Viruses Complex Molecules or Simple Life Forms Essay Example For Students

Viruses: Complex Molecules or Simple Life Forms? Essay Viruses have been defined as entities whose genomes are elements ofnucleic acid that replicate inside living cells using the cellular syntheticmachinery, and cause the synthesis of specialised elements that can transfer thegenome to other cells. They are stationaryand are unable to grow. Because ofall these factors, it is debatable whether viruses are the most complex ofmolecules or the simplest life forms. While the definition of living organismsmust be adapted, the majority of evidence leads to the classification of virusesas living organisms. Viruses are composed of a nucleic acid core, a protein capsid, andoccasionally a membraneous envelope. The nucleic acid core is composed ofeither DNA or in the case of retroviruses, RNA, but never both. In retroviruses,the RNA gets transcribed to DNA bye the enzyme reverse transcriptase. Theprotein capsid is a protein layer that wraps around the virus. There are fourbasic shapes of viruses. The tobacco mosiac, adenovirus, influenza virus, andt-even bacteriophage are each examples of a different virus structure. Eachindividual protein subunit composing the capsid is a capsomere. We will write a custom essay on Viruses: Complex Molecules or Simple Life Forms? specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The tobacco mosiac virus has a helical capsoid and is rod shaped. Theadenovirus is polyhedral and has a protein spike at each vertex. The influenzavirus is made of a flexible, helecal capsid. It has an outer membranousenevelope that is covered with glycoprotein spikes. The T-even bacteriophageconsists of a polyhedral head and a tail. The tail is used to inject DNA into abacterium while the head stores the DNA. Basic life is defined as the simplest form capable of displaying themost essential attributes of a living thing. This makes the only real criterionfor life the ability to replicate. Only systems containing nucleic acids arecapable of this phenomenon. With this reasoning, a better definition is theunit element of a continuous lineage with an individual evolutionary history. Because of viruses inability to survive when not in a host, they must haveevolved from other forms of life. The origin of viruses is an easy thing totheorize about so many hypothesese have been made. One such hypothesis is that viruses were once complete living parasites. Over time they have lost all other cellular components. This is backed up bythe idea that all cells degenerate over time. Some people think along very similar lines that viruses arerepresentatives of an early nearly living stage of life. This goes along withthe first hypothesis in that it accounts for a loss of components. Allcreatures that become parasitic can be seen losing their obsolete functions andstructures. An example of this is the flea. Fleas are eveolved from flies buthave discarded their unneeded wings. This theory when applied suggests that atleast some branches ofviruses have evolved from bacteria because of their similar natures. Scientists say that at one point viruses could have been independantorganisms. As they slowly became parasitic, the unsed structures for proteinand energy synthesis were lost, along with the inhibiting cell wall. Whileviruses do need a host cell to complete many important functions of livingorganisms, the should still be considered living themselves. The ability to replicate is important to the classification of anitem as living. Within the host, viruses are able to replicate, evolve, andeven mutate. They are deeply intertwined in the life process by thisdependancy on a host. Viruses are very specific to what they can use as a host. Despitethe specificness, many viruses can host withmembers of different species,genus, and even phylums. A lock and key fit determines the host, or hostrange. This works vert similar to that of an enzymes active site. .u6408b388547cc78e595c6bb92b09f4bd , .u6408b388547cc78e595c6bb92b09f4bd .postImageUrl , .u6408b388547cc78e595c6bb92b09f4bd .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u6408b388547cc78e595c6bb92b09f4bd , .u6408b388547cc78e595c6bb92b09f4bd:hover , .u6408b388547cc78e595c6bb92b09f4bd:visited , .u6408b388547cc78e595c6bb92b09f4bd:active { border:0!important; } .u6408b388547cc78e595c6bb92b09f4bd .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u6408b388547cc78e595c6bb92b09f4bd { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u6408b388547cc78e595c6bb92b09f4bd:active , .u6408b388547cc78e595c6bb92b09f4bd:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u6408b388547cc78e595c6bb92b09f4bd .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u6408b388547cc78e595c6bb92b09f4bd .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u6408b388547cc78e595c6bb92b09f4bd .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u6408b388547cc78e595c6bb92b09f4bd .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u6408b388547cc78e595c6bb92b09f4bd:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u6408b388547cc78e595c6bb92b09f4bd .