Legalization Of Marijuana Essays (186 words) - Cannabis,

Legalization Of Marijuana Legalization of medical marijuana This act may be cited as the " legalization of marijuana" Sec. 1 This bill will be for the well being of the pain stricken patients in our nation's hospitals, a doctor that will decide if a patient is illegible to receive marijuana. Sec. 2 Patients will only be permitted to get their marijuana at a hospital or a licensed distributor. Sec. 3 The patient's will have to buy the marijuana at a discount from the hospital, or distributor using their own money or if they're health care will cover the treatment. The discount will be 1/8 of the current street price on pure marijuana. The government will grow their own marijuana in a dis-closed location for security reasons. Sec.4 The Federal Drug Administration will monitor the distribution and handling of the medical marijuana Sec.5 This law will take affect 1 year after it is ratified due to the long periods of time needed to locate, distribute and grow this marijuana. Case that needs this treatment now will be allowed the first dosage that becomes available. Bibliography www.Infoseek.com/top ten killers in the United States www.yahoo.com/me-marijuana www.yahoo.com/marijuana

Tess of the dUrbervilles as a Tragedy Essay Example

Tess of the dUrbervilles as a Tragedy Essay Example Tess of the dUrbervilles as a Tragedy Essay Tess of the dUrbervilles as a Tragedy Essay Essay Topic: Literature Although there is a tendency in 20th century writers, and literary critics, to approach tragedy as a high and daunting ideal, to attempt a tragedy in the 19th century was a frequent undertaking, and it is not surprising that, given Hardys brooding and unflinching intellect, the genre has a powerful presence in his stories. If his success is finest and most subtle n tragedy, he had attempted and succeeded before, and his experiments continued after Tess of the dUrbervilles. Hardy came to the writing of Tess of the dUrbervilles with a full head of steam after deciding about six years earlier that Wessex was his subject and tragedy his genre, and in the midst of a reading and thinking program that made him aware of the latest developments in late-Victorian intellectual cogitation. Some of the events associated with the cogitations of that age are social and monetary exploitation of down-and-out peasantry by nouveau riche gentry, terrorism by arrogance, intellectual adventures without a clear sense of purpose or of social obligation; larger social, industrial and agricultural movements that proceed without concern for those persons most materially and physically viscerally affected (threshers, Swede diggers); the vacuity and haplessness of social agencies such as the Church presumably set up to help those in need, but which instead work doctrinally and careeristically, and neo-complexity of all, relativism and subjectivity. An interesting speculation might be whether these concepts in humanistic terms so admirable and desirable might not be ultimately responsible for the suffering of such people as Tess, who are not able to incorporate such complexities into the mundane ness of their conceptions and ambitions. First of all, the course events Tess undergoes may be considered. Tess is the eldest daughter of John Durbyfield. But later on it is discovered that they are actually descendents of the once famous knight DUrbervilles. Poor parents of Tess send her to the DUrbervilles who are actually stokes and member of the nouveau riche gentry to claim kin with them and thus, if possible, to improve their lot. But there she is seduced by Alec DUrberville and after she returns, she gives birth to a child, who dies within a few days. Then for the second time, she goes out for employment to Tallothays dairy where she is in love with Angel Clare and subsequently married to her. But on her wedding night she is deserted by Clare, and again has to go to Flintcomb Ash for work. There again she comes across Alec, who is relentlessly pursuing for her body. In the meantime Angel leave for Brazil. Tess gives her consent to live with Alec as her mistress, the reason being her familys hard up situation. Angel at last realizes his fault and returns from Brazil. Tess murders Alec, is united with Angel and within a few days is captured by the police and towards the end she is sentenced to death. As has already been pointed out that there are several aspects of the tragedy of Tess: social, individual, historical and intellectual. Arnold Kettle, the veteran Marxist critic, figure among those who are interested in the social aspect of Tesss tragedy. According to him, Tesss story, though a poignant individual case history, would not have become so famous if it were no more than that. The history and geographical background of southern England are not just a necessary background to Tesss story, they are integral to it, entering at every turn and level into the essence of the situation that Hardy describes. It is evident in the course of Tess of the dUrbervilles that industrial invasion from the northern England is posing a serious threat to southern England, the place where Tess and people of her likes live. Industrialization is destroying the social fabric of the organic community of the south. The traditional land owning class is at stake by the newly rich tradesmen, who are at least partly represented by Angel. Sifting of people from country owing to lack of employment is also happening. Tess and girls of her like are vulnerable. They are seduced by people like Alec. Arnold Kettle concludes, saying that if David Copperfield is every fathers child abused by an unkind stepfather, Tess is every innocent but ruined woman. The author himself Hardy seems to be interested in the historical perspective of Tess of the dUrbervilles. Tess is a daughter of the once influential DUrbervilles. Violence was a part of the life of the DUrbervilles and when they were extremely powerful they used to abuse young women. But history repeats itself, and there is also a bitter irony of it. Today, Tess, the descendent of the ancient DUrbervilles is abused by others. History is repeating itself but only the role has been reversed. How eloquent the irony of history is! In chapter 59, it is mentioned that . he dUrbervilles knights and dames slept on in their tombs unknowing. This famous statement, added in revision, underscores the centrality to the novel of the ancient DUrbervilles. Hardy has a serious use for the ancient family a reminder both of time and of cyclic occurrence but also f the irrelevance of the DUrbervilles in the modern world. The individual and intellectual aspects interpenetrate and overlap with each other. Tesss tragedy has both its individual and intellectual aspects. The foundation of Hardys idea of tragedy of the individual pervades the novel. Although now Tess is simply a maiden and perhaps his DUrberville background is also of little importance. But yet she is an individual whose distinction from other country girls can be marked in many events. Tesss skin is as sumple as a duchesss. It indicates that her complexion is one of her significant aspect. Hardy, the narrator, has mentioned that Tess uses two dialects one at home to converse with her mother and another, which is more standard and modified top converse with outsiders. This is clearly a distinction from other country girls. In this respect it is also significant that she has read up to the sixth standard at a school and she nurtured the hope of becoming a school teacher. Tesss sense of dignity demarcates her from the rest of the country girls. When the country folk make fun of her father she retorts. There is another aspect in her character which is probably uncommon in a male dominated society. She is always ready to take the responsibility of anything related to the fortune of her family whether it be the death of their horse, Prince or the responsibility to ensure financial sufficiency for the family. Her mother has a special liking for music and she can memorize any tune after listening to it only once. This has influenced Tess. The most significant trait in her character is that she is able to make such reflections as to amuse even Angel. He tells her that she reflects on such issues which are in keeping with the ache of modernism. An American critic, Dale Kramer, while commenting on Tesss character, has said that there is a contradiction in her character; she is a combination of mundane ness and extraordinariness. We might wish to follow a different track. Tess, on the superficial level, may appear mundane, but in reality, compared to others and given so many traits of her character, she is obviously extraordinary. In this respect what D. H. Lawrence says is unforgettable, Tess is passive out of self-acceptance, a true aristocratic quality, amounting almost to self-indifference. She knows she is herself This is a rare quality, even in a woman. And in a civilization so unequal, it is almost a weakness. This is the essence of Tesss tragedy. She is so aristocratic that she can only help, she can never be helped. Both Alec and Angel do her harm. To Alec she made a confused surrender. She discovers that she does not love him, she returns home. The chief problem of Tess if that she is looking for an identity which will fit her. It is in Angel that she finds it. But, unfortunately enough, Angle cannot detect this. He, who is a student of something and everything, has, at the beginning, loved only an image in Tess, not her real self. As soon as the image disappeared, he deserted her. It is only after a long course of sojourn in Brazil that he comes to realize his fault. But it is too late. In the seventh phase, Tess got her identity and that is her union with Angel and now she is ready to die, since she has achieved her fulfillment the peak of her prosperity. In her relationship with Angel, love is the main stimulus. But Angel cannot realize it. He cannot discover the depth of Tess love, nor its honesty. So he also suffers. She kills Alec because he was an obstacle a man between Angel and herself in the way to achieving her identity. This killing is a heroic deed, no doubt, if we consider the reason behind it. Tess assumes a heroic grandeur when she utters in Chapter 58, What must come will come. Upon awakening at Stonehenge to find police there, she echoes Aeschylus in saying, It is as it should be (Chapter 59) and also in her last words in the novel, I am ready. (Chapter 59) Towards the end Hardy provides a context for Tesss climactic suffering and tragedy obviously, directly associating his rural, quotidian sufferer with the mythological Ixion being punished in hell by being tied to a revolving wheel. (It is interesting that the Ixonean wheel is one of Schopenhauers favorite classical images. ) Society has contributed much to Tesss tragedy. It is always hostile to aristocrats of Tesss like. Hardy, Tesss creator, and perhaps only a few sensitive readers will realize the degree of cruelty and harshness committed against Tess, who is held with high esteem in their hearts, Poor wounded name! My bosom as a bed shall lodge thee.

