Macbeth Essay -- essays research papers

Macbeth is an epic tragedy inspiring pity and remorse because the hero, though flawed, is also shown to be human. The play portrays a journey of self-discovery and awareness as both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth pass from happiness to misery. Their punishment is well deserved but the retributive price is enormous. Evil, both internal and external corrupts their minds, distorting their positive traits and exaggerating their worst. Both fall victim to ‘vaulting ambition’, pride and greed, tempting them to acts of treason and betrayal of friends, kinsman and the nation itself. Warfare on the battlefield mirrors the metaphorical warfare being played out between the forces of good and evil within them. Spurred by ambition, supernatural solicitation and by the taunting of his wife, Macbeth deliberately chooses to embark on what he knows to be an evil course. From the moment he listens with ‘rapt’ attention to the witches, he allows himself to be drawn further and further into a vision of hell. The audience accompanies him into a morass of nightmares, ghosts, bloody visions and false prophecies. Abnormal conditions of mind such as insanity, sleep walking and hallucinations demonstrate his moral and emotional decline. We are given insight into their feelings of agitation, anxiety, fear, determination and regret which minimises the horror of the murder. Macbeth’s soliloquies voice his inner thoughts, making him an object of pity as well as a fascinating portrait of evil. A psychological change takes place as we witness the valiant general become a ruthless murderer. Although conscious of this evil transformation, he cannot resist the process. Ambition has become a powerful drug, usurping his reason and will as he lurches towards personal disaster. Brutality hardens him and his misrule brings suffering and chaos to Scotland. Macbeth Macbeth exhibits many of the traditional attributes of a tragic hero. Courage, determination, intelligence and moral awareness are clearly evident in his actions in the early scenes. His reputation is high and he holds a noble, aristocratic position of power and influence. He is introduced as a courageous general, worthy of respect and honour, brave, valiant, noble, imaginative, kind, ambitious, loving and artless. ‘Brave Macbeth—well he deserves that name.’ He is ambitious for public acclaim, recognition and wants to appear great and adm... ...cating Macbeth with his first words "So foul and fair a day I have not seen". His actions unsettle the moral and natural order, consequently his authority is repudiated and overthrown. Macbeth's usurpation is not rewarded "upon my head they placed a fruitless crown, / And put a barren sceptre in my gripe" (III.i.60), he committed an unnatural act. Lady Macbeth's precipitation of these actions is punished accordingly, ironically after the murder of Duncan she suggests that "These deeds must not be thought / After these ways: so, it will make us mad" (II.ii.33). The entire mood of the play is effected by the disruption of nature. Repeated images of darkness, blood, and violence contribute to this tone The vision of the dagger, the murder of Duncan, the murder of Banquo, the sleep-walking of Lady Macbeth, all occur in the darkness of night and evoke for Macbeth a feeling of fear and horror . Again the dramatic verse intertwines the language and themes. The theme of transformation was apparent in Macbeth, the hero esteemed by his peers, however through his desire for power he transformed into a man obsessed with his desires, his tragedy was his downfall

