The Hunger Games The Capitol - 851 Words

In The Hunger Games the Capitol is a place of vast wealth while the districts especially the districts of eleven and twelve are living in poverty. This wealth that the Capitol has it a type of social control because it keeps the districts from being able to gain the ability to fight back against the Capitol due to their poverty status. The poverty in the districts is so bad that Katniss Everdeen from District Twelve requires that she break a law of the Capitol’s, which is not leaving the fenced area. She does this in order to keep her and her family from starving to death. Katniss states, â€Å"Technically, Gale and I could be whipped on a daily basis for poaching in the woods† (Collins 202-203). This poverty is also seen in District Eleven when Rue says, â€Å"I’ve never had a whole leg to myself before† (202). Rue also talks about how they grow food but they are not allowed to eat it. (202) The Capitol makes it illegal to go outside the Districts because it could lead to the Districts to banding together and creating another rebellion and it is a means for Katniss to keep herself fed without relying on the Capitol to survive from starving to death. This is an issue of social control the Capitol is deliberately keeping the Districts hunger to have ultimate power over them. They also have a system called a tesserae which allows the children who are eligible for the reaping to get a â€Å"year’s supply of grain and oil for one person† (13). They get his if they put their names in theShow MoreRelatedThe Hunger Games Trilogy1719 Words   |  7 PagesHirschhorn Essay 10/16/12 The trilogy of The Hunger Games written by Suzanne Collins, focuses on a country that is being controlled by an oppressive government and the people who are fighting against it for their freedom. Although the odds are against the rebels, they continue to combat tyranny at the risk of their own lives. The story takes place in the not too distant future in a country called Panem, which represents the United States. The Capitol, which is the center of the national governmentRead MoreSocial Control and The Hunger Games Essay1110 Words   |  5 PagesThe Hunger Games, a film based off of a novel written by Susan Collins, was released in March of 2012. The film, and the book it was based on, chronicles the struggles of a girl named Katniss Everdeen, a girl who lives in a poverty stricken province or â€Å"District†, until untimely circumstances forces her to play in the Hunger Games, a gladiatorial like contest where children between the ages of 12 and 18 are forced to fight to the death. A contest that was set up by an oppressive and authoritarianRead MoreEssay on Hunger Games686 Words   |  3 PagesThe Hunger Games The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins has many characteristics of a dystopian society. Propaganda is used throughout the book to control the citizens of society. The people of the twelve districts have their Information, independent thought, and freedom restricted. The type of dystopian control present is corporate control. Propaganda is use to control the citizens of society. â€Å"The real message is clear, ‘Look how we take your children and sacrifice them and there’s nothing youRead MoreThe Hunger Games vs. Gladiatorial Games1358 Words   |  6 PagesThe Huger Games The Hunger Games is a game, that occurs annually and it is set up by the ruling Capitol to show the other 12 districts of Panem that the Capitol owns them and that they are in-charge and it also serves as a merciless reminder to the price of rebellion against the Capitol. The hunger games consist of twenty-four teenagers, a male and a female from each twelve districts and they range in ages of twelve to eighteen. They are put in an arena, that differs every year and they have toRead MoreHunger Games Sociology Essay1098 Words   |  5 PagesSuzanne Collins’ novel The Hunger Games and its big screen adaptation follow the journey of a teenage girl in the dystopian country of Panem. Katniss Everdeen must fight to survive in a game of death against other youth from the twelve districts in Panem. However, The Hunger Games is not just a young adult genre obsession, but also a complex study of the social sciences. The symbolism and plot of The Hunger Games are prime examples of Soci ology because they display different societal rules and normsRead MoreHunger Game Essay : The Hunger Games By Katniss Everdeen1235 Words   |  5 PagesKatniss Everdeen is the main protagonist in Suzanne Collins trilogy: The Hunger Games. She is highlighted by her responsibility, loyalty, morality, bravery, independence and her compassion towards others. Katniss becomes the victim of her totalitarian government and unwillingly becomes the center of a revolution. The hunger games