levels of taurine have been recorded, and this may be due to a very efficient placental role of taurine in disease prevention. The amount of taurine was found to be very high in human breast milk compared to cow’s milk, on which a large portion of infants are fed, and this may be due to the high concentration of taurine in placenta. Thus, taurine is now added to many infant formulas to provide improved nourishment.5 Several types of organ dysfunction develop from abnormalities of taurine levels in growing children. In neonatal cardiomyocytes (as in adult ones), taurine functions as an organic osmolyte. During pregnancy, taurine accumulates in the maternal tissues, from where it is periodically released to the fetus via the placenta. In infants, taurine is acquired through the mother’s milk. This is the stage when taurine accumulates more in fetal and neonatal brain. A low maternal taurine concen tration will lead to low fetal taurine concentration.6 3.2 TAURINE AND THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS) Taurine is the most abundant amino acid in the brain after glutamate, and it is found in all cell types in the CNS. A high concentration of taurine occurs in the developing brain, but with maturity, its levels fall to 30%.7 Taurine is extensively involved in neurological activities, including protection, modulation of neural excitability, maintenance of cerebellar functions and modulation of motor behavior through interaction with dopaminergic, adrenergic, serotonergic and cholinergic receptors and through glutamate.8 Free radicals are particularly detrimental to brain tissue where there is a high concentration of lipids, suitable target for oxidation. Taurine is now being explored for its capacity to protect tissues against oxidative stress. In cerebellar neurons, stimulation by excitatory agents was effectively countered by taurine. While taurine may not directly decrease the levels of free radicals, it does increase cell viability. This may become an important alternate protective mechanism against free radical damage to brain cells. 3.3 TAURINE AND THE LIVER Liver synthesizes bile, which is a mixture of bile acids, salts, bilirubin, cholesterol and fatty acids, stored in the gallbladder. It is also responsible for the detoxification of harmful substances, but only if available in sufficient quantities. The bile acids act as detergents to solubilize or emulsify food into digestible components. This detergent action is due to the presence of both lipophilic and hydrophilic ends in the bile acids. The hydrophilic regions include sulfonates or carboxylate backbones. Mammals mainly use taurine and, to a lesser extent glycine, as the major amino acids that conjugate with bile acids to form biliary salts. Among the tauro-conjugates, taurocholic acid (TC), taurodeoxycholic acid (TDC), taurolithocholic acid (TLC), and taurocheno- deoxycholic acid (TCDC), can act as cholagogues (agents that promote the flow of bile into the intestine) or choleretics (agents that stimulate the liver to increase production of bile). The ratio between tauro-conjugate s and glycocholate in humans is about 3 : 1 and this ratio is adversely affected in cases of low taurine supply. In the absence of TC, bile salts can precipitate and form gallstones.9 3.4 TAURINE AND HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA In blood, cholesterol is carried in low density lipoproteins (LDL) and high density lipoproteins (HDL). Elevated LDL levels are implicated in a range of heart and vascular diseases, including myocardial infarction (heart attack) and atherosclerosis (clogging of the arteries). Taurine can attenuate the increased levels in total and LDL cholesterol in animals consuming a high fat, high cholesterol diet.10 High fat diets produce hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis, and accumulation of lipids on the aortic valve of the heart. Dietary taurine supplements are known to be beneficial in situations when the body cholesterol status is high, as well as normal. In particular, it has been demonstrated that taurine is capable of reducing plasma lipid concentration and visceral fat in diabetic rats as well as in obese humans.11 3.5 TAURINE AND OCCUPATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LIVER DAMAGE Exposure to toxic chemicals, which is a common hazard for industrial workers, has been linked to birth defects, sterility, headache, chronic fatigue, arthritic-like inflammation and many other symptoms. These chemicals have a deleterious effect on the liver and taurine is able to moderate the extent and severity of their side. Furthermore, it reduces the number of cancer antigen-positive hepatocytes and in several cases of chemical exposure, taurine also protected against DNA damage.12 3.6 TAURINE AND DIABETES Type II diabetes mellitus is one of the most common human diseases and its prevalence is constantly growing. This pathology is characterized by the reduced sensitivity of the cellular targets, mainly adipose and muscle cells, to insulin stimulation. Such alteration can lead to insulin resistance, hyper-insulinemia, hyperglycemia, and several other metabolic dysfunctions. Lifestyle, dietary habits, and environment can influence the appearance of diabetes.13 Taurine supplements administered to patients with type 2 diabetes were proven to be beneficial. Also, taurine alleviates clinical complications