Ivan Ilyitch and Wasted Lives Essay Example for Free

Ivan Ilyitch and Wasted Lives Essay The stories dealt with in this paper seek happiness in the wrong places. They stress the failures of modern life, the falsity of success and the elusiveness of happiness when it is not grounded in virtue. Virtuous and simple living are the last things to be discussed in these stories, but happiness is searched for according to the easiest and most sensual manners possible. Modern society has failed to bring happiness and fulfillment, and these stories speak as to why. What is terrible about modern life is the definitions of happiness and fulfillment based on money and social standing. It is roundly condemned by journalists and moralists, but remains as powerful as ever as motivating factors in behavior. In Tolstoy’s famous Death of Ivan Ilyitch, the film’s hero, Ivan, is a lawyer, a member of the prestigious judicial council (127) who has recently taken ill, as lies in his last few hours considering his life. His main concern throughout his life is what Tolstoy calls comme il faut, that is, the maintaining of appearances regardless of circumstances. Even his marriage was based on social standing and on the opinions of high society, rather than love (130). In â€Å"The Necklace,† the young woman wants the necklace that nearly destroys their life solely so that she will look like a successful person at the party given by the Ministry of Education. It ends in disaster as the necklace is lost. After being passed over for several promotions, Ivan was sent to a remote outpost in â€Å"the country,† where he quickly fell into boredom and ennui. He then left his family to go back to his Petrograd post, because high society is the only place he felt comfortable. His social cues came from that society. After falling while decorating his house–decorating solely for the approbation of the same society–he developed what appears to be cancer, and quickly died, mirroring the life and death of Aurora in Terms. The will cannot bring happiness and human life often has a rhythm of its own that cannot be controlled by the state, social institutions or an overprotective mother. It is in this interval that he meets Gerasim, a simple peasant without pretense or guile, the opposite of Ivan (148). Gerasim was Ivan’s assistant when he was ill. Gerasim cared not for society, but for the simple hard work that typified the peasant. He was a â€Å"natural† man rather than Ivan, the â€Å"artificial† one. But in Chapter IX is where a â€Å"voice† begins to speak to Ivan, speaking to him about life. Happiness is based on simplicity, not on the worship of the status quo and the domination of social norms. The artificial world of high society was not joyous, but merely a set of obligations. â€Å"And that deadly official life, and anxiety about money and so for one year, and two, and ten, and twenty, always the same thing† (157). But this was the life of success, of high society, of the elite: and it failed to make Ivan happy. The move from childhood, with its simple joys, to that artificial world of elite adulthood was correlated with the falsity of his happiness and the deadening of joy. This is also to be seen in â€Å"Araby,† where children are the only ones left with imagination as they come of age. The complex and hypocritical world of high society deadened him and his life. This story about a dying man looking at his life seems to be well read, but never heeded. Ivan is all of us who equate success with money and social standing, who view childhood as â€Å"trivial† and the approbation of institutions as central. Ivan conformed his entire life, from his marriage to political views, around what was dominant in high society. In this process, he was successful, but not happy. If anything, the two concepts exist in an inverse relation. Success in modern life is not a happy life. It is unhappy because ultimately, it is one set of obligations after another. Money is always a problem–investments, the market, inflation, taxes, economic cycles all contribute to the anxiety of all but the most wealthy of moderns. Social life, as in Ivan, is a bore, with a set round of obligatory social relations and gatherings, all of which seem to set the â€Å"success† class apart from the commoners. But Ivan, through the example of Gerasim, sees that the simple peasant, the agriculturalist, without the social obligations of the Petrograd lawyer, is happy, joyful and finds a great deal of satisfaction in labor and its invigorating aspects so common in farm work. But labor, in