Friday, September 20, 2019
Living the Aboriginal Way Essay -- indigenous, culture, education, crim
The Aboriginal people are one of few indigenous people left in our world. The Aboriginals live in Australia and have, as many indigenous people/groups, been treated badly for years. However they are being treated better now than before, but as an old group with old traditions it is hard to live in the same world as people who do not live by their culture. First in this article Aboriginal history will be compared to present time, succeeded by/before a description of two issues the indigenous people of Australia has to deal with in present time, and lastly there will be a conclusion. The Aboriginal people arrived to Australia from Asia around 50,000 years ago, however they migrated from Africa to Asia around 70,000 years ago. The Aborigines are the indigenous people of Australia. They were the only people living on the continent until the colonization in 1788 by the UK. The biggest consequence for this colonization is that the British brought with them diseases such as measles, tuberculosis and smallpox. In the 19th century, smallpox was the biggest cause of Aboriginal deaths. Aboriginal people speak mostly English, but they do have a variety of their own language that they speak in phrases and words to create an Aboriginal English language. Before the English settled in Australia, the Aborigines had over 250 languages, as opposed to now when they have around 15 that they speak. They traditionally believed in animist spiritual frameworks, compared to present time where only 1% still believe in animist and 73% believe in Christianity. The animist spiritual framewo rk includes belief in animals, Mother Nature and they have a deep love for nature. However we now see that the Australian indigenous culture has changed. Aboriginal cult... ...f domestic violence and community disturbance. The Indigenous people of Australia have sadly had a lot to deal with since the first European settlement in 1788, such as diseases, colonization and being removed from their families. The Aboriginal are not allowed to live as they did before, as new laws have been created for the people. The Aboriginal is forced to live as any other Australian in Australia, even though they are sometimes treated differently. Some people believe that these people have been treated badly through the years, and many agree with that. The Aboriginal was basically treated as animals for a long time. It was their country, but they were still treated, as they were the bad people. The Aboriginals now have a lot to deal with such as education and crimes, but the Australian people try their best to help these people out of all the difficulties.
Thursday, September 19, 2019
Ministers Black Veil Essays: Father Hooper :: Ministers Black Veil Essays
Father Hooper             The Ministers Black Veil                       Father Hooper wears a black veil over his eyes and nose, never revealing the reason of the veil to a soul. At times the sexton would insinuate a reason behind the veil but never revealing the answer to the mystery. Father Hooper is a very imaginative and creative individual to innovate the idea of wearing a black veil to express an idea. He is angry towards the response of the veil to his parishioners, since they treated him differently with the veil compared to without it. Most of the parishioners are clueless to why he wears it and some try to imagine why he would ever want to wear it, but there are only ideas and arguments to why a minister would wear it.                     One of the reasons behind the veil might be secret sin. Father Hooper might have committed a very bad sin, which he does not want to unveil to anyone. Instead of not telling anyone the sin he shows it clearly on his face with the aid of a black veil. This black veil might relieve tension in his body that has accumulated due to his sin. In the story, Father Hooper says that everyone wears a black veil, meaning that everyone commits secret sins without revealing them to anyone. If you do not express your secret sin you would be keeping stress and tension locked up inside you, but if you express it, the stress and tension will be relieved.                   Another reason behind the veil might be sorrow. Deep, dark sorrow for someone or yourself might be expressed and shown with the help of a black veil. By wearing the black veil for eternity, you are exhibiting great love and sorrow for someone or yourself. If the black veil was removed, the sorrow and love would be dead. This might be how Reverend Hooper expresses the veil.                    Father Hooper might have also used the veil as a friend and a device to test Elizabeth’s love for him. The black veil might have given Mr. Hooper friendship if he was lonely and without a mate. He could test Elizabeth to see if an object would come between them and their love. The Reverend told her if she was his, the black veil would then be removed.
