Chapter 5 The Dementor

Tom woke Harry the next morning with his usual toothless grin and a cup of tea. Harry got dressed and was just persuading a disgruntled Hedwig to get back into her cage when Ron banged his way into the room, pulling a sweatshirt over his head and looking irritable. â€Å"The sooner we get on the train, the better,† he said. â€Å"At least I can get away from Percy at Hogwarts. Now he's accusing me of dripping tea on his photo of Penelope Clearwater. You know,† Ron grimaced, â€Å"his girlfriend. She's hidden her face under the frame because her nose has gone all blotchy†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I've got something to tell you,† Harry began, but they were interrupted by Fred and George, who had looked in to congratulate Ron on infuriating Percy again. They headed down to breakfast, where Mr. Weasley was reading the front page of the Daily Prophet with a furrowed brow and Mrs. Weasley was telling Hermione and Ginny about a love potion she'd made as a young girl. All three of them were rather giggly. â€Å"What were you saying?† Ron asked Harry as they sat down. â€Å"Later,† Harry muttered as Percy stormed in. Harry had no chance to speak to Ron or Hermione in the chaos of leaving; they were too busy heaving all their trunks down the Leaky Cauldron's narrow staircase and piling them up near the door, with Hedwig and Hermes, Percy's screech owl, perched on top in their cages. A small wickerwork basket stood beside the heap of trunks, spitting loudly. â€Å"It's all right, Crookshanks,† Hermione cooed through the wickerwork. â€Å"I'll let you out on the train.† â€Å"You won't,† snapped Ron. â€Å"What about poor Scabbers, eh?† He pointed at his chest, where a large lump indicated that Scabbers was curled up in his pocket. Mr. Weasley, who had been outside waiting for the Ministry cars, stuck his head inside. â€Å"They're here, he said. â€Å"Harry, come on.† Mr. Weasley marched Harry across the short stretch of pavement toward the first of two old-fashioned dark green cars, each of which was driven by a furtive-looking wizard wearing a suit of emerald velvet. â€Å"In you get, Harry,† said Mr. Weasley, glancing up and down the crowded street. Harry got into the back of the car and was shortly joined by Hermione, Ron, and, to Ron's disgust, Percy. The journey to King's Cross was very uneventful compared with Harry's trip on the Knight Bus. The Ministry of Magic cars seemed almost ordinary. though Harry noticed that they could slide through gaps that Uncle Vernon's new company car certainly couldn't have managed. They reached King's Cross with twenty minutes to spare; the Ministry drivers found them trolleys, unloaded their trunks, touched their hats in salute to Mr. Weasley, and drove away, somehow managing to jump to the head of an unmoving line at the traffic lights. Mr. Weasley kept close to Harry's elbow all the way into the station. â€Å"Right then,† he said, glancing around them. â€Å"Let's do this in pairs, as there are so many of us. I'll go through first with Harry.† Mr. Weasley strolled toward the barrier between platforms nine and ten, pushing Harry's trolley and apparently very interested in the InterCity 125 that had just arrived at platform nine. With a meaningful look at Harry, he leaned casually against the barrier. Harry imitated him. In a moment, they had fallen sideways through the solid metal onto platform nine and three-quarters and looked up to see the Hogwarts Express, a scarlet steam engine, puffing smoke over a platform packed with witches and wizards seeing their children onto the train. Percy and Ginny suddenly appeared behind Harry. They were panting and had apparently taken the barrier at a run. â€Å"Ah, there's Penelope!† said Percy, smoothing his hair and going pink again. Ginny caught Harry's eye, and they both turned away to hide their laughter as Percy strode over to a girl with long, curly hair, walking with his chest thrown out so that she couldn't miss his shiny badge. Once the remaining Weasleys and Hermione had joined them, Harry and Mr. Weasley led the way to the end of the train, past packed compartments, to a carriage that looked quite empty. They loaded the trunks onto it, stowed Hedwig and Crookshanks in the luggage rack, then went back outside to say goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Mrs. Weasley kissed all her children, then Hermione, and finally Harry. He was embarrassed, but really quite pleased, when she gave him an extra hug. â€Å"Do take care, won't you Harry?† she said as she straightened up, her eyes oddly bright. Then she opened her enormous handbag and said, â€Å"I've made you all sandwiches. Here you are, Ron†¦no, they're not corned beef†¦ Fred? Where's Fred? Here you are dear†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Harry,† said Mr. Weasley quietly, â€Å"come over here for a moment.† He jerked his head towards a pillar, and Harry followed him behind it, leaving the others crowded around Mrs. Weasley. â€Å"There's something I've got to tell you before you leave –† said Mr. Weasley in a tense voice. â€Å"It's all right, Mr. Weasley,† said Harry, â€Å"I already know.† â€Å"You know? How could you know?† â€Å"I — er — I heard you and Mrs. Wesley talking last night. I couldn't help hearing,† Harry added quickly. â€Å"Sorry –â€Å" â€Å"That's not the way I'd have chosen for you to find out,† said Mr. Weasley looking anxious.. â€Å"No — honestly it's OK. This way, you haven't broken your word to Fudge and I know what's going on.† â€Å"Harry, you must be scared — â€Å" â€Å"I'm not,† said Harry sincerely. â€Å"Really,† he added, because Mr. Weasley was looking disbelieving. â€Å"I'm not trying to be a hero, but seriously, Sirius Black can't be worse than Lord Voldemort, can he?† Mr. Weasley flinched at the sound of the name, but overlooked it. â€Å"Harry, I knew you were, well, made of stronger stuff than Fudge seems to think, and I'm obviously pleased that you're not scared, but –â€Å" â€Å"Arthur!† called Mrs. Weasley, who was now shepherding the rest onto the train. â€Å"Arthur, what are you doing? It's about to go!† â€Å"He's coming Molly!† said Mr. Weasley, but he turned back to Harry and kept talking in a lower and more hurried voice, â€Å"Listen, I want you to give me your word –â€Å" † — that I'll be a good boy and stay in the castle?† said Harry gloomily. â€Å"Not entirely,† said Mr. Weasley, who looked more serious than Harry had ever seen him. â€Å"Harry, swear to me you won't go looking for Black.† Harry stared, â€Å"What!† There was a loud whistle. Guards were walking along the train, slamming all the doors shut. â€Å"Promise me, Harry,† said Mr. Weasley, talking more quickly still, â€Å"that whatever happens –â€Å" â€Å"Why would I go looking for someone I know wants to kill me?† said Harry blankly. â€Å"Swear to me that whatever you might hear –â€Å" â€Å"Arthur, quickly!† cried Mrs. Weasley. Steam was billowing from the train it had started to move. Harry ran to the compartment door and Ron threw it open and stood back to let him on. They leaned out of the window and waved at Mr. and Mrs. Weasley until the train turned a corner and blocked them from view. â€Å"I need to talk to you in private,† Harry muttered to Ron and Hermione as the train picked up speed. â€Å"Go away, Ginny,† said Ron. â€Å"Oh, that's nice,† said Ginny huffily, and she stalked off. Harry, Ron, and Hermione set off down the corridor, looking for an empty compartment, but all were full except for the one at the very end of the train. This had only one occupant, a man sitting fast asleep next to the window. Harry, Ron, and Hermione checked on the threshold. The Hogwarts Express was usually reserved for students and they had never seen an adult there before, except for the witch who pushed the food cart. The stranger was wearing an extremely shabby set of wizard's robes that had been darned in several places. He looked ill and exhausted. Though quite young, his light brown hair was flecked with gray. â€Å"Who d'you reckon he is?