The Awakening Essay -- essays research papers

Throughout The Awakening, Kate Chopin conveys her ideas by using carefully crafted symbols that reflect her characters' thoughts and futures. One of the most important of these symbols, the bird, appears constantly, interwoven in the story to provide an insight to the condition of Edna's and her struggle. At each of the three stages of her struggle, birds foreshadow her actions and emphasize the actions' importance while the birds' physical state provides an accurate measure of that of Edna's. Early in the novel, while Edna attempts to escape from society's strong grasp, birds emphasize her entanglement by forecasting her actions and monitor her development by reflecting her feelings. The novel opens with the image of a bird, trapped and unable to communicate: "a green and yellow parrot, which hung in the cage outside the door...could speak a little Spanish, and also a language that nobody understood" (1). Like the bird, Edna feels trapped and believes that society has imprisoned her. Her marriage to Mr. Pontellier suffocates her and keeps her from being free. At the same time, she remains shut apart from society like the bird in the cage, and different ideas and feelings prevent her from communicating. The only person in society that begins to understand her, Robert, eventually decides that he must remain a member of society instead of staying with her. He says that "you [Edna] were not free; you were Leonce Pontellier's wife" and that "[Robert] . ..

Interpreting Laws and Court Decisions Essay

Interpreting Laws and Court Decisions Interpreting labor and employment laws, as well as court decisions, can be a tedious task at best. The laws set in place are constantly changing and use language that is not easily deciphered by the average working American. The United States Labor laws cover the binding legal connection between the employers, their employees and the employee labor unions. Within the borders of the United States; it is generally know that employers and labor unions do not see eye to eye on most issues regarding labor and employment laws. Labor laws can address one of three different situations: â€Å"A union attempts to organize the employees of an employer and to get the employer to recognize it as the employees’ bargaining representative; (2) a union seeks to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement with an employer; or (3) a union and employer disagree on the interpretation and application of an existing contract between the two. Within these three situations, specific rules have been c reated to deal with rights of employees and employers.† (Labor Law, 2005) The third situation is often seen more times than not; thus creating an everlasting rift between the two parties. In the case study 1-1 of our text, Reinstatement and Back Pay Remedy for Illegal Discharge, it seemed like a common sense; open and shut scenario. My initial thoughts without any research had me thinking there was no way an employer would need to reinstate an unlawfully terminated employee, since the person in question is an illegal alien. Recent events in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit showed that my thoughts were way off base and wrong. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals decided on a case, Palma v NLRB, on July 10, 2013 that an employer could be required to reinstate illegal aliens previously terminated in violation of the NRLA; or National Labor Relations Act. (Palma v NRLB, 2013) This particular case was on appeal from a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decision that was Hoffman Plastics Compounds, Inc v. National Labor Relations Board, which found the employer unlawfully terminated the aliens for engaging n concerted protected activity under the NRLA, but the aliens were not entitled to an  award of back pay. (Hoffman Plastics v. NLRB, 2001) On appeal, the Second Circuit reaffirmed the Hoffman Plastics ruling prohibiting back pay to undocumented aliens, however the bare bones of the final ruling states than an employer that fires employees in violation of the NLRA essentially could be required to reinstate ex-employees it knows to be illegal aliens pending these workers can show proof of work authorization and present it to the employers (Palma v. NRLB, 2013). The next question for this particular case study is if it’s possible for the court to enforce the voluntary settlement agreement between the employer and NRLB without violating any immigration laws? I believe the answer is yes on account of the Palma ruling, as long as the â€Å"illegal aliens† can provide proof of work authorization, they’re sitting in the driver’s seat with minimal worries. Case Study 3-3 within our text book, titled â€Å"NLRB Jurisdiction over a Private Charter School†, we’re being asked if the Charter Schools Professional Management Inc (CSPMI) â€Å"meets the definition of an employer, as stated n Section 2 (2), LMRA and therefore, the board may assert jurisdiction and conduct a representation election?† (Holley, Jennings, Wolters, 2012). The case study tells us that: To be exempt from NLRB jurisdiction as a political subdivision of a state, the employer must either (1) be created directly by the state so as to constitute a department or administrative arm of the government, or (2) administered by individuals who are responsible to public officials or to the general electorate (pgs. 114-115) CSPMI was not created by the state or any government entity, rather is a private, for-profit organization and the board is elected by the ownership of the corporation. This right here shows me that they are not exempt from NLRB jurisdiction. An interesting case, Chicago Mathematics & Science Academy Charter School, Inc., Employer and Chicago Alliance of Charter Teachers & Staff, F, AFT, AFL-CIO, Petitioner, was discussing the issue on whether a private, nonprofit corporation that established and operates a public charter school in Chicago, Illinois, is exempt from our jurisdiction because it’s a political subdivision of the State of Illinois within the meaning of section 2(2) of the NLRA (Chicago, 2012). The summary  of this particular case state: While CMSA is not a political subdivision of the State of Illinois or the City of Chicago, I would decline jurisdiction because it is so closely intertwined with and defined by those governmental entities in providing services of a peculiarly public and local nature. I am also noting that declining jurisdiction would not leave CMSA’s employees without the possibility of collective-bargaini ng representation. It would only subject them to the same labor relations laws as are applicable to others who, like them, are defined by statute as public employees in a public educational system. Accordingly, I would dismiss the petition. (Chicago, 2012) REFERENCES: Chicago Mathematics & Science Academy Charter School, Inc., Employer and Chicago Alliance of Charter Teachers & Staff, F, AFT, AFL-CIO, Petitioner. Case 13-RM-001768, 2012 Holley Jr, W., Jennings, K, & Wolters, R (2012) The Labor Relations Process 10th edition. South-Western CENAGE Learning; United States â€Å"Labor Law.† West’s Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005. Retrieved from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3437702567.HTML Palma v. NLRB, 12-1199 (2d Cir. 2013)

