Life Without Chiefs

- Marvin Harris

The essay is written by Marvin Harris who is a professor of anthropology at the University of Florida, USA. In this essay, he describes the evolution of human society. He says that there was no social hierarchy of ruling and ruled class longtime in history. In the beginning of human society, people had nomadic life. But they were very much generous at that time. People used to share all foods whatever available. The present-giver was never thanked for he gifts. If the receiver thanked him it was thought he calculated the contribution and thought being ungenerous. They did this because the giver may become proud and may become cruel. There was equalitarian society. If anyone wanted to be the head and tried to rule the people, the group would leave him alone and would migrate to another place.

But later, someone became the head of the society. But the head didn’t use to command the members of the community. He would work harder than the others and would be more generous than the others. He would be able to give the impression to the others for being generous. He would take the bones and would give fresh and good meat to the others. So he was respected highly. The available sources of the food were divided equally to everyone in the society. Everyone had the equal reach to available natural resources, so there was a perfect communism.

Gradually, a competition started to be the headman. The person who wanted to be the headman started to work harder and collected more food. He would give feast to the people and get more supporters. At last, he would challenge the head by arranging better a feast than the head. Thus the new head was followed by the community members. The head had more collection of the food than the others, and still he was generous. But later, the division between the head and the others was created. Since the head would marry many women, he would have bigger collection of food than the others. He slowly became cruel and started to dominate the people. The chief started to build big houses for him because he had the collection of food to give to his workers. He would give food to the workers and the workers had to work for him. So, the distinction between the ruled and the ruling class was created. Humanity was lost and the ruling class became crueler and enjoyed the power. The rulers became dictators. But biologically, humans are not war-like. The division is the creation of the cultural evolution.

Adaptive Failure: Easter’s End

                                                                                                            - Jared Diamond 

This essay is written by Jared Diamond. He is a professor of geography and physiology at the University of California, USA. In this essay, the writer explores the reasons for the destruction of civilization in Easter Island. The end of Easter Island is an example of how we can destroy a prosperous civilization if we can’t adopt the natural resources properly.

Easter Island lies in the Pacific Ocean 2000 miles west of the nearest continent, South America. It covers 64 square miles of land. The name of the island comes after its discovery by Dutch explorer Jacob Rogeveen on Easter in April 5, 1722. When Rogeveen saw the land, he only noticed grassland, ferns and shrubs. There were no trees higher than 10 feet. The larger animal found was only the insects; and the chickens were the only domestic animals the islanders had. The mysteries of the Easter Island were the heavy statues stood lining the coast. The island was prosperous and the civilization was in full bloom many years back. But, the destruction of the civilization has raised a lot of unsolved mystery.

Diamond describes the theories which explore the reasons for the destruction of the civilization in the island. The analysis of the sediments taken from depths in swamp proved that there were diverse plants and animals in the past. Pollen and DNA analysis of the animals gave the ideas about how many species of animals existed in the animals. But the islanders were unaware of the damages they were creating till they destroyed the last tree and the last edible creature remaining in the whole island. The islanders cut down the trees to make canoes for hunting porpoise in the ocean, to build houses and to bring the giant stones statues on the shore. Trees were cut down for firewood, and the fibers were used to make ropes for lifting up the heavy statues. The islanders also finished the available animals in the island. The process was so slow that they didn’t notice till they were cutting down the last Palm tree available in the land. They had over-exploited the natural resources in such a way that they could no longer get any food to survive. Then their eyes turned to the largest remaining sources of food- humans. Thus, the civilization of a fertile and prosperous island came to an end.

Marriage is a Private Affair

Marriage Is A Private Affair

Literal Comprehension:

Nnaemeka is a young man of Ibotribe whois engaged to marry a teacher Nene. Nene is from another tribe. According to Nnaemeka’s Ibo culture marriage is usually arranged within the tribal group of senior or elders but Nene is unknown about the rality of Ibo culture because she is grown  up in cosmopolitan environment.However she request Nnaemeka to inform his parents.When Nnaemeka informs his father Okeke is shocked and even worried about such inter tribal engagement.Okeke tries his son not to marry her but Nnaemeka is determined to marry Nene.Then Okeke is ready to give up his son forever as lost and isno more concern in him.Even many people from Ibo society dislikes this marriage.But later all people except his father realize that Nnaemeka and Nene have very good marital life.Like this they are living happily out Okeke doesn’t like to talk about his son by a great effort for eight years he has been able to forget his son. The father how ever at last softens his heart when Nene writes a letter in which she mentions that his grandsons wants to meet him.Even this time he tries to harden his heart but he cannot and this time the sky is covered with black clouds and the wind started blowing the dust and dried leaves.It starts to rain heavily it seems that nature is talking part in his struggle heimagines that they are outside and he realizes his weakness and at last he opens his door for his grandsons.

