The Twilight Saga 4 Breaking Dawn 16. Too-Much-Information Alert Free Essays

string(67) " when the Cullens were gone___ want to stay with you, she told me\." 16. Too-Much-Information Alert I took off early, long before sunrise was due. I’d gotten just a little bit of uneasy sleep leaning against the side of the sofa. We will write a custom essay sample on The Twilight Saga 4: Breaking Dawn 16. Too-Much-Information Alert or any similar topic only for you Order Now Edward woke me when Bella’s face was flushed, and he took my spot to cool her back down. I stretched and decided I was rested enough to get some work done. â€Å"Thank you,† Edward said quietly, seeing my plans. â€Å"If the route is clear, they’ll go today.† Tillet you know.† It felt good to get back to my animal self. I was stiff from sitting still for so long. I extended my stride, working out the kinks. Morning, Jacob,Leah greeted me. Good, you’re up. How long’s Seth been out? Not out yet,Seth thought sleepily. Almost there. What do you need? You think you got another hour in you? Sure thing. No problem.Seth got to his feet right away, shaking out his fur. Let’s make the deep run,Itold Leah. Seth, take the perimeter. Gotcha.Seth broke into an easy jog. Off on another vampire errand,Leah grumbled. You got a problem with that? Of course not. I just love to coddle those darling leeches. Good. Let’s see how fast we can run. Okay, I’m definitely up forthat Leah was on the far western rim of the perimeter. Rather than cut close to the Cullens’ house, she stuck to the circle as she raced around to meet me. I sprinted off straight east, knowing that even with the head start, she’d be passing me soon if I took it easy for even a second. Nose to the ground, Leah. This isn’t a race, it’s a reconnaissance mission. I can do both and still kick your butt I gave her that one. know. She laughed. We took a winding path through the eastern mountains. It wasa familiar route. We’d run these mountains when the vampires had left a year ago, making it part of our patrol route to better protect the people here. Then we’d pulled back the lines when the Cullens returned. This was their treaty land. But that fact would probably mean nothing to Sam now. The treaty was dead. The question today was how thin he was willing to spread his force. Was he looking for stray Cullens to poach on their land or not? Had Jared spoken the truth or taken advantage of the silence between us? We got deeper and deeper into the mountains without finding any trace of the pack. Fading vampire trails were everywhere, but the scents were familiar now. I was breathing them in all day long. I founda heavy, somewhat recent concentration on one particular trail – all of them coming and going here except for Edward. Some reason for gathering that must have been forgotten when Edward brought his dying pregnant wife home. I gritted my teeth. Whatever it was, it had nothing to do with me. Leah didn’t push herself past me, though she could have now. I was paying more attention to each new scent than I was to the speed contest. She kept to my right side, running with me rather than racing against me. Were getting pretty far out here,she commented. Yeah. If Sam was hunting strays, we should have crossed his trail by now. Makes more sense right now for him to bunker down in La Push,Leah thought. He knows we’re giving the bloodsuckers three extra sets of eyes and legs. He’s not going to be able to surprise them. This was just a precaution, really. Wouldn’t want our precious parasites taking unnecessary chances. Nope,I agreed, ignoring the sarcasm. You’ve changed so much, Jacob. Talk about one-eighties. You’re not exactly the same Leah I’ve always known and loved, either. True. Am I less annoying than Paul now? Amazingly†¦ yes. Ah, sweet success. Congrats. We ran in silence again then. It was probably time to turn around, but neither of us wanted to. It felt nice to run like this. We’d been staring at the same small circle of atrail for too long. It felt good to stretch our muscles and take the rugged terrain. We weren’t in a huge hurry, so I thought maybe we should hunt on the way back. Leah was pretty hungry. Yum, yum,she thought sourly. It’s all in your head,I told her. That’s the way wolves eat. It’s natural. It tastes fine. If you didn’t think about it from a human perspective – Forget the pep talk, Jacob. I’ll hunt I don’t have to like it Sure, sure,I agreed easily. It wasn’t my business if she wanted to make things harder for herself. She didn’t add anything for a few minutes; I started thinking about turning back. Thank you,Leah suddenly told me in a much different tone. For? For letting me be. For letting me stay. You’ve been nicer than I had any right to expect, Jacob. Er, no problem. Actually, I mean that. I don’t mind having you here like I thought I would. She snorted, but it was a playful sound. What a glowing commendation! Don’t let it go to your head. Okay – if you don’t let this go to yours.She paused for a second. think you make a good Alpha. Not in the same way Sam does, but in your own way. You’re worth following, Jacob. My mind went blank with surprise. It took me a second to recover enough to respond. Er, thanks. Not totally sure I’ll be able to stop that one from going to my head, though. Where did that come from? She didn’t answer right away, and I followed the wordless direction of her thoughts. She was thinking about the future – about what I’d said to Jared the other morning. About how the time would be up soon, and then I’d go back to the forest. About how I’d promised that she and Seth would return to the pack when the Cullens were gone___ want to stay with you, she told me. The shock shot through my legs, locking my joints. She blew past me and then put on the brakes. Slowly, she walked back to where I was frozen in place. won’t be a pain, I swear. I won’t follow you around. You can go wherever you want, and I’ll go where I want. You’ll only have to put up with me when we’re both wolves. She paced back and forth in front of me, swishing her long gray tail nervously. And, as I’m planning on quitting as soon as I can manage it†¦ maybe that won’t be so often. I didn’t know what to say. I’m happier now, as a part of your pack, than I have been in years. I want to stay, too,Seth thought quietly. I hadn’t realized he’d been paying