Friday, December 27, 2019

The Reluctant Fundamentalist Monologuw Essay - 867 Words

ESL TEXT RESPONSE ESSAY – The Reluctant Fundamentalist The novel is presented in the form of one man’s monologue. Discuss the effects of this narrative structure. 808 words ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’ by Mohsin Hamid uses the narrative technique monologue, which is a long uninterrupted speech of a character directly addressing another character or the audience. The use of monologue facilitates Hamid’s viewpoints to go across the reader effortlessly. The effect of the usage of monologue is that Hamid engages the reader directly drawing them into the narrative by the creation of a nameless American character who mirrors the audience. Another outcome of using monologue is that it silences American’s point of view and therefore Hamid†¦show more content†¦Monologue explicitly silences American point of view. â€Å"As a society, you were unwilling to reflect up on the shared pain that united you with those who attacked you.† Changez tells his listener that he believes that America has no capacity to see itself as a part of the wider world. By giving a voice to Changez, who embody a Pakistani or non- American point of view, the novel turns the situation and answer back to America. By the usage of monologue ESL TEXT RESPONSE ESSAY – The Reluctant Fundamentalist The novel is presented in the form of one man’s monologue. Discuss the effects of this narrative structure. 808 words Hamid is giving his message that it the time for the non-American to speak and share their feelings related to 9/11 attack to the world. Criticising the American campaign in Afghanistan, Changez illustrates â€Å"the partisan and sports events like coverage given to the mismatch between the American bombers with their twenty- first century weaponry and ill- equipped and ill-fed Afghan tribes men.† The American voice that has been loudest, most pervasive voice in the international media since September 11 is silenced in the novel. Through the novel and by the usage of monologue Hamid point out that it is not only Americans who has their interpretation of 9/11 attack, the rest of the world has also their own perceptions on the event. The employment of monologue also creates an unreliable narrator. â€Å"There is no reason why this incident

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Julius Caesar A Tragic Hero - 849 Words

