Why did Romeo and Juliet die Essay Example

Why did Romeo and Juliet die? Paper Consider the major factors which may have played at in their death and comment on which you think is the most significant. From forth the fatal loins of these to foes A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life; Whose misadventured piteous overthrows We will write a custom essay sample on Why did Romeo and Juliet die? specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Why did Romeo and Juliet die? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Why did Romeo and Juliet die? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Doth with their death bury their parents strife. From the opening scenes of the play it is made clear that these two children of the feuding families were destined to fall in love and eventually die together, but was it the actions of their friends that brought about their deaths or could it be that their deaths were just inevitable? Most people choose to believe that they have a sense of responsibility and can control their own lives; they suppose that their problems are caused by their own actions or by those influencing them. In my opinion though, Romeo and Juliet had no control what so ever, fate brought them together their lives were already mapped out for them and there was nothing to impair this. Romeo and Juliet could not have avoided coming in contact with each other, they were brought together by uncontrollable circumstances (fate). There were many events that conspired against Romeo and Juliet, for example the family feud. The brawl in Act 1 Scene 1 is ceased by Prince Escales who said If you ever disturb our streets again, Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace. However the Prince failed to stay loyal to his word, Romeos banishment and the fate involved with it is a prime factor in the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. In Act1 Scene1 the Princes words were quite the contrary. Was it intentional that a man of such high standard would go back on his word? However, if Mercutio had not taunted Tybalt in town whilst out with Romeo and Benvolio, Romeo would never of got into his fight with Tybalt and therefore would not have been banished. Perhaps, however, the fight initiated by Mercutio that hapless day was inevitable: could it be that Romeo was somehow destined to be exiled? Romeos famous words in Act3 Scene1 signify the point in the play where the tragedy really begins. This days black fate on moe days doth depend This but begins the woe others must end Romeos exile poisons all possibility of happiness for himself and Juliet. His exile causes Juliet great sorrow, greater than if he had been executed. Her parents, Lord and Lady Capulet were oblivious to the fact that Juliet was pining for Romeo and not Tybalt. They did not even consider her feelings when arranging her marriage to Paris, but why were they so determined? Was it because they loved their daughter and wanted to see her happy? No, Capulet only agreed to the marriage because Paris was of a higher status than them, so it would increase theirs in turn. Capulet did not care whether Juliet loved him or not, for she did not have a choice of whom she was to be married to. As a consequence of Capulets determination he drove his daughter to her own death. Was this deliberate or just fate? In my opinion it was fate, which caused the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. In the Oxford Dictionary fate is the inevitable destiny or necessity destined term of life; doom. Basically fate can be described as a preplanned sequence of events influencing ones life. Fate was the sole contributor to the deaths of the young lovers but there are more possibilities that I have to consider before I make my final decision. Chance and coincidence played a small part in the play, during the course of Act1 Scene2, the contrary happened, and happened by chance. As Romeo and Benvolio were nearing a public area a Capulet servant stopped them. After Romeo had read the guest list to the Capulet party Benvolio suggested that to relieve himself from the sadness for Rosaline, Romeo should attend the party and compare Rosalines beauty to the other female guests. An example of coincidence is evident here. If Rosaline had not been attending, Benvolio would not have encouraged Romeo attend which lead to him meeting Juliet. The encounter with the servant in the city set off an unlikely chain of events, but why out of all the people did he pick Romeo and Benvolio? Romeo and Juliets feelings were very strong, or so they thought. But why were they in such a hurry to get married when they knew their love could never be accepted as their families despised each other? Surely they knew deep down that their love was bound to end in tragedy but they were to afraid to talk about the consequences that their love could cause. Personally I believe in love at first sight but Romeo and Juliet rushed into marriage without knowing whether the feelings that they were experiencing were true or lasting. I think that in a way they did love each other, their love appeared to be unconditional because they would rather die than lose each other. Romeo and Juliet did love each other, their love contrasts with the hate of the feud. In Act1 Scene1 Romeo thought that he was in love with Rosaline but that was just a mere infatuation with her beauty not Rosaline herself, but when he spies Juliet for the first time he says: Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I neer saw true beauty till this night. This shows that Romeos emotions are not deep: he is quickly moved to another girl or infatuation, Juliets beauty shows his fickle nature. Although I think that Romeo does love Juliet I do not think that his feelings are a strong as he makes out. Their first meeting is heavy with religious imagery, If I profane with my unworthtiest hand This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this, My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss. The religious language used in this scene makes Romeo and Juliet sound pure and innocent. Romeo sneaks into the Capulet gardens after the party, he is flirting with the possibility of being caught and killed just to see Juliet. He overhears her declaration of love, they accept the social isolation of their love. This proves that they do not love each other that much because surely if they did then they would confess everything to their families but they clearly do not think that their love would survive if they did. Juliet has a heavy premonition when she says: I have no joy of this contract tonight, It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden. The feud affects everything, Romeo and Juliet know that they were taking an almighty risk but they cannot help the way they feel or can they? The feud is inescapable, but Tybalt appears to be the only member of both families