Choose and discuss two images of Jesus from the New Testament. What is Essay

Choose and discuss two images of Jesus from the New Testament. What is their relevance today - Essay Example From the dictionary definition a shepherd is someone who looks after the herd of sheep by guarding and tending them. A shepherd is someone tasked to lead the herd of sheep in the safest and abundant place. It is necessary for the herd of sheep to be tended in the green pasture with a fresh source of water flowing in abundance. In this way, the herd of sheep will survive and they are given all the essentials they need. The psalm of David in chapter 23 describes God as shepherd full of righteousness. God is revealed by David as a good Shepherd, and since Jesus is the Son of God (John 3:16), it is implied that the Son and the Father have the same characteristics and they are working together for one common good and that is salvation of the humanity from eternal condemnation (Matthew 1: 18-21). In John 10:14, Jesus said he is a good shepherd and part of being such is to know his people and his people to him. He sacrificed his life for the humanity to bring salvation to all. Jesus has great compassion for the people of God. Such compassion can be clearly defined by the great love Jesus is willing to give for the humanity. He gave up his life for the humanity and such is the great manifestation of his universal and unconditional love. The image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd depicts the meaning of a good servant and a leader. Being a good servant or a leader therefore requires following Jesus as far as biblical principles are deemed important. In fact, being a Christian means following Jesus whatever the cost may be. A Christian minister can be considered a shepherd because of the responsibility to care for and guide a group of people in the ministry. Jesus as the Good Shepherd is therefore a remarkable model of every Christian minister who is responsible to lead the beloved people of God. The herd of sheep is the people of God who need spiritual leader to give them guidance, protection and

Guatemalan civil war Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Guatemalan civil war - Essay Example Guatemalan civil war It is important to undertake a critical investigation into the cause-effect of this civil war and the input of cultural structure of Latin America in this war (Natella 176). Many scholars have explored the cultural factors within the context of Latin America region and how this contributed to the long standing economic oppression and political instability that was the order of the day in Guatemala from early 1960s. Political structure is always derived from the traditions of any community in their ancient socio-political organization and the way of governance and culture of loyalty defines success of any leadership. It would equally be important to consider the foreign influence into the civil war and what they sought to gain. It is also worth to take a look at the community that suffered the full brunt of this civil war and the consequences this had on its relationship with the governing authority to date. Maya community and Indians were particularly tortured, displaced and killed. Further inquiry would also be important in regard to the civil war’s contribution towards present day modernization and democratization and its cost in Guatemala. Critical analysis of the civil war in Guatemala indicates that there were real social problems that compelled some people to revolt against the government. . Research findings establish that there was massive oppression, widespread racism and mass violence which left many people displaced, maimed and killed. The question that many people would ask is the relationship that existed between the government of the day and its citizens in regard to the violent clashes between Neoliberal and Leftist (Coerver, et al.259). To answer this question, it would be important to find the other factors that contributed to this historic civil war almost likened to genocide. United States had a hand in the clashes through their push for capitalism in Latin America. It is therefore evident that there involvement fuelled the problem and explains its length of existence I terms of years. They supplied the government military wing with resources that were used against the leftists. This was a tactical approach towards forcing the citizens to adhere to the government oppressive economic ideologies and promote their interest in the country. This explains the US installation of Colonel Carlos Castillo Armas by Central intelligence agency against the democratically-elected president, Jacobo Arbenz. The later was considered communist threat and acted in the interest of the citizens. At the height of confrontation between the leftist and the government forces, the citizens suffered more in many ways and this soured their relationship with the government between 1960’s and the 1990s (Davies and Fredric 211). Government sought to favor foreigners by taking local people’s land and allocating to the foreigners, dividing to political cronies and completely ignored the plight of common citizens through autocratic leadership. The leftist represented the people as they fought to regain lost property to the dictatorial governments. The neoliberal forces were for the idea of capitalism that promoted extremes in form of wealth and poverty and therefore got much hatred from the citizens. Despite several negotiations and international community’s intervention in Guatemala crisis, citizens still had no confidence in the government and its socio-economic and political pursuits. It is important to note that