† Ron hissed as they sat down and slid the door shut, taking the seats farthest away from the window. â€Å"Professor R. J. Lupin.† whispered Hermione at once. â€Å"How'd you know that?† â€Å"It's on his case,† she replied, pointing at the luggage rack over the man's head, where there was a small, battered case held together with a large quantity of neatly knotted string. The name Professor R. J. Lupin was stamped across one corner in peeling letters. â€Å"Wonder what he teaches?† said Ron, frowning at Professor Lupin's pallid profile. â€Å"That's obvious,† whispered Hermione. â€Å"There's only one vacancy, isn't there? Defense Against the Dark Arts.† Harry, Ron, and Hermione had already had two Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers, both of whom had lasted only one year. There were rumors that the job was jinxed. â€Å"Well, I hope he's up to it,† said Ron doubtfully. â€Å"He looks like on, good hex would finish him off, doesn't he? Anyway†¦Ã¢â‚¬  he turned to Harry, â€Å"what were you going to tell us?† Harry explained all about Mr. and Mrs. Wesley's argument and the warning Mr. Weasley had just given him. When he'd finished, Ron looked thunderstruck, and Hermione had her hands over her mouth. She finally lowered them to say, â€Å"Sirius Black escaped to come after you? Oh, Harry†¦you'll have to be really, really careful. don't go looking for trouble, Harry†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I don't go looking for trouble,† said Harry, nettled. â€Å"Trouble usually finds me.† â€Å"How thick would Harry have to be, to go looking for a nutter who wants to kill him?† said Ron shakily. They were taking the news worse than Harry had expected. Both Ron and Hermione seemed to be much more frightened of Black than he was. â€Å"No one knows how he got out of Azkaban,† said Ron uncomfortably. â€Å"No one's ever done it before. And he was a top-security prisoner too.† â€Å"But they'll catch him, won't they?† said Hermione earnestly. â€Å"I mean, they've got all the Muggles looking out for him too†¦.† â€Å"What's that noise?† said Ron suddenly. A faint, tinny sort of whistle was coming from somewhere. They looked all around the compartment. â€Å"It's coming from your trunk, Harry,† said Ron, standing up and reaching into the luggage rack. A moment later he had pulled the Pocket Sneakoscope out from between Harry's robes. It was spinning very fast in the palm of Ron's hand and glowing brilliantly. â€Å"Is that a Sneakoscope?† said Hermione interestedly, standing up for a better look. â€Å"Yeah†¦mind you, it's a very cheap one,† Ron said. â€Å"It went haywire just as I was tying it to Errol's leg to send it to Harry.† â€Å"Were you doing anything untrustworthy at the time?† said Hermione shrewdly. â€Å"No! Well†¦I wasn't supposed to be using Errol. You know he's not really up to long journeys†¦but how else was I supposed to get Harry's present to him?† â€Å"Stick it back in the trunk,† Harry advised as the Sneakoscope whistled piercingly, â€Å"or it'll wake him up.† He nodded toward Professor Lupin. Ron stuffed the Sneakoscope into a particularly horrible pair of Uncle Vernon's old socks, which deadened the sound, then closed the lid of the trunk on it. â€Å"We could get it checked in Hogsmeade,† said Ron, sitting back down. â€Å"They sell that sort of thing in Dervish and Banges, magical instruments and stuff. Fred and George told me.† â€Å"Do you know much about Hogsmeade?† asked Hermione keenly. â€Å"I've read it's the only entirely non-Muggle settlement in Britain –â€Å" â€Å"Yeah, I think it is,† said Ron in an offhand sort of way. â€Å"but that's not why I want to go. I just want to get inside Honeydukes!† â€Å"What's that?† said Hermione. â€Å"It's this sweetshop,† said Ron, a dreamy look coming over his face, â€Å"where they've got everything†¦Pepper Imps — they make you smoke at the mouth — and great fat Chocoballs full of strawberry mousse and clotted cream, and really excellent sugar quills, which you can suck in class and just look like you're thinking what to write next?C† â€Å"But Hogsmeade's a very interesting place, isn't it?† Hermione pressed on eagerly. â€Å"In Sites of Historical Sorcery it says the inn was the headquarters for the 1612 goblin rebellion, and the Shrieking Shack's supposed to be the most severely haunted building in Britain –â€Å" â€Å"?C and massive sherbet balls that make you levitate a few inches off the ground while you're sucking them,† said Ron, who was plainly not listening to a word Hermione was saying. Hermione looked around at Harry. â€Å"Won't it be nice to get out of school for a bit and explore Hogsmeade?† â€Å"‘Spect it will,† said Harry heavily. â€Å"You'll have to tell me when you've found out.† â€Å"What d'you mean?† said Ron. â€Å"I can't go. The Dursleys didn't sign my permission form, and Fudge wouldn't either.† Ron looked horrified. â€Å"You're not allowed to come? But — no way — McGonagall or someone will give you permission –â€Å" Harry gave a hollow laugh. Professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor house, was very strict. â€Å"?C or we can ask Fred and George, they know every secret passage out of the castle –â€Å" â€Å"Ron!† said Hermione sharply. â€Å"I don't think Harry should be sneaking out of the school with Black on the loose –â€Å" â€Å"Yeah, I expect that's what McGonagall will say when I ask of permission,† said Harry bitterly. â€Å"But if we're with him,† said Ron spiritedly to Hermione. â€Å"Black wouldn't dare –â€Å" â€Å"Oh, Ron, don't talk rubbish,† snapped Hermione. â€Å"Black's already murdered a whole bunch of people in the middle of a crowded street, do you really think he's going to worry about attacking Harry just because we're there?† She was fumbling with the straps of Crookshanks's basket as she spoke. â€Å"Don't let that thing out!† Ron said, but too late; Crookshanks leapt lightly from the basket, stretched, yawned, and sprang onto Ron's knees; the lump in Ron's pocket trembled and he shoved Crookshanks angrily away. â€Å"Get out of it!† â€Å"Ron, don't!† said Hermione angrily. Ron was about to answer back when Professor Lupin stirred. They watched him apprehensively, but he simply turned his head the other way, mouth slightly open, and slept on. The Hogwarts Express moved steadily north and the scenery outside the window became wilder and darker while the clouds overhead thickened overhead. People were chasing backwards and forwards past the door of their compartment. Crookshanks had now settled in an empty seat, his squashed face turned towards Ron, his yellow eyes on Ron's top pocket. At one o'clock the plump witch with the food cart arrived at the compartment door. D'you think we should wake him up?† Ron asked awkwardly, nodding towards Professor Lupin. â€Å"He looks like he could do with some food.† Hermione approached Professor Lupin cautiously. â€Å"Er — Professor?† she said. â€Å"Excuse me — Professor?† He didn't move. â€Å"Don't worry, dear,† said the witch, as she handed a large stack of cauldron cakes. â€Å"If he's hungry when he wakes, I'll be up front with the driver.† â€Å"I suppose he is asleep?† said Ron quietly, as the witch slid the compartment door closed. â€Å"I mean — he hasn't died, has he?