Importance of Time in Chinese Culture Essay Example for Free

Importance of Time in Chinese Culture Essay The importance of time is always dependent on the different perspectives of people’s origin, particularly culture. â€Å"Time is one of the most important bases by which culture rests and all other activities revolve† (Riggs et al 31). Different cultures handle time differently. In the past, time was measured in daylight, darkness, or in seasons; however, nowadays, time has become more important and more complicated. Yet, no matter how complicated it has become, it always boils down to the influence of culture, just like China, one of the countries with a very rich culture. The impact of modernization in China on the changes of Chinese’ behavior is significant. However, these changes in their behavior have had a more significant impact on their values. Indeed, Chinese seem to have never given up one of their most important cultural characteristics, Guanxi, which up until now, remains as an important Chinese business element. In the advent of globalization, Chinese has kept and reinforced this unique characteristic even in the most important socio-cultural changes. Yes, China has indeed undergone substantial cultural changes; nonetheless, with regards to the thinking and dealing process, modern China remains rooted to its traditional Yin Yang approach, and this is reflected on their shrewd use of time to keep their relationship intact. Because Chinese people value relationship more than anything else, as they believe that this could lead them to success, it is logical to expect that the Chinese society concentrates on fluid/multi-focus time value. Chinese people are both famous and infamous in different negotiations for their wise use of time as their bargaining tool. Chinese are known to have adept ability to run down the clock because they prioritize their relationships with their associates or business partners first. This way, they know that the value of relationship or guanxi continues. Moreover, Chinese can afford or stand to play the waiting game, provided that there is always someone left to invest and spend for them. Cultures around the world have developed their own way of responding to time. The dimension for time orientation is based on two aspects; the relative significance the culture gives to its past, present, and future, and its way of approaching the time. China has indeed embraced globalization since the last three decades. Despite this, its stronghold to its culture is still very evident. This is because China is considered as a past-oriented culture country. Countries that fall under this category have a culture that is largely leaned towards the past; they see their future as a repetition of their past experiences. Moreover, they have high respect and regard for their collective historical experiences and their ancestors. As per David Thomas’ description of the country, China embraces its tradition and culture of ancestor worship and has strong pride of its customary and cultural persistence for over thousands of years (73). The Chinese society holds the perspective that their past is their guide on how to live their lives in the present. According to an old Chinese proverb, â€Å"Consider the past and you will know the present† (Quotations). Work Cited Riggs, James, et al. Industrial Organization and Management. Manila, Philippines: McGraw-Hill, Inc. , 1980. Lo, Vincent. Chinese Business Culture: Guanxi, An Important Chinese Business Element. 17 March 2005. 01 May 2009 http://chinese-school. netfirms. com/guanxi. html Thomas, David. Cross-Cultural Management: Essential Concepts Second Ed. California: Sage Publications. 2008. Quotations. 14 February 2008. 01 May 2009. http://www1. bbiq. jp/quotations/past. htm

Essay --

â€Å"They can have it any colour, as long as it’s black† was famously said by Henry Ford, in reference to his car factory, without realising he was about to create an era that is often referred to as the machine that came in and changed the world. Throughout the essay we will be looking at several aspects of Fordism- its features and its influence on revolutionising the organisational world. Fordism is a hard area to describe, but in brief it refers to the system of mass production and consumption that produced sustained economic growth and widespread material advancement (Jayne, 2006). Before Henry Ford came into the equation and introduced his new working methods, there were several problems already occurring in the working world that Fordism helped to address. For example, there was divided authority between workers and managers, as well as inefficiencies, contradictions of interest and market competition. Whilst Fordism helped improve certain areas of management an d society, there were also a few problems that arose from it. Fordism was truly revolutionary touching all areas of the industrial sector, creating a new scientific management. It brushed away the old fashioned features related to the early 20th century capitalist society whilst at the same time sustaining economic development. Merkle, 1980 states Fordism wasn’t