much attention to us as he ran the perimeter. like this pack. Hey, now! Seth, this isn’t going to be a pack much longer.I tried to put my thoughts together so they would convince him. We’ve got a purpose now, but when†¦ after that’s over, I’m just going to go wolf. Seth, you need a purpose. You’re a good kid. You’re the kind of person who always has a crusade. And there’s no way you’re leaving La Push now. You’re going to graduate from high school and do something with your life. You’re going to take care of Sue. My issues are not going to mess up your future. But – Jacob is rightLeah seconded. You’re agreeing with me? Of course. But none of that applies tome. was on my way out anyway. I’ll get a job somewhere away from La Push. Maybe take some courses at a community college. Get into yoga and meditation to work on my temper issues†¦. And stay a part of this pack for the sake of my mental well-being. Jacob – you can see how that makes sense, right? I won’t bother you, you won’t bother me, everyone is happy. I turned back and started loping slowly toward the west. This is a bit much to deal with, Leah. Let me think about it, ‘kay? Sure. Take your time. It took us longer to make the run back. I wasn’t trying for speed. I was just trying to concentrate enough that I wouldn’t plow headfirst into a tree. Seth was grumbling a little bit in the back of my head, but I was able to ignore him. He knew I was right. He wasn’t going to abandon his mom. He would go back to La Push and protect the tribe like he should. But I couldn’t see Leah doing that. And that was just plain scary. A pack of the two of us? No matter the physical distance, I couldn’t imagine the†¦ the intimacy of that situation. I wondered if she’d really thought it through, or if she was just desperate to stay free. Leah didn’t say anything as I chewed it over. It was like she was trying to prove how easy it would be if it was just us. We ran into a herd of black-tailed deer just as the sun was coming up, brightening the clouds a little bit behind us. Leah sighed internally but didn’t hesitate. Her lunge was clean and efficient – graceful, even. She took down the largest one, the buck, before the startled animal fully understood the danger. Not to be outdone, I swooped down on the next largest deer, snapping her neck between my jaws quickly, so she wouldn’t feel unnecessary pain. I could feel Leah’s disgust warring with her hunger, and I tried to make it easier for her by letting the wolf in me have my head. I’d lived all-wolf for long enough that I knew how to be the animal completely, to see his way and think his way. I let the practical instincts take over, letting her feel that, too. She hesitated for a second, but then, tentatively, she seemed to reach out with her mind and try to see my way. It felt very strange – our minds were more closely linked than they had ever been before, because we both were trying to think together. Strange, but it helped her. Her teeth cut through the fur and skin of her kill’s shoulder, tearing away a thick slab of streaming flesh. Rather than wince away as her human thoughts wanted to, she let her wolf-self react instinctively. It was kind of a numbing thing, a thoughtless thing. It let her eat in peace. It was easy for me to do the same. And I was glad I hadn’t forgotten this. This would be my life again soon. Was Leah going to be a part of that life? A week ago, I wouldve found that idea beyond horrifying. I wouldn’t’ve been able to stand it. But I knew her better now. And, relieved from the constant pain, she wasn’t the same wolf. Not the same girl. We ate together until we both were full. Thanks,she told me later as she was cleaning her muzzle and paws against the wet grass. I didn’t bother; it had just started to drizzle and we had to swim the river again on our way back. I’d get clean enough. That wasn’t so bad, thinking your way. You’re welcome. Seth was dragging when we hit the perimeter. I told him to get some sleep; Leah and I would take over the patrol. Seth’s mind faded into unconsciousness just seconds later. You headed back to the bloodsuckers?Leah asked. Maybe. It’s hard for you to be there, but hard to stay away, too. I know how that feels. You know, Leah, you might want to think a little bit about the future, about what you really want to do. My head is not going to be the happiest place on earth. And you’ll have to suffer right along with me. She thought about how to answer me. Wow, this is going to sound bad. But, honestly, it will be easier to deal with your pain than face mine. Fair enough. I know it’s going to be bad for you, Jacob. I understand that – maybe better than you think. I don’t like her, but†¦ she’s your Sam. She’s everything you want and everything you can’t have. I couldn’t answer. know it’s worse for you. At least Sam is happy. At least he’s alive and well. I love him enough that I want that. I want him to have what’s best for him. She sighed. I just don’t want to stick around to watch. Do we need to talk about this? I think we do. Because I want you to know that I won’t make it worse for you. Hell, maybe I’ll even help. I wasn’tborn a compassionless shrew. I used to be sort of nice, you know. My memory doesn’t go that far back. We both laughed once. I’m sorry about this, Jacob. I’m sorry you’re in pain. I’m sorry it’s getting worse and not better Thanks, Leah. She thought about the things that were worse, the black pictures in my head, while I tried to tune her out without much success. She was able to look at them with some distance, some perspective, and I had to admit that this was helpful. I could imagine that maybe I would be able to see it that way, too, in a few years. She saw the funny side of the daily irritations that came from hanging out around vampires. She liked my ragging on Rosalie, chuckling internally and even running through a few blonde jokes in her mind that I might be able to work in. But then her thoughts turned serious, lingering on Rosalie’s face in a way that confused me. You know what’s crazy?she asked. Well, almost everything is crazy right now. But what do you mean? That blond vampire you hate so much – totally get her perspective. For a second I thought she was making a joke that was in very poor taste. And then, when I realized she was serious, the fury that ripped through me was hard to