Where to buy college essays
Monday, August 24, 2020
Saturday, August 22, 2020
Australian Business Law Principles of Contract Law
Question: Talk about theAustralian Business Lawfor Principles of Contract Law. Answer: Issue The issue in the current case is to decide if there is an agreement shaped on the record of one-sided offer reached out by offeror Alan or not. Further, the following point is to decide the legally binding liabilities of Alan for the given circumstances. Law For the sanctioning of an agreement, a legitimate offer and acknowledgment is required. At the point when the offeror has stretched out a proposal to various offerees, at that point it would be named as one-sided offer. For this situation, it isn't basic for the institution of the agreement that the offeree conveys acknowledgment to the offeror by any method of correspondence. Any individual or people who play out the action or undertaking referenced in the proposal at the latest the predefined time imparts acknowledgment renting to the development of an enforceable agreement between the gatherings (Paterson, 2015). The OBrien v MGN Ltd [2001] EWCA Civ 1279 case is the observer of this angle. Further, on the off chance that the offeror needs to end the offer, at that point it is fundamental that it must be done before the offeree or offerees have conveyed acknowledgment by satisfying the vital condition. It implies on the off chance that the offerees have acknowledged the offer, at that point disavowal of offer can't occur. Since, the proposal for the offeror is restrictive guarantee and offerees has lawful acknowledgment which bring about the enforceability of authoritative connection (Andrews, 2011). In this respects, Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Co [1892] EWCA Civ 1 case is of specific importance. For this situation, the respondent made a commercial to open which was a one-sided offer and acknowledged by a few offerees. Be that as it may, the offeror chose to deny the offer made in the commercial after the offeree had played out the action featured in the promotion (Richard, 2003) . As per the choice put forth in this defense, offeror will undoubtedly play out the aut horitative obligations in light of the fact that an enforceable agreement was at that point authorized (Carter, 2012). Further, it is critical that when the offeror party has made one-sided offer by choosing a specific method of correspondence, for example, paper commercial, banner or others then it is fundamental that the offeror must choose a similar mode for renouncing the offer or, in all likelihood it would not be viewed as a substantial renouncement. It is basic that thought must be available between the offeror and offeree then just the agreement would be named as enforceable (McKedrick, 2003). Moreover, the ampleness of thought sum isn't significant as featured in the decision of Chapple v Nestle [1960] AC 87 case. Application Alan the offeror runs a marvel salon named Tender Treats. He has made a one-sided offer by promoting in the nearby paper that Tender Treats would offer the nail trim/pedicure at a limited cost of $15. At the point when the notice was distributed in the paper, at that point numerous offerees acknowledged the offer and so as to pick up the offer they showed up to Tender Treats. Be that as it may, in the wake of seeing bunches of individuals, Alan chose to repudiate the offer. In this situation, following cases are required to be examined. 40 clients who fundamentally created the commercial before the notification and goes up in the window of Tender Treats are legitimately gone into the enforceable agreement with Alan. Since, there is a legitimate offer made in the interest of Alan by posting the promotion in the neighborhood news-paper and when the offerees have played out the activity of showing up the salon then the acknowledgment towards the offer has gotten enforceable on Alan. Consequently, Alan is at risk to finish the authoritative liabilities and on the off chance that Alan denies satisfying the liabilities, at that point the clients have the legitimate rights to sue Alan for penetrating the agreement or guarantee for the harms. Further, the demonstration of Alan of posting a sign on the window of Tender Treats with respect to the disavowal of offer doesn't influence the agreement in light of the fact that according to custom-based law, when the offeree has acknowledged the offer, at that point the offeror can 't end the offer. No, 20 clients who don't have notice would not have the option to benefit the proposal as it was a crucial condition to be satisfied as a major aspect of the offer that they needed to convey the promotion. In this manner, without the commercial, the acknowledgment of the client isn't regarded to happen and henceforth the Alan doesn't have an enforceable agreement with the 20 clients not conveying ad. No, it can't be requested for the benefit of the Alan in light of the fact that at the hour of broadening one-sided offer, Alan chose a thought measure of $15 for nail trim/pedicure regardless of the way that the typical charge of nail trim/pedicure was $60. Alan has made proposal with expectation of advancement of salon and not to gain benefit which he knew about at the hour of putting the notice. It is on the grounds that sufficiency of thought sum isn't objective and it very well may be seen in the main Chapple v Nestle [1960] AC 87 situation where a chocolate wrapper was viewed as a legitimate thought. No, it isn't right since he made the offer and same has been acknowledged by the offerees and on the off chance that he needs to renounce the offer, at that point he should utilize a similar vehicle of conveying to the offerees for example he should put a paper commercial with respect to the disavowal of limited time special. For this situation likewise, a one-sided offer is stretched out in the interest of Alan through creation a commercial in the paper and it involves the way that any individual who gets the nail trim/pedicure from Tender Treats would without a doubt get a date inside seven days. In the event that it would not occur, at that point Salon would do a free hair style for that individual. Subsequent to seeing the commercial Jill gets the nail treatment/pedicure from Alan and doesn't get a date in multi week. It is evident the gatherings have gone into an agreement on the record of legitimate one-sided offer and substantial acknowledgment and along these lines, Alan needs to do free hair style to Jill or, in all likelihood she can guarantee for harms. End It is evident from the above conversation that Alan is obligated to finish the legally binding liabilities in all cases aside from when clients are not having the notice or, in all likelihood the honest gatherings can sue him or case for the harms under the arrangement of precedent-based law for penetrating agreement. Reference Paterson, J. Robertson, A. also, Duke, A. (2015) Principles of Contract Law. fifth edn. Sydney: Thomson Reuters. Andrews, N. (2011) Contract Law. third edn. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Carter, J. (2012) Contract Act in Australia. third edn. Sydney: LexisNexis Publications. McKendrick, E. (2003) Contract Law. fifth edn. Basingstoke: Palgrave. Richard, S. (2003) The Modern Law of Contract. 5thedn. London: Cavendish.