† â€Å"No, no, he's breathing,† whispered Hermione, taking the cauldron cake Harry passed her. He might not be very good company, but Professor Lupin's presence in their compartment had its uses. Mid-afternoon, just as it had started to rain, blurring the rolling hills outside the window, they heard footsteps outside in the corridor again, and their three least favorite people appeared at the door: Draco Malfoy, flanked by his cronies, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle. Draco Malfoy and Harry had been enemies ever since they had met on their very first journey to Hogwarts. Malfoy, who had a pale, pointed, sneering face, was in Slytherin house; he played Seeker on the Slytherin Quidditch team, the same position that Harry played on the Gryffindor team. Crabbe and Goyle seemed to exist to do Malfoy's bidding. They were both wide and muscly; Crabbe was taller, with a pudding-bowl haircut and a very thick neck; Goyle had short, bristly hair and long, gorilla arms. â€Å"Well, look who it is,† said Malfoy in his usual lazy drawl, pulling open the compartment door. â€Å"Potty and the Weasel.† Crabbe and Goyle chuckled trollishly. â€Å"I heard your father finally got his hands on some gold this summer, Weasley,† said Malfoy. â€Å"Did your mother die of shock?† Ron stood up so quickly he knocked Crookshanks's basket to the floor. Professor Lupin gave a snort. â€Å"Who's that?† said Malfoy, taking an automatic step backward as he spotted Lupin. â€Å"New teacher,† said Harry, who got to his feet, too, in case he needed to hold Ron back. â€Å"What were you saying, Malfoy?† Malfoy's pale eyes narrowed; he wasn't fool enough to pick a fight right under a teacher's nose. â€Å"C'mon,† he muttered resentfully to Crabbe and Goyle, and they disappeared. Harry and Ron sat down again, Ron massaging his knuckles. â€Å"I'm not going to take any crap from Malfoy this year,† he said angrily. â€Å"I mean it. If he makes one more crack about my family, I'm going to get hold of his head and –â€Å" Ron made a violent gesture in midair. â€Å"Ron,† hissed Hermione, pointing at Professor Lupin, â€Å"be careful†¦Ã¢â‚¬  But Professor Lupin was still fast asleep. The rain thickened as the train sped yet farther north; the windows were now a solid, shimmering gray, which gradually darkened until lanterns flickered into life all along the corridors and over the luggage racks. The train rattled, the rain hammered, the wind roared, but still, Professor Lupin slept. â€Å"We must be nearly there,† said Ron, leaning forward to look past Professor Lupin at the now completely black window. The words had hardly left him when the train started to slow down. â€Å"Great,† said Ron, getting up and walking carefully past Professor Lupin to try and see outside. â€Å"I'm starving. I want to get to the feast†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"We can't be there yet,† said Hermione, checking her watch. â€Å"So why're we stopping?† The train was getting slower and slower. As the noise of the pistons fell away, the wind and rain sounded louder than ever against the windows. Harry, who was nearest the door, got up to look into the corridor. All along the carriage, heads were sticking curiously out of their compartments. The train came to a stop with a jolt, and distant thuds and bangs told them that luggage had fallen out of the racks. Then, without warning, all the lamps went out and they were plunged into total darkness. â€Å"What's going on?† said Ron's voice from behind Harry. â€Å"Ouch!† gasped Hermione. â€Å"Ron, that was my foot!† Harry felt his way back to his seat. â€Å"D'you think we've broken down?† â€Å"Dunno†¦Ã¢â‚¬  There was a squeaking sound, and Harry saw the dim black outline of Ron, wiping a patch clean on the window and peering out. â€Å"There's something moving out there,† Ron said. â€Å"I think people are coming aboard†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The compartment door suddenly opened and someone fell painfully over Harry's legs. â€Å"Sorry! D'you know what's going on? Ouch! Sorry –â€Å" â€Å"Hullo, Neville,† said Harry, feeling around in the dark and pulling Neville up by his cloak. â€Å"Harry? Is that you? What's happening?† â€Å"No idea! Sit down –â€Å" There was a loud hissing and a yelp of pain; Neville had tried to sit on Crookshanks. â€Å"I'm going to go and ask the driver what's going on,† came Hermione's voice. Harry felt her pass him, heard the door slide open again, and then a thud and two loud squeals of pain. â€Å"Who's that?† â€Å"Who's that?† â€Å"Ginny?† â€Å"Hermione?† â€Å"What are you doing?† â€Å"I was looking for Ron –â€Å" â€Å"Come in and sit down –â€Å" â€Å"Not here!† said Harry hurriedly. â€Å"I'm here!† â€Å"Ouch!† said Neville. â€Å"Quiet!† said a hoarse voice suddenly. Professor Lupin appeared to have woken up at last. Harry could hear movements in his corner. None of them spoke. There was a soft, crackling noise, and a shivering light filled the compartment. Professor Lupin appeared to be holding a handful of flames. They illuminated his tired, gray face, but his eyes looked alert and wary. â€Å"Stay where you are.† he said in the same hoarse voice, and he got slowly to his feet with his handful of fire held out in front of him. But the door slid slowly open before Lupin could reach it. Standing in the doorway, illuminated by the shivering flames in Lupin's hand, was a cloaked figure that towered to the ceiling. Its face was completely hidden beneath its hood. Harry's eyes darted downward, and what he saw made his stomach contract. There was a hand protruding from the cloak and it was glistening, grayish, slimy-looking, and scabbed, like something dead that had decayed in water†¦. But it was visible only for a split second. As though the creature beneath the cloak sensed Harry's gaze, the hand was suddenly withdrawn into the folds of its black cloak. And then the thing beneath the hood, whatever it was, drew a long, slow, rattling breath, as though it were trying to suck something more than air from its surroundings. An intense cold swept over them all. Harry felt his own breath catch in his chest. The cold went deeper than his skin. It was inside his chest, it was inside his very heart†¦ Harry's eyes rolled up into his head. He couldn't see. He was drowning in cold. There was a rushing in his ears as though of water. He was being dragged downward, the roaring growing louder†¦ And then, from far away, he heard screaming, terrible, terrified, pleading screams. He wanted to help whoever it was, he tried to move his arms, but couldn't†¦a thick white fog was swirling around him, inside him — â€Å"Harry! Harry! Are you all right?† Someone was slapping his face. â€Å"W-what?† Harry opened his eyes; there were lanterns above him, and the floor was shaking — the Hogwarts Express was moving again and the lights had come back on. He seemed to have slid out of his seat onto the floor. Ron and Hermione were kneeling next to him, and above them he could see Neville and Professor Lupin watching. Harry felt very sick; when he put up his hand to push his glasses back on, he felt cold sweat on his face. Ron and Hermione heaved him back onto his seat. â€Å"Are you okay?† Ron asked nervously. â€Å"Yeah,† said Harry, looking quickly toward the door. The hooded creature had vanished. â€Å"What happened? Where's that — that thing? Who screamed?† â€Å"No one screamed,† said Ron, more nervously still. Harry looked around the bright compartment. Ginny and Neville looked back at him, both very pale. â€Å"But I heard screaming –â€Å" A loud snap made them all jump. Professor Lupin was breaking an enormous slab of chocolate into pieces. â€Å"Here,† he said to Harry, handing him a particularly large piece. â€Å"Eat it. It'll help.† Harry took the chocolate but didn't eat it. â€Å"What was that thing?† he asked Lupin. â€Å"A Dementor,† said Lupin, who was now giving chocolate to everyone else. â€Å"One of the Dementors of Azkaban.