Macbeth Story Essays - Characters In Macbeth, English-language Films

Macbeth Story MacBeth is the story of a great warrior who is tempted by evil and allows his ambition to corrupt his strength. MacBeth himself begins the story as being the greatest general in all of Scotland, but by the end is merely a shadow of his past self as he is the detested tyrant who is slain by Macduff. Although MacBeth is physically strong in the beginning of the story, he turns out to be emotionally weak. MacBeth's physical strength is not just encompassed by his might, but also by his keen sense on the battlefield and his devotion to the people around him. MacBeth begins the story by killing a traitor himself, the Thane of Cawdor, Macdonwald, through seemingly impossible odds. Because of this act, King Duncan proclaims MacBeth the new Thane of Cawdor. It is generally accepted at this point in the story that MacBeth is the most skilled warrior in all of Scotland, and is recognized as such by all characters. His strength was the one thing that allowed him his rise to power, but it was that rise to power that eventually sapped him of all his strength. MacBeth's strengths soon became his weaknesses, as his ruthlessness when it came to whom he perceived to be his enemies came back to him as Macduff slew him towards the end of the play. MacBeth was also easily duped, as his wife was able to convince him to kill the King, even though MacBeth had already decided to not kill Duncan. MacBeth's keen mind was brought down by the guilt he felt over killing Duncan, and this guilt was compounded when he ordered the killing of his best friend, Banquo. This became highly evident as he began seeing visions of the bloody daggers he used to kill Duncan and the vision of Banquo's ghost at his feast. MacBeth also becomes disillusioned with his marriage as the story moves on. He referred to his wife as "my dearest partner of greatness" (1.5.11) in the beginning, yet when he is informed of his wife's passing, he says, "She should have died hereafter. There would have been more time for such a word." (5.5.20) showing his emotional instability, something that he was always able to keep in check. MacBeth's character changes from a physically, mentally, and skillfully strong General of the Scottish army to a tyrannical, despised and defeated King of Scotland. MacBeth as a play captures the complete and utter fall from grace of a man not able to deal with the temptations of evil.

United Kingdom and the Opt Out from the European Monetary and Economic Union Was this a Good Decision for British Business

United Kingdom and the Opt Out from the European Monetary and Economic Union Was this a Good Decision for British Business Introduction The United Kingdom opted out of the European Union Monetary and Economic Union (herein referred to as EMU) for several reasons, specifically what came to be referred to as the five economic tests. In retrospect, the â€Å"opt out† was not a good decision for the British business given the fact that businesses in this country effectively became outsiders to the Eurozone, and will be affected by policies made by this union just like any other foreign country.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on United Kingdom and the â€Å"Opt Out† from the European Monetary and Economic Union: Was this a Good Decision for British Business? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Verdun (1999) provides a working conceptualisation of the term monetary union. This is the definition that will be adopted throughout this essay. According to this author, a monetary union can be viewed as an agreement between several nations t o use a common currency amongst themselves (Verdun 1999: Stauffer n.d). The nations may go as far as establishing a single central bank and other centralised agencies that are tasked with the role of regulating the financial aspects of the nations. The European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) is such an example of a monetary union as defined by Verdun (1999). According to Adiong (2008), this union was to be implemented in three stages over a period of several years. Adiong (2008) refers to these steps as discrete but evolutionary, meaning that a step builds on its predecessor. It is not all European Union nations that joined the EMU and this can be attributed to several reasons. There are those, specifically Greece and Sweden, that failed to meet some of the criteria put down to qualify member states to be part of the monetary union. Others, like the United Kingdom, negotiated for what Willis (2010) refer to as opt outs. This means that these nations are exempted from the provisio ns and regulations of the monetary union, and they can join whenever they feel like, provided of course they meet all the necessary conditions. This essay is going to look at the case of United Kingdom’s opt out from the European Monetary and Economic Union. The author is going to look at the reasons why this country opted out this union among other issues. The author will especially critically appraise whether the decision to opt out was the best or not for British businesses. The European Economic and Monetary Union: Overview Before looking at the reasons why the United Kingdom opted out of the monetary union and analysis of the impacts of this decision to the British business, it is important to provide a brief overview of this union. According to Stauffer (n.d), the European Economic and Monetary Union’s idea can be traced back to the year 1979.Advertising Looking for essay on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This is the year that the European Council ratified the decision to adopt the European Monetary System [herein referred to as the EMS] (Stauffer n.d). This system was mostly concerned with the regulation of the union’s currency exchange rates. However, the European monetary and economic union was not to be formed until the year 1992. This was the year that saw the signing of the famous Maastricht Treaty, the treaty that led to the founding of the European Union (Stauffer n.d). In this treaty, provisions, referred to as the convergence criteria (Adiong 2008), that were to be met by each of the European union member states before they could be allowed to join thee monetary and economic union. The European economic and monetary union was to be set up in three steps, a process that was recommended by the findings of the Delors Report (Bojden 2010). This was the report of a commission that was structured by thee European council to look into stag es that can be followed in forming and adopting a monetary union for the European Union member states. The figure below depicts these steps and the provisions of each of them: Figure 1: The Three Stages to the Adoption Economic and Monetary Union Source: European Central Bank 2010-11-27 The first stage of the adoption was initiated on July 1st, 1990, and it provided for the elimination of virtually all restrictions imposed on the movement of capital from one European Union state to the other (Cash and Jamieson 2004). The second stage of the adoption saw the structuring and adoption of the European Monetary Institute (herein referred to as EMI) and the European Central Bank [herein referred to as ECB] (European Central Bank 2010).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on United Kingdom and the â€Å"Opt Out† from the European Monetary and Economic Union: Was this a Good Decision for British Business? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Le arn More This second stage commenced in the year 1994. The third stage begun on January 1999 (European Central Bank 2010: Blackstone, Lauricella and Shah 2010). This stage is still continuing, and it aims at fixing a common exchange rate for all the members of the monetary union. The United Kingdom has remained in stage two of the adoption of the monetary union. It has failed to move with the other members to the third and final stage of the EMU that would have seen the abolishment of the sterling pound and replacement of the same with the euro. This move has been informed by several factors, ranging from political, economical to social considerations. The United Kingdom and the European Economic and Monetary Union: Why the Opt Out? Overview The United Kingdom has been cynically referred to in many quarters as the master opt outs. This is given the fact that her majesty’s government has an affinity to negotiate for exemptions from major treaties, the provisions of whi ch would have naturally affected the nation. The latest in these escapades is the country’s total â€Å"opt out† from the provisions of the Justice and Home Affairs policy region (Willis 2010). Her Majesty’s negotiators were able to secure this preferential treatment during the negotiations that went into the Lisbon Treaty (Willis 2010: Blackstone et al 2010). It was thus not entirely