The Modern Significance of Hawthorne’s Suspicion of Science

Many of Hawthorne’s characters are burdened by inner conflicts which are never resolved into a tidy resolution. “The Birthmark”, however, has a more clearly defined moral than some of Hawthorne’s other work. The social significance of this story that was written over 150 years ago endures into our modern era with alarming clarity. An obsession with physical perfection and the battle between scientific progress and human morality are paramount in the minds of many in today’s society. This article will explore two primary points: first, it will focus on how “The Birthmark” compares to some of Hawthorne’s other work with similar themes; next, it will weave these themes together to show how his work explores these issues in haunting detail and could serve well as a mirror to modern-day values.Hawthorne’s mistrust of science is evident in the “mad scientist” motif employed in many of his tales. In “The Birthmark”, Aylmer is a megalomaniacal scientist who thinks himself omnipotent: “No king on his guarded throne could keep his life if I, in my private station, should deem that the welfare of millions justified me in depriving him of it”. In “Rappaccini’s Daughter”, Dr. Rappaccini is a “mad scientist” conducting experiments on his daughter which involve poisonous plants. And in “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment”, the protagonist experiments with a fountain of youth elixir on his friends. Although Heidegger’s results aren’t fatal, as in the other two stories, they are, indeed, dismal and are no less subject to ethical criticism.To put the theme of “The Birthmark” into a modern perspective, we need only to reiterate that the pursuit of physical perfection and the willingness to go to any lengths to get it is one of the grand themes of modern-day thinking. Georgianna’s birthmark symbolizes her liability to sin, sorrow, decay, and death and she is willing to forego the danger involved to have it removed: “There is but one danger-that this horrible stigma shall be left upon my cheek… Remove it, remove it, whatever be the cost”. We need only recall the Phen-fen and Redux debacle of a few years ago and reflect on the present “perfection” techniques now being widely used such as breast implants, liposuction, and scores of other dubiously “safe” cosmetic surgery procedures to see that the mindset of Aylmer and Georgianna is still quite relevant today. While it is true that Georgianna did not appear to have an issue with her birthmark until Aylmer made it an issue, it must be stated that the influence of family and peers plays a significant role in the way people think about themselves and in their decision making. Let us compare the response of Georgianna to that of a modern woman who is contemplating plastic surgery. Author Kathy Davis takes us into the examining room of a health insurance agency on the morning for applicants who are seeking coverage for cosmetic surgery:I have no idea what to expect as the patient enters the room. She is a slender, pretty woman in her early twenties who looks a bit like Nastassia Kinski… Hunched forward and with eyes cast downward, she begins to explain that she is “unhappy with what she has”. “I know I shouldn’t [compare] myself to other women”, she whispers, “but I just can’t help it.”The Aylmers of today are the plastic surgeons and drug-peddling physicians who feed the unrealistic notion that a woman’s body is unacceptable unless it appears to be a jackpot winner in the “genetic lottery”. Despite the changes in cultural beauty ideals over time, one feature remains constant according to Davis; namely, that beauty is worth spending time, money, pain, and perhaps even life itself. The hand-shaped birthmark which pervaded the world of Georgianna and Aylmer also has an obsessive vice-like grip on our century-it is squeezing the life out of some, and the humanity out of others. As H. Bruce Franklin points out, “The Birthmark” is both an intricately wrought science fiction and a commentary of what Hawthorne saw as the fiction of science.”Rappaccini’s Daughter” is another tale which explores research gone amok as the doctor has created a daughter who lives in a poisonous garden and is poisonous herself. Like Aylmer, Rappaccini sees himself as God-like. This argument is advanced by Franklin’s interpretation of the basic allegory in the tale: “Rappaccini, creator of the [poisonous Eden], in trying to be God exposes his daughter, the Adam of this inverted Eden, to a modern snake in the grass, Baglioni, who persuades the Eve-like Giovanni to introduce the fatal food into the learned fool’s paradise”. Rappaccini’s delusions of grandeur are apparent as he attempts to justify his experiment to his dying daughter: “Dost thou deem it misery to be endowed with marvellous gifts… Misery to be able to quell the mightiest with a breath? Misery, to be as terrible as thou art beautiful”. This air of omnipotence is nowhere more evident than in the physicians today whose life-prolonging machinery allows them to literally decide life and death. And we, of course, cannot forget the good Dr. Kevorkian and the euthanasia issue which has turned into a battle of rhetoric that theologians and scientists will probably never agree on. Aylmer and Rappaccini can best be likened by making a comparison of Georgianna and Beatrice. In his critical response to the stories, Madison Jones observes: “Both women die as the consequence of attempts, devised by human science, to purge their natures”. With both tales, Hawthorne sets human morality and science on a collision course that has not altered its path into the present day.”Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” introduces a scientist who shares Aylmer’s confidence that he can reverse natural processes with the same result: bad science putting others at risk. At first glance, Heidegger seems more playful and less dangerous than Aylmer and Rappaccini: “My dear old friends… I am desirous of your assistance in one of those little experiments with which I amuse myself in my study”. But according to Madison Jones, our response to his virtues does not make him any less diabolical. Heidegger’s attempt to manipulate nature by granting eternal youth might be paralleled to today’s issues of genetic engineering and cloning. Both are attempts to manipulate the natural order of things. The dichotomy of Hawthorne’s time and ours can be merged when we consider an issue such as cloning. Dr. Bruce Donald of the Church of Scotland offers: “Faced with such a fertile prospect, the human imagination runs riot… we might clone humans to select out genetic defects or select for desirable traits (Donald). Some would argue that this is a good thing but Donald contends that the motives proposed turn out to be for the benefit of the person who wants the cloning done, not for the person so produced. This sounds remarkably close to Dr. Heidegger’s motives, because we have evidence to support that he created the elixir “for his own amusement” rather than chiefly for the benefit of his friends. With these three tales, Hawthorne extends his list of scientific grievances.While these three stories offer immediate insight into modern concerns, other Hawthorne tales do the same although they may not be quite so straightforward. “Ethan Brand” presents another scientist whose pride leads him astray. In this story, Hawthorne creates a model of self-destructive perfectionism; Brand ruins himself as surely as Aylmer kills Georgianna (Bunge 30-32). In “The Artist of the Beautiful” Owen tries to make machinery look natural, but his art, like Aylmer’s science, is a hopeless attempt to evade reality. And “The Prophetic Pictures” introduces us to a painter who thinks he can predict the future, and thus, control time. He has a madness not unlike Aylmer’s and with similar consequences. The modern significance of all these stories can be tidily summed up with one observation by Richard Harter Fogle: “Man’s chief temptation is to forget his limits and complexities…”Hawthorne’s foresight into the future was quite remarkable. Although his work is dated, the ethical questions which he raises remain valid today. Georgianna’s absorption of Aylmer’s obsession can be likened to today’s women jumping on the bandwagon of fad diets and questionable cosmetic procedures. On another point, Hawthorne’s suspicion of science seems a little less unreasonable now that it might have in his day when we consider our capacity to destroy the planet with nuclear weapons. Fogle comments that while Hawthorne’s conception of science has generally been considered old-fashioned by his critics, the joke would seem to have turned against them with the growth of modern science and technology. Aylmer, Rappaccini, and Heidegger all represent the claims of modern science, from the miracle diet pills, cosmetic surgeries, and anti-aging creams and potions, to Minoxidil, to Viagra which allows the “soldier”on permanent KP duty to finally issue a sharp military salute. Some of our “miracle” science appears to work, but some has dire consequences.Finally, we have examined how Hawthorne’s themes form a common bond to modern-day practical and ethical questions. Hawthorne, himself, had an obsession with his ancestral past, so it is ironic that he produced work that would prove to be a prelude to the future. Hawthorne wants us to see that “human perfection” is an oxymoron. On this point, Fogle notes that Aylmer’s tragic flaw is failing to see the tragic flaw in humanity. Hawthorne’s “mad scientists” cannot come to terms with the fact that humanity and imperfection are inseparable. But still today, we are no less apt to buy into the rantings of our own mad scientists and snake oil salesmen on late night infomercials who infest our society and promise us perfection. Madison Jones sums up the foresight of Hawthorne supremely: “Like many a reformer in our day, Aylmer would have human nature reconstituted or else not at all. Hawthorne, if unconsciously, was looking well ahead. But genius has always been at least one part prophecy”. Hawthorne’s moral makes a plea to us to accept our own imperfections. This moral can be expressed through a quote from-of all people-David Letterman. In an interview that I remember from a few years ago, Letterman was asked by an actress what he would change about his physical appearance if he could. Letterman’s reply was, “Well, I wouldn’t change anything. I figure, these are the cards I was dealt-what the hell- I’ll play ‘em”. Hawthorne would have probably liked Letterman.

