Sunday, October 6, 2019
Multiple Regression Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words
Multiple Regression - Term Paper Example Oftentimes, when a model is too simple that it only contains one independent variable, such a model is of limited value because the predictions made from such models are too inaccurate to be useful in a real-world setting. Thus, when one wants to be able to predict an outcome at a more precise level, it is more advantageous to use the information that may be provided by two or more variables in an explanatory framework (Burt, Barber, & Rigby, 2009). Thus, multiple regression analysis should allow an analyst to arrive at better predictions. For example, a student may want to find out the perfect model to getting high grades in school. Using the results of his individual exams as the dependent variable, he may hypothesize that amount of time spent studying, amount of sleep taken the night before the exam, amount of beer drank the night before the exam, caloric intake (or a fancy phrase for how heavy his meal was) prior to taking the exam, and even the presence of his lucky rabbitâ€⠄¢s foot are possible factors for scoring well in the exam. Using multiple regression analysis, the student may find out that amount of time spent studying, amount of sleep taken the night before the exam, and amount of beer drank the night before the exam are significant predictors of his exam scores. ... For example, oncologists may be interested in the best predictors of lung cancer, educators may want to know what are the best predictors of SAT scores, and psychologists would want to find out which factors best predict depression among a particular age group. These questions may all be answered with the help of multiple regression. 2.0 Computational approach The main goal of linear regression, in this case, multiple regression, is to be able to fit a regression line through a number of given points (Wang & Jain, 2003). This regression line is sometimes called the line of best fit and this is the line that represents the regression model of a given problem. These points are usually best represented graphically in a scatter plot. While it is quite easy to produce a scatter plot when there is only one independent and one dependent variable, multiple regression presents the challenge of having more than one independent variable thus making the practice of making a scatterplot impractic al (Dekking, 2005). 2.1 Least Squares In regression modeling, the basic estimation procedure used is the least squares method (Black, 2010). Since the main goal of linear regression is to fit a line through the points, least squares estimation is used to compute this line in such a way that the squared deviations of the observed points from this line are minimized (Wang & Jain, 2003). 2.2 The Regression Equation The bivariate form of simple linear regression produces a two-dimensional line in a two-dimensional space. This equation is defined by: Y = a + bX, where Y is the dependent variable being forecasted by the regression model, X is the independent variable
Friday, October 4, 2019
Domestic Violence, alcohol and substance abuse Thesis
Domestic Violence, alcohol and substance abuse - Thesis Example Excessive use of alcohol in men increases the possibility of wife abuse (Lynetta, 2011). According to researchers, there is a relation between the 2 behaviors and its exact character remains blurred. One research worker states that, â€Å"alcohol and substance abuse are the most prominent element that leads to domestic violence. Many of the theorists found that too much use of alcohol and substance abuse are the main factor in the dynamics of spouse beating (Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, n.d.). Many statistics records show a relationship between domestic violence, alcohol and substance abuse. According to recent reports of the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) assailants in more than 90% of the domestic abuse cases used alcohol or substance abuse on the day of the assault (Buddy, 2011). In addition to this, one more study shows this relation among domestic violence, alcohol and substance abuse; according to this study before assaulting their partners forty-eight to eighty-seven percent of the batterers were under the influence of alcohol, among these rates substance abuse rate is thirteen to twenty percent whereas alcohol rate is sixty to seventy percent (Buddy, 2011). Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (n.d.). Chapter 1â€â€Effects of Domestic Violence on Substance Abuse Treatment - Substance Abuse Treatment and Domestic Violence - NCBI Bookshelf. [online] Retrieved from:
Thursday, October 3, 2019
James Berardinelli. “Twelve Monkeys†Essay Example for Free
