To what Extent was the fall of the 1918-22 Coalition Government due to economic factors Essays

To what Extent was the fall of the 1918-22 Coalition Government due to economic factors Essays To what Extent was the fall of the 1918-22 Coalition Government due to economic factors Essay To what Extent was the fall of the 1918-22 Coalition Government due to economic factors Essay The fall of the Coalition Government was due to economic factors, but there were other factors that contributed to the fall. The problem with Ireland, the Foreign Policy and the parties and politics also caused the fall. The coalition was firstly formed because of a number of factors; the conservatives were low on confidence and thought that they could use Lloyd Georges personality to help them get into power. There was also lots of problems to sort out after the war and it was seen that these could have been dealt with easier in a coalition. The main part of this essay will be split up into three sections; one will talk about the economy, one about the foreign affairs and one about internal politics. There will then be a conclusion. The fall of the economy is the main theme of the essay. World War 1 had major effects on Britains economy. By the end of the war a total of 745 000 Britons had been killed and 1. 6 million Britons had been wounded. This obviously meat that when it came Britain recovering from war and trying to get back to normal there were less people available for work because of injury or death. 3. 5 million people were receiving some form of pension or supportive allowance, so a large amount of government money was being used up on this. Britain were also owed a lot of money by Russia and needed this money to pay back the U. S. but Russia werent paying up. The unemployment levels were rising extremely high and by 1921 the figure for unemployed was over 2 million. This meant that people would have been discontent with the government and their actions. The war meant that lots of munitions and arms would have needed to be produced, however there was an over-investment in all of this, which was a waste of government money. All of these factors had harmed the economy and led to inflation, which in-turn led to the British public being unhappy with the government and Lloyd George was becoming more and more unpopular. Foreign affairs contributed to the fall of the coalition government as well. This includes the Foreign Policy and the Irish question. The Irish question was the most troublesome political problem the coalition faced. It was a very violent problem as violence was used a lot of the time by the Irish, this violence harmed Lloyd Georges reputation as Prime Minister because he took the blame. On Bloody Sunday, 14 Britons were shot dead and British troops had fired on an unarmed crowd killing another 12. In Ireland, almost 1000 people were killed between January 1919 and July 1921. This is an example of the violence and why it tarnished Lloyd Georges reputation. England lost Ireland and this was a big blow to its empire. Foreign policy was a concern throughout the few years for the coalition; it was always another worry and another problem along with all the rest. There were problems with the Treaty of Versailles because the Liberals thought it was too harsh on Germany but the Conservatives thought it was too lenient. So here there was an argument caused. Lloyd Georges foreign policy was aimed at reconciling France and Germany and bringing the Soviet Union back into World Affairs. However these failed and the Frenchs hate for Germany was still just as strong. The treaty of Sevres which was signed with Turkey meant that most of the Ottoman empire was distributed to the victors of World War 1. This treaty was considered far too harsh and a conflict was made between Britain and Turkey. Chanak also caused harm to the coalition. Because Lloyd George was pro-Greek and the conservatives were pro-Turkey, George had offended them and was risking war at a time when morale was low and no-one wanted another war. Internal politics is the last factor which helped cause the fall of the coalition government. Parties and politics and the Coupon Election are the main points. The Coupon Election was an electoral act that existed between Lloyd George and his Conservative party allies. 2 Liberal parties were split down the middle into Lloyd Georges Liberals in the coalition and Asquiths Liberals outside of the coalition. During the coalition and the coupon election Lloyd George had a great partnership with Andrew Bonar Law. During the coupon election Law was of great help to George and when he resigned in 1921 Lloyd George was left in a vulnerable position and the problems of the coalition got even greater. The way the parties were structured at this time is this final reason for the fall. Basically the Liberals should have been the opposition leadership to the Conservatives and were up until they split into two parties; Coalition liberals and Asquiths Liberals. This split allowed Ramsey MacDonalds Labour party to leap-frog the Liberals and become the opposition leadership and the Labour partys support was increasing which was a problem for the coalition. The communist party were only a small party without a lot of support and were really unable to influence the elections. The economy was the main factor for the fall of the coalition government, more so than any of the others discussed. However the other factors which were discussed were also important in the fall of the government. The other factors just made the situation for the coalition government worse and the economy couldnt be dealt with because of all these other problems. The Honours Scandal, used as excuse by the Conservatives to end the coalition, did not bring about the fall on its own. Honours Scandal was where people could donate money to a political party and therefore receive a title i. e. Lord. Lloyd George didnt use it correctly and gave titles to just about anyone requesting them. The Conservatives had had enough of Lloyd George and wanted to get rid of him, and the Honours Scandal gave them a convenient excuse to get rid of him. The end of the coalition was significant as a whole because it meant the end of them for a long period of time. There wasnt another coalition that decade.

