Heroes and Celebrities Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Heroes and Celebrities - Research Paper Example Celebrities on the other hand are renowned popular personalities from the entertainment, sports, social or political origin usually with professional mission – who have essentially mesmerized the common mass with extensive fan-following through media publicity, sensational enterprising which at times may have positive significance or mere dramatic impression on the community. Heroes play an essential and pivotal role shaping and developing the lives of the common mass to aspire and inspire them to the esteemed goal. However in the present scenario with the advent of the globalization, fast lifestyle and rate-race, the differentiation between the terminologies ‘heroes’ and ‘celebrities’ is often forgotten and overlapping. In this current era of ‘reality TV shows’ like Survivor, The Amazing Race, American Idol, The Swan, Extreme Makeover, Big Brother etc. with the creation of instant celebrity status and even at times infamy hypes – the cult celebrity worship has almost become synonymous to heroic aspirations. In this context the common population in the recent times have become more prone to ‘herd response’ whereby an enormous group of people react in the specific direction the media broadcasts and advertisements would attract and appeal them to through enchantment of glitz-glamour, monetary-allur ement or dream-fascination. The traditional beliefs in regards to celebrity establishment and hero-worshipping are getting fundamentally transformed from the very foundation with the presence of luck fortune and at times prosperity, the common people are gaining the celebrity prominence and becoming the social icon almost overnight, especially in shows like the American Idol, The Swan, Extreme Makeover and the like. With the introduction of cosmetic surgery and hi-tech beautification methodologies within the reach of the common contestants till that time as in the

Security Policy ATM

Security Policy ATM The purpose of this document is to define a security policy for Bank H. This policy covers. This comprehensive policy is intended to cover all aspects of information security relating to Bank H ATM machines including: installation, maintenance, and operation ATM machines and network, employee responsibilities, ramifications for customers, and the security of ATM transactions. This document is divided into three sections, each covering a key facet of information security: Organizational Policy Issue-Specific Policy System Specific Policy Organizational Policy Information security is a prime concern at Bank H. much of our information is critical in nature and must be protected not only for our own sake, but for our customers and to comply with government regulations. This makes it the responsibility of every employee of Bank H to comply with the policies established in these policies. Program Responsibility The Chief Information Security Officer has the prime responsibility for establishing and enforcing the procedures necessary for the protection of information. This person reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors. A security oversight committee will also be formed consisting of the Chief Information Officer, Chief Financial Office, Chief Information Security Officer and other representatives as seen fit. This committee will meet at least quarterly to review security procedures and recommend appropriate updates. The Chief Information Security Office will be responsible for the establishment, implementation, and enforcement of information security policies on a day to day basis. Enforcement All employees of Bank H are required to adhere to the policies contained in this document. Any infringements of this policy will result in disciplinary action up to an including termination and legal action. Each employee will be required to review and sign a document indicating that he or she has reviewed and understood these policies upon hire and as part of the annual employee review process. Any employee who suspects a breach of these policies is required to immediately report the breach to his or her direct supervisor. If that is not possible, then the employee may contact the office of the Chief Information Security Officer directly. Failure to report breaches may result in disciplinary action as specified under these policies. Government Regulations The mandate for a comprehensive information security policy comes from many sources. Of foremost importance is Bank Hs concern for it employees, customers, and information assets. Additionally, due diligence is required by many overseeing government agencies. Title 12, chapter II of the Code of Federal Regulations from the Federal Reserve Board defines security policies that must be followed by banks to ensure compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act and the Bank Security Act (Regulation H: Membership of State Banking Institutions in the Federal Reserve System). Part 326 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation also details minimum security requirements for banks including: Designation of a security officer Implementation of a security program Annual reporting requirements (Part 326—Minimum Security Devices and Procedures and Bank Secrecy Act) Therefore, a main goal of this document is to establish and define a security program that meets the requirements of these and other regulatory agencies. Issue-Specific Policy The key issues that arise when considering our overall information security plan involve protecting our customers, employees, and assets. Three additional issues that must be considered are risk management, disaster recovery, and training, which all work together to support our overall goals for establishing these policies. Protecting Our Customers Whereas ATM machines provide a valuable service to our customers, it is incumbent upon Bank H to take all reasonable steps to insure the security and safety of their assets, personal information, and physical security while they are conducting transactions at a Bank H ATM machine. Regulations in the USA Patriot Act place specific requirements on banks regarding the information that customers must provide in order to open and account (Office of Thrift Supervision Staff Summary of USA Patriot Act.). Furthermore, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 places certain legal requirements on Bank H regarding the protection of sensitive information customer information (Public Law 107-204 107th Congress). Procedures below will detail necessary practices for protecting our customers including: ATM location and physical environment Authentication and verification of identity Protection of private customer information Protecting Our Employees In a real sense, establishing good security policies will protect our employees and help to insulate them from the daily risks of dealing high volumes of money and sensitive information. By clearly outlining security policies and procedures, all employees will have clear guidelines to follow to protect themselves and the assets they come into contact with. Clearly defined control procedures protect both our assets and our employees from accidental or intentional loss. A clearly defined security policy also establishes a legal standard of informed consent which is a judicial requirement that has been established by legal precedent. This document will establish procedures specific to our employees and their interactions with ATMs including: Contact with sensitive information Contact with money and other cash instruments Access to ATM equipment Protecting Our Assets Information, like money, is a valuable asset that must be protected from theft, destruction, and unauthorized access. ATMs represent a unique exposure to risk since they are often installed in locations that are outside the physical perimeter of the banks facilities. Extra precautions must be taken to protect external ATMs and ATMS located at other facilities since they will often be unattended. This policy will establish