control. It was a good thing we’d spread out to run our watch. If she’d been within biting distance†¦ Hold up! Let me explain! Don’t want to hear it I’m outta here. Wait! Wait!she pleaded as I tried to calm myself enough to phase back. C’mon, Jake! Leah, this isn’t really the best way to convince me that I want to spend more time with you in the future. Yeesh! What an overreaction. You don’t even know what I’m talking about So whatare you talking about? And then she was suddenly the pain-hardened Leah from before. I’m talking about being a genetic dead end, Jacob. The vicious edge to her words left me floundering. I hadn’t expected to have my anger trumped. I don’t understand. Youwould, if you weren’t just like the rest of them. If my â€Å"female sfu/T – she thought the words with a hard, sarcastic tone – didn’t send you running for cover just like any stupid male, so you could actually pay attention to what it all means. Oh. Yeah, so none of us like to think about that stuff with her. Who would? Of course I remembered Leah’s panic that first month after she joined the pack – and I remembered cringing away from it just like everyone else. Because she couldn’t be pregnant – not unless there was some really freaky religious immaculate crap going on. She hadn’t been with anyone since Sam. And then, when the weeks dragged on and nothing turned into more nothing, she’d realized that her body wasn’t following the normal patterns anymore. The horror – what was she now? Had her body changed because she’d become a werewolf? Or had she become a werewolf because her body was wrong? The only female werewolf in the history of forever. Was that because she wasn’t as female as she should be? None of us had wanted to deal with that breakdown. Obviously, it wasn’t like we could empathize. You know why Sam thinks we imprint,she thought, calmer now. Sure. To carry on the line. Right. To make a bunch of new little werewolves. Survival of the species, genetic override. You’re drawn to the person who gives you the best chance to pass on the wolf gene. I waited for her to tell me where she was qoinq with this. If I was any good for that, Sam would have been drawn tome. Her pain was enough that I broke stride under it. But I’m not There’s something wrong with me. I don’t have the ability to pass on the gene, apparently, despite my stellar bloodlines. So I become a freak – the girlie-wolf – good for nothing else. I’m a genetic dead end and we both know it. We do not,I argued with her. That’s just Sam’s theory. Imprinting happens, but we don’t know why. Billy thinks it’s something else. I know, I know. He thinks you’re imprinting to makestronger wolves. Because you and Sam are such humongous monsters – bigger than our fathers. But either way, I’m still not a candidate. I’m†¦ I’m menopausal. I’m twenty years old and I’m menopausal. Ugh. I so didn’t want to have this conversation. You don’t know that, Leah. It’s probably just the whole frozen-in-time thing. When you quit your wolf and start getting older again, I’m sure things will†¦ er†¦ pick right back up. might think that – except that no one’s imprinting onme, notwithstanding my impressive pedigree. You know, she added thoughtfully, if you weren’t around, Seth would probably have the best claim to being Alpha – through his blood, at least. Of course, no one would ever consider me†¦. You reallywant to imprint, or be imprinted on, or whichever? I demanded. What’s wrong with going out and falling in love like a normal person, Leah? Imprinting is just another way of getting your choices taken away from you. Sam, Jared, Paul, Quit†¦ they don’t seem to mind. None of themhave a mind of their own. You don’t want to imprint? Hell, no! That’s just because you’re already in love withher. That would go away, you know, if you imprinted. You wouldn’t have to hurt over her anymore. Do you want to forget the way you feel about Sam? She deliberated for a moment. think I do. I sighed. She was in a healthier place than I was. But back to my original point, Jacob. I understand why your blond vampire is so cold – in the figurative sense. She’s focused. She’s got her eyes on the prize, right? Because you always want the very most what you can never, ever have. You would act like Rosalie? You would murder someone – because that’s what she’s doing, making sure no one interferes with Bella’s death – you would do that to have a baby? Since when are you a breeder? I just want the options I don’t have, Jacob. Maybe, if there was nothing wrong with me, I would never give it a thought. You would kill for that?I demanded, not letting her escape my question. That’s not what she’s doing. I think it’s more like she’s living vicariously. And†¦ if Bella askedme to help her with this†¦She paused, considering. Even though I don’t think too much of her, I’d probably do the same as the bloodsucker. A loud snarl ripped through my teeth. Because, if it was turned around, I’d want Bella to do that for me. And so would Rosalie. We’d both do it her way. Ugh! You’re as bad as they are! That’s the funny thing about knowing you can’t have something. It makes you desperate. And.. . that’s my limit Right there. This conversation is over. Fine. It wasn’t enough that she’d agreed to stop. I wanted a stronger termination than that. I was only about a mile from where I’d left my clothes, so I phased back to human and walked. I didn’t think about our conversation. Not because there wasn’t anything to think about, but because I couldn’t stand it. I would not see it that way – but it was harder to keep from doing that when Leah had put the thoughts and emotions straight into my head. Yeah, I wasn’t running with her when this was finished. She could go be miserable in La Push. One little Alpha command before I left for good wasn’t going to kill anybody. It was real early when I got to the house. Bella was probably still asleep. I figured I’d poke my head in, see what was going on, give ’em the green light to go hunting, and then find a patch of grass soft enough to sleep on while human. I wasn’t phasing back until Leah was asleep. But there was a lot of low mumbling going on inside the house, so maybe Bella wasn’t sleeping. And then I heard the machinery sound from upstairs again – the X-ray? Great. It looked like day four on the countdown was starting off with a bang. Alice opened the door for me before I could walk in. She nodded. â€Å"Hey, wolf.