Coffee Benefits Essay

Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the emotional and physical benefits of coffee Central Idea: Coffee provides numerous health benefits which are contain antioxidant, improve cognitive performance and physical performance. Introduction I.I believe there is something special in our little everyday moments, from that first wonderful sip of hot, milky coffee in the morning to those ten stolen minutes of me. II.Not only does coffee taste good, it can stimulate my mind to refresh and relax. III.Coffee stimulates your senses from its caffeine content which stimulates metabolism and supports mental alertness and concentration. IV.Coffee may hydrate you beside its advantage of relaxing. a.Because water is the main ingredient in a cup of coffee, it helps you work towards your daily water needs and is practically free of calories. V.Coffee refreshes you with its wealth of polyphenols. a.Polyphenols are nutrients that help maintain your body in good health over time. VI.Today I would share with you guys about the three major health benefits of coffee – coffee and antioxidants, coffee and your mind and coffee and your body. (Transition: Let’s start with the coffee and antioxidants) Body I.Research has shown that a cup of coffee naturally comes with antioxidants, which are really good for you. a.Your body is constantly exposed to particles called – free radicals. i.Particles which are caused by factors like exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun, environmental pollution, stress and smoking. b.Scientific studies suggest that free radicals can damage your body tissues, affect the ageing process and cause diseases like cataracts, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. c.Antioxidants in your body neutralize the free radicals and protect your body cells from damage. (Transition: Now that you know something about the coffee and antioxidants, let’s look at coffee and your mind) II.Many studies suggest that coffee drinking can improve overall ‘cognitive performance’. a.The cognitive performance which includes important mental skills like perception, attention, memory, problem solving and reaction or response abilities. b.There is some evidence to suggest potential benefits of coffee and caffeine in situations which require increased alertness e.g. night shifts and jet lag. (Transition: Now I have brief about the coffee and your mind. So let’s move to the last) III.Upping Your Physical Performance and weight management aid a.Increasing your capability and capacity for exercise. b.This means that you can keep going at a more intense pace, for a longer period and gain more from your workouts! c.Did you know that a plain black cup of coffee contains a very small amount of calories? i.In fact, coffee may be able to help maintain a healthy weight! Conclusion I.As we have seen, Coffee provides numerous health benefits which are contains antioxidants, improve cognitive performance and physical performance. II.Thus, the next time you drink a cup of coffee, just think of all its benefits! – â€Å"go beyond taste†. Bibliography Books S Rautiainen et al, 2012. Total antioxidant Capacity from Diet and Risk of Myocardial Infarction: A prospective Cohort of Women. The American Journal of Medicine, Volume 125. R Sinha et al, 2012. Caffeinated and decaffeinated and tea intakes and risk of colorectal cancer in a large prospective study. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 96; 374-381. Article Sin CWM, et al (2008). Systematic review on the effectiveness of caffeine abstinence on the quality of sleep. J Clin Nursing; 18:13-21. Internet sources Coffee & Health: From The Institute For Scientific Information On Coffee. â€Å"Cancer†. (27 Jan, 2012) Retrieved 26 Sept 2012 from http://www.coffeeandhealth.org/topics/cancer/ Coffee & Health: From The Institute For Scientific Information On Coffee. â€Å"Mental Performance† . (2 Feb, 2012) retrieved 26 Sept 2012 from http://www.coffeeandhealth.org/topics/mental-performance/.