trilogy tells the story of war and its effects on the innocent. Katniss’ strong qualities shine through the suffering of realistic consequences and outcomes. Her qualitiesRead MoreThe Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins984 Words   |  4 PagesSuzanne Collins’ dystopian novel The Hunger Games, published in 2008, portrayed a post-apocalyptic Northern America, in the hedonistic nation of Panem. The Hunger Games were an annually televised event in which the governing body, â€Å"The Capitol†, appointed two tributes from each impoverished district. Twenty-four children were in opposition of each other and were forced to compete for their survival. The novel concentrated on the link between the contemporary society to an enhanced adapted dystopianRead MoreSociology of Hunger Games1719 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿ Sociology of â€Å"Hunger Games† By. Tom ************ Soc 101 11/17/13 Introduction The nation of Panem has risen out of the ravaged ruins of what was once known as North America. 74 years ago, the poverty-stricken districts of Panem rebelled against the wealthy, controlling the Capitol. After its crushing victory, the Capitol devised the Hunger Games as an annual reminder to the twelve districts of its authority, and as continuing punishment for the rebellionRead MoreEssay about The Hanger Games by Suzanne Collins983 Words   |  4 Pages‘The Hunger Games’. This intense novel is set in a time period after a rebellion in North America left the country destroyed, divided into 12 districts and being controlled by the Capitol. Katniss Everdeen is the main protagonist and is from the poverty stricken district 12, completely opposite from the Capitol which is the place that is rich in wealth and power over the 12 districts. Every year a male and female between the ages of 12-18 from each district get chosen and sent to the Capitol to competeRead MoreSuzanne Collins The Hunger Games Essay1359 Words   |  6 Pagespaper, I choose to write about the drama in the movie The Hunger Games. This movie is not just only drama, it is also adventure and sci-fi movie. The Hunger Games is a movie and a book from the trilogy The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins; which also includes The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay. The Hunger Games movie is about how each year there is an annual event called the hunger games. In the hunger games they are two people, one boy and one girl who range from the

The Emperor Of The Flavian Dynasty - 2990 Words

Domitian was a Roman emperor from 81 to 96, and was the third and last emperor of the Flavian dynasty. Domitian s early career was spent in the shadow of his brother Titus. This continued under the rule of his father Vespasian, who became emperor in 69 following the civil war, which is known as the Year of the Four Emperors. While Titus held many offices under the rule of his father, Domitian received honors but no responsibilities. When Vespasian died in 79 he was succeeded by Titus, whose own reign came to an unexpected end when he was struck by a fatal illness in 81. The following day Domitian was declared Emperor by the Praetorian Guard, beginning his reign that lasted fifteen years. As Emperor, Domitian strengthened the economy by†¦show more content†¦After Domitian died, the senate tried to erase all memory of his existence, while senatorial authors like Suetonius published histories making Domitian seem like a cruel tyrant. Modern history has rejected these views, instead characterizing Domitian as a ruthless but efficient autocrat whose cultural, economic and political program provided the foundation of the peaceful 2nd century. Early Life Domitian was born in Rome on October 24, 51, and was the youngest son of Titus Flavius Vespasianus, commonly known as Vespasian. He had an older sister, Domitilla the Younger, and brother, also named Titus Flavius Vespasianus. The Flavians rose to prominence in just four generations, acquiring wealth and status under the emperors of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Domitian s great-grandfather, Titus Flavius Petro, had served as a centurion under Pompey during Caesar s civil war. However, his military career ended in disgrace when he fled the battlefield at the Battle of Pharsalus in 48 BC. Petro managed to improve his status by marrying the extremely wealthy Tertulla, whose fortune guaranteed the upwards mobility of Petro s son Titus Flavius Sabinus I, Domitian s grandfather. Sabinus gained further wealth and possible equestrian status through his services as tax collector in Asia and banker in Helvetia. By marrying Vespasia Polla he allied the Flavian family to the more prestigious gens Vespasia, ensuring the elevation of his sons Titus Flavius Sabinus II and Vespasian to