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Free College Essays - The Forest as a Symbol of Freedom in Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter :: free essay writer
The Scarlet Letter - The Forest as a Symbol of Freedom            â€Å"Wilt thou let me be at peace, if I once tell thee?†asked Hester. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, life is centered around a stiff Puritan society in which one can not indulge in their deepest thoughts. Puritan society does not let human beings show how they really feel. Therefore Hester had to seek refuge to explore her inner thoughts, such as the forest. In the forest Hester brings out many hidden emotions, Hester shows her love for Dimmsdale, and the forest is a place where the both of them may have an open conversation without the constraints of Puritan society. The forest is a symbol of freedom. Nobody ever watched over the forest as a place of misbehavior, that is why people went there to do what they wanted. â€Å"Throw off the shackles of law and religion. What good have they done you anyway? Look at you, a young and vibrant women, grown old before your time. And no wonder, hemmed in, as you are, on every side of prohibitions. Why, you can hardly walk without tripping over the commandment or another. Come to me, and be masterless.†Of coarse Hester takes advantage of this when she meets with Dimmsdale in the forest. She talks to him about things they could never imagine to discuss in any other place except the forest. â€Å"What we did had a concecration of its own, we felt it so, we said to eachother.†Dimmsdale is shocked and tries to hush Hester but realizes he is in the safety of the forest and no one else may hear them. Just the thought of Hester speaking to Dimmsdale in their society is un mentionable. Yet in the fore st they may feel free to do as they wish and not have to worry about any one else knowing. In Puritan society every one is assumed to be selfrelient. The puritans believe that you should have yourself to depend on emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Therefore Hester could never show her true emotions to Dimmsdale or for them to comfort each other. In the forest all of these cares are thrown away. â€Å"Be though strong for me, advise me what to do.†This is Dimmsdale’s cry for help to Hester, which they could never discuss in their Puritan village. When he asks her for help he shows that he thinks of Hester as an equal and he is not above her in any way. Free College Essays - The Forest as a Symbol of Freedom in Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter :: free essay writer The Scarlet Letter - The Forest as a Symbol of Freedom            â€Å"Wilt thou let me be at peace, if I once tell thee?†asked Hester. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, life is centered around a stiff Puritan society in which one can not indulge in their deepest thoughts. Puritan society does not let human beings show how they really feel. Therefore Hester had to seek refuge to explore her inner thoughts, such as the forest. In the forest Hester brings out many hidden emotions, Hester shows her love for Dimmsdale, and the forest is a place where the both of them may have an open conversation without the constraints of Puritan society. The forest is a symbol of freedom. Nobody ever watched over the forest as a place of misbehavior, that is why people went there to do what they wanted. â€Å"Throw off the shackles of law and religion. What good have they done you anyway? Look at you, a young and vibrant women, grown old before your time. And no wonder, hemmed in, as you are, on every side of prohibitions. Why, you can hardly walk without tripping over the commandment or another. Come to me, and be masterless.†Of coarse Hester takes advantage of this when she meets with Dimmsdale in the forest. She talks to him about things they could never imagine to discuss in any other place except the forest. â€Å"What we did had a concecration of its own, we felt it so, we said to eachother.†Dimmsdale is shocked and tries to hush Hester but realizes he is in the safety of the forest and no one else may hear them. Just the thought of Hester speaking to Dimmsdale in their society is un mentionable. Yet in the fore st they may feel free to do as they wish and not have to worry about any one else knowing. In Puritan society every one is assumed to be selfrelient. The puritans believe that you should have yourself to depend on emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Therefore Hester could never show her true emotions to Dimmsdale or for them to comfort each other. In the forest all of these cares are thrown away. â€Å"Be though strong for me, advise me what to do.†This is Dimmsdale’s cry for help to Hester, which they could never discuss in their Puritan village. When he asks her for help he shows that he thinks of Hester as an equal and he is not above her in any way.
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Doubt in To The Lighthouse: Virginia Woolf’s Use of Symbolism and Tone
Virginia Woolf’s use of several literary devices, most especially tone and symbolism, can be seen in To The Lighthouse by dissecting important passages and analyzing how certain phrases connect with the work as a whole by enhancing the overall theme. The passage that Woolf best utilizes to convey both symbolism and tone can be found in her second chapter of the final section. Here she says, â€Å"He must have had his doubts about that table, she supposed; whether the table was a real table; whether it was worth the time he gave to it; whether he was able after all to find it. He had had doubt, she felt, or he would have asked less of people†(155). It is interesting to note that the theme of doubt and the subjectivity of feelings as they relate to material and nonmaterial objects continues throughout the text and the previous passage highlights this along with Woolf’s literary techniques by using the table as a symbol and the tone of introspection and guessing. This work is especially important and significant as a work of literature due to these important aspects used throughout. The previous passage should