SAT Cost, ACT Cost, and How to Save Money

SAT Cost, ACT Cost, and How to Save Money SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you're deciding between taking the SAT and the ACT and you have a tight budget, this guide will help. We'll cover the registration costs, reporting costs, and how you can save money no matter what test you choose. All Registration Costs for the SAT and ACT (Updated for 2019-2020) Let's first look at the cost of registering for the test, and extra fees. Fee Type What is this? SAT Cost ACT Cost Registration Fee The normal fee for each administration of the test you register for $64.50 ($49.50 without essay) $67($50.50 without essay) Late Fee Charged if you register after the regular deadline but before the final late deadline $30 $30 Waitlist Fee Charged if you register after the late registration deadline and are seated on test day. $53 $53 (standby testing) Change Fee Charged if you change the test center, test date, or test type $30 $30 Question and Answers An optional service that sends you the test questions and correct answers (useful for seeing what mistakes you made) $18 $20 International Fees Charged additionally if you're taking the test outside of the United States $43 to $53 $99.50 Sources: College Board and ACT, Inc The costs between the SAT and ACT are similar for registrations for U.S. students. If your schools require the essay section, taking the SAT saves you $1 per test. Clearly both tests charge through the nose for extra fees, punishing lack of planning ahead. As we'll cover below, planning early can represent a huge cost savings to you. All Reporting Costs for the SAT and ACT Once you take the test, you'll have to send your test scores to colleges. Each college you apply to will require its own SAT or ACT score report. If you apply to 12 colleges, you'll need to send 12 score reports. This is where the policies for the SAT and ACT really differ. Fee Type What is this? SAT ACT Free Score Reports The number of free reports you get when registering for the test 4 free reports, within 9 days after test 4 free reports, by the Thursday after the test Cost per School Charged for each report you send to a school outside of your free reports. $12 per school $13.00 per test per school Rush reporting Expedited sending of score reports $31 per school $16.50 per test per school Sources: College Board and ACT, Inc. Here's an elaboration. When you take the SAT or ACT, both tests allow you to send your scores to four schools for free. You will specify these four schools when registering for the test. The SAT gives you nine days after the test to decide those four schools, while the ACT only gives you six days. Outside of the free reports, both tests will charge you for sending score reports. This can happen if you're too late in specifying your free reports, or if you exceed the four free reports per test. The SAT and the ACT differ here in a significant way. The SAT can send all your College Board test scores to a school in a single report. This includes all SAT and SAT Subject Test administrations. The ACT, however, requires $13.00 per test per school. For example, if your school uses 'Superscoring', you might want to send two or three tests to combine the highest score.This can really rack up the cost really quickly.For example, if you're applying to ten colleges and you want to send three test scores, this will mean $13 x 10 x 3 = $390, just to send your scores to schools. All this money starts adding up. It pays to be proactive and to plan ahead. Here are four strategies to save as much money as possible on the SAT and ACT. 5 Tips to Save Money on the SAT and ACT If you're on a budget, you can save a lot of money by planning ahead. Here are important ways to get money back. #1: Apply for a Fee Waiver If You Qualify Both the College Board and the ACT know that low-income families find it difficult to pay for these expensive tests. Applying for a fee waiver can save you hundreds of dollars. With a fee waiver, both tests give you free registration for tests and free score reports. How do you qualify for a fee waiver? You qualify if any of the below is true: You're enrolled in or eligible for the federal Free and Reduced Price Lunch program You're enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that aids students from low-income families (like Upward Bound) Your family receives public assistance You live in public housing, a foster home, or are homeless. Your household income level falls below USDA levels for Reduced Price lunches To get a fee waiver, you MUST go through your school counselor. You cannot apply directly through the College Board or ACT, Inc. This takes time, so make sure you do this well before you plan to register for the test. Contact your school counselor as soon as possible if you qualify for a fee waiver. #2: Register Early The