The Role of Lady Bertilak in Sir Gawain and the Green...

The Role of Lady Bertilak in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight The role of women was a key role in medieval times. In the poem of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, two women represent this role. They are Lady Bertilak, who is Lord Bertilak’s wife, and Morgan La Faye. It all starts when Sir Gawain is welcomed to Lord Bertilak’s castle and then he meets these two women living there. At all times, Bertilak requests Gawain to feel at home and socialize with these women without problems. Bertilak trusts Gawain even though he would be away and Gawain would remain alone with women. However, his nameless wife uses many different ways to chase Sir Gawain and take advantage of her condition as the host’s wife. Lady Bertilak is a superior being that†¦show more content†¦The knight endangers his manhood accepting Lady Bertilak’s purpose. So, we can say that manhood includes Christian, chivalric and loyal codes that are the cornerstone of a moral value. Moreover, it is normal that men make the first moves but in this case, Lord Bertilak’s wife makes it. As June states â€Å"The Lady is the one â€Å"making the first move†, so to speak, but it is ultimately Gawain who decides what is to become of those actions† (24). She does it because of her self-confidence and feels herself a superior being to him which was not normal at all in women at that time. Also, there is an important part that I have to mention. Maybe it’s considered as one of the most relevant parts in whole poem and is when Lady Bertilak gives away her girdle to Sir Gawain.. This simple action encloses many meanings by scholars and authors: â€Å"Since you reject my ring, too rich it may seem, for you would not be so high beholden to me, I shall give you my girdle: that profits you less† ( ¶. 73, P. 69) The girdle embodies a supernatural power held by Lady Bertilak. Sheila Fisher indicates that â€Å"This shifting of blame and power is demonstrated through the path the girdle takes as a symbol and who it is associated with† (90). While the girdle holds a power which would save Gawain’s life, it also encloses a certain degree of blame. Because of this, he will have to carry the burden of shame for the rest of his life by having accepted herShow MoreRelatedArchetypes In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight1100 Words   |  5 Pagestrend in the poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Despite common belief, though, other elements of a story allow for analyzation as well. In fact, a number of archetypal situations, characters, colors, and symbols appear in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight that serve to promote Gawain’s moral development. Unfortunately, Joseph Campbell fails to discuss the significance that colors play in a story, but the colors (specifically green, red and gold) in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight play a very significantRead MoreCharacteristics Of The Green Knight And Sir Gawain1201 Words   |  5 Pagescombination of qualities of an Ideal knight, namely courage, honor, courtesy, justice, and a readiness to help the weak. The story shows Sir Gawain throughout his journey overcoming obstacles that undermine and test his values as a knight; Lady Bertilak being one of those obstacles. Two characters that often portrays chivalry were Lady Bertilak and Sir Gawain nonetheless both share different characteristics. Sir Gawain portrays as a brave and a â€Å"courageous knight† throughout the story his characterRead MoreThe Code Of Chivalry By Sir Gawain1503 Words   |  7 Pagesplot element in Sir Gawain and The Green Knight that constructs ideal characteristics for the court of Camelot under King Arthur’s rule. 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By examining the women in the poem, Gawains dilemma becomes a metaphor for the contrast of these two distinct types ofRead MoreSir Gawain and the Green Knight Essay1636 Words   |  7 PagesWomen, Courtly Love and the Creation Myth in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight #9;Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, a great epic written in fourteenth century Europe by the Pearl poet, emphasizes the opposition of Christian love to Courtly love in the 13th century through the dilemma of Sir Gawain, one of the great knights of the Arthurian round table. By examining the women in the poem, Gawains dilemma becomes a metaphor for the contrast of these two distinct types of love. The poem looksRead MoreAnalysis Of Sir Gawain And The Green Knight1480 Words   |  6 PagesSir Gawain and the Green Knight is an Arthurian romance that is one of the first to highlight women’s roles during the period of change that comes with King Arthur’s demise. Culturally, during the time period, women had little perceived power. Women were treated well and often idolized, but they remained in a male-dominated society, where they were not respected as their own capable beings. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is heavily laced with the Knight’s â€Å"Code of Hono r,† namely the idea of chivalryRead More Masculine Identity in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Essay3776 Words   |  16 PagesMasculine Identity in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Vern L. Bulloughs article, On Being a Male in the Middle Ages, addresses how vital it was for a man living in the middle ages to be sexually active in order to maintain a masculine identity by explaining: Quite clearly, male sexual performance was a major key to being male. It was a mans sexual organs that made him different and superior to the woman. But maleness was somewhat fragile, and it was important for a man to keep