James Berardinelli. â€Å"Twelve Monkeys†Essay 12 monkeys Introduction            In the movie ‘12 monkeys’ there was a virus which was deliberately released in 1996 and killed more than five billion people. The survivors went to seek refuge into the underground sending volunteers to bring insect specimen from the universe to test for the virus presence. One of the sent prisoners is James cole who goes is given a chance to go back to 1996 but he is taken to 1990 instead. He remembers things as if he was in a dream. Among the things is where he remembers witnessing a man being killed in the airport while he was a child. This is what is always seen to be the Centre stage in whole movie (Lynette, 3). Below is a discussion on how mental illness can be judged on this particular movie for part one, part two discusses the definition of mental illness in regard to the social norms and believes, with part three closing with the discussion of how Coles experience relate to Platos allegory of the cave.            In this film, mental illness is featured in many instances for instance, when Jose mentions that the so called volunteers are said to go mad. This presents a clear show of mental illness in the movie. We also notice cole being locked up in the mental institution with other lunatics, showing that there were other many lunatics present. Goines is definitely crazy or schizoid because of his hallucinating and grandiosity nature. Dr. Railly, the psychiatrist alludes that may be the whole world may be insane. We really don’t understand if cole was really from the futureor was he ‘mentally divergent’. We notice cole questioning his mental capabilities, where he asks himself if it could not be great if he was crazy. Simultaneously the Dr. is convinced that he is from the furfure of which we know that this can not be right (Lynette, 8). If he was really sane and from the furfure, then how can one explain the voice that he hears, the one he calls bum calling him Bob, what of the changing guard faces what of the fact that he is never seen coming or leaving and his memory lapses? We really can’t know the physical divergence he claims to have because one can’t explain his fore knowledge about the boy in the well. The appearances in the world War onephotos and the bullets in his leg. In short, this movie seems to be implying that we may not be mentally ill or weird than the world we live.            Relative to the social believes and norms, mental illness or abnormality can be seen as not being an exact process as it tends to focus on different individuals with different lines of thinking. This relies on different situations, behaviors and context to which the measurement is applied (Weinberger ,2001)            In defining abnormality, people from different societies and countries have varied ideas. Each and every culture has its own concepts of what it considers to be normal or abnormal. This can make us conclude that what is considered as abnormal in one society is not the same in other societies. So, there is no society which is mere superior than the other in their perception of mental illness or one society has got many mental disorders than the other (American Psychiatric Association. 2000).            If we look at the deviation from the norms, something or somebody can be considered abnormal if does not conform to what could be considered statistically abnormal. Those who focus on this aspect, only consider specific aspects. For instance, the intelligence quotient (IQ), the personal traits and their distribution. Asserting that a person is is abnormal in this aspect typically means that they deviate from the numeric average of a specific trait and behavior patterns.            The other mostly applied aspect in examining the mental illness of people is the deviation from the social norms. Naturally, some behaviors are considered as being not accepted in the society, but they can still be expected to be applied in certain situations. The majority of the population knows how to adjust and come along with these changes (Weinberger ,2001). The ones that contradict this are taken as abnormal or mentally ill on the extremes.            Also, a person is considered abnormal if he/she is not functioning correctly in that he or she may lack a full range of emotion and feelings and therefore his life is considered abnormal. These kinds of people can only be able to participate in only limited range of functioning lifestyle(American Psychiatric Association. 2000). Distress can also be used to gauge the mental illness capability of people as it could be an underlying mental problem.            Another aspect in the social norms definition of mental illness is the person’s association with others. If a person relation with others courses people to feel discomfort, it could be taken as these people are not mentally right. Along with this is the people’s unpredictable behavior which could much reflect on their mental health.            The Cole’s experiences relate to the Plato’s’ allegatory of the cave’ as his allegations that the real world may not be what our senses reveal. In relation to the Cole’s experience, we see him moving from one world of the past to the furfure or the vice varsa. In real this could only be a dream or mere imaginations, this alludes that Cole’s experiences could be reflecting Plato’s thoughts or allegations. In his Dialogue with Glaucon, we are not sure of the cave which he was referring to, either it could be the underground that the people had escaped to after the virus struck the universe or the prison where Cole was imprisoned.            When he imagined that the prisoners could think that the sound that they heard were really coming from the shadows, it coincides with Cole seeing the changing face of the guard and that of omnipresence. His concepts on the shadows could reflect Cole’s switching from one world to another. Was what he saw from the 1990 world true or could it his experience from the 1996 and 2035? Which was the truer experience?            