Jack Cade

“Raymond’s Run”, a compelling short story written by Toni Cade Bambara which focuses in on Squeaky, a young girl who excels at running, started out conceited but grew considerate after she witnessed her mentally challenged brother, Raymond, run. She also had to keep Gretchen, her competitor, away from winning the first place prize. During the story, Squeaky became incensed when Gretchen’s clique said a few offensive remarks to Raymond, which made Squeaky want to hold the first place trophy in…

The Allegory of the Cave by Plato was written somewhere between 380 and 360B.C. in part VII of his work The Republic. It begins with the main character Socrates talking of a hypothetical cave in which prisoners are kept in bonds to see what are essentially shadow puppets upon the wall they are forced to stare at, believing them to be the reality of the outside world as they have no other frame of reference. Socrates goes on to say that if the prisoners were to be freed from their bonds they…

Brendan Kelso Professor Otto English Comp II 22 February 2016 A Penny for Her Thoughts in Toni Cade Bambara’s “The Lesson” Think back in your life when there was someone other than a teacher who used their knowledge and experiences to help you understand something. Now imagine how things would have been different if they never did that with you. In some way, shape, or form someone taught you lessons about life, though not formal like school, it was education. In “The Lesson”, Toni Bambara…

In Toni Bambara’s short story, “The Lesson”, many ideas of living are expanded upon. Bambara uses the main protagonist, Miss Moore, as a sort of gateway for the youth in the story to learn these ideas. “The Lesson” takes place in the 1960’s, which helps provide the reader with a sense of how social standards are set in the story. The story revolves around two main characters, an elderly woman named Miss Moore and a younger girl named Sylvia. The two characters are constantly having a battle over…

As individuals we have an utter compulsion to better ourselves, and the instinctual belief of a better tomorrow. In the short story “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara, protagonist Sylvia and friends are introduced to a new way of living and naïvely forced to perceive the world in a whole new aspect, therefore stripped of what they once knew. Entering this unfamiliar world, they are exposed to what they could only dream of, delighted by their surroundings, Sylvia and her posse could not help but…

An expeditious overdose of reality shapes Harlem’s youth, showing them how much they need to work against the status quo and bring upon change. In “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara, the narrator, Sylvia, goes on a field trip into New York City and is angered by the unfair distribution of wealth that she experiences. A neighborhood college-educated woman, Miss Moore, inspires Sylvia to transform her anger into ambition and activism. To end the short story, Sylvia pledges that “ain’t nobody gonna…

many terminal illnesses that we cannot prevent or cure. One of the most painful things to see, is someone you love suffering. Wouldn’t it be nice to have the option to “pass on”, on your own terms? In many states, assisted suicide is not allowed. Dr. Jack Kevorkian believed in assisted suicide and helped many people make that choice, while giving them the dignity to “pass on” to a better place. As human’s we are not invincible. At some point we will all die. But in some cases before death, we…

Euthanasia is a very controversial topic, which has recently gain momentum, ever since the Supreme Court of Canada passed a law legalizing assisted suicide. There are two groups in society, one is happy since, this law will allow them or family members to end their lives when they feel is too demining to be alive or feel they are a burden to their families or society. And the other is feeling disappointed at the ruling the Supreme Court of Canada gave since, human life should be respected from…

When are we as human beings allowed to die? Should we leave the decision of whether we suffer for years with debilitating illnesses and diseases with no chances of a cure or die an earlier death with a little of our dignity and financial security intact, up to legislation? These are some of the questions brought to light in one of the most highly debated medical ethics questions. There are many factors that play into both sides that support the argument of the legalization of euthanasia. With…

Criminal Profiling is a technique whereby the probable characteristics of a criminal offender or offenders are predicted based on the behaviors exhibited in the commission of a crime. The job of a criminal profiler is very crucial in homicide cases. It helps the law enforcement to find and arrest the killer by knowing little details that determine possible suspects for the crime. Criminal profilers investigating serial killers have always tried to formulate some idea of the characteristics of…