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u6408b388547cc78e595c6bb92b09f4bd .u6408b388547cc78e595c6bb92b09f4bd-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u6408b388547cc78e595c6bb92b09f4bd:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Tennyson as a Victorian EssayOnce the virus has found a host cell, the virus uses the hostsnucleotides and enzymes to replicate its DNA. Other materials and machineryof the host cell produce the viruss capsid proteins. The viral DNA andproteins then join to make a new copy of the virus. While viruses are inactive when in transport between hosts, thearguements are overwhelmingly in favor of considering viruses living organisms. Through their parasitic nature, they are able to fulfill most qualities ofliving organisms. Their behavior and complexness also lead to thisclassification. While they are not the text book example of living organisms,is has been in agreement that there always will be exceptions to the rules. Viruses deserve to take their rightful place among the ranks of living organisms. . Category: Science

4 Publications of the Harlem Renaissance

4 Publications of the Harlem Renaissance The Harlem Renaissance, also known as the New Negro Movement, was actually a cultural phenomenon that began in 1917 with the publication of Jean Toomers Cane. The artistic movement ended in  1937 with the publication of Zora Neale Hurstons novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God. For twenty years, Harlem Renaissance writers and artists explored themes such as assimilation, alienation, racism, and pride through the creation of novels, essays, plays, poetry, sculpture, paintings, and photography. These writers and artists would not have been able to launch their careers without having their work seen by the masses. Four notable publications- The Crisis, Opportunity, The Messenger and Marcus Garveys Negro World printed the work of many African-American artists and writers-helping the Harlem Renaissance become the artistic movement that made it possible for African-Americans to develop an authentic voice in American society. The Crisis Established in 1910 as the official magazine of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), The Crisis was the preeminent social and political magazine for African-Americans. With W. E. B. Du Bois as its editor, the publication stuck by its subtitle: A Record of the Darker Races by devoting its pages to events such as the Great Migration. By 1919, the magazine had an estimated monthly circulation of 100,000. That same year, Du Bois hired Jessie Redmon Fauset as literary editor of the publication. For the next eight years, Fauset devoted her efforts to promoting the work of African-American writers such as Countee Cullen, Langston Hughes, and Nella Larsen. Opportunity: A Journal of Negro Life As the official magazine of the National Urban League (NUL), the mission of the publication was to lay bare Negro life as it is. Launched in 1923, editor Charles Spurgeon Johnson began the publication by publishing research findings and essays. By 1925, Johnson was publishing literary works of young artists such as Zora Neale Hurston. That same year, Johnson organized a literary contestthe winners were Hurston, Hughes, and Cullen. In 1927, Johnson anthologized the best pieces of writing published in the magazine. The collection was entitled Ebony and Topaz: A Collectanea and featured the work of members of the Harlem Renaissance. The Messenger The politically radical publication was established by A. Philip Randolph and Chandler Owen in 1917. Originally, Owen and Randolph were hired to edit a publication entitled Hotel Messenger by African-American hotel workers. However, when the two editors wrote a blaring article that exposed union officials of corruption, the paper ceased printing. Owen and Randolph quickly rebounded and established the journal The Messenger. Its agenda was socialist and its pages included a combination of news events, political commentary, book reviews, profiles of important figures and other items of interest. In response to the Red Summer of 1919, Owen and Randolph reprinted the poem If We Must Die written by Claude McKay. Other writers such as Roy Wilkins, E. Franklin Frazier, and George Schuyler also published work in this publication. The monthly publication stopped printing in 1928.   The Negro World Published by the United Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), The Negro World had a circulation of more than 200,000 readers. The weekly newspaper was published in English, Spanish, and French. The newspaper was dispersed throughout the United States, Africa, and the Caribbean. Its publisher and editor, Marcus Garvey, used the pages of the newspaper to preserve the term Negro for the race as against the desperate desire of other newspapermen to substitute the term colored for the race. Every week, Garvey provided readers with a front-page editorial concerning the plight of people in the African Diaspora. Garveys wife, Amy, served as an editor as well and managed the Our Women and What They Think page in the weekly news publication. In addition, The Negro World included poetry and essays that would interest people of African descent throughout the world. Following Garveys deportation in 1933, The Negro World  stopped printing.