On the last part of their discussion with Glaucon, he tells him that they, meaning the government, can not show any gratitude for the culture which they have never received. This could be reflecting the 12 monkeys who had released the virus that almost eliminated the human race according to the film. He said that with education on how to tackle issues, one will be able to defeat these ill minded people, reflecting Cole’s endeavors. References Roger Ebert (1996-01-05). 12 Monkeys.Chicago Sun-TimesLynette Rice (August 26, 2013). 12 monkeys pilot†. Entertainment Weekly James Berardinelli. Twelve Monkeys.Reviews Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences Education, National Research Council. 2000. How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. Weinberger, D., Torrey, E.F., and Berman, K. 2001. Schizophrenia PET scan. Retrieved July 13, 2008 American Psychiatric Association. 2000. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition The Allegory of the Cave http://www.historyguide.org/intellect/allegory.html Source document
Mitigation of Health Risk of Women at Child-Bearing Age
Mitigation of Health Risk of Women at Child-Bearing Age Mitigation of Health Risk of Women at Child-Bearing Age Through Nutritional Patterns – Strategy Assumptions Basic assumptions for above mentioned Research The Research uses the findings of three own epidemiological surveys carried out in 1991, 1993, 2000 on nutritional pattern and nutritional status of pregnant and non-pregnant women at child-bearing age, which contain a lot of representative features on a national scale, for the development of strategy on further research in the surveyed area during second and third decade of 21st century. The findings were used as a inputs for development of preliminary diagnosis of current status and as assumptions for the strategy of modern research on early nutritional health risks of pregnant and non-pregnant women at child-bearing age. The Poland lacks diagnosis that would be based on representative national survey of women population falling into 15-49 age category with the application of all necessary methods used in descriptive, analytical and molecular epidemiology. The diagnosis seems to be indispensable. It was proven that in the last several decades most of nutrients served in the right quantities and proportions strengthen definitely the health condition of woman at child-bearing age and her foetus as well as genome stability. Own surveys of the author in this field are one of the most representative on a national scale in the last several decades. The dataset of 3177 all-day diets coming from three own surveys on nutritional pattern and anthropometric measurements of the nutritional status of non-pregnant women at child-bearing age collected in 1991-2000 and dataset of 1472 all-day diets of pregnant women are the most numerous of all surveys published in the last 25 years. The major lessons drawn from the preliminary diagnosis are as follows: * Substantiation that high percentage (>50.0% of all-day diet dataset) with the energy from total fats (above 35%) is chronic and was found out in each of the carried out surveys both in pregnant and non-pregnant women subpopulations. *It was proven that in the last survey it was accompanied by definite deficiency of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Far higher-than-tolerated (up to 7% of energy from all-day diet) was the share of energy from saturated fatty acids. This enhances unambiguously in the surveyed population a risk of lipid management disturbances, a risk of cardio-vascular system diseases and a risk of diabetes type 2 and obesity. * The sodium intake from all-day diet was proven to be twice as high as Adequate Intake (AI), in predominant number of all-day diets, both in pregnant and non-pregnant women subpopulations. It should be noted that sodium is one of highly significant diet-related risks causing, inter alia, hypertension. *The lower-than-recommended iodine content was found out in the diets (mainly in the diets of pregnant women population), thus enhancing a risk of thyroid gland malfunctions, and in the foetus and infant populations – also physical and mental disorders. *Low iron content was discovered in the diets of pregnant women, which is conducive to enhancement of anaemia risk caused by iron deficiency. It enhances risk of premature birth, low body mass at birth and reduced infant health condition. Iron deficiency during pregnancy reduces its reserves for the foetus and in the first year of life, and also has adverse impact on further development of infant and in subsequent years of life. * For the population of women at child-bearing age evidence was found of lower than adequate intake (AI) from diet, on a population scale: D vitamin, proven by analytical testing, during multi-site clinical tests, published in 2012. The findings also confirm high risk of bone mineral management disorders, development of rickets in children population and growing risk of osteoporosis development in middle aged population. *For non-pregnant and pregnant child-bearing women subpopulations the lower-than-adequate intake (AI) of calcium from diet was discovered, which given specifically low D vitamin content and high phosphorous content in food enhances risk of mineral management disorders, including in particular bone structure, as well as probable increase of obesity prevalence, caused by the deficiency of nutrient in question. During the first decade of 21st century