be understood in context with the events and the characters that are involved. Mr. Ramsey is a central figure of the piece, who serves as the host along with his wife of many guests to their summer house. His troubled marriage and his own doubts about his perception of how his life really is in contrast to how others may see it. His appraisal of the table, therefore, confuses one of his guests, Lily who is an aspiring artist or more specifically a painter. It is her voice in the passage that conveys the tone of the novel and that is one of subjectivity and the illusion that one person can understand another. Mr. Ramsey, on the other hand, helps to support the symbolism in this passage by simply using the table as a type of symbol to what constitutes what is important or beautiful in life as compared to what may be seen by others as unimportant or plain. The fact that the table is a solid object is also interesting in that this implies that even solid objects can be viewed differently by different people and it is not only relationships and all in life that is not static that is subject to deep thought and contemplation. While Lily contemplates that Mr. Ramsey has doubts about the reality of the table and believes that his doubts give way to his continual demands from others, it may be quite the opposite. Mr. Ramsey as the head of the household and the central figure and host of many dinner parties may see the table as the place where he is most comfortable and in charge of others, rather than in doubt of himself. Since the reader is only getting the point of view from Lily, Mr. Ramsey’s appraisal of the importance of or even the reality of the table is myopic. This ties in with the theme of doubt and the subjectivity of constructed reality that changes from individual to individual that permeates the passage, the chapter, and the novel as a whole. Lily, herself as an artist, presents her views from the eyes of an aesthetic and she has been influenced by this time by the late Mrs. Ramsey. But the philosophical ponderings of Mr. Ramsey among other events have given her doubts as to her ability to create anything of real meaning in her art and in her life. The final section of the work is the most sentimental and philosophical. By the time this passage has been uttered many deaths have occurred and the bridges that separate the remaining Ramseys and Lily are becoming more pronounced. The tone that Wolff uses has, to this point, been filled with confusion and foreshadowing and there is reason to believe that consonance might be found with the family when the remaining members, Mr. Ramsey and his son and daughter, finally do set out to see the lighthouse. There is some hope that with all the confusion and altered realities of the main characters at the close of the novel, that maybe all of them will see this lighthouse in the same way. For the entirety of the text, Woolf presents her characters as only guessing about the feelings and thoughts of others by how they view static objects, like the table in the passage. In the beginning of the book, the subject of the table comes up in terms of philosophy when Lily asks to have explained Mr. Ramsey’s thoughts on philosophy by his son Andrew. ‘Subject and object are the nature of reality’, Andrew had said. And when she said Heavens, she had no notion what that meant. ‘Think of a kitchen table then’, he told her, ‘when you’re not there’†(23). The fact that there are many missing people from the table towards the piece’s ending is what fashions the interactions between the characters to make meaning of their existence and to w eave all of this together with the subjective realities that each character has toward both the living and the deceased. This illustrates Woolf’s theme and her intentions for her audience to understand how the table is tied into the philosophy of Mr. Ramsey, who has become worn and saddened over the years, just as the table has been worn by time. As well, this illustrates Woolf’s use of the character Lily as a person, who is able to create objects that are new and subject to a redeeming action if her art is viewed by others to be important. As well, even if her art cannot save or redeem others in the end, she can by her own subjective reality, redeem herself in a deep and lasting fashion by discarding her doubts about herself. Certainly, Mr. Ramsey, Andrew and Cam all have doubts about the strength of their relationship and the value that is placed on visiting the lighthouse. What comes to be on this trip is not a singularity of vision between the Ramseys and Lily, but instead warmer feelings toward one another and the final realization that the only thing that can be shared is solitude. That dream of sharing, completing, of finding in solitude on the beach an answer, was then but a reflection in a mirror, and the mirror itself was but the surface glassiness which forms in quiescence when the nobler powers sleep beneath†(134). To be truly noble then, Wolff suggests that this singular vision without doubt or regret that each man or woman has is not something that can be shared, but instead it is to know that every one is alone is their vision for perfection within themselves and others. Everything else is subject to change or even the static objects like the table can be viewed differently, only we can know what we want and how casting off doubts imposed by others is what can essentially set us free. Woolf effectively utilizes the table as a symbol for the static in the world that can be seen as beautiful or ugly just as she uses objects like the mirror as a metaphor for solitude. The lighthouse, as well, is a beacon of light in the darkness, a darkness that is felt in loneliness. However, it is discovered by Lily that loneliness is noble when accepting it and discarding doubts about what is underneath the subjective surface of all things. Woolf’s introspective tone, used especially by Lily and the overall them of doubt and confusion in a world filled with change, both in the passing of time and even in the moments shared with others that may have different views illustrate how not even time changes the nature of the soul of men or women.