surprising when the United Kingdom negotiated for opt out from the European Economic and Monetary Union in the year 1992. The provisions of this opt out were that this country will be exempted from the participation in the third stage of the adoption. Addressing the issue of the country’s participation in the third stage of adoption, the government was of the view that this will depend on several factors. This included the achievement of five economic tests as formulated by the then Labour Party Chancellor and later Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Gordon Brown (Bojden 2010). When the five tests are met, a referendum will be held, seeking the approval of the British citizenry before the joining of the union. Why the Opt Out? As earlier indicated, several obstacles stood in the way of the adoption of a single currency by the United Kingdom’s government. These included economic, political and social obstacles (Cash and Jamieson 2004).Advertising Looking for essay on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Economic Barriers One of the major economic reason informing the refusal to join the economic union is the fact that the economy of this country is â€Å"out of synch† (Willis 2010 p4) with the others in the European continent. This is especially so considering the fact that the sterling pound, the United Kingdom’s currency, has performed relatively well as compared to other currencies in the region. It is also noted that the unemployment rate, economic growth rate ad other aspects of the United Kingdom’s economy are not at par with the rest of the region’s (Bojden 2010). It is also important to note that, at the time the United Kingdom negotiators worked out the opt out provisions, the degree of trade interdependence that the United Kingdom had with the rest of the economies making up the European union was quiet low (Willis 2010). This is unlike in the case of today, where sixty percent of the United Kingdom’s foreign trade is made up of trade be tween this country and the European Union economies (Willis 2010). Political and Social Barriers It is important to note that, despite being an economically oriented treaty, a lot of political and social overtones are discernible in the European Economic and Monetary Union. The European Monetary Economic and Monetary Union and the European Union in extension have been very unpopular with the British public. Successive opinion polls and surveys have consistently indicated that the United Kingdom citizens do not support the idea of the country embarking on the third stage of adoption. This realisation might have informed the decisions of the negotiators credited with the EMU opt out. For example, in the year 2005, 57 percent of the public polled opposed the country’s adoption of the euro (Bojden 2010). This opposition has been consistent over the years, with 59 percent opposing in 2008 and 64 percent in 2009 (Blackstone et al 2010). Majority of those opposing the adoption of th e euro and the elimination of the sterling pound are of the view that their opinion is not only economically motivated, but also social to a large extent. They are of the view that if the country adopts the single currency policy, it will lose its identity in the process (Blackstone et al 2010). This is given the fact that majority of the citizens in this country have a strong attachment to the sterling pound, and have come to regard it as part of their national heritage. These are some of the social considerations that have ensured that the United Kingdom remains an â€Å"opt out† as far as the European economic and monetary union are concerned. Politicians- eager to appease the populace and win votes necessary to keep them in power- have ensured that the country hangs onto the sterling pound, adhering to the provisions of the â€Å"opt out† clause. This line of thought is significant given the fact that Gordon Brown, who was the chancellor who formulated the five eco nomic tests, rose up the political ladder to become the country’s prime minister (Willis 2010). As the incumbent of this position, Gordon Brown has ensured that the country remains an â€Å"opt out† case, giving this phenomenon one of its most obvious political overtones. These economic, political and social barriers are inexplicably interlinked with the five economic tests that Gordon Brown formulated. Following is an analysis of these tests: The Five Economic Tests The following are the five economic tests for the United Kingdom: Convergence of business cycles Economic flexibility Improvement of foreign and domestic investment Improvement of United Kingdom’s financial services Positive effects on growth, stability and employment A detailed analysis follows: Convergence of Business Cycles According to this test, business cycles in this country have to be compatible with those in other economies in the European Union region (Adiong 2008). Several indicators for this test were identified, and it is the achievement of these indicators that will determine whether the test itself is achieved or not. These include inflation and interest rates, output differences between the economies and currency exchange rates (Adiong 2008). According to this test, the inflation rate had to be less than 1.5 percent of higher term (Adiong 2008). This is when compared to the mean of the three lowest inflation rates, according to this test (Adiong 2008). As far as the interest rate is concerned, it had to be less than or equal to two percent above the three lowest such rates that have been recorded (Adiong 2008). The deficit of the government’s financial estimates, according to this test, should not be above 3 percent of the gross domestic product (Adiong 2008). The debt of the government should also not exceed sixty percent of the gross domestic product (Adiong 2008). Flexibility of the Economy The second test provides that the economy of this coun try, before the adoption of the single currency, should be resilient enough to ensure that the local economy can absorb any fluctuations in the euro economy (Adiong 2008). For example, the labour market in the United Kingdom must be flexible enough to cushion the economy against adverse developments in the euro economy. Foreign and Domestic Investment If the United Kingdom was to take part in the single currency economy, the third test that must be met provides that there must be proof that this participation will improve investment (Adiong 2008). For example, there must be proof that in the long term, the number of local and foreign investors in the United Kingdom economy will increase, as well as the increase in the number of United Kingdom investors able to expand their wings to other economies outside the border of this country. This means that the exchange rates, the restrictions and such other provisions of the single currency must be friendly to investors. Financial Servic es According to this fourth test, the competitive advantage of the country’s financial services sector must be enhanced by the adoption of the single currency economy (Adiong 2008). This is especially so considering the fact that the United Kingdom’s financial services market is one of the most competitive ones in the world, and as such, the government will not adopt policies that threaten this position. Growth and Stability Gordon Brown and his advisors were of the view that the integration of the United Kingdom in the single currency economy must impact positively on the employment and growth rates of the country (Adiong 2008). This improvement can be gauged by the effects that the euro zone will have on this country’s foreign trade and economic stability. A review carried out in the year 2007 found that only one of the tests has been met fully (Bojden 2010). This is the first one, the one on convergence of business cycles. This means that this country is n ot ready to adopt the single currency economy in the near future. This state of affairs is not good at all to the business in the United Kingdom. This is given the fact that businesses in this country stands to lose a lot if they remain outside the euro zone, despite the public’s opposition of this kind of integration. The Opt Out Bad for Business The businesses in this country are losing from the adoption of this decision by the country’s political class keen on appeasing the emotions of the public. For example, the businesses are losing as far as exchange rates are concerned. This country, as earlier stated in this paper, imports and exports a lot within the euro zone as compared to other economies in the world (Willis 2010). This means that the business people in this country have to incur the extra costs of exchange rates, a cost that they could have avoided if the country was operating on the euro currency (Willis 2010). The businesses in this country interact hea vily with the euro economies. However, despite these