UK Debt Consolidation – Helps You Forget Debts Like Last Night’s Dream

Debt consolidation is the name given to a very popular process of debt settlement in the UK. Debtors didn’t have lesser choices before the conception of debt consolidation techniques, for settling their debt load. Debt consolidation however allowed them to settle debts under the guidance of experts- that is what the debt settlement agencies refer themselves to. Several years of experience has made them adept at designing debt solutions for the debtors. They can easily decipher the effectiveness of debt solution from the kind of debts that the individual has incurred.UK Debt consolidation gets its name from a sub-process involved in the debt settlement. During this stage the borrower (debtor) is required to list all debts on a piece of paper. There is no pre-stated format in which this needs to be done. Borrowers are free to use the method that suits them most. It will be better if debts are categorised. One look at the list shows the category of debts holds a prominent place. The process of debt consolidation allows the debt settlement agencies to immediately get to the work of debt elimination.Debt consolidation is a part of debt settlement, constituting the initial stages of the process. The stage holds a place of prominence in the entire scheme of things. The task of remembering debts owed to each creditor is an arduous task. Debt consolidation too requires borrower to remember debts, but in a more systematic manner. The fear of debts being left behind and swelling further with interest is dismissed through the use of debt consolidation.The actual process of debt settlement starts only after debt consolidation loan or debt consolidation mortgage starts functioning. Debt consolidation loan and debt consolidation mortgage constitute the debt management techniques commonly used in the UK. Each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. A consideration of these advantages and disadvantages will form the basis for selection of appropriate debt management techniques.debt consolidation [http://www.chanceforloans.co.uk/uk_debt_conso_mort.html] loan is a regular loan moulded to cater to the debt-ridden residents of the UK. Loan is borrowed in order to settle debts. Though secured debt consolidation loan is preferred largely, there are many borrowers who would opt for the unsecured version. There is a need for collateral in secured debt consolidation loan. Several assets like stocks and shares and automobiles form collateral for the purpose. Unsecured debt consolidation loans however, free the borrower of the need to offer collateral. The increase in risk, brought about as a result of no collateral, is compensated through a strictness of terms. Consequently, APR on an unsecured debt consolidation loan is higher than on secured debt consolidation loan.Debt consolidation mortgage adds debts to an existing mortgage. Though on the face of things it appears that you are paying for a mortgage, you are actually paying for your debts. The mortgagee, in exchange of promise to repay through regular installments, disburses off debts of borrower.Help through negotiation is other important help provided by debt consolidation agencies. Though the facility is optional, no borrower would like to lose on the opportunity of having debt consolidation agencies by their side. The debt settlement agencies would represent the borrower, minimising contact between the debtor and creditor. Debt consolidation agencies in UK adopt several methods to bring down the repayable amount. Greater advantage lies with the borrower if the amount of debts to repay is lesser.Supervision needs to be carried out on the manner of functioning of the debt consolidation agency. Since the debtor himself best knows his finances, he can provide valuable directions to the debt consolidation agency. The borrower also has to confirm through proper checks and comparisons that the loan or mortgage offered to them is the best that they could have availed through any other lender with a similar set of circumstances.