of diabetes, having beneficial effects on nephropathy and retinopathy. In animal models of experimental insulin resistance, it has been demonstrated that the metabolic alterations associated with diabetes are ameliorated by taurine administration.14 3.7 TAURINE AND THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM Taurine concentration is found to be high in the mammalian heart. The maintenance of cardiac taurine content is governed by a series of processes, which include transport, accumulation, binding, release, as well as metabolism. The availability of taurine in cardiac tissue is generally dependent on the transport process, because of its limited ability to be effectively synthesized in the cardiac tissue. Taurine deficiency may possibly be linked to cardiomyopathy, as it has been well reported in cats. Furthermore, conclusive evidence of the relationship between taurine and heart health was provided by studies with transgenic mice knocked out of its taurine transporter.15 3.8 TAURINE AND ENDOTHELIAL DYSFUNCTION Endothelial dysfunction is common among cardiovascular diseases and diabetes and it is known as one of the primary events in the development of atherosclerosis and diabetic angiopathies.16 Taurine has been shown to be a protector of endothelial structure and function after exposure to inflammatory cells, their mediators, or other chemicals. Treatment of activated macrophages with taurine inhibits the generation of NO and other inflammatory mediators, which is present in high amounts in inflammatory cells, seems to be uniquely capable of modifying homeostasis in both target and receptor cells through antioxidant calcium flux and the osmo regulatory pathway. Finally, taurine was proven to protect endothelial cells from damage induced by hyperglycemia and oxidized LDL.17 3.9 TAURINE AND LUNG FUNCTION The depletion of taurine is particularly harmful to pulmonary tissue. Alveolar macrophages, which reside on the surface of lung alveoli, ingest inhaled particulates to clear the alveolar spaces. However, alveolar macrophages, much like the general macrophages, become more susceptible to ROS and more pro-inflammatory when deprived of the antioxidant protective capacity that taurine provides. Fibrosis may also result from toxic chemical exposure. There are numerous factors responsible for toxin-induced damage to lung cells and tissue in animal models of induced interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. In several cases, the administration of taurine, niacin or a combination of both, yielded promising results, and can reverse increased lung lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, the ability to scavenge ROS and to stabilize cell membranes contributed to the suppression of lung collagen accumulation and oxidative stress damage. Asthma is a chronic disease characterized by bronchial obstruction and airwa y hyper reactivity with neutrophil accumulation. There is increasing evidence that excessive production of ROS along with defective endogenous antioxidant defense mechanisms may be responsible for asthma. In an animal model of allergic asthma, taurine content was found to be reduced and oral treatment with taurine produced anti-inflammatory responses. Similar effects have also been demonstrated in humans.18 3.10 TAURINE AND THE KIDNEY In the kidneys, taurine is found at a high concentration, which is regulated by the reabsorption at the modulating proximal tubule according to its dietary intake. In alleviating the diabetic nephropathy, taurine serves as an osmolyte, an endogenous antioxidant and an inhibitor of phosphokinase C (PKC) in mesangial cells. The beneficial effects of taurine may be due to its well-known anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activities.19 3.11 TAURINE AND RETINAL PHOTORECEPTOR ACTIVITY The common eye disease cataract demonstrates the importance of lens condition. It is speculated that cataract formation may be largely due to the oxidation of protein in the lens. Consequently, a lack of antioxidants could be a major factor in the development of cataracts. Since taurine acts as an antioxidant directly, it prevents changes in the levels of glutathione, ATP and insoluble proteins, molecular factors that predispose to cataract formation.20 Furthermore, taurine plays a critical role in the structure and function of the photoreceptors, specifically rods, which are responsible for seeing in both low illumination and night conditions. The promotional effect of taurine in cellular regeneration is compromised with drugs that induce the activation of PKC or phosphate inhibitors.21 Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is characterized by visual field loss and night blindness. Nutritional factors are now recognized as important factors in the reversal of RP. Experimental finding suggests t hat RP patients recover their visual capacities with the addition of nutrients, including taurine, which has been found to be beneficial. Taurine and zinc interact with each other to influence the development of the retinal structure and function in the eye. Both molecules promote the healthy oscillatory potentials necessary for vision. Deficiency of taurine has been identified as the cause of all these diseases and clearly demonstrates its vital role in vision.22 3.12 TAURINE IN BONE TISSUE FORMATION AND INHIBITION OF BONE LOSS Bone tissue contains cells and the extracellular matrix, which is composed of collagen fibers and noncollagenous proteins. In bone tissue, taurine is found in high concentration, similar to that found in the liver and kidneys. This taurine-bone interaction is one of the latest added to its long list of actions.23 In bones, taurine acts as a double agent. It is involved in both bone formation and inhibition of bone loss. In addition to these two major actions, taurine has beneficial effects in wound healing and bone repair. 