modern life, is something to be avoided rather than embraced and farm work is seen as â€Å"backward† in the prejudice of moderns. In the film Terms of Endearment, the parallels are subtle, but present. Aurora is the protective mother, always concerned for the ultimate happiness of her daughter, Emma. Once’s Emma’s first romance fails, and Aurora seems pushed out of her life, the latter finds romantic comfort with a married, â€Å"successful† man, a banker, Sam Burns. At the same time, Aurora, after remaining sexless for many years, has a whirlwind relationship with an ex-astronaut, Garrett Breedlove. It is hard to see the placement of the false society here, as is the case with The Necklace and A Good Man. Both Emma and her mother live within the false society of modern life, believing that sex and finding the â€Å"right† man will bring happiness. Virtue is not mentioned, nor the life of the mind, but happiness is defined solely in respect of an other, a romantic, sexual relationship that is supposed to make people happy. Both characters, Aurora and Emma, are trapped and the free sex that exists throughout the movie is a conformist device, not a rebellious one. If anything, the fact that Aurora dies of cancer tells her that happiness cannot be found in this life, for even if Aurora was right all along, and Emma was her best friend, she still would have died a miserable death. Having sex with the drunken Breedlove has changed nothing. This film seems to be a set of negative examples: overprotection does not lead to protected children, and sex does not lead to happiness, nor does romance. If anything, it is a veiled attack on the modern obsession with the sexually carnal, that promises pleasure and happiness but usually ends with emptiness. Such is also the final scene in â€Å"Araby,† where the fair itself, symbolizing all sexual and sensual, is a disappointment. The build up the young boy has created in himself was far too high for actual reality. Sex is modern life is often considered this Holy Grail of acceptance that often leads to disappointment. The Necklace, a short story by Guy de Maupassant, has far more parallels with Tolstoy than Terms. The single reality is that the necklace is part of the world of falsity within which Ivan and his ilk live. The very fact that the necklace itself is a cheap fake is part of the scheme–it matters not if the object is genuine, it does its job of making the world think that you belong and that you’re part of the â€Å"successful† club. The obligation that Ivan finds in his life is mirrored in the couple’s having to work for a decade to repay the alleged price of the genuine necklace, which never even existed. The necklace is the ultimate attack on the falsity of â€Å"successful† life–the necklace exists solely to convince others of something, but it is not even real. At the same time, the labor that has gone into paying for the non-existent real necklace speaks of the waste and profligacy of the wealthy, who normally pay huge sums for such trinkets, and call it happiness or success. The young boy in â€Å"Araby† though that his love interest and the fair at Araby would provide this. All these sorts of things provide is emptiness. â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find† is a far more subtle work, centering around a self-centered grandmother that speaks of The Misfit, a killer who is allegedly making his way though to Florida, where her family wants to go on vacation. The family eventually makes their way to Tennessee where, in an accident caused by a hidden cat, the disabled car is sat upon by the Misfit and his group, who eventually murders the entire family when the grandmother yells out that the Misfit is here, hence, necessitating the Misfit’s murder of his identifiers. There is a hint that the Misfit is in fact the grandmother’s son, and the grandmother, possibly attempting to save her own life, attempts to calm of Misfit by touching him, which leads to a scene where the murderer hesitates, but soon steps back to shoot her. It seems that Terms and Good man are highly parallel, showing an overprotective parent seeking happiness in all the wrong places. Where The Necklace and Ivan are centered around the concept of falsity and the lies and hypocracy of modern life and its arbitrary definition of â€Å"success. † All four are concerned with happiness broadly speaking, but only Tolstoy holds out the hope for any real happiness, a happiness that can only be gained by simplicity and a return to the land. Modern behaviors cannot understand this.

