Theories of Criminology and the Departed Essay Example for Free

Theories of Criminology and the Departed Essay Theories of Criminology and The Departed Martin Scorceses film, The Departed, gives a great depiction of contrasting theories of the origins of crime, and how they may be applied to each character. Each of the four major theories, Choice Theory, Trait Theory, Social Structure Theory, and Social Process Theory can be seen to be accurate at one or more points in the film, but the film ultimately advocates for Choice Theory. Each of the major characters has the opportunity to choose who they ultimately want to be. From the moment that the over-arching villain of the film, Frank Costello, is introduced it is apparent how he understand his place in the framework of things. He states, l dont want to be a product of my environment. I want my environment to be a product of me. In this one statement he refutes the effect of Social Structure and Social Process theories on himself, and advocates for Choice Theory. He has made the choice to become who he is, and to engage in criminal activities. He did not have it dictated to him because of his environment, or his exposure to criminal ctivities. It was a choice. This is contrasted with the two central figures in the film, undercover state police officer Billy Costigan, and Costellos mole on the inside of the state police, Colin Sullivan. Fresh out of the police academy Costigan is confronted not only with his past and upbringing, as a two parent, two accent, mixture of North shore and South Boston, but also with his family connections with South Boston organized crime through his fathers side of the family. He has the family traits to Justify his being nvolved in criminal activities, but lacked the poor upbringing (Social Structure) that could have been expected for someone with his connections. It isnt until he is sent undercover, through the prison system and his low level criminal cousin, that he exposed to criminal activities in a major way (Social Process). Even as he becomes more involved in the day to day criminal activities of the Costello organization, he makes a choice to remain a loyal state police officer and completes his assignment, ven to the point where it leads to his death. Sullivan is the opposite story. He was raised in the poor area of South Boston, that was under the sway of the Costello organization (Social Structure), but did not have the family connections of Costigan. He was groomed into the inner circles of the organization by Costello himself from a very early age, getting frequent and early exposure to criminal activities (Social Process), with the ultimate idea that he would become an informant on the inside of the state police. He grows up being completely oyal to the organization that he grew up in, but when presented with the chance to stop functioning in the criminal enterprise, and become legitimate upon Costellos death, he makes the attempt to. He chooses to leave crime behind until he is confronted and threatened by Costigans undercover work. Each of these major characters could have been explained by competing theories of criminology, but ultimately the film portrays a situation where they are all making a choice of who they are and what theyll do. Theories of Criminology and the Departed By macbezz

T.S. Eliots use of Poetic techniques in The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufr

T.S Eliot, widely considered to be one of the fathers of modern poetry, has written many great poems. Among the most well known of these are â€Å"The Waste Land, and â€Å"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock†, which share similar messages, but are also quite different. In both poems, Eliot uses various poetic techniques to convey themes of repression, alienation, and a general breakdown in western society. Some of the best techniques to examine are ones such as theme, structure, imagery and language, which all figure prominently in his poetry. These techniques in particular are used by Eliot to both enhance and support the purpose of his poems. The theme of Prufrock is the negative, individuality repressing effect that society has on its people. The Prufrock persona illustrates this, he is alienated by the inane social rituals that define his life, â€Å"I have measured out my life with coffee spoons† and make it insignificant and useless. The Waste Land’s theme is that the world, in particular western civilisation, is a culturally and spiritually barren place. Society is portrayed as a pile of â€Å"†¦stony rubbish†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , the ruins of a once great city now reduced to rubble where nothing can grow. Lives mean nothing, but the poem also offers hope through a return to basic religious values, ending with the repeated chant of â€Å"Shantih shantih shantih†, which means, â€Å"the peace which passeth understanding†. The poems both portray the same basic idea, but they have two main differences. Firstly, there is the way in which the themes are expressed. In Prufrock , Eliot uses a pers ona as an example of the debilitating effect of living with so many expectations, rules, standards and meaningless rituals has on a the individual. In many ways, this is a very effe... .... Figuring very prominently is Dante, with the epigraph in Prufrock an exact quote from Inferno, and more subtle references found in The Waste Land that are very suggestive of a Dantean descent into hell. Dante, and to a lesser extent Joseph Conrad, from whom Eliot derives a certain amount of horror, which subtly complements his themes, have had a profound impact on Eliot’s writing. He chooses to quote or allude to parts of other works that complement his own. The techniques used by Eliot in creating both The Waste Land and Prufrock, are used in largely similar ways as far as furthering his purpose, yet differ slightly in style or small alterations when examined more closely. Some techniques, such as imagery, are more similar than others. Though he may use devices differently for each poem, it is only in such a way that makes them unique, and conveys his purpose.

The Crucible: Abigail Williams Character Analysis

In Arthur Miller's The Crucible, the main character Abigail Williams is to blame for the witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts. Abigail is a mean and vindictive person who always wants her way, no matter who she hurts. Throughout the play her accusations and lies cause many people pain and suffering, but she seemed to never care for any of them except John Proctor, whom she had an affair with seven months prior to the beginning of the play. The lies begin to unravel as the reader dives into the book. John Proctor and his wife Elizabeth used to employ Abigail, until Elizabeth found out about the affair between her husband and Abigail.Immediately she threw Abigail out. Although John told Abigail that the affair was over and he would never touch her again, she tried desperately to restore their romance. â€Å"Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut off my hand before I'll ever reach for you again. † She claimed that she loved John and that he loved her. B efore the play began, Abigail tried to kill Elizabeth with a curse. She thought that if Elizabeth were dead John would marry her. Further into the play, Abigail accused Elizabeth of witchcraft. She saw Marry Warren making a poppet.Mary put a needle into the doll, and Abigail used that for her accusation. She stabbed herself with a needle and claimed that Elizabeth's soul had done it. Although Abigail claimed she loved John, she may have just loved the care and attention he gave her. John cared for her like no one else had. In a way he could be described as somewhat of a father figure to her. When Abigail was just a child, she witnessed her parents' brutal murders. â€Å"I saw Indians smash my dear parents’ heads on the pillow next to mine†¦ † After her traumatic experience, she was raised by her uncle, Reverend Parris.In the play it was said, â€Å"He was a widower with no interest in children, or talent with them†. Parris regarded children as young adults who should be â€Å"thankful for being permitted to walk straight, eyes slightly lowered, arms at the sides, and mouths shut until bidden to speak†. Therefore, it is obvious to see that Abigail grew up without any love or nurturing. She also was without any real mother or father figures. Abigail grew up to be deceitful and treacherous, lacking trustworthiness. On account of the fear for her life, Abigail began to accuse the people closest to her of witchcraft. After she and the other irls were discovered in the forest dancing, she knew that they would be whipped and possibly hung. Abigail said that they were bewitched, and began to name those who were supposedly working with the devil. Nothing would stop her from protecting herself. When John forced Mary Warren to tell the truth about the lies that she, Abigail, and the rest of the girls were telling, Abigail proclaimed her innocence and then began to accuse Mary of being a witch. She claimed she saw Mary making a poppet of h er, and sticking Abigail with a needle. â€Å"But God made my face; you cannot want to tear my face. Envy is a deadly sin, Mary. Abigail feared for her life so much that she protected it even when John was accused of witchcraft and was sentenced to be hung. Although she loved him, she would not sacrifice herself for him. In conclusion, the cause of the witch trials was Abigail Williams. Considering the facts about her love for John, traumatic childhood, and fear for her life it is easy to see that it was Abigail's fault that the tragedy occurred. As the horrible person that she was, Abigail fought to get her way no matter who she hurt, and unfortunately in the end she did. Her web of lies entangled everyone she ever cared for.

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