that is keeping the hatred alive. Even Capulet ordered Tybalt tolerate Romeo at their ball because he did not want Tybalt causing havoc. He shall be endured What, goodman boy, I say he shall, go to! He thinks that he is defending the honor of his family; he kills to defend his name. Tybalt does not think before he acts, Romeo is banished because of his sneaky actions. How can Romeo allow Mercutios death to go unavenged? The feud is purely about honor and money; they fight to defend their family name and that is all that matters. Capulet and Montague do not care who they hurt in the process, as long as they are not humiliated. The actions of some characters greatly influence the course of events in the play, the Nurse, Juliets committed servant who treated her almost like her daughter, (this might be because she lost her own daughter) changed the course of events by going behind Lord and Lady Capulets backs. If the Nurse had not preformed Juliets bidding and acted as her messenger, it is possible that Juliet would have given up on the idea of marriage to Romeo and the couples death would have been averted. However, there is a strong possibility that regardless of the Nurses influence, the couple would still have gone ahead with their doomed marriage once they had fallen in love. Friar Lawrence, Romeos confidant and assistant of Juliet in her final plan, changed the course of events by helping the young couple in their plans to marry and assisting Juliet in her scheme to be with Romeo once again. He is shown collecting plants and herbs to ensure that the audience knows about his knowledge and authority of the properties of plants when he gives Juliet the sleeping draught. If the Friar had not agreed to marry Romeo and Juliet, it is again possible that they would have given up on the idea of being together. On the other hand, Romeo and Juliet had been fated to marry and would have partaken in the ceremony one way or another no matter what the Friars decision. The Friar is portrayed as a spiritual guide to Romeo and a surrogate parent whom Romeo can confide his most private thoughts. The Friar only agreed to the marriage of Romeo and Juliet because he believed that their love could help impair the feud. In one respect Ill thy assistant be. For this alliance may so happy prove, To turn your households rancour to pure love. Friar Lawrence and the Nurse both act as instruments of fate. Juliets parents, Lord and Lady Capulet changed the course of the play by being so persistent and self-obsessed, they do love Juliet in their own way but they care more about status and money than they do about their own daughter. If Capulet had not agreed to the marriage of Paris and his daughter, Juliet would never have been forced to take such drastic actions that lead to her and Romeos deaths. So why did Romeo and Juliet die? Was it down to chance, no. Adolescent passion, slightly. The feud, partly. The actions of the Nurse, Friar Lawrence and the Capulets are mainly to blame. In my opinion though, the soul contributor to the tragic deaths of Romeo and Juliets death was fate. Nowadays, most people do not have much time for the theory of fate. They like to think that they can control their own destiny. But what if all our actions are already planned out, and no matter what we do the ultimate consequence will be the same? Some people argue that Shakespeare wanted us to believe this was the case with Romeo and Juliet.

jones essays

jones essays From the readings in this class there was one sentence that I thought could be compared to a work of art. The past is never there waiting to be discovered, to be recognized for exactly what it is.. I believe this has a correlation with the Cave painting in Lascaux, France. The Cavemen made these paintings hidden deeply in caves far away from where anyone else could see them. These hidden paintings that were found in the 1940s will always be a mystery. What were their thoughts and reasoning behind the paintings? Back in September 1940, sixty years ago, four teenagers traveling the hills of Perigord, in search of a passageway of local folklore, stumbled across an entrance to a cave. The entrance had been sealed for around 15,000 years. Simon Coencas, Georges Agnel, Marcel Ravidat, Jacques Marsal, found the hidden cave art of the past. The boys did not have equipment to search the caves so they decided to return the next day. Returning with equipment they explored the cave. Prehistoric paintings of deer, bison, and other animals covered the walls. The news of Lascaux traveled fast and the cave was accessible to the public. People came from all over the world to see the cave. The heavy traffic of visitors and change of atmosphere caused the colors and details of the art to fade and almost disappear. The once perfectly preserved, highly detailed prehistoric mural paintings could have been ruined by the large numbers of people going through the cave. In 1963, the cave was closed from public viewing. Only scientists could go into the cavesof Lascaux. Nowadays the cave has been returned to its initial state before discovery. It is now watched from a remote location by the Laboratoire de Recherche des Monuments Historiques. They record the slightest difference in hygrometry, temperature, and carbon dioxide gas. The cave paintings of Lascaux were discoved in the mid 1900s in France. These ...

Smart card Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Smart card - Case Study Example This proved to be a hindrance to the growth of the car because of the high waiting time. 2. There were 4 models of the car: Smart fortwo pure model for $11,590; Smart fortwo Passion Coupà © for $13,590; Smart fortwo Passion Cabriolet for $16,590; and smart fortwo BRABUS for 17,990 (smart fortwo, 2009). The advantages of owning a Smart Car includes low price, and low expenditure on fuel. However, the disadvantage is that only 2 people can be seated in the basic versions. The target customers for Smart Car are the small sized-families with no or one child with low budget. Those who have high travelling requirements also may intend to buy this car. This is because of its high fuel efficiency and low price. Before purchasing the car, it should be made sure that the car follows the safety features of USA. 3. In order to market the product, the company conducted city-tours, introduced the concept of Smart Towers in order to build the brand image. The car is marketed as a fuel-efficient, affordable stylish smart vehicle. The strategies shall be very effective in countries such as China because of the price range, and the fuel-efficiency of the car. Road shows in the major cities will help it get focus. The company shall try to get more mileage in road shows, have celebrity endorsers and the focus shall be to highlight the high fuel-efficiency and low price range aspect of the car. 4. The Smart Car which witnessed high demands during the time of launch has taken a drop in demand owing to similar launches by other companies. Various reasons can be attributed to this drop: Economic slowdown; Availability of more such products; poor distribution network. In order to boost the sales, the company needs to improve its marketing and branding exercises. The company also needs to improve its distribution channels. The company shall try to include Mercedes-Benz and smart car centers in the overall distribution channels rather than just relying on the