Thursday, July 16, 2020
Body Image and Eating Disorders
Body Image and Eating Disorders December 03, 2019 Dave Les Jacobs/Blend Images/Getty Images More in Eating Disorders Symptoms Treatment Diagnosis Awareness and Prevention Body image distress is often seen as a symptom of an eating disorder. However, not every person with an eating disorder has a problematic body image and many people who do not have eating disorders have poor body image. So how can we understand the relationship between body image and eating disorders? What Is Body Image? Body image is the subjective image people have of their own body, which is distinct from how their body actually appears. Body image is a complex construct and is made up of beliefs, thoughts, perceptions, feelings, and behaviors. The way we see ourselves and our bodies has an impact on our health, on our mental health, and on our relationships. A healthy body image involves having an objective perception of oneâs appearance and an ability to separate oneâs value as a person from the way one looks. Negative Body Image Negative body image is often characterized by dissatisfaction with appearance and engaging in behaviors such as dieting, checking, and/or avoidance, in an attempt to ameliorate the dissatisfaction. Negative body image often emerges during childhood. Studies show that approximately 50 percent of preadolescent girls and 30 percent of preadolescent boys dislike their body and that 60 percent of adult women and 40 percent of adult men have a negative body image. The term ânormative discontentâ was first used by Rodin and colleagues in 1984 to describe dissatisfaction with body size and shape. It was found to be so widespread among women that it was determined to be ânormativeâ or normal. A recent large scale study of 18- to 79-year-old Icelanders showed that nearly 43 percent were dissatisfied with their body weight and over 71 percent thought they needed to lose weight. Even though average BMI was higher among males, more females than males were dissatisfied with their body weight in every age group. Body Image Issues in Eating Disorders Eating disorders are complex mental illnesses caused by genetic as well as environmental factors â" negative body image is just one potential contributor. However, negative body image is prominent in eating disorders because many people with eating disorders place a high value on their body shape and weight when determining their own self-worth. How the Media Effects Body Image This âover-evaluation of shape and weightâ is a symptom of some, but not all, eating disorders. Oneâs self-evaluation being disproportionately influenced by body shape and weight is consistent with a diagnosis of either anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. A diagnosis of anorexia nervosa is additionally consistent with a disturbance in the way oneâs body weight or shape is experienced or an inability to recognize the seriousness of the current low body weight. Over-evaluation of shape and weight is not a required feature of binge eating disorder (BED), the most common eating disorder. Research indicates that only about 60 percent of BED patients met the criteria for over-evaluation of shape and weight. However, it appears that patients with BED who experience a preoccupation with shape and weight may have a more severe form of BED. Patients with the eating disorder avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) do not typically experience any preoccupation with shape and weight at all. Negative Body Image and Other Disorders Body dissatisfaction may lead to dieting and disordered eating, which can be gateway behaviors to an eating disorder. Body dissatisfaction is not only a risk factor for or symptom of an eating disorder, but it can also be a risk factor for depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Thus, it is a common target for prevention efforts. Body Dysmorphic Disorder Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is another psychiatric disorder, classified as a type of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. People who have BDD are preoccupied with one or more nonexistent or slight defects or flaws in their physical appearance, which can include body shape. Body Dysmorphic Disorder In order to be diagnosed with BDD a person must engage in repetitive behaviors (such as checking or reassurance-seeking) related to the preoccupation and it must cause impairment in functioning. However, if the individualâs body image concerns only occur within the context of an eating disorder, only the eating disorder is diagnosed. It is not uncommon for patients to have both an eating disorder and BDD (the latter focusing on concerns other than weight or body fat). Body weight and size dissatisfaction have long been recognized as an issue among females, but it has in recent years been identified as an increasing problem among males. One type of body dysmorphic disorder, muscle dysmorphia, affects primarily males who desire to be more muscular. Because many patients with muscle dysmorphia engage in exercise and changes in eating designed to influence body weight and shape, several researchers believe that muscle dysmorphia is actually a version of anorexia nervosa more closely aligned with traditional male gender norms. Treatment for Negative Body Image Research shows that body image is often one of the last symptoms of an eating disorder to improve during treatment. Even accounting for different treatments and symptoms between patients, the stages of recovery from an eating disorder follow a fairly similar pattern. Almost universally, weight recovery and behavioral changes appear to precede psychological recovery. And some degree of body image distress and preoccupation may persist after recovery of an eating disorder since it is not normal for people in our society to be entirely free of body image concerns. A variety of interventions have been designed to target a negative body image. These interventions fall into several broad categories includingcognitive-behavioral therapy fitness training media literacy self-esteem enhancementpsychoeducationgratitude In many cases, treatments incorporate more than one category of intervention. For example, cognitive-behavioral treatments and media literacy programs often include psychoeducation. Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions Cognitive-behavioral interventions are those most frequently utilized to address body image. These interventions help individuals modify dysfunctional thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that contribute to negative body image. The techniques used include self-monitoring, cognitive restructuring, body size estimation training, exposure to triggers, and mirror exposure. One of the best known cognitive-behavioral programs to address body image is the Body Image Workbook by Thomas Cash. Fitness Training Fitness training interventions include exercise geared at improving physical capabilities such as muscle strength. Objective improvements in physical fitness are not as important as perceived improvements. Fitness training can also improve body image by encouraging individuals to focus more on the functionality of their body and less on their appearance. Media Literacy Interventions Media literacy interventions teach individuals to critically evaluate and challenge the media images and messages that can contribute to negative body image. For example, images of very thin models and messages such as âThin is beautifulâ can be challenged. Techniques used in media literacy interventions include education and advocacy training. Self-Esteem Interventions Self-esteem strategies used in the treatment of negative body image focus on identifying and appreciating individual differences both in regards to body image and internal qualities and talents. Strategies also focus on building healthy coping skills. Psychoeducation Psychoeducational strategies teach individuals about issues related to negative body image including its causes and consequences. Psychoeducational strategies are often used in combination with one of the other types of interventions. Gratitude-Based Interventions A newer line of body image interventions includes gratitude-based strategies such as gratitude journals, lists, reflections, and meditations. Such interventions seek to increase appreciation for non-appearance based aspects of oneself. Strategies to Try at Home Here are some self-help strategies based on some of the interventions above that you can do on your own to improve body image: Keep a body gratitude journal. A daily routine that includes self-deprecating comments about your body is likely making you feel worse. In order to come to a more balanced perspective, it is important to start to shift your attention and appreciate good things about your body. One way to achieve this is to keep a body gratitude journal. Try to write something daily that is positive about your body. You can include things like, âI had a good hair day,â âMy legs allowed me to hike up the canyon,â or âMy arms allowed me to hug my child.â At first, It may be hard, but it will get easier with practice. Gratitude Journal Clean your social media feed. We are all barraged on a daily basis with images and messages emphasizing thinness and/or the attainment of an ideal physique. To counteract these messages, it is important to find messages that support body acceptance and the inclusion of a range of bodies. Instead, read body-positive blogs and follow body-positive role models. Some excellent posts are Body Image Booster: A Powerful Reminder by Margarita Tartakovsky and What the Dying Regret by Kerry Egan. You may want to create a body positive Pinterest board. Itâs also a good idea to stop following social media sites that promote the thin or fit ideal.Buy clothes that fit now. Many people resist buying clothes that fit and either wear shapeless clothes or dangle themselves the reward of shopping or fitting into old clothes âwhen they lose the weight.â This misguided exercise increases misery in the present and does nothing to increase motivation. Instead, buy at least a few basic items that fit now and that makes you feel good. Most people find that this leads them to feel more confident and reduces anxiety and self-disparagement when getting dressed.Challenge avoidance and stop body checking. Avoidance and body checking have been implicated in the persistence of eating disorders. Avoidance can involve the complete covering up, refusing to wear appropriate clothes for the situation (wearing a hoody in the summer, refusing to wear shorts or a sleeveless top on a summer day, refusal to swim because of anxiety over wearing a swimsuit) or complete avoidance of doctors who might weigh them. Body checking is the repeated checking of oneâs shape and weight and takes a variety of forms from repeated weighing, measuring (with a tape measure or by touch), or obsessive checking in the mirror. Avoidance and body checking only perpetuate anxiety. The goal should be moderation. Those who avoid should practice exposure, and those who obsessively check should stop. If checking is an is sue, try keeping track of the number of times you check and then try to gradually cut that back. Exposure can also be gradual. For example, one can first wear sleeveless shirts around the apartment for increasing lengths of time before eventually venturing outside wearing them. How to Reduce Body Checking Act out against the thin ideal. Some of the most effective eating disorder prevention programs, such as The Body Project, are based on the principle of cognitive dissonance. Cognitive dissonance is the idea that when attitudes and behaviors are in conflict, a person experiences discomfort and tries to align attitudes with behaviors. Individuals are encouraged to engage in activities that actively resist cultural pressures toward the thin ideal. Such activities include writing a peer or young girl a letter that encourages her to embrace a more diverse range of beauty or writing a company that has engaged in fat-shaming or thin-centric behaviors a letter that explains why that bothers you.Change negative body language. Engaging in typical âfat talkâ â" negative and judgmental comments or conversations that are focused on weight and appearance â" is detrimental to body image. Avoiding such judgments (e.g., âIâm so fat!â) can improve body image. Consider taking a pledge to not engage in fat talk. Find Relief With the 9 Best Online Therapy Programs A Word From Verywell There are numerous movements suggesting people should aim to love their bodies. This may not be possible. A more reasonable goal for some might be to work toward appreciating and accepting their bodies. Body image is not likely to improve without effort, and the activities above need to be performed over time. Improving body image is an appropriate goal for therapy, whether or not an individual is experiencing disordered eating. If employing these strategies independently is not helping over time and body image is having a negative effect on overall well-being or daily functioning, donât hesitate to seek help from a professional. How to Manage the Negative Thoughts That Accompany Disordered Eating
Thursday, May 21, 2020
Controversy Over Legislations Passed in the wake of the...
