Life at a Medieval University Essay Example for Free

Life at a Medieval University Essay Life at a medieval university for clerics was in many regards similar to our present day college experience. When college was in session, life was basically split into two categories; life in the books, and life outside the books if you will. Scholars needed to focus their attention to the tasks at hand during learning hours. As we know today, the more time you spend studying, the better grades you’ll achieve. On the other hand, scholars needed a release from the daily grind of constant academic involvement. This may have included some popular pastimes such as drinking, gambling, and wreaking havoc downtown (nothing a modern student would do). The scholars experienced many of the problems that modern day collegians deal with as well. Some of these issues included finding the college that fits you best, shortages of funds, arguments with local residents, feuds with fellow clerics, and finding the path that would be fulfilling to them in their lives. There were only a few major differences being a life centered on religion and discussions based on theology, the fact that only males were accepted to study and the clothing that scholars wore. All in all, being at a university was for the betterment of the individual. Students back then had a similar motivation to go to school. By completing university study, you would achieve a higher status in society and live a better life. Another was to get out of a home town to see what else the world had to offer. College is the best time to explore because you’re housing and food are all accounted for. Wandering scholars took best advantage of this by traveling to different universities and getting a diverse education. One reason not many people went to school was because most were not privileged at this time (the literacy rate was very poor). Academic life was structured fairly well. Rules and rights were clearly laid out by the institution itself. Students were protected from harm by any member of the faculty, as they should be. In the â€Å"Royal Privileges Granted to the University of Paris by the King of France,† it is stated that â€Å"†¦neither our provost nor our judges shall lay hands on a student for any offence whatever; nor shall they place him in our prison, unless such a crime is committed by the student that he ought be arrested. † The article goes on to talk about how under the circumstances that the scholar is found to have committed a crime, he be handed over to an actual judge for further investigation. This shows that the university has governing powers within itself to a certain extent. If an encroachment can be resolved without going to the local or state government authorities, the scholar’s image can be protected. Even today we have University Police on campus who held regulate behavior on campuses, but do not have jurisdiction outside of the college campus. Clothing was another major aspect of scholarly life. Clerics wore long cloaks with nothing fancy that would make them stand out. Master teachers wore cloaks with the addition of a white stole. The stole was used to show status and authority over the rest of the student body. This seems to hint to the fact that all the scholars were on a level field of play, and it distinguished them from the rest of society. Typically our graduates of today’s colleges and universities adorn the traditional gowns when they receive their diploma. On a side note, I attended a private religious elementary school which enforced a policy of uniforms (shirt and tie for the guys, skirts for the girls). I believe that by wearing the same clothing as fellow students, people aren’t so concerned with what each other is wearing, and focus on learning. Religion played a major factor in medieval universities. As in my elementary experience of mass being part of the weekly routine, medieval universities had a major emphasis on religion. Robert de Sorbon tells us in his regulations that religious holidays will be followed strictly in the academic life. No meat would be allowed to be consumed on Advent and other days designated by the church. If you were at a university at this time, you would follow the religious standards, just as I could never get out of going to Friday mass at HGA. Nowadays, religion is a touchy topic. It is left to the discretion of the individual whether or not he or she wants to follow the practices and how closely. Church and state are now separated as to avoid major conflicts. Peter Abelard questions the theological teachings of medieval universities and is criticized for it. He says â€Å"Is God one, or no? † At this time scriptures were not to be questioned and were considered to be true. As we know now, science has become a major source of answers in society. Anyway, Abelard brings a whole new dimension to the table when he questions god’s existence and some of the things that the church stands for. The whole basis is to use logic and reason to ponder things in a philosophical fashion. This faith vs. reason debate involved Abelard and others who felt that god was in a persons being, or heart. Academia took up most of the students daily and weekly lives. Scholars took full advantage of down time to relax and enjoy themselves. Social life was the second major aspect of a cleric’s university experience. As we know, the student body greatly impacts the surrounding town’s economy; however social issues arise as well. When students and townspeople are in the same atmosphere, and drinking, fights are bound to break lose. These battles came to be known as â€Å"town and gown† ordeals. These were actually small wars where people would be killed! As many as three thousand students armed with weapons would flood the streets and begin fighting with townspeople, also armed with weapons. Students were also held fairly high in terms of their rights. This is what fueled most of the battles. The fact that a scholar was in progress of obtaining a degree made many seem untouchable, after all, they were going to make the world a better place with their elevated knowledge. Students were warned ahead of time by their proctors that there was a tension between the people of the town and the student body. Heavy drinking and gambling occurred frequently and poems were written as evidence. This served as a social release where students could let lose for awhile. Even today student go to the bars downtown and mix with the locals. There are rarely any incidents of deaths or injuries because of it though. The money generated by pizza shops, bars, taxi services and businesses due to the student influx is what keeps them afloat. On a lighter note, clerics needed some of the same things that modern students need. Money was a big necessity among students as it is today. In a letter home one student tells his sponsor that he is working very hard in school, and studying often, but he needs some money to pay for food, rent and other â€Å"unspecified† things (possibly beer money?). The way he words his letter makes it sound like he will not be able to go on learning without the timely delivery of some funds. The sponsor’s response shows that he knows the truth behind what the student has said. It humors me how students today do the same thing through emails and phone calls home. â€Å"I’m working so very hard in school, but the weekend is coming † Its all part of growing up and learning responsibility. In the end, life at a medieval university was not that much different from today’s experience. The focus on religion was very important, but reason came into play as well. Scholars were taught to question everything in order to get to the roots of a topic. Over time, there was a major shift from the theological answers to the scientific explanations of today. We test things in science with facts to find if they are true instead of looking toward God and scripture. As in life, there is a time for work and a time for play. We go to college because we know it is good for us, plus it gives us a little extra time in our lives to figure out what we want to be.