Slavery, Abolition and the South - 2526 Words

ESSAY QUESTION #3 – How did slavery impact the economic and political development of the southern colonies and later the southern states? What were conditions like for slaves in the southern U.S.? Prior to the use of slavery in the southern colonies they were experiencing a shrinking workforce, because their laborers were mainly indentured servants. Indentured servitude was a form of debt bondage for white and black contract laborers who were obligated to serve a master for a number of years, and they were then set free. Each side was legally obligated to these terms and it was enforced by the American courts. Slavery offered the colonists lifelong labor from each slave and the economic benefits were enormous. Slavery was very profitable for the southern colonists. The Blacks were much easier to enslave than the Native Americans. The Native Americans were already on their own land and the whites had established their own European culture in this land. The Blacks were stripped of their culture and their land. The main political developments for this time period affected the Blacks in a negative way. They were not to be considered human so they had no legal or civil rights. Ther e were laws created to enforce cruel and sometimes deadly punishments on slaves that resisted the harsh treatment put upon them; laws that had an effect on the Black slaves like the ones started in Virginia, that declared that all White men were superior to Black men. This enabled them to separate theShow MoreRelatedEssay on Slavery In American History1430 Words   |  6 Pagesbefore 19th century in United States, we must mention the Abolition Movement, which began in 1930s, and ended with Emancipation Proclamation. Just like our textbook---A Short History of the American Nation,  ¡Ã‚ °No reform movement of this era was more significant, more ambiguous in character, or more provocative of later historical investigation than the drive to abolish slavery. ¡Ã‚ ± Abolition Movement was not only meaningful to itself, that is, slavery was abolished and black slaves were freed, but also meaningfulRead MoreAbolition of Slaver in the Cape1084 Words   |  5 PagesThe abolition of slave trade was passed by the British Parliament on 24 August 1833. This affected South Africa , which was a British colony at the time, as many colonists at the Cape had lots of capital invested in their slaves. Colonists were particularly annoyed because payment of the slaves was to be collected personally in England, and in many cases the cost of the trip would be more than the money received. (www.sahistory.org.za) In order to answer this key question, information relating theRead MoreSlavery Is A Blow At Commerce And Civilization1122 Words   |  5 Pagescan be inferred that the Confederate states fought for slavery, as it is a major part of their arguments. While the entire Confederacy ratified the Ordinance of Secession, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas also created declarations of causes, each state explaining the reasons as to why they were seceding. Additionally, some key leaders to the secession believed that Lincoln was on a warpath and was determined to abolish slavery as those before him had begun the process. MississippiRead MoreSlavery : The End Of The Civil War1543 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Slavery is founded in the selfishness of man s nature -- opposition to it is in his love of justice. These principles are an eternal antagonism; and when brought into collision so fiercely, as slavery extension brings them, shocks, and throes, and convulsions must ceaselessly follow. Repeal the Missouri Compromise -- repeal all compromises -- repeal the declaration of independence -- repeal all past history, you still can not repeal human nature. It still will be the abundance of man s heart,Read MoreSlave Trade Abolition Of Britain And United States Essay1298 Words   |  6 PagesSlave Trade Abolition in Britain and United States Introduction In America, slavery began when African slaves were forcefully brought to work for the production of profitable crops like tobacco. The slavery was practiced all over the American colonies in 17th and 18th centuries. These slaves helped in building the economy of the new nation. Invention of cotton solidified the belief that more workers were needed to work in the farm and ginnery. By middle of 19th century, the Americans westward expansionRead MoreThe Narrative Of The Life Of Olandah Equiano1716 Words   |  7 Pagesperspective of either an African taken into slavery early in his life or a slave of African descent born in the British colonies. Olandah Equiano’s narrative reveals more about the African Diaspora than it does African history itself, particularly with his birthplace called into question. If he was born in Africa as he claims, Equiano’s narrative provides a primary source for the history of the slave trade in Africa and Nigerian history. If he was born in South Carolina, his narrative provides a secondaryRead MoreThroughout Our Journey In Lps 35 We Have Been Debating1330 Words   |  6 Pagesclass is what brought about the end of slavery; was it because technology was out-pacing manual labor with the introduction of the steam engine, or could it have been that society was warming up to the idea of abolishing because they found slavery distasteful? Of these two theories, I strongly favor technological advancement out-dating slavery, but the idea that society dictated it obsolete has merit as well. There are the two leading theories concerning abolition, and of the duo, society gets a lotRead MorePrimary Causes Of The Civil War820 Words   |  4 PagesTo begin, there are many arguments and standpoints on why the Civil War had been fought but the primary reason why the Civil War started over uncompromisable differences between free Southern states and pro-slavery Northern states and their controversy over government power and slave l aws. Fought during April of 1861 to 1865, the Civil War had divided the country into a frenzy against each other. In fact, a devastating 620,000 soldiers had died from accident, combat, starvation and disease, the deadliestRead MoreCause of the Civil War1296 Words   |  6 Pagescontradictions of two social systems inside the country. At the basis of these contradictions was a question of slavery, completely determining economic and political interests of South. North strived to enforce Federal government power to protect their own economic stability. As a result the South wanted a separation and the North was determined to keep the country unified. Therefore, besides slavery as a main root cause of the conflict, there were other causes as economic differences and political eventsRead MoreTaking a Look at the American Civil War896 Words   |  4 Pagesnorth and south that led to the civil war includes economic, social, and political events. At the meantime, slavery arose as a huge debate between the pro-slavery and anti-slavery faction. Fierce debates had sparked between the north and south states because of the southern states’ agrarian based economy. The geography in the northern states was based on industry, meaning they utilized machines and mass produced. In the social aspect, abolitionists wanted to eliminate slavery in the south which caused