interactions and interdependency, British business is treated as foreigners or outsiders in the euro zone (Blackstone et al 2010). This means that they are affected like any other outsider by the economic decisions that are ratified and adopted by the economies party to the monetary union. There are arguments within the circles of those proposing the adoption of a single economy, arguments to the effect that should the EMU economy succeed, this will sound a death knell to the United Kingdom businesses’ competitive advantage (Bojden 2010). This is given the fact that competitive advantage brought about by the success of this monetary union translates into losing of business for economies outside the union, Britain included. Conclusion There are those who argue that, by opting of the EMU treaty, the United Kingdom made the right decision which was the best for its businesses. They argue that, given the foreign nature of this country in relation to the EMU, United Kingdom businesses will not suffer negatively from instabilities within the union. This is for example the fluctuations and weakening of the euro against major currencies such as the US dollar, fluctuations that may affect British businesses negatively. A lot of political friction, according to the views of these conservatives, is inevitable in the process of the United Kingdom’s adoption of the euro. This includes public outrage within the United Kingdom and political misunderstandings with other nations. All of this can be avoided by sticking to the â€Å"opt out† clause. However, objective analysis of the situation reveals that the British business stands to gain more from the adoption of the euro economy. The public opposition to this is motivated by irrational fears of the unknown together with unrealistic and emotional attachments to the sterling pound. References Adiong, N. 2008. United Kingdom’s challenges in the Eu ropean Monetary and Economic Union (EMU). New York: Free Press. Blackstone, B., Lauricella, T., and Shah, N. 2010. Global markets shudder: Doubts about U.S. economy and a debt crunch in Europe jolt hopes for a recovery. The Wall Street Journal, February 2010. Bojden, K. 2010. The United Kingdom-does it belong in the EU? Wall Street Journal, March 2010. Cash, B., and Jamieson, B. 2004. The strangulation of Britain British business: Europe in our daily lives. Web. Web. European Central Bank. 2010. Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Web. Available:  https://www.ecb.europa.eu/ecb/history/emu/html/index.en.html [27 November 2010]. Stauffer, A. n.d. What is the European Monetary Union? Web. Available:  https://uiowa.edu/ [27 November 2010]. Verdun, A. 1999. The role of the Delors Committee in the creation of EMU: An epistemic community? Journal of European Public Policy, 6(2): 308-328. Willis, A. 2010. Van Rompuy: Eurozone will bail out Greece if needed. EU Observer, 6 February 2010 .

How Does the Executive Branch Check the Judicial Branch

How Does the Executive Branch Check the Judicial Branch SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Understanding how the United States government works is critical to succeeding on the AP United States Government and Politics exam. That includes having a solid understanding about how each piece of the federal government works together. One of the key components of this is the checks and balances system, which is where each branch of government checksor limitsthe power of the others. And unfortunately, understanding how those checks work can be a little confusing. That’s where this article comes in. Today, we’re going to investigate how the executive branch of the U.S. government checks the judicial branch. To do this, we’ll: Define the three branches of government Examine how the judicial and executive branches operate Answer the question, â€Å"How does the executive branch check the judicial branch?† So let’s get started! The Three Branches of the United States Government When the United States was founded in 1776, the federal governmentor the government that governs all the states collectivelywas split into three branches with equal power: the executive branch, the judicial branch, and the legislative branch. The idea behind splitting the government into three separate pieces was to make sure no one area of government held too much power. Remember: the United States broke away from England for many complex reasons, but a major factor was how much power the English government had over the original thirteen colonies. It’s no surprise, then, that the founding fathers were concerned about making sure that the federal government of the United States didn’t become as big and powerful as the English monarchy. Their solution was to create a three-part governing system where each branch could limit the power of the others. This is called a checks and balances system, which you can learn more about in our complete guide. For this article, though, let’s take a closer look at two of the three branches of U.S. government and see how the executive branch can check the judicial branch. The Judicial Branch: Definition and Explanation The judicial branch of the federal government is tasked with interpreting the laws, including Constitutional laws, which are created by the legislative branch. This happens through the court system, where attorneys bring cases before a judge (and sometimes jury). When a judge makes a ruling on a case, they are actually interpreting the law. That means they’re reading the laws and determining whether a defendant has actually broken them or not. In some federal cases, judges are actually evaluating the laws themselves to determine if they’re in violation of the constitution! For instance, in the famous case of Brown v. the Board of Education, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that laws requiring the racial segregation of schools were unconstitutional. The U.S. Supreme Court While the U.S. judicial system is vastthere are both state and federal courts, each with different organizational hierarchiesthey both operate under the Supreme Court of the United States (or SCOTUS). Understanding what the Supreme Court is and how it operates is key to understanding how the executive branch can check the power of the judicial branch. You may have heard of the Supreme Court referred to as â€Å"the highest court in the land.† That’s because it’s the only part of the judicial branch that’s specifically required by the Constitution, though Congress determines the number of justices that serve as part of the Supreme Court. Currently, the court has nine justices, including one Chief Justice. The Supreme Court serves as the final say on all laws in the United States, and it also rules on Constitutional issues, too. The rulings of the Supreme Court directly affect how laws are interpreted, enacted, and upheld across the United States. Some of the most famous court rulings have done things like guarantee defendants the right to an attorney, legalized same-sex marriage, and invalidated laws preventing interracial marriages. So how does someone become a Supreme Court justice? (This is actually pretty important to understanding the executive-judicial checks and balances system.) First, they have to be nominated by the President, or the executive branch of government. The nominee then has to be approved by the majority vote of the Senate, which is a part of the legislative branch of government. Once appointed, justices serve on the court for the rest of their lives or until they voluntarily retire. Federal Appellate Courts But the Supreme Court isn’t the only federal court in the United States. Since the Supreme Court only hears 100 to 150 cases a year, most federal cases are heard and adjudicatedor decidedby the federal appellate courts. When a federal case goes to trial, it is heard in a U.S. District Court. That’s where prosecutors and defendants call witnesses to the stand, provide evidence, and try to prove their cases. After both sides present their cases, a judge or a jury decides whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty. The defendant, however, has the right to appeal the U.S. District Court’s decision. When a case is appealed, it’s heard in appellate court. There are thirteen appellate courts in the United States. Each of the 12 regional circuits of the federal court system has their own appellate court. The 13th court is known as the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Unlike the other appellate courtswhich only adjudicate cases from their regional circuitsthe United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has nationwide jurisdiction. Its job is to hear appeals on topics like patent law, veterans affairs, and international trade. So what do the appellate courts do? Well, it’s the job of the appellate court is to determine the outcome of an appeal (just as their name implies). Unlike the original