Pyrrhic Victory - Origin of the Term

A Pyrrhic victory is a type of win that actually inflicts so much destruction on the victorious side that it is basically tantamount to defeat. A side that wins a Pyrrhic victory is considered ultimately victorious but the tolls suffered, and the future impact those tolls, work to negate the feeling of actual achievement. This is sometimes also referred to as a hollow victory. For instance, in the world of sports, if team A defeats team B in a regular-season game, but team A loses its best player to a season-ending injury during the game, that would be considered a Pyrrhic victory. Team A won the current contest. However, losing their best player for the remainder of the season would take away from any actual feeling of accomplishment or achievement that the team would typically feel after a victory. Another example could be drawn from the battlefield. If side A defeats side B in a particular battle but loses a high number of its forces in the battle, that would be considered a Pyrrhic victory. Yes, side A won the particular battle, but the casualties suffered will have severe negative effects from Side A going forward, detracting from the overall feeling of victory. This situation is commonly referred to as â€Å"winning the battle but losing the war.† Origin The phrase Pyrrhic victory originates from King Pyrrhus of Epirus, who in B.C. 281 suffered the original Pyrrhic victory. King Pyrrhus landed on the southern Italian shore (in Tarentum of Magna Graecia) with 20 elephants and 25,000 to 30,000 soldiers ready to defend their fellow Greek speakers against advancing Roman domination. Pyrrhus won the first two battles at Heraclea in B.C. 280 and at Asculum in B.C. 279. However, throughout the course of those two battles, he lost a very high number of soldiers. With numbers cut drastically, King Pyrrhus’s army became too thin to last and they eventually ended up losing the war. In both of his victories over the Romans, the Roman side suffered more casualties than Pyrrhus’ side did. But the Romans also had a much larger army to work with  Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã‚  thus, their casualties meant less to them than Pyrrhus’s did to his side. The term Pyrrhic victory comes from these devastating battles. Greek historian Plutarch described King Pyrrhus’s victory over the Romans in his Life of Pyrrhus: â€Å"The armies separated; and, it is said, Pyrrhus replied to one that gave him joy of his victory that one other such victory would utterly undo him. For he had lost a great part of the forces he brought with him, and almost all his particular friends and principal commanders; there were no others there to make recruits, and he found the confederates in Italy backward. On the other hand, as from a fountain continually flowing out of the city, the Roman camp was quickly and plentifully filled up with fresh men, not at all abating in courage for the loss they sustained, but even from their very anger gaining new force and resolution to go on with the war.† Source Plutarch. Pyrrhus. John Dryden (translator), The Internet Classics Archive, 75. Pyrrhic victory. Dictionary.com, LLC, 2019.