How Generation Y is Fitting into Today's Workforce Research Paper

How Generation Y is Fitting into Today's Workforce - Research Paper Example Generations values and concerns for an organization will always evolve with time, and employers who understand each generations perspective and the powers that shaped it, will have an upper hand when leveraging talent. Most employers are experiencing intergenerational conflicts; Boomers think Generation X tend to be impatient, Generation X view Boomers as being inflexible, while the both generations, consider generation Y spoilt for choice. Generation Y, on the other hand, view them as conservative and out of fashion (Nicole A. Lipkin 43). Generation Y, also referred to as GenMe or Gen Y can simply be described as the generation aged around eighteen to twenty five years that are motivated and technology savvy. Their behaviors and habits constrain their way of communication, working, acting, and how they relate to people. In other terms, this generation pertains to demographic cohort born between late seventies to mid nineties. This generation is heavily reliant on modern digital tech nology and media and expects fast information and entertainment due to its cultural diversity (Nicole A. Lipkin 45). Generation Y is adapting to the current workforce in several ways. With the current, competitive markets, most jobs require highly competent personnel, and Generation Y seem to always demand leadership roles, or perhaps climb the corporate ladder within a few months of their employment. This generation believes it deserves the position it demands, with or without experience. They expect immediate gratification resulting from their childhood, and do not intend to stay in the same position longer; they demand to be at the top of the organization within a short time. Employees of generation Y prefer performing their tasks remarkably and faster compared to their co-workers (Jean M. Twenge 8). Considering that a majority of the current workforce is headed for retirement, Gen Y is entering the workforce during a demographic shift. Considering that there might be a shortage of skilled workers, after boomers retire. Gen Y have been more tolerant of others opinions enabling them adapt ideas from older generations. With globalization becoming a current world trend, most of the Gen Y prefer being self-employed, rather than work for someone else. Although few among them succeed due to high start up rates. Globalization has encouraged Gen Y employees to join Unions, where they can share their views, exchange ideas, and find solutions concerning employment issues with members of other countries, and also act of a channel for learning new ideas (Jean M. Twenge 12). The current workforce demands vast ideas to be able to compete globally, and Gen Y does not only assist in replacing boomers, they bring with them fresh and better ideas, and tend to be a motivated and enthusiastic workforce. Gen Y is also widely using the media in redefining their career opportunities, ensuring they are up-to date with the relevant, required skills, and are aware of the jobs on dem and. For this generation, a decent job is not only defined by the monetary gains. Their selection for positions is driven by their behaviors. They do not take a job aimlessly, but because they feel motivated working there, implying that Gen Y is more focused on making a difference in their company and the society. As organizations demand, Gen Y appreciates technology only; when it is significant to them. Gen Y prefer filling an employment application online, and

Effects of Technology on Modern Day Architecture and Design

Effects of Technology on Modern Day Architecture and Design Architecture has revolutionized and changed in the twenty-first century compared to the nineteen century due to technology. Even though many factors have played major roles in the changing of architecture, technology has played the most important role for architectural change. Architecture and technology will be two terms that will be used throughout this paper. According to the Webster dictionary, architecture is defined as the art or science of designing and creating buildings while technology is the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry. Technology nowadays plays an important role in our societies since most buildings especially condos and houses are way different compared to the ones that were built in the nineteen century. Today’s buildings/condos in our societies are now built mostly through the use of digital visualization technologies that are purposely planned to create certain kinds of impression and atmosphere in our soci ety. Technology and architecture goes hand in hand as both terms benefit from each other due to the fact that technology has helped architects in drawing their designs more effectively and efficiently instead of using their hands. This essay will aim to analyze how modern technologies are operating as a key part of architecture and design, whether technology is having a positive or negative impact on architecture and architectural work methods. There will also be a discussion on Computer-aided design (CAD). In relating it to the course, this paper will mostly touch on hyper change since its evident that technology is indeed changing how individuals perceive and understand objects and structures. The most important technology/software that this essay will look at is the Computer-aided design (CAD) and Geographic Information System (GIS) and how both have affected architecture and design. At the moment, technology has totally revolutionized our city we live in and our way of living. W alking around downtown Toronto and seeing buildings such as the OCAD building and the Royal Ontario museum indicates how far buildings have change due to technology. Looking at how far technology has brought architecture, it’s safe to say that technology will open new worlds by assisting in the making of new materials to construct buildings. Notes on modern architecture by Antoine Picon shows that architecture has been closely related to technology since the nineteen century and argues that modernism’s tendency towards architecture has made it possible to elevate the living settings of the masses. Scholars such as Banham have argued that technology certainly has shaped architecture throughout history. Examples such as the creation