procedures to protect ATMs including: ATM Locations Environmental guidelines Minimum hardware security issues Data transmission, storage and encryption Risk Management Risk management is one of the first lines of defense in the effort to protect our customers, employees, and assets. Although the details of risk management fall outside the scope of this document, basic risk protection guidelines will be established by the Security Oversight Commission and a senior representative from risk management will be on that committee. In general, it is important that all reasonable steps will be taken to insure the company and customer assets including: FDIC insurance covering customer deposits Applicable insurance to protect ATM equipment Applicable liability coverage Disaster Recovery The ability to recover from natural and man-made disasters is an essential component of any security program. It is not the intent of the policy to create a comprehensive disaster recovery plan for the company. However, issues related to disaster recovery will be covered as applicable to ATMs including: Recovery of information and assets from equipment involved in an accident or disaster that renders the equipment inaccessible or damages or destroys the equipment Planning to mitigate the loss caused by such events Restoration of service, where applicable Training and Awareness All employees are required to attend security awareness training sessions to be coordinated and conducted by the Chief Information Security Officer a minimum of once a year. These sessions will be designed to educate employees of their responsibilities. Topics will include: Education on new and existing policies and procedures Practical training on tools and technology Awareness training on risks and mitigation System Specific Policy Special consideration must be used in protecting the systems that support our ATMs and data networks. As technology changes, so will the challenges and tools available for the security of these systems. Therefore, these policies should be reviewed on a quarterly basis and updated as necessary. ATM Machines ATMs form the core systems covered by these policies. Since many ATMs are outside the physical protection of our facilities, special care must be taken to protect them. Policies must be implemented to deal with these unique systems including: Money control procedures Technology to monitor ATMs against tampering and abuse Best-practices for installation and maintenance of ATMs Networks Data networks are necessary components of an ATM system and in some cases the most vulnerable. Therefore, all due care must be taken to insure the integrity, reliability, and security of our networks. Policies must be established regarding: Network installation and maintenance Network monitoring Network protocols and standards The use of encryption Section 2 Security Systems As the field of information security has matured, several recognized standards have evolved. Following these standards help to insure the development of comprehensive and effective security policies. A key concept in information protection is the concept of security systems. Security systems are domains of protection that establish the best practices. Our policies will be developed to cover each of these domains as appropriate. Confidentiality Confidentiality protects information from disclosure or exposure to unauthorized agents. Confidential information must be clearly indentified and reasonable steps must be taken to maintain its confidentiality. The following policies relate to confidentiality in the context of Bank H ATM security: Information will be classification so that confidential information can be identified and protected. Measures will be taken to protect confidential information in both physical and electronic form. The confidentiality of customer information is of prime importance. The confidentiality of personal employee information will also be protected. Integrity Integrity insures that information is kept in its original state and does not become corrupted at any point in the system. Systems must be implemented to protect assets from both intentional and unintentional corruption. The following policies relate to integrity in the context of Bank H ATM security: Error-checking data protocols will be used to insure the integrity of information in electronic form. Proper control procedures will be used in the handling and transport of information in physical media. Backup and archival policies will be constructed so that information may be re-created in the event of loss. All hardware and software will be maintained to insure the highest level of integrity when working with our data. Availability In order to be useful, assets must be available to those authorized to access. Some security risks are designed to block access to information and other assets. Policies that support availability include: Systems connected to external networks will have software and hardware to protect them against denial of service attacks. Disaster recovery plans will be developed and tested to insure the quick recovery of operations in the event of a disaster. ATMs will be located in areas that are accessible and convenient while appropriate measures are taken to secure them. Access control One of the first lines of defense is to limit access to an asset to authorized personnel only. This starts with locking the door and may include other devices and techniques to control access. Examples of access control include: Locked areas will be used as appropriate and policies will be developed to manage keys and access codes. The use of automated access cards or key-code locks will be used as appropriate to limit access to authorized personnel. The use of usernames, passwords, and other methods will be used to limit computer system access. Keys, codes, and other information relating to access to ATMs will be closely managed. Non-repudiation Accountability is the final key to a good security system. A clear and authentic trail of ownership and access to information and other assets must be established and maintained at all times. Examples of policies designed to enforce non-repudiation are: Fingerprints will be used to irrefutabley identify parties, as appropriate, when dealing with information in physical media. Digital certificates and digital signatures will be used to add irrefutable identification to electronic information as appropriate. Section 3 Standards The following standards have been established as minimum set of requrements that must be met in order to insure our security and protection of our assets. Compliance with these standards in mandatory at all levels. Any exceptions must be cleared in writing by the Chief Information Security Officer with the agreement of the Security Oversight Committee. Employees Before hire, all employees will sign a release document authorizing the company to perform or contract with a third party to perform a background investigation. Employees will be required to present a verified set of fingerprints which will be sent to appropriate law enforcement agencies for a criminal background check. Potential candidates who do not pass such background checks or fail to submit to them will not be considered for employment. All employees, upon hire, will be required to review and sign the following documents: A non-disclosure agreement stating that they will not disclose company information to third parties. An information confidentiality policy describing the banks information classification system and the handling of information at each level. A privacy statement informing the employee that their personal information will be held as company confidential and will not be released to third parties except as required by law. An accepted use of company resourced policy which clearly explains that all company equipment and resources, including information and service, are wholly owned by Bank H. Employees may not use any company equipment or resources for personal use. Upon hire, each employee will be issued a photo id card. This card must be