The government of the United States takes the security of its Citizens very serious and this explains why security of USA Citizens home and abroad is their first line of duty. In the wake of 9/11 terrorism attack, the citizens were left questioning whether indeed the government was doing enough to protect them. On the same note, the Bush administration was shaken to the core that terrorist could advance that much into their soil. This formed the basis of various legislations and formation of special units with special powers to fight terrorism in and out of USA. However, some of these laws have brewed controversy among the Citizens it is supposed to protect. Some civil rights groups and liberal lawmakers are questioning the ability of these laws to be applied without hurting the Americans it is supposed to protect. The Patriot Act is such laws, which is causing discomfort among the liberal citizens and lawmakers and civil rights groups. They content that some of the provisions of the surveillance laws are open to abuse by intelligence bodies. It is against this background that they have put up fight against extension of some clauses, which are supposed to expire. They claim that these provisions have already been abused by federal bureau of investigations to confiscate personal information such as bank statements and credit card information. The provisions of patriot Act grant law enforcement and intelligence bodies powers in the following ways (Doyle Library ofShow MoreRelatedThe Patriot Act Is A Sweeping Piece Of Legislation1840 Words à |à 8 PagesAbstract The Patriot Act is a sweeping piece of legislation. Created in the wake of 9/11; it remains controversial. Opinions on the necessity of the Act are intense and vary widely. A better understanding of its applicability, strengths, and weaknesses will aid future opinion and legislation. The Patriot Act affects all citizens, immigrants, and especially minority groups. Studies have been done on the racial profiling of Muslim Americans. The benefits of having The USA PATRIOT Act cannotRead MoreThe Separation Of Powers Of The United States1826 Words à |à 8 Pagesresponsible for conducting checks and balances on one another. Yet, over time the roles have expanded in ways unprecedented by the Founding Fathers, and the once distinct roles of each branch have become more blurred. Furthermore, each branch has abused their power to some degree over history in order to assert their dominance within the infrastructure of the U.S. political system. The changing landscape of the U.S. in a po st-9/11 world has also caused In order to fully assess whether the disadvantagesRead MoreIndividual Privacy vs National Security5833 Words à |à 24 PagesIndividual Privacy VS National Security John Williams ENG 122: GSE 1244A Instructor: Ebony Gibson November 1, 2012 Individual Privacy VS National Security Introduction Since the terrorist attack of 9/11, America has been in a high level conflict with terrorist around the world, particularly the group known as Al Qaeda. There has been many discussions within the U.S. Congress about the measures of how to effectively combat this organization and their members, here and abroad. ConsequentlyRead More We Need Federal Funding for Medical Marijuana Research Essay2079 Words à |à 9 Pagesfifty states for the sole purpose of medicinal use to help pain and suffering for people with severe illnesses. à Two states have already passed laws that allow doctors to prescribe marijuana for those who suffer from medical illnesses. These states are California and Arizona and they both carry different guidelines for its prescription. Voters passed proposition 215 in California, but it has many loopholes. The law specifically permits pot use for almost any complaint-even migraine headachesRead MorePolitics : Us, Realism, And Terrorism3539 Words à |à 15 PagesPolitics: US, Realism, Terrorism To what extent has the United Statesââ¬â¢ structural realism (Neorealist) approach to terrorism jeopardized its status as a democratic nation? Shehryar Malik ââ¬Æ' Abstract ââ¬Æ' Introduction Post September 11, 2001, the world politics has shifted dramatically. Primarily, the target of the world powers has been to eliminate the terrorist threat to the stability and the infrastructure of the world. United State of America (US) has been at the forefront of the fightRead MoreRp-Us Visiting Forces Agreement12890 Words à |à 52 Pagesit began its military intervention in the Philippines (Radics, 2004). As part of ongoing military-to-military relations between the United States and the Philippines, the Balikatan Exercises served as a perfect opportunity to evade potential controversy that would have been associated with launching an all-out war in the region, while allowing the US to enter the Philippines militarily under the form of a yearly, legally substantiated operation. This was done as a means to obscure the fact thatRead MoreTata Nano Case11008 Words à |à 45 PagesFront in the election of the Legislative Assembly for the seventh time consecutively, a meeting was held between Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, CM of West Bengal and Ratan Tata, the Chairman of Tata Company. In this meeting, it was officially announced that over 1000 acres of the land of Singur block would be acquired since the Tata Motors would build a small car plant. It was also said that the land acquisition would take place shortly as Tata Motors wanted to launch a new One-lakh-Rupee car model by theRead MoreThe Censorship of Art Essay example14698 Words à |à 59 PagesThe Censorship of Art While the censorship of art is not a new phenomenon, recent years have witnessed renewed and intensified attempts to control popular culture. In particular, rap and rock music have come under increasing attack from various sides representing the entire left and right political spectrum, purportedly for their explicit sexual and violent lyrical contents. In this paper is investigated which moral codes underlie these claims against popular music, how social movements mobilizeRead MoreEssay on Period 3 Test7186 Words à |à 29 Pagesafter the French and Indian War c. British unwillingness to fight Indian tribes on the frontier d. British impressments of American sailors and interference with American trade Questions 9-11 refer to the quotation below. ââ¬Å"These colonies ought to regard the act with abhorrence. For who are a free people? Not those over whom government is reasonably and equitably exercised but those who live under a government, so constitutionally checked and controlled, that proper provision is made against its beingRead MorePHARMACEUTICAL PATENTING IN INDIA:PROBLEM OF PUBLIC ACCESS TO HEALTH5190 Words à |à 21 Pagesthe year 1994, The Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS) came up with the minimum level of protection to be provided by the member states ofà the World Trade Organization (WTO). It mandates India to amend its local legislation before 2005 to provide patent protection to any inventions, whether product or process, if it is novel, involves an inventive step and capable of industrial application. In implementing TRIPS agreement, India extended its patent protection to pharmaceutical