Application of Fluorescence Spectroscopy Free Essays

Application of Fluorescence Spectroscopy in Chemical Oceanography: Tracing Colored Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) Erika Mae A. Espejo 3rd year, BS Chemistry, University of the Philippines, Diliman Abstract Dissolved organic matter (DOM), the fraction passing through a 0. 45 Â µm membrane filter, is considered poorly understood mixture of organic polymers because of its complexity. We will write a custom essay sample on Application of Fluorescence Spectroscopy or any similar topic only for you Order Now Although it largely influences a lot of biogeochemical processes in aquatic environments, its characterization is not that simple. However, due to the fact that it comprises optically active fraction called colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) together with the help of its colloidal components, tracing of DOM can be possible. Through different methods and instruments such as fluorescence excitation-emission spectroscopy, parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC), isolation-fractionation technique (pairing of fluorescence and absorbance spectroscopy), and satellite remote sensors, analysis of DOM can be done which can help elucidate its dynamics in aquatic environments. Introduction When a molecule absorbs light (energy), an electron is excited and promoted to an unoccupied orbital. Figure 1 shows a Jablonski diagram which describes what happens when an electron is excited: Fig. 1 Jablonski diagram The energy difference between the ground (S 0) and excited singlet states (S1, S2 or higher) determines the wavelengths at which light is absorbed. Absorption (excitation) can result in a range of transitions to various vibrational sublevels of excited singlet states, which is then followed by nonradiative relaxation to the lowest sublevel of the S 1 state, via vibrational relaxation and internal conversion. Internal conversion, singlet–triplet intersystem crossing and fluorescence then compete for relaxation to the ground state (S 0). The wavelength of the fluorescence emission is determined by the difference in energy between S1 and S0 states. The greater the conjugation in the molecule, the lesser the difference in energy resulting in a longer wavelength of fluorescence. Discussion The fraction passing through a 0. 45 Â µm filter includes material in true solution, together with some colloidal components, and is termed dissolved organic matter (DOM). It could be autochthonous/external (from degradation of terrestrial plant matter which is dissolved and transported through river systems and estuaries to the marine environment), or allochthonous/internal (from exudation by phytoplankton, excretion by zooplankton, and post-death organism decay process). DOM influences different aspects of aquatic environments like microbial and plankton (aquatic) ecology, trace metal speciation and transport, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) toxicity, trace water masses, mobilization of organic and inorganic pollutants, photo degradation, drinking water treatment, and carbon budgeting. This implies that tracing and characterization of DOM is essential to understand its dynamics; however, since DOM is a complex and poorly understood heterogeneous mixture of aliphatic and aromatic polymers, and its composition varies in time and space depending on proximity to sources and exposure to degradation process, characterization is arduous (involves large sample volumes and many stages) [4]. The optically active fraction of DOM (passing through a 0. 2 Â µm filter) is called the colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM). It absorbs ultraviolet and blue light radiation in 350-500 nm range and also fluoresces when excited by light . Its presence gives water a yellow/brown color (and often described as yellow substance or gelbstoff) and its light absorption is highest in the ultraviolet (UV) region and declines to near-zero levels in the red region of the spectrum [2]. It plays an important role in determining the underwater light fields, represents a significant component of ocean optical signals for satellite-based measurements of ocean color and can interfere in global and regional estimates of primary production; affects the ocean color, underwater light fields and aquatic chemistry through a suite of sunlight-initiated photochemical processes [3]. Thus, using spectroscopy, it can be used as a tracer for the characterization of the DOM pool. This review discusses four approaches in fluorescence spectroscopy for tracing CDOM. The first one is the Fluorescence Emission-Excitation Spectroscopy. Fluorescence excitationemission matrices (EEMs) are emission scans from excitations over a range of wavelengths (? ) which