America in the XXs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

America in the XXs - Essay Example and the massive depression from 1893-1897 which convinced many that equal opportunity was out of reach for Americans (The Progressive Era 1). Progressives strongly advocated the Efficiency Movement which argues that all sectors of the economy, society, and government were contributors to waste and efficiency. Thus, progressives assumed that "anything old was encrusted with inefficient and useless practices" and advocated the eradication of the eradication of the problems mentioned above. They implemented changes in all policies at every level of society, economy, and government. Their effort brought fruits as the movement reaped success at the local, stated and national levels (The Progressive Era 3). The Progressives are predominantly members of the new middle class which are composed of young professionals. Their thrust is the application of principles of professions to problems plaguing the society, having a strong faith in progress and the ability of educated people to overcome problems, and establishment of volunteer organizations to address issues. Journalists also joined the movement by attacking and exposing corruption. Political reformers showed their opposition to traditional party politics while socialists composed mostly of frustrated workers vowed to totally eradicate capitalism. Women also showed their contribution to the Progressive Era by proving their values as social workers. Together with the other progressives, they pushed for justice, general equality, and public safety (Feldmeth 3). In terms of politics, the most famous national figures were Republicans Theodore Roosevelt and Rober LaFollette and Democrats William Jennings Bryan and Woodrow Wilson. Theodore Roosevelt was as a president which used his position to lead and fight against those he felt were not acting in America's best interest. Among the most important reforms in the Progressive Era were Prohibition with the 18th Amendment and woman's suffrage through to the Nineteenth Amendment (The Progressive Era 5). The establishment of the Initiative, Referendum, Recall was created by some states led by California, Wisconsin, and Oregon to "enable the citizenry to rule more directly and circumvent political bosses (The Progressive Era 5)." Huge developments notably the usage of Primary elections and establishments of municipal reference bureaus to study budget and administrative structures of local government. America and the Great War America formally entered the Great War on April 6, 1917 when it joined its Allies-Britain, France, and Russia. The US was previously unconvinced to engaged in the World War I. However, Americans were enraged when a German submarine sunk the Lusitania, a British luxury ship killing 128 aboard. Thus, many Americans urged then President Wilson to join the war (Dowling 1-4). The Allies expected that the