trial, which involves hearing testimony and examining evidence, the appellate courts don’t retry cases or hear new evidence. Instead, the case is reviewed by a panel of three judges in order to determine a) whether the defendant received a fair trial and/or b) whether the correct law was applied appropriately. If a defendant wins their appealmeaning, if the appellate court rules in the defendant’s favorthe case goes back to trial court to be heard again. If the appellate court affirms, or upholds, the trial court’s decision, however, the original verdict stands. The appellate court is an important part of the federal court system, and it helps ensure that people receive fair trials. And just like Supreme Court justices, federal judgesincluding the appellate court judgesare appointed by the President of the United States. The Executive Branch: Definition and Explanation The executive branch of the United States government is the branch that makes sure the laws of the United States are obeyed. The executive branch is split into three major groups. The first is the presidency, which we’ll talk about in more depth in just a second. The second group is the U.S. Cabinet, which is a set of advisors appointed by the President to help guide him on issues facing different sectors of the United States. The cabinet is comprised of the Vice President and the heads of the 15 major federal agencies. The third group of the executive branch are the federal agencies themselves, which help enforce laws in different legal and economic areas of the United States. For example, the Department of Labor oversees the American workforce, which includes making sure work environments adhere to federal laws (OSHA) and administering federal disability programs for people who are injured and/or no longer able to work (OWCP). But because the President is the head of the executive branch, it gives them the most power to check the judicial branch. So let’s take a quick look at the powers of the United States presidency. The Presidency The President of the United States has eight major roles within the government of the United States. They are: Chief of State: The President represents the United States to the rest of the world. Chief Executive: The President is the head of the federal government. Commander-In-Chief: The President commands every branch of the armed forces, and generals report to the President. Chief Diplomat: The President sets the United States’ foreign policy and appoints diplomats/ambassadors. Legislative Leader: While the President cannot make laws, they can ask Congress to do so and/or veto existing legislation before it’s passed. Chief Administrator: The President leads the executive branch of government, which includes more than 2.7 civilian employees. The President also appoints people to different roles, which includes appointing federal judges and nominating Supreme Court justices. Chief of Party: While this role isn’t specifically outlined in the Constitution, in modern politics, the President also serves as the head of their political party. Chief Citizen: This role isn’t specifically outlined in the Constitution either, but as Chief Citizen, American citizens expect the President to represent their interests and provide strong leadership. The role that matters most in terms of the executive branch checking the judicial branch is Chief Administrator because it gives them the power to appoint judges to long-serving positions in the justice system. How Does the Executive Branch Check the Judicial Branch? After reading the sections above, you’ve probably realized that the executive branch and judicial branch overlap...which is how the branches check each other’s power. Judicial-Executive Checks on Power Don’t worry, we’re going to get to know how the executive branch checks the judicial branch. But first, we need to take a short detour to explain how the judicial branch checks the executive branch. This will help things make more sense later. Since the judicial branch’s job is to interpret laws, they are constantly weighing in on laws signed into effect by the President (through their executive powers). Additionally, the judicial branch makes sure that the U.S. Constitution isn’t being violated. That means that members and departments of the executive branchincluding the Presidentcan be sued for violating their constitutional authority. For instance, when President Trump declared a state of national emergency to try and fund the building of a border wall, a watchdog group named Public Citizen filed a lawsuit against him. Their suit alleges that President Trump’s actions are unconstitutional, and now it’s the judicial system’s job to determine whether that’s true or not. If they rule against President Trump, it will serve as a check on his executive powers. Nick Youngson/The Blue Diamond Gallery Appointing Federal Judges It might seem as if the judicial branch has all the power over the executive branch. But that isn’t the case! One way the President checks judicial power is through his ability to appoint federal judges. Since the President is the Chief Administrator, it’s his job to appoint court of appeals judges, district court judges, and Supreme Court justices. There are more than 870 federal judgeships today, which means the President has their work cut out for them! It also gives the President quite a bit of power over how the justice system works. That’s because all federal judgeships are life terms, which means that once a judge is appointed, they serve in their position until a) they retire or b) they are impeached and removed from office due to misconduct. Once a judge leaves office, it’s the President’s job to appoint their replacement. That can really add upfor example, over the course of his presidency, former President Barack Obama appointed 334 judges, including two Supreme Court justices. Federal judges are an important part of the judicial process because they have the power of judicial review, which is the authority to interpret the Constitution. When a judge rules on a constitutional issue, their decision becomes legal precedent. Their ruling will now serve as the standard by which similar cases are judged. In fact, once a precedent is set, it’s uncommon for a court to rule against it. When Presidents appoint federal judges, they often consider both a judge’s pedigreeor their qualificationsalong with their position on key political issues. Often, Presidents appoint judges that share their ideas about how laws should work. This helps keep the judiciary in check, especially given that no party has ever held presidential power in the United States for more than 28 years (the Democratic-Republican Party held the presidency from 1801 to 1829). So how does this check judicial power? It means that Presidents can influence the political leanings of the federal court, and since judges serve a lifetime appointment, they can continue to impact the judiciary process long after a President steps down. For example, Judge George C. Young was appointed as a federal trial judge by President John F. Kennedy in 1961...and he served in office until 2015! The President nominates Supreme Court Justices. Justice Sonia Sotomayor was nominated by President Barack Obama. Nominating Supreme Court Justices The President’s ability to appoint federal judges is especially critical when it comes to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court only hears around 100 to 150 cases a year, but those cases change the ways laws are implemented across the country. For example, the Supreme Court’s ruling on Roe v. Wade in 1973 which made first- and second-trimester abortions legal in all 50 states. That ruling still stands and dictates law today, despite abortion being a hot-button political issue. Like we mentioned earlier, it’s the President’s job to nominate justices to the Supreme Court. The President often nominates judges who align with their political stances on critical issues. Because the Supreme Court is so powerful, the President’s nominations can have lasting impacts on the long-term political leanings of the Court. When the Supreme Court leans more liberal (or more conservative), it can impact how the Court rules on cases. For example, with the appointment of Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2019, the Supreme Court now leans more conservative. The President’s power This effectively checks the judicial system by ensuring that the makeup of the Supreme Courtand its ideologyshifts from time. Every Thanksgiving, the President pardons a turkey. The President also has the power to pardon people, too. Pardon Power The last way that the executive branch checks the judicial branch is through the power of the pardon. Executive branch officials like state governors and the United States President can overturn convictions by the court. This only counts in cases where the criminal