of the Flying Buttress in Europe allowed Master Builders to restore the enormous walls of Romanesque churches, the Etruscan keystone arch allowed the Roman Empire to make tough and strong bridges. The most outstanding example is the development of skyscrapers which was made possible by the invention of mass produced steel and safety elevators. In the world, the tallest skyscraper is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai while in Toronto, the highest skyscraper is the CN Tower but the tallest inhabitable is the First Canadian Place. Banham looks at how technology should be considered as an essential part of architecture but does not really discuss the effects and impacts technology is having on modern day architecture. This essay will tackle this issue and expand on the ideas Banham out forward in his book and other scholarly works by different authors. This research paper will have an introduction where major terminologies that will be used throughout the paper will be defined. The introduction will also have the thesis and the arguments supporting the thesis. The next section of this paper will solely discuss Computer-aided design (CAD), the types of CAD and the contributions that this software has made to architecture and design. The next section will look at will be the advantages and disadvantages of technology on architecture. Research shows that indeed technology has had a positive effect on architecture so these advantages will be explored further. Lastly, this paper will look at what technology can do for architecture in the future. In conclusion, this paper will summarize all the arguments and points put together and opinions of scholars will also be touched upon. Annotated Bibliography Banham, R. (1984).The architecture of the well-tempered environment(2nd ed). London: Architectural Press. In this book, the author points out that technology, human needs, and environmental concerns are all interconnected and all of them play a vital part in the development of architecture. He argues that technological and mechanical advancements in simple areas such as ventilation, heating and other 20th century designs needs more attention since architecture is not just about designs and buildings but also the mechanical systems that makes them work.. Crouch, D. P. (1985).History of architecture: Stonehenge to skyscrapers. New York: McGraw-Hill. In this book, Crouch tackles architecture from a historic point of view from the Stonehenge in England to the skyscrapers which are seen around the world mostly in developed countries. Crouch talks about basically how far architecture has come as she explores architecture in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. Crouch argues that architecture is now developing into a science-based due to the progression of technology. Donald, Watson (1984). Architecture, Technology, and Environment. Journal of Architectural Education Vol. 51, No. 2 (Nov., 1997), pp. 119-126 Published by:Taylor Francis, Ltd.on behalf of theAssociation of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, Inc. URL: http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/stable/1425452 In this journal, Donald argues that a small number of architectural educators dismiss the fact that technology is part of architecture and he insists that both architecture and technology are dependent on each other. Donald also argues that technology puts greater emphasis and higher expectations on architecture due to the fact that technology in architecture is not just about simply the beautiful structures and buildings we see but it is about the knowledge and information the society as a whole gain in the making of these structures. Encarnaà §Ãƒ £o, J. L., Lindner, R., Schlechtendahl, E. G. (. G. (1990).Computer aided design: Fundamentals and system architectures(2nd ed.). Berlin; New York: Springer-Verlag. This book explains the computer aided design software in particularly how it works, its principles, ways and how it has helped in the development and revolution of architecture. Encarnaà §Ãƒ £o and his co-authors identifies the main components of CAD and they concluded by showing the steps involve in making this machine Heynen, Hilde. (1999).Architecture and modernity: A critique. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press. This author suggests a remarkable outline of investigation that explains the history of modern movements and difficulty it has faced. Hilde tries to connect modern movement and cultural theory of modernity. Hilde argues that architecture and modernity relies relatively greatly on the kind of modernity being created. Hilde asks the question â€Å"what relations exist or ought to exist between architecture and modernity?† .So with this asked, she explores how architecture and modernity is connected. Karl D. Stephan. (2005). Masterworks of Technology: The Story of Creative Engineering, Architecture, and Design. Technology and Culture, Volume 46, Number 3 Retrieved from http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/tech/summary/v046/46.3stephan.html According to this journal review by Karl, technology has always been part of human society. The author talks about technological creativeness and vision throughout the years. Karl argues that science and engineering has come together and its pushing architecture to a new and different level never imagined before from the pyramids of Egypt to now skyscrapers seen around the world. Karl talks about the framework involve in skyscraper developments especially that of the Chicago’s Sears Tower as he builds on the ideas of F. R. Khan’s influence important on skyscraper design. Le Corbusier. (1952). Towards a new architecture. London: The Architectural Press. In this book, Le Corbusier book talks about architecture and the society as he wrote about new advancements that we see today in our communities today. He parallels the speed of which architecture is growing with that of the advancement in the society. Le Corbusier also addresses five principles of modern architecture, mass production and industrialization. Rivard, H. (2000). A Survey On The Impact Of Information Technology On The Canadian Architecture, Engineering And Construction Industry. Journal of Information Technology in Construction (ITcon), v.5, p.37 In this survey, researches aim in determining the impact of technology on architecture, construction and engineering. This survey proved that all architects now have access to computer and only one percent of the architects that answered the questionnaire study indicated that they do not use computers to help them with their work. The survey proved that truly most when it comes to the drawing of design most architects use CAD. This survey showed technology is an essential part of architecture, construction and engineering field now and almost every individual that works in these fields rely on them to help him/her work efficiently. Stephenson, S. (2007).The integration of technology into a landscape architecture graduate program: A case study.