The Crucible By Arthur Miller - 1579 Words

The Crucible is a 1953 play by the famous play writer and author, Arthur Miller. It is a partially fictional story of the Salem Witch Trials which took place during 1692 and 1693 in Salem, Massachusetts. Miller wrote the play as an allegory of McCarthyism; when the United States government blacklisted accused communists. The Crucible contains quite a few important characters who play in the tragic events that occurred those many years ago- the characters who had the greatest impact and character transformations would be the tragic hero; John Proctor, the blameless victim; Elizabeth Proctor, and the villainous; Abigail Williams. John Proctor s character changes drastically from the beginning of the play to the end, and it is possibly the most important element of the play. He goes from a hot-headed adulterer to someone who truly wants redemption and to make things right with his wife whom he has wronged. Throughout Act 1, John Proctor is seen as a liar when the reader finds out that h e had committed adultery with Abigail Williams, John and Elizabeth Proctor’s servant. Not only does this effect John and Abigail’s relationship, but it causes other issues between John and Elizabeth’s relationship. Abigail also tries to manipulate John by convincing him that he is still in love with her. In reality, Abigail seems to be jealous of Elizabeth while John seems to pick sides. At one point in Act 1, John Proctor says, â€Å"Ah, you’re wicked yet, aren t y’! A trill of expectantShow MoreRelatedThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1269 Words   |  6 PagesAt first glance, the playwright Arthur Miller in The Crucible highlights the historical significance of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, but in fact it is an allegorical expression of his perception of McCarthyism. If the reader has some background information on Arthur Miller’s victimization as a communist, it is evident that the play is a didactic vessel illustrating the flaws of the court system in the 1950’s. The communist allegations were launched at government employees, entertainers and writersRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1681 Words   |  7 Pagesof their way to the last dying breath to make sure they leave with a good or bad reputation. In one of the recent literature study in class â€Å"The Crucible† by Arthur Miller, Miller uses characterization to illustrate reputation throughout the play. â€Å"The Crucible† takes place in Salem, Massachusetts. It is based upon the Salem witch trails. In â€Å"The Crucible†, we journey through the life of three characters who reputations plays a major role in the play. The three characters are John Proctor, AbigailRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller998 Words   |  4 Pagesmotivated by jealousy and spite. The Crucible is a four-act dramatic play production that was first performed on January 22, 1953. Arthur Miller used dialogue within the characters to cover the multiple themes; conflicts and resolutions, plus the few directions for the different actions of the play. The Salem Witch Trials were intended to be performed as the play however, when read, it can be more carefully examined and broken down to analyze the techniques. Miller, the playwright, uses literaryRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1333 Words   |  6 PagesAs the various characters in The Crucible by Arthur Miller interact, the dominant theme of the consequences of women’s nonconformity begins to slide out from behind the curtains of the play. Such a theme reveals the gripping fear that inundated the Puritans during the seventeenth century. This fear led to the famous witch-hunts that primarily terrorized women who deviated from the Puritan vision of absolute obedience and orthodoxy. Arthur Miller presents his interpretation of the suffering by subtlyRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1145 Words   |  5 PagesUnbalance Through The Centuries In Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, the author reflects the persecution of communists in America in the 1950’s through a recount of the Salem witch trials. It is often presumed that Miller based his drama directly off of events that were particularly prevalent in the years surrounding the publication of The Crucible- which was released in the year 1953, towards the conclusion of the Korean War. Although there was not a literal witch hunt occurring during this timeRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1063 Words   |  5 PagesIn the English dictionary, there are three definitions of the word crucible. One is a metal container in which metals are mixed and melted. Another is a severe test. But the third definition, and the one that I think fits the best for this book, is a place or situation in which different elements interact to create something new. In my mind, this fits because all of the characters had their little grudges and dirty secrets. But when all th ose seemingly little things interact, they formed somethingRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1285 Words   |  6 Pages Rationale, Morality, Stereotypes, Pressure, Self-Censorship, Unanimity, and Mindguards. Groupthink has also taken place in our history a a country. The play, The Crucible by Arthur Miller is about a the real-life Salem Witch Trials that happened in 1692 - 1693, in Salem, Massachusetts. Some symptoms of Groupthink found in the Crucible are Rationale, Pressure, and Self-Censorship. The Groupthink symptom, Rationale, is described as when victims of Groupthink ignore warnings: they also collectivelyRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller841 Words   |  4 PagesThe Crucible is a chaotic play, throughout this American classic Arthur Miller takes the reader through multiple events of terror and insanity. While creating a great on-stage play, Arthur Miller portrays his life through the events, the characters, and plot of The Crucible. Using vivid imagery and comprehensible symbolism, Miller manipulates the real personalities of the characters and events in 1600 Salem, Massachusetts to create a symbolic autobiography. Throughout this play, the reader experiencesRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller811 Words   |  4 Pages While The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, is only a four act play, it still resembles the format of a five act play. The five-act structure evolved from a three-act structure, which was made famous by Roman Aelius Donatus. Donatus came up with thre e types of plays: Protasis, Epitasis, and Catastrophe. The five-act structure helped to expand the three act structure, mainly made famous by Shakespeare through his many tragedies. Even though The Crucible contains only four acts, it still has the commonRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1052 Words   |  5 PagesBuddy Al-Aydi Ms.Healy English 9 CP 14th October 2014 The Crucible Essay The Crucible was a novel written by Arthur Miller in the 1950’s. It was written in a format of the play, portraying an allegory of the Salem Witch-Hunts led by Senator Joseph McCarthy. The book is known to have a inexplicable plot. This plot is advanced by multiple characters in the book in order to ensure that the reader maintains interest with the material that is being read. The farmer, John Proctor, would be the