† Everyone stared at him. Professor Lupin crumpled up the empty chocolate wrapper and put it in his pocket. â€Å"Eat,† he repeated. â€Å"It'll help. I need to speak to the driver, excuse me†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He strolled past Harry and disappeared into the corridor. â€Å"Are you sure you're okay, Harry?† said Hermione, watching Harry anxiously. â€Å"I don't get it †¦ what happened?† said Harry, wiping more sweat off his face. â€Å"Well — that thing — the Dementor — stood there and looked around (I mean, I think it did, I couldn't see its face) — and you — you –â€Å" â€Å"I thought you were having a fit or something,† said Ron, who still looked scared. â€Å"You went sort of rigid and fell out of your seat and started twitching –â€Å" â€Å"And Professor Lupin stepped over you, and walked toward the Dementor, and pulled out his wand,† said Hermione, â€Å"and he said, ‘None of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go.' But the Dementor didn't move, so Lupin muttered something, and a silvery thing shot out of his wand at it, and it turned around and sort of glided away†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"It was horrible,† said Neville, in a higher voice than usual. â€Å"Did you feel how cold it got when it came in?† â€Å"I felt weird,† said Ron, shifting his shoulders uncomfortably. â€Å"Like I'd never be cheerful again†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Ginny, who was huddled in her corner looking nearly as bad as Harry felt, gave a small sob; Hermione went over and put a comforting arm around her. â€Å"But didn't any of you — fall off your seats?† said Harry awkwardly. â€Å"No,† said Ron, looking anxiously at Harry again. â€Å"Ginny was shaking like mad, though†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Harry didn't understand. He felt weak and shivery, as though he were recovering from a bad bout of flu; he also felt the beginnings of shame. Why had he gone to pieces like that, when no one else had? Professor Lupin had come back. He paused as he entered, looked around, and said, with a small smile, â€Å"I haven't poisoned that chocolate, you know†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Harry took a bite and to his great surprise felt warmth spread suddenly to the tips of his fingers and toes. â€Å"We'll be at Hogwarts in ten minutes,† said Professor Lupin. â€Å"Are you all right, Harry?† Harry didn't ask how Professor Lupin knew his name. â€Å"Fine,† he muttered, embarrassed. They didn't talk much during the remainder of the journey. At long last, the train stopped at Hogsmeade station, and there was a great scramble to get outside; owls hooted, cats meowed, and Neville's pet toad croaked loudly from under his hat. It was freezing on the tiny platform; rain was driving down in icy sheets. â€Å"Firs' years this way!† called a familiar voice. Harry, Ron, and Hermione turned and saw the gigantic outline of Hagrid at the other end of the platform, beckoning the terrified-looking new students forward for their traditional journey across the lake. â€Å"All right, you three?† Hagrid yelled over the heads of the crowd. They waved at him, but had no chance to speak to him because the mass of people around them was shunting them away along the platform. Harry, Ron, and Hermione followed the rest of the school along the platform and out onto a rough mud track, where at least a hundred stagecoaches awaited the remaining students, each pulled, Harry could only assume, by an invisible horse, because when they climbed inside and shut the door, the coach set off all by itself, bumping and swaying in procession. The coach smelled faintly of mold and straw. Harry felt better since the chocolate, but still weak. Ron and Hermione kept looking at him sideways, as though frightened he might collapse again. As the carriage trundled toward a pair of magnificent wrought iron gates, flanked with stone columns topped with winged boars, Harry saw two more towering, hooded Dementors, standing guard on either side. A wave of cold sickness threatened to engulf him again; he leaned back into the lumpy seat and closed his eyes until they had passed the gates. The carriage picked up speed on the long, sloping drive up to the castle; Hermione was leaning out of the tiny window, watching the many turrets and towers draw nearer. At last, the carriage swayed to a halt, and Hermione and Ron got out. As Harry stepped down, a drawling, delighted voice sounded in his ear. â€Å"You fainted, Potter? Is Longbottorn telling the truth? You actually fainted?† Malfoy elbowed past Hermione to block Harry's way up the stone steps to the castle, his face gleeful and his pale eyes glinting maliciously. â€Å"Shove off, Malfoy,† said Ron, whose jaw was clenched. â€Å"Did you faint as well, Weasley?† said Malfoy loudly. â€Å"Did the scary old Dementor frighten you too, Weasley?† â€Å"Is there a problem?† said a mild voice. Professor Lupin had just gotten out of the next carriage. Malfoy gave Professor Lupin an insolent stare, which took in the patches on his robes and the dilapidated suitcase. With a tiny hint of sarcasm in his voice, he said, â€Å"Oh, no — er — Professor,† then he smirked at Crabbe and Goyle and led them up the steps into the castle. Hermione prodded Ron in the back to make him hurry, and the three of them joined the crowd swarming up the steps, through the giant oak front doors, into the cavernous Entrance Hall, which was lit with flaming torches, and housed a magnificent marble staircase that led to the upper floors. The door into the Great Hall stood open at the right; Harry followed the crowd toward it, but had barely glimpsed the enchanted ceiling, which was black and cloudy tonight, when a voice called, â€Å"Potter! Granger! I want to see you both!† Harry and Hermione turned around, surprised. Professor McGonagall, Transfiguration teacher and head of Gryffindor House, was calling over the heads of the crowd. She was a stern looking witch who wore her hair in a tight bun; her sharp eyes were framed with square spectacles. Harry fought his way over to her with a feeling of foreboding: Professor McGonagall had a way of making him feel he must have done something wrong. â€Å"There's no need to look so worried — I just want a word in my office,† she told them. â€Å"Move along there, Weasley.† Ron stared as Professor McGonagall ushered Harry and Hermione away from the chattering crowd; they accompanied her across the entrance hall, up the marble staircase, and along a corridor. Once they were in her office, a small room with a large, welcoming fire, Professor McGonagall motioned Harry and Hermione to sit down. She settled herself behind her desk and said abruptly, â€Å"Professor Lupin sent an owl ahead to say that you were taken ill on the train, Potter.† Before Harry could reply, there was a soft knock on the door and Madam Pomfrey, the nurse, came bustling in. Harry felt himself going red in the face. It was bad enough that he'd passed out, or whatever he had done, without everyone making all this fuss. â€Å"I'm fine,† he said, â€Å"I don't need anything –â€Å" â€Å"Oh, it's you, is it?† said Madam Pomfrey, ignoring this and bending down to stare closely at him. â€Å"I suppose you've been doing something dangerous again?† â€Å"It was a Dementor, Poppy,† said Professor McGonagall. They exchanged a dark look, and Madam Pomfrey clucked disapprovingly. â€Å"Setting Dementors around a school, she muttered, pushing back Harry's hair and feeling his forehead. â€Å"He won't be the last one who collapses. Yes, he's all clammy. Terrible things, they are, and the effect they have on people who are already delicate –â€Å" â€Å"I'm not delicate!† said Harry crossly. â€Å"Of course you're not,† said Madam Pomfrey absentmindedly, now taking his pulse. â€Å"What does he need?