† â€Å"Hey, shortie. What’s going on upstairs?† The big room was empty – all the murmurs were on the second floor. She shrugged her pointy little shoulders. â€Å"Maybe another break.† She tried to say the words casually, but I could see the flames in the very back of her eyes. Edward and I weren’t the only ones who were burning over this. Alice loved Bella, too. â€Å"Another rib?† I asked hoarsely. â€Å"No. Pelvis this time.† Funny how it kept hitting me, like each new thing was a surprise. When was I going to stop being surprised? Each new disaster seemed kinda obvious in hindsight. Alice was staring at my hands, watching them tremble. Then we were listening to Rosalie’s voice upstairs. â€Å"See, I told you I didn’t hear a crack. You need your ears checked, Edward.† There was no answer. Alice made a face. â€Å"Edward’s going to end up ripping Rose into small pieces, I think. I’m surprised she doesn’t see that. Or maybe she thinks Emmett will be able to stop him.† â€Å"I’ll take Emmett,† I offered. â€Å"You can help Edward with the ripping part.† Alice half-smiled. The procession came down the stairs then – Edward had Bella this time. She was gripping her cup of blood in both hands, and her face was white. I could see that, though he compensated for every tiny movement of his body to keep from jostling her, she was hurting. â€Å"Jake,† she whispered, and she smiled through the pain. I stared at her, saying nothing. Edward placed Bella carefully on her couch and sat on the floor by her head. I wondered briefly why they didn’t leave her upstairs, and then decided at once that it must be Bella’s idea. She’d want to act like things were normal, avoid the hospital setup. And he was humoring her. Naturally. Carlisle came down slowly, the last one, his face creased with worry. It made him look old enough to be a doctor for once. â€Å"Carlisle,† I said. â€Å"We went halfway to Seattle. There’s no sign of the pack. You’re good to go.† â€Å"Thank you, Jacob. This is good timing. There’s much that we need.† His black eyes flickered to the cup that Bella was holding so tight. â€Å"Honestly, I think you’re safe to take more than three. I’m pretty positive that Sam is concentrating on La Push.† Carlisle nodded in agreement. It surprised me how willingly he took my advice. â€Å"If you think so. Alice, Esme, Jasper, and I will go. Then Alice can take Emmett and Rosa – â€Å" â€Å"Not a chance,† Rosalie hissed. â€Å"Emmett can go with you now.† â€Å"You should hunt,† Carlisle said in a gentle voice. His tone didn’t soften hers. â€Å"I’ll hunt when he does,† she growled, jerking her head toward Edward and then flipping her hair back. Carlisle sighed. Jasper and Emmett were down the stairs in a flash, and Alice joined them by the glass back door in the same second. Esme flitted to Alice’s side. Carlisle put his hand on my arm. The icy touch did not feel good, but I didn’t jerk away. I held still, half in surprise, and half because I didn’t want to hurt his feelings. â€Å"Thank you,† he said again, and then he darted out the door with the other four. My eyes followed them as they flew across the lawn and then disappeared before I took another breath. Their needs must have been more urgent than I’d imagined. There was no sound for a minute. I could feel someone glaring at me, and I knew who it would be. I’d been planning to take off and get some Z’s, but the chance to ruin Rosalie’s morning seemed too good to pass up. So I sauntered over to the armchair next to the one Rosalie had and settled in, sprawling out so that my head was tilted toward Bella and my left foot was near Rosalie’s face. â€Å"Ew. Someone put the dog out,† she murmured, wrinkling her nose. â€Å"Have you heard this one, Psycho? How do a blonde’s brain cells die?† She didn’t say anything. â€Å"Well?† I asked. â€Å"Do you know the punch line or not?† She looked pointedly at the TV and ignored me. â€Å"Has she heard it?† I asked Edward. There was no humor on his tense face – he didn’t move his eyes from Bella. But he said, â€Å"No.† â€Å"Awesome. So you’ll enjoy this, bloodsucker – a blonde’s brain cells die alone.† Rosalie still didn’t look at me. â€Å"I have killed a hundred times more often than you have, you disgusting beast. Don’t forget that.† â€Å"Someday, Beauty Queen, you’re going to get tired of just threatening me. I’m really looking forward to that.† â€Å"Enough, Jacob,† Bella said. I looked down, and she was scowling at me. It looked like yesterday’s good mood was long gone. Well, I didn’t want to bug her. â€Å"You want me to take off?† I offered. Before I could hope – or fear – that she’d finally gotten tired of me, she blinked, and her frown disappeared. She seemed totally shocked that I would come to that conclusion. â€Å"No! Of course not.† I sighed, and I heard Edward sigh very quietly, too. I knew he wished she’d get over me, too. Too bad he’d never ask her to do anything that might make her unhappy. â€Å"You look tired,† Bella commented. â€Å"Dead beat,† I admitted. I’dlike to beat you dead,† Rosalie muttered, too low for Bella to hear. I just slumped deeper into the chair, getting comfortable. My bare foot dangled closer to Rosalie, and she stiffened. After a few minutes Bella asked Rosalie for a refill. I felt the wind as Rosalie blew upstairs to get her some more blood. It was really quiet. Might as well take a nap, I figured. And then Edward said, â€Å"Did you say something?† in a puzzled tone. Strange. Because no one had said anything, and because Edward’s hearing was as good as mine, and he should have known that. He was staring at Bella, and she was staring back. They both looked confused. â€Å"Me?† she asked after a second. â€Å"I didn’t say anything.† He moved onto his knees, leaning forward over her, his expression suddenly intense in a whole different way. His black eyes focused on her face. â€Å"What are you thinking about right now?† She stared at him blankly. â€Å"Nothing. What’s going on?† â€Å"What were you thinking about a minute ago?† he asked. â€Å"Just†¦ Esme’s island. And feathers.† Sounded like total gibberish to me, but then she blushed, and I figured I was better off not knowing. â€Å"Say something else,† he whispered. Tike what? Edward, what’s going on?