the situation most probably did not change. *Lower-than-adequate intake (AI) from food, on a population scale, was discovered for: dietary fibre, mainly in the diets of non-pregnant women, which by all means enhances the risk of abdominal obesity and diabetes of type 2. *Far lower-than-recommended folates content in the diets of Polish women at child-bearing age was discovered. Additionally in some diets low content of riboflavin, B6 and B12 vitamins was discovered. The folate deficiencies found out in the diets of Polish women enhance a risk of neural tube defects in infant population and they also enhance a risk of genome stability disorders. *Ten nutritional health risks listed above for the population of women at child-bearing age were paralleled by growing prevalence of obesity, mainly in the surveyed women falling into 45+ age category: a percentage of obese women in the 15–44age category rose insignificantly (from6.4% in 1991 to 7.8% in 2000), a percentage of obese women in the 45–49age category declined insignificantly (from21.1% to 20.5%), a percentage of obese women above 50 years of age, also found out in the population surveys in question, rose significantly in statistical terms (from27.7% to 33.9%) (p = 0.074); Prevalence of 3rd degree of obesity in the overall population of adult women rose from 0.2% in 1991 to 0.9% in 2000 (p = 0.001) in the population of 2725 women surveyed in 1991 the obesity was found out in 10.1% of the surveyed, whereas in 2000in the population of 1695 women, in the same age bracket, obesity was found out in a significantly higher (p The presented findings of three surveys carried out in the population of women at child bearing age with the application of only descriptive epidemiology methods, with underrepresentation of samples, with parallel discovery of many flaws in nutritional pattern and nutritional status, give legitimacy to the conduct of a survey, that has not been conducted so far, with the application of descriptive, analytical and molecular methods. The inevitability of such approach to the survey with random sample selection on a nation-wide basis is indicated by the state-of-the-art in the fields of mother and foetus medicine, epigenetics and nutrigenomics. Based on survey findings the following conclusions were drawn: ** The found out, aforementioned most probably prevailing, modifiable, nutritional health and current nutritional status risks in the subpopulations of surveyed non-pregnant and pregnant women at child-bearing age is probably a material dataset of characteristics enhancing a risk of occurrence of homeostasis disorders, threatening the physiological course of pregnancy and the maintenance of health of foetus, infant and child in consecutive decades of her/his life. **Overweight and obesity, with growing prevalence with age, enhances probably in the population of non-pregnant women a risk of chronic, low level inflammation conducive, as shown by the analysis of bibliography, to the occurrence of insulin resistance, diabetes of type 2, damage of blood vessels’ endothelium, development of metabolic syndrome, congenital anomalies, and also through, inter alia, cytokines also probable genome stability disorders. A decisive increase of prevalence of obesity in Poland was recorded mainly in the population of women in the 44+ age category. The prevalence of overweight and obesity in the population of Polish women at child-bearing population may probably grow in decades to come due to, inter alia, disadvantageous demographic situation and insufficient efficiency of health-oriented changes in lifestyle of this subpopulation of women. Intervention measures applied have to be more effective than to date and they should start, at least, one year before fertilization. **The analysis of current state of knowledge, based on survey findings, on early prevention of diet-related diseases (on a population scale) leads to a fundamental conclusion that molecular epidemiology, using methods applied, inter alia, in functional genomics and in epigenetics, should be introduced to diagnose health condition of women at child-bearing age as a tool with the same value as descriptive and analytical epidemiology methods. The molecular epidemiology investigating, inter alia, the susceptibility of genes to food-related conditions, seems to be an irreplaceable tool in the early diagnosis of health condition of women population described in this monograph. The collected and processed in a complementary fashion survey findings in each of the three disciplines should lay foundations for taking early interventions in the field of preventive measures and early secondary measures counteracting health disorders and diet-related diseases caused by faulty nutritional pattern, in both distinguished physiological conditions. The parallel implementation of measures and methods in the three aforementioned areas, in appropriate proportions, in the field of epidemiological studies on nutritional pattern and nutritional status of surveyed non-pregnant and pregnant women population, in order to strengthen effectively this part of public health system, seems to arouse interest of the Ministry of Science and the Ministry of Health or their counterparts in most European Union Members States, and the interest of EFSA. **A number of material detailed findings, from cognitive and application perspectives, is provided in the individual sections of monograph.