Principles And Misconceptions In Interpersonal Communication Education Essay

Principles And Misconceptions In Interpersonal Communication Education Essay This paper discusses about final paper communication with interpersonal relationships. It also addresses the five concepts that were most important for the successful communication with interpersonal relationships. This paper details the brief discussion about the communication with interpersonal relationships in the organization. It also provides the critical thought to communication with the selected five concepts and also examines about these five concepts to the successful of communication with the interpersonal relationships. This paper concludes with this final paper by providing the effective supporting points to the successful communication with interpersonal relationships. Introduction The interpersonal communication was tool for the successful of organizational products and services. One way of defining interpersonal communication was to compare it to other forms of communication. The interpersonal communication helped to understand that why human being behaved and communicated in different ways to construct and negotiate a social reality. This was the process that human being used to communicate with their ideas, feelings and thoughts to another person. The interpersonal communication skills can be improved through knowledge, practice, reflection and feedback. There are several concepts that were most significant to successful communication with interpersonal relationships. The five concepts were explaining the principles and misconceptions in effective interpersonal communications, identifying the barriers to effective interpersonal interactions, recognizing how words have the power to create and affect attitudes, behaviour and perception, defining emotional intelligence and its role in effective interpersonal relationships, understanding the impact of gender and culture on interpersonal communications. These five concepts were proving the successful solution for the communication with interpersonal relationships. The interpersonal communication was also based upon these five concepts. These concepts and the roles of each concept on interpersonal communication will be explained in below. These five concepts also provided better advantages and effective skills to the interpersonal communication in order to develop them. This paper will be addressed the advantages and skills to the communication enhancement with interpersonal relationships. I. Principles and misconceptions in interpersonal communication This was the important concept in order to make the successful interpersonal communication. The four types of principles in interpersonal communication were that interpersonal communication was inescapable, interpersonal communication was irreversible, interpersonal communication was complicated, interpersonal communication was contextual. The first principle was that interpersonal communication was inescapable and in this case, the communication was not through only word but through tone of voice, gesture, posture and facial expression etc (Peter Hartley, 2002). Human being can constantly receive the communication from other in this first principle. This principle was also the basic principle of communication that referred the people was not mind readers. The second principle was that interpersonal communication was irreversible and the effect of this principle was inevitably remained. For example, once a word gone out of your mouth, you can never swallow it again. According to this statement, this principle was not reversible. The third principle was that interpersonal communication was complicated and because of variable involved, even simple requests was extremely complex. The statement proved the complex of interpersonal communication that if a message can be understood in different ways, it will be understood in just that way didnt the most harm. The fourth principle was that interpersonal communication was contextual and this referred that the communication didnt happen in isolation. The context included psychological context, relational context, situational context, environmental context and cultural context. These were the principles of interpersonal communication. Misconceptions of interpersonal communication The misconception of interpersonal was that interpersonal communication solved the problem. The misconception stated that the communication can be able to solve the problems of talking and listening. The second misconception was that interpersonal conceptions were always a good thing and this misconception states that communication was magic portion for all lifes ailments. The interpersonal communication was common sense that can make the extensive repertoire of skills for making informed choices in interpersonal relationships. Interpersonal communication was always face to face that referred the interpersonal communication had entered the face to face encounters among people in order to cultivate the interpersonal skills. II. Barriers to effective interpersonal interactions Physical barriers The physical barrier was the barrier to the effective interpersonal interactions and this barrier included the lack of interpersonal proximity to human being. This barrier to effective communication may seem obvious and their implications that should not be ignored. The immediate physical barriers can lead the lack of communication and implication of physical barriers prevented the effective communication interactions (Richard West, 2010). Emotional barriers The emotional barriers to the effective interpersonal were motivated by fear. For example, an emotional barrier was an inability to trust someone with your thoughts, feelings and ideas due to a fear of judgment from others and this barrier caused excessive fear, mistrust and nervousness to the interpersonal communication. Cultural and language barriers The cultural and language barrier was the barrier to the effective communication interactions. Every culture and the language have its own customs for interpersonal communication from how to address human being to spatial differences when speaking face to face. These differences will be the barriers to the interpersonal communication that can be caused the misunderstanding among people. These language and culture barrier also caused the negative conversation among the group of speakers. III. Recognizing the effective of words to interpersonal communication Words often influenced people for decades, delivering the courage to enhance people and the word have the capacity to building the people positively as well as negatively. The attitude, behaviour and perception of people based upon that how the word influenced them in the world for the better creation. The wrong words can be hurtful that led the negative conflicts and confusion among the people and but the rights words at the right time can make all the differences for someone. The wholesome word provided the grace in order to creating the excellent attitude, behaviour and perception of interpersonal relationships. The words can either empower the