Hamlet Essays (681 words) - Characters In Hamlet,

Hamlet In William Shakespeares Hamlet, the author weaves a tale of deception, murder, and love into five dramatic acts. Maintaining a fierce plot of murder between both Claudius and Hamlet, in some way each leads to death in the end. Along the way, however, all the characters suffer form the slings and arrows of their devious measures. Claudius and Hamlet, being related by blood are both alike in the sense that they too are filled with an eternal drive to fulfill their goals by whatever procedure necessary. While Claudius wears a mask of a loving brother who now has to take the role of father upon his nephew, Hamlet convinces even his own mother of his insanity. Claudius refers to his nephew in the sense that, Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death The memory be green, and that it us befitted To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom To be contracted in one brow of woe (I, ii, ll. 1-4) This only sets the tone for the entire play for his deceptive actions of being a doting parent, husband, and king while in reality having committed a heinous murder in order to obtain the power of the throne. His falsified feelings towards honestly and loyalty are dashed within act three, when he promotes his love for Hamlet, arranges for his death. The King plans for his stepson to be murdered while traveling to Engl and, but is unsuccessful. He then resorts to an alternate plan, but soon the guilt of his actions takes its toll as he cries, O tis too true. How smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience The harlots cheek, beautied with plastring art, Is not more ugly to the thing that helps it Than is my deed to my most painted word. O heavy burden! (3,I,49-53) Even the ghost of Hamlets father makes a comment referring to his brother as, Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder. From these words of his father breeds the thought of revenge and hate against his uncle. In Act two and three, he leads his fellow friends and family to believe that he is, in fact, insane. Polonius, the father of Laertes and Hamlets love, Ophelia makes the comment that, That hes mad; tis true(2,ii,97) A plan that later leads to the insanity of Ophelia, most possibly the only one that Hamlet truly cares for. Also, in Act three, characters portray the actual event that is most likely the true cause of the death of the original King. It is humorously titled The Mousetrap(3,ii,219) because this is the proof Hamlet will need to positively be sure of his parents guilt. After the play ends, Claudius leaves in a rage and Hamlets mother calls to see him alone, confirming Hamlets theory to be true. While speaking to his mother alone he knows that he is being spied upon and draws his sword. He approaches a wall hanging that an intruder is hiding behind. Stabbing the person, and seeing his mother reaction he asks,Is it the King?(3,iv, 32). But, unfortunately, it is Ophelias father, Polonius. Because of his suspicion and anger from grief he kills an innocent person and also his loves father. It is because of these lies and miscommunication that another person dies at the hands of tainted blood. Trickery, lies, and betrayal all mark the lives of this tragic family all destined for an early death. A King that murders his own brother for his crown, a mother who weds her dead husbands brother, and a son who grieves to completely and utterly for his father that he leads himself into murder. All these factors lead into the overwhelming idea that commit these actions willingly, and not under a supreme power. Perpetrating the effects into occurrence, it only leads to the destruction of almost everyone who comes into contact with the characters. Shakespeare Essays