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Case Study Netflex Essay - 633 Words
Chapter Case Study Explain Netflixââ¬â¢s marketing strategy? Can it sustain its competitive advantage? Why or why not? Netflix strategy has no brick and mortar stores, big stores with a variety between 300 to 4000 movies in stock. Netflix relies on the internet for customersââ¬â¢ orders and mail system for the delivery. The company does not have late fees, fluctuating monthly fees, predetermined rental periods, instead has a flat fee. Netflix, let customers view unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows for a monthly fee and has also developed platforms to deliver its titles to Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and TiVo. Netflix also supports decks from Panasonic, Insignia, and Seagate, and a number of Android and apple mobile devicesâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Lack of updating movie content. Reliance on studio agreement to secure content (movies). Opportunities Growing demand for online video streaming. Strategic partnerships with third-party businesses (Nintendo, Microsoft) Growing demand for game rentals Growth in portable media play Total integration of Netflix platform across mobile devices Threats Must absorb shipping costs which negatively affects operating margins Technology is ever changing and Netflix must consistently improve method of delivery Other companies offer video-game rental Piracy Video on Demand (VOD) Suppliers shifting to competition-Must absorb shipping costs which negatively affects operating margins Technology is ever changing and Netflix must consistently improve method of delivery. Other companies offer video-game rental Piracy Video on Demand (VOD) Suppliers shifting to competition Netflix should pressure opportunities like the online stream with customers, reassuring to customers more efficient and faster connections, unveil a plan with movie producers to reduce the 28 day window to release movies. Although, target those customers who might pay higher monthly fees and end up with the fewer films. What is the best way for Netflix to grow its business? Justify your answer. Netflix should expand internationally to increase their clientele. It only has 3.6 million international subscribers, generating revenue of $108 million through theShow MoreRelatedManaging Information Technology (7th Edition)239873 Words à |à 960 PagesCONTENTS: CASE STUDIES CASE STUDY 1 Midsouth Chamber of Commerce (A): The Role of the Operating Manager in Information Systems CASE STUDY I-1 IMT Custom Machine Company, Inc.: Selection of an Information Technology Platform CASE STUDY I-2 VoIP2.biz, Inc.: Deciding on the Next Steps for a VoIP Supplier CASE STUDY I-3 The VoIP Adoption at Butler University CASE STUDY I-4 Supporting Mobile Health Clinics: The Childrenââ¬â¢s Health Fund of New York City CASE STUDY I-5 Data
A Game of Thrones Chapter Twenty-six Free Essays
Jon Jon was showing Dareon how best to deliver a sidestroke when the new recruit entered the practice yard. ââ¬Å"Your feet should be farther apart,â⬠he urged. ââ¬Å"You donââ¬â¢t want to lose your balance. We will write a custom essay sample on A Game of Thrones Chapter Twenty-six or any similar topic only for you Order Now Thatââ¬â¢s good. Now pivot as you deliver the stroke, get all your weight behind the blade.â⬠Dareon broke off and lifted his visor. ââ¬Å"Seven gods,â⬠he murmured. ââ¬Å"Would you look at this, Jon.â⬠Jon turned. Through the eye slit of his helm, he beheld the fattest boy he had ever seen standing in the door of the armory. By the look of him, he must have weighed twenty stone. The fur collar of his embroidered surcoat was lost beneath his chins. Pale eyes moved nervously in a great round moon of a face, and plump sweaty fingers wiped themselves on the velvet of his doublet. ââ¬Å"They . . . they told me I was to come here for . . . for training,â⬠he said to no one in particular. ââ¬Å"A lordling,â⬠Pyp observed to Jon. ââ¬Å"Southron, most like near Highgarden.â⬠Pyp had traveled the Seven Kingdoms with a mummersââ¬â¢ troupe, and bragged that he could tell what you were and where youââ¬â¢d been born just from the sound of your voice. A striding huntsman had been worked in scarlet thread upon the breast of the fat boyââ¬â¢s fur-trimmed surcoat. Jon did not recognize the sigil. Ser Alliser Thorne looked over his new charge and said, ââ¬Å"It would seem they have run short of poachers and thieves down south. Now they send us pigs to man the Wall. Is fur and velvet your notion of armor, my Lord of Ham?â⬠It was soon revealed that the new recruit had brought his own armor with him; padded doublet, boiled leather, mail and plate and helm, even a great wood-and-leather shield blazoned with the same striding huntsman he wore on his surcoat. As none of it was black, however, Ser Alliser insisted that he reequip himself from the armory. That took half the morning. His girth required Donal Noye to take apart a mail hauberk and refit it with leather panels at the sides. To get a helm over his head the armorer had to detach the visor. His leathers bound so tightly around his legs and under his arms that he could scarcely move. Dressed for battle, the new boy looked like an overcooked sausage about to burst its skin. ââ¬Å"Let us hope you are not as inept as you look,â⬠Ser Alliser said. ââ¬Å"Halder, see what Ser Piggy can do.â⬠Jon Snow winced. Halder had been born in a quarry and apprenticed as a stonemason. He was sixteen, tall and muscular, and his blows were as hard as any Jon had ever felt. ââ¬Å"This will be uglier than a whoreââ¬â¢s ass,â⬠Pyp muttered, and it was. The fight lasted less than a minute before the fat boy was on the ground, his whole body shaking as blood leaked through his shattered helm and between his pudgy fingers. ââ¬Å"I yield,â⬠he shrilled. ââ¬Å"No more, I yield, donââ¬â¢t hit me.â⬠Rast and some of the other boys were laughing. Even then, Ser Alliser would not call an end. ââ¬Å"On your feet, Ser Piggy,â⬠he called. ââ¬Å"Pick up your sword.â⬠When the boy continued to cling to the ground, Thorne gestured to Halder. ââ¬Å"Hit him with the flat of your blade until he finds his feet.â⬠Halder delivered a tentative smack to his foeââ¬â¢s upraised cheeks. ââ¬Å"You can hit harder than that,â⬠Thorne taunted. Halder took hold of his longsword with both hands and brought it down so hard the blow split leather, even on the flat. The new boy screeched in pain. Jon Snow took a step forward. Pyp laid a mailed hand on his arm. ââ¬Å"Jon, no,â⬠the small boy whispered with an anxious glance at Ser Alliser Thorne. ââ¬Å"On your feet,â⬠Thorne repeated. The fat boy struggled to rise, slipped, and fell heavily again. ââ¬Å"Ser Piggy is starting to grasp the notion,â⬠Ser Alliser observed. ââ¬Å"Again.â⬠Halder lifted the sword for another blow. ââ¬Å"Cut us off a ham!â⬠Rast urged, laughing. Jon shook off Pypââ¬â¢s hand. ââ¬Å"Halder, enough.