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare is the story of ancient Rome during the time that Caesar took over. Caesar returns to Rome, after defeating the former leader, Pompey. Cassius and other conspirators convince Brutus, a nobleman, to join in on their plot against Caesar. Brutus and the others gather around Caesar, on the ides of March, to stab him. They stabbed Caesar 23 times and eventually he dies. Brutus takes over Rome, but followers of Caesar, Antony and Octavius, oppose Brutus and they go to war. Although Brutus is the nobleman who took over Rome to end the tyranny of Caesar, Antony and his army defeat Brutus. Despite taking part in the killing of Caesar, Brutus is a good example of a tragic hero because he is a†¦show more content†¦Brutus joins the plot against Caesar for the sake of Rome. He agrees to become a member of the conspiracy because he received fake letters begging him to open his eyes to Caesars wrongdoings. However, Brutus and the other co nspirators killing Caesar cause a war to break out. Brutus and Cassius fight Antony and Octavius for leadership of Rome. Brutus kills himself during this time and he speaks of seeing Caesars ghost right before his death. â€Å"The ghost of Caesar hath appeared to me/ Two several times by night; at Sardis once,/ And this last night here in Philippi fields./ I know my hour is come†(5.5.17-20). The appearance of Caesar’s ghost explains that Brutus’ decision to join the conspiracy and kill Caesar lead to his own death, and also losing the war. These important events are as a result of Brutus working to take over Rome. A final characteristic of a tragic hero is making mistakes in judgement that lead to a downfall. In The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Brutus does this a number of times. First, Brutus decides that it is not wise to kill both Antony and Caesar. He says, â€Å"For Antony is but a limb of Caesar./ Let’s be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius† ( 2.1.165-166). Brutus believed that Antony would be harmless without Caesar. In the end, Antony ends up rising up against Brutus and defeating his army. Secondly, Brutus made the decision to march to Philippi.Show MoreRelatedJulius Caesar : A Tragic Hero934 Words   |  4 PagesJulius Caesar is a work of art by William Shakespeare in 1599. Within this play Julius Caesar is portrayed as a tragic hero. A tragic hero is defined as â€Å"the main character of a tragedy [who is] usually dignified, courageous, and high ranking† (novel study guide). Also vital to defining a tragic hero is that, â€Å"the hero’s downfall is caused by a tragic flaw† ( novel study guide). It is very evident that Julius Caesar in William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar is a tragic hero given that he is of nobleRead MoreJulius Caesar : A Tragic Hero863 Words   |  4 PagesJulius Caesar is a well known piece of literature written by William Shakespeare in 1599. Within this play Julius C aesar is portrayed as a tragic hero. A tragic hero is defined as â€Å"the main character of a tragedy (who is) usually dignified, courageous, and high ranking† (Novel Study Guide). Also vital to defining a tragic hero is that, â€Å"the hero’s downfall is caused by a tragic flaw† (Novel Study Guide). It is evident that Julius Caesar in William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar is a tragic hero givenRead MoreJulius Caesar : A Tragic Hero1171 Words   |  5 PagesJulius Caesar Julius Caesar, the greatest war hero and most noble of all wanted to be praised by all Roman citizens wanted to achieve power to rule as a king. The play is set in ancient Rome in the year 44 B.C. when the Roman general Julius Caesar was almost ruler of the entire world at the highest point in his career. Within this play Julius Caesar is portrayed as a tragic hero. A tragic hero is defined as â€Å"the main character of a tragedy [who is] usually dignified, courageous, and high ranking†Read MoreJulius Caesar : A Tragic Hero937 Words   |  4 Pages Caesar the Great Julius Caesar is a work of art by William Shakespeare in 1599. Within this play Julius Caesar is portrayed as a tragic hero. A tragic hero is defined as â€Å"the main character of a tragedy [who is] usually dignified, courageous, and high ranking† (novel study guide). Also vital to defining a tragic hero is that, â€Å"the hero’s downfall is caused by a tragic flaw† ( novel study guide). It is very evident that Julius Caesar in William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar is a tragic hero givenRead MoreTragic Hero In Julius Caesar829 Words   |  4 Pages What is a tragic hero? A tragic hero is a person, of noble birth, with heroic potential but doomed by fate. The hero struggles against his fate but eventually fails because of a mistake or even a flaw. In Shakespeare’s play, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, a character may come to mind and fit this definition, Marcus Brutus. In this play, Julius Caesar’s ambition for power drove the honorable Brutus t o think negatively about Caesar’s position of being the king of Rome. The honorable Brutus shows hisRead MoreThe Tragic Hero Of Julius Caesar1793 Words   |  8 PagesAs Caesar dies, he gasps, â€Å"Et tu, Brute?† (III. i. 77). To betray a close friend for the better of the country only to have it end all in vain is a tragedy in its own. For Brutus, this is his journey in Shakespeare’s play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. Although the play is named after Caesar, it is evident that Brutus is the tragic hero as the audience watches the events of the play unfold. Brutus’s characteristics and actions line up perfectly with Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero which statesRead More Julius Caesar - Tragic Hero Essay1028 Words   |  5 Pages Julius Caesar as a Tragic Hero amp;#9;Julius Caesar is a play written by William Shakespeare during the year 1597. Julius Caesar’s story involves a conspiracy against Julius Caesar, a powerful senator. The play involves a highly respected senator, Brutus, who decides to join the conspiracy to kill Julius Caesar, in the effort to keep democracy intact. Brutus believes that if Julius Caesar is allowed to live, Caesar will take a kingship and turn the government into a monarchy. Brutus, CassiusRead MoreJulius Caesar the True Tragic Hero1526 Words   |  7 Pagesonce said â€Å"A man doesn’t become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall.† These words best describe what a â€Å"Tragic Hero† is and both Julius Caesar and Brutus displayed this characteristic, so the question is â€Å"Who is the real tragic hero in this story?† This paper shall explore the reasons behind why each man is considered a hero in his own right and who the rightful owner to the title of the play truly belongs to. There have been countless tragic heroes in the works of William ShakespeareRead MoreJulius Caesar: The Quintessence of a Tragic Hero1156 Words   |  5 PagesShakespeare’s The Tragedy of Julius Caesar is the illustration of the demise of many respectable men. Typical of a tragedy, one character of high social standing experiences numerous downfalls brought on by a character flaw. This character is eventually brought to his or her knees by the misery and sorrow brought upon by these mistakes. It is at this point that the character realizes their flaws and changes their outlook. In Shakespeare’s tragedy, the tragic hero is Julius Caesar. In the play, ShakespeareRead MoreExamples Of Tragic Hero In Julius Caesar905 Words   |  4 Pagesman cannot become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall.† By Shakespearean definition, a tragic hero is someone of high position such as a nobleman, who has hamartia, a tragic flaw that leads to his downfall, and even his demise. This is strongly illustrated in Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, where Marcus Brutus’ desire to remain noble and honourable leads him to naivety and self destruction. The plot of the play revolves around removing power from Caesar, causing the inability