The relationship between democracy and Islam in Indonesia

The relationship between democracy and Islam in Indonesia The role of Islam in the transition to democracy in Indonesia This paper will discuss how Islam and democracy interact in Indonesia. The paper will look at the role of Islam in the transition to democracy, in which Islam has played a critical part in the pro-democracy movement.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The relationship between democracy and Islam in Indonesia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Islam has played a crucial role in the research on the compatibility in Islam and democracy, in elections and in the building of a civil society in Indonesia. During the past decades, democracy and Islam have been a debatable topic and continues to be a major issue in political discussions. In the western world, Islam and democracy are viewed as fundamentally irreconcilable. Samuel Huntington argued that collapse of democratic system in the Islamic world is owed to the fact that the Islamic customs and society being unwelc oming to Western freethinking principles. According to some Muslim conservatives, the democracy values are contradicted with the concept of fundamental Islam. On the other hand, Indonesia has been considered as one of the Muslim countries that have been able to incorporate and consolidate democratic values into its political system. Robert Hefner points out that in countries such as Indonesia, Islam has became vital to democratization and has turn out to be the single most vital force for political transformation and democracy. This paper will argue the concept of Islam and Democracy can be compatible by looking at Indonesia as the majority Muslim country in the world. Throughout the history, the concept of democracy is marked by conflicting interpretation. The idea of democracy is always contested and vague where it is tricky to apply into practices. Huntington (1984, p.195) argues that the definition of democracy are legion where the term has been far from political area such the term has just been apply to institution. This is where citizens have the capacities to choose freely among political alternatives by making their own decisions that have a direct effect on their lives. Jillani (2006, p.728) states that such values of freedom, tolerance and equality are the principle of democracy that form government in a sovereignty state.Advertising Looking for essay on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, in the western perspective, democracy and Islam are view as fundamentally incompatible. Huntington (1984, p.208) states that Islam are seen to be inhospitable to democracy. This is because Islamic revival especially the Shish fundamentalist in Middle East are strongly oppose and against the development of democracy as it is identified with Western liberal principles and such principle will denies the Islamic concept of the sovereignty of God. The Islamic fundamentalist is seen to be anti-democratic in the view of religious resurgence (Heryanto Mandal 2003, p.122). According to Effendy (2008, p.41) the concept of democracy is not foreign to Islamic thought. The values of democracy such as justice, consultation, egalitarian, trust and freedom are inherent to the corpus of Islamic ideas. As a result Islam is seen to be compatible with democracy through this perception where these values are obliged implemented in Muslim’s social culture, economic and political activities. Heryanto and Mandal (2003, p.123) argues that values have to be substantiate through educational reform and the creation of social institutions that encourage participation of society in the political and religious realm. On the other hand, the most important confront for democratization in the Muslim world are rely on Muslim leaders and intellectuals themselves to come up with rational systems of Islamic democracy that are not easy reformulations of Western philosophy offe red in Islamic expression. The diversity of Islam in Indonesia Among other Islamic country, democracy has been able to thrive among the largest number of the Muslims in Indonesia due to the moderate forms of Islam the citizens has been able to adopt (Azra Hudson 2008, p.47). There has been a blend between the myriad ways and the pre-existing religious practices.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The relationship between democracy and Islam in Indonesia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This has resulted to a richly distinctive variant. The form of Islam originally from Indonesia does not have the attribute of severity and rigidity. This has enabled it to get praise due to its moderation and tolerance. Hefner (2000, p.18) argues that democracy in Indonesia has become the single most important force for political change and democracy in the Muslim world in regards to the compatibility of Islam and democracy. According t o Carnegie, (2006, p.3), Indonesia is the country with the largest population of Muslims. Michael Buehler also states that the country is the third biggest democracy in the world, only after the U.S. and India (2009, p.51). Islam has a prominent sway in the Indonesia’s political landscape and offers an array of political and conceptual potentials for the nation. For instance, home-grown Abangan Islam is highly practiced in the Central and Eastern Java while Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)-the conventional Sunni Islam- is common in East Java. The current Islamic tenets of Muhammadiyah are prominent outside Java and synonymous with contemporary welfare services and education in Indonesia. Muhammadiyah is also popular among the young population who are more intellectual and autonomous in Indonesia (Carnegie, 2006, p.3). One of principal reasons that explain the cordial rapport between democracy and Islam in Indonesia is the disintegration of Islamic power in the country’s social soc iety (Buehler, 2009, p.53). The diversity of Islam in Indonesia is attributed to manner in which the Islamic alteration took place in the previous eras. The conversion of Indonesians to Islam was influenced by a number of factors such as accommodating prior Islamic tenets and observances that were common in various parts of Indonesia. The colonial rulers also contributed to Islamic diversity in Indonesia when they denied indigenous rulers authority to set up unified institutions of Islamic education, worship and pilgrimage.Advertising Looking for essay on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The absence of a unified Islam structure has led to tectonic movements in the democratization of Islam in Indonesia. The country has thus witnessed the elimination of official constraints on the spiritual life of its population. Moreover, new types of religious practices have emerged thereby reducing the control of Islamic leaders in the whole country (Buehler, 2009, p.54). The role of Islam during election period in Indonesia The diffusion of Islamic authority and the vulnerability of social structure are more visible during voting periods. For example, during the gubernatorial vote in 2005, the authority of religious leader- the Tuan guru- was trivial as a result of a large number of Islamic leaders in South Kalimantan province. The candidates involved in the election knew that political support from religious figures was not adequate to augment their chances since all contestants had a Tuan guru in their campaign teams. Some resorted to use other strategies such as providing fina ncial support to social amenities such as schools, hospitals and mosques to woo voters. In addition, the waning influence of religious leaders has been manifested by the voters who have ditched Islamic leaders that support unpopular political parties (Buehler, 2009, p.55). The modern Muslim parties continue to play a vital role in the Indonesia’s democratic landscape. For example, in spite of their diverse political inclinations, the Muhammadiyah and NU parties strongly support the existence of a secular state and have censured terrorist activities and the parochial interpretation of Islamic laws (Smith, 2005, p.115). The role of radical Islamist in Indonesia According to Amir Santoso, the relationship between democracy and Islam in Indonesia has been characterized by the antagonism and tension between the ruling elites and Islam (1995, p.3). Right from the colonial period to post-Soeharto era, Muslims have used their religion as their platform for struggle against colonial r ule, oppression and as a tool for religious chauvinism (Jillani, 2006, p.727). During the formative years of Suharto’s totalitarian New Order and Islamic organizations were major political forces that strongly sustained the New Order in defeating communism. However, the cordial partnership collapsed in the late 1960s when the state was fully focused on the general election in early 1970s. There are a number of theories put forward to explain the demise of the alliance between the government and Islam in Indonesia. First, the demise of communism in the country meant that Islam was the main ideological option to Suharto’s regime. Second, Suharto’s New Order regime strongly believed that Islamic groups wanted to introduce Islamic tenets in the country. Finally, since the government’s main goals were political stability and economic growth, the government introduced containment policies to weaken the influence of Islam in Indonesia (Santoso, 1995, p.3). The c urrent democratic landscape in Indonesia has reduced the influence of radical Islam by giving its proponents democratic space to form political parties, take part in electoral process and freedom of press. This type of regime has thus been able to establish the politics and policies employed by Islamists. This theory is relevant to Middle East countries since flexible autocratic power of some regimes such as Indonesia have allowed the contribution of radical Islamists. The inclusion of radical Islamic groups in the democratic process compelled them to abandon their initial radical stands and in the end, adopted moderate positions (Nasr, 2005, p.13). In nutshell, the theory of flexible autocratic structure is that the involvement of radical Islam in political process leads to moderate Islam while their exclusion through oppression enhances Islamic radicalism (Hafez, 2005, p.4). References Azra, A. Hudson, H. (2008) Islam beyond Conflict: Indonesian Islam and Western Political Theory . Aldershot, UK: Ashgate. Buehler, M. (2009) Islam and Democracy in Indonesia. Insight Turkey, 11(4), 51-63. Carnegie, P. (2006) The Politics of Indonesia’s Islamic Identification. Dialogue, 4 (1), 1- 24. Effendy, B. (2008) Islam and the State in Indonesia. Web. Hafez, M. (2003) Why Muslims Rebel: Repression and Resistance in the Islamic World. London, Lynne Rienner. Hefner, R. (2000) Civil Islam: Muslims and democratization in Indonesia. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Heryanto, A. and Mandal, S. (2003) Challenging authoritarianism in Southeast Asia.  London: Routledge. Huntington, S (1984) Will more countries become democratic? In Political Science Quarterly, 99 (2), 206-228. Jillani, H. (2006) Democracy and Islam: An Odyssey in Braving the Twenty-First Century. Brigham Young University Law Review, (3), 727-753. Nasr, V. (2005) The Rise of Muslim Democracy. Journal of Democracy, 16 (2), 13-27. Santoso, A. (1995) Islam and politics in Indonesia during the 1990s. Asi an Journal of Political Science, 3(1) 1-34. Smith, P. (2005) Terrorism and Violence in Southeast Asia. London: Sharpe.