completely compatible with capitalism, however Henry Ford succeeded in slowly eliminating the ‘bubble and glut economy’ (Lind,M., 2013). Ford really pushed the idea of a ‘high-wage, high-demand economy’ (Lind,M., 2013) by paying his workers enough money to afford the cars they produced. This was only at a national level; internationally the export and import of goods and services from industrial nations all... .... Fast food chains, ie. McDonalds require low skilled staff to produce a standardized product and service; just like the production line workers at Ford. Furthermore, expanding on the idea of mass production, it meant that more products were available for a cheaper price and for a wider range of people, which had a big influence in society. Jessop (in Amin, 1994, p. 9) agrees with this as it expresses the idea that Fordism is an industrial paradigm that involves mass production which is its main source of dynamism. Mass production meant that finally there were products available to everyone and not just the higher classes. Ford was all about the welfare of the customers and wanted his products to be available to everyone. This was evident as he said, â€Å"It is not the employer who pays the wages. Employers only handle the money. It is the customer who pays the wages.†

The Case of Legalized Euthanasia: Analysis and Insights

Euthanasia, also commonly known as mercy killing or assisted suicide, as defined by any lexicon, would refer to the act of intentionally killing a person in a painless or minimally painful manner so as to end that person’s suffering.The word euthanasia was actually derived from two Greek words to wit: â€Å"eu† and â€Å"thanatos†, which mean good and death, respectively. Thus, euthanasia is also sometimes referred to as good death while in other references it is referred to as easy death.Euthanasia or mercy killing is usually carried out for people who are terminally ill and would want to cut short their prolonged suffering from pain and or for those people who are placed in a situation wherein they have become incapable of making such request for themselves. This group of people would include those whose primary existence is being provided by a life support or vital medication.There are actually various types of euthanasia. This would include active, passive an d physician assisted suicide.Active euthanasia, according to various references, would refer to that type of euthanasia wherein there is a direct action involved in causing an individual to die. To illustrate, let us take into consideration one of the most talked about film of the year, the Million Dollar Movie.In the said film Ms. Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) was placed in a situation wherein the only thing that enables her to thrive is by means of a life-support machine. Mr. Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood), who was Ms.Fitzgerald’s trainer in the field of boxing, as a response to Ms. Fitzgerald’s request to help her end her suffering actually engaged oneself in committing the active type of euthanasia via injecting a substance which is alien to the Ms. Fitzgerald’s body, thus causing Ms. Fitzgerald’s death.Passive euthanasia, on the other hand, is defined as that type of assisted suicide wherein the death of a person is hastened by deliberately alterin g available forms of life support and letting the individual experience the natural course of death.To illustrate, Mr. Frankie Dunn also exhibited this type of euthanasia by means of taking out the life support machine of Ms. Fitzgerald, thus contributing to her hastened death.Passive euthanasia may also be exhibited by stopping necessary and imperative medical procedures, medications, and the like. Likewise, by stopping food as well as water intake thus allowing the person or patient to dehydrate and or starve to death is also another manifestation of a passive type of euthanasia.Physician assisted euthanasia, in contrast with the other two types mentioned, is that type of euthanasia wherein a professional in the field of medicine makes available to his or her patient the necessary information and or means to cut short the patient’s suffering or life.Due to the fact that euthanasia involves an act that deviates from the natural way of dying, it became a precursor to various ethical, religious, and moral issues. Likewise, since there have been many medical cases that involved the act of mercy killing as well as existing and public policies that legalizes it, strong protests on its practice became prevalent. Should euthanasia be legalized despite the many intricacies and social implications it has created?For the purpose of this paper, the author aims to discuss the nature of euthanasia and the claim of Mr. Robert Dworkin et al. in the compendium entitled â€Å"Assisted Suicide: The Philosopher’s Brief†. Likewise, it is also the objective of the author to make a stand on the legalization of euthanasia and support his claim by citing examples from the movie the Million Dollar Baby and other examples of even nature to critically examine Mr. Dworkin’s claim in his published essay.