committed a crime against the state (in the case of a Governor’s pardon) or against the United States (in the case of a Presidential pardon). When a criminal is pardoned, their conviction is completely overturned and their record is expunged. That means it’s as if the crime was never committed in the first place! This allows the executive branch to check the judicial branch by ensuring that the judicial branch isn’t using its power unfairly. A good example of how the pardon power checks the judicial branch is the case of Patty Hearst. Patty Hearst was convicted and sentenced to two years in prison for robbing a bank in 1974. But Hearst was also suffering from Stockholm Syndrome. She had been kidnapped and brainwashed by a militant organization months before the bank robbery. In 2001, President Bill Clinton granted her a full pardon, which absolved Hearst from any legal wrongdoing. What's Next? Now that you know more about the executive branch, the judicial branch, and the checks and balances system, it’s time to get to know the AP U.S. Government exam. Here’s our introductory guide to the AP U.S. Government exam that will help get your test prep off on the right foot. Not sure what to study? No problem. Here’s a compilation of the best AP U.S. Government notes to get you started. The AP U.S. Government exam has a section called the free response questions, or FRQs. They’re essentially short essay responses to prompts, and for many students, they’re one of the trickiest parts of the test. That’s why we’ve broken down how to answer them and earn top marks in our FRQ guide! Have friends who also need help with test prep? Share this article! Tweet Ashley Robinson About the Author Ashley Sufflà © Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams. Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Get FREE EXCLUSIVE insider tips on how to ACE THE SAT/ACT. 100% Privacy. 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Discuss O-linked oligosaccharide decoration of proteins in the Essay

Discuss O-linked oligosaccharide decoration of proteins in the production of mucus and its implications in mucus-producing adeno - Essay Example These areas in the glycoprotein are aptly called mucin-like domains. Mucin-related proteins can either be membrane-bound, in which case it is enclosing the cell, or secreted to form the extracellular matrix (Tabak, 2010). In the epithelium, such as those on the surface of gastrointestinal wall, O-glyvans attached to epithelial cell membrane-bound mucin and its related proteins, mostly Muc2, constitute what is commonly called mucus. Mucin glycoproteins are made in enormous amounts by a specialized epithelial cell called the goblet cell. Physiologically, this cell is important in producing the inner mucus layer to replace the outer mucus layer used for bacterial clearance. To produce mucus, Muc2 should first be produced and secreted. They are prepared in the Golgi apparatus, in which the proteins are labeled for transport to the surface (Johansson, 2012). They can be compactly stored in large, regulated secretory mucin granules that can be found on the apical cytoplasm of goblet cells (Perez-Vilar, 2007) 2. Importance of mucus Mucus acts as a barrier from injurious elements to which the gut surface is commonly exposed to, such as bacteria and mechanical forces. Microorganisms are trapped by the outer mucus layer for transport and excretion. ... Defect in mucus production occurs from lack of Muc2 production, Muc2 mutation, or inhibition of glucosyltransferases. Without mucus, bacteria attaches to the epithelium, increases intestinal permeability, and raises risk for colitis (Kim and Ho, 2010). Aside from the gastrointestinal systems, mucus also has a protective function in the respiratory, urogenital, ophalmologic, and auditory systems. Deregulation of its production or composition is implicated in chronic airway diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and cystic fibrosis (Perez-Vilar, 2007). In cystic fibrosis, the alkalization due to the defective intracellular chloride channel caused defects in pH-sensitive glucosyltransferases. The abnormal glycoproteins produced by these defective enzymes also provide receptors for Pseudomonas (Al-Awqati, Barasch, and Landry, 1992). 3. Role in cell signaling The less common O-fucose glycans are attached by O-fucosyltransderase 1 and elongated by ? 1,3N-acetylglu cosaminyltransferases to epidermal growth factor-like (EGF) repeats of Notch protein. EGF repeats are approximately 40-amino acid-long cysteine-rich motifs, including a conserved six cysteine span that forms three conserved disulfide bonds. The sugar moiety modulates protein-protein interactions and downstream signaling. Notch is a membrane-bound signaling receptor important in differentiation. Elongation of O-fucose by Fringe limits Notch activation to the dorsal and ventral boundary, since it limits the binding of Notch with its ligands. Fringe defects result to segmentation and somitogenesis defects in mice. Similar to EGF repeats, Thrombospondin tupe 1 repeats (TSR) are made up of six conserved cysteines and three

Compare the relative qualities and characteristics of Modular Essay

Compare the relative qualities and characteristics of Modular Information Systems against Integrated Software Systems in respect - Essay Example This information is produced to meet a business objective and it is valuable to the company. Information system is a set of elements which collect data, process and give the output data and information (Sommerville 2010). Business information systems are used by businesses and organizations for storing, processing and analysing data. The information systems are useful to the organizations since they enable the employees to recognize new patterns and relationships in the stored data. This enables the companies to make important decisions which ensure that the organization gains a competitive advantage in the market. The information systems ensure that the organizations activities are conducted efficiently and reliably and this improves the overall performance of the business. There are different types of information systems and this leads to variations in the functionalities of business systems. Computer systems are software programs that are developed to capture, store and manipulate data. There are different types of computer systems in the market and this depends mostly on the functionality of the software (Ajmani 2004). There are different processes of developing software programs and this result to different software products with different characteristics. The process of developing that system is crucial to the functionality of the systems. Modular information systems are comprised of different modules that are connected together. The development of this system is done by partitioning the overall system into distinct parts known as modules. The modules have different functionalities and are developed independently. This type of development is preferred by organizations which have different functionalities and require detailed processes in the software systems. The modules are then integrated to form one huge system which can be used by an organization to conduct its business activities. Integrated software systems are developed as single units and the func tionality of the system is achieved by the whole system. Most of the integrated software systems are off-the shelf systems which are bought directly from the software dealers (Bass,et al., 2008). The functionality of the system meets the requirements of the organization and there is no need for gathering specific requirements of the organization. Modular information systems are flexible. This is because it is possible to replace or add one component to the system without affecting the other rest of the system. This is useful in organizations that are involved in many activities which are dynamic (Clements and Kazman 2008). The new activities that are carried out by an organization might require the development of a new system to meet the functionality required by the organization. Organizations which have modular systems can easily integrate new modules to meet their requirements. This is effective as there is little interruption to the business activities since one module is only a ffected. Integrated systems might result to the disruption of the whole system as new functionalities to the existing systems cannot be added without affecting all the system processes. The modular information systems perform better than integrated systems. The modular systems are developed from requirements that have been gathered from the organization. This ensures that the system is developed to perform better in the

The Symbols In The Awakening English Literature Essay