â⬠Halder looked to Ser Alliser. ââ¬Å"The Bastard speaks and the peasants tremble,â⬠the master-at-arms said in that sharp, cold voice of his. ââ¬Å"I remind you that I am the master-at-arms here, Lord Snow.â⬠ââ¬Å"Look at him, Halder,â⬠Jon urged, ignoring Thorne as best he could. ââ¬Å"Thereââ¬â¢s no honor in beating a fallen foe. He yielded.â⬠He knelt beside the fat boy. Halder lowered his sword. ââ¬Å"He yielded,â⬠he echoed. Ser Alliserââ¬â¢s onyx eyes were fixed on Jon Snow. ââ¬Å"It would seem our Bastard is in love,â⬠he said as Jon helped the fat boy to his feet. ââ¬Å"Show me your steel, Lord Snow.â⬠Jon drew his longsword. He dared defy Ser Alliser only to a point, and he feared he was well beyond it now. Thorne smiled. ââ¬Å"The Bastard wishes to defend his lady love, so we shall make an exercise of it. Rat, Pimple, help our Stone Head here.â⬠Rast and Albett moved to join Halder. ââ¬Å"Three of you ought to be sufficient to make Lady Piggy squeal. All you need do is get past the Bastard.â⬠ââ¬Å"Stay behind me,â⬠Jon said to the fat boy. Ser Alliser had often sent two foes against him, but never three. He knew he would likely go to sleep bruised and bloody tonight. He braced himself for the assault. Suddenly Pyp was beside him. ââ¬Å"Three to two will make for better sport,â⬠the small boy said cheerfully. He dropped his visor and slid out his sword. Before Jon could even think to protest, Grenn had stepped up to make a third. The yard had grown deathly quiet. Jon could feel Ser Alliserââ¬â¢s eyes. ââ¬Å"Why are you waiting?â⬠he asked Rast and the others in a voice gone deceptively soft, but it was Jon who moved first. Halder barely got his sword up in time. Jon drove him backward, attacking with every blow, keeping the older boy on the heels. Know your foe, Ser Rodrik had taught him once; Jon knew Halder, brutally strong but short of patience, with no taste for defense. Frustrate him, and he would leave himself open, as certain as sunset. The clang of steel echoed through the yard as the others joined battle around him. Jon blocked a savage cut at his head, the shock of impact running up his arm as the swords crashed together. He slammed a sidestroke into Halderââ¬â¢s ribs, and was rewarded with a muffled grunt of pain. The counterstroke caught Jon on the shoulder. Chainmail crunched, and pain flared up his neck, but for an instant Halder was unbalanced. Jon cut his left leg from under him, and he fell with a curse and a crash. Grenn was standing his ground as Jon had taught him, giving Albett more than he cared for, but Pyp was hard-pressed. Rast had two years and forty pounds on him. Jon stepped up behind him and rang the raperââ¬â¢s helm like a bell. As Rast went reeling, Pyp slid in under his guard, knocked him down, and leveled a blade at his throat. By then Jon had moved on. Facing two swords, Albett backed away. ââ¬Å"I yield,â⬠he shouted. Ser Alliser Thorne surveyed the scene with disgust. ââ¬Å"The mummerââ¬â¢s farce has gone on long enough for today.â⬠He walked away. The session was at an end. Dareon helped Halder to his feet. The quarrymanââ¬â¢s son wrenched off his helm and threw it across the yard. ââ¬Å"For an instant, I thought I finally had you, Snow.â⬠ââ¬Å"For an instant, you did,â⬠Jon replied. Under his mail and leather, his shoulder was throbbing. He sheathed his sword and tried to remove his helm, but when he raised his arm, the pain made him grit his teeth. ââ¬Å"Let me,â⬠a voice said. Thick-fingered hands unfastened helm from gorget and lifted it off gently. ââ¬Å"Did he hurt you?â⬠ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve been bruised before.â⬠He touched his shoulder and winced. The yard was emptying around them. Blood matted the fat boyââ¬â¢s hair where Halder had split his helm asunder. ââ¬Å"My name is Samwell Tarly, of Horn . . . â⬠He stopped and licked his lips. ââ¬Å"I mean, I was of Horn Hill, until I . . . left. Iââ¬â¢ve come to take the black. My father is Lord Randyll, a bannerman to the Tyrells of Highgarden. I used to be his heir, only . . . â⬠His voice trailed off. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m Jon Snow, Ned Starkââ¬â¢s bastard, of Winterfell.â⬠Samwell Tarly nodded. ââ¬Å"I . . . if you want, you can call me Sam. My mother calls me Sam.â⬠ââ¬Å"You can call him Lord Snow,â⬠Pyp said as he came up to join them. ââ¬Å"You donââ¬â¢t want to know what his mother calls him.â⬠ââ¬Å"These two are Grenn and Pypar,â⬠Jon said. ââ¬Å"Grennââ¬â¢s the ugly one,â⬠Pyp said. Grenn scowled. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re uglier than me. At least I donââ¬â¢t have ears like a bat.â⬠ââ¬Å"My thanks to all of you,â⬠the fat boy said gravely. ââ¬Å"Why didnââ¬â¢t you get up and fight?â⬠Grenn demanded. ââ¬Å"I wanted to, truly. I just . . . I couldnââ¬â¢t. I didnââ¬â¢t want him to hit me anymore.â⬠He looked at the ground. ââ¬Å"I . . . I fear Iââ¬â¢m a coward. My lord father always said so.â⬠Grenn looked thunderstruck. Even Pyp had no words to say to that, and Pyp had words for everything. What sort of man would proclaim himself a coward? Samwell Tarly must have read their thoughts on their faces. His eyes met Jonââ¬â¢s and darted away, quick as frightened animals. ââ¬Å"I . . . Iââ¬â¢m sorry,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t mean to . . . to be like I am.â⬠He walked heavily toward the armory. Jon called after him. ââ¬Å"You were hurt,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"Tomorrow youââ¬â¢ll do better.â⬠Sam looked mournfully back over one shoulder. ââ¬Å"No I wonââ¬â¢t,â⬠he said, blinking back tears. ââ¬Å"I never do better.â⬠When he was gone, Grenn frowned. ââ¬Å"Nobody likes cravens,â⬠he said uncomfortably. ââ¬Å"I wish we hadnââ¬â¢t helped him. What if they think weââ¬â¢re craven too?â⬠ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re too stupid to be craven,â⬠Pyp told him. ââ¬Å"I am not,â⬠Grenn said. ââ¬Å"Yes you are. If a bear attacked you in the woods, youââ¬â¢d be too stupid to run away.â⬠ââ¬Å"I would not,â⬠Grenn insisted. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢d run away faster than you.