attitude, behaviour and perception of interpersonal communication and also positive words made them quit. The word create the positive statement and the statement was the group of word in order to create the better understanding to people in the case of shaping the positive attitude, behaviour and perception among interpersonal relationships. The words have the power to creating and affecting attitudes, behavior and perception in making the interpersonal communication better. The words also played a vital role in the case of influencing the communication with interpersonal communication. The word was the tool that must be considered when achieving the impact and the impact was upon the audience or listener in the interpersonal communication. The attitudes, behaviour and perception of people were based the effectiveness of words while communicating with others and because the word can make positive and negative effects among people. The familiar or the effective words can affect the attitudes, behaviour and perception of people positively. If the word was unfamiliar, then attitude, behaviour and perception affected negatively while communicating with others. It was the smallest element that may be uttered in isolation with the pragmatic content and this word created the better attitude, behaviour and perception to human being while communicating with others. The communication can deliver the effectiveness of word from others and it will provide the solution to make the positive attitude, behaviour and perception. The positive statement of word can only create attitude, behaviour and perception by motivating other positively. When the words were delivered from one and the listener will observe and think about the statement (Sandra D. Collins, 2008). If the statement of words was positive, then listeners will change their attitude, behaviour and perception positively that will lead the positive effect to human being. If the words led the negative statement to the listener, then listener will act with negative attitude, behaviour and perception. This led the negative environment to the listeners. Hence the words have the power to create and affect the attitudes, behaviour and perception positively as well as negatively to human being. IV. Role of emotional intelligence to interpersonal relationships The emotional intelligence was the ability for identifying, assessing and controlling the emotions of interpersonal relationships. The emotional intelligence was usually measured by means of using the maximum performance tests and it had the stronger relationships with the traditional intelligence. This emotional intelligence also played a vital role in the case of shaping the interpersonal relationships. Building the emotional intelligence skills boosted and enriched the interpersonal relationships. The emotional intelligence controlled the negative emotions such as anger, confusion for the enhancement of interpersonal relationships. The emotional intelligence helped in the case of understanding personal motivations, feelings and needs that helped in understanding how to communicate effectively in the interpersonal relationships. It played a positive role on interpersonal relationships and because of this emotional intelligence was having the significant way to explaining the interpersonal relationships. This emotional intelligence provided the interpersonal relationships to understand the difference between the damaging and effective communication. This also allowed the opportunities for transforming the conflicts into an opportunity for building the relationships. This emotional intelligence process can manage the stress, emotions, nonverbal communications, humor and conflict resolution for enhancing the interpersonal relationship. This emotional intelligence was also the primary source of human energy, aspiration and drive, activating innermost feeling in interpersonal relationships and the prior experience and belief system enhanced relationships (Mary Barrett, 2006). This emotional intelligence included the five domains in the case of enhancing the interpersonal relationships. The five domains were contributing more to the interpersonal relationships that were self-awareness, emotional maturity, self-motivation, empathic understanding and quality communication. These domains provided the facing capability to fears, anxiety and anger and also delivered the ability to breakthrough solutions for making decisions. These domains were also used for making sensitivity feeling and concerns and managing the emotions that based upon the empathy and understanding to build the mutual trust in interpersonal relationships. V. Understanding the impact of gender and culture in interpersonal communication This was the also the concept in the case of enhancing the communication with interpersonal relationships. The gender and culture also shaped the communication with interpersonal relationships. The culture and gender were the essential part of conflict resolution and the culture and gender shaped the perceptive, attributions and ideas of interpersonal communication. The culture and gender were very powerful in the case of resolving the conflicts with interpersonal relationships. The gender made the enhancement to the enhancement of interpersonal communication by making the styles in communication. The gender can be delivered the emotions and feelings while making the communication with others and hence this will lead the positive environment among the interpersonal relationships. The cultural genders shared the race, ethnicity, nationality and these were raised from cleavages of generation, socioeconomics and sexual orientation, political and social affiliations. The gender and culture were the two factors in the case of making the general identification. The impact of gender and culture on interpersonal communication reminds human being that different cultures have different expectations. For example, eye contact, boy gestures, physical touch, and aspects of importance will be differed and this differentiation was based upon the cultures and genders. It was possible to know that the value, attitude and behaviour as well as communication styles will be differed when interacting with people. The racial and ethnic diversity in marriage also affected the interpersonal communications. The roles of gender influenced the all kinds if behaviours especially within specific cultures. The interpersonal communication in marriage was the best example and that showed the impact of gender and culture on interpersonal skills. Conclusion The concepts of interpersonal communications and the concepts of interpersonal communications were discussed and the components were detailed. The critical thoughts of this paper were examined and five significant components to the enhancement of communication with interpersonal relationships were included. The concepts and ideas of each component to the interpersonal communication or relationships were studied. The essential points of principles, barriers, emotional intelligence, and impact of gender, culture were examined and the supporting points were concluded.