provide information on number, types and abundance of fluorophores present in CDOM [4] . It can also ifferentiate between CDOM of terrestrial and marine origin (marine CDOM has a fluorescence maximum at shorter wavelengths than terrestrial). For multivariate analysis of EEMs, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), a two-way data analysis method is used (for example 45 excitation ? times 150 emission ? equals 6750 variables). However, Stedmon et. al said that Parallel Factor Analysis (PARAFAC) is better suited to EEMs since it is a three-way version of the PCA where the data are composed into tri-linear components. Equation 1 describes the PARAFAC model (the second approach): xijk = ? ifbifckf + ? ijk (1) where xijk is the intensity of the fluorescence for the ith sample at emission wavelength j and excitation wavelength k, aif is directly proportional to the concentration (moles) of the fth analyte in sample I, b jf is linearly related to the fluorescence quantum efficiency (fraction of absorbed energy emitted as fluorescence), ckf is linearly proportional to the specific absorption coefficient (molar absorbtivity) at excitation wavelength k, F defines the number of components in the model, and a residual matrix ? jk represents the variability not accounted for by the model. Figure 2 and figure 3 show that the model reproduces the main features of the measured EEMs when they sampled in the east coast of Jutland, Denmark: This implies that PARAFAC modeling is an effective method of characterizing CDOM with EEMs. This approach was able to trace CDOM to help elucidate its dynamics: Stedmon et. al said t hat the model was successful in grouping the fluorophores present into groups with similar structure. They have found out that excitation at longer ? uggests that the fluorophores responsible for this fluorescence are more aromatic in nature or contain several functional groups, the ratio of fluorescence in this region (~500 nm) relative to the fluorescence at 450 nm, varies depending on the number of aromatic groups and, hence, the source of the material, and ratios twice as large in the estuary than in the terrestrial samples, suggests that the fluorescence is not only due to terrestrially derived matter but also CDOM produced/transformed in estuarine processes. As with the behavior of CDOM, results show that this approach distinguishing is capable between of CDOM derived from different sources since there are considerable differences in the composition of CDOM from sources of DOM. Table 1 shows the behavior of CDOM from different sources: Table 1. Behavior of CDOM from different sources High fluorescence intensity Low fluorescence intensity Lakes: there is a net production of ? Transported out of the forest and again autochthonous DOM during estuarine mixing (where the freshwater input from the stream mixes with the saline waters of the inner estuary) ? In freshwater: due to mixing (dilution), and degradation/transformation ? In forest stream: photochemical degradation due to exposure to sunlight (photochemical degradation bleaches the DOM fluorescence and causes the specific fluorescence to decrease) ? Results show that this approach enables us to establish relationships between general characteristics of the DOM pool and its fluorescent properties. The third approach is the isolation-fractionation based techniques ((ion-exchange resins, reverse osmosis, rotary evaporation, and tangential flow ultrafiltration). However this approach uses isolates which may not completely reflect the actual structure, behaviour, interactions and reactivity of DOM in the natural environment due to alterations in the structure of the DOM during extraction and concentration and due to their removal from the original environment in which they were situated. Nevertheless, the paired fluorescence and absorbance measurements can still distinguish CDOM from different sources. Figure 4 shows that DOC against a340 for all sample sites and demonstrates a strong correlation (r=0. 9, n=30); a340 was found to be the best proxy for DOC from all the optical measurements taken, where a340 is absorption coefficient at 340 nm (provide a check for inner-filtering effects when highly absorbent DOM quenches fluorescence, resulting in a decrease in intensity): Fig. 4 Relationship of DOC and a340 measured in River Tyne, northern England The last approach is through satellite remote sensing, a method that could estimate the amount o f CDOM in surface waters over large geographic areas would be highly desirable. Satellite remote sensing has the potential to CDOM observation with high spatial and temporal resolution and enables scaling up to the level of large ecosystems and biomes which implies that match-ups have really high correlation (hence approach is [3] . Figure 5 below shows satellite measurements of CDOM successful and verified): Satellite-derived CDOM products will allow us to estimate processed such as ecosystem production of DOM and sunlight decomposition of CDOM [7] . The new odel will also allow us to validate the remote sensing estimates of phytoplankton (chlorophyll concentration) and productivity, and may open up new possibilities for using ocean color remote sensing with studies in areas such as photochemistry, the photobiology of ultraviolet radiation and even ocean circulation [3]. Conclusion The importance of CDOM in tracing and characterizing DOM has been showed through the use of its optical properties; thus enabling us to explain the dynamics of its pool. The use of fluorescence spectroscopy makes it possible to distinguish the properties of CDOM which can enlighten us on how it influences the biogeochemical processes in the aquatic environments (for example the absorbance measurements can tell us what components of CDOM are present, its molecular weight, it sources, etc), and how it behaves in different environments. References: [1] Andy Bakera, Robert G. M. Spencer. Characterization of dissolved organic matter from source to ea using fluorescence and absorbance spectroscopy [2] C. A. Stedmon*, S. Markager . Behaviour of the optical properties of coloured dissolved organic matter under conservative mixing [3] S. P. Tiwari, P. Shanmugam. An optical model for the remote sensing of coloured dissolved organic matter in coastal/ocean waters [4] Colin A. Stedmona, Stiig Markagera, Rasmus Bro. Tracing dissolved organic matter in aquatic environments using a new approach to fluorescence spectroscopy [5] Claude Belzile, Laodong Guo. Optical properties of low molecular weight and colloidal organic matter: Application of the ultrafiltration permeation model to DOM absorption and fluorescence [6] C. Romera-Castillo, M. Nieto-Cid, C. G. Castro , C. Marrase, J. Largier, E. D. Barton, X. A. Alvarez-Salgado. Fluorescence: Absorption coefficient ratio — Tracing photochemical and microbial degradation processes affecting coloured dissolved organic matter in a coastal system [7] http://neptune. gsfc. nasa. gov/science/slides. php? sciid=73 How to cite Application of Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Essay examples

Beloved 2 Essay Example For Students

Beloved 2 Essay BelovedIn regards to the novel Beloved Toni Morrison says, â€Å"The novel can’t be driven by slavery. It has to be the interior life of some people, a small group of people, and everything that they do is impacted on by the horror of slavery, but they are also people.† Critics argue that the novel is driven by slavery and that the interior life of the protagonists is secondary. This is true because most of the major events in the story relate to some type of slavery. The slavery that drives the novel does not have to be strictly physicalslavery. Morrison’s characters are slaves physically and mentally. Although they are former slaves, they are forever trapped by horrible memories. We will write a custom essay on Beloved 2 specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The type of slavery the novel initially depicts does not correspond to what really happened to slaves in the 1800s. At Sweet Home, Mr. and Mrs. Garner treated their slaves like real people. Mr. Garner is proud of his slaves and treats them like men, not animals. . . . they were Sweet Home men the ones Mr. Garner bragged about while other farmers shook their heads in warning at the phrase. He said, â€Å". . . my niggers is men every one of em. Bought em thataway, raised em thataway. Men every one.†1 The things that occurred at Sweet Home while Mr. Garner is alive are rather conservative compared to what slaves actually suffered during this time period. Under the management of schoolteacher, things change dramatically. He turns Sweet Home into a real slave plantation. He treats and refers to the slaves as animals. He is responsible for the horrible memories embedded in Sethe and Paul D. Sethe feels the impact of slavery to its fullest extent. Slavery pushes her to kill her baby daughter. She feels that is the only way to protect her beloved daughter from the pain and suffering she would endure if she became a slave. The minute she sees schoolteachers hat, Sethe’s first instinct is to protect her children. Knowing that slave catchers will do anything to bring back fugitive slaves and that dead slaves are not worth anything, Sethe took matters into her own hands. On page 164 Sethe says, â€Å"I stopped him. I took and put my babies where they’d be safe.† Paul D asks, â€Å"How? Your boys gone you don’t know where. One girl dead, the other won’t leave the yard. How did it work?