† His face changed again, and he did something that made my mouth fall open with a pop. I heard a gasp behind me, and I knew that Rosalie was back, and just as flabbergasted as I was. Edward, very lightly, put both of his hands against her huge, round stomach. ‘The f – † He swallowed. â€Å"It†¦ the baby likes the sound of your voice.† There was one short beat of total silence. I could not move a muscle, even to blink. Then – â€Å"Holy crow, you can hear him!†Bella shouted. In the next second, she winced. Edward’s hand moved to the top peak of her belly and gently rubbed the spot where it must have kicked her. â€Å"Shh,† he murmured. â€Å"You startled it†¦ him.† Her eyes got all wide and full of wonder. She patted the side of her stomach. â€Å"Sorry, baby.† Edward was listening hard, his head tilted toward the bulge. â€Å"What’s he thinking now?† she demanded eagerly. â€Å"It†¦ he or she, is †¦Ã¢â‚¬  He paused and looked up into her eyes. His eyes were filled with a similar awe – only his were more careful and grudging. â€Å"He’s happy† Edward said in an incredulous voice. Her breath caught, and it was impossible not to see the fanatical gleam in her eyes. The adoration and the devotion. Big, fat tears overflowed her eyes and ran silently down her face and over her smiling lips. As he stared at her, his face was not frightened or angry or burning or any of the other expressions he’d worn since their return. He was marveling with her. â€Å"Of course you’re happy, pretty baby, of course you are,† she crooned, rubbing her stomach while the tears washed her cheeks. â€Å"How could you not be, all safe and warm and loved? I love you so much, little EJ, of course you’re happy.† â€Å"What did you call him?† Edward asked curiously. She blushed again. â€Å"I sort of named him. I didn’t think you would want†¦ well, you know.† â€Å"EJ?† â€Å"Your father’s name was Edward, too.† â€Å"Yes, it was. What – ?† He paused and then said, â€Å"Hmm.† â€Å"What?† â€Å"He likes my voice, too.† â€Å"Of course he does.† Her tone was almost gloating now. â€Å"You have the most beautiful voice in the universe. Who wouldn’t love it?† â€Å"Do you have a backup plan?† Rosalie asked then, leaning over the back of the sofa with the same wondering, gloating look on her face that was on Bella’s. â€Å"What if he’s a she?† Bella wiped the back of her hand under her wet eyes. â€Å"I kicked a few things around. Playing with Renee and Esme. I was thinking†¦ Ruh-nez-may.† â€Å"Ruhnezmay?† â€Å"R-e-n-e-s-m-e-e. Too weird?† â€Å"No, I like it,† Rosalie assured her. Their heads were close together, gold and mahogany. â€Å"It’s beautiful. And one of a kind, so that fits† â€Å"I still think he’s an Edward.† Edward was staring off into space, his face blank as he listened. â€Å"What?† Bella asked, her face just glowing away. â€Å"What’s he thinking now?† At first he didn’t answer, and then – shocking all the rest of us again, three distinct and separate gasps – he laid his ear tenderly against her belly. â€Å"He loves you,† Edward whispered, sounding dazed. â€Å"He absolutely adores you.† In that moment, I knew that I was alone. All alone. I wanted to kick myself when I realized how much I’d been counting on that loathsome vampire. How stupid – as if you could ever trust a leech! Of course he would betray me in the end. I’d counted on him to be on my side. I’d counted on him to suffer more than I suffered. And, most of all, I’d counted on him to hate that revolting thing killing Bella more than I hated it. I’d trusted him with that. Yet now they were together, the two of them bent over the budding, invisible monster with their eyes lit up like a happy family. And I was all alone with my hatred and the pain that was so bad it was like being tortured. Like being dragged slowly across a bed of razor blades. Pain so bad you’d take death with a smile just to get away from it. The heat unlocked my frozen muscles, and I was on my feet. All three of their heads snapped up, and I watched my pain ripple across Edward’s face as he trespassed in my head again. â€Å"Ahh,† he choked. I didn’t know what I was doing; I stood there, trembling, ready to bolt for the very first escape that I could think of. Moving like the strike of a snake, Edward darted to a small end table and ripped something from the drawer there. He tossed it at me, and I caught the object reflexively. â€Å"Go, Jacob. Get away from here.† He didn’t say it harshly – he threw the words at me like they were a life preserver. He was helping me find the escape I was dying for. The object in my hand was a set of car keys. How to cite The Twilight Saga 4: Breaking Dawn 16. Too-Much-Information Alert, Essay examples

Factors Affecting Marriage Decision

Question: Discuss about factors affecting marriage decision. Answer: Marriage decisions are influenced by several factors in society. First is the social norms associated with marriage. Marriage decision depends on the type of society and family values in which a person lives. Often female are discriminated in backward countries leading to early child marriage while in advanced countries marriage is delayed due to career goals. Marriage depends on existing marriage laws in particular countries. Different countries have different marriage age and restrictions. Some can't marry unless they attain a legal age. In some countries, same-sex marriage is allowed while in some it is prohibited. Social status influences the way individual plan their marriage decision. Any person who is economically sound plans their marriage in a grand way while those who are poor marry in cost effective way (Jensen, Robert). The parent-child relationship is crucial to raising a child. Depending on the family type, nature of the child and their values differ. A child raised in the joint family while a one living with just parents or single parents have different moral and social values instilled in them. The social and economic status of parents helps in good upbringing and education of the child. Maintaining a jovial atmosphere at home and friendly attitude with a child will help a child to develop into a confident and responsible citizen (Oppenheimer, Valerie Kincade). References: Jensen, Robert. "Do labor market opportunities affect young women's work and family decisions? Experimental evidence from India."The Quarterly Journal of Economics(2012): qjs002. Oppenheimer, Valerie Kincade.Work and the family: A study in social demography. Elsevier, 2013.