Problems with instrumental variables estimation when the correlation Essay

Problems with instrumental variables estimation when the correlation between the instruments and the endogenous explanatory variable is weak - Essay Example To be able to understand the dynamics of a problem it is important to begin with determining the number of variables involved and the relationship between each variable and the problem. It is also important to understand how the involved variables affect each other or one another. The attempt of various researchers to understand the existing relationship has been unsuccessful under non-experimental scenery (Bound, Jaeger & Baker 443). The reason for the failure is the fact that some of the variables are endogenous. In other words, the variables are subject to the same factors that influence the research problem. The endogeniety trait of variables makes the ordinary least square biased and inconsistent therefore, making the research conclusion unreliable. Fortunately, there is a method of reducing the influence of variable endogeneity on research outcome has been determined. The method involves the use of an instrumental variable estimation. However, the method also experiences some problems. First, insufficient explanation of the variation of the endogenous explanatory variables. This could increase the error standard thus invalidates the research outcome. Secondly, the approximated limited samples are biased in the same magnitude as OLS when the coefficient of determination, (R2), between the instrument and the variables diminishes (Bound, Jaeger & Baker 443) To conclude, the problems with instrumental variable estimation are insufficient explanation in the deviation of the endogenous variables and the biases of finite samples when the R2 between the instrument and the variables decreases to zero. Bound, John, David A. Jaeger and Regina M. Baker. â€Å"Problems with Instrumental Variables Estimation when the Correlation between the Instruments and the Endogenous.† Journal of The American Statistical Association 90.430 (1995): 443.