late fee for registration is around half the test of the cost itself, causing a 50% increase in the test cost if you're late to register. If you have a test date set in mind, register months in advance so you don't forget. Make sure you get a confirmation by e-mail so you have no surprises come test day. Even worse than paying the late fee is missing the test date registration altogether. If you've been prepping for a specific date, this will cause you to lose momentum from your test prep and lower your score. #3: Use the FREEScore Reports Both the SAT and ACT give you free score reports to send to schools of your choosing. Make sure you specify schools before registration so you don't forget. Once the ACT test date passes, you won't be able to specify any more colleges to receive your test scores. The only reason you may want to not specify a college for the free score report is if you're not sure you're going to do better, and you want to make sure the college receives only your top scores. For all other cases, send it to colleges that are on your application list. #4: Self-Report Scores When Possible In an attempt to lower the barrier to applying even further, some of the top schools in the country now allow students to self-report their SAT and ACT scores on their applications; you'll only have to submit official SAT/ACT score reports if you're accepted. Prestigious national universities that allow self-reporting of SAT/ACT scores include Stanford, Columbia, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, Caltech, Rice, WashU in St. Louis, and Emory. Most of the top liberal arts colleges also have adopted this policy, including Williams, Amherst, Wellesley, Swarthmore, Middlebury, and Pomona. For all schools allowing self-reported SAT/ACT scores, make sure to check their policy on superscoring/score choice so that you're maximizing your standardized testing profile. Also, while this should go without saying, don't lie when self-reporting your SAT/ACT scores on your application. Don't write a score you plan to get on the February ACT or March SAT before admissions decisions go out (unless the school you're applying to accepts February ACT scores) and don't lie about doing better than you did. This will most likely result in your admission being rescinded not just because you didn't do as well as you said you did, but because you lied; institutions of higher learning generally aren't super keen to welcome academically dishonest students into their community. #5: Use Your SAT/ACT Score to Qualify for Scholarships Many states and schools have scholarships where the major qualification is your SAT/ACT score. By doing well on the test, you can make back well more than it cost to take the test. Take the time to research these scholarships and apply for them if you qualify. What's Next? Now that you know how much the SAT and ACT cost, let's read more resources to learn more about these tests. Want a super high SAT score or ACT score? I teach you how to get a perfect SAT/ACT score, based on my own experiences. What are good ACT scores or good SAT scoresfor college? Is the SAT or ACT easier? Find out which you should take. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Regionality Writing Portfolio Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Regionality Writing Portfolio - Essay Example Influence slave trade produced on the African continent is immense, for nearly 400 years of slave trade deprived Africa of around 12.5 million of labor force. Buying slaves – previously captured people of other ethnic groups and tribes – from coastal kingdoms, Americans and Europeans halted development of the entire West Africa through affecting local husbandry, agriculture and handicraft (Rowntree et al., 2014). Moreover, collaboration and grafting leaders of coastal kingdoms, the traders instigated conflict between different African nations and eventually caused wars. In the internal wars, Africa hardly had any wealth accumulation and lost around 100 million of labor force, for many able-bodied people died. At the same time, establishment and strengthening of economic and political entities was heavily impeded by the fact that many African communities had to hide from the slave traders through relocation of their settlements and thus were more interested in survival t han in development of countries or increase of economic might. In general, Atlantic slave trade that thrived until the 19th century facilitated the flow of labor force from Africa’s interior to the expanding territories of the New World, which were in need of more workers. As a result, many African regions were left underdeveloped and rather poor due to lack of labor force and – owing to efforts of their future colonizers – absence of efficient centralized states. This made Africa vulnerable to further colonization by European state.