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
Themes from the Celebration at Heorot :: Celebration at Heorot Essays
Themes from the Celebration at Heorot The passage "Celebration at Heorot" presents a wide variety of subtle themes and ideas. The three main ones are: the foretelling of the doomed future, different Christian and pagan beliefs and rituals, and the enternal battle of men vs. monster (good vs. evil). This section will analyze each one of these themes. To go to a specific page, click on the links above. Men vs Monster The theme of eternal battle between men and monster can be perceived through the different stories told by scopsat the celebration. The main idea behind the stories is that even though Beowulf has heroically defeated Grendel , or mortally wounded him, the greater evil may not be defeated for it comes from a different source. The foreshadowing is that this evil will not come from monsters but from within the men. In other words, the real evil within people is still undefeated. The three stories have different agendas in regards to this theme. The first story, about Sigemund, is a happy one, and in it a hero defeats the dragon: "The hot dragon melted." (Norton, 38) The second story is about a treacherous king, Heremod, who betrays his people, "crime took possession of Heremod" (Norton, 38), and becomes a burden to his tribe. The last story is about Hildeburh, sister of King Hnaef (Norton, 41), who was married to Finn, king of the Jutes. Hnaef paid a friendly visit to his sister's home. Finn and Hnaef had an argument, and a fight broke out. Hnaef and Finn's son were killed practically before Hildeburh's very eyes. In Anglo-Saxon society, killing a relative was considered to be the worst sin of all. (Britannica, online) Thus, the evil that caused this horrible deed comes not from an fictional (imaginary) monster, but rather from the very real monster within people themselves. And, these stories show that the battle between good and evil is far from over. Themes from the Celebration at Heorot :: Celebration at Heorot Essays Themes from the Celebration at Heorot The passage "Celebration at Heorot" presents a wide variety of subtle themes and ideas. The three main ones are: the foretelling of the doomed future, different Christian and pagan beliefs and rituals, and the enternal battle of men vs. monster (good vs. evil). This section will analyze each one of these themes. To go to a specific page, click on the links above. Men vs Monster The theme of eternal battle between men and monster can be perceived through the different stories told by scopsat the celebration. The main idea behind the stories is that even though Beowulf has heroically defeated Grendel , or mortally wounded him, the greater evil may not be defeated for it comes from a different source. The foreshadowing is that this evil will not come from monsters but from within the men. In other words, the real evil within people is still undefeated. The three stories have different agendas in regards to this theme. The first story, about Sigemund, is a happy one, and in it a hero defeats the dragon: "The hot dragon melted." (Norton, 38) The second story is about a treacherous king, Heremod, who betrays his people, "crime took possession of Heremod" (Norton, 38), and becomes a burden to his tribe. The last story is about Hildeburh, sister of King Hnaef (Norton, 41), who was married to Finn, king of the Jutes. Hnaef paid a friendly visit to his sister's home. Finn and Hnaef had an argument, and a fight broke out. Hnaef and Finn's son were killed practically before Hildeburh's very eyes. In Anglo-Saxon society, killing a relative was considered to be the worst sin of all. (Britannica, online) Thus, the evil that caused this horrible deed comes not from an fictional (imaginary) monster, but rather from the very real monster within people themselves. And, these stories show that the battle between good and evil is far from over.