Stephen Lawrence Case †Crime and Disorder Act 1998 Free Essays

Crime and Disorder Act 1998 Racism, according to the United Nations is on decline globally. The government participation in advocating and promoting racial equality within the last ten years has substantially contributed to this decline. Despite the emergence of dangerous street gangs in the UK streets, resurfacing of anti-immigrant politics in addition to media engineered hostility towards Muslims; racism on the whole is declining. We will write a custom essay sample on Stephen Lawrence Case – Crime and Disorder Act 1998 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Stephen Lawrence Case Examining the Stephen Lawrence case, if the incidence had taken place today, due to the emerging social issues within the domain of criminal justice system, the case would be differently handled. Within the growing realm of social media networks, it is becoming evident racist and religious crimes are exceedingly hurtful since they tend to injure individual identity (Thurlow 1998). Due to the increased awareness, the case could have ignited unprecedented folly across various social mediums. Since such cases take place randomly, for instance, at hotels, nightclubs, football matches or on public transport, the government has time and again attempted to implement measures which can thwart racism correlated crimes (Schuster 2003). Due to such instances the UK government through its legislative arms passed key legislation aimed at tackling the issue of racism. Since the elements of racism are more linked to where the culprit is driven by hostility or as well hatred towards any member of the society. Hence, one of these legislations enacted to curb racism includes the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (amended) (Thurlow 1998). Racism on Decline in UK Today numerous measures have been implemented which would have made the scope of policing more effective (Scott 2007). In regard to the nature of investigation carried out on the case, the latest legal provisions would have made the whole process more inclusive. For instance, Crime and Disorder Act 1998 was also amended by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, and this came into effect as early as 25th November 2012. The act has identified new definite crimes such as stalking and equally generated racially or religiously motivated versions of these crimes. Click Here to get a FREE Quote To demonstrate that the Stephen Lawrence case would be policed differently if it had occurred today, it would be imperative to link the happenings to a similar scenario in R v Rogers (2007) W.L.R.280, the defendant was involved in racial verbal attack on the plaintiffs, the court upheld that even if the defendant was a product of xenophobia, he had no constitutional obligation to attack others racially. The UK government asserts that it embraces an environment where free, tolerant and democratic populace thrives. However, the balancing act of integrating individual freedom with the duty of the state must be observed, this has given rise to a more vibrant and informed society which is equally assisting the authorities to fight crimes (Schuster 2003). In this way, it would be important to note that the issue of incompetence could not have surfaced if the case had taken place today. The problem with the previous police involvement was marred by lack of adequate skills, poor understanding of racism effects on the society, institutional racism as well as a failure of headship by leading police officers. However, today these accusations cannot be tolerated since the populace is more informed and the governments have incorporated effective measures of empowering the police force (Roediger 2010). It would be prudent to note that the element of institutional racism including professional incompetence are no longer accepted or tolerated within the current UK police force. Today, racial essentialism is no longer accepted, with the gradual police reforms the case would be handled in a way that reflects a reformed criminal justice system as well as an inclusive investigation (Roediger 2010). The modern UK police force is surrounded by citizens who knows and understands their rights. The influence of societal pressure which is propelling the police force to work effectively would equally compel the police to handle the case in a transparent manner. Other factors which could contribute to better policing of the case would entail the modern scientific approach to crime scene as well as procedures of conducting investigations. Likewise, the scope of police reforms which were initiated after MacPherson enquiry have contributed to better handling of the case so as to avoid public outcry in addition to negative media coverage (Schuster 2003; Scott 2007). However, currently the police have better recording and surveillance tools which they can employ to react to such instance as Stephen Lawrence case in gathering and conducting credible investigations. On the other hand the structure as well as organization and the management of all crime investigations have been reformed and equipped with adequate facilities to match the expected degree of competence in handling racism associated cases. The other aspect entails liaison with the affected family so as to have a deeper analysis of the affected person, regular and updated consultation with locals, and overall excision of racist language from the entire police force. Such measures would see that the case is positively and adequately handled without instances of negligence and professional ignorance (Rattansi 2007). Another instrumental factor which could have helped the case to be policed adequately today lies in that the scope of culture, religion and racism is well understood by current British populace, and thus implementing measures which could avoid future instances of racial associated crimes. It is paramount to argue that an informed populace, reformed police force as well as government willingness to stem the vice would have played a central role in ascertaining the case was adequately handled. Thus, if the Stephen Lawrence case had taken place today various factors could have ascertained that nothing was left for chance. Such aspects would have included: open and honest investigations, unbiased interrogation, and a dedicated police force. Such issues coupled with a knowledgeable society and media would have facilitated for a proper handling of the case. References List Rattansi, A., 2007. Racism: A Very Short Introduction .Oxford: Oxford University Press. Roediger, D., 2010. The Wages of Whiteness.NY: Verso. Schuster, L., 2003, The Use and Abuse of Political Asylum in Britain and Germany .Berlin: Frank Cass. Scott, J W, 2007., The Politics of the Veil .NY: Princeton University Press. Thurlow, R., 1998. Fascism in Britain: from Oswald Mosley’s Blackshirts. Oxford: IB Tauris Get Your Custom Dissertation or Essay Right Here How to cite Stephen Lawrence Case – Crime and Disorder Act 1998, Essay examples