† said Professor McGonagall crisply. â€Å"Bed rest? Should he perhaps spend tonight in the hospital wing?† â€Å"I'm fine!† said Harry, jumping up. The thought of what Draco Malfoy would say if he had to go to the hospital wing was torture. â€Å"Well, he should have some chocolate, at the very least,† said Madam Pomfrey, who was now trying to peer into Harry's eyes. â€Å"I've already had some,† said Harry. â€Å"Professor Lupin gave me some. He gave it to all of us.† â€Å"Did he, now?† said Madam Pomfrey approvingly. â€Å"So we've finally got a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher who knows his remedies?† â€Å"Are you sure you feel all right, Potter?† Professor McGonagall said sharply. â€Å"Yes,† said Harry. â€Å"Very well. Kindly wait outside while I have a quick word with Miss Granger about her course schedule, then we can go down to the feast together.† Harry went back into the corridor with Madam Pomfrey, who left for the hospital wing, muttering to herself. He had to wait only a few minutes; then Hermione emerged looking very happy about something, followed by Professor McGonagall, and the three of them made their way back down the marble staircase to the Great Hall. It was a sea of pointed black hats; each of the long House tables was lined with students, their faces glimmering by the light of thousands of candles, which were floating over the tables in midair. Professor Flitwick, who was a tiny little wizard with a shock of white hair, was carrying an ancient hat and a three-legged stool out of the hall. â€Å"Oh,† said Hermione softly, â€Å"we've missed the Sorting!† New students at Hogwarts were sorted into Houses by trying on the Sorting Hat, which shouted out the House they were best suited to (Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, or Slytherin). Professor McGonagall strode off toward her empty seat at the staff table, and Harry and Hermione set off in the other direction, as quietly as possible, toward the Gryffindor table. People looked around at them as they passed along the back of the hall, and a few of them pointed at Harry. Had the story of his collapsing in front of the Dementor traveled that fast? He and Hermione sat down on either side of Ron, who had saved them seats. â€Å"What was all that about?† he muttered to Harry. Harry started to explain in a whisper, but at that moment the headmaster stood up to speak, and he broke off. Professor Dumbledore, though very old, always gave an impression of great energy. He had several feet of long silver hair and beard, half-moon spectacles, and an extremely crooked nose. He was often described as the greatest wizard of the age, but that wasn't why Harry respected him. You couldn't help trusting Albus Dumbledore, and as Harry watched him beaming around at the students, he felt really calm for the first time since the Dementor had entered the train compartment. â€Å"Welcome!† said Dumbledore, the candlelight shimmering on his beard. â€Å"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued, â€Å"As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the Dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business.† He paused, and Harry remembered what Mr. Weasley had said about Dumbledore not being happy with the Dementors guarding the school. â€Å"They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds,† Dumbledore continued, â€Å"and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises — or even Invisibility Cloaks,† he added blandly, and Harry and Ron glanced at each other. â€Å"It is not in the nature of a Dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the Dementors,† he said. Percy, who was sitting a few seats down from Harry, puffed out his chest again and stared around impressively. Dumbledore paused again; he looked very seriously around the hall, and nobody moved or made a sound. â€Å"On a happier note,† he continued, I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year. â€Å"First, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.† There was some scattered, rather unenthusiastic applause. Only those who had been in the compartment on the train with Professor Lupin clapped hard, Harry among them. Professor Lupin looked particularly shabby next to all the other teachers in their best robes. â€Å"Look at Snape!† Ron hissed in Harry's ear. Professor Snape, the Potions master, was staring along the staff table at Professor Lupin. It was common knowledge that Snape wanted the Defense Against the Dark Arts job, but even Harry, who hated Snape, was startled at the expression twisting his thin, sallow face. it was beyond anger: it was loathing. Harry knew that expression only too well; it was the look Snape wore every time he set eyes on Harry. â€Å"As to our second new appointment,† Dumbledore continued as the lukewarm applause for Professor Lupin died away. â€Å"Well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties.† Harry, Ron, and Hermione stared at one another, stunned. Then they joined in with the applause, which was tumultuous at the Gryffindor table in particular. Harry leaned forward to see Hagrid, who was ruby red in the face and staring down at his enormous hands, his wide grin hidden in the tangle of his black beard. â€Å"We should've known!† Ron roared, pounding the table. â€Å"Who else would have assigned us a biting book?† Harry, Ron, and Hermione were the last to stop clapping, and as Professor Dumbledore started speaking again, they saw that Hagrid was wiping his eyes on the tablecloth. â€Å"Well, I think that's everything of importance,† said Dumbledore. â€Å"Let the feast begin!† The golden plates and goblets before them filled suddenly with food and drink. Harry, suddenly ravenous, helped himself to everything he could reach and began to eat. It was a delicious feast; the hall echoed with talk, laughter, and the clatter of knives and forks. Harry, Ron, and Hermione, however, were eager for it to finish so that they could talk to Hagrid. They knew how much being made a teacher would mean to him. Hagrid wasn't a fully qualified wizard; he had been expelled from Hogwarts in his third year for a crime he had not committed. It had been Harry, Ron, and Hermione who had cleared Hagrid's name last year. At long last, when the last morsels of pumpkin tart had melted from the golden platters, Dumbledore gave the word that it was time for them all to go to bed, and they got their chance. â€Å"Congratulations, Hagrid!† Hermione squealed as they reached the teachers' table. â€Å"All down ter you three,† said Hagrid, wiping his shining face on his napkin as he looked up at them. â€Å"Can' believe it†¦great man, Dumbledore†¦came straight down to me hut after Professor Kettleburn said he'd had enough†¦It's what I always wanted†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Overcome with emotion, he buried his face in his napkin, and Professor McGonagall shooed them away. Harry, Ron, and Hermione joined the Gryffindors streaming up the marble staircase and, very tired now, along more corridors, up more and more stairs, to the hidden entrance to Gryffindor Tower, where a large portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress asked them, â€Å"Password?† â€Å"Coming through, coming through!† Percy called from behind the crowd. â€Å"The new password's Fortuna Major!† â€Å"Oh no,† said Neville Longbottom sadly. He always had trouble remembering the passwords. Through the portrait hole and across the common room, the girls and boys divided toward their separate staircases. Harry climbed the spiral stair with no thought in his head except how glad he was to be back. They reached their familiar, circular dormitory with its five four-poster beds, and Harry, looking around, felt he was home at last.