life and career :: essays research papers

Life and Career The known facts of Chaucer's life are fragmentary and are based almost entirely on official records. He was born in London between 1340 and 1344, the son of John Chaucer, a vintner. In 1357 he was a page in the household of Prince Lionel, later duke of Clarence, whom he served for many years. In 1359–60 he was with the army of Edward III in France, where he was captured by the French but ransomed. By 1366 he had married Philippa Roet, who was probably the sister of John of Gaunt's third wife; she was a lady-in-waiting to Edward III's queen. During the years 1370 to 1378, Chaucer was frequently employed on diplomatic missions to the Continent, visiting Italy in 1372–73 and in 1378. From 1374 on he held a number of official positions, among them comptroller of customs on furs, skins, and hides for the port of London (1374–86) and clerk of the king's works (1389–91). The official date of Chaucer's death is Oct. 25, 1400. He was buried in Westminster Abbey. http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0857256.html Geoffrey Chaucer was born in London, the son of a successful wine merchant. After probably spending many of his childhood days in London's Vintry, his father did not send him to apprenticeship school, but rather to the aristocratic house of the countess of Ulster. There he trained as a page and learned the mannerisms and skills of the ruling class. He continued to be engaged in English politics, serving people such as King Edward III and the county of Kent. He was involved in many diplomatic assignments to Spain, France and Italy. Works by Dante, Boccaccio, and Petrarch affected much of Chaucer's writings. In addition to these famous writers, Chaucer was influenced by other French, Italian, and Latin writers as well as philosophy, comedy, religion, astrology and other sciences. Chaucer used a variety of genres, styles, tones, and subject matters in this poems and his prose. He addressed