Fallacies A Logical Fallacy - 1741 Words

A logical fallacy is false or misinforming opinions that prove nothing. At times fallacies seem to be sound, and often have lots of persuasive control, even after it’s undoubtedly exposed as being untrue. Fallacies are not always deliberate, still yet we find them all over the place, like commercials for an example. Though there are several logical fallacies, four logical fallacies generally found in advertising are amphiboly, appeal to authority, appeal to emotion, and non sequitur (logic). Fallacies should not be allowed in advertising because they create more harm than good; alcohol commercials make drinking appear fun but do not always show the consequences of drinking too much and some commercials even use scare tactics to sell products. When a reason contains a fallacy, it is invalid; the conclusion is no longer acceptable, but the listener may not notice what went wrong. There are many ways arguments can go wrong and many fallacies. Some occasionally appear or are unlikely to deceive; others more undoubtedly mislead, especially when people do not examine carefully what is being said. â€Å"Fallacies are put into two groups: formal and informal. A formal fallacy is a type of inaccuracy in the logical structure of an argument. An informal fallacy is basically a flaw in logical form.† The reason may have such a flaw, but when it is put in a correct logical form something else emerges as the real problem. One type of informal fallacy is the argument from ignorance; assumingShow MoreRelatedThe Is A Logical Fallacy?877 Words   |  4 Pagessupport it†¦ but your ideas may be ruined by what is called a â€Å"logical fallacy.† What exactly is a logical fallacy†¦? Logical fallacies are errors in reasoning that undermine the logic of your argument (Weber). There are a vast number of different types of fallacies, including Begging the claim, Sweeping Generalizations, slippery slope, hasty generalization, Ad hominem, red herring, and circular argument. Many of these types of logical fallacies can be witnessed throughout the media, whether it be in aRead More Logical Fallacies Summary and Application Essay1297 Words   |  6 PagesLogical Fallacies Summary and Application What do you see when you look at Begging the Question, Hasty Generalization, and Appealing to Emotion? When you initially look at these three categories they may not seem to have too much in common. However, when you look deeper you will see that in fact, they are all different types of logical fallacies. Logical fallacies are errors of reasoning, errors that may be recognized and corrected by prudent thinkers (Downes, 1995). The following quote helpsRead MoreThe Logical Fallacies875 Words   |  4 PagesWhat are logical fallacies, evidence, and error in misconceptions? The report will identify nine logical fallacies. If all evidence in an argument appears to be true, still the disputation may be invalid if the logic utilized is not sanctioned (â€Å"Logical Fallacies,† 2014). Another name for it is called logical error, in philosophy. There are many fallacies to be aware of when making a sound argument. The nine logical fallacies are Mere assertion/Circular reasoning/Ad homi nem, Red herring/Pseudo-questions/FalseRead MoreLogical Fallacies. Logical Fallacies Can Be Found In Many1288 Words   |  6 PagesLogical Fallacies Logical Fallacies can be found in many forms of persuasions, in infomercials, political debates, common discussion, everywhere. Although Logical Fallacies are very common, they mar our arguments and should be avoided. In order to avoid them we must first learn to recognize them. To fully understand Logical Fallacies, we will look at the definition of Logical Fallacies, some examples of Logical Fallacies, classifications of Logical Fallacies, and finally why we should, and how weRead MoreLogical Fallacy Julius Caesar877 Words   |  4 Pageswith evidence. Ex. 1: â€Å"Cats are meaner than dogs.† Ex. 2: â€Å"Most people find church boring.† Ex. 3: â€Å"Homework is easy.† http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-generalization.html Logical fallacy: Errors in reasoning used by speakers or writers, sometimes in order to dupe their audiences. Use: Logical fallacy was used in Julius Caesar when Antony and Brutus spoke upon Caesar’s death. Antony was th e one to stoop down and flip Brutus’s words, however he did indeed use money to gain their trustRead MoreLogical Fallacies Exercise3117 Words   |  13 PagesAnswers to fallacy exercise, Part 2. I. Identify the fallacies of sufficiency committed by the following arguments, giv ­ing a brief explanation for your answer. If no fallacy is committed, write no fallacy.1 1. The Daily News carried an article this morning about three local teenagers who were arrested on charges of drug possession. Teenagers these days are nothing but a bunch of junkies. Hasty Generalization – not enough examples. 