Schumann and Stravinsky Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Schumann and Stravinsky - Research Paper Example In the 1830s he started writing piano miniatures which were extraordinary. Also it was during this time that he made his debut as a music critic and started his own journal, which became the focus of his efforts. In this journal he championed composers who had talent, and established a canon of Romantic music. It was also during these years that he composed his masterpieces; Carnaval, for piano and Dichterliebe. In 1840 he married Clara Wieck, a talented pianist inducing an element of stability in his life however this was also when his mental health started to deteriorate. His failure at opera, Genoveva, in 1843 caused him a great disappointment after which his mental state continued to deteriorate. After an attempt at suicide in 1854 he voluntarily entered an asylum. It was here that he passed away in 1856 (Worthen, 2007). In mid June 1882, Igor Fedorovich Stravinsky was born in a town near St. Petersburg in Russia. From a small age he was surrounded by music mostly because his fat her was a star singer of the Imperial Opera. When he was 9 he started piano lessons and studied music throughout his early life. In 1902 he, like Schumann, pursued a law degree however music was where his real interest was. Also just like Schumann, he started his musical career as a amateur pianist and was bilingual. Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov, his teacher started giving him regular lesson from 1905 till 1908. Although Stravinsky’s first composition was that of a Symphony, which he wrote in 1906, it was The Firebird, a ballet composed in 1910, which put him under the spotlight. This was followed by Petrushka, which like The Firebird was a modern composition of something which was fundamentally Russian. It was his third ballet, The Rite of Spring which established his name as one of the well known composers of the age. In 1920 he moved to France and formed a partnership with the company that manufactured pianos, Pleyel. During 1939 he delivered lectures in Harvard and was already working on his symphony in C. This was meant for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. It was in this year that he moved to United States and married one again. He was on the set of the Paramount Pictures in 1956, where he recorded the musical score for the production â€Å"The Court Jester†. An incorporation of many of the modern classical styles of music was a major part of Stravinsky’s professiona l life. In 1959, he received the Sonning Award, which is one of Denmark’s highest honors. He returned to Leningrad to do a series of concerts in 1962. It was in 1971 that he died at the age of 88 and was buried in Venice. The piece I have chosen from Schumann’s compositions is Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra Op. 131 played by Arnold Katz. There are several key differences between this composition and Stravinsky’s ‘Rite of Spring’. These differences also go to reflect the major changes in music over the passage of time, more specifically from the Romantic era to the Neoclassical era. You see, Schumann’s composition comprises of the key characteristics being reflected in his work. These are those of highlighting the orchestra’s highly praised 2009 Beethoven cycle. A key characteristic of Schumann’s work is a reflection of the love of nature. You see the romantic era was all about the critical

The Effects of Cocaine Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The Effects of Cocaine - Research Paper Example Statement of the Problem In order to effectively fight cocaine addiction among various members of the population, nongovernmental as well as governmental organizations have to comprehend the different reasons why people in different economic brackets choose to abuse the drug. In addition, they have to find ways of gaining the trust of drug users in order to influence their choices. Hypothesis Crack cocaine, which comes in the form of rock crystals, is considered to be the most addictive of all types of cocaine. It has become easily accessible to individuals in all socioeconomic brackets. Crack is a variety of cocaine that is currently more widely abused. Crack has more intense as well as swift effects than do the other varieties of cocaine which are injected or snorted. Crack is also cheaper to produce and thus has become accessible to people in all socioeconomic brackets. In most cases, people use crack to boost their abilities in a competitive world in which there is the constant r ace to be the best. While imbuing them with the strength to keep performing, cocaine also gives its users an abnormal feeling of pleasure. In the past three decades since it first emerged in the 80s, crack cocaine has left many destroyed communities in its wake all over the world. Research Questions 1. How does cocaine affect the physical body? 2. 2. How does cocaine affect a person psychologically? 3. What are the economic impacts of cocaine? 4. What are the medicinal uses of cocaine? 5. Who are the largest producers of cocaine? 