displayed at all times while on company premises. When an employee leaves the company for any reason, the following procedures are to be followed: Whether the termination was for voluntary or involuntary reasons, employees will not be allowed to stay on the premises. The standard 2 week notice will be foregone and the employee will be expected to depart the premises on the same day. Any compensation due will be determined by human resource policy. Before leaving the premises, employees will conduct an exit interview. During this time the employee will reveal or return any access instruments that are outstanding in their file. Access to all computer systems or any other system that was granted to the employee will be immediately removed. Customers A valid government ID and social security card must be presented by all bank customers before an account of any kind can be opened. Copies of these documents will be made and kept on file in a secure manner. Potential customers must be cleared using industry appropriate services to insure that they are free and clear form obligations to other financial institutions before they will be allowed to establish and account. Each customer will be issued a secret Personal Identification Number (PIN) at the time they open an account. The PIN must be created using a system either randomly generates a PIN that is only known to the customer or allows the customer to enter the PIN without the revealing it to the bank employees. PINs will be immediately encrypted. At not time will a PIN be stored or transmitted in an unencrypted form. ATM cards will clearly show the full name of the customer, their card number, and a clear expiration date. ATM cards and any corresponding PIN shall not be mailed or otherwise transmitted within the same document or package. Upon closing their account, customers will return any ATM Cards in their possession. All ATM cards will be immediately disabled. Customers will be required to read and sign a document that explains their obligations for ensuring the security of their ATM cards and transactions. At a minimum, customers must agree to: Take reasonable steps to ensure that the ATM card issued to them is kept secure Notify the bank as soon as they believe that an ATM card has been lost or stolen Not let anyone else user their ATM card Not reveal their PIN to anyone else Notify the bank if their PIN has become compromised. Non customers wishing to conduct business with the bank will be required to show a valid government issued ID and must leave a fingerprint on file, preferably on the document being transacted. Employee and customer areas will be clearly marked. Customer will not be allowed in employee areas. Physical Security All company facilities shall be secured, at a minimum by doors with manual locks. Doors shall remain locked during non-business hours and at any time the facility is not occupied. A log must be kept of keys, the number of copies that have been made, and who the keys have been distributed to. Records must also be kept of keys that are reported as lost and who was reported to be in possession of the key at the time it was lost. A log must be kept of electronic codes and door access cards including who such instruments have been distributed to. Records must also be kept of access cards that are reported as lost and who was reported to be in possession of the key at the time it was lost. Employees must notify security as soon as they believe that a key, access card, or lock access code has been compromised. All bank facilities that hold money and similar must be secured by an alarm system. Employees should have the ability to trigger such alarms without detection. All ATMs must be secured with alarm systems that are triggered by unauthorized tampering. All alarm systems must be tied directly to local authorities or a registered alarm service that monitors the alarm status at all times. Monetary Access Appropriate control procedures and accounting procedures must be adhered to when dealing with money. Any area in which money is handled, held, or transported must be under constant video surveillance. Any monetary transactions exceeding $1000 must be verified and witness by a second employee. Any monetary transactions exceeding $10000 must be continuously observed by an employee who is at a higher level than the employee completing the transaction. The transport of money outside the bank facility must be handled by an authorized armored transport service and escorted by qualified armed personnel. Information Classification All information, whether in physical or electronic form, shall be assigned an appropriate level of classification based on its sensitivity and criticality. Data shall be assigned a minimum of three levels of classification. Public this information is neither sensitive nor critical to the company, nor is there any legal requirement to protect it. Confidential this is information that is sensitive in nature and should not be reveled to the general public. This classification is further subdivided into two categories: Company Confidential this information is sensitive information related to bank. Customer Confidential this is private information that belongs to a customer and must be protected by law. Critical information that is not necessarily (but may be) confidential, but is nevertheless critical to the successful functioning of the bank. ATM Equipment ATMs that require external access must still be secured in such a way that any access panels are not visible and cannot be easily accessed. All ATM machines must be under constant video surveillance. All networks shall be protected by a hardware-based firewall and other hardware and software deemed appropriate. The banks internal network shall not be exposed to public networks such as the Internet. All data transmitted via a network must be encrypted to prevent exposure to unauthorized tapping. Data protocols must be in place to validate that data is both transmitted and received in its original form. Data that does not pass validation should be rejected and logged. Network security software must be installed that constantly monitors the network for patterns and signs of attempted or actual unauthorized access. Activity that represents a threat must trigger an alarm to appropriate agencies and personnel. The daily stocking and removal of cash to and from an ATM shall be done in adherence to policies in section regarding the handling of cash detailed above. Each ATM shall use a PIN encryption device that encrypts and stores the information in a secure manner. Hardware must be implemented monitor, analyze, and authenticate any external source attempting to connect to the ATM. Unauthorized attempts must be logged and reported immediately to the monitoring agency. ATMs shall be connected to a monitoring system that automatically tracks the status of the ATM. The ATM should be configured with software that can log and securely transmit information about usage for external profiling to detect potential attacks. All ATMs must be under continual video surveillance as detailed in section 2.3 above. At no time will the customers PIN, account number, or other confidential information be displayed on the screen or any receipt. Networks All networks shall be protected by a hardware-based firewall and other hardware and software deemed appropriate. All data transmitted via a network must be encrypted to prevent exposure to unauthorized tapping. Section 4 Practices, Procedures and Guidelines This section defines the practices and procedures for the day to day operations of the company. These represent a set of guidelines which allow managers to perform their duties with due diligence, while also offering flexibility and adaptability for various environments and situations. Any questions about interpretation should be addressed the office of the Chief Information Security Officer. Employees Employees may, as appropriate, be issued certain instruments or information that allows them to access restricted areas or information. Upon receipt of any such instrument, the