The Symbols In The Awakening English Literature Essay In Kate Chopins The Awakening, the underlying meaning is imparted to the reader through the use of explicit symbolism. The major role of the use of symbolism in the novel is to attempt to draw a link between the world that Edna knows and her several awakenings and make that link more powerful and compelling. Analyzed in this essay are three prominent symbols of interest which are birds, the ocean and the houses Edna resides in. The avian allusions and symbols that are present throughout the story serve to represent the ability to fly and the freedom it enables. The references to oceans and seas within the novel are symbolic of freedom and empowerment as it relates to Edna. Further houses allow the reader to observe the different transformations that Edna undergoes. The Awakening, written by Kate Chopin, is filled with numerous symbols and motifs that allow the reader to develop a deeper understanding of its message. The first symbol to be analyzed is the recurring sign of birds present throughout the novel. When birds appear in the novel they serve as a reflection of Ednas self, and her thoughts. The novel opens not with a main character speaking but with parrot, Allez vous-en! Allez vous-en! Sapristi! (pp. 3). This declaration from the bird translates to Go away! Go away! For heavens sake! It can be inferred that these lines are representative of the thoughts that are passing through Ednas mind for much of the novel. Much like the parrot which could speak a little Spanish, and also a language which nobody understood, (pp. 3) Edna is unable to communicate her true desires and her true feelings to anyone else because they could not understand. Edna wishes to abandon her role as a compliant wife, and acquiescent mother that the Creole society demands she be. Further the bird discussed above is caged symbolizing the entrapment of Edna by society and its expectations for females of that era. Perhaps the only other character in the novel that understands Edna is Mademoiselle Reisz, who stirs Ednas soul with music, and gives advice to her. Edna informs Arobin that Mademoiselle Reisz: Put her arms around me and felt my shoulder blades, to see if my wings were strong, she said, The bird that would soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings. It is a sad spectacle to see the weaklings bruised, exhausted, fluttering back to earth. (pp. 103) It appears that Reisz knows beforehand that Edna will attempt to fly and expresses an uncertainty as to whether or not Edna is strong enough to succeed. Mademoiselle Reisz is warning Edna in this passage that her flight may ultimately end in failure but Edna does not receive this message for she is not thinking of any extraordinary flights. I only half comprehend her. Reisz is attempting to help her with this flight by inferring that she is perhaps not strong enough, and may fail but it falls on deaf ears as Edna does not comprehend what Reisz is trying to do. The reader encounters birds towards the conclusion of the novel during a pivotal moment in Ednas life, All along the white beach, up and down, there was no living thing in sight. A bird with a broken wing was beating the air above, reeling, fluttering, circling disabled down, down to the water. (pp. 113) Edna observes this as she is about to walk into the ocean and go through her final awakening. This bird with a broken wing em bodies Edna representing that she, much like the bird, is unable to fly away and escape from the things that confine her. Further it also illustrates that Edna is already dead before she enters the water like the bird that is doomed to death. The second symbol to be analyzed is the frequent appearance of the ocean/sea. Of all the symbols in the novel, the ocean appears most regularly. Edna consistently connects the ocean with a certain personal free will even when she is a child, [a meadow] seemed as big as the oceanà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦she threw out her arms as if swimming when she walked. (pp. 21) Clearly Edna feels freedom and excitement in the above passage illustrated through the reference to the wide open ocean. Further, it is in the ocean located off from the Grand Isle where we observe on of Ednas awakenings. Before this awakening she has already learned how to swim, and when she attempts to swim out into the ocean for the first time a certain metamorphosis occurs, A feeling of exultation overtook herShe grew daring and reckless, overestimating her strength. She wanted to swim far out, where no woman has swum before. (pp. 37) This scene is critically important in the progression of the novel because with her discovery o f her ability to swim she also realizes that her life is an empty shell. Perhaps this realization serves to assist her in the changes that she will encounter later in the novel. But there is an aspect of foreshadowment in the line she grew daring and reckless, overestimating her strength. Though swimming in the ocean gives her many positive feelings of freedom she has not the strength to swim for longer periods of time and as a result will drown. Her desire to swim far out, where no woman has swum before is a noble desire to escape from her entrapment due to Creole society, and she somewhat accomplishes this wish but ultimately fails with her demise. The ocean in the novel allows Edna some of the feelings of freedom, but it also serves as an instrument of her demise; Exhaustion was pressing upon and over possessing her. Good-bye, because I love you à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ He did not know; he did not understand. He would never understand à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ it was too late; the shore was far beh ind her, and her strength was gone. (pp. 116) Edna believes that the ocean allows her to express herself and escape from the power that is exenterated over her by society. But she realizes that no matter what she attempts to do she will always be trapped by society, for she lacks the ability to change the way her life is. After coming to this realization she decides that she will retire where she feels the most free and away from being influenced; into the ocean. The third and final symbol to be analyzed in this paper is the dynamic symbolism of the houses that Edna resides in. These houses are a direct reflection of the numerous mental and emotional states that Edna experiences throughout her journey. The cottages that are located on the Grand Isle have several symbolic meanings. They serve as separate cages for Edna and also are a reflection of the families that reside within them. Further, all of the cottages at places like this are nearly identical suggesting that all families that dwell in them are identical according to the traditions of the Creole society. Perhaps the most iconic and important house that is encountered during the novel is Ednas pigeon-house. The imagery relating to this house instantly gives the reader insight into why this house is so important to Edna, In a little four-room house around the corner. It looks so cozy, so inviting and restful. (pp. 79) This pigeon house serves to provide Edna with the comfort and indepe ndence that her old house with her husband never provided. Her freedom she experiences allows her to realize how much control she can have over her life, she had resolved never again to belong to another than herself. (pp. 80) This can be considered one of her many awakenings for she realizes that she does not need a man in order to fulfill and complete her life. It is also important to note the contrast from her previous feelings to the new feelings and abilities that arise after Edna moves into the pigeon house; before when she kisses Arobin in the house of her husband she has feelings of reproach looking at her from the external things around her which he had provided for her external existence. (pp. 84) Yet when she engages with Arobin at her new pigeon-house she experiences no feelings of reproach or regret. This illustrates how she is now more free in this house than she has been in any other setting. There are many symbols in the novel The Awakening, and in this essay three of the most prominent have been examined leading us to a huge conclusion. Clearly it is necessary in this novel, and most others to analyze and apply the occurrences and meanings behind symbols scattered throughout the work. Birds serve as an allusion to Edna herself and as an instrument of foreshadowment in regards to her own demise. The ocean is used numerous times throughout the novel as a source of freedom and self expression that allow Edna a release from everything going on in her life. The last symbol was the many houses that Edna was in during the novel that were representative of her current feelings and were a reflection of her. Without the analysis and acknowledgment of these symbols the story becomes just a simple piece of writing and lacks significant deeper meanings.