6. What are the programs that can help a person addicted to cocaine? Crack is more pure and therefore considerably more addictive than cocaine which is mixed with impurities. Addicts who smoke crack experience a feeling of happiness in about 10 to 15 seconds while those addicted to cocaine who experience a rush 10 to 15 minutes after smoking. This feeling is then followed by a feeling of desperation when the drop into depressed feelings follows the â€Å"high.† This crash then compels the addict to seek for more cocaine so that he or she may experience the feeling of happiness once more. Consuming any amount of cocaine that is more than 100 milligrams can result in erratic, bizarre, or violent behavior. The addict will experience physical symptoms such as chest pain, blurred vision, fever, nausea, convulsions, muscle spasms, and finally death from brain or heart failure which causes the addict to stop breathing (Lennard-Browne 65). Crack cocaine addiction is an extremely difficult habit to stop and may actually require the hospitalization of th e addict who experiences adverse withdrawal symptoms upon stopping to use the drug. Psychological Effects Crack cocaine triggers major pleasure centers in the brain and brings about an extremely heightened feeling of ecstasy. People who wish to start using cocaine merely do so in order to stimulate themselves to be at their best so that they can work harder and longer. While the results of the pleasant and invincible feelings appear to give the addict an almost supernatural experience at first, repeated cocaine use soon dominates his or her life to the extent that he or she cannot function without it. Depression is the result of long term abuse of cocaine. The addicted person takes crack in order not to feel depressed. The drug reduces a person’s mental capacities to psychosis and auditory hallucinations. Crack cocaine brings about a severe mental

Associates Capstone Essay Example for Free

Associates Capstone Essay Executive Summary In going through some of things regarding buying the business I think Mike should make sure that the coffee shop is up to code. He should talk to officials about required standards, for running a coffee shop, licenses; the different laws for having the shop in Sunnydale, Illinois, all of will be needed and will help to keep the restaurant running properly inside and out. It is also important that he reviews each file for all employees making sure all documents that are needed for hire are there, reading through and seeing the difference in their duties and the performance prior to him buying the shop and respond accordingly and whatever decisions he makes with each one or if hiring new document all that is done to cover himself within the law. Going through the business files and reading the comments given by customers is important for this will help to give him proper information on what is liked and dislike about the coffee shop and making a plan to change things or get new things to keep them satisfied and coming back, for ex: as accepting credit cards for payments as well as cash. Going more into the business files checking on the finances and accounting is important to be sure all is accounted for, profits are being make and what the next plan would be according to what is found. This will also help in what they are spending for supplies and necessities and where he can save money and use it for other things needed, also go over the income part to see where they can change prices and get better ideas compare the coffee shop to the competitors place and prices. Also make sure all appliances are up to date and properly handle according to code. After reviewing all of these things an going forward making a proper business plan and procedures of moving forward will give Mike a properly ran business with happy customers coming in and employees glad to keep it running and making profits. Regulations In reviewing some of the personnel files on the employees it seems you will have to definitely put together a company/employee/personnel manual. This will help with the government regulations for the State in which the coffee shop is in and it will also spell out what the Company will expect of the employees and what they expect in terms of benefits and other topics related to employment. (The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Starting Your Own Business, page 203). Be sure that when creating this manual you have included all the necessary rules that you want and intend to enforce, (no drinking on the job, no smoking in the workplace, excessive tardiness, or absenteeism, no sexual harassment, no discrimination in the workplace, no stealing and all other rules that will be enforced, then have a meeting with the current employees and any new employee to review before getting started and have them each sign it to keep in their personnel files. This will let them know that you intend to en force these rules and if not followed the consequences could be termination. Management First thing I would do is create a business plan, Mike is considered the Strategic Manager for the coffee shop and he will need to create a plan, organize it, lead it and control the outcome of all that will happen within the business. He will need to focus on the long term goals of the shop and once he has these can move forward in communicating with the employees. He will then need to meet with each of the employees individually to go over their files, be sure to update them with all proper paperwork and they are legal to work. When discussing things