† â€Å"They ain’t at Sweet Home. Schoolteacher ain’t got em,† replies Sethe. This one incident does not only affect Sethe, but it changes things for Beloved and Denver as well. Beloved loses her life to slavery. Her own mother sacrifices her existence in order to keep her out of slavery. As for Denver, she is indirectly affected by the horrors of slavery. She has to put up with living in a haunted house because her mother refuses to run away again. On page 15 Sethe says, â€Å"I got a tree on my back and a haint in my house, and nothing in between but the daughter I am holding in my arms. No more running from nothing. I will never run from another thing on this earth.†Sethe becomes a slave again when she realizes who Beloved really is. She feels indebted to Beloved for taking her life. In an effort to gain forgiveness, Sethe decides to focus all her energy on pleasing Beloved. When once or twice Sethe tried to assert herself be the unquestioned mother whose word was law and who knew what was best Beloved slammed things, wiped the table clean of plat es, threw salt on the floor, broke a windowpane. Nobody said, You raise your hand to me and I will knock you into the middle of next week. No, no. They mended the plates, swept the salt, and little by little it dawned on Denver that if Sethe didn’t wake up one morning and pick up a knife, Beloved might.2Then there’s Paul D, who replaces his â€Å"red heart† with a tin tobacco box. He refuses to love anything strongly and establish long term relationships because he is still hurting from losing his brothers and friends to schoolteacher. Schoolteacher also takes his pride and manhood away by forcing him to wear a bit. Paul D compares himself to a chicken. .u054c0d62084b4e0ed49015ace43bc513 , .u054c0d62084b4e0ed49015ace43bc513 .postImageUrl , .u054c0d62084b4e0ed49015ace43bc513 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u054c0d62084b4e0ed49015ace43bc513 , .u054c0d62084b4e0ed49015ace43bc513:hover , .u054c0d62084b4e0ed49015ace43bc513:visited , .u054c0d62084b4e0ed49015ace43bc513:active { border:0!important; } .u054c0d62084b4e0ed49015ace43bc513 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u054c0d62084b4e0ed49015ace43bc513 { 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; } .u054c0d62084b4e0ed49015ace43bc513:active , .u054c0d62084b4e0ed49015ace43bc513:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u054c0d62084b4e0ed49015ace43bc513 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u054c0d62084b4e0ed49015ace43bc513 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u054c0d62084b4e0ed49015ace43bc513 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u054c0d62084b4e0ed49015ace43bc513 .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; } .u054c0d62084b4e0ed49015ace43bc513:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u054c0d62084b4e0ed49015ace43bc513 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u054c0d62084b4e0ed49015ace43bc513 .u054c0d62084b4e0ed49015ace43bc513-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u054c0d62084b4e0ed49015ace43bc513:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Phenomenon Of Bipolar Affective Disorder Has Been A Mystery Since EssayOn page 72 he says, â€Å"But wasn’t no way I’d ever be Paul D again, living or dead. Schoolteacherchanged me. I was something else and that something else was less than a chicken sitting in the sun on a tub.†As a member of the chain gang he suffers another type of slavery because he is both a prisoner and a sexual servant. Even after he escapes and is a free man, Paul D is still a slave. He is a slave to his memory. Having been through so many horrible events, he has trouble finding happiness again. In her novel, Morrison uses the phrase, â€Å"Freeing yourself was one thing; claiming ownership of that freed self was another.†This applies to each and every one of her characters. Sethe will always be haunted by the memory of killing her own flesh and blood. It will be a long time until Paul D is ready to turn his tin box back into a red heart. While Denver finally ventures out of 124, she is not going to forget being shunned by the community and being held captive by her own house. As for Beloved, she is her own slave. Her constant dependency on Sethe makes her weak. Beloved needs to free herself from Sethe. Though it is hard, she needs to accept what has happened and move on. Beloved is about a group of people and how they deal with life’s hardships. Many issues in the story deal with control. There is a constant struggle for power throughout the novel. Each character fights to free him/herself from something or someone. The major theme in the story is freedom and how to acquire it. The critics are correct in saying that the novel is primari ly about slavery, but they should mention that slavery means more than just being an indentured servant.