Monday, September 16, 2019
Discuss the Importance of Dreams in Of Mice and Men Essay
The book ‘Of Mice and Men’ was published in September, 1937 and was set in the depression of the 1930s in California at the location of Soledad. Steinbeck uses ‘Soledad’ because it translates as loneliness which arises the point that the time in which this book was set was a time of loneliness where it was very unusual to have a companion or family with you which led to the existence of dreams; to look forward to more pleasant and happier times. At this time: 1930s America, most Americans had the so-called American Dream. This was to own their own piece of land as well as being the boss of it. This was the common dream amongst ranch workers to have something to live for and aid them with their loneliness. The dream came into existence in the 1800s when land was more readily available. By the 1930s, when this novella was set, it was almost impossible to make their dreams a reality due to the 1929 Wall Street stock market collapse which had resulted in prices increasing drastically, and more importantly; there was a desperate act of poverty making people sell what they had and live on the streets. This is what led to the rugged individualism of each person. As well as this, it was made even more difficult as most land had been bought beforehand. It is due to the Wall Street Crash that many went to California for work. President Roosevelt at that time had the job of directing workers such as George and Lennie to ranches or farms where there was work. Steinbeck uses Lennie and George to personify the dream of the migrant worker; own their own land along with giving the opportunity to settle in the ‘promised land (California)’. Migrant workers are labourers who work on ranches as harvesters involving lifting heavy materials; hard work for little wages. They have no family or friends as they continuously travel to different ranches in California in order to keep work. This is how workers had to get jobs and was the way of life for migrant workers. In relation to this, work card were important as it gave them a work permit which ranch owners required when recruiting. In comparison to modern day working conditions, workers such as George and Lennie would not receive holidays, sickness payments or old age pensions from their ranch. Therefore, futures for most men looked bleak. Without dreams, no-one would have reason to keep going. An example of this is Lennie wanting his own animals in the future to ‘pet.’ There is symbolism within the book that refers to the Garden of Eden. He sets the scene of this by using description such as â€Å"Willows fresh and green with every spring†which could be interpreted as referring to the Garden of Eden. I believe Steinbeck is trying to put across the imperfectness of humans along with temptation and results of doing a â€Å"bad thing†(said by Lennie). Lennie shows that temptation causes him to lose his way and represents the imperfection of humans. His desire to pet soft objects without foreseeing the consequences puts him on a collision course with others. Also, the girl in Weed and Curley’s wife are both temptations that made his curiosity grow and he could not resist. Curley’s wife could be seen as the serpent in the garden; a liar, a temptation, a manipulator of men to get her way. Like Eve, she is curious, in this case about Lennie. Her actions are innocent but the outcomes are bad, (telling Lennie to touch her soft hair in the barn which leads to her death) just as Eve’s actions caused them and human beings to be sent of the ‘perfect place.’ Curley’s wife’s actions tempt Lennie whose actions cause him along with the others to lose their dream of a little farm. Lastly, Adam and Eve were thrown out of Eden for going against God; therefore mankind is in loneliness and wandering. Steinbeck shows this when George asks who used to live on his bunk with Candy replying that he had just left: â€Å"gimme my time one might like any guy would.†After this, George then brings Lennie along which creates suspicion because two men didn’t travel together; â€Å"Hardly none of the guys ever travel together.†There was a big contrast in the timeless rural vision of America and what was to all but end this: the 1930s Depression. The vision was that workers will move up the ranks of working to eventually own their individual land; however this would never be when the 1930s Depression occurred. There was a big drop in every economic growth along with very high unemployment. It also resulted in countries leaving the gold standard in order to recover. These reasons helped the American Dream to not be a successful one for so many. Steinbeck is effective and does well to imply that there is another world other then the perfect one that was envisaged by everyone by saying: â€Å"beaten hard by the boys coming down from the ranches†and â€Å"beaten hard by tramps who come wearily down from the highway.†Words such as â€Å"beaten hard†and â€Å"tramps†suggest this other world and show the stark contrast between dreams and reality. The main characters include George, who is a small, quick man with well-defined features. He is a migrant ranch worker who dreams of one day saving enough money to buy his own place and being his own boss, many men in the Depression dreamed of this. His only set back is his mentally handicapped friend Lennie whom he travels with and has been since he promised Lennie’s Aunt Clara he would look after him after she died. Looking after Lennie stops George from working towards his dream and even prevent him from having a normal life of a rancher, because of this, George and Lennie regularly fight. George yearns for companionship as can be told by the metaphor of him playing solitaire. The tension of having to look after Lennie and himself shows in George and he shows a wide variety of emotions during the novella, from anger to patience to sadness. Lennie is mentally slow, he’s enormous. He is George’s companion and he is the source of the all the novel’s conflict. He is George’s opposite both mentally and physically. Lennie’s innocence and helplessness, his childish actions, such is his desire to pet soft things makes him likeable to the readers of the novella. George and Lennie’s dream is more materialistic than to just own land and be their own boss, as they envision a place where â€Å"nobody gona get hurt nor steal from them.†The friendship between the two is firmly rooted in their dream. Candy and Crooks along with others are also caught up in the dream. Curly’s wife also had a dream which was to become a movie star. But in one way or another, all the dreams of these workers are smashed.