1984 and the US Government Essay

Panopticism is the word to use to describe the events that occur in Orwell’s 1984. In this expression is found the harrowing acts of violence that pervade the novel, and that allow the government to define the parameters of human existence: That is to say, the autocratic control of the government with regards to the populace is omniscient. It is within the US government that the comparisons between 1984 and that other democratic state are diabolically similar. There is no clear dichotomy between Orwell’s fictitious imaginings of a super power and that of the United States government. In all branches of a democratic society where control can be exploited it is, in both 1984 and the US government. This means that in the media, the news broadcasts, the home, the police force, every percentage where capital is invested there lies a nefarious underbelly of judiciary, legislative, and executive corruption. In 1984 there is extreme use of privacy extortion; wiretaps are habitual, and in Winston’s home this remains supremely true. The most oppressing of events that occur in 1984 is the chronic changing of the dictionary. Winston works at the Ministry of Truth. See more: Experiment on polytropic process Essay His job consists of changing the past, rewriting history as it were so that the politics of Oceania are aligned in harmony with all existing present political persuasion. This means that Oceania can rewrite history so they are the victors in history and that means they can commit no evil. In the US history the omitting of certain historical facts from history texts has been numerous; the imprisonment of Japanese Americans during World War Two was hidden; Japanese Americans were taken from their homes and put into concentration camps so that their political or cultural heritage wouldn’t jeopardize the American’s fight against Japan. This omission was just one of many facts of horrendous inhuman actions the US has committed and tried to cover up. Even in Orwell’s fictitious wanderings there exists the slogan â€Å"Who controls the past, controls the future†, which is true in many US government cover-ups; it is in the belief that to keep the public ignorant of governmental activity is what keeps the public supporting their government, because if they don’t know something exists, then they can’t have an opinion for or against it, like the concentration camps. In Orwell’s novel there are secret arrests that happen during the night. People are arrested for any number of ‘crimes’, for having freedom of speech, for having thoughts other than in support of Oceania (for which the thought police will have one arrested), for going against Big Brother in any fashion, there were arrests made and the person simply disappeared. In the US government’s history such arrests have occurred. The US government, now with the War on Terror campaign has aligned itself with that of Orwell’s thought police, and they have done this with Project Carnivore. Project Carnivore is the US government’s Justice Departments initiative to keep surveillance on private citizens, as Ventura et al (2005) in their article Government and the War on Terror, â€Å"Perhaps the most intrusive web-based technology ever developed, Carnivore possesses the ability to essentially wiretap individuals’ computers, accessing every piece of datum flowing to and from a Central Processing Unit (CPU), provided the data were moved on a network connection†. This type of surveillance is cunningly similar to what happens to Winston Smith. Winston Smith, though working at the Ministry of Truth remembers history as it was, not as it is written. In Orwell’s dystopia, media control is essential. The US government, and especially during the Bush administration is controlling the media in every capacity. Currently in the media there exists little or no dissent in the political views, especially views against the war; by controlling the media the US government controls the publics view on the outside world and the government’s interaction with that world. At Winston’s job, he rewrites history, and by rewriting history, he is covering up a sordid past that if the public new that’s how government was in reality, there would be a mass wave of protest against Big Brother and the government would dissipate with so many of its citizens in alliance against autocratic control. The US government, during their war on terror, and under Project Carnivore, has done its own share of secret arrests, in detaining people they believe are affiliated with the Taliban based on their culture. The same stultifying fear that forfeits justice in 1984, is the same fear that exists in the reality of the United States, with their policies on protecting the American people by forcing certain parties to vacate the country, or by simply holding them in detention centers without cause. On December 6, 2001, then Attorney General John Ashcroft addressed the Senate Judiciary Committee in praise of this act, and it’s restructuring of the NSA, CIA and FBI. (Ashcroft 524) His rhetoric was patriotic and concise, and his views of the USA PATRIOT act and its changes seemed sincere. This was supported with the passage of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373, which paved the road for the Patriot act itself. Eric Rosand wrote about the resolution in 2003. His response to its necessity was one of sympathy to the government, for having to face such a difficult challenge. However, not everyone who has commented on the alterations of the US governmental policy has done so with such reverence. David Cole compared the investigations into possible terrorist cells in the United States, to the â€Å"Palmer Raids† of 1919 – where, following a series of bombings, J. Edgar Hoover led a series of â€Å"round ups† of immigrants across the country and held them without trial or charge in â€Å"unconscionable conditions, interrogated incommunicado and in some cases tortured†. (529) This attitude has spread throughout the country, as the appearance of impropriety has permeated the government’s handling of the terrorist investigations. Mary Jacoby brings up the question of the legal definition of â€Å"Detainee†. This is in response to the holding of prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay military base in Cuba. The prisoners of this facility have been acquired from around the world – from the war in Afghanistan, and from arrests done in dozens of countries around the world. However, the problem arises when the soldiers fighting for the Afghan military are brought in as detainees, rather than prisoners of war. While the Guantanamo prison has its apologists, such as Charles Krauthammer – who states that freeing of these men would be â€Å"lunacy† (537) – the fact remains, that in strict terms, the United States is in break of the Geneva Convention by holding POWs. Orwell’s totalitarian society bears witness to the fact that the Party controls Oceania, and every citizen residing there. In thought, in emotion, in sexual expression, there is no force greater than that of the Thought Police. Winston himself, when tortured by O’Brien, is forced to see five fingers instead of four. That is how controlling the Party is in 1984, they cause even a simple truth as seeing four fingers false; their manipulation is purely ingenious and inhumane. 1984 is similar to the US government in the scotching of human rights. Thoughts are controlled; lives are public domain because privacy doesn’t exist if even emotions are controlled. The media is the main link between Oceania and America. Dystopia exists in how the news is presented and how the truth is slanderous and causes a person very quickly to be an unperson, to speak Newspeak. Though the simple act of ridding the nation of human rights and through secret arrests and detaining individuals without giving them proper due process of the law, 1984 and the US government could almost be one and the same. There is a symbolism here that cannot be ignored. It is in war that the two nations converge. War is good for the economy, and war makes peace. That is also the belief of the war on terror; war must exist first so that peace can follow. War creates jobs and the therefore raises the standard of living in Oceania and in America. The US government has used this type of propaganda to influence the citizenry to support war. War equalizes the economy and every person benefits monetarily from such deeds. That is the similarity between Orwell’s 1984 and the US government. War is Peace. With the thought police and with Project Carnivore there can be no deviation from the norm, no freedom of which to speak. That is panopticism; the government keeping an eye on everyone and everything constantly controlling. Work Cited Orwell, George. 1984. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc. New York. 1983. Goodwin, Amy & David. Why Media Ownership Matters. Seattle Times. Sunday, April 3, 2005.