Gun Ownership

Gun Ownership A well known fact, the United States of America is the largest private gun ownership in the world. The shooting happened frequently has caused wide public concern over the recent years. Nowadays, the gun ownership has been a hotly debated issue on all classes of society; even it has continued to spark national debate. Many people firmly believe they should be allowed to own a gun because guns can protect themselves and they have the right depend on the Declaration of independence.Other people in today’s society may think that gun ownership is necessary because of a few people living on hunting and gun culture of United State America. However according to the development of modern society, the gun ownership should be outlawed because it has not direct connection with the gun culture and it has being result in more and more crime and death, make a lot of irremediable damage to the innocent and guns become an unmanageable affair for the government, and it is not the only easy tool to protect themselves and hunting, but also a terrible lethal weapon to suicide and murder.A number of people insisted that they should be allowed to own a gun because America has a tradition of national gun ownership and use dating to the nation’s origins. In 1970, an articleAmerica as a Gun Culture was wrote by the noted historian Richard Hofstadter. He used the short phrase to describe America's long-held affection for guns, embracing and celebrating the association of guns and America's heritage. The people of a pro-gun culture believe that it is fanciful to imagine that guns will ever disappear from America and guns deeply embedded in its history and its culture.Guns are not the only tool of self-protection, but also a kind of culture. â€Å"The American gun culture as it exists today is founded on three factors: the proliferation of firearms since the earliest days of the nation, the connection between personal ownership of weapons and the country's rev olutionary and frontier history, and the cultural mythology regarding the gun in the frontier and in modern life. †(Spitzer, Robert J1). â€Å"Two elements of the modern American gun culture have survived since the earliest days of the country; the hunting/sporting ethos and the militia/frontier ethos. (Spitzer, Robert J3). Obviously, gun culture is a part of American culture, and it is a very important part. They have never imagined they will give up their culture of gun and the gun ownership. Although the United States of America has a tradition of national gun ownership and use dating to the nation’s origins, the gun ownership should be outlawed because the gun culture has no direct connection with gun ownership, and people can keep the gun culture in the place of public entertainment. Every country has own culture, however a few bad cultural should be abandoned and keep the good ones.Think about it. Every people knows what will happen if everyone has a gun in the w orld. There are endless wars, countless death and dislocated society if everyone has a gun. At that time, any people and any organization all have no power to stop these bad things. The life of people is more important than the gun culture, though culture and history of countries are important for human beings. In my opinion, People can enjoy the games of guns, and they will make more friends whom also like playing guns in the club of guns although they have no private gun.With this way, American also can keep their gun culture and gun original. For this point, the gun ownership is not necessary for people. A few people think they should be allowed to own a gun because they some people hunt wild animals for the basic survival demands in the world. When America was an agrarian nation in which hunting was a valuable source of supplying food for settlers, guns were a means of protection from animal predators, and the market for furs could provide a source of income.Also, hunting as an interesting to a few people, they enjoy this activity of outdoor. For the others, they live in wild and far away from the big city and the crowd. They live on hunting, and they are unable to survive without guns in the wild and forest. So they think the gun is a necessary tool for some people. The gun ownership is direct connection with the people who hunt wild animals for the basic survival demands despite the fact that some human feel that a few people live on hunting because it does not means that gun is the only one tool to keep their living.This kind of people is small, and do not give up the interests of the most people because the interests of a small number of people. The people who hunt wild animals for the basic survival demands are less than offenders who buy the guns and other weapons through legitimate channels but do some illegal things. In order to rule out these bad conditions, the gun ownership should be outlaw. For these people who living on hunting, the government can help them with other better ways. The government of nation forbids hunting and kills wild animals because many animal species are endangered.Uncontrolled hunting will result in destroy of ecological balance and lead to threaten human beings. A majority of Americans strongly believe the gun ownership should not be outlawed because the constitution ensures their right to own a gun in United States. Many legal experts, politicians and historians maintained that the Declaration of independence and the Constitution of the United State provide the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. â€Å"In District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U. S. 70 (2008), the Supreme Court of the United States held that the Second Amendment protects the right of an individual to own a firearm for the purposes of self defense within the home, while at the same time reaffirming the constitutionality of a wide range of long standing gun control laws. † (Adam Winkler 1). Over yea rs, the National Rifle Association has headed off most attempts to restrict gun ownership, insisting that the freedom to own gun is the people only against oppressivegovernment. â€Å"Guns do not kill people,† they say. People kill people†. The shooting events have nothing to do with the gun ownership, instead of somebody who tyrannous and cold-blooded. The Declaration of independence and the Constitution of the United State provide the right of the people to own guns. However, I still believe that the notion above is dangerous for the innocent because it is an unmanageable affair for the government and increasingly difficult to protect citizens from danger. It is so hard to hold the balance point between the right of keep guns and the life of people.That is why the shootings were continually happened to innocent people in the Unites State of America. In the United Kingdom firearms are tightly controlled by law, and there is little political debate and no strong public opposition to control. The United Kingdom had one of the lowest rates of gun homicides in the world since gun control legislation became stricter in the late twentieth century. In England & Wales in 2009 there were 0. 073 recorded intentional homicides committed with a firearm per 100,000 inhabitants; for comparison, the figure for the United States was 3. , about 40 times higher(United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime). Since the United Kingdom had stopped the right of keep and bear guns, the shooting events and crime has greatly decreased. The shooting events continue to be a big problem in the United States of America because guns are difficult affairs to manage and increasingly degree of difficulty of social security for the government. Therefore, the gun ownership should be outlaw to maintain social stability. Some people support gun ownership is necessary for them because they think it for personal self-protection in the home.They think that they protect themselves from harm with guns when they are in dangerous. It cannot be ignored the fact that people are more likely to be attacked if they do not have a weapon on their person. They have no any ability to protect themselves if they have no guns while their life and property are threatened. Victims who defended themselves with guns were less likely to report being injured than those who either defended themselves by other means or took no self-protective measures at all. And they have a pretty well reason to support their opinion which is â€Å"when guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns†.They mean that they would be more dangerous whether the guns ownership is outlawed and the gun is an effective method to protect them. Although the gun is an effective tool to protect their family and property, people cannot ignore that the effective tool is also the most dangerous tool because it is an easy way to suicide and murder. Some abnormal killer shot with the innocent to vent the anger and depr essed of the hearts. The studies have shown that gun kept in the home for â€Å"protection† is 22 times more likely to be used on a family member than an intruder.The original intention of gun ownership was to provide a method for self-protection. However, following up later is crazy shooting and death to innocent victims, which is the exact opposite of the original intention. With the mortality rate of shooting increasing, people be allowed to own a gun should be outlawed. There were a few shooting that the shooting of movie theatre, Empire state building shooting and so on. It is with these happened terrible shooting in people’s minds that they often buy guns because they feel afraid they might become victims of a crime.John Donohue of Stanford University said, â€Å"Criminals are more likely to use a gun if prospective victims are carrying guns,† that creating a vicious cycle. With all these guns so easily available, is it any wonder that so many people are d ying. Also, some people attempt to end their trouble of life by suicide with guns. Over 30,000 Americans are killed by guns, slightly over half in suicide every year. Every day, twelve children in the United Stated die in gunfire (Deborah White 1). These casualties bring human beings great pain of spirit, especially for the family of victim.Nothing can mend their hearts, though, times. On this point, the gun ownership should be outlawed in order to avoid with the serious shooting happen to innocent people and pure children. In conclusion, the law on the limitation of guns can greatly reduce the rate of death and crime. Although gun culture is a very important for Americans and people have right to keep and own guns, the gun ownership has not direct connection with the gun culture and guns have become a big problem which is hardly managed by the government.Perhaps there are a few people living on hunting by guns and it is a tool to self-protection, however it is not the only method t o protect themselves and way of survival. On the contrary, the gun is a terrible lethal weapon to suicide and murder. That is why guns make a lot of irremediable damage to the innocent. The gun ownership should be outlawed because only in this way can reduce the rate of crime and death. Cited work 1. Spitzer, Robert J. : The Politics of Gun Control, Chapter 1. Chatham House Publishers, 1995. Web. Sep 25, 2012 2. Linder, Doug (2008). â€Å"DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, et al. , PETITIONERS v. DICK ANTHONY HELLER†.Exploring Constitutional Law. University of Missouri-Kansas City Law School. Retrieved 2008-07-26. Web. Sep 25, 2012 3. Adam Winkler. â€Å"Shooting Blanks. † The daily Beast. Mar 3, 2010. Web. Sep 25, 2012 http://www. thedailybeast. com/articles/2010/03/03/shooting-blanks. html 4. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Homicides Statistics- Homicides by firearm. Oct, 2009. Print. Sep 27, 2012 5. Deborah White. â€Å"Pros & Cons of Gun Ownership & Use Laws for Indi viduals. † About. com US Liberal Politics. Mar 6, 2007. Web. Sep 25, 2012 http://usliberals. about. com/od/patriotactcivilrights/i/ProConGunLaws_2. htm