(Order No. NR39441, University of Toronto (Canada)).ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, 232. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/docview/304757618?accountid=15182 This is a case study show the ways in which technology is contributing to the landscape of architecture and the difficult process involved in it. The study mostly touches on design process and studio culture while it looks at how technology has affected this area either in a positive, neutral or negative way. Throughout this paper, it’s clear that technology has change landscape architecture especially when it comes to how materials are produced and how designers all over the world are able to contact each other in a matter of seconds due to technology. Saeideh Feizi Azarshahr, Alireza Motamadniya, Mostafa Basiri (2013). New Technologies in Modern Architecture and its Interaction with Traditional Architecture. Research Journal of Chemical and Environmental Sciences Vol 1 Issue 3: 70-80 In this article, Azarshahr et al argues that the use of technology results in the establishment of flawless and perfect buildings and technology has always been a part of architecture as Azarshahr et al describes two types of technology: traditional technology and modern technology. According to these authors, traditional technology has not been documented as much compared to modern technology and this modern technology has led to the computerization and industrialization of architecture. REFERENCES Banham, R. (1984).The architecture of the well-tempered environment(2nd ed). London: Architectural Press. Crouch, D. P. (1985).History of architecture: Stonehenge to skyscrapers. New York: McGraw-Hill. Donald, Watson (1984). Architecture, Technology, and Environment. Journal of Architectural Education Vol. 51, No. 2 (Nov., 1997), pp. 119-126 Published by:Taylor Francis, Ltd.on behalf of theAssociation of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, Inc. URL: http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/stable/1425452 Encarnaà §Ãƒ £o, J. L., Lindner, R., Schlechtendahl, E. G. (. G. (1990).Computer aided design: Fundamentals and system architectures(2nd ed.). Berlin; New York: Springer-Verlag. Heynen, Hilde. (1999).Architecture and modernity: A critique. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press. Karl D. Stephan. (2005). Masterworks of Technology: The Story of Creative Engineering, Architecture, and Design. Technology and Culture, Volume 46, Number 3 Retrieved from  http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/tech/summary/v046/46.3stephan.html Le Corbusier. (1952). Towards a new architecture. London: The Architectural Press. Rivard, H. (2000). A Survey On The Impact Of Information Technology On The Canadian Architecture, Engineering And Construction Industry. Journal of Information Technology in Construction (ITcon), v.5, p.37 Stephenson, S. (2007).The integration of technology into a landscape architecture graduate program: A case study.(Order No. NR39441, University of Toronto (Canada)).ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, 232. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/docview/304757618?accountid=15182 Saeideh Feizi Azarshahr, Alireza Motamadniya, Mostafa Basiri (2013). New Technologies in Modern Architecture and its Interaction with Traditional Architecture. Research Journal of Chemical and Environmental Sciences Vol 1 Issue 3: 70-80

Defining Moments in Canada Essay

Defining Moments in Canadian History During the 20th century, there were many events and situations that helped define the country of Canada. There were positive moments, but also a good amount of negative ones. Of course, the successful events kept Canadians in a positive light, but the negative situations helped Canada learn from its mistakes and went to prove how strong and brave its citizens were/are. The three most defining moments would have to be the Dieppe Raid, the Invasion of Normandy, and the Battle of Vimy Ridge. These three events not only assisted the country to become what it has today, but has also defined what the nation has become. The first defining moment of the 20th century was the Battle of Vimy Ridge. This particular battle was a military engagement located in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France during World War I. The main fighters were Canadian Corps against the German army. The battle took place from April 9 to 12, 1917. This was the beginning stage for the Battle of Arras, led by the British. â€Å"The Canadian Corps was ordered to seize Vimy Ridge in April 1917. Situated in northern France, the heavily-fortified seven-kilometre ridge held a commanding view over the Allied lines. The Canadians would be assaulting over an open graveyard since previous French attacks had failed with over 100,000 casualties. â€Å"(Cook) Main objectives were to take control over German-held high ground along an extensive escarpment. Doing so would allow the southern flank to advance without having to be heavily worried about enemy fire. With support from a nearby barrage, Canadians were able to capture most of the ridge within the first day of attack. The town of Thelus fell the second day, as did the crest of the ridge. The final objective was to capture another ridge located outside the town of Givenchy-en-Gohelle, which fell to the Canadian Corps on April 12. After that incident, the German forces had no choice but to retreat. This quick battle was successful due to a mix of tactical and technical innovation, powerful artillery support, extensive training, and thought-out planning. This event is a defining moment for Canada because it was the first time that all four sectors of the Canadian Expeditionary Force participated in a battle as a whole, therefore becoming a Canadian Nationalistic symbol of sacrifice and great achievement. â€Å"The Canadian success at Vimy demonstrated that no position was invulnerable to a meticulously planned and conducted assault. This success had a profound effect on Allied planning. Though the victory at Vimy came swiftly, it did not come without cost. There were 3,598 dead out of 10,602 Canadian casualties. After Vimy, the Canadian Corps went from one success to another, to be crowned by their achievements in the 1918 â€Å"advance to victory†. This record won for Canada a separate signature on the Versailles Peace Treaty ending the War.