Erwin Panofskys Gothic Architecture and Scholasticism Essay Sample Example For Students

Erwin Panofskys Gothic Architecture and Scholasticism Essay Sample Erwin Panoplys Gothic Architecture and Scholasticism presents a compelling connection between the architectural styles of Gothic Cathedrals and the order and form of the Scholastic school of thought. Focusing on the 100 mile zone around Paris during the years between 1130-40 and 1270 where and when Scholasticism was the dominate theory of education and Gothic architecture began to take a stronghold over the ageing Romanesque style. In Panoplys own words A connection between Gothic art and Scholasticism which is more concrete than a mere parallelism He connection which I have in mind is a genuine cause-and-effect elation. But is there a more meaningful conviction that Pompanos is trying to present by explaining this cause and effect? Before diving deeper into Panoplys theory, the terms Scholasticism and Gothic Architecture need to be defined. Scholasticism is a method of learning taught by the academics of medieval universities from the 1 lath until the 1 5th century, originating in Paris. This method of learning was based on dialectical reasoning, with the purpose of answering a question or settling a disagreement through the use of the Scholastic method. The Scholastic method would compare two or more writings of a related source. The sources would be read aloud to a class of pupils or academics to point of the contradictions between the texts. Then through a series of dialectics focusing on philological and or logical (commonly Aristotelian logic after the Second Crusade circa 1149) analysis the two sides of the contradiction would be interoperable to essentially agree with each other. Gothic Architecture is a style of architecture originating near Paris with the construction of the abbey church of Saint-Denis. The gothic style flourished during the High and Late Medieval periods. Classic features found in gothic architecture include thin columns and surrounding walls supported by flying buttresses, stained- glass, ribbed vaults, and detailed sculptural elements. Gothic vaulting allowed for the pointed doorways, large windows and high ceilings creating a high heavenly environment worthy of being described as the house of God. The connection between Gothic architecture and Scholasticism begins with the town professionals of each field. The two most well read professionals in the medieval town would have been the scholar and the architect. The scholar commonly a cleric devoted his life to writing and teaching. As well as being properly schooled in the Scholastic method. While the architect who frequently rose from an ordinary laborer to the overseer of an entire structure through hard work and diligence would become a well traveled, often well read man. The architect himself had come to be looked upon as a kind of Scholastic The Scholastics were the first medieval educators to divide books in to chapters leading the reader step by step, from one proposition to the other and is always kept in termed as to the progress to his process. This orderly concept of Scholasticism was applied to Gothic architecture through the denaturized structure of the Gothic portal. In imposing order upon the formal arrangement, simultaneously clarifies the narrative content. The Scholastics had no problem following the orders of the authorities; rather they prided themselves on exploiting the authorities for their own gain then expressing their own thoughts. The builders of High Gothic cathedrals also had no problem following two limited designs both sanctioned by authority on the structures of the rose window in the west fade, the wall beneath the clerestory and the nave piers. Pompanos closes his work by explaining the only piece of hard evidence connecting Scholastic thought with High Gothic Architecture, an inscription on a tablet of the deal ground plan of a chives. .udd980c4fc92f55310b1477bede884a0f , .udd980c4fc92f55310b1477bede884a0f .postImageUrl , .udd980c4fc92f55310b1477bede884a0f .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .udd980c4fc92f55310b1477bede884a0f , .udd980c4fc92f55310b1477bede884a0f:hover , .udd980c4fc92f55310b1477bede884a0f:visited , .udd980c4fc92f55310b1477bede884a0f:active { border:0!important; } .udd980c4fc92f55310b1477bede884a0f .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .udd980c4fc92f55310b1477bede884a0f { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .udd980c4fc92f55310b1477bede884a0f:active , .udd980c4fc92f55310b1477bede884a0f:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .udd980c4fc92f55310b1477bede884a0f .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .udd980c4fc92f55310b1477bede884a0f .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .udd980c4fc92f55310b1477bede884a0f .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .udd980c4fc92f55310b1477bede884a0f .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .udd980c4fc92f55310b1477bede884a0f:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .udd980c4fc92f55310b1477bede884a0f .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .udd980c4fc92f55310b1477bede884a0f .udd980c4fc92f55310b1477bede884a0f-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .udd980c4fc92f55310b1477bede884a0f:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Description Of A House EssayTwo High Gothic architects discussing a squashes, and a third architect commenting on the dialogue with the strictly Scholastic term disparate instead of the more common term colloquia. The result of this dispute is creation of the chives the perfect Scholastic answer to the east end of the Gothic cathedral, using semi-circular chapels instead of classic square chapels creating a more efficient vaulting system with the use of one keystone per chapel. Here Scholastic dialectics has driven architectural thinking to a point where it almost ceased to be architectural. Panoplys final sentence verifies with hard evidence the effect of Scholasticism on Gothic architecture. Erwin Panoplys theory on the cause and effect relationship between Gothic architecture and Scholasticism proves to be much more then Just a historical parallel. The concept of one school of though taking over the most educated city of the western world allowing the corruption of the Bible is an unsettling fact. The Bible, the guiding text for over 30% of the population of the modern world and the most influential text in the formation and foundation of the most dominate nation in the oral today, the United States of America.