with them do not bring up personal topics: marital status, race, religion, etc. for this would be a violation and is not permitted during any type of interview or meeting with an existing employee or new employee. You can let them know the good things about working for you at the shop and even some things that are not so good, make sure the employee knows what work they will be doing and agrees to it and they will be able to perform these duties, you can also see if they have questions regarding the manual and take care of it at that moment have them sign indicating they have read and understand it. I think he should also review the break room and clean it up putting up the proper documents on the board and take down all that unnecessary stuff on it. He needs to have posted the proper documents of the law with minimum wage and health. The only other thing up there could be the schedule and notes of reminders of what needs to be done. He then should take care of the stock room and office to have them both properly cleaned up things in right places. Once all these things have been accomplished it will make for a better organized area and easier for him to control and lead his employees and have a well established running coffee shop. Finance and Accounting Reviewing the finances is important; it seems they have a very high salary expense (for a coffee shop) and supplies expense that needs attending to. This means checking with other suppliers and their prices. As for the salaries we would need to go over everyone’s positions held and the salary they are being paid and make sure it fits with their positions and pay scale. As I continued going through the files I noticed the income tax/employment tax and other forms were still from 2006, need to get all those updated from previous owner or get them taken care of and all financial and payroll taxes to date. Not filing properly for state taxes/employment/unemployment is a violation and subject to penalties. I would also review the loan that was taken out on the freezer and be sure all payments had been made previously on time and see what the payoff is, he may be able to save monies on paying it off then paying the extra interest each month. Once all of these are reviewed and items that need attention either corrected or forms filled out and all things brought to date, Mike will have a better understanding of the numbers and all within in the business to get him started and ready to go. Make the decisions on what actions need to be taken to achieve these goals. This is part of the strategic planning of the long term goals for the company; it covers major portions of the company. Organizing, Joe will have to get organize the departments, get the right people in place, create the proper systems needed to properly run the company, bring together all resources needed to have it run properly. Now he will have to take these and lead his employees under him to want to be there and work and give there all, with motivation and communication. He will maintain good contact with them to give them what they need to keep the company running properly with all he has organized. Proper leading of employees will help to give more of themselves to produce quality work by giving guidance and inspiration to them. Leading takes place in many areas of the business not just from the top, also from teams, divisions and departments. He will also set values and mission with his leading. Now the last part of the management function is controlling, taking all of the planning, organizing and leading and controlling it to keep it functional. All the other functions isn’t the success of the company it is the monitoring the performance and make changes where necessary. He needs to make sure the plans are being used and goals are being met within the company, also needs feedback in all areas so that he can make changes, to processes, procedures where needed. Financial Statements Checking to be sure all the financial statements have been done and balanced is very important. In checking the business files it seems they balanced but not all were completed, this will help to know where the business stands and where changes could be made. There are 4 parts to the financial statements, income statement, balance sheet, cash flows and owner’s equity. I only noticed 2 of the 4 mentioned in the business files each one of these statements has its own meaning that should be understood even if Mike plans to have someone else handle it, income statement will let him know whether or not the business is profitable, it totals the revenue and then subtracts the expenses associated with making that revenue; results being the pretax profit and after taxes are paid net income. These statements can be done monthly, yearly, quarterly or year to date, I think for Mike monthly would be good for it will show how much he has sold and what it cost to create the sales each month. The balance sheet is a snapshot of how things are at a particular moment, shows the amount of assets and liabilities at a particular point and time, where his income statement shows the flow of money in and out of the company in a specific time frame. His cash flow statement could be the most important for it will tell him whether or not he has enough cash to pay the bills. This statement will reflect