2. If a car breaks down on the freeway, a passing mechanic isRead MoreFallacies And Fallacies Of Fallacies1006 Words   |  5 PagesWade brueggeman Professor Mcginty English 1301 9 July 2015 Logical Fallacies Have you ever wondered if something is actually making you genuinely laugh or if it is just always laughed at so you feel like you must laugh at at? Sometimes people are so accustomed to the things around them that they are just going through the motions. Now fallacies are common errors within reasoning that will ruin the logic of your argument. They can be either illegitimate arguments or irrelevant points, and are oftenRead MoreAnalysis Of Max Shulman s Love Is A Fallacy 964 Words   |  4 PagesAnti-man Max Shulman’s â€Å"Love is a Fallacy† is an essay about a young man who gets more than he bargained for after trying to teach a gorgeous woman about logic. The narrator is portrayed as a law school freshman who is looking for a possible wife, suitable for a lawyer’s career. Polly Espy is the desired woman. Polly also happens to be the narrator’s roommate, Petey Bellows’ â€Å"girl†. So that the narrator can make his move on Polly, he barters an agreement that he will give Petey the raccoonRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence : Argument And Persuasion Essay1769 Words   |  8 Pagesmade with all the wrong evidence; however, he built the argument in such a way to rally a people for war. The Declaration of Independence is a well-written example of argument and persuasion with its use of structure as a whole, use of specific fallacies, and use of appeals. Foremost, when looking at the Declaration there needs to be an understanding of who the audience is. The most prominent person who would be reading this document would be the king himself, King George III. When looking at theRead MoreRhetorical Devices And Its Effect On Our Lives1191 Words   |  5 PagesAs critical thinkers, it is imperative that we have the ability to take fallacies into account - especially when it comes to advertisement. It is very easy to become influenced based on how products, such as food, liquor, diet supplements, and even toothpastes are presented to us. Some products may appeal to different aspects of our lives, this is done by the use of rhetorical devices. In other words, rhetoric devices are â€Å"used to influence beliefs or attitudes through the associations, connotations

Demographics of the U.S. Trends in Age and Race

In 2014, Pew Research Center released an interactive report titled The Next America, which reveals the sharp demographic changes in age and racial makeup that are on track to have the U.S. look like an entirely new country by 2060. The report focuses on major shifts in both the age and racial composition of the U.S. population  and emphasizes the need for a retooling of Social Security, as the growth in the retired population will put increasing pressure on the decreasing proportion of the population supporting them. The report also highlights immigration and interracial marriage as causes for the racial diversification of the nation that will mark the end of the white majority in the not so distant future. Aging Population Historically, the age structure of the U.S., like other societies, has been shaped like a pyramid, with the largest proportion of the population among the youngest, and cohorts decreasing in size as age rises. However, thanks to longer life expectancy and lower overall birth rates, that pyramid is morphing into a rectangle. As a result, by 2060 there will be almost as many people over age 85 as there are under age five. Every day now, as this major demographic shift takes place,  10,000 Baby Boomers turn 65 and begin collecting Social Security. This will continue until the year 2030, which puts pressure on the already stressed retirement system. In 1945, five years after Social Security was created, the ratio of workers to payees was 42:1. In 2010, thanks to our aging population, it was just 3:1. When all Baby Boomers are drawing that benefit the ratio will be reduced to two workers for every one recipient. This suggests a grim outlook for the possibility of those currently paying the benefits of receiving any when they retire, which suggests that the system needs revamping, and quick. End of White Majority The U.S. population has been steadily diversifying, in terms of race, since 1960, but today, whites are still the majority, at about 62 percent. The tipping point for this majority will come sometime after 2040, and by 2060, whites will be just 43 percent of the U.S. population. Much of that diversification will come from a growing Hispanic population, and some from growth in the Asian population, while the Black population is expected to maintain a relatively stable percentage. This marks a significant change for a nation that has historically been dominated by a white majority that holds the most power in terms of economy, politics, education, media, and in many other realms of social life. Many believe that the end of the white majority in the U.S. will herald a new era in which systemic and institutional racism no longer reign. Immigration Immigration over the last 50 years has a lot to do with the changing racial makeup of the nation.  