The Importance of Stress Management Essay -- Exploratory Essays Resear

The Importance of Stress Management   Ã‚     Stress today can be described as "that which disturbs a person's mental and physical well-being" (Morrison 1).   Common symptoms of stress include chronic fatigue, changes in appetite, drug and/or alcohol abuse,   difficulty sleeping, body aches, and changes in emotions (Cooper 1-2).   And although stress is something that is inevitable, it can be controlled.   Just about everything we do today creates stress, both good and bad.   In the face paced and technological world we live in, stress management is key to survival as well as sanity.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Stress can be caused from numerous things for example, a death in the family, divorce, or loss of a job.   But stress is also attributed to smaller things such as bouncing a check or sitting in a line of traffic.   Though most people refer to stress as the negative things, stress can also be positive.   Marriages or births are just two examples of the many positives that contribute to our stress levels (Morrison 2).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   According to Morrison, "7 out of 10 people surveyed said they felt stressed in a typical workday" (Morrison 1).   On-going stress can result in many problems be it physically, mentally, socially, and intellectually.   Morrison also reports "70-80% of all visits to the doctor are for stress-related illnesses" (Morrison 1).   Approximately 50% of all illnesses today can be attributed to stress (Morrison 1).     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Stress management is becoming a very important factor in today's society as well as in the business world.   $200 billion dollars is spent every year by North American businesses on account of stress.   Employees that are frequently absent cost companies money.   The unreliable help and the lack ... ... of stress.   The better we can adapt to life changes and stressful situations, the better off we will be emotionally, behaviorally, physically, and mentally. Works Cited Carter, Carol, Joyce Bishop, and Sarah Lyman Kravits.   Keys to Success. Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River, NJ; 2001. Cooper, Phyllis G.   Stress Management.ClinicalReferenceSystems.<http://galenet.Galegroup.com/servlet/HWRC/hits?rlt=1&c=3&year2=&year1=&tcit=1_1_0_0. p.1497; 2000.  Ã‚   In Brief-How Women Handle Stress: Is There A Difference? Harvard Mental Health   Letter.   Aprv17i10pNA:<http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/HWRC/hits?rlt=2&c=104&year2=&year1=&tcit=1_1_0_...> 2001. Morrison, Deborah.   Get a Grip on Stress.   Healthy & Natural Journal. Feb v8 i1 p50:<http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/HWRC/hits?rlt=2&c= 40&year2=&year1=&tcit=1_1_0...> 2001.

Participant Observation Essay

The two research methods in sociology are Quantitative and Qualitative. Quantitative research is typically about numbers and graphs. The purpose is to predict and classify results and create graphs and models to explain the results. The researcher is detached from the subject matter and knows exactly what they are looking for. This type of research method can begin with a thesis and is best utilized towards the end of an experiment. Qualitative research is almost the opposite. It is about the expression of the results in words or visual aids. The researcher is heavily involved in the subject matter and only knows roughly what they are looking for. This research method is best utilized towards the beginning of an experiment because the intrinsic evolutionary quality about this method (Neill, 2007). Both methods of research can be philosophically justified because they actually would work great hand in hand in one experiment. However, the practice of Qualitative research has a rich quality about it. This form of study gives leeway to freedom in experimentation. Not knowing exactly what you want to find out or learn in an experiment and a research process that is flexible is desirable to many researchers. Two research methods in anthropology are Participant Observation and Survey Research. Participant Observation involves a researcher fully immersing themself in a culture for an extended amount of time in order to experience that culture â€Å"from within† (Donohue-Lynch, 2014). This requires the researcher to participate in daily activities to gain understanding of what it means to be a native. This type of research method allows the environment and subject matter to direct the method of research. Survey Research consists of surveys, interviews, and questionnaires that give insight to a large population. It is important to consider the audience when formulating a question. The researcher must consider culture, language, and age among many other things because the question can be easily misinterpreted. Interviewing the subjects ask direct questions and leads the experiment. There are several methods of research in anthropology; however, Participant Observation appears to have some weight to its method. It seems that the best way to gain knowledge about a specific population would be to live like they do rather than question them about it, or see it in the media, or reference history. The best way to lend yourself to discovery is by fully immersing yourself in it and letting go of control, let the data uncover itself through intrinsic experiences. Each of the previously mentioned research methods is valuable to scientific study. Anthropological and Sociological research methods differ in that they aim to discover something different; they have different goals. Quantitative and Qualitative methods differ from each other in that the first utilizes a thesis and is better utilized at the beginning of an experiment and the latter does not have a clear set goal and is better utilized at the end of an experiment. However, they are the same in that they accurately examine a group of people or social group and are able to extrapolate information specific to their population through their research methods. Participant Observation and Survey Research differ in that the first uses visual aides and immersing oneself into a culture to gain knowledge about the subject groups habits and experience what it is like to be part of that group by becoming a member and participating in daily activities, the latter focuses on questionnaires, verbal or written, in order to gain information about a specific group of people by communicating and directing them to provide information that you desire, the process is more rigid and requires more technology than participant observation. However, they share a likeness in that they both reach a specific group and are effective in retrieving desired information. References Donohue-Lynch, B. (2014). Cultural anthropology: Methods. Retrieved on September 5, 2014 from http://www.qvctc.commnet.edu/brian/methods.html Neill, J. (2007) Qualitative versus quantitative research: Key points in a classic debate. Retrieved on September 4, 2014 from http://wilderdom.com/research/QualitativeVersusQuantitativeResearch.html.