Sunday, September 15, 2019
Analysis of Roderick Usher’s character in the story The Fall of the house of Usher Essay
Question: Roderick Usher is a complicated character who seems to be both physically and mentally unstable; on top of that he is also terrified. What is he so afraid of that causes him to act this way towards Madeline and the others? It is because he had committed incest, hence a sense of guilt for his actions? Or is it because he is the last in line of the usher family? Use Freudian psychoanalysis to examine the character of Roderick Usher. To study an individual character by Freud’s psychoanalytical method one must first look into how a mind is divided. According to Freud psychoanalysis there are 3 layers in one’s mind: innermost layer ID (our subconscious state of mind), then super ego (dealing with human conscience of right and wrong) and outermost layer of the human ego (our conscious self). Freud states that an individual can only control two-third of their mind that is the remaining one-third – the ID cannot be controlled nor can one be even aware of its state. ID, which is our ‘actual self’, the honest complicated inner-being which decides our actions, even the ones we are incapable of explaining is something beyond one’s reach. One does not have any idea of what is going on that part of their mind; all the repressed feelings are also stored in this section. Freud also mentioned that these repressed feelings or actions always emerge in the most ‘violent’ possible and unexpected ways and that explains Roderick’s actions throughout the story. These repressed feelings can sometimes disguise in the form of something noble or kind. This outburst is termed as Freudian slip: unintended actions or reactions due to repressed feelings. Usher being the last male clan of his family invites his friend the narrator to the Usher house. This story leaves us with many questions beginning with no complete explanation of the narrator’s motives for arriving at the house of Usher or the other way around, why did Usher invite his friend? A few possible reasons could be that Roderick knew he would not survive so he wanted someone to witness the last moments or actions that would take place or just be with him, or maybe he wanted someone to justify the sexual tension between him and his sister Madeline. And if a sexual tension did exist between the twins then his sense of guilt and fear can also be justified. Roderick and Madeline were like two halves of the same circle, and therefore maybe the presence of an incestual relationship would make a little sense. In the contemporary period intermarriages was a popular practice among the upper class royal families and since their family has no enduring branches, all offsprings were probably reproduced incestuously within the perimeter of the house. However, another reason why Roderick could have invited the narrator could be because he may have been homosexual and maybe felt something towards his childhood friend. It is strange why Roderick specifically chooses the narrator and no one else, like the other parts of the story, this part is equally mysterious. Madeline is a ghostly figure in the story, more like she’s in the background, we only hear of Roderick and the narrator spending time together. And hence, the sexual orientation could be a possible explanation. Roderick seemed to be suffering from hyperesthesia – excessive physical sensitivity, especially of the skin (Oxford Dictionary). At the same time Madeline was cataleptic – a medical condition characterized by a trance or seizure with a loss of sensation and consciousness accompanied by rigidity of the body (Oxford Dictionary). Therefore she never lived in the real world, she was unaware of the circumstances, and absolutely lived in her own world. They were both mentally unstable, the twins. Roderick and Madeline both looked pale; it’s as if one was ill because the other was. Now this also brings about questions in our minds about the mental condition of their previous generations. In most cases people inherit such disorders. So if we consider the mental disorder to be genetic, the Freudian slip adds to it and makes it worse, and definitely makes a person totally unstable mentally. The narrator’s description give us an idea of how healthy Roderick used to be once and how his health from what the narrator sees after he goes to the Usher house has gone worse. To sum up Roderick’s character analysis, it can be said, that his disorder is somewhat genetic which is multiplied because of his repressed emotions. What probably made him so scared was people finding out about his past or incestual desires if there were any. And that is why maybe he buried his sister alive, he thought burying the sister would be burying the truth. His sister was the only kin for years alone with him, and since they were halves of the same circle, therefore the incestual relationship does make a little sense. The Freudian slip may have evoked some unusual actions towards his sister resulting into incest.