Depth Analysis on the protest Songs of Bob Dylan Essay

The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan is the second album released by Dylan in 1963. This album launched his career as a songwriter, and helped him gain notoriety within in the folk community. The album features many songs written by Dylan himself, as opposed to his first album that included many covers. The album covers a wide range of topics from Civil Rights, to Vietnam. Dylan becomes labeled as a topical songwriter after the release of Freewheelin’, discussing social and political issues through a surrealist’s point of view. The album contains several classic Dylan songs such as â€Å"Blowin’ in the Wind†, and â€Å"Masters of War†. Dylan’s style becomes very influential in this period, sparking new folk groups such as Peter, Paul & Mary and inspiring many songs from The Beatle’s Help! album. The success of Freewheelin,’ labeled Dylan as the â€Å"voice of a generation†, and as one of the greatest lyricists of all time. The first song presented on the album is â€Å"Blowin’ in the Wind†, one of Dylan’s most famous songs. The song poses a number of questions to the audience. Dylan breaks his stanzas into concise topics. For example the first stanza in â€Å"Blowin’ in the Wind† is directed more towards an antiwar ideology. Although the Vietnam war was not in full swing until a few years after the song was composed it was still used as the anthem of the antiwar movement which shows that Dylan is not only a timely writer but also a timeless one as well. Dylan begins the stanza with one of his most iconic lyrics, â€Å"how many roads must a man walk down, before you call him a man?† Dylan’s simple yet meaningful diction questions the audience of their morality in preparation of the topics he is going to discuss in the following verses. Dylan then symbolizes the image of peace with a dove that must travel many seas â€Å"†¦before she sleeps in the sand†. In this line Dylan inquires nations about the irresistible urge for war among nations in the twentieth century. Dylan then says, â€Å"how many times must the cannon balls fly, before they are forever banned?†. This is clearly a reference to the war, and Dylan’s personal opposition towards it. Just after the assassination of John F. Kennedy and during the peak of the Civil Rights Movement, Dylan’s second album was released. Dylan clearly dedicates the second stanza of â€Å"Blowin’ in the Wind† to the Civil Rights Movement. Dylan begins the stanza with â€Å"how many years can a mountain exist, before it is washed to the sea?†. In this part Dylan uses the metaphor of the mountain crumbling into the sea, as an illustration of the idea that nothing lasts forever. The next line then states, â€Å"how many years can some people exist, before they are allowed to be free?†. Dylan challenges the ethics of civil rights and asks his audience whether or not freedom is truly attainable for all beings in the United States. The word choice in this line is significant as well, because it does not isolate one race or creed specifically, however it is left as an abstract thought so that the audience can fill it in, which is another reason why this song is everlasting. The following line speaks in regards to the blind ignorance that occurs in society, especially during the early sixties towards African Americans. Dylan is distraught with society ‘turning their backs’ against African Americans in the United States and treating them unfairly. In the liner notes of the album Dylan says, â€Å"†¦some of the biggest criminals are those that turn their heads away when they see wrong and they know it’s wrong†. The final stanza in the song ties all of the previous symbols together into a larger metaphysical theme. In the first line of the last stanza, Dylan’s tone is uncertain and questions the idea of a divine being. This sort of realist’s approach to the topics discussed earlier may indicate a general loss of faith during the sixties. Dylan then wraps up with the legendary line â€Å"how many deaths will it take till he knows that too many people have died?†. This last line was chosen carefully and leaves the audience with a blunt message, signifying the importance of understanding each other and working together towards peace. Throughout the entirety of the song Dylan tells the audience that the, â€Å"answer is blowing in the wind†. Although Dylan is not known for being optimistic in many of his songs, this iconic refrain carries a deeper meaning. Dylan imposes the idea that a new generation is forming with newer ideas and ideologies, and they are right in front of everyone’s face but they go unnoticed just like the ‘wind’. Another antiwar song featured on the Freewheelin’ album is called, â€Å"Masters of War†. In this song Dylan demonizes the leaders of the country and discusses anti-authoritarian ideals. In the first stanza of the song the narrator gathers all of the ‘masters’ who build the destructive weapons and blatantly calls them a coward. In the second stanza Dylan says, â€Å"you play with my world, like it’s your little toy†. This statement must have been rather threatening to a lot of people in the government at the time, because it shows that the youth understand what is going on and are not in favor of the actions that have been carried out by the leaders of the country. Dylan received inspiration to write this song from President Eisenhower’s farewell address in where he indicated that, â€Å"we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military industrial complex†. Dylan then cath artically wrote a song against this statement, and engraved the idea that the ‘military industrial complex’ is only big business for government leaders while young people have to die in the war for no benefit. The tone of the song is very straightforward and blunt. In the liner notes, Dylan himself was surprised by the lyrics in the song stating that, â€Å"I don’t sing songs which hope people will die, but I couldn’t help it in this one†. In the third stanza Dylan uses a biblical reference and calls the government officials Judas. Using Judas as a symbol in this song represents lying and deceit. The following line in that stanza is â€Å"a world war can be won, you want me to believe†. This relates to the symbolic image of Judas, in that Dylan is calling on the bureaucrats to tell the truth. Dylan uses another biblical allusion in the song in which he sings, â€Å"even Jesus would never forgive what you do†. Towards the end of the song he sings, â€Å"how much do I know, to talk out of turn† in which Dylan speaks on behalf of the youth of the nation. The last antiwar song on the album is called â€Å"A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall†. Near ly seven minutes in length, Dylan paints a post-apocalyptic image in the audience’s mind. Considered to be one of the most famous protest songs written by Dylan and the second most popular song on the album after â€Å"Blowin’ in the Wind†. The form of the song is inspired by a seventeenth century Scottish ballad entitled â€Å"Lord Randall†. The structure of the song does not entirely make sense of flow very continuously, and that is because in the liner notes of the album Dylan said,† every line in it is actually the start of a whole song. But when I wrote it, I thought I wouldn’t have enough time alive to write all those songs so I put all I could into this on†. Dylan uses strong words and powerful imagery to enrich the pathos experienced by his audience. An example of Dylan’s strong use of pathos is when he sings, â€Å"I heard one person starve, I heard many people laughing†. This song was written in response to the Cuban Missile Crisis, which happened the previous year. The ‘hard rain’ is often projected as nuclear war, however Dylan has said many times that he just meant that ‘something bad is going to happen one day’. Dylan’s strong lyrics have created the most influential protest songs of all time. It is hard to imagine that three of them appeared on one album! The Freewheelin’ has been considered one of the greatest albums of all time, and even made it into the top 100 category for the Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums of All Time. Dylan uses many classic literary devices such as symbolism, allusions, and metaphors to captivate his audience and to create an art form out of his messages. All of Dylan’s songs are timeless; just how â€Å"Masters of War† is relevant during the Vietnam War it is just as timely for the Iraq War and Afghanistan War. Dylan has mastered the craft of songwriting and will forever be known as the voice of our generation.

Personal Statement on a subject of Social Injustice in the US and why

On a subject of Social Injustice in the US and why you want to be an intern with GO Project - Personal Statement Example My aim shall be to provide avenues in which children are recognized in society. This means allowing children to be aware of their environments while at the same time enabling them survive in societies that limits their freedom. Child negligence remains a problem in the 21st century and it is up to the society to change this fact. There is need to focus on how to equip children with the required knowledge to survive current societies. My ambition is to create a generational change where society will embrace and treated children equally. Empowering children will mean securing their future hence creating a responsible society. My passion for children will prompt me to develop mechanism that allow children to access basic education and enhance their skills and talents. The future of these children is paramount to any development agenda. They have the potential to transform the society and my aim would be to ensure they achieve these

Communication styles of JC Penny v. Sears Term Paper

Communication styles of JC Penny v. Sears - Term Paper Example Penny Company Inc. is one of the largest chains of American mid-range department stores, catalogue, and e-commerce retailers; with headquarters in Piano, Texas. It operates over 1, 100 departmental stores in U.S’s 50 states, Mexico, Chile and Puerto Rico (JC Penney 2012). It also runs 49 Renner department stores in Brazil. J.C. Penny began as a partnership between James Cash Penney, Guy Johnson and Thomas Callahan on April 14, 1902. The three created two more stores. In 1907, Johnson and Callahan dissolved their partnership and Penney purchased full interest in all three locations. In order to be closer to banks and railroads, Penney moved his company headquarters to Salt Lake City, Utah in 1909. The stores expanded and by 1912, there were 34 stores in Rocky Mountain States. The following year, all the stores were consolidated under the name J.C. Penney with William Henry McManus as co-founder. The company’s expansion was mainly due to its diversity of products and affo rdability. After much struggle in the 1970s, following stiff competition from upstart companies such as Wal-Mart that sold goods at discounted prices, the company reverted to a fashion oriented marketing strategy in the 1980s. It also moved its headquarters from New York to Texas, which reduced operational costs. The company was the first to sell zero coupon bonds in the public market. JCP stores are mainly located in suburban shopping malls, which is strategic in its operations. With about 1100 stores in America’s 50 states as well as Puerto Rico and Mexico, it is the second largest department store retailer and the largest catalogue merchant in the America. J.C Penny mainly targets juniors. The company focuses on value-priced fashion with an emphasis on classification and key-items focussed merchandising. JC Penney focuses on its pricing vis-a-vis its competition. Also, it focuses on providing mid-tier fashions in the malls. Its stores are located in attractive markets, tha t attract customers. It increasingly incorporating Sephora inside its locations, aimed at upgrading customers’ experiences in the stores. For the year ending January 2012, the company made sales totalling $17,260.0M and realized an annual growth of 2.8%; its net income for the year amounting to $152.0M (JC Penny 2012). 1.1 Background of Sears Holdings Corporation Sears Holdings Corporation is America’s fourth largest broad-line retailer with over 4,000 full-line and specialty retail stores in the U.S. and Canada. Its headquarters are based in Hoffman Estates, Ill. It became a multi channel store when it opened its first store to complement its catalogue channel which was launched in 1886 (Sears 2009). It provides quality merchandise and exceptional service, leading in retail of appliances, tools, lawn and garden, consumer electronics, and automotive repair and maintenance. The company provides diversified products through a wide range of retail channels. It was crowned the 2011 Energy Star Retail Partner of the year. Its leading brands are mKenmore, Craftsman and Diehard along with broad apparel offering including well known labels as Lands’ End, Jaclyn Smith and Jose Boxer, the Apostrophe and Covington brands. It is the