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Ghosts Essay Research Paper Many people do free essay sample

Ghosts Essay, Research Paper Many people do non believe in shades or laugh when people say that you saw a shade. Yet, for those that Don? T believe, research workers say that at least 50 million Americans, or 20 % of the population, have had one or more after decease communicating experiences with shades or liquors and the existent Numberss may be closer to duplicate these figures now! A shade can be described as a signifier of entering like a sound or videotape. A shade merely has no life or force left in it. Ghosts merely play the same scene over and over once more. The shade consists of left behind energy by a individual, or even an animate being. That is because if a individual repeats or performs repetitive Acts of the Apostless for long periods of clip, he or she will hold left a psychic feeling in that country. This feeling may remain around in a certain country after the individual has moved or is even dead. We will write a custom essay sample on Ghosts Essay Research Paper Many people do or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page These shade normally have clearly seen facial characteristics and even a organic structure olfactory property or the sent of Cologne. There are three types of shades. The first type can be seen merely like a normal life individual but their image is normally nebulose. Sometimes people can merely see their caput and shoulders, but at other times the whole organic structure can look wholly normal, no affair what the cause of decease. The 2nd type of experience is an carnal shade: particularly of a loved household pet. Many people believe that merely the intelligent animate beings have souls. The most common pets that come back as a shade signifier are Canis familiariss, cats, and Equus caballuss. Researchs say if people have great love for an animate being and invariably grieve the loss of their pet, this will hold the same consequence as deceasing a sudden or violent decease, and this will do the animate being to come back and unrecorded with them for a changeable period of clip. There have been some instance surveies that have shown that people had experiences with cats rubbing up and down their leg and a ball of narration acquiring played around with like there truly was a cat at that place. There are four different grounds why shades do come back. The first ground is if the individual dies all of a sudden with small warning, like a auto accident. Second, a individual can be kept on this universe because of an broken promise they made to a loved one, like they said they were traveling to inquire at that place loved one to acquire married. Third, he or she had some unfinished concern that was non yet finished, this normally happens with a loved one, like they made a promise to them and they nev Er got to carry through that promise. Fourth, if they were murdered at an ill-timed point in their life. The 3rd type of experience is the most common contact and many people merely think their imagining it. This signifier is called feeling 1s presence. Peoples can see this when person that is near to them died and they sense that there loved one is nearby, even though he or she can? t be seen or heard. This the most common signifier of contact felt yearss, hebdomads, months, or even old ages after a loved one dies. Liquors differ from shade in many ways. A spirit is the existent life kernel or psyche of the individual that has remained after their organic structure has died. Liquors, unlike shades, can pass on with the life. The first manner they can make this would be though dreams. Although this is a rare happening, a spirit can do itself appear as an phantom or do little points physically move. Another manner they can pass on with the life is threw psychic communicating. This normally happens often in a topographic point where the asleep spent his or her clip. They say that sudden and unexplained feeling of unhappiness or melancholy are the most common indicants if the sprit is encountered in one room. The consequences show that when a individual sees a shade it normally depends on the type of state of affairs that the individual is in. If a loved one dies and the individual comes back to see the loved one, some people feel a warm esthesis that is really close to them and that sometimes assist them non to sorrow as much. This make people believe of all the merriment times of their loved one and this makes them experience more at easiness. In other instances when people see shades they automatically freak out even if it doesn? T cause any injury. The ground for this reaction is because the people aren? T exposed to this mundane and it makes them really terrified. Bibliography Extrasensory Experiences I. Introduction II. Types of Paranormal experiences A. Ghost 1. Peoples 2. Animals 3. Senses B. Sprits 1. Dreams 2. Psychic communicating III. Reasons for manifestation A. Sudden decease B. Broken Promises C. Unfinished concern D. Untimely slaying IV. Argument over weather shades exist A. Professional B. Con V. Conclusion

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Toni Morrison The Bluest Eye And Sula Essays - The Bluest Eye