College of Saint Elizabeth Admissions SAT Scores...

Reducing Humans Impact on Global Climate Change - 988 Words

Discuss the possible options of reducing the impact of human activity on global climate change. Both the cause and victim of climate change is human. There are a lot of current and potential threats, which are the consequences of climate change: the rising of sea level, loss of third of flora and fauna, droughts and famine. (McMullen, 2009) On the other side of the cycle, even climate change is considered as natural disaster, human activities encourage the deterioration of climate change. For example, burning fossil fuels produces billions tones of CO2, one of the greenhouse gases that contribute global warming. Global warming directly serves as an evidence of climate change. Climate change is not just about environmental issue; it is complex disaster which start of threats, causing serious political risks and security risk. Even climate change is not direct to cause a conflict, it has a potential risk to destabilize states, dispose population or even collapse the regimes. (Chalecki) As the human economic activities increase CO2 emission, it will at least bring to the regional environmental change. Environmental changes will change the agricultural output, which is the consequence of food shortage. Further, the famine is the motive to political disputes, ethnic tension and civil disputes. In subsequent years, this trend will continue to grow. In order to tackle with the problem of increasing of badly influence of human activities on changing of the climate there existShow MoreRelatedClimate Changes And Climate Change1016 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Climate change is a reality that is happening now, and that we can see its impact across the world† (Haddrill, 2014) Climate change is the changes in the pattern of the climate due to natural and human activities that has been used inappropriately. Climate is defined as the â€Å"average weather† (Calow, 1998) for a particular region. Climate change is the human activities that affect Earth’s climate by using the human activities inappropriately that leads to the warming of the Earth. Ther e are varietyRead More Global Warming Essay example953 Words   |  4 PagesGlobal Warming Global warming is an increase in the earths temperature due to fossil fuels, industry, and agricultural processes caused by human, natural, and other gas emissions. (Melissa Phillips). This results in an increased emission of greenhouse gases. (Caroline Quatman). Short-wave solar radiation sinks into the Earths atmosphere and warms its surface; while longwave infrared radiation emitted by earths surface is absorbed, and then re-emitted by trace gases. (Brent C. Willhoite) Read MoreIs Global Warming Due to Human Actions? Can the Human Race Take Action to Stop Global Warming?1529 Words   |  7 PagesNovember 19, 2012 Outline Is global warming due to human actions? Can the human race take action to stop global warming? Introduction Thesis Statement: Yes, human actions are definitely a factor in global warming. The fact that there have been natural cycles of climate change since earths formation, in past and recent centuries humans have influenced global climate change through the emission of greenhouse gases. The actions that humans should take to stop global warming are to reduce the greenhouseRead MoreThe Climate Disaster Is Inevitable Or Not?896 Words   |  4 PagesThe climate disaster is the social construction that world population have been embedded this idea through one generation to another generation in society. Actually, it seems like the long-lasting issue for not only regional level but also global level. Several studies might have demonstrated the causes and significant impacts of climate crisis. It is still popular argument in society, whether the climate disaster is currently inevitable or not. If it already occurred, what are the main factors?Read MoreGlobal Climate Change And The Global Environment1963 Words   |  8 Pagessituation of global environmental security, it seems that the rate of destruction to the world’s environment by humans is increasing and the damage is faster than it can be recovered (Fiona Harvey, 2016). There are many factors which play a fundamental role in destroying the global environment. The most visible one is the human’s incorrect activity that resulted in climate change which can be viewed as an enormous threat to environmental security. It is believed that the current local and global climaticRead MoreGlobal Warming Is Representative By Human Activities943 Words   |  4 PagesNowadays climate change is happening in our planet and has became a global issue. As a