Osha Rules and Regulations Example For Students

Osha Rules and Regulations Brief Background of OSHA Regulations OSHA refers to the Occupational Safety and Health Act enacted by the United States Congress in 1970. It was signed into law by Richard Nixon, the then United States President in December of that same year. It is a federal law that oversees the adherence to and enforcement of health and safety within the workplace in both the federal government and the privates sector. Its main objective is to make sure that employees are afforded a working environment that is free of hazards such as toxic chemical substances, noise pollution, dangers from operating machines, extreme temperature differentials or generally unsanitary working conditions. It forms an integral part of almost all the employment laws and policies throughout the United States. The Act and subsequent legislative laws following its enactment are enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration which falls under the Department of labour of the United States Federal Government. It was created under the OSHA Act and its mission is to enforce workplace safety and health standards by the preventing injuries, illnesses and fatalities that may result from one’s occupation and/or workplace environment. It is a futile process to try and understand the benefits of OSHA Rules and Regulations without at first familiarizing ourselves with at least some of these rules and regulations. OSHA Regulations in Construction OSHA has developed guidelines and regulations for almost every single form of office in the workplace imaginable. Its regulations span from dealing with hazardous conditions to conducting work on construction sites and the inter relation between the two. Here we shall primarily focus on OSHA rules and regulations for the construction industry. These rules and regulations are extremely numerous and as such we can only afford to tackle some of the most pertinent ones. OSHA regulations that are most pertinent to the construction industry are; * General safety and Health Provisions (1926.20); It states in part that it is the responsibility of employers to prevent accidents. It places a burden on employers to conduct frequent inspections on their safety apparatus and equipment. It also emphases that only select enterprises that have adhered to the laid down safety standards shall be allowed to operate highly sensitive or hazardous materials. * Safety Training and Education (1926.21): It states that all employees should be given adequate training in construction safety. This training includes not only how to operate large machinery and handle hazardous materials but also how to use the equipment handed down to them to enhance their safety. * Housekeeping (1926.25) in cases of ongoing construction all doorways, exits must be free of debris. * Means of Egress (1926.34) All construction sites shall have unobstructed egress from all corners of the site. Exits should be clearly marked and easily accessible to every single construction worker. * Hand Tools (1926.301).No worker shall be permitted to use an unsafe hand tool * Other rules include the employers duty to provide a life vest when working near water, safety goggles in a work station that might interfere with a workers eyesight or be pose danger to his face e.g. through flying debris, provision of firefighting equipment and a hard hat in a site where falling debris is likely. It is important to note that here 1926 refers to the part number of the regulation and not a year in time whereas the number that follows it refers to the specific standard number of the relations. This makes the process of referencing and counterchecking the specific regulations easier. Benefits of OSHA Rules and Regulations * Savings on Future Financial Costs: OSHA rules and regulations are formulated to enhance a safer working environment in the workplace. This does not necessarily negate the financial viability of the company. The uptake of OSHA rules and regulations by an firm especially on within the construction industry would lead to reduced losses in form of compensation for workers due to accidents, law suits and costly settlements, cost of replacing machinery, the inconvenience of federal investigation and lost man hours which translates to forgone profits. Thus companies would rather comply with OSHA rules and regulations to offset threats on their possible future incomes. For instance, within the construction industry where falling debris, fires and heavy equipment are the norm adhering to OSHA regulations of providing hard hats, fire extinguishers and proper training would save the company costs of providing compensation to injured workers and loss of equipment or heavy machinery. Evaluation EssayThere are federal laws, state laws and local laws all of which must be adhered to. The OSHA regulations form part of federal laws whereas other state and local laws are in existence dealing with the same issues. This creates a dilemma that is currently facing most companies i.e. the multiplicity of laws that they have to comply with. This is quite difficult for the companies to keep up with since all these laws may at times require different interpretations and compliance procedures. * Increased Number of Law Suits and Legal Battles: The OSHA rules and regulations also lead to an increased number of legal lawsuits and protracted legal battles. This is due to the fact that the regulations place an almost infinite number of responsibilities and duties on the company to safeguard safety in the workplace whereas it should be a combined and conscious effort of both the employer and the worker. These legal battles cost a lot of time and money and usually end up destroying the reputation of affected companies. Conclusion In conclusion it is important to make a note of the fact that OSHA rules and regulations are indeed numerous and do require a high level of legal interpretation and an even greater capacity to implement them. However, despite it adverse impact on the business environment it is a hugely relevant and useful piece of legislation that ensures the safety of workers who form the lifeblood of our economy. The benefits of their implementation are worth more than the costs. Thus all corporate institutions should ensure that they adhere to these rules and regulations and it is also upon workers to emphasize and seek for their implementation either individually, through their union representatives or even their elected representatives. References Stender, H. (1974). Enforcing the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The Federal Government as a Catalyst. Law and Contemporary Problems Mendeloff, J. (1979) Regulating Safety: An Economic and Political Analysis of Occupational Safety and Health Policy. Cambridge: MIT MacLaury, J. (1984) The Occupational Safety and Health Administration: A History of its First Thirteen Years, 1971-1984. Washington, D.C.: United States. Department of Labor