employee will sign a document verifying their receipt and agreeing to release the instrument back to the company when their job no longer requires it or upon termination. Instruments of this nature include, but are not limited to: ID Cards Access cards Access codes including usernames, passwords, Pins, and codes to electronic locks. Keys Customers Customers should read and sign a privacy notice informing them that their personal and financial information will be protected and not revealed to any third party except where required by law. Customers should be given a pamphlet that explains how to safely and securely use their ATM card online and at ATM machines. Physical Security The same procedures detailed in section 3.3 should be implemented for padlocks or other portable locking devices and keys to them. Doors that required access by more than 5 people should be considered for electronic access. Security officers should be present at all facilities that hold money and similar instruments during business hours. After hours, arrangements for surveillance and patrol should be implemented as appropriate. Prominent security cameras should be located both inside and outside all facilities that hold money or related instruments. These cameras should be linked to a system that records their images at all times. Computer Access In general, computers used for bank business should not be connected to the Internet. Computers that require connection to the Internet should not also be connected to the Banks internal network. Software that monitors and controls Internet activity should be used on computers connected to the Internet. The following guidelines should be used for password security: Passwords should be changed at a minimum of every 30 days. Passwords should not be reused. Passwords should contain a minimum of one number and one character and must be at least eight characters in length. Monetary Access Appropriate control procedures and accounting procedures must be adhered to when dealing with money. Any area in which money is handled, held, or transported must be under constant video surveillance. Any monetary transactions exceeding $1000 must be verified and witness by a second employee. Any monetary transactions exceeding $10000 must be continuously observed by an employee who is at a higher level than the employee completing the transaction. The transport of money outside the bank facility must be handled by an authorized armored transport service and escorted by qualified armed personnel. Information Classification Additional levels of information classification may be assigned as appropriate. All information that is considered confidential should be clearly labeled as such. Electronic confidential information should be stored in an encrypted form at all times. Physical media that is confidential should be secured in a locked location at all times. Information that is critical should be backed up an archived on a regular basis. ATM Equipment ATMs should be located inside of an existing bank facility when possible. ATMs should be installed in a well-lit area with open access. Keys and other devices that allow access to ATMs must be kept under tight security and are subject to regulations specified under section ATMs should be installed by authorized vendors who have been screened and are bonded. Records of all persons involved in the installation will be kept and archived. All vendors should supply documentation showing that the persons performing the installation have successfully passed a background check including a criminal background investigation. A schedule of preventive maintenance should be created to insure the correct functioning of all ATMs. Maintenance shall be performed only by qualified individuals. Records of maintenance should be kept including the date of the maintenance, what was done, and who performed the maintenance. These records shall be considered company confidential. Systems should be in place to prevent the tampering of ATMs or tampering with their information. ATMs should incorporate and audible alarm that is triggered by any sign of trouble. The ATMs internal software should be capable of sending alarms to the appropriate agency when the ATM is in need of service. ATMs should be secured to an immoveable foundation. The internal safe that contains the money should be manufactured, tested and rated for strength and resistance to attacks. Internal components should be protected in such a way that a single individual cannot gain access. This insures that at least two people are present with separate access codes and/or keys in order to gain access to the ATM. Mirrors should be installed to allow customers to see their surroundings while they are transacting at an ATM, but not allow others to see what they are doing. The keypad and screen of the ATM should be located in such a way that the customers body naturally blocks the keypad when it is being used. ATM usage should be monitored and analyzed to insure that each ATM is appropriately stocked with cash to meet customer demands. Networks The banks internal network should not be exposed to public networks such as the Internet. Data protocols should be in place to validate that data is both transmitted and received in its original form. Data that does not pass validation should be rejected and logged. Network security software should be installed that constantly monitors the network for patterns and signs of attempted or actual unauthorized access. Activity that represents a threat must trigger an alarm to appropriate agencies and personnel. Bibliography The following resources were used as reference material for the preparation of this document. Office of Thrift Supervision Staff Summary of USA Patriot Act. Department of Treasury. 20

aristotle :: essays research papers

Analytical Paper #3: Book 7, Ch. 4 Aristotle   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In this chapter it is Aristotle’s goal to explain the ideal size of a city-state, and the proper multitude of people to inhabit that city-state. Aristotle argues â€Å"most people suppose that a happy city-state must be a great one† (line 7). This thought is wrong, he concludes, claiming that it is not the number of inhabitants that makes a city-state great, but its â€Å"ability†. â€Å"For a city-state has a task to perform, so that the city-state that is best able to complete it is the one that should be considered greatest† (line 13).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Aristotle’s second claim is that in order to have an ideal city-state, one must have the ideal inhabitants within that city-state. Typically, in large city-states a great number of the inhabitants are â€Å"slaves, resident aliens, and foreigners†, this makes for a densely populated city-state. The great city-states are the ones who have the most people that are â€Å"a part of it†. Meaning a city-state in which a majority of its inhabitants are involved in the daily activities and governing of the city-state.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Aristotle continues by stating â€Å"from the facts at least it is difficult, perhaps impossible, for an overly populated city-state to be well governed† (line 25). He argues that law is a kind of â€Å"organization†, and thus for a government to be a good government it must be well organized. Trying to organize a large city-state is impossible, it is a task for a divine power, therefore, a city-states population must be restricted. â€Å"The size of a city-state, like everything else, has a certain scale: animals, plants and tools. For when each of them is neither too small nor too excessively large, it will have its own proper capacity† (line 35). Aristotle then relates it to a ship. One that is too small is not a formidable ship. Yet one that is too large is also not worthy of being called a ship. The ship will sail badly if it is too small or too large, and so it is with city-states, one that has too few people is not self-sufficient, yet, one that consists of too many, is not ideal, because it is too hard to govern.