result, we are suffering more serious damage from the climate change including flooding,hurricane,Tsunami and so on. In my own opinion, even it might be late but we still have chance to improve those consequences and save our life by acting now. This essay would like to point out so me reasons of climate change, briefly analyse how it will effect to our life and gives some solutions we can do. There are severalRead MoreThe City Of Phoenix991 Words   |  4 Pagesof climatic change. Phoenix having a very large population. This is purely a clear indication that there are so many human activities that take place in the city Transportation in this city must comprise of many vehicles meaning that there is so much gas that emitted to the air by the vehicles hence the climate change. The congestion in the city also leaves it vulnerable to climate change. Also, phoenix have many industries, the industries will release many toxic gases to hurt human’s body and letRead MoreClimate Change And Its Effects On Humans1733 Words   |  7 PagesClimate Change Earth is the only known habitable planet to support life. Over 6 billion humans and billions of other living things depend on the earth’s climate to survive. However, since the past century things start to change due to human activity as well as natural occurrences. The unpredicted weather conditions, wild fires and earth quakes have killed and displaced thousands of humans and animals, and wiped out few species from the face of the earth. Some animals and plants are facing the sameRead MoreGlobal Warming And Its Effects Essay1774 Words   |  8 PagesGlobal warming has been affecting the Earth temperature for many years, caused mainly by greenhouse gases emissions from burning fuel that is used for generating power, operating vehicles, running factories and other industrial activities, all of which are human-caused and controlled, however one cannot simply live without. All of this has endangered the environment, including a tremendous rise in Earth temperature, many specie s becoming extinct, arctic ice melting on a rapid pace, sea levels risingRead MoreA Brief Note On Environmental Impacts Of Fracking1349 Words   |  6 PagesEnvironmental Impacts of Fracking In 2011, a report released by the International Energy Agency claims the world is entering the â€Å"Golden Age of Gas.† The report shows that, with the increasing projects of fracking, gas use will escalate 50 percent and replace coal to become the second largest fuel by the year of 2035 (IEA). Correspondingly, one study illustrates the increased practice of fracking has brought $ 74 billion economic gain per year since 2007 (Dews). Also, one oil company claims that

Causes of the Civil War - 951 Words

CAUSE OF THE CIVIL WAR In 1860, the world s greatest nation was locked in Civil War. The war divided the country between the North and South. There were many factors that caused this war, but the main ones were the different interpretations of the Constitution by the North and South, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and the arrival of Lincoln in office. These factors were very crucial in the bringing upon of the destruction of the Union. They caused immediate war. In 1791, the tenth amendment was added to the Constitution. The tenth amendment states that The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people. (Bailey 16) This†¦show more content†¦Some even called him an abolitionist. Stephan A. Douglas, one of the other runners for the presidency said in a speech about Lincoln ... Mr. Lincoln invites, by his proposition, a war of sections, a war between Illinois and Kentucky, a war between the free States and the slave states, a war between the North and South (Stampp, 80) Douglas believed Lincoln would cause war if he was elected because of his position in slavery. Lincoln, was elected president, but didn t receive much popularvotes. Almost all his votes came from the North. In winning the North, the railsplitter had split off the South. (Bailey, 435) Sectionalism could be seen with the votes given to each candidate from the states. Four days after Lincoln was elected, South Carolina called a special election in which they decided to secede from the Union. Ten more states followed South Carolina. Civil War began soon, lasting five years of bloodshed. The Civil War was caused by many reasons. The factors that were most responsible in causing the Civil War were the different views of the Constitution among the North and South, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and the arrival of Lincoln as president. They caused immense destruction throughout the nation. If these factors were prevented, the United States could have been preserved and civil war could have never occurred. Works Cited Bailey, Thomas A., and Kennedy, David M. The American Pageant. Lexington, Mass.: D.C. Heath and Company, 1994.Show MoreRelatedThe Causes Of The Civil War1016 Words   |  5 Pages In 1861, a Civil War broke out in the United States when the South declared their independence from the Union.  