Islamic ceramics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Islamic ceramics - Essay Example This is in part has been attributed to the influence of science and technology in ceramics and pottery traditions which coincided with the scientific renaissance of the 10th and 11th centuries (Fehervari, 2000). The innovation of the period mark not only the development of the craft but give insights to how cultural and scientific development impact society together. Islamic ceramics and pottery have been traced to the 8th century, developing in key Middle Eastern civilization centers such as Iraq, Persia and Syria. Excavation indicated that most artifacts from the period were mainly utilitarian and had only used basic glazing methods. However, by the late 8th and the early 9th century, the glazing became a common practice and there was significantly increase in artistic competencies which included the introduction of lusterware production. Excavations in Basra, Damascus and Fustat show intricate ceramic painted walls using blue as a predominant color, a traditional that will eventually be a characteristic of Islamic ceramics and pottery. According to Lane (1947), the Abbasid dynasty, early supporters of Mohammed and Islam, utilized ceramics and pottery as a means to promote their political power as well as the religion, which became the foundation of the concept of an â€Å"Islamic† tradition of pottery. The period also provides documentation on the trade with China which is major influence to artisans. Aside from trade, there was also an exchange in technology and styles which reached a high during the Seljuk dynasty with the arrival of the Mongol invasion but which subsequently declined with the decline of the Mongol Empire. This level of interaction would only be augmented once more in the 15th century peaking during the Tang dynasty (Meri & Bacharach, 2005; Fehervari, 2000). One of the key features of Islamic ceramics and pottery is in the use of glazes which allowed artisans to create an opaque, metallic-like finish to

Lifestyle Comparison, City vs Country Essay Example for Free

Lifestyle Comparison, City vs Country Essay Data has been collected from several sources such as multiple real estate agencies, fuel stations, transport agencies, mapping sources, grocery markets as well as different social and recreational organizations and conventions, this information will aid me to form my personal opinion on which is the better option. The criteria on which of the options stands to be ‘better option’, will be on the basis of; which provides the best financial outcome. Notes: * This report is taking the assumption that certain material possessions have already been accounted for, EG: * Car, clothes, furniture etc. The car at our disposal for the calculations of travel expenses will be the Hyundai Santa Fe Part Four, Data Analysis: The salaries of dentists in Australia varies widely, as the lowest reported income per annum is an estimated $50,800 while the highest earning dentists are in much larger figures, with $190,000 as the maximum recorded payment. $50,800 + $190,000 = $240,800 $240,800 ? 2 = $120,400~ the average salary, calculated via the values given above. This given pay scale can be divvied into three categories in order to better represent and calculate budgets and relevant taxes. To yield more reliable results, the following tax calculations will be made under the assumption that we are earning an average pay of $120,400 per annum. Tax Calculations| | Weekly| Monthly| Yearly| Gross| (Divide yearly pay by 52)$2315. 38| (Divide yearly pay by 12)$10,033. 33| $120,400| Tax | $624. 90| $2707. 91| $32,495| Super| $208. 38| $903| $10,836| Medicare| $34. 73| $150. 5| $1,806| Net Income| $1447. 1| $6,271. 9| $75,263| Tax: $120,400 $80,000 = $40,400~taxable dollars. $40,400 x $0. 37 = $14,948 $14,948 + $17,547 = $32,495~yearly income tax. $32,495 ? 12 $2707. 91~monthly income tax. $32,495 ? 52 = $624. 90~weekly income tax. Super: $120,400 – 9% = $120,400 x 0. 09 = $10,836~yearly super payment. $10,836 = $10,836 ? 12 = $903~monthly super payment. $10,836 = $10,836 ? 52 = $208. 38~weekly super payment. Medicare: $120,400 – 1. 5% = $120,400 x 0. 015 = $1,806~yearly Medicare levee $1,806 = $1,806 ? 12 = $150. 5~monthly Medicare levee $1,806 = $1,806 ? 52 = $ 34. 73~weekly Medicare levee Net Income: $120,400 – $32,495 – $10,836 $1,806 =$75,263~yearly net income $75,263 = $75,263 ? 12 = $6,271. 9~monthly net income $75,263 $75,263 ? 52 = $1,447. 