The Vampire Diaries: The Struggle Chapter Fourteen

Bonnie shivered as she waited outside the tall Victorian house. The air was frosty this morning, and although it was almost eight o'clock the sun had never really come up. The sky was just one dense massed bank of gray and white clouds, creating an eerie twilight below. She had begun to stamp her feet and rub her hands together when the Forbes' door opened. Bonnie moved back a little behind the shrubbery that was her hiding place and watched the family walk to their car. Mr. Forbes was carrying nothing but a camera. Mrs. Forbes had a purse and a folding seat. Daniel Forbes, Caroline's younger brother, had another seat. And Caroline†¦ Bonnie leaned forward, her breath hissing out in satisfaction. Caroline was dressed in jeans and a heavy sweater, and she was carrying some sort of white drawstring purse. Not big but big enough to hold a small diary. â€Å"There she is, Aunt Judith. On the corner.† The car slowed to a halt, and Bonnie slid into the back seat with Elena. â€Å"She's got a white drawstring purse,† she murmured into Elena's ear as Aunt Judith pulled out again. Tingling excitement swept over Elena, and she squeezed Bonnie's hand. â€Å"Good,† she breathed. â€Å"Now we'll see if she brings it into Mrs. Grimesby's. If not, you tell Meredith it's in the car.† Bonnie nodded agreement and squeezed Elena's hand back. They arrived at Mrs. Grimesby's just in time to see Caroline going inside with a white bag hanging from her arm. Bonnie and Elena exchanged a look. Now it was up to Elena to see where Caroline left it in the house. â€Å"I'll get out here too, Miss Gilbert,† said Bonnie as Elena jumped out of the car. She would wait outside with Meredith until Elena could tell them where the bag was. The important thing was not to let Caroline suspect anything unusual. Mrs. Grimesby, who answered Elena's knock, was the Fell's Church librarian. Her house looked almost like a library itself; there were bookcases everywhere and books stacked on the floor. She was also the keeper of Fell's Church's historical artifacts, including clothing that had been preserved from the town's earliest days. Just now the house was ringing with young voices, and the bedrooms were full of students in various stages of undress. Mrs. Grimesby always supervised the costumes for the pageant. Elena was ready to ask to be put in the same room with Caroline, but it wasn't necessary. Mrs. Grimesby was already ushering her in. Caroline, stripped down to her fashionable underwear, gave Elena what was undoubtedly meant to be a nonchalant look, but Elena detected the vicious gloating beneath. She kept her own eyes on the bundle of clothing Mrs. Grimesby was picking up off the bed. â€Å"Here you are, Elena. One of our most nicely preserved pieces – and all authentic, too, even the ribbons. We believe this dress belonged to Honoria Fell.† â€Å"It's beautiful,† said Elena, as Mrs. Grimesby shook out the folds of thin white material. â€Å"What's it made of?† â€Å"Moravian muslin and silk gauze. Since it's quite cold today you can wear that velvet jacket over it.† The librarian indicated a dusty rose garment lying over a chair back. Elena cast a surreptitious glance at Caroline as she began to change. Yes, there was the bag, at Caroline's feet. She debated making a grab for it, but Mrs. Grimesby was still in the room. The muslin dress was very simple, its flowing material belted high under the bosom with a pale rose. â€Å"Did it really belong to Honoria Fell?† she asked, thinking of the marble image of that lady lying on her tomb in the ruined church. â€Å"That's the story, anyway,† said Mrs. Grimesby. â€Å"She mentions a dress like it in her journal, so we're pretty sure.† â€Å"She kept a journal?† Elena was startled. â€Å"Oh, yes. I have it in a case in the living room; I'll show it to you on the way out. Now for the jacket – oh, what's that?† Something violet fluttered to the ground as Elena picked the jacket up. She could feel her expression freeze. She caught up the note before Mrs. Grimesby could bend over, and glanced at it. One line. She remembered writing it in her diary on September 4, the first day of school. Except that after she had written it she had crossed it out. These words were not crossed out; they were bold and clear. Something awful is going to happen today. Elena could barely restrain herself from rounding on Caroline and shaking the note in her face. But that would ruin everything. She forced herself to stay calm as she crumpled up the little slip of paper and threw it into a wastebasket. â€Å"It's just a piece of trash,† she said, and turned back to Mrs. Grimesby, her shoulders stiff. Caroline said nothing, but Elena could feel those triumphant green eyes on her. Just you wait, she thought. Wait until I get that diary back. I'm going to burn it, and then you and I are going to have a talk. To Mrs. Grimesby she said, â€Å"I'm ready.† â€Å"So am I,† said Caroline in a demure voice. Elena put on a look of cool indifference as she eyed the other girl. Caroline's pale green gown with long green and white sashes was not nearly as pretty as hers. â€Å"Wonderful. You girls go ahead and wait for your rides. Oh, and Caroline, don't forget your reticule.† â€Å"I won't,† Caroline said, smiling, and she reached for the drawstring bag at her feet. It was fortunate that from that position she couldn't see Elena's face, for in that instant the cool indifference shattered completely. Elena stared, dumbfounded, as Caroline began to tie the bag at her waist. Her astonishment didn't escape Mrs. Grimesby. â€Å"That's a reticule, the ancestor of our modern handbag,† the older woman explained kindly. â€Å"Ladies used to keep their gloves and fans in them. Caroline came by. â€Å"I'm sure it was,† Elena managed in a strangled voice. She had to get out of here or something awful was going to happen right now. She was going to start screaming – or knock Caroline down – or explode. â€Å"I need some fresh air,† she said. She bolted from the room and from the house, bursting outside. Bonnie and Meredith were waiting in Meredith's car. Elena's heart thumped strangely as she walked to it and leaned in the window. â€Å"She's outsmarted us,† she said quietly. â€Å"That bag is part of her costume, and she's going to wear it all day.† Bonnie and Meredith stared, first at her and then at each other. â€Å"But†¦ then, what are we going to do?† Bonnie asked. â€Å"I don't know.