†(Battle of Vimy Ridge) The second definitive moment of the 20th century was the Dieppe Raid. This event was a World War II attack on the German occupied port of Dieppe on August 19,1942. The raid took place on the northern coast of France, and began around 5 am. Allied commanders were forced to call a retreat, a mere 6 hours later. Objectives included seizing and holding a major port to prove that it was possible and also to gather information. Allies also planned on destroying coastal defences, port structures, and all strategic buildings. The allied countries knew that they would eventually have to attack, so they figured they needed the practice. Another goal was to take some of Hitler’s attention off of trying to invade Russia. The plan was to use 5000 Canadians and have a 1-day attack and retreat on the Nazi-held coastal town of Dieppe. The plan was also to be secretive and attack at dark. None of these objectives were met. â€Å"The Soviet Union was pressuring the Allies to open a second front in Western Europe. The Allies, however, needed to build up their military resources before undertaking a full campaign. They felt that a large raid on the coast of France could force the Germans to divert more of their military resources away from the Soviet Union and also help in the planning for the full-scale assault to come. â€Å"(Canada Remembers) The first mistake was that they reached Dieppe in broad daylight, making this â€Å"surprise attack† not very surprising. Also, the Dieppe forces became on high alert at Dieppe because French agents warned them that the British were showing a great deal of interest in the area. When the Allied forces arrived at the port city, its flanking cliffs were well defended. Thesoldiers were met with very heavy machine gun fire from little stations dug into overlooking cliffs. The Allied fire support was not nearly adequate enough and the attackers were basically trapped on the beach by series of obstacles and never-ending German fire. After less than 6 hours, the Allies were forced to surrender and many of the soldiers were stranded on the port, to be k illed or to be taken prisoner by the Germans. The Allied forces were beaten severely, they definitely lost this battle, and they lost it hard. Numerous tactical and technical errors were made, resulting in huge amounts of Canadian deaths. â€Å"The raid was a disaster: More than 900 Canadian soldiers were killed, and thousands more were wounded and taken prisoner. Despite the bloodshed, the raid provided valuable lessons for subsequent Allied amphibious assaults on Africa, Italy and Normandy. â€Å"(Herd) This was, after all, one of the first attempts by the Allies on a German-held port. This was an important, defining moment for Canadians because the lessons learned there became the guidelines of what not to do in regards to future endeavours, and influenced preparations for the highly successful Normandy landings. The last definitive moment of the 20th century was the Invasion of Normandy (D-Day) on June 6, 1944. The Allies attacked the German-held beaches of Normandy, France towards the end of World War II. The landings were done in two phases; the first was an airborne assault landing consisting of 24 000 British, US, and Canadian soldiers shortly after midnight. The second was an amphibious landing around 6:30 am of Allied infantry. This attack was executed by all elements: land, sea, and air. The invasion required transportation of soldiers, and materials from England by aircraft and ships. These particular landings took place on an 20 km stretch of the Normandy coast on 5 seperate beach areas: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword. The British armies took control over Sword and Gold, US took charge over Utah and Omaha, and Canadian forces stormed Juno. â€Å"On June 6th, 1944, the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division and the 2nd Armoured Brigade were tasked with establishing a bridgehead on the beach codenamed â€Å"Juno†. This was an eight-kilometre long stretch of beach bordering Saint-Aubin, Bernieres, Courseulles-sur-Mer and Graye-sur-Mer. Assault troops were then to move towards the Carpiquet airfield, 18 kilometres inland. The 3rd Infantry Division, under Major-General R. F. L. Keller, was under command of the Second British Army. It was flanked on the left by the 3rd British Infantry Division that was to land on Sword beach (Lion-sur-Mer, Langrune-sur-Mer). To the right, the 50th British Division had as its target â€Å"Gold Beach† (La Riviere, Le Hamel, and Arromanches).†(D-Day) Unlike the previous, unsuccessful raid at Dieppe, surprise was achieved at Normandy, thanks to bad weather and a very successful deception plan deployed in the months prior to the attack. The deceptive plan was used to distract Germany’s attention from the possibility of landings in Normandy. Another key success was to convince Adolf Hitler that landings would occur at the Pas-de-Calais. At the same time of the attack, there were also decoy operations taking place. â€Å"Fourteen thousand young Canadians stormed Juno Beach on D-Day. Their courage, determination and self-sacrifice were the immediate reasons for the success in those critical hours. The fighting they endured was fierce and frightening. The price they paid was high – the battles for the beachhead cost 340 Canadian lives and another 574 wounded. â€Å"(Juno Beach) By the end of D-Day, 30 000 Canadians had been successfully landed and all had penetrated further into France than any other Allied force! This was a defining moment for the country of Canada because, after all the previous, unsuccessful missions, they deserved a glorious victory. That is definitely what they got! All their hard work; preparing weapons, planting decoys, and all their extensive planning made this invasion so successful, and all the tedious work paid off. This event is definitive for me because my great-grandfather was involved in this attack, and thankfully returned home from it. There were definitely more than three defining moments for Canada during the 20th century, but the Battle of Vimy Ridge, the Dieppe Raid, and the Invasion of Normandy were three of the most significant. These events helped Canada grow as a nation, and made Canadians even more proud of their heritage and their country.

Succubus Heat CHAPTER 2