3.13 ANTICANCER ACTIVITY OF TAURINE Taurine has been found that taurine has radio protective properties and anti-mutagenic effect, reducing nucleic acid damage. The chemo-preventive activity of taurine and, in particular, 1-(2-chloroethyl)- 3(2-dimethyl sulfony) ethyl-11-nitrosourea derivative (e.g., tauromustine), have been used against colon and hepatic cancers. In hepato-carcinogenesis, the degree of membrane damage and the fall in glutathione function were reduced when oral taurine was given prior to exposure to carcinogens. These findings suggest that taurine, by inhibiting lipo-peroxidation and preserving the glutathione antioxidant system, offers protection against membrane breakdown.24 Recombinant interleukin-2 immunotherapy is utilized as a therapeutic approach in certain types of cancers. However, it may produce a cytotoxic effect on both tumor cells and healthy vascular endothelial cells. In such cancer therapy programs, taurine reduces interleukin endothelial cell cytotoxicity without compromising the antitumor activity of the immunotherapy. In addition, when taurine is used in conjunction with interleukin, it actually increases the tumor cytotoxicity. For the treatment of intra peritoneal (abdominal) tumors, researchers have studied a taurine derivative, taurolidine, as both an alternative and an adjunct to heparin, a standard substance used to prolong the clotting time of blood. In certain cancers, the amino acid profile yields data about the disease that is useful to better assess the therapeutic approach. Colorectal cancer patients exhibit a characteristic amino acid profile with significantly lower intracellular levels of taurine, glutamic acid, methionine , and ornithine and elevated levels of valine. Likewise, squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck exhibit a profile that is marked by decreased taurine.25 4. CONCLUSION This review highlights the divergent effects of taurine on different tissues. Thus, further studies on taurine could exemplify the beneficial role of taurine in human health and disease. 1

Masque Of The Red Death :: essays research papers

In "The Masque of the Red Death", Poe leads one event into another often. He uses much symbolism, and in the paragraphs below, I will show you it. In the first couple of paragraphs however, I will summarize the plot and state the theme. In this plot, Poe begins by talking about the Red Death, basically setting the stage for later events in the story. Then, he talks about Prince Prospero, which tells the reader that Prospero and the Red Death will have a conflict later in the story. Next, Poe gives a short summary of the setting, and also mentions that the "Red Death" was not there. After this, Poe gives a description of the rooms. The first room had blue ornaments and windows. Poe then makes each room darker until he gets to the seventh, which is black. This shows that death is coming to Prospero. Also, in the seventh room, the windows are blood red, which also shows that the "Red Death" is coming. Also, the ebony clock keeps on ticking, which is slowly setting up the conflict, Prince Prospero vs. "The Red Death." Also, the color of the wood is also symbolic. Ebony is black, so again death is symbolized. At the end, or conclusion, the clock strikes 12, and "The Red Death" makes its appearance, and kills Prospero. In the plot, I believe that the talking about the Red Death and Prospero is the introduction, because it introduced the two big influences in the story. I also think that the descriptions of the rooms is the rising action, because it gives the setting for the conflict. The conflict is Prospero trying to avoid the Red Death, which is man vs. nature. The falling action in the story is when Prospero is caught by the Red Death, and the conclusion is that he is dead. The theme of the story is that you cannot escape death no matter how hard

Eliot and Lawrence

T. S. Eliot and D. H. Lawrence – Compare and Contrast their Techniques and Themes T. S. Eliot and D. H. Lawrence, although they are both contemporary authors of Modernist period, express different values and techniques. They are both born in 1880s when the world enters the industrial age. While both witness the dynamic transition, they both criticize the modernity but in different methods. Two authors’ relations regarding techniques and themes would be analyzed by comparing Eliot’s The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock (1915) and Lawrence’s two poem – How Beastly the Bourgeois is (1929) and Bavarian Gentians (1923).Eliot and Lawrence both display modernistic aspects. Modern middle class of England, so called Bourgeois is strongly criticized in Lawrence’s poem, How Beastly the Bourgeois is. The title itself clearly demonstrates Lawrence’s hostility towards bourgeois. The poem begins describing how bourgeois seem fancy outside. However, if he were