† With sick dismay this realization finally came home to Elena. â€Å"I don't know!† â€Å"We can still watch her. Maybe she'll take the bag off at lunch or something†¦Ã¢â‚¬  But Meredith's voice rang hollow. They all knew the truth, Elena thought, and the truth was that it was hopeless. They'd lost. Bonnie glanced in the rearview mirror, then twisted in her seat. â€Å"It's your ride.† Elena looked. Two white horses were drawing a smartly renovated buggy down the street. Crepe paper was threaded through the buggy's wheels, ferns decorated its seats, and a large banner on the side proclaimed,The Spirit of Fell's Church. Elena had time for only one desperate message. â€Å"Watch her,† she said. â€Å"And if there's ever a moment when she's alone†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Then she had to go. But all through that long, terrible morning, there was never a moment when Caroline was alone. She was surrounded by a crowd of spectators. For Elena, the parade was pure torture. She sat in the buggy beside the mayor and his wife, trying to smile, trying to look normal. But the sick dread was like a crushing weight on her chest. Somewhere in front of her, among the marching bands and drill teams and open convertibles, was Caroline. Elena had forgotten to find out which float she was on. The first schoolhouse float, perhaps; a lot of the younger children in costume would be on that. It didn't matter. Wherever Caroline was, she was in full view of half the town. The luncheon that followed the parade was held in the high school cafeteria. Elena was trapped at a table with Mayor Dawley and his wife. Caroline was at a nearby table; Elena could see the shining back of her auburn head. And sitting beside her, often leaning possessively over her, was Tyler Smallwood. Elena was in a perfect position to view the little drama that occurred about halfway through lunch. Her heart leaped into her throat when she saw Stefan, looking casual, stroll by Caroline's table. He spoke to Caroline. Elena watched, forgetting even to play with the untouched food on her plate. But what she saw next made her heart plummet. Caroline tossed her head and replied to him briefly, and then Stefan looked toward Elena as he left, and for a moment their eyes met in wordless communion. There was nothing he could do, then. Even if his Powers had returned, Tyler was going to keep him away from Caroline. The crushing weight squeezed Elena's lungs so that she could scarcely breathe. After that she simply sat in a daze of misery and despair until someone nudged her and told her it was time to go backstage. She listened almost indifferently to Mayor Dawley's speech of welcome. He spoke about the â€Å"trying time† Fell's Church had faced recently, and about the community spirit that had sustained them these past months. Then awards were given out, for scholarship, for athletics, for community service. Matt came up to receive Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year, and Elena saw him look at her curiously. Then came the pageant. The elementary school children giggled and tripped and forgot their lines as they portrayed scenes from the founding of Fell's Church through the Civil War. Elena watched them without taking any of it in. Ever since last night she'd been slightly dizzy and shaky, and now she felt as if she were coming down with the flu. Her brain, usually so full of schemes and calculations, was empty. She couldn't think anymore. She almost couldn't care. The pageant ended to popping flashbulbs and tumultuous applause. When the last little Confederate soldier was off the stage, Mayor Dawley called for silence. â€Å"And now,† he said, â€Å"for the students who will perform the closing ceremonies. Please show your appreciation for the Spirit of Independence, the Spirit of Fidelity, and the Spirit of Fell's Church!† The applause was even more thunderous. Elena stood beside John Clifford, the brainy senior who'd been chosen to represent the Spirit of Independence. On the other side of John was Caroline. In a detached, nearly apathetic way Elena noticed that Caroline looked magnificent: her head tilted back, her eyes blazing, her cheeks flushed with color. John went first, adjusting his glasses and the microphone before he read from the heavy brown book on the lectern. Officially, the seniors were free to choose their own selections; in practice they almost always read from the works of M. C. Marsh, the only poet Fell's Church had ever produced. All during John's reading, Caroline was upstaging him. She smiled at the audience; she shook out her hair; she weighed the reticule hanging from her waist. Her fingers stroked the drawstring bag lovingly, and Elena found herself staring at it, hypnotized, memorizing every bead. John took a bow and resumed his place by Elena. Caroline threw her shoulders back and did a model's walk to the lectern. This time the applause was mixed with whistles. But Caroline didn't smile; she had assumed an air of tragic responsibility. With exquisite timing she waited until the cafetorium was perfectly quiet to speak. â€Å"I was planning to read a poem by M. C. Marsh today,† she said, then, into the attentive stillness, â€Å"but I'm not going to. Why read fromthis – † She held up the nineteenth century volume of poetry. † – when there is something much more†¦ relevant†¦ in a book I happened to find?† Very slightly, almost imperceptibly, Stefan shook his head. Caroline's fingers were dipping into the bag as if she just couldn't wait. â€Å"What I'm going to read is about Fell's Churchtoday , not a hundred or two hundred years ago,† she was saying, working herself up into a sort of exultant fever. â€Å"It's importantnow , because it's about somebody who's living in town with us. In fact he's right here in this room.† Tyler must have written the speech for her, Elena decided. Last month, in the gym, he'd shown quite a gift for that kind of thing. Oh, Stefan, oh, Stefan, I'm scared†¦ Her thoughts jumbled into incoherence as Caroline plunged her hand into the bag. â€Å"I think you'll understand what I mean when you hear it,† Caroline said, and with a quick motion she pulled a velvet-covered book from the reticule and held it up dramatically. â€Å"I think it will explain a lot of what's been going on in Fell's Church recently.