There is a great amount of reasons that people can argue how the Civil War was started. However, what most people don’t understand, is that most of the events leading up to the Civil War were related to slavery.  Slavery was the core of the North and South’s conflict, which led to a very vicious feud.   The immediate cause of the war was slavery. Southern states, including the 11 statesRead MoreThe Causes Of The Civil War1409 Words   |  6 PagesThe causes of the Civil War were complex and have been controversial since the country began. Some causes include; states’ rights, economics, and slavery. The most recognizable and popular cause is slavery. The freeing of the slaves was an important moral issue at the time and one of the greatest causes of the civil war. It was only by carefully avoiding the moral issue involved in slavery that Northerners and Southerners could meet on any common ground. (Goldston, 79). The time came in which ourRead MoreThe Cause of the Civil War800 Words   |  4 Pages The Cause of the Civil War Generally, it is thought to be the South’s fault for causing the Civil War. Contrary to popular belief, the Civil War was mainly provoked by the North; through using the federal government to overtake the South, removing slavery which would destroy Southern economy, and creating the moral issue of slavery. The North was the primary reason for the start of a war that ripped our country apart. The North had full control over the federal government and used that to suppressRead MoreCivil War Causes1382 Words   |  6 Pages Causes of the Civil War John Brown’s Raid vs. Industrial Revolution John Brown’s Raid was a more influential cause to the civil war than the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution caused incompability between the North and the South. The North relied on wage laborers with the new machine age economy while the South relied heavily on slaves. So, the North did not need slaves for their economyRead MoreCauses Of The Civil War1740 Words   |  7 PagesThe Civil War was not an event that erupted overnight or something that no one had seen coming. It was a result of long stemming conflicts. â€Å"The road to civil war was complex and multi-faceted† (Wells, 1). These conflicts kept creating a divide amongst the states in the nation. The divide finally became so great, that the United States split into the Confederacy (South) and the Union (North), and fighting erupted. â€Å" â€Å"The Civil War,† Randall Jimerson observes, â€Å"became a total war involving the entireRead MoreThe Causes Of The Civil War1238 Words   |à ‚  5 PagesGalindo Mr. Scheet AP U.S History 5 November 2017 Unit 4 Essay The initial causes of the Civil War have been previously discussed and analyzed by historians, but have remained one of the most controversial debates, due to its numerous causes that created the most devastating war in American history. The country had been avoiding the disputes that would later become the causes of the civil war for decades. The Mexican War is proof that the issue of slavery was put on hold by President James K. PolkRead MoreCause of the Civil War1296 Words   |  6 PagesHistory 11 12/17/2006 The root causes and precipitating events that led to the Civil War (1861-1865) The Civil War between northern and southern states was a consequence of contradictions 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 separationRead MoreCauses of the Civil War1489 Words   |  6 PagesThe Causes Of The Civil War The Political War The North and South fought over politics, mainly the idea of slavery. Basically the South wanted and needed it and the North did not want it at all. The South was going to do anything they could to keep it. This was the issue that overshadowed all others. At this time the labor force in the South had about 4 million slaves. These slaves were very valuable to the slaveholding planter class. They were a huge investment to Southerners and if taken awayRead MoreThe Causes Of Civil War2004 Words   |  9 PagesGà ¶ksel What are the causes of Civil War? Do ethnic determinants play an important role? Why are certain parts of Africa characterized by ethnic conflict while other parts remain relatively calm? The conventional understanding on the causes of civil war especially within African countries, to a considerable degree, has being predominantly characterized to draw