investments, borrowing, etc. and other balance sheet changes. The key challenge is that he will need to keep more cash coming in than going out especially with just starting out. His owner’s equity will be the portion of the balance sheet which shows what is left over when all liabilities are subtracted from all assets. This is the number he wants to maximize because it can reflect th e book value of his company. Once Mike has reviewed all of these and are updated he will know what changes will need to be made within the coffee shop from many points. Problem Solving Problem solving and decision making are very important factors in every managers or persons within their business, even in the Coffee Shop for Mike. He will have things that happen or a daily basis and even on an hourly basis in which his skills as the owner and manger are in demand. He may at first with many as a reaction to things react against it, which can cause a downward spiral. He may look at the past and use the old way to fix a current problem and that usually doesn’t work. Mike will need to have a planned approach and then execute it. By doing this he will avoid having the same problem over and over again and use doesn’t continually solve a different problem the same way as the other. There are a few approaches he can take, he can define the problem, look at the potential causes, find different ways to solving the problem, choose which solution is best, make the action plan and then monitor and verify the solution. By doing these things it will help to ensure all is working properly as it should after the solution has been decided. Mike can use these basic steps in his new role as Owner/Manager of the Coffee Shop, making this plan to solve a problem and the decision will make for a better team in the Coffee Shop. Reference(s) Management, Bateman and Snell, Chapter 1 and Chapter 4, 2010 http://ezinearticles.com/?Top-Level-of-Managementid=20181389 The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Starting Your Own Business, Fourth Edition by Edward Paulson http://www.brighthub.com/office/project-management/article/87158.aspx

Safety and Effectiveness of the Atkins Diet :: Health Nutrition Diet Exercise Essays

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Whenever someone is deciding on what diet to go on, they consider whether it will keep the weight off in the end and what the pros and cons are compared to other diets. Atkins has been a growing trend in weight lost ever since Dr. Atkins came out with his best selling book Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution. Through the examination of three different studies, researchers were able to determine whether the Atkins diet will keep weight off compared to calorie and fat reduced diets, as well as how this diet works. Although, further longitudinal research must be done in order to see the true repercussions of going on a low-carbohydrate diet, researchers can conclude that in the end, eating a low fat diet and exercising are the only true answers to losing weight.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Atkins diet is for people who are over the low fat diet and exercising. The Atkins diet means restricting a person’s caloric intake to 5-10% from carbohydrates in their daily diet. Which is a vast reduction of carbohydrates compared to other diets that usually allow up to 40-45% of calories from foods like fruits and vegetables? The Atkins diet is no longer just a fad, it has really caught on worldwide, almost 20 million people now follow Dr. Atkins’ diet. The Atkins diet also claims to be a three in one diet, it not only allows people to lose weight, it also claims to keep the weight off without the feeling of hunger, and lastly it claims to help prevent disease. Through further review of previous studies, researchers are trying to explore whether or not this is possible, as well as how the Atkins diet really works.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Atkins diet claims that the way it works is by increasing the amount of energy being used causing people to lose weight. This diet also claims to increase the amount of energy being used by 2-3% more everyday. Further review of the studies on Atkins; found that this increased amount of energy being used only makes a small difference in the total amount of weight lost. Researchers claim that after reviewing all the studies that it might actually be the fact that the Atkins diet restricts so much of what you can eat that makes a person lose all that weight. The strict restrictions to what a person can and cannot eat are what researchers claim causes the

Relationships between Gods and Mortals in The Odyssey Essay