Interpretationa:

                        Through this story chinua Achee is tryingto tell us about the culture conflict between two culturesin terms of marriage.Acording to the story writer marriage is completely private affair.One has to get right to think about his own life. No one should interfere anyones private affair.On the another level lof interpretation of this story is that wider  understanding makes us happy but narrowindedness and limited thought lead to sadness and misunderstandings. So, the story teller might be trying to advise us that we shouldn’t stick to single culture and traditionally blind.It is not good way of living another interpretation of the story is that there might be the victory of new idea over old idea and the search of origin or root. Grandson’s search for their grandfather in the story might reflect the same theme.

Critical Thinking:

                        It seems realistic story in which there is  beautiful story plot.Taking very common issue for the underdeveloped country the writer is very successful to make the story very intresting there are some points in the story which are not agreeale to modern compolitan readers.In the story the role of the father figure Okeke is contradictory.Being a good christion one cannot be such an unkind person like Okeke.One side he regards Christianity is his life style but another side he doesn’t follow pure Christian teaching. Aren’t all human beings equal interms of humanity? Didn’t Okeke learn anything about humanity? Another point in the story about the reaction of nature. It is also disagreeable to the readers. Does nature understand human mind and behaviour?

Assimilationa:

                        After reading this story I can getthe real social picture of underdeveloped country. We have many blind prejudices and unsicientific system of lour society which in fact do not let our society develop and civilized. When I see many blind traditional people I remember theis story . We have both Okeke and Nnaemeka like people in oru society.But I encourage and inspire Nnaemeka like person.This story also teaches me to lsee that marriage isabsolutely private affair. We shouldn’t interfere on the matter of private affair in the name of blind faith of culture and I also recommend theis story to read to those people who are extremely blind on their culture.

 
4. Apply the four levels of regarding with texts to “Marriage is a Private Affair”
Ans: - It is one of the best short stories by ‘Chinua Achbe’. He is an Anglo-African writer, and he has very fine understanding of the African culture. Basically, Africa is a continent of numerous tribes. They all have their distinct cultures. It is the story of one such tribe, the Ibo tribe.
Nnaemeka is an LBO boy from Iboboland, who has come to Laos. And has also married nane attended from this marriage. He had wanted his son to marry in his own tribe, and had even chosen a girl. So he breaks all relation with Nneameka and his wife. Nnaemeka stays back in Laos. People of his own tribe appreciated his wife. The news used to reach Okeke, but he would not melt. After some years through, when there is letter from Nene to Okeke, he has to melt. Nene had requested that he allow his grandsons, who were grown up children then, and who deeply wanted. Tough, she herself would not come due to his feelings.
This whole story revolves around the conflict between Nnaemeka and his father, Okeke. After coming to Laos, Nnaemeka got a new world. This world was a cosmopolitan life of the capital. This life was very different from the life in Iboboland, the tribal life in a secluded corner of the country. This life changed his personality also. He become more opens minded and less traditional. He thought that ‘Marriage was a private affair’ between the only two people involved in it. But Okeke was not convinced with this new generation thought. He was still traditional and he had deep with his roots. His thinking was that the final decision about the marriage of the son or daughter should be in the hands of the parents. This was the main reason for the conflict between them. It is a conflict of the principles. But, after all, Okeke was grandsons. Besides, it was also the patience that of Nnaemeka and more of Nene, which paid at the last. But as far as marriage in Nigeria is concerned, it is not a private affair, it seems from the story. This is truer for the rural and tribal area.
As per my own views, I would say that marriages should be let to be a private affair, as long as children keep the sentiments of parents. The parents should also try to understand their children. But if they try to interface on the question of religious and caste, I would perhaps agree with such parents.