its root on ethnic divergences. However, such premise appear extremely difficult to be true, owing to the fact that civil war is a complex actionRead MoreThe Cause Of The Civil War Essay1940 Words   |  8 PagesKelah Lehart Mr. Henkel American History I October 14, 2016 The Causes of the Civil War The American Civil War divided the nation because there were tensions between the North, non-slavery states, and the South that focused on the expansion of slavery. The South believed that Abraham Lincoln planned to eliminate slavery which would destroy the growth of cotton. Eleven southern states then seceded from the Union, and became known as the Confederate States of America. When Abraham Lincoln was elected

Phineas Gage free essay sample

Since, Phinaes life the research has been able to uncover the many miracles on how his life changed on that fatal day which changed his life forever. Phineas Gage The forebrain plays a significant part in cognitive functions. It is also the anterior and largest portion of the brain. The forebrain includes the central hemispheres, that includes the limbic system, thalamus, hypothalamus and the callosum. Each of the hemispheres are divided into four lobes. Frontal, parietal, occipital and temporal are the four lobes. The forebrain controls cognitive functioning.The cognitive functions are: sensory and motor function, temperature regulating, reproductive, eating, sleeping, and displays emotions. In 1848 an unforeseen accident happen when Phineas Gage was preparing an explosive hole that required the use of a tamping iron. The tamper iron hit the rock causing a spark to ignited the explosive power and sent the tamper iron though the cheek bone on the left side and exited through the top of the head and into the air landing 30 feet away. We will write a custom essay sample on Phineas Gage or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page How might this affect his cognitive functioning? Phineas GagePhineas Gage would not know till months and years later what damage was done to his brain and how it would affect his cognitive functioning. John Martin Harlow was the attending physician that cleaned Gages wounds by removing small bone fragments and replaced the large fragments of the skull that remained but where displaced. He covered the wound by placing straps on Gages head and a wet compress on the opening. The wound was left open to drain. A few days later Gages brain became infected and Maslow drained pus from the abscess under the scalp. Haslow, described the iron as entering the cranium, passing through the anterior left lob of the cerebrum, and exited in the medial line, at the junction of the coronal and sagittal sutures, lacerating the longitudinal sinus, fracturing the parietal and frontal bones extensively, breaking up portions of the brain, and protruding the globe of the left eye from its socket (Scienceblogs. com,MO,2007). By January 1849 everyone could see a change in Phineas behavior. Friends where stating that he was not the Phineas that they had known in the past.His injury had changed him to be irreverent, indulging at times in gross profanity, impatient, would not except advise, could not follow through on plans. With this happening he could not have his job back on the railroad construction crew. Cognitive changes in Phineas Gage With the injury Gage had with the iron precising and going through the brain there had to be some cognitive change in the areas that Haslow described. These areas of the brain that would be affected would be the cerebral cortex lobes that are the frontal lobe that is involved with decision-making, problem solving, and planning.The parietal lobe that receives and processes sensory information and the temporal lobe that is involved with emotional responses, memory, and speech. Also effected would parts of the limbic system structure to include the amygdala which involves emotional responses and memory, along with the substantia nigra that helps to control voluntary movement and regulates mood(brianexplorer. org/forebrain). Conclusion The study of the human brain has come so far since the accident that happen at the railroad site in 1848 with Phineas Gage.Studies have shown how the different parts of the brain is divided and how each part works in different ways as far as cognitive functioning. Parts of the cerebral cortex lobes: controls vision, color, emotions, memory and speech. While parts of the limbic system is also involved with emotional responses sensory input concerning emotions, and memory. the part of the brain that was damaged also produced epilepsy where there was an abnormal bust of electrical signals that interrupts the normal electrical brain functions.