The Ancient Greeks were a race of very religious people who believed strongly in their gods and goddesses. Not only did they believe in the presence of their gods, they actually believed that the gods often intervened in their lives. Due to such a strong belief, the Greeks held their gods in the highest regard and had the utmost respect and reverence for them. Furthermore, they established certain types of relationships with their gods, usually not relationships in a physical sense, but relationships nonetheless. Many examples of such relationships are evident through the relationships demonstrated between characters of Homer’s epic, The Odyssey. One such relationship that the Greeks had with their gods were that they were forever trying to please them and in certain cases, their efforts were awarded. The Greeks all did their part to show respect for the gods through methods such as prayer and sacrifice, which are both evident in The Odyssey. However, in some cases, it seems that such respect was mutual, as demonstrated by some of the relationships portrayed by Homer. One such relationship was between Odysseus and Athena. The latter develops an extensive bond with the mere mortal because she sees herself in him. Due to this, she helps Odysseus out on many occasions, like when she begs her father, Zeus, to allow her to aid Odysseus in his quest to find home. She pleads, even saying, â€Å"My own heart is broken for Odysseus† (1. 68), and is able to convince him. Only through Athena’s pleading does Zeus have the incentive to dispatch Hermes to free Odysseus from Calypso’s island, allowing him to eventually find home. Another example of this type of relationship is between Athena and Telemachus, Odysseus’s son. Only through her guidance does Telemachus mature as the epic progresses, learning his responsibilities as a prince and becoming more assertive. He finally takes charge, taking the initiative to find his father and confronting the suitors. An example of Athena’s guidance is when visits Ithaca, giving him friendly advice under the disguise of being a stranger. She gives him a nudge in the right direction, at one point saying, â€Å"If I were you, I should take steps to make these men disperse† (1. 318-319). Yet another example of such positive divine intervention is through the relationship between Athena  and Penelope. The grey-eyed goddess respects Odysseus’ cunning wife and sometimes soothes her loneliness by helping her sleep. At the end of the epic, she even makes the night longer so that the lovers would have more time to get reacquainted. As Homer writes, â€Å"The rose Dawn might have found them weeping still had not grey-eyed Athena slowed the night† (23. 271-272). Athena’s goodwill helped mortals on numerous occasions in The Odyssey, demonstrating an example of the relationship between the Greeks and Gods where the mortals’ reverence was rewarded. On the contrary, another type of relationship is where the gods are rather indifferent to the mortals, despite their praying and sacrificing. Examples of this are present in Homer’s epic as well. For example, as Zeus ponders the situation of Aigà ­stos and Orestà ¬s, he muses, exclaiming, â€Å"My word, how mortals take the gods to task! All their afflictions come from us, we heard. And what of their own failings† (1. 48-50)? This is a perfect example of how contrary to the belief of some mortals, the gods did not control every insignificant detail of their lives. The gods were at times uninterested in meddling in mortal affairs. Another example of this relationship is through that of Zeus and Odysseus. Zeus admires Odysseus, asking Athena, â€Å"Could I forget that kingly man, Odysseus† (1. 87)? However, though Zeus knows exactly what has been going on with Odysseus and respects the wisdom of the mortal, he would not have taken the initiative to help him without Athena’s pleading, showing his practically indifferent attitude. However, he is better off with a god indifferent to him than with a god holding a grudge against him. Another type of relationship is one in which the gods would punish mortals for certain things, using divine intervention to negatively influence their lives. One obvious example in The Odyssey is the relationship between Odysseus and Poseidon, the former’s antagonist. Poseidon passionately hates Odysseus because he blinded the god’s son, Polyphemus, in order to escape from the man-eating cyclop’s cave. The vexed god of the sea constantly tries to hamper Odysseus’s attempts at returning home in any way possible. Another example of such relationship is when Odysseus’ men are punished for disobeying the gods. They are advised not to slaughter Helios, the Sun god’s  cattle by Tiresias, as he says â€Å"If you raid the beeves, I see destruction for ship and crew† (12. 166-167). However, the crew ignores the advice and kills some cattle for food. This is a blasphemous act and they are punished for it when Zeus sends down lightening and thunder, and they all lose their lives. Only Odysseus survives, and he barely does so. Another example of such relationship is shown through the fear that the mortals had of displeasing the gods. For example, when a storm spurred by Aeolus’s own winds brings Odysseus and his men back to Aeolus, the ruler of the wind suddenly refuses to help them because he is sure that they are cursed by the gods. Aeolus himself is scared to help them for fear that he himself will get on the bad side of a god. The Ancient Greeks obviously had relationships with the gods they worshipped in a variety of forms. Not only did some have relationships where their respect was rewarded but others were not so lucky. Others had relationships where the gods were practically indifferent toward them. These mortals took matters into their own hands. But there are also the really unlucky ones, the mortals who had relationships with gods where the gods would actually intervene in their lives negatively. Homer’s The Odyssey demonstrates an assortment of such relationships.