â⬠He stopped suddenly, scowling when he saw Pypââ¬â¢s grin and realized what heââ¬â¢d just said. His thick neck flushed a dark red. Jon left them there arguing as he returned to the armory, hung up his sword, and stripped off his battered armor. Life at Castle Black followed certain patterns; the mornings were for swordplay, the afternoons for work. The black brothers set new recruits to many different tasks, to learn where their skills lay. Jon cherished the rare afternoons when he was sent out with Ghost ranging at his side to bring back game for the Lord Commanderââ¬â¢s table, but for every day spent hunting, he gave a dozen to Donal Noye in the armory, spinning the whetstone while the one-armed smith sharpened axes grown dull from use, or pumping the bellows as Noye hammered out a new sword. Other times he ran messages, stood at guard, mucked out stables, fletched arrows, assisted Maester Aemon with his birds or Bowen Marsh with his counts and inventories. That afternoon, the watch commander sent him to the winch cage with four barrels of fresh-crushed stone, to scatter gravel over the icy footpaths atop the Wall. It was lonely and boring work, even with Ghost along for company, but Jon found he did not mind. On a clear day you could see half the world from the top of the Wall, and the air was always cold and bracing. He could think here, and he found himself thinking of Samwell Tarly . . . and, oddly, of Tyrion Lannister. He wondered what Tyrion would have made of the fat boy. Most men would rather deny a hard truth than face it, the dwarf had told him, grinning. The world was full of cravens who pretended to be heroes; it took a queer sort of courage to admit to cowardice as Samwell Tarly had. His sore shoulder made the work go slowly. It was late afternoon before Jon finished graveling the paths. He lingered on high to watch the sun go down, turning the western sky the color of blood. Finally, as dusk was settling over the north, Jon rolled the empty barrels back into the cage and signaled the winch men to lower him. The evening meal was almost done by the time he and Ghost reached the common hall. A group of the black brothers were dicing over mulled wine near the fire. His friends were at the bench nearest the west wall, laughing. Pyp was in the middle of a story. The mummerââ¬â¢s boy with the big ears was a born liar with a hundred different voices, and he did not tell his tales so much as live them, playing all the parts as needed, a king one moment and a swineherd the next. When he turned into an alehouse girl or a virgin princess, he used a high falsetto voice that reduced them all to tears of helpless laughter, and his eunuchs were always eerily accurate caricatures of Ser Alliser. Jon took as much pleasure from Pypââ¬â¢s antics as anyone . . . yet that night he turned away and went instead to the end of the bench, where Samwell Tarly sat alone, as far from the others as he could get. He was finishing the last of the pork pie the cooks had served up for supper when Jon sat down across from him. The fat boyââ¬â¢s eyes widened at the sight of Ghost. ââ¬Å"Is that a wolf?â⬠ââ¬Å"A direwolf,â⬠Jon said. ââ¬Å"His name is Ghost. The direwolf is the sigil of my fatherââ¬â¢s House.â⬠ââ¬Å"Ours is a striding huntsman,â⬠Samwell Tarly said. ââ¬Å"Do you like to hunt?â⬠The fat boy shuddered. ââ¬Å"I hate it.â⬠He looked as though he was going to cry again. ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s wrong now?â⬠Jon asked him. ââ¬Å"Why are you always so frightened?â⬠Sam stared at the last of his pork pie and gave a feeble shake of his head, too scared even to talk. A burst of laughter filled the hall. Jon heard Pyp squeaking in a high voice. He stood. ââ¬Å"Letââ¬â¢s go outside.â⬠The round fat face looked up at him, suspicious. ââ¬Å"Why? What will we do outside?â⬠ââ¬Å"Talk,â⬠Jon said. ââ¬Å"Have you seen the Wall?â⬠ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m fat, not blind,â⬠Samwell Tarly said. ââ¬Å"Of course I saw it, itââ¬â¢s seven hundred feet high.â⬠Yet he stood up all the same, wrapped a fur-lined cloak over his shoulders, and followed Jon from the common hall, still wary, as if he suspected some cruel trick was waiting for him in the night. Ghost padded along beside them. ââ¬Å"I never thought it would be like this,â⬠Sam said as they walked, his words steaming in the cold air. Already he was huffing and puffing as he tried to keep up. ââ¬Å"All the buildings are falling down, and itââ¬â¢s so . . . so . . . ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Cold?â⬠A hard frost was settling over the castle, and Jon could hear the soft crunch of grey weeds beneath his boots. Sam nodded miserably. ââ¬Å"I hate the cold,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"Last night I woke up in the dark and the fire had gone out and I was certain I was going to freeze to death by morning.â⬠ââ¬Å"It must have been warmer where you come from.â⬠ââ¬Å"I never saw snow until last month. We were crossing the barrowlands, me and the men my father sent to see me north, and this white stuff began to fall, like a soft rain. At first I thought it was so beautiful, like feathers drifting from the sky, but it kept on and on, until I was frozen to the bone. The men had crusts of snow in their beards and more on their shoulders, and still it kept coming. I was afraid it would never end.â⬠Jon smiled. The Wall loomed before them, glimmering palely in the light of the half moon. In the sky above, the stars burned clear and sharp. ââ¬Å"Are they going to make me go up there?â⬠Sam asked. His face curdled like old milk as he looked at the great wooden stairs. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll die if I have to climb that.â⬠ââ¬Å"Thereââ¬â¢s a winch,â⬠Jon said, pointing. ââ¬Å"They can draw you up in a cage.â⬠Samwell Tarly sniffled. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t like high places.â⬠It was too much. Jon frowned, incredulous. ââ¬Å"Are you afraid of everything?â⬠he asked. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t understand. If you are truly so craven, why are you here? Why would a coward want to join the Nightââ¬â¢s Watch?â⬠Samwell Tarly looked at him for a long moment, and his round face seemed to cave in on itself. He sat down on the frost-covered ground and began to cry, huge choking sobs that made his whole body shake. Jon Snow could only stand and watch. Like the snowfall on the barrowlands, it seemed the tears would never end. It was Ghost who knew what to do. Silent as shadow, the pale direwolf moved closer and began to lick the warm tears off Samwell Tarlyââ¬â¢s face. The fat boy cried out, startled . . . and somehow, in a heartbeat, his sobs turned to laughter. Jon Snow laughed with him. Afterward they sat on the frozen ground, huddled in their cloaks with Ghost between them. Jon told the story of how he and Robb had found the pups newborn in the late summer snows. It seemed a thousand years ago now. Before long he found himself talking of Winterfell. ââ¬Å"Sometimes I dream about it,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m walking down this long empty hall. My voice echoes all around, but no one answers, so I walk faster, opening doors, shouting names. I donââ¬â¢t even know who Iââ¬â¢m looking for. Most nights itââ¬â¢s my father, but sometimes itââ¬â¢s Robb instead, or my little sister Arya, or my uncle.â⬠The thought of Benjen Stark saddened him; his uncle was still missing. The Old Bear had sent out rangers in search of him. Ser Jaremy Rykker had led two sweeps, and Quorin Halfhand had gone forth from the Shadow Tower, but theyââ¬â¢d found nothing aside from a few blazes in the trees that his uncle had left to mark his way. In the stony highlands to the northwest, the marks stopped abruptly and all trace of Ben Stark vanished. ââ¬Å"Do you ever find anyone in your dream?â⬠Sam asked. Jon shook his head. ââ¬Å"No one. The castle is always empty.