Saturday, September 14, 2019
Jack the Ripper’s identity Essay
INTRODUCTION In August 1888 a killer who became known as Jack the Ripper committed the first of a series of murders. To this day the identity of the killer remains a mystery. Five women were brutally killed in the East End of London, by a maniac who appeared to kill without warning and with no remorse. Why was the â€Å"Ripper†able to get away with his murders? Why were the police powerless to stop him? These are some of the questions that still puzzle Ripperologists who search for Jack the Ripper’s identity till this day, looking in old archives and books. ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES Research and gain knowledge on: – > The development of the police forces in Britain in the nineteenth century. > Law and order in London in the late nineteenth century. > Whitechapel in the nineteenth century. With this knowledge you should be able to answer the following questions: – 1. Describe law and order in London in the late nineteenth century. (15 Marks) 2. Why did the Whitechapel murders attract so much attention in 1888 (15 Marks) 3. Why were police unable to catch Jack the Ripper? (20 Marks) QUESTIONS QUESTION 1 DESCRIBE LAW AND ORDER IN LONDON IN THE NINETEENTH CENTRY. (15 Marks) Law and order in London in the late nineteenth century was at a developing level, with new acts introduced this century, the way law and order was dealt with changed as the century was coming to an end. During the early and mid nineteenth century, watchmen patrolled the streets of London and special constables- this was ineffective as the number of civilians living in London outnumbered those watchmen and constables to a great level. However, the introduction of the new Metropolitan Police Force in 1829 was set up to change the situation. The new police force put in place by Robert Peel, was first constructed of 3200 men, 17 divisions, 4 inspectors and 144 constables. As with any major introduction of something, there were many early problems for the police force. However, as the years past on, the Metropolitan Police force gained more experience, and was able to deal more effectively with defections of law and order. To gain the peoples popularity, the Police Force carefully chose the uniform for its constables. The force was given a blue uniform, with a tailcoat and a helmet, which replaced the tall hat in 1870. The ‘blue’ colour of the uniform was chosen because Londoners disliked seeing the ‘redcoats’ of the army, as this was associated with violence. Blue was the colour of the navy, which was given ‘hero status’ because of their contribution to the British war effort. This, I believe was a good first step for the Met as it made the people appreciate and favour them. During the 1880’s, the training of new police officers was unsatisfactory, much of the training was on the job and constables could often start their duty the following day. Ill training meant some police officers were inexperienced and couldn’t deal efficiently with crime. This led to many incidents as the police disobeyed instructions. Ill policing also led to the serious incident named ‘Bloody Sunday’ on the 13th November 1887. Above all, towards the end of the century, the police were seen as discriminating against Londoners of the lower classes and favouring people in the middle and upper class- this damaged their reputation. Detective work was also improved as the nineteenth century progressed. At first, there were only two inspectors and six sergeants. It was feared that detectives would sympathize and become too lenient with criminals and as a result of this- become corrupt. The late nineteenth century bought radical changes to detective work. In 1869, the National Criminal Record was set up and dealt with infamous criminals, thereby reducing the number of crimes. The Detective Department in London was revised in the late nineteenth century- this led to the creation of a Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in 1877. In a space of 5 years, the number of detectives increased by 78, as did the number of arrests made. Increasing the number of detectives alone was not enough, as this didn’t increase the efficiency of their work. The detectives had to change the methods which they used in the early and mid nineteenth century in dealing with disreputable crimes. The detective methods did however change in 1879 in dealing with murder cases. Now, the body of a victim was not removed from its murder site, or anything else to do with it. These changes in the detective department showed that law and order was being enforced more efficiently and more criminals were being put to justice than before. Another aspect that increased the competence of detective work in the late nineteenth century was the introduction of forensics, finger printing and the ‘Alphonse Bertillon method of identification. With these methods, detectives were able to examine primary or secondary sources got to with a murderer or victim in order to gather up evidence and find out who the murderer is. This was an important change because murderers could be identified not only by an obvious clue lying in the murder site- this consequently meant that murderers became more intimidated and frightened to carry out a killing. Overall, the development of the police force in London in the late nineteenth century can be described as improving but unsatisfactory. I believe that the improvements made to restore law and order was still insufficient. With the population of London at that time being 5,255,069- I think having only 1383 police officers on duty was ineffective. Regular patrols could not stop a determined criminal. The police force would need to increase its size by many times so as to provide resistance and intimidate criminals. Being in its infant years, I think only time will solve this matter; because as time passes, there will be improvements in technology, the police will gain more experience and improve their methods of dealing with crime. With the Jack the Ripper murders round the corner, a crime like this will be enough to show the police force what they are lacking, how they are lacking and what things need to be taken into