Confessions of a Chronic Shopper :: Personal Narrative Shopping Toys Papers

Confessions of a Chronic Shopper It began with Barbie. I received my first at age four, and for awhile, I was happy with just that one. But when I walked down the all-hot-pink aisle at Target, I couldn’t help but need another. Magic Moves, Peaches and Cream, Crystal. Barbie and the Rockers. And then came the accessories. Barbie’s pink Jeep. Barbie’s bed and bedroom furniture. Kitchen accessories. Gym equipment. A tall Barbie house with an elevator. My sister and I had the works. We would set up luxurious Barbie mansions and would select from a bottomless Barbie pit four or five Barbies apiece, creating elaborate plots that could contend with any of the afternoon soap operas. Their days consisted of primping, changing clothes at least 35 times, ordering miscellaneous stuff advertised on the radio, and dating. And with only a Ken and a Derek to go around for eight Barbies, there was much stealing of boyfriends. They led extremely enriching lives. Then Cabbage Patch Kids were born. Since they were in such high demand, it was agony wondering if I’d even get one. But Grandma Bonnie and Grandpa Leo were successful on Easter of 1985. Although Grandpa had to literally fight with a woman in the aisle of Toys ‘R Us over the last Cabbage Patch on the shelves, he won, thank goodness, so that I could have Martina. Martina Dorisa. But after awhile, Martina needed a playmate. And another. And a fourth. So, I acquired three more—Billy, Gary, and a little premie named Felice. My sister had four as well, and ironically, when we played with them, we would pretend that we were destitute single mothers. The home we set up was underneath the ping-pong table in our basement, cramped quarters for two girls and eight babies. But we were impoverished, after all. In all honesty, however, I cannot remember a day when I ever felt the scarcity of money —whether it was the fear that I might not be getting another meal or that I might not be getting another Christmas present. As the fourth and youngest child in my family, my parents were in their thirties and well-established when I was born. While my older siblings felt the consequences when my parents struggled to make ends meet, I never had to witness such financial straits or worry about money at all. I grew up knowing only affluence, receiving almost any desire I entertained, and so consumption naturally became a part of my life, just as some children who are born into poverty naturally understand privation and want as a natural way of life.