Critical ‘Must Haves’ When Starting A Small Business

Starting a business has been an integral part of the American dream for hundreds of years. This is the segment of the business world that has helped this country grow during its infancy, and it has been a mainstay in helping to keep the American economy afloat ever since. With all of the changes that all of this growth during the years has brought, the most important thing a person needs when starting a small business is knowledge. The amount of training and assistance that is available is staggering to say the least. What you need is to focus on what type of business you plan on operating, and find the assistance and training that is applicable to that field.The time involved to get trained will depend on the type of business you want to have, and whether you plan on having someone train you or you plan on training yourself. Either way, you want this to be comprehensive in that it should cover everything from starting your business, maintaining it and then possibly selling it out when you want to retire. Everything involved may seem overwhelming at first, but it will all be worth it when you see the success starting to overtake the hard work you put in to make it a success.The training you get and any assistance that comes with that training is going to be the foundation on which your business is built. From here, what you will need to get is a business plan. You can keep the plan in your head and just do it, or you can write it down in a professional manner. The latter of those 2 options is preferable for at least 2 reasons. One, having it all written will keep the ideas you have fresh for years to come. Your business, be it large or small, is going to be complex because it involves so many things. From where the business is going to be, how many employee’s you plan on starting with, advertising, marketing, and the list goes on.The second, and possibly most important reason, is that a professionally written business plan is key to getting a loan to help get your business up and running. Now, if you have your own capital this isn’t going to be necessary. Nor would writing down your plan for the purpose of securing a loan, but again, writing down your plan is beneficial. There have been many times when people start their own business with certain things in mind, only to have those certain things change in time. The business world can be very fickle and your own plans may have to change to keep up with the external changes that have a direct or indirect influence on your business.Having all of the applicable business licences is a legal necessity and something you definitely need to plan on getting. The reason this fact is being pointed out after the financial aspect is that some people tend to put the cart before the horse. Securing a loan is typically not contingent upon having the required licences to legally operate the business. However, getting the required licences would be pointless without the cash to get the business up and running. If need be, if the licensing procedures are costly, you can always take out 2 separate loans. One to get the licensing you need, and then when that is taken care of, secure a second loan for the business itself. With small businesses though, this is typically unneeded as many licences can cost as little as ninety-nine dollars.Once you have the capital and the legal obligations taken care of, you need to come up with a name for your business and register that with the state where the business is head-quartered. When starting a small business this is kind of a no-brainer because you, typically, will only have one location. Some people though, when starting out, will have their main offices in one state while having another portion of the business, like a distribution centre for example, in another state. With this being the case, you need to register your business name in the state where the business originates from.Your business name needs to be filed for the obvious legal reasons, but it also needs to be filed because it would be rather hard to advertise and market your business without one. Hopefully, this aspect of your business is a part of your plan because, without it, no other part of your plan is likely to work. This should also be a part of the budget that was included in your start-up loan. The main reason new businesses fail is because they fail to get the word out. Focusing on the best ways to do this should have been a part of the training you received at the outset.Adding to these musts when starting your new business, is to actively retain legal advice. You will want to do this to get advice on contract and documents, as well as ongoing consultation and representation as you build and protect your business. One way to do this, without enormous cost, is to purchase a small business legal plan. You can usually find one that will provide the essentials for a start-up business, as well as ongoing advice as your business matures.Aside from the training, the business plan, the loans, the licensing, and the small business legal plan, perhaps the most important thing you need to start your own business is patience. The old parable about the tortoise and the hare is true. Especially in the business world. No one gets rich quick, at least not legitimately, so slow and steady really does win this race. The rule of thumb to go by is to expect to be in business for 5 years before turning enough of a profit to live comfortably on. This is why many financial institutions that give out loans to small businesses like to see a 5 year plan. They know as well as anyone that 5 years is typically how long it takes to turn a liveable profit.If this all sounds like a lot of work, well, it is. But with education, planning, organization and patience it doesn’t have to be hard. The rewards of owning your own business and being your own boss far outweigh the time and effort it took to become successful. There are many places online and, you can go to get testimonials from people who have “been there, done that”, and succeeded. I wish you good luck and much success with your new business.