30~weekly income Expenses: Living The following rental prices are taken from multiple real estate websites, with the cheapest price as the main deciding factor. House Rentals| House #| Brisbane Prices| Address| Charleville Prices| Address| 1| $395| 8/53 Edward Street, Brisbane| $230| 169 Edward St| 2| $390| 21/204 Alice St, Brisbane| $200| 164 Galatea St| 3| $430| 460 Ann St, Brisbane| $165| 1/75 Galatea St| 4| $450| 5/204 Alice St, Brisbane| $165| 1/16 Sturt St| 5| $450| 1904/485 Adelaide St, Brisbane| $160| 7/16 Sturt St| Averages:| $423| $184| Recreational A steady amount of $150 will be deducted weekly from our overall income in order to pay for recreational activities, drinks, dinner, take-away etc. Health Insurance Health insurance is a necessity for anyone trying to save money, as it is a safety net if something is to go wrong, and medical attention is needed. Without this safety net, simple injuries such as broken bones may cost in the thousands of dollars, while serious injuries and surgeries will cost exponential amounts. For the best value and lowest price, as suggested by a comparison on iSelect. com. u, the best plan at our disposal will cost $75. 24 monthly, and cover the essentials. $75. 24~monthly health insurance $75. 24 x 12 = $902. 88~yearly health insurance $75. 24 ? 4 = $18. 81~weekly health insurance Part Five, Data Analysisamp; Comparison: Gas amp; Electricity P. A. As evidence from Switchwise. com. au suggests, an apartment style home in Brisbane with 1 bedroom amp; 1 resident average, will result in a n estimated yearly payment of $1646. This price can be altered however via an Origin energy yearly contract, which will lower this expense to $1554 p. . in a Brisbane residential apartment complex. $1,554 ? 52 = $29. 88~weekly energy/gas expenses $1,554 ? 12 = $129. 5~monthly energy/gas expenses In terms of country living, the annual cost of electricity for a house will cost $1520 at the bare minimum. $1,520 ? 52 = $29. 23~weekly energy/gas expenses $1,520 ? 12 = $126. 66~monthly energy/gas expenses Fuel With the aim of keeping this report simplified, the only fuel being analysed and recorded will be diesel. The price for diesel in Charleville, on the date of 13/5/13, is $1. 43 /L. While according to racq. com. au, the average price for diesel in Brisbane, over the course of April, was $1. 48 /L. This difference, although minimal, scales over time and will cause either substantial savings or losses over the course of say, 10 years working the same job amp; same average fuel usages. Transport To calculate the average transport expenses, the car at our disposal will be a Hyundai Santa Fe. The Santa Fe runs on diesel, and has an overall consumption of 7. 3litres/100km. This data divides into 0. 73litres/10km, and 0. 65/5km, to achieve more manageable sample sizes in order to accurately calculate the average weekly usage in both country amp; city environments. *Note: Multiple instances of the home – work drives are extremely minimal, and will therefore not be considered under fuel consumption, and merely an expense of time. Transport CONT: Diesel Consumption: House #| Kilometres| House 1| 1. 12| House 2| 1. 6| House 3| 0. 06| House 4/5| 0. 32| *miles -gt; ki lometre conversion = y X 1. 6 = z 164 Galatea St -gt; work = 0. 7miles X 1. 6 = 1. 12km 169 Edward St -gt; work = 1. 00miles X 1. = 1. 6km 71 Galatea St -gt; work = 0. 06km 16/9 amp; 16/7 Sturt St -gt; work = 0. 32km *Note: to yield an accurate fuel expense, the average distance of the five houses for both city and country will be used, and then a price for a round trip, over five times a week, plus a 20% fuel allowance for other travelling needs. Country: 1. 12km + 1. 6km = 2. 72km 2. 72 / 2 = 1. 36km 1. 36~travel distance home to work 1. 36 x 2 = 2. 72km 2. 72km x 5 = 13. 6km ~home to work amp; back, five days 13. 6 x 0. 20 = 2. 72km~fuel allowance, for other travelling needs 2. 72 + 13. 6 16. 32km~weekly travel distance 16. 32% of 100km, therefore 16. 32% of ($1. 43 x 7. 3L=$10. 43 (price for 100km worth of fuel)) $10. 43 10. 43 x 0. 1632 = $1. 70~weekly fuel expense House #| Km to work| House 1| 5. 44km| House 2| 5. 12km| House 3| 6. 72km| House 4/5| 7. 04km| City: *miles -gt; kilometre conversion = y X 1. 6 = z 53 Edward St -gt; work = 3. 4miles X 1. 6 = 5. 44km 21/204 amp; 5/204 Alice St -gt; work = 3. 2miles X 1. 6 = 5. 12km 460 Ann St -gt; work = 4. 2miles X 1. 6 = 6. 72km 485 Adelaide St -gt; work = 4. 4miles X 1. 6 = 7. 04km 5. 44 + 5. 12 + 6. 2 + 7. 04 = 24. 32 24. 32 / 4 = 6. 08km~average distance to work 6. 08 x 2 = 12. 16 12. 16 x 5 = 60. 8~home to work distance, five times per week 60. 8 x 0. 2 = 12. 16km~weekly fuel allowance 60. 8 + 12. 16 = 72. 96km~weekly fuel consumption 72. 96km = 72. 96% of 100km 72. 96% of ($1. 43 x 7. 3L=$10. 43 (price for 100km worth of fuel)) $10. 43 10. 43 x 0. 7296 = $7. 60~weekly fuel expense Grocery Essentials *The following are the prices of food essentials at the lowest offered price in their respective stores and locations, without factoring in any limited special offers.