let to be â€Å"faced with another man’s need, or to a bit of moral difficulty (11-12), he goes soggy like a wet meringue (13). He is all wormy and hollow inside just like an old mushroom.To Lawrence, bourgeois hold every aspect of cultural decay in the modern Western world. One of typical modernist tactic is to criticize modernity which includes the suddenly enhanced status of the middle class who lack corresponding intellectuals. Eliot also demonstrates Modernism. He was a key figure of Modernism and was so important a figure that the early Modernism era in 19th century is also called ‘The Age of Eliot’. In The Metaphysical Poets, written in 1915, he introduces his thoughts on what distinct features ‘Modern’ or ‘Metaphysical’ poets should use.Although his early poem The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock is published prior to the book review, it also displays modernistic features. First of all, Prufrock, the speaker of the poem, is not going for ‘telos’. His utterances are not logically connected and thus fail to be accumulated into certain purpose. In this poem, his objective would be to declare his love as the title implies. However, all he does is to vision and revision (33). Constantly suggesting something bold but never do as so, he doesn’t move forward but always retreat. And indeed there will be timeTo wonder, ‘Do I dare? ’ and, ‘Do I dare? ’ Time to turn back and descend the stair, (37-39) His impotent feelings are shown in lines 39 as he descend the stair or as he uses the word ‘digress’ (66). He keeps inferring to ‘overwhelming question’ but it doesn’t lead to actions, which reminds of Bourgeois. Another similarity between Eliot and Lawrence’s poems is the coherent relationships between contents and structures. In Bavarian Gentians, gentians are compulsively modified by various embellishments. Bavarian gentians, big and dark, only dark arkening the daytime, torch-like, with the smoking blueness of Pluto's gloom, 5ribbed and torch-like, with their blaze of darkness spread blue down flattening into points, flattened under the sweep of white day torch-flower of the blue-smoking darkness, Pluto's dark-blue daze, black lamps from the halls of Dis, burning dark blue, giving off darkness, blue darkness, as Demeter's pale lamps give off light, 10lead me then, lead the way. (3-10) Words or phrases such as â€Å"big and dark, only dark and again darkening the daytime† qualifies gentians and those embellishments don’t stop until the line 6 before the main verb ‘sweep’.Compulsive embellishments start again after the main verb, and what the speaker does from line 3 to 10 is just to describe how dark and blue the gentians are. This strikingly repetitive structure helps expressing the desperate desire the speaker has for deadly vitality. Bavarian gentians itself contains vitali ty as the word ‘Bavarian’ infers. Also, its role is to lead the speaker to underworld where ultimate source of vitality seems to reside. Prufrock’s utterances are wordy and redundant as well. For instance, he uses triplets from line 122 to 124. Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach?I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach. I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each. (122-124) Triplet is a powerful technique to finish because it lets reader to feel that something is completed. However, Prufrock could not insist temptation to add some more. Right after the triplet, he continues as if he murmurs, â€Å"I do not think they will sing to me† (125). This endless revision mars the effect of the triplet and even makes it redundant. Triplet turns out to be in vain and this structure strengthens Prufrock’s indecisive character, in accordance with contentsEliot and Lawrence are also both talented in using vivid and power ful images. In How Beastly the Bourgeois is, Lawrence borrowed the hollow and damp image of mushroom to describe Bourgeois. It starts â€Å"Nicely groomed like a mushroom† which gives some humor to the poem. In Bavarian Gentians, repetition of dark and blue makes strong impressions. The gentians are like dark torch â€Å"darkening the daytime† (4) and â€Å"their blaze of darkness† (5) assign unimaginable darkness to the gentians. The vivid and powerful images of gentians are so impressive that it remains long after the poem is finished.The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock is also famous for shocking images, devised by Eliot’s attempt to achieve ‘sudden contrast’. When the evening is spread out against the sky Like a patient etherized upon a table (2-3) This striking juxtaposition leaves strong images. Evening, like a patient etherized upon a table presents a symbolic landscape where Prufrocks’ unfruitful floundering eventually ends to be drowned. Line 8 to 9 also shows Eliot’s brilliance. The lines â€Å"tedious argument / Of insidious intent† (8-9) successfully secure the effect by putting unexpected words joined together.Eliot deliberately polished his lines to give exactly this unusual feeling. Samuel Johnson, however, criticized this kind of juxtaposition. He first named them ‘metaphysical’ poet with negative connotation. Also, he diminished the effect by arguing that in metaphysical poetry â€Å"the most heterogeneous ideas are yoked by violence together† (Samuel Johnson, Cowley). However, Eliot rebutted Johnson’s review in The Metaphysical Poets. The poet must