Describe the role of Lipids in Living Organisms Essays

Describe the role of Lipids in Living Organisms Essays Describe the role of Lipids in Living Organisms Paper Describe the role of Lipids in Living Organisms Paper Lipids are a large and varied group of organic compounds, (3) which are insoluble in water, but soluble in organic solvents such as ethanol and ether. (7). The molecules contain atoms of hydrogen, carbon and oxygen. The ratio of hydrogen to oxygen atoms is always greater than 2:1. (2)Triglycerides are fats and oils and are made when glycerol form condensation reactions with three fatty acids to produce ester bonds. (2). At 20à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C fats are solids whereas oils are liquids. One of the major roles of lipids in organisms is the use of these fats as energy stores. Upon breakdown they yield 38 kJ/g of energy compared favourably with carbohydrates which yield 17 kJ/g, (3) so they therefore store twice as much energy than carbohydrates. Animals store fat when hibernating and fat is also found below the dermis of the skin of vertebrates where it serves as an insulator. (10). Plants usually store oils and a small mass for energy is used in plants where the dispersal of small seeds by w ind or insects is much easier. (9). Triglycerides are also compact, insoluble, can be stored at high concentrations, without requiring water as a solvent and are not mobilised as easily as carbohydrates, (5) which makes them long term energy stores. (5)Fats also act as shock absorbing layers. (2). This protects delicate organs such as the kidneys or the heart from physical damage. Aquatic mammals such as whales have extremely thick subcutaneous fat, called blubber. (3). The blubber is extremely important in thermoregulation as underwater hair is ineffective as an insulation because it cannot trap water in the same way as it can air. (10). Therefore as it is a poor conductor of heat, the layer of fat under the skin of aquatic mammals helps them to keep warm in cold climates. Fats aid buoyancy in aquatic mammals because they are less dense than water. This is especially true in vertebrates such as aquatic birds. (2)Lipids are used for electrical insulation in Schwann cells. The membra nes of Schwann cells are largely composed of lipid and they do not contain the protein channels. (9). The Schwann cells produce the fatty material myelin that surrounds the axons of many mammalian nerve cells. (6)Triacylglycerols also release twice as much water as do carbohydrates when oxidised in respiration. (5). A more indirect role of triacylglycerols is the use of their metabolic water, this is the water produced from their oxidation. (5). This metabolic water is of vital importance, which include the development of very young reptiles when enclosed in eggshells or the daily metabolisms of animals such as camels, which live in habitats where water is scarce. (5). Triglycerides are also commonly used in waterproof coverings. (2). Oil coats animal skin to waterproof it along with fur and feathers so that water is repelled and the animals insulation is not affected.However, insects and plant leaves use wax to form a waxy cuticle, which prevents water loss by evaporation and trans piration. (9). The waxes are esters of fatty acids with long chain alcohols other than glycerols. (10). Exoskeletons may also be coated with it. Saturated fatty acids that have no carbon-carbon double bonds have a high melting point and are found in animals whereas unsaturated fatty acids with one or more double bonds have lower melting points and are found in plants. (4). These fatty acids are also used to derive plant scents, which attract insects and aid pollination.Phospholipids are lipids containing a phosphate group and are formed when one of the primary alcohol groups of glycerol (head) forms an ester with phosphoric acid (tail), instead of a fatty acid. (10). The presence of the phosphate group means that the charge on the head of the molecule is unevenly distributed. It is said to be polar and is attached to water. The head end of the molecule is described, as being hydrophilic (soluble in water). The hydrocarbon tails do not have this uneven charge distribution. They are t herefore non-polar and will not mix with water. The tail end of the molecule is described as being hydrophobic (insoluble). (4). The main role of phospholipids in living organisms is that they are a major component of membranes and it is these solubility characteristics, which are of extreme importance in cells because lipids tend to associate into non-polar groups and barriers, as in the cell membranes that form boundaries between and within cells. (8).Therefore, if phospholipids were placed in water, they would arrange themselves into a phospholipid bilayer where the tails point inward and the heads outwards. (7). This bilayer forms the basis of cell membranes. The membrane is partially permeable as water; water soluble and polar molecules cannot pass through whereas gases, lipids and non-polar molecules can. Other more minor roles of phospholipids in living organisms are in the transport of fat between gut and liver in mammalian digestion and as a source of acetylcholine. (5)Ster oids are lipids whose molecules contain four rings of carbon and hydrogen atoms with various side chains. (9). Steroids are common in all organisms, mainly as hormones. Phosphatidyl inositol (a phospholipid lacking the group esterified to the phosphate) acts to release inositol trisphosphate and diacylglycerol as intercellular second messengers to hormones. (1). Terpenes are common in plants as pigments whereas cholesterol is the most common in humans. From cholesterol are made the bile salts, the sex hormones and the hormones of the adrenal cortex, (5) aldosterone and cortisone. (10). A steroid closely related to cholesterol occurs in the human skin and is converted to vitamin D by the ultraviolet rays in the sunlight. (5)Lipids also lower the surface tension in the air breathing vertebrates to make breathing possible. (11)Therefore evolution development has facilitated the compartmentalisation of cells with the aid of phospholipids it can be considered as a vital compartment, whi ch has enabled complex development and variation with birds fro example. Such variation as buoyancy, insulation etc are brought about by triglycerides.