Herman Melvilles Billy Budd - Captain Vere was Correct :: Herman Melville Billy Budd Essays

Captain Vere was Correct in Billy Budd Captain Vere makes the correct decision by executing Billy Budd. If CaptainVere lets Billy live the rest of the crew might get the impression that they will not be held accountable for their crimes. If the crew feels that they can get away with what ever they want then there is a chance that they might form a rebellion and have a mutiny. A mutiny would destroy the stability and good name of the ship and the crew. Captain Vere does not want to see this happen. There are three main reasons Captain Vere makes the right decision by executing Billy Budd. These reasons are that if Billy lives then a mutiny might occur, because the law states that a crime as severe as Billy's is punishable by death, and Captain Vere feels sorry for Billy and does not want Billy to suffer with guilt until a martial court could give a decision. If Billy is not executed then corruption might occur on the ship and cause a mutiny. Captain Vere knows that a mutiny might occur and does not want it to happen. Captain Vere could possibly be using Billy's execution for his crime of killing Claggart as an example for the rest of the crew. It shows the crew what will happen to them if they try to start a mutiny. After Billy's death CaptainVere obviously feels regret for executing Billy. Captain Vere's last words are "Billy Budd, Billy Budd" (p. 76) show an example of this. Those last words might symbolize that Captain Vere killed Billy for the wrong reasons. If CaptainVere uses Billy's death for an example to the rest of the crew then it might not necessarily be the wrong reason. CaptainVere has to decide between one life and the lives of the entire crew. No matter what Captain Vere's reasons are he does make the right decision. Another reason CaptainVere might of executed Billy Budd is because CaptainVere follows the law to the letter. The law states that mutiny is punishable to by death. Some readers might not see this accidental murder as mutiny, but killing a superior officer in the British navy is considered mutiny.

Explication of “a Birthday Present” by Sylvia Plath

George B 11/18/11 Explication of â€Å"A Birthday Present† by Sylvia Plath For many readers, the draw of Sylvia Plath’s poetry is distinctly linked to her life as well as the desire to end her life. As Robert Lowell states in the forward of Ariel, â€Å"This poetry and life are not a career; they tell that a life, even when disciplined, is simply not worth it† (xv). â€Å"A Birthday Present†`, written by Plath in September of 1962 and hauntingly recorded in her own voice on audio in October of that same year, is just one of the many poems that comprise the collection titled Ariel.Its allusion to suicide is unmistakable. Its main theme is the escape from life that death provides. Plath’s life as well as her desire to end it is well documented, primarily because she has chosen to record her tormented existence in her prose and poetry. M. D. Uroff states, â€Å". . . she put the speaker herself at the center of her poems in such a way as to make her p sychological vulnerability and shame an embodiment of her civilization . . . we should reconsider the nature of the speaker in Plath’s poems, her relationship to the poet, and the extent to which the poems are confessional† (104).The novel, The Bell Jar, chronicles her college years and first attempt at suicide, and her poetry, primarily in the collection in Ariel, provides glimpses into her state of mind. She interjects herself into her work so deeply that it is unmistakable that the speaker in the poetry is Plath herself. With that firmly in mind, explicating this poem becomes a quest into the months that preceded her taking her own life on February 11th 1963. A symbol used in the poem â€Å"A Birthday Present† is the veil: The veil and what it may conceal is a theme that permeates the poem in multiple forms.In line 1 when the speaker says, â€Å"What is this, behind this veil, is it ugly, is it beautiful? † The speaker continues in the successive lines to question not only what it is but for whom it is for. In line 16, â€Å"Now there are veils, shimmering like curtains† and in lines 17 and 18 veils are compared to the light translucent material that covered the kitchen window as well as the misty air in January one would imagine she saw from her flat in England. And once again in lines 55-57 when she says â€Å"Only let down the veil, the veil, the veil.If it were