† Breathing quickly and lightly, she looked from the spellbound audience to the book in her hand. Elena had almost lost consciousness when Caroline jerked the diary out. Bright sparkles ran along the edges of her vision. The dizziness roared up, ready to overwhelm Elena, and then she noticed something. It must be her eyes. The stage lights and flashbulbs must have dazzled them. She certainly felt ready to faint any minute; it was hardly surprising that she couldn't see properly. The book in Caroline's hands lookedgreen , not blue. I must be going crazy†¦ or this is a dream†¦ or maybe it's a trick of the lighting. But look at Caroline's face! Caroline, mouth working, was staring at the velvet book. She seemed to have forgotten the audience altogether. She turned the diary over and over in her hands, looking at all sides of it. Her movements became frantic. She thrust a hand into the reticule as if she somehow hoped to find something else in it. Then she cast a wild glance around the stage as if what she was looking for might have fallen to the ground. The audience was murmuring, getting impatient. Mayor Dawley and the high school principal were exchanging tight-lipped frowns. Having found nothing on the floor, Caroline was staring at the small book again. But now she was gazing at it as if it were a scorpion. With a sudden gesture, she wrenched it open and looked inside, as if her last hope was that only the cover had changed and the words inside might be Elena's. Then she slowly looked up from the book at the packed cafetorium. Silence had descended again, and the moment drew out, while every eye remained fixed on the girl in the pale green gown. Then, with an inarticulate sound, Caroline whirled and clattered off the stage. She exploded into comment, argument, discussion. Elena found Stefan. He looked as if jubilation was sneaking up on him. But he also looked as bewildered as Elena felt. Bonnie and Meredith were the same. As Stefan's gaze crossed hers, Elena felt a rush of gratitude and joy, but her predominant emotion was awe. It was a miracle. Beyond all hope, they had been rescued. They'd been saved. And then her eyes picked out another dark head among the crowd. Damon was leaning†¦ no, lounging†¦ against the north wall. His lips were curved into a half smile, and his eyes met Elena's boldly. Mayor Dawley was beside her, urging her forward, quieting the crowd, trying to restore order. It was no use. Elena read her selection in a dreamy voice to a babbling group of people who weren't paying attention in the slightest. She wasn't paying attention, either; she had no idea what words she was saying. Every so often she looked at Damon. There was applause, scattered and distracted, when she finished, and the mayor announced the rest of the events for that afternoon. And then it was all over, and Elena was free to go. She floated offstage without any conscious idea ofwhere she was going, but her legs carried her to the north wall. Damon's dark head moved out the side door and she followed it. The air in the courtyard seemed deliciously cool after the crowded room, and the clouds above were silvery and swirling. Damon was waiting for her. Her steps slowed but did not stop. She moved until she was only a foot or so away from him, her eyes searching his face. There was a long moment of silence and then she spoke. â€Å"Why?† â€Å"I thought you'd be more interested inhow. † He patted his jacket significantly. â€Å"I got invited in for coffee this morning after scraping up an acquaintance last week.† â€Å"But why?† He shrugged, and for just an instant something like consternation flickered across his finely drawn features. It seemed to Elena that he himself didn't know why – or didn't want to admit it. â€Å"For my own purposes,† he said. â€Å"I don't think so.† Something was building between them, something that frightened Elena with its power. â€Å"I don't think that's the reason at all.† She moved closer, so that she was almost touching him, and looked at him. â€Å"I think,† she said, â€Å"that maybe you need to be pushed.† His face was only inches away from hers, and Elena never knew what might have happened if at that moment a voice hadn't broken in on them. â€Å"Youdid manage to make it after all! I'm so glad!† It was Aunt Judith. Elena felt as if she were being whisked from one world to another. She blinked dizzily, stepping back, letting out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. â€Å"And so you got to hear Elena read,† Aunt Judith continued happily. â€Å"You did a beautiful job, Elena, but I don't know what was going on with Caroline. The girls in this town are all acting bewitched lately.† â€Å"Nerves,† suggested Damon, his face carefully solemn. Elena felt an urge to giggle and then a wave of irritation. It was all very well to be grateful to Damon for saving them, but if not for Damon there wouldn't have been a problem in the first place. Damon had committed the crimes Caroline wanted to pin on Stefan. â€Å"And whereis Stefan?† she said, voicing her next thought aloud. She could see Bonnie and Meredith in the courtyard alone. Aunt Judith's face showed her disapproval. â€Å"I haven't seen him,† she said briefly. Then she smiled fondly. â€Å"But I have an idea; why don't you come to dinner with us, Damon? Then afterwards perhaps you and Elena could – â€Å" â€Å"Stop it!† said Elena to Damon. He looked politely inquiring. â€Å"What?† said Aunt Judith. â€Å"Stop it!† Elena said to Damon again. â€Å"You know what. Just stop it right now!†

Complex Relationships in Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights Essay Rewrite: Within the novel Wuthering Heights, written by Emily Bronte, readers are confronted with many complex relationships. At times it is hard to understand these due to the range of relationships that occur, from interactions of hatred to relationships that show true passion. One such complex relationship is between Hareton Earnshaw and Catherine.As the novel progresses, we see love develop between these two characters that is best explained by how they are brought together, the problems that their relationship poses and how this relationship affects the other characters in the novel and the plot of the novel itself. The first way to understand this relationship is to examine how these two characters are brought together. In the novel, there is a real sense that fate has a lot to do with the union between the lovers, as Catherine and Hareton are reunited at the symbolic Penistone Crags.Catherine has a burning desire to