become more and more comprehensive, more allusive, more indirect, in order to force, to dislocate if necessary, language into his meaning.Furthermore, he encourages that poetry should include heterogeneity of material compelled into unity only differ in degree. While both Eliot and Lawrence create powerful imag es, their concepts of image are very different. Lawrence claims â€Å"poetry must be spontaneous, flexible, alive, ‘direct utterance from the instant, whole man,’ and should express the â€Å"pulsating, carnal self† (The Poetry of the Present, 1919). His version of successful poetry should contain raw feeling of instinctual self. On the contrary, Eliot is strongly against dissociation of sense and sensibility.Therefore from Eliot’s point of view, Lawrence’s inclination toward sensibility is not desirable. In Eliot’s point of view, Lawrence could even be categorized as a romantic poet. It is because Lawrence’s trust in instinctive raw feeling might relate him to Romanticism where human’s individual feelings were though highly of. Eliot endeavors to deliver image by letting people â€Å"feel their thought as immediately as the odour of a rose† (Metaphysical poet). For him, thoughts do not conflict with feelings. They are r ather harmoniously joined together and produce memorable expressions.He used ‘allusion’ to achieve these effects. When classical literature is inserted as an allusion, a text is connected to another, enlarging the thought and feelings of the text. While Romanticism regards poets’ genius as important, Eliot regards classical texts as so. Meanwhile, Lawrence values poet’s genius above others as he tries to capture ecstatic moments of vitality through his vision as shown in Bavarian Gentians. Eliot might advise Lawrence to control his overwhelming passions and use classical literature instead, for old texts often possess depths which enlarge the meaning of poetries.For example, an epigraph attached to the Love Song alludes to Dante’s Inferno. Guido confesses his sins to Dante only because he thought Dante would not be able to escape from the inferno and infamy him. Guido’s utterance takes place because Guido presumes that his utterance would mea n nothing as if it has never existed. Prufrocks’s utterances are also facing ontological question. Unlike its title, love is neither ever achieved nor even declared. He confesses â€Å"It’s impossible just to say what I mean! † (104). His utterances fail without accomplishing any goal.Therefore, the epigraph arranged rich context in accordance with Prufrock’s situation. Although Lawrence might be related to Romanticism with regard to his trust in human instinct, he is not Romantic poet. Contrary to typical Romanticism which tends to be often criticized for its idealistic detachment, Lawrence sings the vitality of human instinct, closely related to reality. In Bavarian Gentians, the speaker does not fly away from reality but rather goes underground and face the reality of realities – death. Gentians’ dark and blue power guides the speaker to enter into the presence of Pluto.Were it not been for his desire for the essence of vitality, this bre vity to face death would not be possible. Lawrence â€Å"takes off his mask of persona unlike other romantic poets such as Wordsworth and Yeats† (J. Kim, Lawrence) and vigorously recites his raw feeling as it is. As Eliot pursues to â€Å"incorporate erudition into sensibility† (Metaphysical Poets), he would prefer Bavarian Gentians to How Beastly the Bourgeois is. While Lawrence exposes direct feeling in both poems, Bavarian Gentians uses myths of Persephone or Odysseus. and Persephone herself is but a voice r a darkness invisible enfolded in the deeper dark of the arms Plutonic, and pierced with the passion of dense gloom, among the splendor of torches of darkness, shedding darkness on the lost bride and her groom. (16-20) Persephone or ‘the lost bride and her groom’ could be seen as allusions as it strengthens both the images of life and death. Persephone, combined with his mother Demeter, symbolizes uncontrollable vitality of land. Within this context, it become more persuasive that the speaker does go underground searching for essence of vitality retained in death.Regardless of their different techniques and themes, Eliot and Lawrence deliver messages and images vibrating with energy. They are contemporary poets with critical minds. Each took different measures to depict problems but both proved to be effective. Eliot who went over to England in pursuit of ‘tradition’, he referenced other works of literature within his text. This technique, called ‘allusion’ enabled Eliot’s text to be equipped with richer context in which the texts could be more delicately understood.Lawrence, on the other hand, focused more on expressing innate vitality of human being just like a person who was passionate enough to elope with his lover. He created direct and vivid images. Ceaselessly correcting himself, Prufrock loses his momentum. Eliot shows alienated character without making any adjustments. He rather chooses to borrow classical literature to round Prufrock’s character. Lawrence, meanwhile, tries to solve the problem of his era by suggesting the power of vitality. He urges others to pursue the vital power to the end, even till one faces death, where the essence of the power could be found. (1835 words)

Free Essays on William Blakes Contrary States