Toni Morrison: The bluest eye and Sula Toni Morrison: The bluest eye and Sula African- American folklore is arguably the basis for most African- American literature. In a country where as late as the 1860's there were laws prohibiting the teaching of slaves, it was necessary for the oral tradition to carry the values the group considered significant. Transition by the word of mouth took the place of pamphlets, poems, and novels. Themes such as the quest for freedom, the nature of evil, and the powerful verses the powerless became the themes of African- American literature. In a book called Fiction and Folklore: the novels of Toni Morrision author Trudier Harris explains that "Early folk beliefs were so powerful a force in the lives of slaves that their masters sought to co-opt that power. Slave masters used such beliefs in an attempt to control the behavior of their slaves"(Harris 2). Masters would place little black coffins outside the cabins of the slaves in a effort to restrain their movements at night; they perpetuated ghost lore and created tales of horrible supernatural animals wondering the outsides of the plantation in order to frighten slaves from escape or trans-plantation visits. Tales of slaves running to the north became legendary. Oral tales of escapes and long journeys north through dangerous terrain were very common among every slave on every plantation. Many of these tales seem to be similar to the universal tales and myths like The Odyssey or Gilgemish. Slaves on every plantation were telling tales that would later be the groundwork for African-American literature. African- American folklore has since been taken to new levels and forms. Writers have adopted these themes and have fit them into contemporary times. Most recently author Toni Morrison has taken the African- American folklore themes and adapted them to fictional literature in her novels. Morrison comments on her use of the African-American oral tradition in an interview with Jane Bakerman. "The ability to be both print and oral literature; to combine those aspects so that the stories can be read in silence, of course, but one should be able to hear them as well. To make a story appear oral, meandering, effortless, spoken. To have the reader work with the author in construction of the book- is what's important"(Bakerman 122).In all of Morrison's novels it is easy to see her use of African- American folklore along with traditional fiction. In the novels The Bluest Eye and Sula, Morrison creates settings and characters that produce an aura of unreality, that which is directly borrowed from African- American folklore. With the aura of unreality in Morrison's characters and settings, her plots scream with real life themes such as murder, war, poverty, sexual abuse, and racism. In The Bluest Eye and Sula, Morrison combines fiction and folklore to create two chilling stories about black communities struggling to define themselves. The Bluest Eye is not just a story about young impressionable black girls in the Midwest; it is also the story of African- American folk culture in process. The character Claudia MacTeer is the narrator for this folk tale. Claudia gives a voice to Pecola Breedlove's story and to the community. The story is shaped from the beginning with the expectation of reader involvement and with the presumption of an audience. The brief preface that begins "Quiet as it's kept, there were no marigolds in the fall of 1941", serves to establish Claudia as the communal rehearser of tragedy. Her first person narration establishes a close relationship between herself and the reader. Like many of Morrison's novels, The Bluest Eye shows the heroic and failed efforts of a struggling black community. With the use of a first person narrator, Morrison is able to make the story seem oral and it also requires the reader to participate with her in the making of the story. Morrison has commented "My writing expects, demands participatory reading, and that I think is what literature is supposed to do. It's not just about telling the story; it's about involving the reader. The reader supplies the emotions. The reader supplies even some of the color, some of the sound. My language has to have holes and spaces so the reader can come into it"(Harris 17). This style of writing that Morrison embraces is directly influenced by the African- American folklore tradition. The Bluest eye is a story that shows on going problems that effect the black race. The story is about cultural beliefs, which are the essence of folkloristic transmission. Early narratives and tales in African- American folklore were about discrepancies in wealth and social position between blacks

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Health Outcome of Tobacco Use Lung Cancer