I don't really have anything against Canadians. They're nice. Really nice. But that didn't mean I wanted to go curling with them, and there was always a danger that if Jerome was in the right mood, he might decide to make this temporary assignment a permanent one. I didn't think he would, though. Underneath all the gruffness, Jerome liked me-inasmuch as a demon could truly like anyone. Admittedly, he'd liked me a little less since Seth had turned my life upside down last fall, but when I wasn't sporting massive attitude, I think I amused Jerome. Amusing things are few in the face of eternity, so hopefully that would be enough to ensure my job security. I left Belltown and headed over to Queen Anne, another Seattle neighborhood. I both lived and worked in Queen Anne, and if I was about to disappear for a while, my mortal employer should probably know. Unfortunately, going into work meant facing some unpleasant things that I wasn't really in the mood for tonight. â€Å"Georgina! What are you doing here?† Maddie Sato, the Brutus to my Caesar, came scurrying up to me as I entered Emerald City Books and Caf? ¦. In Maddie's defense, she hadn't known Seth and I were dating when they'd slept together. So, it wasn't like she'd knowingly stolen him from me. That didn't really change my feelings toward either of them, though. â€Å"I need to see Warren,† I said, suspecting I probably reeked of vodka and smoke. â€Å"Is he here?† She shook her head, making her glossy black hair sway. It was worn in a long, sleek style I'd taught her how to do. â€Å"He left about an hour ago. Didn't want to stick around for closing.† I glanced at a clock. I'd barely made it in before they locked the doors. I tapped my foot impatiently, wondering if I should call Warren at home. Finally, I asked, â€Å"You got a sec to go over some schedule stuff? I'm going to be out for a few days†¦or maybe more.† â€Å"Sure,† she said, smiling and showing dimples. â€Å"You want me to grab Doug too?† â€Å"He's here?† Both assistant managers closing in one night. It was a stroke of luck. I headed off to my office while she went to fetch her brother Doug. My desk was organized for a change, and I found the clipboard bearing the schedule for the next couple of weeks. I skimmed it, relieved to see we had a full complement of staff for a change. My immortal friends didn't understand why I cared so much about this job. There had been days recently-days when I didn't want to get out of bed because I was so depressed-that I'd wondered the same thing. But the truth was, eternity was an extremely long time, and I'd spent most of my time always occupied with some activity. It was part of my nature; I couldn't be idle. And sometimes- sometimes -I could get so caught up in the day-to-day affairs of the human world that I could almost pretend for a heartbeat that I was one of them again. â€Å"I don't think we'll need anyone to cover me,† I said when I heard the office door open a few minutes later. â€Å"Someone'll just need to take over my-† I looked up. Maddie had returned, along with Doug, but they weren't alone. Seth was with them. All the easy confidence I'd shown in the store, all the brashness and bravado I'd shown at the club†¦it all shriveled up into a cold, hard knot as I looked at him. Walls slammed down around me. How could he affect me like this, particularly while wearing a Buck Rogers T-shirt? It had been three months. Why wasn't I over him? Why did I still want to cry or break something whenever I saw him? â€Å"Whoa, Kincaid,† said Doug, partially distracting me from my angst. He glanced at my outfit and raised an eyebrow. â€Å"We interrupting your social life?† I wore a knee-length black trench coat over a short red dress. My makeup was done to seductive perfection, whorish dark eyeliner and lipstick to match the dress. Shape-shifting in the car would have been a snap, but I didn't feel like I needed to prove anything here. In fact, I kind of reveled in my tramp look tonight. â€Å"Apparently this is my social life, if I'm pathetic enough to come in on a Saturday night.† I forced myself to focus on Doug and Maddie only, trying hard not to look at Seth's soft, coppery brown hair or gentle eyes. Why did he have to be here of all nights? The answer: he was here every night. He was an author and did his best work in coffee shops. When we'd broken up, he'd tried to tactfully find another and stay away from me, but Maddie-oblivious to his reasons-had begged him to stay at the bookstore's. â€Å"Where are you going?† asked Maddie. â€Å"Is everything okay?† â€Å"Yeah, yeah,† I said brusquely. â€Å"Long story.† I beckoned Maddie and Doug to the clipboard, explaining again how I was pretty sure the store would be fine without my labor, so long as they could cover the tasks I did as manager. We sketched out a brief list of my responsibilities, like payroll and inventory, and began divvying them up. Doug tapped the list. â€Å"I've done all these before, at one time or another. They're no problem. I'll take the first half.† He elbowed his sister. â€Å"What about you? You gonna take the rest and pull your share here?† Maddie pursed her lips. She was immensely talented but suffered from bouts of insecurity, which I'd repeatedly told her was ridiculous. She'd improved a lot over the months-again, thanks to me-but still faltered. â€Å"I didn't realize you did so much. I hope I can learn it all.† â€Å"Stop playing coy. I'll teach you,† said Doug. â€Å"You'll be as good as Kincaid in no time.† â€Å"Yeah,† I said dryly. â€Å"We're practically interchangeable anyway.† Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Seth shift uncomfortably. â€Å"The whole thing seems kind of sketchy, though,† remarked Doug, tilting his head so that his black hair fell away from his face. â€Å"You're going to be gone, but you're not sure when or how long? I thought you were the reliable one around here.† â€Å"It's†¦family stuff,† I told them. â€Å"Just gotta be dealt with. Besides, now you can have a chance to be responsible. You should be thanking me, Doug.† He stuck his tongue out at me. â€Å"Is Warren going to be okay with it?† asked Maddie, still fretting on my behalf. â€Å"Let me deal with Warren,† I assured her. Doug scoffed at that, but Maddie didn't catch on. Warren, the store's marginally moral owner, had been a longtime sex buddy of mine. He gave me about as much energy as Dante, but he was convenient and suited my mood lately. I'd stopped our tryst while dating Seth but had since returned to old habits. Doug had known about my affair with Warren then and now but was tactful enough to leave me to my own choices, aside from the occasional bit of eye rolling. I suspected Seth knew what was going on too, but I didn't care. Warren wasn't going to give me any grief about taking time off. I was too good at what I did, both at work and in the bedroom. We shuffled one shift where I was supposed to have closed, and then I tossed the clipboard back on its pile, suddenly needing to get out of there as soon as possible. â€Å"Alright. Thanks, team. I'll leave you to your work.† â€Å"Off to hit the town?† asked Doug, still amused. â€Å"I can join you in about a half-hour. I know a killer party.† I shook my head. â€Å"Already hit the town. I'm heading home.† â€Å"Loser,† he called after me. Maddie wished me well with my mysterious time off, and then I left them, walking through the store and exchanging greetings with my other co-workers as they scurried around with their closing tasks. I'd nearly made it to the door when I heard someone call my name. I turned and saw Casey hurrying toward me. She was twenty or so and went to the University of Washington. She'd worked here almost the entire time she'd been in college and was one of our best employees. So, I stopped and forced a smile, my eyes straying longingly toward the door. â€Å"Hey, what's up?