More than 40 million immigrants have arrived since 1965; half of whom have been Hispanic, and 30 percent Asian. By 2050, the U.S. population will be about 37 percent of immigrants—the largest share in its history. This shift will actually make the U.S. look more like it did at the dawn of the 20th century, in terms of the  proportion of immigrants to native-born citizens. One immediate consequence of the uptick in immigration since the 1960s is seen in the racial makeup of the Millennial generation—those currently 20-35 years old—who are the most racially diverse generation in American history, at just 60 percent white. Interracial Marriages Increasing diversification and shifts in attitudes about interracial coupling and marriage are also changing the racial makeup of the nation and forcing the obsolescence of long-standing racial categories we use to mark difference among us. Showing a sharp increase from just 3 percent in 1960, today 1 in 6 of those getting married is partnering with someone of another race. Data show that those among Asian and Hispanic populations are more likely to marry out,  while 1 in 6 among Blacks  and 1 in 10 among whites do the same. All of this points to a nation that will look, think, and behave rather differently in the not so distant future, and suggests that major shifts in politics and public policy are on the horizon. Resistance to Change While many in the U.S. are pleased by the diversification of the nation, there are many who do not support it. The rise to power of president Donald Trump in 2016 is a clear sign of discord with this change. His popularity among supporters during the primary was largely fueled by his anti-immigrant stance and rhetoric, which resonated with voters who believe that both Donald Trump in 2016 is a clear sign of discord with this change. His popularity among supporters during the primary was largely fueled by his anti-immigrant stance and rhetoric, which resonated with voters who believe that both immigration and racial diversification are bad for the nation. Resistance to these major demographic shifts appears clustered among white people and older Americans, who turned out to support Trump over Clinton in the November election. Following the election, a ten-day surge in anti-immigrant and racially motivated hate crimes swept the nation, signaling that the transition to the new United St ates will not be a smooth or harmonious one.

Psychology Is Everywhere You Look - 957 Words

Psychology is everywhere you look (Caldwell 2014). It can be found within TV shows, music, sports, and even society. The textbook, Exploring Psychology, begins to explore the social, cognitive, and emotional roots of prejudice within society (545). Prejudice has remained a huge obstacle throughout world history. With the recent murders of unarmed African American men, the aspect of police brutality begins to relate back to prejudice. According to Jesse Holland of the Associated Press, the recent murder of Mike Brown has brought forth several marches and racial unrest within the African American community. With this example of social unrest, psychology begins to make its presence known through the roots of social relations. Eric Garner and Mike Brown were African American men who died from the wrongful force of a white police officer. Within social psychology, studies are made to explain how humans influence, think, and relate to one another (Myers 525). One of the main factors of social psychology is the negative attitude of prejudice. To be prejudice towards someone means to place a pre judgment on someone due to social differences. Myers begins to explain how prejudice attributes to the role of psychology through a social standpoint. In the text, Exploring Psychology, Myers explains the three roots of prejudice: social, emotional, and cognitive. Within the realm of the social roots of prejudice, the idea of discrimination comes into play. Discrimination isShow MoreRelatedPsychology Applied to Everyday Life1185 Words   |  5 PagesAndrew Handler 12/12/2012 Psychology Final Paper Psychology Applied to Everyday Life Psychology can be applied to everyday life in many