Export promotion agency and the key programs offered to exporters

Export promotion agency and the key programs offered to exporters Introduction International marketing presents great challenge to most small businesses within specific countries. Such a challenge is attributed to improvement in technology which involves global use of digital mobile devices.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Export promotion agency and the key programs offered to exporters specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Looking for new markets and customers within those markets makes most businesses face some challenges. However, for the purposes of encouraging exports, various governments have extended their assistance to such small businesses in order to improve export sales of available products. The process is referred to as export promotion and undertaken by Trade Promotion Organization (Delaney, 2012, p. 1). The following are some of the most helpful programs to firms within the Unites States of America. Bilateral and multilateral program on Small Micro-enterprises (SMEs) Thi s program offers SMEs such benefits as reduced tariff rates, protection of intellectual property, business transparency and improved access to information amongst trading partners. The new online capability built by the Department of Commerce’s ITA (International Trade Agreement) is essential in helping SMEs, stakeholders and the general public in taking an advantage of the new available export opportunities (National Export Initiative, 2011). The launch of the â€Å"FTA tariff Tool† provides good opportunities for the small businesses and enables them to benefit from the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) markets.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The use of the tool enables the businesses to perform fast, search for industrial products and also play an essential role in revealing individual product tariff rates for subsequent years. This is important to small manufacturers since they are able to plan ahead of time concerning entry into new export markets. Accessing market and sector reports has also been improved enabling a better identification of export opportunities (National Export Initiative, 2011). Provision of trade finance counselling Trade finance agencies have enabled easy access to credit by the small businesses through the expansion of the export credit programs. The new Express Insurance offered by the Ex-Im Bank has simplified the process of application. Additionally, Supply Chain Finance program has ensured convenient access to attractively priced credit. The counselling programs offered through TPCC agencies are crucial since they provide small businesses with appropriate knowledge on better management of working capital. Provision of timely information concerning trade finance gives the needed support and assurance to businesses, hence enabling them to structure their transactions in such a way, so they are capable of g ranting immediate sales (Kharas, 2010, pp. 10-35). Development and improvement of the supply chain infrastructure Means of transportation within the United States provides the very starting point of a very long global logistics chain. Participation in the global economy demands that products manufactured within a country come in the international market at affordable cost.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Export promotion agency and the key programs offered to exporters specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Currently, there is a deep consensus amongst exporters that the country’s transportation system has, to a greater extent, affected the ability of the businesses to access the global markets. Additionally, the presence of reliable and resilient supply chain infrastructure is critical to the promotion of sustained economic growth. This is since infrastructural development ensures improvement on speed and movement of export goods throughout the country and most importantly within the global marketplace (Istrate et al, 2010). Conclusion Export promotion and development are important aspects of the government due to its capability in reinforcing economic development goals for the countries involved (Delaney, 2012, p 1). The United States uses the aspect to offset market fluctuations, create jobs and at the same time use it as source of supporting national exports. The small businesses may find it difficult to connect with potential customers and companies worldwide. This provides opportunity for the government through various promotion agencies to assist in finding solutions and enhancement for their global competitiveness. References Delaney, L. (2012). Export Promotion and Development. Web.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Istrate, E. Rothwell, J. Katz, B. (2010). Export Nation: How U.S. Metros Lead National Export Growth and Boost Competitiveness. NY; Brookings Institution Kharas, H. (2010). The emerging Middle Class in Developing Countries. OECD Development Centre Working Papers, 285, 10-35 National Export Initiative. (2011).2011 National Export Strategy. Retrieved from https://www.export.gov/welcome