5 Empowering Tracks From Female Icons To Make You Feel Inspired

Sometimes we all need a little lift. Whether you’ve had a recent knock to your confidence, have been going through stress in your personal or professional life, or have always struggled with your self-esteem, music is an essential tool for lifting your spirits and making you feel better about yourself.

According to a study by Heriot-Watt University, the type of music you listen to not only influences your mood, but also your personality, with indie and rock/heavy metal fans reporting the lowest levels of self-esteem, while fans of jazz, blues, opera, classical, pop, rap and soul all reported high levels of self-confidence.

So if you’re having a ‘down day’, why not boost your spirits by listening to some powerful, uplifting tracks? Here are five perfect confidence boosters.

Britney Spears – Toxic

Britney’s own struggles with her mental health and conservatorship have made her an inspiration for many people across the world.

This classic song is timelessly sensual, and the heavy beats throughout make it impossible not to dance to. A welcome blast of nostalgia, this tune has filled dance floors across the globe with fans old and new.

The video features Britney as a female spy playing the sexy flight attendant, seducing her passenger before she makes her escape on a motorbike and breaks into a high-security facility guarded by a laser security system.

This track and video is a guaranteed way to feel invincible, and deserves a place on your playlist no matter your mood.

Kelis – Milkshake

A cheesy classic that is guaranteed to make you feel all warm and gooey inside, Kelis pumps up the heat in this 00’s RnB track. Underpinned by intricate drum beats and electric elements, Kelis’ self-confidence is infectious, and it’s hard not to find yourself smiling at the lyrics.

This track is a great way to get into a flirtatious mindset, making it a great choice before going on a date or heading out for the evening.

And if you’re staying in? It’s a great mood lift. But beware! You may find yourself craving a sweet treat.

Eve (ft. Gwen Stefani) – Let Me Blow Your Mind

This RnB classic will capture your attention with its assertive rhythm and powerful vocals from 00’s icons Eve and Gwen Stefani. Featuring a laid-back – yet self-assured – beat, and catchy guitar riff, this is a great track for driving, and its empowering feel is sure to help you feel motivated.

Got a job interview lined up, or thinking of asking for a raise? This anthemic number is a quick way to feel positive and more assertive.

The video features Eve and Gwen Stefani crashing an exclusive event on quad bikes, causing a stir among the privileged attendants, and shoving the performer off stage to perform their own music, before finally being arrested and taken to the station in a police van.

This ‘baddie’ track helps you to tap into the hidden ‘bold’ side of your personality, and lifts your mood while keeping you feeling calm and cool.

Fergie – MILF$

If you have kids, it can be difficult to feel sexy. When you’re running around cleaning the house, changing nappies, or up to your elbows in dishwater, you can easily forget your sensual side – leaving you feeling frumpy and lacking in confidence and motivation.

Thankfully, Fergie’s comeback track is a quick remedy to your low mood and lethargy.

Featuring attractive mothers dressed in curve-hugging latex and silky lingerie going about their daily life in a dreamy, colourful suburbia, this track is a quick way to transform your self-esteem and transport you to a world where you are not just a mother, but a goddess too.

Why not shake off the day and tap into your feminine energy with Fergie, your sexiest PJs, and a bottle of your favourite wine?

Marina And The Diamonds – How To Be A Heartbreaker

Low confidence after a breakup? You’re not alone. Having your heart broken can leave you feeling depressed, undesirable, and unmotivated. So flip the tables on your ex and become a heartbreaker with Marina’s catchy club classic.

This empowering dance track will make you want to move your body and get in touch with your bad girl side, with its heavy beat and pounding rhythms.

Plus, if your libido has suffered as a result of your low mood, take a sneaky peek at the video – it will get your blood pumping with its steamy shower shots and smoking hot male models.