The great Answer

Literal comprehension: - This is a strange and beautiful story of w and mother and her 4 year old daughter escaped to Spain from German occupied France. During the 2^nd world war, many refugees wanted to ran away to the USA by traveling across Spain form France, which had partly been captured by Hitler many Jewish refugees began to flock near the Spanish boarder as the German police followed the Nazi Armies into France. The mother wanted to get across to Spain with her child and sail away to the USA safely. If the Gestapo found her than her child would be throne in to a concentration camp or sent to a gas chamber.
The Spanish border guards did not allow the Jewish refugees to pass thorough the border. Therefore the mother prayed to the god of Abraham Issac and Jacob for deliverance. The next day a man form the underground told her that he was leading the party of refugees across a difficult track over the alps mountain range in to Spain so the mother and her daughter went to the place of Rendezvous (spending time in a pleasure) and saw many old man, middle-aged man and young man but there were no children. The young and middle aged man volunteered to carry the little girl turn by turn. The group leader said that they should place faith in god and themselves because If they turned back they would certainly face death at the hands of German police their Journey began and some of the old man became exhausted still the leader encourage them and told them to rest a little walk again using their last ounce of strength 3 old man, who had helped to carry the lady’s child, found new strength, new life and a newer world of freedom. Every one of them crossed the border safely. Here was the great answer to the riddle of life
Interpretation: - The writer may be telling us that where there is will there is way. If you have the courage even impossible things become possible in other words courage is the surest weapon against danger and coverage is also the great answer or the secret of freedom if the refugees did not flick coverage to climb the alps to go into Spain they would surely have faced death in a gas chamber of a forced labor camp there was not turnip back and they had no choice but to move forward and they were indeed successful life is difficult determination and hard work. The fruit is sweet.
Critical thinking: - People pray to god when they are in trouble or are facing difficulty just as the mother prayed to the god of Abraham. This is only a psychological satisfaction. Besides it is quite hypocritical because people forget god once they are safe and sound. This seems to be only another religious story. Which relies on faith in God?
Assimilation: - This story has taught me that in times of trouble or difficulty praying go god may help to ease our pain a little the next thing we can do is to think about others who are facing a bigger problems than ours. Such an out will make us more human, courageous and confident to tackle or deal with any hardship in life.

What is intelligence anyway

“What is intelligence anyway” is an argumentative essay. In this essay writer Isaac Asimov makes an argument that intelligence is not absolute but is a function of the society.

Intelligence is the subjective matter. A person intelligent in one field may be a loggerhead in another field. It may be possible that a person is intelligent in two or more field but he/she will still be lagging behind the another field. Hence, we can’t term the persons as intelligent in general. For example a good teacher might be a bad student and vice versa. A good administrator may be a bad father. Hence a person is intelligent in administration but bad with family.

Asimov also focus on the fact that intelligent is the outcome to experience and knowledge. Asimov is intelligent in study and literature but he is not intelligent to maintain his car. His automobile repairman is far intelligent in this field than him. But on the other hand Asimov is far more intelligent in study and literature than his automobile repair man.


Hence, I understood that the intelligent is the subjective matter. Any person cannot be intelligent in general. It depends on the particular field of concerned.



Literal Comprehension;

This essay is given by Isaac Asimov. In this essay Asimov describes about the intelligence which comes form the different fields.
The writer always took pride over his extraordinary aptitude. His scores in aptitude test even surpassed that of seniors. Which held time to believe he was intelligent, until he came across a mechanic. This ignorant, uneducated mechanic confused the writer, made him skeptical on the whole intelligence testing system which had graced him with high scores . Mechanic explains about a dumb person gesturing with fingers and ask for some nails with shopkeeper. If that be one situation, then mechanic asks how a blind man would ask for a scissors. Writer immediately gestures with the two fingers coming close and going apart. To this mechanic laugh, redicule and say he was too dumb to answer and said used his voice to ask them. Which leaves the writer in illusion and embarrassed too.

The making of a scientist

The text “The making of a scientist” is about the personal experience of the writer as a scientist. He talks about how he became a scientist, what qualities did he possess, what sort of facilities and environment did he need and other factors that influenced him to become a scientist. So the text is descriptive in itself. The things that he mentioned are self explanatory and have no implied meaning. It can be easily comprehended what the writer wants to say. Therefore there is very less to interpret.
But the things that he says are true. We really need to be curious. The more curious we become the more knowledge we gain, the deeper we get into that subject matter. He also talks about the need of good environment, supportive family and complete freedom which are very true. So there are a lot of things to learn from the chapter and implement in our life. Thus we can say that there is less to interpret and more to assimilate from the text.

‘The Making of a Scientist’ is an essay written by V.S.Ramachandran.Since it is a narrative essay it shares a lot of ideas and opinions to the audience.Also,the writer talks about the past incidents,which motivated him to become a scientist.Not only that,through this essay the writer also wants to motivate us to do something in life or to say in another words,to become something in life.So basically it inspires us to look forward in making our future,there is very less to interpret in it.
But,on the other hand,the essay creates a space in our mind which makes us to think about our future.Also it gives us a understanding that parents should also be encouraging their children and should provide them a suitable environment so that children can prosper well.It also inspires us to be something in life,to move forward in life with an ambition.Hence,it has got a lot of things that we can assimilate in our life.