ways. The three main ways Psychology applies to my life is through motivation and emotion, Stress and health and Psychological therapies. These topics of psychology are the ones that best describe my life. When most people think of psychology they think of therapists and psychological disorders. Psychology is much more than that and applies to everyone’s lifeRead More Cause and Effect Essay - The True Cause of School Shootings700 Words   |  3 PagesMost of us learned when we were very young that we should not judge by appearances. But, in the aftermath of massacres in schools everywhere, a sane person has to take seriously what the material world shows - and pass judgment. After all, a lack of judgment and subsequent action may lead to further youth violence. This event has been thoroughly dissected by a whole herd of politicians and pundits over a period of some months. But they have, unfortunately, failed to reach the heart of the matterRead MoreResearch Statistics and Psychology Paper977 Words   |  4 PagesResearch Statistics and Psychology Paper Roberta Parker PSY/315 June 10, 2011 Dr. Julie Wilson Research Statistics and Psychology Paper Research plays a major role in psychology, which research is understood through statistics. Psychologists depend on research to understand theories and to understand how people behave, think, and feel. Research needs to be organized to be understood by psychologists; therefore statistics help organize the information and make the connection between the researchRead MoreOday, Graphic Design Has Taken Over The Entire World. â€Å"In1062 Words   |  5 Pagesrealize the effects that design has within their changing lifestyle. One may not know that, â€Å"many graphic designers are hard-wired to control their environment† (Heller, Steven). Graphic design all starts with color and color always starts with psychology. A simple label or billboard has a reason behind everything displayed on it. Some may assume that Good Graphic Design Convinces Customers, and others Bad Graphic Design Loses Customers. â€Å"While socially conscious design might appear to be a newerRead MoreSocial Psychology : Psychology And Behavioral Psychology1170 Words   |  5 PagesSocial Psychology Professor: Dr. Monique Guiscard Answers to Homework #1 1-Social psychology is an approach that try to explain the way that people can be influenced by others in their â€Å"thinking, feelings, and in their behavior.† This influenced can happened by real or image presence of other people. 1A- Other major areas of study of are cognitive psychology and behavioral psychology this are the centrals. However, psychology has connections with social neuroscience, clinical psychology, positiveRead MoreIntegrative Approaches Of Psychology And Christianity1331 Words   |  6 Pages4-MAT Review: Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity Summary Even though some people walk the same path they may see different things. Some may see things in the theological way with God’s presence everywhere they look and everything they do. Some may see it in a psychological way, always looking for the explanation of why something is the way it is. Together, theology and psychology can bring a different view and perspective that they never would have saw by themselves. Many peopleRead MoreSerial Killer Speech Essay984 Words   |  4 PagesCOM 103: Public Speaking OUTLINE Specific Goal: To inform my audience about the psychology of the serial killer. Introduction: A. There are possibly 20-100 of them active in the U.S. B. They are sociopathic, psychopathic monsters that hide behind the masks of normal everyday people. C. They have no conscience, no empathy, no feelings or remorse. Only apathy. A dark empty world where the only sense of satisfaction and feeling comes from taking the life ofRead MoreCareer in Psychology: Personal Narrative Essay935 Words   |  4 Pagescoming to with their problems. Maybe people feel this way because they sense that I have a sympathetic ear? Well, all I can say is that human behavior has always seemed interesting to me and that is probably why I made the decision to go down the psychology career pathway. I believe that choosing this career is much like how the Freedom Writers chose to beat stereotypes in the book The Freedom Writers Diary. I can compare my journey to wanting to become a licensed marriage and sex psychologist toRead MoreI Have Always Considered Myself905 Words   |  4 PagesI have always considered myself to be an â€Å"out of the box† thinker. I usually look on the bigger picture and all the possible â€Å"what ifs† my mind could conjure. However, I have learned some things this semester that really put me in check. Things that caused me to stop and think and readjust the way I view the world. I still think