Nowadays, lots of people put their health under a terrible threat because of taking various harmful produces, and smoking is one of such terrible activities. In fact, tobacco use has already caused so many deaths, but people still cannot stop smoking and still try to make one of the most important decisions in their life – to smoke or not to smoke. To my mind, this life is too short to spend it on deciding weather smoking is good or bad.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Health Outcome of Tobacco Use: Lung Cancer specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Tobacco smoking takes so many lives each day, and the most terrible point with regard to this situation is that people are aware of that horrible statistics, but still, continue smoking; lung cancer, caused by smoking, is one of the leading diseases in the list of diseases, which may cause human death and the number of these deaths increased considerably day by day. Just let us take into consideration one more significant point that tobacco use may cause lots of terrible diseases, which can be rather dangerous for human life: cancer of lungs, bladder, or mouth, heart disease, and chronic bronchitis (AMA, Promoting Healthy Lifestyle). Of course, this list is far from being full, this is why it should make people think once again whether smoking is worthy of doing this or not. The popularity of tobacco use between pregnant women is also considered to be a burning problem that should bother society. In fact, smoking will hardly promote something really useful for human life, this is why people should be rather careful with smoking. Why are people so careless to own health? Why do they continue promote smoking and do not want just stop its production? Why do people still continue digging graves for themselves? Do they not know that lung cancer is a really terrible disease that can easily shorten their life? In the United States, tobacco use has alr eady taken more than 430,000 human lives (Sharma, 2007), and more than 80% of deaths are caused by lung cancer. This disease is inherent to both men and women at any age, and even more, even if a person is not a smoker, he/she can get this disease and die as well, because such person will be considered as a passive smoker. Many statistics prove that both adults and young people smoke too much; however, the main difference between smoking at young age and at old age is that adults comprehend how dangerous the outcomes may be and what a bad example they demonstrate, and young people find smoking fun, stylish, and helpful. For example, some part of young ladies still believe that if they start smoking, they can attract the attention of some boys and be a bit closer to them. Lots of boys follow the examples of their favorite actors or musicians, who can promote smoking from the screens and stages. For example, Sharon Stone, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kate Winslet, Johnny Depp and John Tr avolta demonstrate their passion to smoking in the movies and young boys and girls are eager to follow their example.Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More I am deeply concerned that such promotion of tobacco use appears as a risk factor, because people, not intentionally, offer other people to take the step that may lead to their death. These young people start smoking without even understanding that smoking is one of the major reasons of lung cancer and poor mental health (Hodge, 2007). Another point about the statistics concerning the matter of smoking is that there are so many smokers in this world as many other people, who do not smoke. And the major part of smokers forgets to respect the privacy of non-smokers, so that the latter can easily die because of lung cancer as well. Contribution of tobacco takes place everywhere: at colleges, campuses, and other public places, where b oth young and adult people spend much of their time. This is why, with the help of statistical data that can be found online any time, people get a chance to evaluate their possibility to get lung cancer and die. They should be attentive with such kind of information, because everything is in their hands and only common people’s desire and abilities may prevent smoking and increasing the cases of lung cancer. However, it is not always enough to comprehend that the number of smokers and deaths, caused by lung cancer, increases considerably. This is why in order to develop the idea of lung cancer and smoking, it is also possible to concentrate on the essence of lung cancer, its influence to organism, and the difficulties with its treatment. â€Å"The clinical behavior of lung cancer is largely associated with its stage† (Sasaki et al., 2002, 412), this is why it is crucially important to comprehend what type and stage of lung cancer you have in order to choose proper tre atment, pass it, and continue living. There are two major types of lung cancer: non-small cell lung carcinoma and small cell lung carcinoma. More than 80% of people are under a threat to get the former, and only about 15% may die because of the latter. The non-small cell lung carcinoma also has own hierarchy that is closely connected to smoking and non-smoking people. Adenocarcinoma is one the types of lung cancer that does not depend on whether a person is smoker or non smoker. This disease creates a kind of tissue on lungs and makes it difficult to breathe without coughing. Squamous is one more lung cancer’s type that usually confused with ordinary bronchitis. However, while patient’s examination, it is possible to find out a kind of cavity in the tumor, and this cavity promotes slow grow of lung cancer and make it invisible for some period of time. To my mind, at this level, tobacco use is considered to be a risk factor, because the impossibility to find out the dis ease and not in time treatment may lead to rather terrible results.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Health Outcome of Tobacco Use: Lung Cancer specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Smokers get more chances to get this disease than non smokers, this is why it is better to consult a doctor in one month or so in order to be sure that lung cancer does not threaten. Small cell lung carcinoma is such lung cancer that is certainly associated with smoking and can be rather dangers for smokers only. In this case, tobacco use is considered to a crucial etiological factor of the disease. In general, tobacco use causes numerous diseases, and lots of them cause human deaths. This is why people should be rather careful when taking a cigarette to their hands. Tobacco use may be dangerous for adults and young people. In spite of the fact that the vast majority of people are aware about the danger of smoking, they continue smoking an d worsen won health. Lung cancer is one of the most spread diseases, which are caused by smoking, and it is necessary to find out what stage and type of lung cancer you get in order to choose proper treatment and get an opportunity to be saved. Very often, it is very difficult to find out lung cancer on its first stages, this is why such health outcome of tobacco use as lung cancer has to be analyzed and discussed in literature as frequent as possible to provide people with a chance to know what may kill them. Reference List AMA (2009). Smoking and Tobacco Control. Promoting Healthy Lifestyles. Retrieved from https://www.ama-assn.org/ Hodge, D.R., Andereck, K., Montoya, H. (2007). The Protective Influence of Spiritual-Religious Lifestyle Profiles on Tobacco Use, Alcohol Use and Gambling. Social Work Research, 31 (4), 211. Sasaki,H., Haneda, H., Yukiue, H, Kobayashi, Y, Yano, M., Fujii, Y. (2006). Decreased Fragile Histidine Triad Gene Messenger RNA Expression in Lung Cancer. Clini cal Lung Cancer,7 (6), 412-416. Sharma, M. (2007). Policy for Controlling Tobacco. Journal of Alcohol Drug Education, 51 (4), 87.Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This essay on Health Outcome of Tobacco Use: Lung Cancer was written and submitted by user Jane Rasmussen to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Liberalism is far better essays