Discuss the role that grudges and rivalries play Essay

Discuss the role that grudges and rivalries play within â€Å"The Crucible† by Arthur Miller Arthur Miller’s play â€Å"The Crucible† is set in the 17th century in a village called Salem. It is written in the time of the McCarthy period in the 1950’s, when Joe McCarthy (senator of the USA) attacked people for communism. Joe McCarthy accused many people including Julius and Ethel Rosenberg for leaking information about the atomic bomb to the Russians; they were then executed on 19th June 1953. He even attacked Hollywood for communism; in one case he ordered Charlie Chaplain out of the USA for un-American activities. The trials carried out by Joe McCarthy were very flawed and there were numerous appeals. The McCarthy period started when the Russians joined the ‘nuclear club’ sooner than expected, and caused paranoia across the USA. This is reflected in the Salem society because the population of Salem started to blame people for witch-craft to get themselves more respect and to settle grudges. This was then named the witch hunt. It is a puritan society that believes they themselves were chosen by God. They also believe they could only work and pray; that the Universe was centred on God; and that man was sinful and corrupt but thankfully saved by God. Their society was ruled by religion and was very rigid. This is ironic because the lies and trickery performed by the girls of the council goes against the Salem society, and yet they believe what they say. Reverend Parris of Salem was a high-ranking individual who demands a lot of respect that he thinks he deserves. He is dogmatic and dominant and thinks himself to be the top man of Salem. His niece Abigail is soon to follow him by being a snob and constantly lying. Abigail is attracted to John Proctor, a man that in the Salem society is a dangerous man and is to be afraid of. Reverend Parris’ maid Tituba is a black slave in her forty’s from the Caribbean. She is an innocent women but trouble always seems to follow her. Betty Parris (Reverend Paris’ Daughter) is thought to have been consumed by the devil; she was involved in an act of ‘conjuring’ and was then left unconscious, this is when the witch-hunt began. The play is set in the 1962 witch trials of Salem . This is when people were blamed for witch craft to settle grudges and rivalries. The trials were flawed and even the jury was lying. This is linked to the McCarthy period because Joe McCarthy blamed others for communism to settle his grudges and rivalries against him. Abigail Williams is the niece of Reverend Parris. Abigail Williams is a young â€Å"strikingly beautiful† seventeen year old girl who is an orphan of low social status. She once had an affair with John Proctor when she was his maid; she was then ordered out of their house after John Proctor’s wife, Elizabeth Proctor, discovered this. Abigail Williams has a grudge against Elizabeth Proctor. Abigail is an aggressive woman, â€Å"I’ll beat you Betty! † From this, the audience can tell how far Abigail will go to get out of trouble. In addition to this, we recognise how cruel and selfish she is. Furthermore, it shows that she doesn’t care about anyone other than herself; not even her cousin. Arthur Miller portrays Abigail Williams in this manner to shock the audience by presenting Abigail Williams as an outcast compared to all the other women in the village. When women are addressed in the Salem society, they are usually referred to as â€Å"Goody†; this isolates Abigail Williams because her reputation is â€Å"blackened in the village†. Abigail Williams has strong feelings for John Proctor after the events which happened when Abigail Williams was John Proctor’s maid, â€Å"Gah! I’d almost forgot how strong you are, John Proctor! † From this quote the audience can connote the deep feelings that Abigail Williams has for John Proctor. Use of the word â€Å"forgot† shows the audience that Abigail Williams and John Proctor had a past life together. This also outlines Abigail Williams grudge against Elizabeth Proctor. In addition, the stage direction â€Å"she comes a little closer, with a confidential, wicked air† shows the deep temptation that Abigail Williams has for John Proctor. Abigail Williams has made a confliction for herself between John Proctor and herself, â€Å"My wife is innocent, except she knew a whore when she saw one! † By use of the word â€Å"whore†, John Procter immediately shows the audience the disgust he holds for Abigail Williams for ruining his love life with Elizabeth Proctor. In later acts, John Proctor further shows the audience that he hates her for what she has done when he says â€Å"A whore’s vengeance†. By saying this John Proctor shows the audience how much his life has been ruined due to his affair with Abigail Williams. Abigail Williams holds strong grudges against Elizabeth Proctor, â€Å"It’s a bitter woman, a lying, cold†¦ † This quotation shows the outright hatred she has for Elizabeth Proctor. By referring to Elizabeth Proctor as â€Å"it† shows a lack of respect because she talks about Elizabeth Proctor as if she was an object. Furthermore, Arthur Miller uses the rule of three to emphasise her pure hatred against Elizabeth Proctor. The words that Abigail William’s uses sound cold and dirty, this emphasises her rivalry against Elizabeth Proctor because Abigail William’s is trying to make Elizabeth Proctor sound like she has no heart. When Abigail Williams is introduced, Arthur Miller makes us question her character, â€Å"with an endless capacity for dissembling. † This stage direction shows the audience that Abigail Williams has a bad reputation. The use off the word â€Å"endless† shows that she will stop at nothing to get hew own way; it also puts the audience at the edge of their seats. Abigail Williams also has a reputation for doing anything to get herself out of trouble, â€Å"Not I, Sir- Tituba and Ruth. † The audience recognises that Abigail Williams will lie to get herself out of trouble. This is linked to the McCarthy period where people would blame other’s to climb higher in the social ladder. Arthur Miller also introduces the fact that Abigail Williams is ruthless, aggressive and selfish to the people that surround