that Freud’s theories are absurd but now I don’t dismiss them. I have learned through the tenure of the course that everyone has a story and even Freud is worth the benefitRead MoreThe Success Of The Mcdonald s Corporation946 Words   |  4 Pagestelevision turned on for around 7 hours according to the group TV-Free America. They al so state that a child will watch around 20,000 commercials a year. But that is just commercials there are also posters and ads on the radio as well, meaning that you cannot escape the overwhelming amount of advertisements out there. Not only are there thousands of commercials being seen each year, but also there are certain ways as to how these commercials are designed and delivered. We give these very little thought

The Vampire Diaries The Fury Chapter One Free Essays

Elena stepped into the clearing. Beneath her feet tatters of autumn leaves were freezing into the slush. Dusk had fallen, and although the storm was dying away the woods were getting colder. We will write a custom essay sample on The Vampire Diaries: The Fury Chapter One or any similar topic only for you Order Now Elena didn’t feel the cold. Neither did she mind the dark. Her pupils opened wide, gathering up tiny particles of light that would have been invisible to a human. She could see the two figures struggling beneath the great oak tree quite clearly. One had thick dark hair, which the wind had churned into a tumbled sea of waves. He was slightly taller than the other, and although Elena couldn’t see his face she somehow knew his eyes were green. The other had a shock of dark hair as well, but his was fine and straight, almost like the pelt of an animal. His lips were drawn back from his teeth in fury, and the lounging grace of his body was gathered into a predator’s crouch. His eyes were black. Elena watched them for several minutes without moving. She’d forgotten why she had come here, why she’d been pulled here by the echoes of their battle in her mind. This close the clamor of their anger and hatred and pain was almost deafening, like silent shouts coming from the fighters. They were locked in a death match. I wonder which of them will win, she thought. They were both wounded and bleeding, and the taller one’s left arm hung at an unnatural angle. Still, he had just slammed the other against the gnarled trunk of an oak tree. His fury was so strong that Elena could feel and taste it as well as hear it, and she knew it was giving him impossible strength. And then Elena remembered why she had come. How could she have forgotten? He was hurt. His mind had summoned her here, battering her with shock waves of rage and pain. She had come to help him because she belonged to him. The two figures were down on the icy ground now, righting like wolves, snarling. Swiftly and silently Elena went to them. The one with the wavy hair and green eyes- Stefan, a voice in her mind whispered-was on top, fingers scrabbling at the other’s throat. Anger washed through Elena, anger and protectiveness. She reached between the two of them to grab that choking hand, to pry the fingers up. It didn’t occur to her that she shouldn’t be strong enough to do this. She was strong enough; that was all. She threw her weight to the side, wrenching her captive away from his opponent. For good measure, she bore down hard on his wounded arm, knocking him flat on his face in the leaf-strewn slush. Then she began to choke him from behind. Her attack had taken him by surprise, but he was far from beaten. He struck back at her, his good hand fumbling for her throat. His thumb dug into her windpipe. Her attack had taken him by surprise, but he was far from beaten. He struck back at her, his good hand fumbling for her throat. His thumb dug into her windpipe. But he was stronger than she was. With a jerk of his shoulders, he broke her hold on him and twisted in her grasp, flinging her down. And then he was above her, his face contorted with animal fury. She hissed at him and went for his eyes with her nails, but he knocked her hand away. He was going to kill her. Even wounded, he was by far the stronger. His lips had drawn back to show teeth already stained with scarlet. Like a cobra, he was ready to strike. Then he stopped, hovering over her, his face changing. Elena saw the green eyes widen. The pupils, which had been contracted to vicious dots, sprang open. He was staring down at her as if truly seeing her for the first time. Why was he looking at her that way? Why didn’t he just get it over with? But now the iron hand on her shoulder was releasing her. The animal snarl had disappeared, replaced by a look of bewilderment and wonder. He sat back, helping her to sit up, all the while gazing into her face. â€Å"Elena,† he whispered. His voice was cracked. â€Å"Elena, it’s you.