go to the crags, the symbol of maturi ty, natural erotic desire and wild temptation. She asks Nelly and her father â€Å"Now, am I old enough to go to Penistone Crags? †(Bronte 147) As Catherine reaches teenage years, she desires to travel outside of Thrushcross Grange and ascend the large Penistone Crags, which are close to Wuthering Heights and Hareton. Catherine and Hareton spend the whole day near the Crags until Nelly fetches them.Bronte then describes the interaction between Hareton and Catherine as joyful, describing that â€Å"Her hat was hung against the wall, and she seemed perfectly at home laughing and chattering, in best spirits imaginable, to Hareton, now a great, strong lad of eighteen, who stared at her with considerable curiosity and astonishment† ( Bronte 149). This quote shows how there is an underlying connection between them; Hareton and Catherine begin to show similar characteristics in their relationship that Heathcliff and Cathy had in theirs, and this foreshadows how the relationsh ip will end up.The next interaction between the two is one day when Catherine meets Hareton and Heathcliff while on a stroll; Heathcliff makes it clear that Hareton is not his son. It is then insisted that she must come to Wuthering Heights to meet his son who she has met before, Linton. As Hareton and Catherine run off to play, Linton stays in seclusion as he is feeble and weak. The notion of Catherine running away with Hareton shows her natural tendencies and attraction for Hareton, because he allows her to be free and expressive. Ultimately, the two characters seem to be brought together by fate.In order for Hareton and Catherine to come together, they have to overcome many obstacles. The first problem that they run into is after Catherine is enlightened to the fact that Hareton is her cousin, she is disgusted by him. â€Å"†¦ she stopped and wept outright; upset at the bare notion of relationship with such a clown† (Bronte 152). This quote describes how Catherine thi nks of Hareton as a peasant or a servant and this devastates Hareton. The next problem that their relationship has is that Catherine is being forcibly courted by Linton, at the hand of his father.Heathcliff will do anything in order to fulfill his revenge, and thus will do anything to push the marriage between Catherine and Linton. An example of this is when Heathcliff literally kidnaps Catherine and refuses to let her leave Wuthering Heights until she agrees to marry Linton. It is obvious that Heathcliff is a major problem, preventing the love between Catherine and Hareton from materializing. Catherine realizes that Linton is vastly more educated than Hareton and that she can live a more refined lifestyle with Linton.Linton causes Hareton to feel great shame about his social and educational standing. A prime example of this is when Hareton and Catherine have run off, and Linton finds them standing below the inscription carved above the door. As â€Å"Hareton scared up, and scratch ed his head like a true clown. ‘It’s some damnable writing,’ he answered. ‘I cannot read it’† (Bronte 169). And almost immediately Linton takes the opportunity to degrade him in front of Catherine, laughing at him and calling him a â€Å"colossal dunce† (Bronte 170).This is the moment where Catherine seems to push away from Hareton, and lean towards Linton. Also not helping the situation is the declining health of Linton, as this draws Catherine more emotionally towards Linton and it completely devastates her. Bronte expresses through Nelly that â€Å"I couldn’t bear to witness her sorrow, to see her pale, dejected countenance, and heavy eyes† (Bronte 181). All the while, Hareton is barely mentioned, and later revealed that he has been teaching himself to read and write his own name, in an attempt to impress Catherine.As Hareton correctly identifies his name, he still cannot read the numbers, which causes Catherine to †Å"laugh heartily at his failure† and triggers the hot headed Hareton to â€Å"skull off† (Bronte 191). They are falling for each other, but there is a constant bickering between them due to Hareton’s lack of education—as he is not as accomplished as Linton. The deep burning desire to be together seems to be blocked by any and every character and event in the novel, yet the connection between Hareton and Catherine is easy to see.The final way to understand this relationship is to understand how it affects the characters in the play and how it drives the plot forward. Throughout the novel there had always been a sense that the relationship between Cathy and Heathcliff never died. And this relationship is kept alive by Hareton and Catherine. Whenever Heathcliff looks are Hareton, he sees Cathy, and it drives him insane, and this is a problem because Heathcliff’s motivation in life was to get revenge on the Linton family.This revenge is what propelled t he novel forward, and when Heathcliff sees that Hareton and Catherine are happy, things within him click and he no longer desires to fulfill his plans. â€Å"†¦his society is no benefit, rather an aggravation of the constant torment that I suffer and it partly contributes to render me regardless how he and his cousin go together. I can give them no attention, anymore† (Bronte 248). This quote shows how Heathcliff no longer wants to give attention to his plans of revenge, because Hareton and Catherine are happy.This helps understand their relationship because even though Heathcliff was the mastermind behind everything, they were still able to find love and be happy, something that Heathcliff was never able to do with Cathy. It is as though the relationship was destined to happen, to fulfill not only the lives of Hareton and Catherine, but the souls of Heathcliff and Cathy. Even though the relationship between Hareton and Cathy was hard to understand, an explanation for th eir love can be made by examining the interactions them and characters in the novel and the overall plot of the story.This relationship served as an the final chapter to a cycle of revenge that Heathcliff started by showing him that even under pressure love can prevail. The complex relationship between Hareton and Catherine ultimately expelled the tension between the two estates and rid Heathcliff of his vengeful plots. Overall, this relationship was exemplified by how fate dictated their love, their interactions and their representation for a love of a previous generation.