consideration. QUESTION 2 WHY DID THE WHITECHAPEL MURDERS ATTRACT SO MUCH ATTENTION IN 1888? (15 Marks) In the space of two months or so, the residents of Whitechapel were horrified at the five murders that occurred in their area by a somewhat unremorseful sexual serial murderer that was unknown and could not be found. The mysterious murderer, who came to name himself ‘Jack the Ripper’ became the focus of the press and media in late 1888, and attracted so much attention as he committed his rather graphic killings to prostitutes who lived on a day-to-day basis. In each of the five murders that the Ripper carried out; he brutally mutilated the prostitutes, taking out what ever organs out of their bodies using his debatable anatomical skill. In my opinion, I believe the Ripper did possess anatomical/surgical skill, as he was able to take out certain organs like the kidneys out of his victim’s bodies without causing meaningless cuts. He also used a long bladed knife similar to those used by surgeons while carrying out amputations. The Ripper used this skill while mutilating the bodies of Annie Chapman who had her small intestines withdrawn of her abdomen. Mary Kelly also had her internal organs removed because the Ripper had a lot of time to commit the mutilations as he was alone in a room and could have his privacy; away from public sight. I believe it was because of this reason- the ghastly mutilations on the prostitutes- that attracted the most attention to the people and police force as it showed what a determined murderer was capable of doing. Another aspect of the Jack the Ripper case that attracted so much attention in 1888 was Jack the Ripper himself. People were eager to know who the Ripper was, his identity, his background, and simply; why he targeted prostitutes and slashed, sliced and severed them the way he did. The letters that he sent to the police caused people and the police themselves to grow even more suspicious about the Ripper. For example, the ‘Dear Boss’ letter made people think that he was American. He portrayed himself as a psychopath through this letter; informing the police of what he will do in the future, ‘I shant quit ripping them till I do get buckled.’ All these queries were supposed to be answered by the Metropolitan Police Force; however, they weren’t able to catch the Ripper. This is the reason why the world press degraded them. British newspaper business were eager to sell more and more newspapers these days as the Education Act 1870 made it compulsory for everyone to attend school, meaning that now most of the British population was literate. The Fleet Street newspapers competed by writing articles, that more likely were incorrect and unreliable. However, the only thing that mattered to the newspapers at the time was selling, and as the British population was enthusiastic about the murders carried out by Jack the Ripper, they published incorrect material. This shows how much attention Jack the Ripper attracted, as to keep him in the minds of the British population, the very source that everyone depended on telling the truth, told a lie! The world press also played a big role in attracting attention to the murders. They deeply investigated the murders and at times produced false information and rumours that made the populace even more fearful and intimidated to stroll through the alleys of Whitechapel at night. Offering rewards was a tactic that the police used later on, which it previously thought was insufficient to collect evidence about Jack the Ripper and his whereabouts. By this, many people were attracted to the case and produced false evidence solely to get a reward in the end. This afterwards proved to be totally unsatisfactory as the police found the investigation harder as many people brought forward different and inconclusive information with regard to the identity of the Ripper. The double murders that took place in the night of the 30th of September 1888 also caused people to grow fearful and attentive in the East End of London. The first victim of the double murders was Elizabeth Stride who was found to have several cuts in the neck and windpipe. It was supposed that the horse and cart of Louis Diemschutz who worked near to the scene of the murder disturbed the Ripper. Because of this, the Ripper went and murdered a fourth prostitute named Catherine Eddowes less than half a mile away. What was peculiar about the Eddowes murder was not only that she had her intestines, left kidney and womb removed; but that written in chalk above the dead woman’s apron were the words: ‘The Juwes are The men That Will not be Blamed For nothing’. This could have been a genuine clue for the MPF as to who the Ripper was; as they could have seen whether the handwriting of this matched the handwriting of the letters he sent to the police. But before they could do so, Sir Charles Warren, Commissioner of the MPF ordered the writing to be removed immediately to prevent any anti-Semitic tension. Another reason why Jack the Ripper attracted so much attention, was because of the tension between political parties. A serial killer was out in the streets of London, killing innocent women, and sitting in Parliament were politicians who looked to be doing nothing about this. As a result of the Jack the Ripper murders, the poverty stricken area of Whitechapel was well known, and so was the poverty that the residents suffered. Opposition parties in the Government saw this as an opportunity, to attack the Government, in saying that the poverty that they (the government) had not solved was to blame for these murders. If there were no poverty in Whitechapel, then single women would not have had to result to prostitution, and Jack the Ripper would have had no prostitutes to murder. Jack the Ripper attracted so much attention, that even the politicians in Parliament were talking about his actions. In conclusion, I think that it was the way in which the prostitutes were brutally butchered, and the perplexity that the Metropolitan Police Force faced with dealing with the murders; are what engrossed so much attention in 1888. In particular, I think the murder of Mary Kelly- the last of the Ripper murders- is what attracted the majority of attention in