Aviation in the United States Navy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Aviation in the United States Navy - Essay Example ogically superior and readily available. Using a full-spectrum approach, the command delivers solutions at optimal costs and provide support for vital programs for the U.S. Navy.NAVAIR works effectively as part of a warfighting partnership, known as the Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE) and the larger Navy Enterprise, through which interdependent issues affecting multiple commands are resolved on an Enterprise-wide basis. The NAVAIR Commander serves as the NAE operations officer" In this particular case, it is now established that the industry focuses more on conventional and advanced warfare. In this case, if we are to analyze the said inductry is limited to industries concerning avaition operation solely on the category of warfare technology. In this case, the said industry is only concerned on the propagation, development, repair and evaluation of aircrafts that are needed by the Naval Branch of the armed forces. Furthermore, Goodspeed (2006) in dealing with history claims that "On May 8, 1911 the Navy ordered its first airplanes and United States Naval Aviation was born. The Navy's aviation arm was founded on the same courage and spirit that still define its ranks: self-taught flier Eugene Ely, wearing a football helmet and bicycle inner tube as a life preserver became the first man to both take off and land on the deck of a ship. Over the next nine decades Naval Aviation has roared forward on the backs of the most advanced aircraft and well-trained avia tors and flight crews in the world" This means that if we are to deal with the number of interest and services it caters; categorically it only caters the microcosm part of the society particularly the armed forces. In this case, it only meets the needs of a certain amount of individuals in one particular organization which is the Naval Command. However, if we are to further deal with how it affects individuals as a whole, then we have to search for macro economic variables to know how it affects or influence individuals and organizations in general. Environmental Analysis of Aviation in the United States Navy 3 In looking for a macrocosmic variables, it is very important to look into the process and the quantity of how the organization affects individuals through its productions, services rendered and other variables to point out the origin of these and how it affects macrocosmic activities. The impact of the Naval aircraft with regards to security of the United States as a Nation and as a frontline of democracy in the world is so tremendous and this industry is of big help- The website Navy.mil (2006) states that "The objective of Navy Aerial Support is to help facilitate and coordinate the distribution of naval aircraft and aviation resources to public demonstrations across the United States" which means that the said

The Law of Evidence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The Law of Evidence - Essay Example Within the Received View, the importance of testimony in the language of perception runs even deeper. Our daily conversations and descriptions of events are suffused with opinion, interpretation, and evaluation. Often we are allowed only to agree with the leading questions of our conversation partners, questions themselves suffused with assumptions, opinions, interpretations, and evaluation (Pattenden, 1986). Such conversations are about matters of interest but are, much more, occasions by which the speakers constitute and reform their relationship, an enterprise often well served by the sharing of opinions and judgments. The factual accuracy of the accounts is usually of less significance than self-revelation and invitations to reciprocity. By contrast, testimony in response to non-leading questions in the language of perception provides the jury exactly what it needs to decide the case according to the norms embedded in the instructions: an artificially stripped-down, value-free account of the witness's perceptions (Allen, 2005). These perceptions are a kind of "prime matter," as Aristotle put it, utterly plastic to both the jury's empirical generalizations and, more important, to the legal norms embedded in the instructions. Testimony in the language of perception reduces the likelihood that the jury will simply adopt the moral or political judgments smuggled into the "descriptions" by an authoritative or sympathetic witness. It is often suggested that the vigour with which the rule against hearsay is still applied in criminal cases is attributable to the phenomenon of trial by jury in criminal trials on indictment. Juries, it is said, cannot be expected to assess properly the reliability of hearsay evidence on a case-by-case basis, and thus it is preferable that a blanket ban on such evidence be maintained. Concern about the ability of juries to handle hearsay evidence was particularly prevalent in the 19th century, but its influence on current hearsay doctrine is still evident. 'It is probably no accident', Tapper has pointed out, 'that the hearsay rule is the same in both civil and criminal proceedings where the mode of trial is the same, whether in both cases by judge and jury as in the United States, or by judge alone as in South Africa; but different in England and Scotland, where the form of trial is quite different in civil and criminal proceedings.' Further, in Continental jurisdictions, where ve ry little reliance is placed on jury trial, there is no rule against hearsay of the sophisticated variety that exists in England. In Germany, for example, there is no formal ban on oral hearsay (although, in practice, such evidence is usually adduced only if the maker of the statement is unavailable, or to supplement her or his testimony and written hearsay is, subject to minor exceptions, freely admissible. France, like Germany, does not have a formal hearsay rule. The broad drift of the law of evidence has been to admit more and more hearsay evidence, and for the constitutional jurisprudence surrounding the