† Is that who I am? she thought. Elena? It didn’t really matter. She cast a glance toward the old oak tree. He was still there, standing between the upthrust roots, panting, supporting himself against it with one hand. He was looking at her with his endlessly black eyes, his brows drawn together in a frown. Don’t worry, she thought. I can take care of this one. He’s stupid. Then she flung herself on the green-eyed one again. â€Å"Elena!† he cried as she knocked him backward. His good hand pushed at her shoulder, holding her up. â€Å"Elena, it’s me, Stefan! Elena, look at me!† She was looking. All she could see was the exposed patch of skin at his neck. She hissed again, upper lip drawing back, showing him her teeth. He froze. She felt the shock reverberate through his body, saw his gaze shatter. His face went as white as if someone had struck him a blow in the stomach. He shook his head slightly on the muddy ground. â€Å"No,† he whispered. â€Å"Oh, no†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He seemed to be saying it to himself, as if he didn’t expect her to hear him. He reached a hand toward her cheek, and she snapped at it. â€Å"Oh, Elena†¦Ã¢â‚¬  he whispered. The last traces of fury, of animal bloodlust, had disappeared from his face. His eyes were dazed and stricken and grieving. The last traces of fury, of animal bloodlust, had disappeared from his face. His eyes were dazed and stricken and grieving. He stared at her a moment, the pain in his eyes reaching a peak, and then he simply gave up. He stopped fighting completely. She could feel it happen, feel the resistance leave his body. He lay on the icy ground with scraps of oak leaves in his hair, staring up past her at the black and clouded sky. Finish it, his weary voice said in her mind. Elena hesitated for an instant. There was something about those eyes that called up memories inside her. Standing in the moonlight, sitting in an attic room†¦ But the memories were too vague. She couldn’t get a grasp on them, and the effort made her dizzy and sick. And this one had to die, this green-eyed one called Stefan. Because he’d hurt him, the other one, the one Elena had been born to be with. No one could hurt him and live. She clamped her teeth into his throat and bit deep. She realized at once that she wasn’t doing it quite right. She hadn’t hit an artery or vein. She worried at the throat, angry at her own inexperience. It felt good to bite something, but not much blood was coming. Frustrated, she lifted up and bit again, feeling his body jerk in pain. Much better. She’d found a vein this time, but she hadn’t torn it deeply enough. A little scratch like that wouldn’t do. What she needed was to rip it right across, to let the rich hot blood stream out. Her victim shuddered as she worked to do this, teeth raking and gnawing. She was just feeling the flesh give way when hands pulled at her, lifting her from behind. Elena snarled without letting go of the throat. The hands were insistent though. An arm looped about her waist, fingers twined in her hair. She fought, clinging with teeth and nails to her prey. Let go of him. Leave him! The voice was sharp and commanding, like a blast from a cold wind. Elena recognized it and stopped struggling with the hands that pulled her away. As they deposited her on the ground and she looked up to see him, a name came into her mind. Damon. His name was Damon. She stared at him sulkily, resentful of being yanked away from her kill, but obedient. Stefan was sitting up, his neck red with blood. It was running onto his shirt. Elena licked her lips, feeling a throb like a hunger pang that seemed to come from every fiber of her being. She was dizzy again. â€Å"I thought,† Damon said aloud, â€Å"that you said she was dead.† He was looking at Stefan, who was even paler than before, if that was possible. That white face filled with infinite hopelessness. â€Å"Look at her† was all he said. A hand cupped Elena’s chin, tilting her face up. She met Damon’s narrowed dark eyes directly. Then long, slender fingers touched her lips, probing between them. Instinctively Elena tried to bite, but not very hard. Damon’s finger found the sharp curve of a canine tooth, and Elena did bite now, giving it a nip like a kitten’s. Damon’s face was expressionless, his eyes hard. â€Å"Do you know where you are?† he said. Elena glanced around. Trees. â€Å"In the woods,† she said craftily, looking back at him. â€Å"And who is that?† She followed his pointing finger. â€Å"Stefan,† she said indifferently. â€Å"Your brother.† â€Å"And who am I? Do you know who I am?† She smiled up at him, showing him her pointed teeth. â€Å"Of course I do. You’re Damon, and I love you.† How to cite The Vampire Diaries: The Fury Chapter One, Essay examples