Should We Allow Gay Marriages as Civil Unions

Iagos First Soliloquy Essay Example

Iagos First Soliloquy Essay Example Iagos First Soliloquy Paper Iagos First Soliloquy Paper In my opinion Iago is a crude character with evil imbedded into his soul a typical villain in a Shakespearian play. The line put money in they purse shows Iago as his manipulative self. I believe his mind is fixed on causing hurt and destruction, fuelled by his jealousy over Othello and his wife. This view is outlined well by the critic Helen Gardener. Malice is motiveless. This view is shown well in operatic version of Othello, in which Iago states that vile is [his] my tissue, which just shows that Iago does this to Othello because he is evil, not through jealousy. In comparison to this the view of Neville Coghill is that Iago has been turned to this evil plot because of the actions of Othello. However I really dont think this is a feasible argument simply because, Iago continues with his evil plans after Cassio has been sacked and Othello tells Iago he can be his most trusted lieutenant so it is absurd to believe that Iago is simply plotting a revenge attack on Othello. This is therefore why Iagos evil actions are so shocking because he has no real motive. He is clearly jealous of Othello and believes he should be in a better position than he is because of the line, know my price. Shakespeare shows Iago at first to have strong feelings of jealousy and bitterness towards Othello. Lines such as his own pride and purposes shows how Shakespeare wants us to know how jealous Iago is of Othello, by using insults and sly comments. The reader therefore understands Iagos dominant emotions of anger and jealousy. Iago is a man who insults those who have done better than him often throughout the play, A Florentine; with the language used here Shakespeare is clearly conveying to the audience this feeling of jealousy, which is to set the whole story. There are many literary techniques used in the play to portray this evil image of Iago. In his first speech he uses words of absolute hatred when referring to Othello; he expresses his monstrous wish to abuse because he has this hate inside him. As he says framed to make women false, Iagos view of women is shown, also the way he uses Emilia to steal the handkerchief is devious and when he states that he will turn her [Desdemonas] virtue in pitch In Othellos speech in Act 5 Scene 2 it is clear that Iagos poison has influenced Othello and almost transformed Othello into a man like Iago. She was foul. Othello would never describe a woman like this but Iagos view of women has influenced him and therefore he is now thinking like Iago. His nature is shown through the pace at which he talks; he speaks in continuous prose which is fast paced, just like Iago. The irony over Cassio being a proper man shows the audience what a crude character he is and also goes some way to show how he treats people he doesnt like. The simile is as luscious as locusts I believe is a summary of Iago, he is a great person at first until you realise what he is made up of; evil, hatred and jealousy. Rhetorical questions are also used to create make Roderigo think, which undermines him and makes him look inadequate, making Iago look like the more dominant male. Drown thyself? This is a very strong line which later turns out to be reality, Iago is suggesting that he would never want Roderigo to harm himself, but in Act 5, scene 1 it is through Iagos vicious plans that Roderigo does get hurt, this is an example of a parallel in this play. An excellent example of Iagos viciousness is in The Nunn version of Othello, where Iago is overpowering and stands above everyone else, his tone of voice creates a dark and evil mood and the audience can see his viciousness through e mood felt. So this use of emotive language causes the audience to feel sympathetic towards Roderigo who is constantly being victimised throughout the play. Also literary techniques are used to try and persuade people too, such as the power of three. Put money in thy purse is repeated three times, stressing its importance, almost persuading the reader to believe him. This is also an example of dramatic irony as the audience know what kind of a man Iago is by him secretive motives, such as the line, monstrous birth to the worlds light. Suggesting he wants to complete his ideas and make them work. The shadow on Iago in Otello shows this evil living in Iago and this monster inside him is portrayed with the use of lighting. Similar to that of the sketch by Thomas Stothard The meeting of Othello and Desdemona, c. 799, where Iago was drawn as a dark sinister figure, with light on half of his face, once again an example of Iago being evil. If I were to stage Iagos first soliloquy he would be sat at a dark desk, starring at the ground, symbolising hell and have the lighting so that a dark shadow was formed across half of his face. I would have him dressed in his military uniform just to show the contrast between a true, genuine soldier such as Othello and Iago who is an evil, plotting man. There would be nothing else on stage to create an effect of isolationism, to show that no-one else is near this level of sinister thoughts. Iagos speech suggests two different things in my opinion; when he is talking to other people he is very manipulative and persuasive in getting what he wants. To do this he uses emotive language and rhetorical questions such as, Drown Thyself? This is a technique used to persuade and encourage a person to think and agree with you, which shows quite a sly manner. However when he is on his own he shows a deeply concentrating side, a person who is thinking about their deepest darkest thoughts. With words such as hell and monstrous and hate suggests very strong feelings of anger and in my opinion shows evil. These show how he is questioning himself and his motives, but he I believe is questioning himself to assure himself he is powerful enough to do such things. I would incorporate this into my interpretation; I would have Iago shaking though as he sits, suggesting that he has gone slightly mad with jealousy. Such as in the Miller version, where Iago was twitching and couldnt sit still this showed clearly the strength of his evil inner thoughts. I believe Burge tried to show the audience Iagos speech as a symbol of power. Burge shows Iago as overpowering as he has a very loud tone of voice, he is very persuasive. The camera angle used is close up on him carefully showing his facial expressions and his sly smile which is almost permanently on his face which shows the character of Iago exceptionally well. However there is this shift of behaviour between when he is on his own and when he is with others, because as soon as he is on his own, his movements become twitchier, almost like he doesnt like the depth at which he is thinking at. He argues with himself as well which suggests he doesnt like what he is doing, I havet this is him just justifying himself to himself! The close camera angle shows the real hatred in his eyes when he says, I hate the moor which really emphasises this idea of hatred and the balance of power. Finally there is a sense of dramatic irony because as the audience we know something is going to go wrong so by him thinking about his motives this is a sense of dramatic irony. Cassios a proper man This is ironic as the audience know what Iago thinks of Cassio, however he says this in a way that implies that it is going to be difficult to harm the reputation of Cassio, almost as if Cassio presents a problem. The strength of this interpretation is that it