her. This is reflected in modern day life because Joe McCarthy was also very ruthless to his grudges and rivalries. The girls of Salem are scared by Abigail Williams because she is wicked and sly to them, â€Å"Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring you pointy reckoning that will shudder you. † From this speech by Abigail Williams the audience can see Abigail Williams controlling the other girls that danced with her in the forest. By use of the word â€Å"black†, Abigail Williams tries to remind the other girls of the devil and scare them. In addition, â€Å"pointy reckoning† is used to scare the girls because it reminds them of the devil and they are extremely religious. Even the â€Å"der† in â€Å"shudder† provokes the feeling of endless pain. Abigail Williams developed her violent lifestyle when she was young, â€Å"I saw Indians smash my dear parents’ heads on the pillow next to mine, and I have seen some reddish work done at night. † From this the audience can sympathise with Abigail Williams because she had a troubled child hood. However, Abigail Williams uses this speech to terrify the girls that danced with her in the forest. The phrase â€Å"next to mine† emphasises the close shave of death that Abigail Williams has had; she introduces to the girls that she has seen someone killed and she knows what its like. Abigail Williams enhances the fact that she has no problems to kill the girls of Salem by saying â€Å"I have seen some reddish work done at night. † In addition, the personal pronoun, â€Å"I† underlines to the girls that she will do it herself. â€Å"Reddish† also enhances the gory and graphical image that Abigail Williams is trying to create inside the other girls heads to scare them further. This imagery does not scare Abigail William’s because she has seen it happen and she is not afraid. Abigail Williams is very good at lying, â€Å"If the girls a saint now, I think it is not easy to prove she’s fraud. † From this dialogue by John Proctor, the audience can see that Abigail Williams has persuaded the court that she is a good citizen of Salem. Using the word â€Å"saint†, John Proctor evokes the feeling that Abigail Williams has got herself a good reputation in the court’s mind. Reverend Parris is the towns Reverend. He has worked very hard to get in his position and he wishes to keep it. However, from Reverend Parris’ high status, he has become very paranoid. This is reflected in the McCarthy period because Joe McCarthy became Senate of the USA and he also got very paranoid. Reverend Parris is obsessed with his reputation and strides for a high status within the Salem society,† he cut a villainous path. † This stage direction evokes the feeling that Reverend Parris is not entirely honest; the use of the word â€Å"cut† connotes that he some how cheated his way to this high ranking authority in the community. This reflects the time in which Arthur Miller was writing The Crucible because Joe McCarthy blamed people for communism to stay as the Senate of the USA. In Act One, Reverend Parris shows his concern for his high status and authority, â€Å"Abigail, I have fought here three years long to bend these stiff-necked people to me, and now, just now when some good respect is rising for me in the parish, you compromise my very character. † From this quote the audience can see how paranoid that Reverend Parris has become. â€Å"Stiff-necked people† enhances the corrupt view of Reverend Parris has on the people of the Salem society; it also puts emphasis on the amount of grudges and rivalries that Reverend Parris has. Reverend Parris is obsessed with his high social status, â€Å"I am not some preaching farmer with a book under my arm; I am a graduate of Harvard College. † From this quote the audience can see that Reverend Parris is trying to make himself look more important. The use of the word â€Å"some† show that Reverend Parris doesn’t think himself to be just anyone. Reverend Parris also uses the word â€Å"farmer† to emphasise on his high education at Harvard College; also he uses â€Å"farmer† to belittle John Proctors low education and simple life and job. Reverend Parris is so eager to rise in social status that he shows little care for his own daughter, â€Å"They will howl me out of Salem for such corruption in my house. † This quote connotes the fact that Reverend Parris does not care about Betty Parris, who is his own daughter. From the word â€Å"me† it is highlighted that he doesn’t care about his family; he just simply looks after himself and his authority. Furthermore, â€Å"howl† puts even more emphasis on how Reverend Parris thinks his grudges and rivalries will attack him if they think that he is corrupt. This is mirrored in the McCarthy period where Joe McCarthy blamed others for communism to make himself rise in the social ladder.

The Key Elements For Human Happiness Essay - 2093 Words

Arriving at a definition of happiness is no simple task. Philosophers and scientists alike have researched the subject of happiness for some time and there is no one simple answer as to what happiness is or what makes people happy. This mix of factors that contribute to an individual’s happiness are often unique to that individual. At the most basic level, a happy person may be defined as â€Å"someone who experiences frequent positive emotions †¦ and infrequent (though not absent) negative emotions† (Khoddam, 2015). This definition, while very broad in scope, provides a solid foundation for understanding happiness. Carl Jung, considered by most as the founder of analytical psychology, defined the five key elements for human happiness: 1) Good physical and mental Health 2)Good personal and intimate relationships, such as those of marriage, the family, and friendships 3) The faculty for perceiving beauty in art and nature 4) Reasonable standards of living and satisf actory work 5) A philosophic or religious point of view capable of coping successfully with the vicissitudes of life (Rubin, 2012). Each of these 5 points will be discussed in this paper, after first covering the topic of GDP and equality. For different people, the definition of happiness is different. For the country, it is almost the same. 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