William Blake’s Theory of Contrary States BY: DELORES JOHNSON William Blake was a talented poet. Many fans and critics alike think him one of the greatest poets of his time. It will be my duty and my pleasure to try a new approach to his writings and some insight to his poems. Of all his poetry that I have read I find the most contrast within the two collections of lyric poems called Songs of Innocence and Experience (1789-1794). These poems represent how Blake felt about â€Å"the two states of the human soul.† The poems in these collections were meant to contrast each other to reflect that. â€Å"Without contraries there is no progression† was often heard from his lips. I agree with that sentiment. I m a college student and as such I am going down an enlighten road. I truly believe that there is a constant struggle between the bourgeois and the proletariat. I believe that there is some evidence of Blake being aware of this struggle as demonstrated in the poems â€Å"Holy Thursday† and â€Å"The Chimney Sweeper†. These poems display ironic views and an overly trusting attitude towards the government. Blake was a controversial poet who often stirred up the political pots of his time. In fact I think that it was his hope to awaken some sympathy within the dormant hearts of the affluent people within his society, to the plight of the common man. So in this essay my goal is to show that Blake was a spiritual man, a man of sympathy and a natural love towards children. Yet I will still be able to uncover with my research why Blake was so avid a believer in man’s contrary soul.... Free Essays on William Blakes Contrary States Free Essays on William Blakes Contrary States William Blake’s Theory of Contrary States BY: DELORES JOHNSON William Blake was a talented poet. Many fans and critics alike think him one of the greatest poets of his time. It will be my duty and my pleasure to try a new approach to his writings and some insight to his poems. Of all his poetry that I have read I find the most contrast within the two collections of lyric poems called Songs of Innocence and Experience (1789-1794). These poems represent how Blake felt about â€Å"the two states of the human soul.† The poems in these collections were meant to contrast each other to reflect that. â€Å"Without contraries there is no progression† was often heard from his lips. I agree with that sentiment. I m a college student and as such I am going down an enlighten road. I truly believe that there is a constant struggle between the bourgeois and the proletariat. I believe that there is some evidence of Blake being aware of this struggle as demonstrated in the poems â€Å"Holy Thursday† and â€Å"The Chimney Sweeper†. These poems display ironic views and an overly trusting attitude towards the government. Blake was a controversial poet who often stirred up the political pots of his time. In fact I think that it was his hope to awaken some sympathy within the dormant hearts of the affluent people within his society, to the plight of the common man. So in this essay my goal is to show that Blake was a spiritual man, a man of sympathy and a natural love towards children. Yet I will still be able to uncover with my research why Blake was so avid a believer in man’s contrary soul....

Jealousy lead to tragedy Essays

Jealousy lead to tragedy Essays Jealousy lead to tragedy Paper Jealousy lead to tragedy Paper A view from the bridge Arthur Miller  How does Eddies jealousy lead to tragedy?  A view from the bridge is a play that identifies the work and lives of the communities of dockworkers and longshoremen of New Yorks Brooklyn Harbor.  The author Arthur Miller has written his play focusing on the Carbone family.  Eddie Carbone is an Italian longshoreman working on the New York docks. When his wifes cousins, Marco and Rodolpho, seek refuge as illegal immigrants from Sicily, Eddie agrees to shelter them. Trouble begins when his wifes niece Catherine shows attraction towards the younger brother Rodolpho. Eddies inability to let go of Catherine, his frailty leads him to betray Rodolpho and Marco and this tragic error of judgment leads him to his death.  From the first scene Eddies frailty is shown in his obsessive need to control his niece Catherine, and his theme of appearance versus reality is more complicated because Eddie will not admit that there is a problem. To prevent other characters from knowing his motives, he hides behind what mite seem to be good reasons for his behavior. Katie, I promised your mother on her deathbed. Im responsible for you  Here you see Eddies hiding his protectiveness behind his responsibilities for Catherine and as the play progresses, we realize that deep down he wishes to keep Catherine for himself.  Eddies jealousy is dealt effectively throughout the play.  We can see from Eddies actions and the way he talks to Catherine that he has some sort of secret desire for her.  Catherine: Hi Eddie! (Eddie is pleased and therefore shy about it)  Instantly in the opening lines of the book you see Eddies true feelings for Catherine. Eddie is a grown man and has been a father figure to Catherine for many years therefore shouldnt be feeling shy when she says hi he is acting as a young man with a crush on Catherine would. Instantly his love is shown but in a very subtle, clever way. Catherine comes across flirtatious towards Eddie and he feels flattered that a young, attractive woman shows interest in him.  (Catherine enters from the bedroom with a cigar and a pack of matches)  Here! Ill light that for you! (She strikes a match and holds it to his cigar)  Catherine fusses over Eddie in a flirtatious way giving the wrong impression to Eddie.  His protectiveness over Catherine Is developed throughout the play and further on turns into jealousy.  In the first scene Eddie comes across as being protective over her as any father would be but in this case Eddie is not the father. He begins by telling Catherine that a new skirt that shes bought it too short, then tells her that shes walking wavy and he doesnt like the looks shes receiving off men he says Heads are turnin like windmills  Then follows on to tell her that he doesnt like the way she waves to men through the window. Immediately in the book you see that Eddie is a very dominant man. He sees the fact that other men are becoming interested in her and dislikes the fact she is becoming interested in them.  Catherine do me a favour, will you? Your getting to be a big girl now, you just gotta keep yourself more, you cant be so friendly kid  He begins to see that Catherine is growing up and turning into a woman. Eddie wants to protect her from growing up and is shading her from the world. But here he knows that Catherine would do anything to please him, so he asks her to do him a favor but he doesnt wait for an answer he quickly changes the subject. When both Marco and Rodolpho arrive you can instantly see Catherines interest in Rodolpho. She starts asking questions about why he hasnt married.. Eddies aware of Catherine and Rodolphos attraction towards each other and stops it before it goes further by insulting Catherine and embarrassing her in front of the visitors. Eddie uses Rodolfoà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½s illegal status against him and exercises his authority over him. He makes Rodolfo stop singing under the pretence that the singing is drawing attention to him and he may get discovered and picked up, to mask his feelings of jealousy and dislike towards him. (Eddie has risen, with iron control, even a smile. He moves to Catherine)  Whats the high heels for,Garbo  Eddies jealousy is growing. Catherine is showing more attention to other people than Eddie so instantly we can see that he resorts to embarrassing her in front of Rodolpho and Marco.  Eddies hatred for Rodolfo grows and he is acting on his emotions when he tells Catherine, after they have come back from the cinema that Rodolfo is only using her to get his papers so he can stay in America. Katie, hes only bowinà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ to his passport  The explosion of jealousy comes when Eddie comes home drunk and finds Catherine and Rodolfo alone after having been in the bedroom together. He is so desperate; he is acting on his emotions and not thinking rationally and tells Rodolpho to leave, so Catherine agrees to go with him and Eddie tells her she isnt leaving.  Catherine: Eddie, im not gonna be a baby any more! You-  (He reaches out suddenly, draws her to him and as she strives to free herself he kisses her on the mouth) Eddie kisses Catherine to show Rodopho that Catherine is his and no one is to touch her and grips Rodolpho and also kisses him to show try and show Catherine that he isnt normaland this to Eddie was the last straw.  Eddie approaches Alfieri for help but he is unable to do anything about the marriage because she is her own person to do as she wishes.  Give me the number of the immigration bureau. Thanks. (he dials) I want to report something. Illegal immigrants. Two of them. Thats right. Four-forty-one saxon street, Brooklyn

HIstory of the Yorba Family Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

HIstory of the Yorba Family - Essay Example At that time, American Indians dwelled in Orange County until the period of Spanish colonization in the late 1700's. Gaspar de Portola, a Spanish explorer, marched through the San Joaquin Valley, abruptly ending the quiet life of the Gabrielinos (Indians). With the Spaniards came forts, missions and herds of cattle (City of Irvine, 2007). The Spanish Empire wanted to colonize quickly on the West coast of the New World because their enemy, Britain, was preoccupied on the East coast with the Revolutionary War from 1763-1775 (Middlebrook, 2005). One of the members of the Portola expedition was a young soldier by the name of Jose Antonio Yorba (The Colton Letters, 2002), born in San Sadurni de Noya, Spain, in 1746 (Timeline, n.d.). After retiring from military service in 1797, Jose Antonio Yorba later returned as one of several large landowners who established ranchos in the area ("San Antonio," 2005). Yorba settled in the lush California valleys around the Santa Ana River south of Los Angeles. In 1809, he petitioned the King of Spain for a grant of land in this area covering 62,516 acres, which included the current communities of Irvine, Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Tustin and several others (City of Irvine, 2007). Yorba Linda in Orange County was eventually named after him. The Spanish promoted intermarriage between Spanish soldiers and American Indians. For example, Corporal Jose Antonio Yorba, born in Spain, married an American Indian by the name of Maria Garcia Feliz at Monterey and had two children (Middlebrook, 