† She grinned, dark eyes sparkling. â€Å"I wanted to know if you were going to go to my party next weekend,† she said. â€Å"You never answered the e-mail.† I didn't remember any e-mail, but then, I'd been pretty trigger-happy with the delete key lately. â€Å"I didn't get it,† I lied. â€Å"What's going on?† â€Å"It's my graduation party. This Sunday.† I frowned. â€Å"It's April.† â€Å"I'm graduating early. I got all my credits finished up, so I don't have to do spring quarter. Pretty cool, huh?† â€Å"Whoa,† I said, actually impressed. â€Å"That is cool. Math, right?† â€Å"Math and Latvian.† â€Å"Why on earth-never mind.† Now was not the time to pursue why someone of Filipino heritage was studying Baltic languages. â€Å"I wish I could go, but I'm leaving town tomorrow for some family stuff and don't know when I'll be back. I'm really sorry.† Casey's face fell a little, but she told me she understood. And like Maddie, she wished me well and hoped my â€Å"family† business would be taken care of easily. That made two of us. She left me and went to finish her closing tasks. As soon as I cleared the store's door and was outdoors, I stopped and exhaled. Breezy night air washed over me. Being in Seth's presence was smothering. It stirred up too much in me. Even while talking business and numbers with Doug and Maddie, most of my attention had been on Seth-exactly how far away he stood from me, the way he smelled, the way his messy hair stuck up today. Everything else had been background noise compared to him. Reaching into my purse with shaking hands, I pulled out my cigarettes, desperately needing one for the walk home. I'd smoked for a century or so and stopped ten years ago, something I'd been very proud of, even though I was immune to the effects. Stress had driven me to pick up the habit again. I felt a little bad about subjecting others to secondhand smoke, but honestly, smoking was the least of my problems right now. â€Å"Fuck.† I flicked the switch on my lighter and got nothing. Three more flicks produced similar results. Holding the lighter up to my ear, I shook it. Nothing. It was out of fluid. â€Å"Fuck,† I repeated. I only lived a few blocks away, but somehow, that walk was now going to be agony. Suddenly, I heard what sounded like a boot scuff around the corner of the building. Frowning, I took a few steps forward, wondering if anyone was there. This area was pretty safe, but Lower Queen Anne still had its share of vagrants. Yet, when I glanced around the corner, there was no one there. There was, however, a pack of matches lying on the ground. Kneeling down, I picked the book up and examined them. Mark's Mad Martini Bar. I'd been there a long time ago. It was in Upper Queen Anne, not too far away if you didn't mind trekking up the hill. It wasn't unreasonable that a pack of their matches would find their way here. What was weird was that the matches showed up right when I needed them. Behind me, I heard the store's door open. â€Å"Georgina?† I rose and turned sharply around. Seth. â€Å"Hey,† I said, hoping for blandness. The smothering feeling returned. Light from inside the store lit up his features in the twilight, and I ate up every line and angle of his face. His eyes looked dark in the dimness, but in full light, they were brown infused with amber. He stuffed his hands into his pockets, and his gaze wouldn't meet mine. It was painfully reminiscent of how he'd been when we first met, too shy to look directly at me. â€Å"I wanted to see if you were okay,† he said after several awkward moments. I turned the matches over in my hand a couple of times and then placed them in my purse's outer pocket. â€Å"I'm fine,† I said, keeping my voice cool and distant. â€Å"It's just†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He relaxed slightly and gave a small, rueful laugh. â€Å"When you're vague about your activities and mention ‘family,' it usually means immortal business. And immortal business always means trouble.† I started to smile, then immediately squelched it. â€Å"Yeah, it does, and believe me, it's a great one this time.† Even after everything that had gone down between us, there was such a comfort and familiarity with him that I immediately wanted to launch in and recap the story for him. I could already see us both laughing at the idea of Canadian Satanists. I could perfectly picture the way Seth would shake his head in exasperation. But it wasn't to be. I was too hurt and too proud to even allow him friendship, so I just shrugged and said, â€Å"But it'll work out. It always does.† â€Å"Yeah†¦but usually not without a lot of hassle. I'm just worried about you, that's all.† â€Å"You don't have to be.† Not anymore . â€Å"I'm not in any danger. Mostly just annoyed.† He opened his mouth to speak, and I knew the gesture. He wanted to argue that there was still cause for concern-but times had changed. He swallowed and let the comment go. More silence fell. I knew I should leave, but somehow, I couldn't make myself do it. He apparently couldn't either. â€Å"You†¦you look really great tonight,† he said at last, still fumbling for conversation. There was a catch in his voice. He knew my looks tonight had to do with more than just my body and outfit. The energy I'd stolen from sleeping with the therapist wreathed me. Life and its power were irresistible to all creatures, mortal and immortal alike. Immortals could literally see that life glowing around me. To mortals, I simply looked beautiful. Unearthly. Perfect. For the sake of politeness, I pretended he was complimenting me for normal things. â€Å"Thanks. I was out with the others when all this†¦stuff†¦went down. It's kind of put a damper on my partying, though.† He nodded by way of answer and shifted so that he actually made eye contact. I wished he hadn't. My heart melted inside me, and I felt a sob building in my chest. Desperate for something to do, I took out the serendipitous matches and lit the cigarette I'd been holding the whole time. I took a long drag and exhaled. Seth stepped back. He wasn't a fan of smoking. It was like I suddenly had armor. â€Å"Well,† I said, feeling bolder, â€Å"I should go home and pack. See you around.† I turned and had only taken a step when he called out to me. â€Å"Georgina?† I glanced back. â€Å"Yeah?† â€Å"Do you†¦um†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He faltered, and again, I was reminded of that long-ago Seth. Bittersweet feelings burned within me. â€Å"Do you need someone to feed your cat?† I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. â€Å"No, but thanks. Cody'll do it.† I spoke the next words, fully knowing they'd inflict damage. â€Å"Or Dante will.† Seth flinched, and somehow, I felt both triumphant and sad at the same time. â€Å"No problem,† he said haltingly. â€Å"Just thought I'd, you know, check.† â€Å"Thanks,† I said again. We held each other's gazes a few more moments, and then I turned away and walked off into the night.