DESIGN THE TRAINING PLAN Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

DESIGN THE TRAINING PLAN - Essay Example In this respect, it becomes vital for the company to pursue training programs that work to the best interest of its operations. Enterprise architecture is characterized by technological diversity and dynamism in the industry context. Shifts in market needs create operational and performance gaps that have to be addressed for continued competitiveness in business. For this reason, enterprise architecture training at Intel seeks to foster creativity and innovation in the enterprise architecture department. Personal, professional, and company performance cannot be overlooked in the training context (Ilozor, Peter, & Graham, 2012). Whilst the key factor to consider when designing training plan for Intel is the enterprise architecture, the underlying effects on all the other departments in the firm cannot be ignored. To streamline the process, training will have to address emerging effects or implications to ensure that the set organizational goals and objectives are met. Essentially, tra ining at Intel targets enterprise architects. However, engineers and other technical professionals can be factored in if need be. The idea is to ensure that the exploitation of existing and emerging opportunities is characterized by creativity and innovation in technology. ... The training will address the extent to which enterprise architects, engineers, and operations group can exploit technology and processes reuse for enhanced organizational enterprise architecture. Design The training program needs to provide for the needs, interests, concerns, issues, and diversities that characterize the enterprise architecture workforce and the organizational setting at large (Intel Corporation, 2011). The program format, therefore, have to reflect these variables relative to the desired outcome. It is important to note that all the listed factors cannot be necessarily met an individual level. However, departmental and organizational goals and objectives have to be adequately met. Effectiveness and efficiency of the training process is also influential in the realization of the desired outcomes. Training format determination takes the following into account: Formulate and set the training ground in the organization. Identify the needs, interests, concerns, issues, and diversities that influence the training program. Assess the training issue(s) and set the expected training outcomes. Evaluate the current performance of the target group and align the result with the training program. Match training goals and objectives to the organizational business goals. Factor technological creativity and innovation in the training process. Consider the underlying gap(s). Execute the plan. Training duration and method of delivery have to be consistent with Intel’s position in the industry. Being a large player in the industry, a strategic approach to its training program is vital. In this respect, a progressive training delivery best suits Intel Corporation. Enterprise architecture encompasses practices that cannot change

Animal Law Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Animal Law Research - Essay Example Legislative provisions in other countries of the world are below par when compared to Australia, however the question of rights for animals must also encompass a wider frame of reference rather than the alleviation of suffering. Therefore, from the perspective of animals used in scientific research, the question that is proposed to be examined is â€Å"Should animal rights be legally recognized and should the legislative provisions be modified to include this aspect?† Animals are routinely used as guinea pigs in experiments involving research on new drugs or behavioral research that may also cause pain and used as subjects in toxicity tests to assess the safety of consumer products.5 In this connection for example, the Draize Test6, which is legal in NSW, is one where rabbits with their inefficient tear ducts are tested for cosmetic eye products by placing them in stocks and immobilising them, while the substance to be tested is dropped into one eye.7 Drug testing carried on in animals is intended to examine the safety of these drugs prior to their use in humans, since human life is perceived as more precious as compared to an animal. Since animals undoubtedly suffer pain and discomfort during these experiments, are their rights being adversely affected? Gendin questions the value of scientific research on the basis that different species may react differently for different doses, likewise since animals cannot describe their experiences, nor can the provide information on symptoms such as giddiness or nausea. He also suggests various alternatives to using animals for research purposes, such as using lesser organisms like bacteria or fungi, the use of mathematical and/or computer modeling and more studies performed on humans under carefully regulated conditions. Gallistel on the other hand has advocated the unrestricted use

With specific reference to post-1990s developments, critically Essay - 2

With specific reference to post-1990s developments, critically evaluate the scope of the doctrine of humanitarian intervention under Article 2 of the United Nations Chapter - Essay Example In addition, this paper analyses the structural reform proposals of the UN Charter and the challenges it is currently facing. The various current matters of Security Council reform financing and proposals of the UN Charter are also discussed (Latif 2000, p.25). The United Nations Charter was born forty four years ago and it was as a result of the sufferings caused by the Second World War. The main purpose of the above mentioned Charter was to secure the upcoming generation from the impacts of the war. Moreover, the United Nations Charter aimed at correcting the League of the Nations’ weaknesses. The leadership of the United Charter rests on the highest authorities. Nevertheless, the challenges as a result of the Cold War barred the UN Charter from carrying out its main goals of the maintance of peace and security. The cold war was accompanied by a hostile environment and the UN could not perform its key role to implement the provisions made in the Charter, which were related to international security and peace. Despite the hostile environment presented by the Cold war, the United Nations pursued its Charter purposes in various fields such as in the improvement of social standards for individuals, decolonization and in the protection of human rights ((Mendlovitz & Weston 1995, p.13). Moreover, there were some adjustments that were made to the UN Charter and this enabled it to cope with various threats imposed to the international security and peace. The establishment of the UN Charter led to various dramatic changes in the world structure of peace and security. The above organizations came up with various ways of solving the challenges they came across. For instance, in order to eliminate the powers used by high authorities during the Cold War, the UN Charter established various peacemaking (Mingst & Karens 1995, p.29) and it took the role of the Security Council in maintaining international peace and

PTLLS prepare to teach in The Life Long Learning Sector Level4 Assignment

PTLLS prepare to teach in The Life Long Learning Sector Level4 - Assignment Example This outlines the key aspects of teaching legislation and requirements. It is my duty to maintain the professional integrity and uphold are all cost the reputational of my professionalism. It is therefore very crucial to identify the needs of my learners. For this reason it is therefore important to meet the professional requirements that are valued by the institute that I serve, and be responsible for the scheme of work that I am going to teach my learners (LLUK 45). In order for teachers to protect themselves and the best way to do it is to follow the rules of the code of practice. Being a teacher I automatically become a role model to my students and for this reason am not going to discriminate, abuse (physically or verbally), dress in a good manner and avoid tardiness. The code of professional practice comes in support of all teachers as guidance to how to be a good teacher. This society is very dynamic, and teaching as a profession is becoming more and more complicated. In order to keep up with the changes, I need to ensure that I meet the highest possible standard. Due to this reasons I should be committed to my own professional learning, seeking to expand my skills and to deepen my knowledge as a professional teacher (Gravells 78). There are a few legislations that a teacher should comply with. There are some generic legislation that includes code of professional practice (2008), which was developed by the institute for learning (IfL 30) and covers aspects such as professional integrity, respect, reasonable care, professional practice, disclosure and responsibility. The other one is the children act that comprises of five fundamental aspects; each child should be kept healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution and achieve economic well-being. It will also be helpful to be guided by the Equality act (2010), which covers aspects such as age, disability, gender, gender

A building that inspires me Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

A building that inspires me - Essay Example Earlier this year, I was asked to help in the restoration works of this building by a colleague. There are several reasons why this building has inspired me. Despite being built in 1690, Buckie House is still standing today. When Buckie House was built, most buildings in Europe were built with stone and clay mortar - materials which can easily cave in to neglect and climate changes over time. A lot of tourists visit Anstruther and as these pass by Buckie House cracks on the wall and damage to the shells have been the result of 80-90 years of heavy road traffic. Aside from these â€Å"wear-and-tear† consequences, Buckie House has also survived changes brought about by modernization. Some buildings in the Anstruther area have been demolished, abandoned or used for purposes other than the initial reasons for putting them up. For example, according to an appraisal report by Arc-Architects, â€Å"a magnificent medieval church in Anstruther Western was reduced in the 19th century, changed into a church hall in 1963 and is now marked for foreclosure.† Through the years, the city council has made decisions regarding infrastructure in this part of Scotland to satisfy the need for more efficient land & property allocation. Another battle Buckie House has won is aesthetic in nature. The house features various styles. Some shells are formalised in a pattern to mimic ashlar (large rectangular stones) whilst other areas have completely artistic patterns and form abstract designs, even a huge butterfly. Although it had been the trend in the 1900’s to decorate one’s house with shells, there is only a small handful remaining today. Changing fashion has seen the shells removed from many similar houses. For Buckie House, there has been much effort to maintain it and keep it as a landmark for this city in Scotland. Previous restoration works had been done on the house prior to the job I was asked to help out with. The public has been