Cathj Essay Example For Students

Cathj Essay A Clean Well-Lighted Place, by Ernest Hemmingway A Clean Well-Lighted Place, written by Ernest Hemmingway, takes place after 2am in a Spanish caf where the characters a young waiter and an older waiter work, and a deaf man is a regular customer. The title, A Clean Well-Lighted Place, refers to the caf where the story takes place. The night (or early morning) this story takes place, the young waiter is in a rush to get home to his wife. Although the caf is not closed yet, the young waiter lies to the deaf man, saying the caf is closed, and forces the deaf man to leave early. Following this incident, the older waiter protests the younger waiters actions by explaining why the old man spends so much time alone in the caf during the evenings. After his explanation, the older waiter goes on to explain that he spends his life in much the same way as the deaf man because he too is lonely. The character of the older waiter and his response to the younger waiters treatment of the deaf man as well as his account of his loneliness are major contributors to the theme: with age comes loneliness. Although the characters of the deaf man and the young waiter are important parts of the story because they are personalities the older waiter uses to tell his account of his loneliness, the character of the older waiter contributes most to the overall theme. It is the older waiter whose point of view the narrator tells the story and through the older waiters point of view his deep feelings of loneliness become apparent . While closing the caf and after the younger waiter left, the older waiter continues his conversation (in his head) with the young waiter about the deaf man in the following speech . . .he continued the conversation with himself the older waiter . . . What did he fear? It was not fear or dread. It was a nothing that he knew too well. It was all a nothing and a man was nothing too. It was only that and light was all it needed and a certain cleanliness and order. Some lived in it and never felt it but he knew it all was nada y pues nada y nada y pues nada . (p.144, Gioia and Kennedy) While the older waiter is referring to the deaf man in this passage, it is obvious he knows all too well exactly what the deaf man is feeling. The older waiter goes on, replacing words of the Lords Prayer with nada (the Spanish word for nothing) and further deepening the belief that he too is completely forlorn: Our nada who art in nada, nada be thy name thy kingdom nada thy will be nada in nada as it is in nada. Give us this nada our daily nada and nada us our nada as we nada our nadas and nada us not into nada but deliver us from nada; pues nada. Hail nothing full of nothing, nothing is with thee (p.144, Gioia and Kennedy) After completing this speech and allowing the reader this awful glimpse into his perception of life, the waiter then goes a bar. While the older waiters version of the Lords Prayer confirms the notion that he feels life is made of nothing, it is earlier in the story where the waiter acknowledges his belief that age causes his loneliness. This is noticeable in his conversation with the younger waiter: Why didnt you let him stay and drink? the unhurried waiter asked the older waiter. . . its not half past two. The young waiter answers the older waiter saying he wants to get home early to is wife. Whats an hour? The older waiter says More to me than to him. Says the young waiter An hour is the same. .u981c705047c8e54da41c270fecdc92e5 , .u981c705047c8e54da41c270fecdc92e5 .postImageUrl , .u981c705047c8e54da41c270fecdc92e5 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u981c705047c8e54da41c270fecdc92e5 , .u981c705047c8e54da41c270fecdc92e5:hover , .u981c705047c8e54da41c270fecdc92e5:visited , .u981c705047c8e54da41c270fecdc92e5:active { border:0!important; } .u981c705047c8e54da41c270fecdc92e5 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u981c705047c8e54da41c270fecdc92e5 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u981c705047c8e54da41c270fecdc92e5:active , .u981c705047c8e54da41c270fecdc92e5:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u981c705047c8e54da41c270fecdc92e5 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u981c705047c8e54da41c270fecdc92e5 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u981c705047c8e54da41c270fecdc92e5 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u981c705047c8e54da41c270fecdc92e5 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u981c705047c8e54da41c270fecdc92e5:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u981c705047c8e54da41c270fecdc92e5 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u981c705047c8e54da41c270fecdc92e5 .u981c705047c8e54da41c270fecdc92e5-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u981c705047c8e54da41c270fecdc92e5:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Mandotory school Uniforms Essay You talk like an old man yourself . . . And you? You have no fear of going home before the usual hour? Are you trying to insult me? No, hombre, only to make a joke. No . . . says the young waiter . . .I have confidence. I am all confidence. You have

Biology of Plants Making Food free essay sample

Photosynthesis is a biological process in which sunlight is used to prepare the nutrients for the plant with the help of the green pigment, i.e, chlorophyll. However, when the sun sets there is no way that the plant can prepare their meal. It now becomes a technology which mimics the photosynthesis the process is called artificial photosynthesis. Artificial photosynthesis is definitely worth exploring, it uses nano-sized light-sensitive materials will be converted to light energy, resulting in oxidoreductase reaction. In short, it is a useful technology that uses light energy to produce the same chemicals as in natural process. In natural way, the chlorophyll present in leaves absorbs sunlight; couple of enzymes and other proteins uses this light to split water molecules into hydrogen, electrons and oxygen (protons). Electrons and hydrogen are used to convert carbon dioxide into nutrients for the plant, and oxygen is transferred into the atmosphere.The energy from the sunlight converts into the chemical energy due to which it becomes more suitable for its storage. We will write a custom essay sample on Biology of Plants: Making Food or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In this conversion, side products are not yielded like the greenhouse gases. But, in the process carbon dioxide can be utilized in the same way as it does in plants.   For artificial photosynthesis, there are 2 main steps- the ability to collect solar energy, and the ability to split water molecules. Scientists first used a cobalt metal, phosphorus, and indium-tin-oxide electrode placed in water to create a new catalytic device that relies on current generated by external sources of energy (such as solar energy, wind energy, etc. ), A catalyst flowing through the electrode and consisting of cobalt and phosphoric acid, using the catalytic action of cobalt and phosphorus leads water to produce hydrogen and oxygen which are collected at both poles. the energy produced by the mixture of hydrogen and oxygen can be stored in proton exchange membrane fuel cells, enabling uninterrupted power supply both day and night. But splitting the water molecule is not so simple; it requires about two and a half electron volts of energy. Therefore, we need a catalyst that â€Å"pushes† the chemical reaction.The Artificial Leaf Project and MITs Artificial Photosynthesis Research are all devoted to solving the process of converting water to organic matter and releasing hydrogen and oxygen, creating a leaf that resembles the greenery of nature even more than it Optimized device to become a highly efficient solar energy conversion device. However, the research process is very difficult, but also very challenging. Researchers in this process have done many experiments, such as they have tried to use other raw materials as a catalyst, although it can catalyze the hydrolysis reaction, the effect is not as expected, only through so many experiments to add other Material, can we expect catalytic efficiency can be improved. In addition, from an environmental and practical point of view, the construction of billions of artificial plants can be far less feasible than sowing seeds for several well-chosen biofuels. On the other hand, these plants often require good soil, which deteriorates rapidly due to agricultural pressure. Biofuels have already been suspected of using land that could feed a growing population. Plus artificial photosynthesis is that you can see how these plants thrive in the desert or even in the ocean.