the Ripper case as the victim was viciously mutilated. There were cuts all over her body and most internal organs had been removed. The breasts were also cut off as well as her uterus. The heart was removed and could not be located. Because of this, I think it was this murder that made people most fearful and kept the dark alleys of Whitechapel deserted at night as the people living their knew that a determined murderer could well be at their doorsteps next. QUESTION 3 WHY WERE THE POLICE UNABLE TO CATCH JACK THE RIPPER? (20 Marks) The police were unable to catch Jack the Ripper for several major reasons. It was mainly that the police did not know who or what they were dealing with. This was due to the fact that Jack the Ripper was the first serial killer to be reported on at such a scale. The police were unaware of the fact that they were dealing with a serial killer, and more importantly did not know what a serial killer was. Jack the Ripper was the first serial killer who had been focused on at such a scale by the newspapers or the media. This was mainly due to the fact that most of the adult population of the time were now able to read and write due to the Education Act 1870. This encouraged the newspapers to write more about the â€Å"Ripper†, sometimes quoting unreliable sources – which were also used by the police, leading them to false leads. As more and more of the public were getting interested in the â€Å"Ripper†murders, newspapers felt that they had to publish something on the â€Å"Ripper†murders otherwise the public would loose interest and the newspaper company loose money. Hence the newspapers were forced into writing false/incorrect information in their articles. As the methods of investigation used by the police were still developing, and forensic science just starting, the Metropolitan police were unsure about how to conduct their investigation. As a result they resulted to any means possible and even took the ‘false’ words of the newspapers as being true. Despite the fact that forensics experts of the time had visited the crime scenes and had drawn certain conclusions, the Metropolitan police still followed the false information published in the newspapers, despite the fact that it contradicted the conclusions drawn by the forensics experts. This shows how undeveloped the methods of investigation of the police was at the time as police were following information given by drunken lunatics who were giving witness accounts only to earn a little easy money, and based their witness accounts on the stereotypical image of the â€Å"Ripper†at the time to try and catch one of the most cunning and clever serial killers of all ti me. Another major factor why the police were unable to catch Jack the Ripper was that their nature of investigation was too narrow and that they should have widened their scope. At first the Metropolitan police believed that Jack the Ripper was someone local, from the evidence shown from his knowledge of the layout of all the alleyways and roads of Whitechapel. This enabled him to move very quickly and freely around the Whitechapel area without the police being able to catch him. This was very important because by the time the body of Jack the Ripper’s next victim was discovered he would have been long gone. A rumour had been spread about a man known as ‘Leather Apron’ as being the serial killer, Jack the Ripper. The police were intrigued by this information and were quick to respond. They arrested a man called John Pizer, a butcher from the Whitechapel area. He was foreign as many of the witness accounts suggested, and wore a leather apron, giving him the name â€Å"Leather Apron†. However he had an alibi, which cleared him of all charges. Again the police had followed false leads and had wasted more time. This then lead the police to believe that the murder was someone who was not from the Whitechapel area but could have had a job or another sort of connection within the area, because of his knowledge of the layout of Whitechapel. The police used many techniques to try and catch Jack the Ripper, however none of them succeeded. Firstly, the Metropolitan police increased the number of police officers and constables ‘on the beat’ (on duty), each being placed within five minutes of walking distance of each other. However this did not work as the â€Å"Ripper†was still too quick for the Metropolitan police. Another method used by the police was to try and go undercover to catch Jack the Ripper. Some officers dressed up as prostitutes to try and lure Jack the Ripper into spending some time with them. However this did not work as there were no female officers at the time, and the men who dressed up still wore their typical police boots which were still recognisable despite the heavily polluted smog that filled the air, blowing their disguise. Again the police had wasted more time, as their method of investigation was still unreasonable. These thoughtless actions were not kept quiet. Jack the Ripper news attracted worldwide attention. These actions were even commented on in the New York Times, â€Å"the London Police must be the stupidest police force in the World†. This did not give a good impression of the Metropolitan police force. On conclusion the police were unable to catch Jack the Ripper because of their lack of knowledge of serial killers and the undeveloped methods of investigation they used. When Jack the Ripper first started his ‘campaign of murder’, the police were unaware that they were dealing with a serial killer and more importantly did not know what a serial killer was. This was to the disadvantage to the police, as they did not know how to catch Jack the Ripper. Another factor why the police were unable to catch Jack the Ripper was the little knowledge of forensic science that they had at the time. The police were uneducated in forensic science, and in many occasions altered the scene of the crime. Lastly, the police were unable to catch Jack the Ripper because of the methods that they used. The police at the time were uneducated in ‘undercover’ work as well. They did not know how to disguise themselves into the normal population to trap Jack the Ripper.
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