shows that real hatred that Iago possesses for Othello and with those facial expressions this is really implicit. But there is this sense of him becoming almost scarred of himself which I dont think can be believed as he is so definite in his plans and never doubts himself until the end where from this time forth I never will speak a word. Nunn shows Iago to be overpowering again by giving him a brawn voice. But when he is in his soliloquy he is fidgeting and breathing heavily, to add to this atmosphere how he sits at the table causes a shadow to fall over his face emphasises the idea of evil vs. reality. His true thoughts are so strong he is unable to sit still and this difference is shown clearly through the use of movement. This use of separation in the soliloquy is a dramatic technique to give the interpretation to the reader of the true motives of Iago and the way he thinks. This was very effectively done by the twitching during his soliloquy. This interpretation was very effective because of the power of his thoughts which I felt really added to the character of Iago. A Marxist critic may argue that as he cannot sit still his inner thoughts and emotions are being shown through is physical actions, which is clearly represented in Nunns version. In Act 2, scene 3 I would stage Iagos second speech with him standing centre stage, jus as if he was reading a scroll about what his plans were to an audience. The line I play the villain? I would have Iago looking directly at the audience to create tension an atmosphere within the audience. I would have Iago look up to the heavens, just as Othello does in the Nunn version when making his speech to the senators, when Iago says free and honest to emphasis the idea that Iago believes he is equal to a god. Then finally to emphasis the irony of Iago apparently being passionate for his cause I would have him shout to show he was plotting when he says Ill pour this pestilence into his ear and that shall enmesh them all. These will emphasis Iagos anger towards Othello and also show the audience his plans. In this speech it is the first time his plans involve others and are well thought out, which is why I would direct it in this way. In contrast to my view in Otello Iago is trapped in a fortress, possibly trapped in evil and he pulls on a bull ring on a door, this represents Othello being led like a bull. His low voice and shadows shows how evil this character is. There are signs of religion in this version, which were not present in the play because in Elizabethan times because religion was not allowed in theatre but now is. He is shown as a true creature of evil with traits of insanity. I think the weakness in this version is that Iago is too involved with religion and his belief in women, that being that women are a mans property and they can do what they wish with them, is not portrayed enough. Women in Othello are portrayed as fragmented notions of what they really are. Iagos false portrayal of Desdemona comes closest to crumbling when confronted by her plain truth Evelyn Gajowski In conclusion it is clear to say that Iago as a character influences other characters in the play and that his actions are repeated throughout the play. From what is written by Shakespeare many different interpretations can be taken which all lead to different meanings for the audience. Many different interpretations have evolved due to different contexts being intertwined through time. Iago in my opinion is an evil, plotting but influential man.

Intro to Business Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Intro to Business - Assignment Example In fact, since 2008 when there was economic recession, the company has doubled its revenue and tripled its profit. More so, the company has also recorded significant growth in the period by opening new stores. The success of Patagonia mostly lies on its environmental focus. Indeed, the company has an effective environmental friendly philosophy which mostly contributed to its success during the latest recession. The company’s environmental mission is found in the company’s mission statement which advocates for the production of high quality products with no unnecessary harm to the environment (Martà ­n 1). In fact, the company’s activities aim at solving environmental crisis. The company encourages the repair, recycling, and resale of garments where it makes fleece jackets from recycled bottles (Carus 1). Moreover, it uses solar energy in its headquarters and various stores. Subject to its longtime commitment to environmental issues, Patagonia’s reputation attracted many customers during the recession. Actually, customers were willing to buy T-shirts, wool socks, and light jackets from the company during the recession because they knew Patagonia derived less harm on the environment than other clothing manufacturers. In addition, the company’s strategy to engage in the production of outdoor goods, led to its success during the last recession. Indeed, during the recession, many Americans chose to participate in outdoor recreation instead of foreign travels. This favored Patagonia which was producing outdoor sports apparel at the time. As such, the company recorded huge revenues from outdoor sports apparel (Carus 1). At the same time, the company’s idea to introduce a new line of surf-inspired clothing and beach products also led to its success during the recession as these products became popular at the time. The company also consolidated some global factories and emphasized on online sales thus minimizing the production costs (Martà ­n 1). As such

When Healing becomes a crimeby Kenney ausubel Essay

When Healing becomes a crimeby Kenney ausubel - Essay Example To better understand the nature of this opposition, it would be useful for all to read the book by Kenny Ausubel titled â€Å"When Healing Becomes a Crime †. This work is centered on the account of the story of Harry Hoxsey, the private practitioner of alternative cancer treatment with the allegedly very high rate of successful healings. During the course of his book, the author manages to demonstrate what factors have influenced the development of the current medical practices, and some of those factors are definitely not very comforting. One of the specific topics that were of the great interest to me in the book and turned out to be almost a revelation was the fact that despite testimonies of cancer surgeons about numerous accounts of "people who got well when they werent supposed to" (Ausubel, 2000, ch.2), the medical establishment, represented by the American Medical Association (AMA), acted to suppress alternative cancer therapies under such pretences as for example that their proponents in reality had no medical skill, while AMA itself was lead by Dr. Morris Fishbein who â€Å". . . failed anatomy in medical school . . . never completed his internship . . . [and] never practiced a day of medicine or treated a single patient . . .† (Ausubel, 2000, p.117). And especially unpleasant it was to learn that such persecution was initiated after unsuccessful attempts of Fishbein to buy the formula of Hoxsey`s anti-cancer preparations. All this information impressed be because it convincingly shows that medical pr ogress is unfortunately far from being always directed by the principles from the Hippocratic Oath. Another piece of information that I found interesting was more optimistic, and concerned the description by the author of instances when the protest of general pubic and the larger medical community was able to prevent unethical actions of AMA, like when in a commercially lucrative for them step