Liberalism is far better essays Liberal, conservative, and libertarian. A liberal is someone who is not narrow in his or her opinions or judgments. A conservative is someone who is disposed to maintain existing views, conditions, or institutions. And finally a libertarian is someone who upholds the principles of unrestricted liberty. Of the three, liberalism is a better stance because it is better to have an open mind when forming opinions and making judgments, especially in politics liberalism is a better stance to take than conservatism and libertarianism. First and foremost, the most important issue is freedom, but also how to achieve a maximum amount of freedom. Milton Friedman best describes keeping freedom by stating, How can we keep the government we create from becoming a Frankenstein that will destroy the very freedom we establish it to protect(275). Today the conservative view may be seen as a response to social and economic programs initiated by the liberals in the past thirty years. Conservatives generally agree that the government has grown too become to large and bureaucratic, too removed from the local control; its intrusion into our lives is creating resentment, trampling on our rights, reducing personal responsibility, and stifling the economic growth that will do more for the good of our citizens than any government programs can do (236). In short the smaller, more local the government is, the better. A conservative might argue, government is a necessary evil (226). Although it has become too large, and has gained too much power, we need the government, through our tax dollars to improve roads, give college loans, help with federal disaster relief, or give farm subsidies. This is a country where people are free to pursue their own happiness. The role of the government is to protect our rights and our freedoms. Many conservatives focus on family breakdown and crime. Individuals have a certain responsibility t...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

The Financial Crisis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Financial Crisis - Research Paper Example Although greatly linked to the sub-prime mortgage crisis, the causes of the 2008 recession are complex and multi-varied. This essay discusses the role of government policy, the role of mortgage originators, securitization, and moral hazards. Additionally, it presents an explanation of how the following work as well as what role they played in the crisis: subprime mortgages, mortgage backed securities, credit derivative obligations, credit default swaps; the consequences on U.S. financial markets; and the U.S. government response. Finally, it presents the authors own perspective on the financial crisis. Analysis Perhaps the most overarching consideration in terms of the financial crisis is the role of mortgage originators, securitization, and moral hazards played. Referred to as subprime lending this process is highly complex. Throughout the late 90s and early 00s competition in the housing market greatly increased. As a means of keeping pace with the increasing competitive markets mo rtgage lenders increasingly increased their borrowing restrictions to individuals with less than stellar credit ratings. This process is intimately connected with government policy as in many situations it was the government that contributed through policy and pressure to loosen up the lending standards. Indeed, some researchers linked the beginning of the housing bubble to 2003 (Krugman 2009). Prior to this period Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) were required to maintain conservative lending practices. As a means of enticing individuals to enter into subprime loans, lending agencies implemented high-pressure tactics, including loan incentives (Krugman 2009). This predatory lending constituted a great contributing factor to the crisis. Additionally, the rising costs of housing prices created an environment were people increasingly believed that their home purchases would continue to rise. The exact originators of this crisis are complex. One of the most frequently cited cons iderations is that government policies that sought to increase home ownership greatly contributed to the institutional environment that would allow for such practices to occur. Indeed, since as early as the Reagan administration the government has sought policy to increase home ownership (Wright 2010). However, it wasn’t until 1995 that the government became more actively involved in the process. In 1995, Government Sponsored Enterprises, including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, began receiving government incentives for purchasing mortgage-backed securities (Wright 2010). These mortgaged backed securities included loans to low-income borrowers. In 1996 this process was further enhanced as the Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) set a goal for both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase at least 42% of mortgage backed securities that contained households with incomes below the median for the specific area (Wright 2010). An important consideration is the notion of the C redit Default Swap. These swaps were largely implemented during the period preceding the economic meltdown. The process is highly complex, as it implements derivatives in the process, contributing to the overarching considerations regarding the difficulty in regulatory processes. Essentially what was occurring was that the institutions