2005). It is said, one boy drowned at age six, and another died in his mid-twenties. Yorba's wife also died early in 1781. Yorba then married a 16 year old by the name of Maria Josefa Grijalva, an older daughter of another Spanish military leader named Juan Pablo Grijalva who eventually received the highest rank in the Spanish expedition in California and also founded Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana (Middlebrook, 2005). In 1810, Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana, 62,516 acres, was granted to Jos Antonio Yorba and Juan Pablo Peralta by Spanish Governor Jos Joaqun Arrillaga; it was the only Spanish land grant wholly in Orange County (Hallan-Gibson, nd.). Most of Rancho Santa Ana became Orange County, CA, and one of the haciendas became Yorba Linda, birthplace of President Nixon (Harrison, 2000). At that time, the King of Spain began to parcel out lands for missions and for a few large, private land grants. In 1831, after gaining independence from Spain, the Mexican government secularized the missions, assumed control of land holdings and began dispensing ranchos to Mexican citizens who went for grants. (City of Irvine, 2007). In time, Jose Antonio Yorba passed his land to his heirs - the most notable being his son, Don Bernardo Yorba (The Colton Letters, 2002). On August 1, 1834, Bernardo, moved across the Santa Ana River from what is now Anaheim Hills, to establish Rancho Caon de Santa Ana. Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana. Three large Spanish/Mexican grants made up the land that later became the Irvine Ranch: Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana, Rancho San Joaquin and Rancho Lomas de Santiago. The oldest was the Rancho Santiago

Marketing Strategy for Business .Marketing & Enterprise .I chose this Essay

Marketing Strategy for Business .Marketing & Enterprise .I chose this company for assignmnet(Midland News Association.Express & - Essay Example Implementation 24 7. Conclusion 24 References 24 1. Executive summary 1.1 Current Position Midland News Association (MNA Media) is the largest independent regional news company in the UK. The company is owned and operated by the Graham family of Wolverhampton. Two of its daily titles, Express & Star and the Shropshire Star, are Britain’s biggest selling regional daily newspapers, and sell more than 200,000 copies everyday. 1.2 Key issues The major concern facing Midland News Association is the generally lackluster trend in the industry. Declining demand constrained the UK newspapers industry over 2006 to 2011, and while the rate of decline is likely to slow down after 2011, forecasted demand remains bleak until 2016 ('Newspapers Industry Profile’, 2013). A lesser but still important concern is that of remaining competitive even while rival regional publications adopt innovative practices to create new products. 2. Corporate Strategy 2.1 Corporate mission/objectives The Express & Star aims to become the biggest-selling regional evening newspaper in Britain (â€Å"About Us†, 2013). Its objectives include providing its subscribers and readers with accurate and timely news on the political, business, lifestyle and social events, and articles of general interest for entertainment, through printed and online publications, in a manner that afford customers easy access. 2.2 Summary of overall position and corporate strategy Strategic pricing. Express and Star fields two types of issues every week. The midweek edition carries the regular features and while there are special interest features, overall the newpaper adopts straightforward news reporting in both its print and e-edition. MNA retained the price of the mid-week issues, but raised the price of the Weekend edition by 30 per cent. The significant price increase is justified by the higher value added and the inclusion of features such as the week-long TV guide which makes the Weekend edition r elevant for the entire week following (Cross, 2013a). Image overhaul. Recently, the Express and Star have have kept pace with competitors’ moves by matching their attempts with a corresponding strategy. Cross (2013a) reported in April a revamp by competitor Birmingham Mail of its weekend paper, Trinity Mirror, intended to boost readership. The new Saturday issue boasts a new design, combined with a launch of its e-edition, improvements to the website, and the launch of a new, part-free Friday edition of which the paper distributed 50,000 copies free throughout the city centre. To match the move Express and Star rebranded its Saturday edition as the ‘Weekend’ edition which included a new supplement featuring ‘a full weekly TV guide, lifestyle and entertainment sections, new columnists, and several puzzles and games pages. Like the Trinity Mirror, Express and Star’s Weekend edition will sell at the higher price of 60p from the previous 45p (Cross, 2013 a). Expansion into mobile publishing. The Express and Star launched in April 2013 an app for Android smartphones which is made available by Google Play online store. The app allows subscribers to view the same image as features in the printed edition.This also allows greater access of readers to MNA’s products, without necessarily being confined in time and space. 3. External and internal analysis 3.1 PESTEL Political – The UK is a democracy with a stable governance system supported by highly consistent policies