By The Time Macbeth Murders Duncan He Has Already Lost The Battle For His Soul Essay

Introduction ‘By the time Macbeth murders Duncan he has already lost the battle for his soul’. In this essay I am going to discuss this statement and examine the factors that lead to his decision to kill the king. I shall divide the essay into 3 main parts, these are; 1. The battle for his soul 2. The factors which lead Macbeth to kill the king 3. Conclusion The Battle For His Soul This play was written for James 1 in 1606. Shakespeare’s children were now deceased and this had put him into a mood where he would only write tragic plays instead of the usual comedies. Shakespeare included the theme of witches for James 1 as he was into witchcraft and had even wrote a book about it. The target audience of Macbeth would have been a very superstitious Christian crowd. The King was believed to have been put on the throne by God, and to kill the King would be a great sin. The belief in the existence and power of witches was widely believed in Shakespeare’s day. The practice of witchcraft was seen to subvert the established order of religion and society, trying to corrupt people and making them sin against God. Witch hunting was a respectable, moral, and highly intellectual pursuit through much of the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth centuries. If someone lost their soul, they would be lost to God and would be condemned to hell for eternity. Here is a definition of a soul taken from the oxford dictionary; 1. A person’s soul is the spiritual part of them that is supposed to continue after their body is dead. 2. Somebody’s mind, character, thoughts or feelings. From the beginning of the play, Macbeth undergoes a complete change in character – from a virtuous nobleman into a monster. He has a tragic weakness – ambition – which, when released, draws him into a web of evil and corruption that finally leaves him with none of the noble human qualities he possessed at the beginning of the play. Before being transformed into a murderous monster, Macbeth is a popular noble and also a good friend with the King. This is shown when Duncan calls him his ‘worthiest cousin’. He shows great loyalty and devotion to both King Duncan and his country in his fight against the Thane of Cawdor. Duncan is grateful for this. He says; ‘I have begun to plant thee and will labour / To make thee full of growing.’ He also fights with great courage, which he draws from knowing that he serves a good and virtuous King. This is proved when he says; ‘Duncan / Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been / So clear in his great office, that his virtues / Will plead like angels.’ He is modest when confronted with his achievements, in contrast to the arrogance that he displays after becoming king. He loves Lady Macbeth, an emotion he will eventually lose by the end of the play. Most of all, he fears what his greed and ambition can lead him to become, and he feels dubious about acting on them. When he kills the King he does it in cold blood, which shows his change after the incident with the witches. Macbeth doesn’t want to kill the King but is convinced by Lady Macbeth that only good things will come from it. But just after he does kill the King, guilt overcomes him and he is left regretting the whole idea. This shows that he still wants God’s blessing. Also he says; ‘But wherefore could I not pronounce ‘Amen’? / I had most need of the blessing and ‘Amen’ / Stuck in my throat.’ At that time it was believed that if you could not say ‘Amen’, God would not bless you and you were doomed to eternal damnation. Ultimately he regrets killing the King. Here are some quotes that help to solidify this; ‘I had most need of blessing’ ‘I am afraid to think what I have done’ ‘To know my deed, ’twere best not know myself’ ‘Wake Duncan with thy knocking: I would thou couldst’ You should be thinking the obvious question: Why does Macbeth decide that he has to kill the King to become King? And, anyway, why is he not sufficiently happy with the high social position he occupies and the honoured status he has acquired among his peers? There is a very simplistic answer to this, and that is to say he is too inpatient and too ambitious. Both of these are sins and therefore Macbeth must be punished for them. As he believes that he is damned for eternity this breaks him down until he doesn’t care or feel anymore. Banquo was also present when the witches’ predictions were made which makes Macbeth insecure. There are two reasons for this; 1. Banquo’s children will become Kings and †¦ 2. †¦Banquo may suspect that Macbeth murdered Duncan. Macbeth is now in too deep to be repented for his sins and he knows this. To maintain his Kingship he decides to hire murderers to kill Banquo and his son, Fleance. This takes Macbeth beyond the murder of Duncan; it demonstrates that he will spare no one – not even a close friend – to secure his illegitimate kingship. He has turned his back on his closest companion and doesn’t feel any guilt. This suggests that he has now become just as evil as the witches. Shortly after the murder of Banquo, the dead noble appears at Macbeth’s feast. The terror of seeing Banquo’s ghost makes Macbeth more paranoid and insecure than ever, which leads him to seek answers from the three Witches; ‘And betimes I will – to the weird sisters. / More shall they speak. For no I am bent to know / By the worst means, the worst †¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ This suggests that he still wants more and is still unhappy. He has tasted blood and now he wants more. He believes that he will lose his position as King unless he continues to kill. Eventually he has the blood of Duncan, Banquo, the two servants, Lady Macduff and her children on his hands. Blood is a very realistic image that helps people to relate blood and evil together. The Factors Which Lead Macbeth To Kill The King The witches play a vital role in Macbeth’s thinking about his own life, both before and after the murder of Duncan. Banquo and Macbeth recognize them as something supernatural, part of the landscape but not fully human inhabitants of it. They have malicious intentions and prophetic powers and yet they are not active agents. When I say active agents I mean that they don’t do anything other than talk and offer ‘answers’. They have no power to compel. The most obvious interpretation of the witches is to see them as manifestations of evil in the world. They exist to tempt and torment people, to challenge their faith in themselves and their society. Act 1 scene 3 suggests that the witches have power but not enough to kill. This is shown when they are talking among themselves about a woman who would not give one of the witches a chestnut. The witch tells her sisters that she will make the winds blow strongly against her husbands ship. They work on Macbeth by equivocation, that is, by ambiguous promises of some future state. These promises come true, but not in the way that the victim originally believed. Macbeth takes his first step toward losing his soul when he is confronted with the knowledge that he will be king. The witches tell him; ‘All hail, Macbeth! that shalt be King thereafter!’ When they say this he makes the mistake of letting his ambition overrule his judgment. If his judgment had remained intact in the face of the witches’ powerful prophecy, he certainly would have decided not to let his actions be dictated by a prophecy given to him by three strange witches who evade most of the questions he asks. The witches, appeal to what Macbeth wants to believe. They don’t make him believe it and they do not tell him what to do in order to achieve what they prophesise. They say nothing about killing Duncan (or anyone else). In that sense, they cannot be the origin of the idea of the murder. They may be appealing to that idea, but they do not create it. The witches are said to be able to take possession of people and make them do wrong. This, seeing visions and going into trances are signs of this. The later two of these are shown, the second when Macbeth sees the ghostly dagger before he kills Duncan and the third, when he is described as ‘rapt’. These witches exist as constant reminders of the potential for evil in the human imagination. They are ineluctably part of the natural world, there to seduce anyone who, like Macbeth, lets his imagination flirt with evil possibilities. They have no particular abode and might pop up anywhere, momentarily, ready to incite an eternal desire for evil in the human imagination, the evil which arises from a desire to violate our fellow human beings in order to shape the world to our own deep emotional needs. Guilt plays a strong role in motivating Macbeth, and causes Lady Macbeth to go insane, until she commits suicide. Throughout the story, there are many different types of guilty feelings that play a role in Macbeth’s fatal decisions and bring Lady Macbeth to commit suicide. Although there are many instances that show the power guilt has played on the main characters, there are three examples that show this the best. One is, just after the murder of King, Duncan. Guilt overcomes Macbeth where he can no longer think straight. A second example is soon after that, where all the guilt Macbeth feels at first, changes into hate after he decides that Banquo must be killed as well. The last example is just about at the end of the play, when we see Lady Macbeth sleepwalking, and then later committing suicide; this all because of the burden of her guilt. All of these examples build the proof that in this play, guilt plays a very large role in the characters’ lives. Perhaps one of the strongest evidences that show guilt, is how it affected Lady Macbeth. Act 5 begins by re-entering Lady Macbeth; this time though, she is not at all the woman we were first introduced to. It begins with a discussion between a doctor and a servant about the failing health of the lady herself. Lady Macbeth enters sleepwalking. She starts to rub her arms, in a washing motion and says; ‘Out damned spot! Out, I say!’ She also says; ‘†¦Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?’ The word blood, is really a image that we can use for the enormous guilt she feels and her action, in trying to get rid of the guilt by ‘washing’ and rubbing it away. In the second quote, the ‘old man’ represents, King Duncan. Her sleepwalking continues as she talks about the death of Lady Macduff; ‘The thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she now? / What, will these hands ne’er be clean?’ After the continuous rubbing motion, Lady Macbeth cries out; ‘Here’s the smell of blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.’ She realises that nothing could ever get rid of the smell of the blood and the guilt caused by all the murders committed by Macbeth. It’s also shown here that she feels fully responsible for every person killed by her husband. Just several scenes later, Lady Macbeth commits suicide. The reason was just a build up of all the guilt. Another big influence on Macbeth is Lady Macbeth. She puts considerable pressure on Macbeth and he is eventually persuaded to commit the murder of King Duncan. Driven by Lady Macbeth, he then orders the assassination of Banquo and Fleance and of Lady Macduff and her son. The attempted murders of Fleance and Lady Macbeth’s son make it clear that Macbeth has no problems about killing the innocent. Being so deeply immersed in murder and death takes away his ability to feel; when Lady Macbeth dies, he reacts only by musing that; ‘She should have died hereafter’. One of the chief functions of Lady Macbeth in the early part of the play is to keep the vision of Kingship alive within Macbeth by any means at her disposal. She taunts him to act on his desires. What she is saying, in effect, is that he must not let his conscience stand in the way of his desires. Part of her tactics with Macbeth is to urge him to be more of a man. She identifies him as something unmanly. Lady Macbeth should not be blamed for the actions of Macbeth. He freely chooses to kill Duncan in response to his own deepest desires. Neither his wife nor the witches compel him to do what he does, and he is free at any time to refuse to carry out the murder or, having carried it out, to seek out various courses of new action. But his decision to carry out the deed is marked by his, perhaps evil mind. In a way, Macbeth is never entirely satisfied with what he needs to do to become king or what he really wants to do. After the murder of Duncan Lady Macbeth has thought that a little water and a few lies will clear them, but she cannot evade the psychological consequences of what she has encouraged Macbeth to do. She lacks his will power, his determination to continue, and his ability to withstand the inner torment. And so as he becomes more and more determined to keep killing his way to some final solution, she falls apart. This begins with her fainting spell as soon as the news of Duncan’s death becomes public, continues in her anxious fussing before and after the banquet scene, reaches its clearest expression in her sleepwalking, and concludes in her suicide. This lack of inner will to confront the consequences of her and Macbeth’s actions makes her story one without the tragic significance of her husband’s. The phrase ‘lack of inner will’ in the last paragraph is not meant to indicate some limitation in Lady Macbeth. She had thought that she could unsex herself, push away any of her deepest feelings about the love of others, and become a pure agent of destruction. So long as the murders have not started, she plays that role with great rhetorical effectiveness (especially in her taunts about Macbeth’s manhood). In a way her reference to Duncan looking like her father does take on an important resonance. What’s particularly noticeable, too, is the way in which, following the murder of Duncan, their relationship becomes divided. We have every reason to believe that before Duncan’s murder, they are very close. Certainly Macbeth shares all his thoughts and feelings with her, and she speaks to him about what her deepest thoughts are even if it is to defy Gods decision. They are at first a very close and loving couple but as more people are being killed by Macbeth (who mostly keeps them to himself and doesn’t involve Lady Macbeth) Lady Macbeth is falling apart and being unable to cope with the guilt she commits suicide.