â⬠He had never told anyone of the dream, and he did not understand why he was telling Sam now, yet somehow it felt good to talk of it. ââ¬Å"Even the ravens are gone from the rookery, and the stables are full of bones. That always scares me. I start to run then, throwing open doors, climbing the tower three steps at a time, screaming for someone, for anyone. And then I find myself in front of the door to the crypts. Itââ¬â¢s black inside, and I can see the steps spiraling down. Somehow I know I have to go down there, but I donââ¬â¢t want to. Iââ¬â¢m afraid of what might be waiting for me. The old Kings of Winter are down there, sitting on their thrones with stone wolves at their feet and iron swords across their laps, but itââ¬â¢s not them Iââ¬â¢m afraid of. I scream that Iââ¬â¢m not a Stark, that this isnââ¬â¢t my place, but itââ¬â¢s no good, I have to go anyway, so I start down, feeling the walls as I descend, with no torch to light the way. It gets darker and darker, until I want to scream.â⬠He stopped, frowning, embarrassed. ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s when I always wake.â⬠His skin cold and clammy, shivering in the darkness of his cell. Ghost would leap up beside him, his warmth as comforting as daybreak. He would go back to sleep with his face pressed into the direwolf s shaggy white fur. ââ¬Å"Do you dream of Horn Hill?â⬠Jon asked. ââ¬Å"No.â⬠Samââ¬â¢s mouth grew tight and hard. ââ¬Å"I hated it there.â⬠He scratched Ghost behind the ear, brooding, and Jon let the silence breathe. After a long while Samwell Tarly began to talk, and Jon Snow listened quietly, and learned how it was that a self-confessed coward found himself on the Wall. The Tarlys were a family old in honor, bannermen to Mace Tyrell, Lord of Highgarden and Warden of the South. The eldest son of Lord Randyll Tarly, Samwell was born heir to rich lands, a strong keep, and a storied two-handed greatsword named Heartsbane, forged of Valyrian steel and passed down from father to son near five hundred years. Whatever pride his lord father might have felt at Samwellââ¬â¢s birth vanished as the boy grew up plump, soft, and awkward. Sam loved to listen to music and make his own songs, to wear soft velvets, to play in the castle kitchen beside the cooks, drinking in the rich smells as he snitched lemon cakes and blueberry tarts. His passions were books and kittens and dancing, clumsy as he was. But he grew ill at the sight of blood, and wept to see even a chicken slaughtered. A dozen masters-at-arms came and went at Horn Hill, trying to turn Samwell into the knight his father wanted. The boy was cursed and caned, slapped and starved. One man had him sleep in his chainmail to make him more martial. Another dressed him in his motherââ¬â¢s clothing and paraded him through the bailey to shame him into valor. He only grew fatter and more frightened, until Lord Randyllââ¬â¢s disappointment turned to anger and then to loathing. ââ¬Å"One time,â⬠Sam confided, his voice dropping from a whisper, ââ¬Å"two men came to the castle, warlocks from Qarth with white skin and blue lips. They slaughtered a bull aurochs and made me bathe in the hot blood, but it didnââ¬â¢t make me brave as theyââ¬â¢d promised. I got sick and retched. Father had them scourged.â⬠Finally, after three girls in as many years, Lady Tarly gave her lord husband a second son. From that day, Lord Randyll ignored Sam, devoting all his time to the younger boy, a fierce, robust child more to his liking. Samwell had known several years of sweet peace with his music and his books. Until the dawn of his fifteenth name day, when he had been awakened to find his horse saddled and ready. Three men-at-arms had escorted him into a wood near Horn Hill, where his father was skinning a deer. ââ¬Å"You are almost a man grown now, and my heir,â⬠Lord Randyll Tarly had told his eldest son, his long knife laying bare the carcass as he spoke. ââ¬Å"You have given me no cause to disown you, but neither will I allow you to inherit the land and title that should be Dickonââ¬â¢s. Heartsbane must go to a man strong enough to wield her, and you are not worthy to touch her hilt. So I have decided that you shall this day announce that you wish to take the black. You will forsake all claim to your brotherââ¬â¢s inheritance and start north before evenfall. ââ¬Å"If you do not, then on the morrow we shall have a hunt, and somewhere in these woods your horse will stumble, and you will be thrown from the saddle to die . . . or so I will tell your mother. She has a womanââ¬â¢s heart and finds it in her to cherish even you, and I have no wish to cause her pain. Please do not imagine that it will truly be that easy, should you think to defy me. Nothing would please me more than to hunt you down like the pig you are.â⬠His arms were red to the elbow as he laid the skinning knife aside. ââ¬Å"So. There is your choice. The Nightââ¬â¢s Watchâ⬠ââ¬âhe reached inside the deer, ripped out its heart, and held it in his fist, red and drippingââ¬ââ⬠or this.â⬠Sam told the tale in a calm, dead voice, as if it were something that had happened to someone else, not to him. And strangely, Jon thought, he did not weep, not even once. When he was done, they sat together and listened to the wind for a time. There was no other sound in all the world. Finally Jon said, ââ¬Å"We should go back to the common hall.â⬠ââ¬Å"Why?â⬠Sam asked. Jon shrugged. ââ¬Å"Thereââ¬â¢s hot cider to drink, or mulled wine if you prefer. Some nights Dareon sings for us, if the mood is on him. He was a singer, before . . . well, not truly, but almost, an apprentice singer.â⬠ââ¬Å"How did he come here?â⬠Sam asked. ââ¬Å"Lord Rowan of Goldengrove found him in bed with his daughter. The girl was two years older, and Dareon swears she helped him through her window, but under her fatherââ¬â¢s eye she named it rape, so here he is. When Maester Aemon heard him sing, he said his voice was honey poured over thunder.â⬠Jon smiled. ââ¬Å"Toad sometimes sings too, if you call it singing. Drinking songs he learned in his fatherââ¬â¢s winesink. Pyp says his voice is piss poured over a fart.â⬠They laughed at that together. ââ¬Å"I should like to hear them both,â⬠Sam admitted, ââ¬Å"but they would not want me there.â⬠His face was troubled. ââ¬Å"Heââ¬â¢s going to make me fight again on the morrow, isnââ¬â¢t he?â⬠ââ¬Å"He is,â⬠Jon was forced to say. Sam got awkwardly to his feet. ââ¬Å"I had better try to sleep.â⬠He huddled down in his cloak and plodded off. The others were still in the common room when Jon returned, alone but for Ghost. ââ¬Å"Where have you been?â⬠Pyp asked. ââ¬Å"Talking with Sam,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"He truly is craven,â⬠said Grenn. ââ¬Å"At supper, there were still places on the bench when he got his pie, but he was too scared to come sit with us.â⬠ââ¬Å"The Lord of Ham thinks heââ¬â¢s too good to eat with the likes of us,â⬠suggested Jeren. ââ¬Å"I saw him eat a pork pie,â⬠Toad said, smirking. ââ¬Å"Do you think it was a brother?â⬠He began to make oinking noises. ââ¬Å"Stop it!