Womens Rights :: essays research papers fc
When one reads Ibsen’s A Doll’s House Today, he may find it very difficult to imagine how daring it might have seemed at the time it was written. Nora’s actions were almost unheard of at the time the play was written, and were thus rather controversial. For Millennia, women were primarily child-bearers and homemakers, their domestic responsibilities generally prevented them from participating in hunts and waging war. Consequently, they were not allowed to share the rights and responsibilities given to hunters and warriors. Throughout history religion and mythology have regarded women as naturally weaker and therefore inferior to men (209). The ancient Greeks believed that Pandora’s curiosity was the root of all the evils in the world. The Bible tells how Eve led Adam into sin, and was placed under Adam’s authority by God. It was a typical belief that women should be controlled, not only for their own protection, but for that of everyone else. In most traditional societies, women were put at a distinct disadvantage to men. In ancient Rome, women had no rights whatsoever, they were the property of their father until they were married and then they became their husband’s possession. They had no rights to money, land, or even over their own children. Women were educated only in domestic skills, making it impossible for them to gain power, and almost a necessity to marry. Without the knowledge of how to live women had to rely on their husbands’ success or make a living through less morally acceptable means. The rights of women went largely unaltered until 1792 when a woman named Mary Wollstonecraft wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman the first major modern feminist work. Sadly, however, her demands for equality and her revolutionary tone, made her work unacceptable at the time. "Men, in general, seem to employ their reason to justify prejudices.†(Wollstonecraft) A more noticeable advance in the equality of women’s rights was the industrial revolution. Lower classed women became wage earners in factories. Although their jobs were lower paying than their male counterparts, and controlled by men, financial independence was a major first step towards equal rights. In 1848 the first women’s rights convention was held. In 1919 Congress approved the 19th amendment, which, as quoted in Funk and Wagnalls New Encyclopedia, provided that â€Å"The right to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
Stepmom: About Death and Dying
Movie Review: Stepmom By: For: November 16th, 2010 REL201 The film step mom beautifully portrays the effects death and dying can have on a family. Even one like the Harrison's, where the parents are split up, and and a new women has come into Luke's live. Their will always be different ways of coping with death and that is shown through all the characters, be it strong willed like Luke and Jackie, negatively and dramatically like the daughter Anna, or positively and unaware like the son Ben. All these different ways of coping make this film an ideal one to view the different ways one can cope.Throughout the film Stepmom death is shown as both a negative and positive affecting occurrence. When the main character Jackie Harrison is first told that her diagnosed cancer has became much worse, she is spiteful and hate-filled. She resents the fact that her recently divorced husband is now getting married to a younger woman, she is also angry that her marriage to Luke didn't work out, and i s also saddened at the fact that she will never live to see her children grow up. The positive aspects of death in this film is that Jackie soon realizes that she has to come to grips with her inevitable death.This allows her to live her remaining months in peace with her children and even become happy with Luke and Jena Malone getting married. In the circumstance on Jackie Harrison, death is not presented as a natural part of the life cycle. Cancer, is a modern problem with no modern cure as of yet. It endangers and ends many young lives throughout the world. Jackie was already diagnosed with cancer a year before, however, when she went for a re-evaluation it was found that the cancer had re-appeared and had intensified in her body. This shows that cancerous cells can begin to form at anytime in one's body and is not a atural part of the life cycle. In the case of Jackie there are two sides. At first when re-diagnosed she is very fearful. Not for herself, but rather for her childre n. Jackie is afraid that she will not be able to see her children again, and be able to watch them grow up and lead fulfilling lives. She is delivered more bad news at a dinner by her ex-husband. Luke tells Jackie that he is to marry Jena Malone. Jackie is angered again and can not bare to tell Luke that she is in fact dying of cancer and will not be around to raise their children. Another scene depicting anger is after Ben falls off the play structure and eeds stitches.At the hospital she tries to see her son, but Jena is already there comforting him. He asks Jena to sing her a song because â€Å"Mommy always does†(Stepmom). As Jackie looks on from outside the room Jena sings for Ben and she is angered by this and goes home and has a fit in her home. Jena uncovers Jackie's secret through a conversation they have at her home. She tells Jena that she is infect going to L. A. to see an oncologist for treatment. Jena is saddened to hear that the ex-wife is dying of cancer and a sks â€Å"are you dying? â€Å", to which Jackie replies â€Å"Not today†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Stepmom). This in turn affects Luke who is the next o find out and thus feels guilty. He feels as though it should have been him and not Jackie. They decide to tell the children about the cancer together and this scene provides the most dramatic effect of the movie. Ben takes the news very lightly and is intrigued as to what his mom is enduring, there is a doubt as to how much Ben knows about the situation. He thinks it's less serious then it actually is. The daughter Anna, is immediately angered by the news and storms off. As she heads upstairs Luke yells â€Å"You do not run out on your mother†, and she replies â€Å"No that's your job†(Stepmom).This scene is important because it shows how the family as an entirety deals with death. The message of the film Stepmom is too fully appreciate one's life to the fullest while you can, and to truly live like you we're dying. It also h as many family values attached to the death process. Jackie who has always enjoyed her children now see's the reasons to why she is truly enjoying them. After hearing that her cancer has got worse she decides to stay home and take time with to be with her family. Luke even becomes more involved with her as her condition worsens, something he never did when they we're together and she was healthy.A kind of ironic tragedy. It also portrays that Jackie will never be able to be replaced as the children's mother but Jena can do more by being there for them while they live on without Jackie. In one of the lasts scenes Jena and Jackie make amends and realize that the kids won't have to choose and that they could love them both. â€Å"I have their past, and you can have their future†(Stepmom) is what Jackie says in comfort to Jena. The white dove that Ben always asks about has dual meaning throughout the film. Ben believes every magician needs a white dove, but the dove in fact symb olizes freedom and life.The symbolism of the dove also has heavy meaning towards Jackie. It would represent her long after she is gone and would be the confidant of the young Ben. In the final scene at Christmas time, Jackie is at this point very ill. When Ben comes upstairs to Jackie's room to get his present from her she is alone in a chair. She smiles and gives Ben a magician's cape to continue living his childhood dream of becoming one someday. She then goes downstairs after Anna comes to get her, and helps Luke, Jena and Ben perform a magic trick to uncover the white dove in the cage underneath the magician's cape.It is symbolic because this white dove will represent Jackie and her continued support of her son long after she is gone. Stepmom was a great film to watch in terms of understanding how a family can cope with death and dying. It shows the contrasts of family values, ways of coping with death and also the support system a family can have throughout times of crisis. Eve n though Jackie and Luke were no longer together they found a way to make things work when the children and Jackie needed it the most. It is inspiring to see such love and compassion in a difficult situation, even when at the eginning of the film there was nothing but resentment towards each other, a common bond, brought them together and closer then ever, even if it was a negative one. Cancer continues to be a serious threat for today's modern society and we must continue the fight against to someday have a cancer free earth.Bibliography: I) Stepmom, DVD, Directed by Chris Columbus, (1998) Columbia Pictures, Hollywood. California II) http://www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/pmc/articles/PMC2569562/pdf/jnma00195-0137. pdf Heather M. Butts,JD,MPH III) http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Stepmom_(film) IV) http://www. mediacircus. net/stepmom. html
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