â⬠Jon snapped angrily. The other boys fell silent, taken aback by his sudden fury. ââ¬Å"Listen to me,â⬠Jon said into the quiet, and he told them how it was going to be. Pyp backed him, as heââ¬â¢d known he would, but when Halder spoke up, it was a pleasant surprise. Grenn was anxious at the first, but Jon knew the words to move him. One by one the rest fell in line. Jon persuaded some, cajoled some, shamed the others, made threats where threats were required. At the end they had all agreed . . . all but Rast. ââ¬Å"You girls do as you please,â⬠Rast said, ââ¬Å"but if Thorne sends me against Lady Piggy, Iââ¬â¢m going to slice me off a rasher of bacon.â⬠He laughed in Jonââ¬â¢s face and left them there. Hours later, as the castle slept, three of them paid a call on his cell. Grenn held his arms while Pyp sat on his legs. Jon could hear Rastââ¬â¢s rapid breathing as Ghost leapt onto his chest. The direwolfââ¬â¢s eyes burned red as embers as his teeth nipped lightly at the soft skin of the boyââ¬â¢s throat, just enough to draw blood. ââ¬Å"Remember, we know where you sleep,â⬠Jon said softly. The next morning Jon heard Rast tell Albett and Toad how his razor had slipped while he shaved. From that day forth, neither Rast nor any of the others would hurt Samwell Tarly. When Ser Alliser matched them against him, they would stand their ground and swat aside his slow, clumsy strokes. If the master-at-arms screamed for an attack, they would dance in and tap Sam lightly on breastplate or helm or leg. Ser Alliser raged and threatened and called them all cravens and women and worse, yet Sam remained unhurt. A few nights later, at Jonââ¬â¢s urging, he joined them for the evening meal, taking a place on the bench beside Halder. It was another fortnight before he found the nerve to join their talk, but in time he was laughing at Pypââ¬â¢s faces and teasing Grenn with the best of them. Fat and awkward and frightened he might be, but Samwell Tarly was no fool. One night he visited Jon in his cell. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t know what you did,â⬠he said, ââ¬Å"but I know you did it.â⬠He looked away shyly. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve never had a friend before.â⬠ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢re not friends,â⬠Jon said. He put a hand on Samââ¬â¢s broad shoulder. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢re brothers.â⬠And so they were, he thought to himself after Sam had taken his leave. Robb and Bran and Rickon were his fatherââ¬â¢s sons, and he loved them still, yet Jon knew that he had never truly been one of them. Catelyn Stark had seen to that. The grey walls of Winterfell might still haunt his dreams, but Castle Black was his life now, and his brothers were Sam and Grenn and Halder and Pyp and the other cast-outs who wore the black of the Nightââ¬â¢s Watch. ââ¬Å"My uncle spoke truly,â⬠he whispered to Ghost. He wondered if he would ever see Benjen Stark again, to tell him. How to cite A Game of Thrones Chapter Twenty-six, Essay examples
Saturday, April 25, 2020
Macbeth Essays (1061 words) - Characters In Macbeth,
Macbeth English 11 Honors Paper on MacBeth Due Feb 22nd ?The tragedy of MacBeth? is a story of courage and honor. It gives an interesting mix of love, Machiavellianism, and has a good storyline. MacBeth is a loyal subject to his king, Duncan, but goes terribly wrong when he listens to 3 witches that tell him he will rule someday. MacBeth wishes to get to power quickly with the help of his wife, Lady MacBeth, he kills Duncan, and everyone else in his way. He takes his throne but is soon overturned by his former subordinates. In MacBeth, Shakespeare creates characters who parallel other characters either through their words and actions, or through similarities in characters lives. Each character in the story has a double, through either their similarities, or through their differences. Each character also has something about them that makes them unique. MacBeth and Lady MacBeth are the epitome of an interesting parallelization. At the beginning of the story, the two characters are complete opposites. MacBeth takes the feminine role, while Lady MacBeth is masculine: Lady MacBeth ?Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, And fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full Of direst cruelty! Make thick my blood, Stop up th' access and passage to remorse That no compunctious visitings of nature Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between Th' affectand it! Come to my woman's breasts, And take my milk for gall, you murd'ring minis- Ters, Wherever in your sightless substances You wait on nature's mischief! Come thick night, And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell, That my keen knife not see the wound it makes, Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark, To Cry ?hold, Hold!? (I,v,41-54) Lady MacBeth basically states here that she wants the gods to make her a man. She wants to kill Duncan herself. On the other hand when MacBeth hears of Lady MacBeths seriousness in her actions he comes back with: MacBeth ?We will proceed no further in this business: He hath honored me as of late, and I have bought Golden opinions from all sorts of people, Which would be worn now in their newest gloss, Not cast aside so soon.? (I,vi,31-34) Nearing the end of the story, Lady MacBeth and MacBeth switch roles. Lady MacBeth becomes feminine and MacBeth becomes masculine. Lady MacBeth becomes week and pitiful while MacBeth, carry's out his plans to help him remain king: Lady MacBeth ?Out damned spot! Out I say! One: two: why, then ?tis time to do ?t. Hell is murky. Fie, my lord, fie! A soldier, and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our pow'r to accompt? Yet who would have though the old man to have had so much blood in him (V,I, 36-41) MacBeth is now fully masculine and trying to keep the kingdom together. When Lady MacBeth commits suicide near the end of the story, he pushes it off and continues with his plan to remain king: MacBeth ?She should have died hereafter; there would have been a time for such a word. Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, To the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That strits and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury Signifying nothing.? (V,v, 17-28) The second pair is also interesting. This pair deals with time frames during the story (i.e. MacBeth from the Beginning, Macduff throughout). MacBeth from the beginning of the story is the loyal thane of Glamis. He protects the king and is awarded a second territory called Cawdor. The king trusted him, and MacBeth was a loyal servant. Then, he met the three witches, which pumped prophecies or, ?seeds of evil? into his head. These prophecies are very tempting but are ultimately destructive. Macduff on the other hand, is faithful and loyal to Duncan and his heir Malcolm. MacDuff knew what MacBeth was plotting and he went to Malcolm to help him stop MacBeth: Malcolm Let us seek out some desolate shade, and There Weep our bosoms empty. MacDuff Let us rather Hold fast the mortal sword, and like good men Bestride our down-fall'n birthdam. Each new morn New widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrows Strike heaven on the face, that it resounds As if
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