death I would admire the deep gravity of it, its timeless eyes. † Here she wants to let down the veil and face it head on, and in the case of death, embrace it. This is certainly not the first time that the speaker has entertained the notion of ending her life. The speaker mentions in line 13 and 14 that she does not want a present as she is only alive by accident and in line 15, â€Å"I would have killed myself gladly that time any possible way. † Plath herself had a botched suicide attempt in her past that she used as a plot point in her novel, Th e Bell Jar.Biographer Caitriona O ‘Reilly chronicles the incident in 1953 after Plath finished a guest editorship at Mademoiselle in New York City. After prescription sleeping pills and Electroconvulsive therapy to combat depression, Plath attempted suicide through an overdose of sleeping pills (356). The accident, as the speaker refers to it, directly relates to the fact that she was found alive and nursed back to health: at least physically. There is also an aspect of what is expected from society of the speaker of the poem.Women in the 1950’s were expected to get married and procreate, not getting seriously interested in education and careers. These things would prevent a woman from leading a happy and normal feminine life (Bennett 103). Bennett also speaks of this, â€Å"Like most women in the 1950s†¦ Sylvia Plath appears to have accepted the basic assumptions of this doctrine or ideology even though she knew that in many respects they ran counter to the sprin gs of her own nature†Ã‚  (103). This certainly flew in the face of what Sylvia Plath was about.The speaker in the poem seems to lament this in lines 7 and 8, â€Å"Measuring the flour, cutting off the surplus, / adhering to rules, to rules, to rules. † Likewise, â€Å"Is this one for the annunciation? / My God, what a laugh† (9-10). Certainly, the ideals of society put forth in these lines, a woman’s place is in the kitchen and the comparison to the virgin birth of Christ, are an impossibility for an educated and tormented Plath. The speaker seems to have no other choice than ending the suffering.In the poem, there is a conflict concerning the end of the speaker’s life. In lines 21-26 the speaker is in essence asking for the relief of death and references the religious theme of the last supper in line 26, â€Å"Let us eat our last supper at it, like a hospital plate. † Line 27-29 states the problem with the present that is wanted, â€Å"I kn ow why you will not give it to me, / You are terrified/ the world will go up in a shriek, and your head with it,†. The speaker continues to lobby for relief, â€Å"I will only take it and go quietly. You will not even hear me open it, no paper crackle, / No falling ribbons, no scream at the end. / I do not think you credit me with this discretion† (Lines 33-36). The shame attached to suicide is overwhelming, not necessarily for the victim but those left to deal with societal pressures associated with it. The speaker seems to take this into account as she contemplates the act; it is more important that those left behind are unscathed than the torture that the speaker is going through. Discretion is more important than directly confronting the underlying problems.Finally, the speaker appeals to the giver’s sense of duty when she describes how her death has been occurring incrementally but not nearly as quickly as she would like. The use of words like motes (small p articles, like the dust particles that can be seen floating in the sunlight) and carbon monoxide (deadly despite being undetectable by smell or sight) described as sweetly breathable in the lines 37-43 are used to show how the speaker has suffered for years from invisible or nearly invisible things for quite a long time: â€Å"To you they are only transparencies, clear air,† (Line 37). Let it not come by word of mouth, I should be sixty/ By the time the whole of it was delivered, and to numb to use it† (Lines 53-54). The speaker is frustrated by the gift bearer insistence that death come slowly; the speaker cannot wait that long. â€Å"A Birthday Present† essentially reads like a suicide note trying to reassure those left behind that death is really a grand relief. Lowell elegantly sums it up: Suicide, father-hatred, self-loathing—nothing is too much for the macabre gaiety of her control.Yet it is too much; her art’s immortality is life’s deg radation. The surprise, the shimmering, unwrapped birthday present, the transcendence â€Å"into the red eye, the cauldron of morning,† and the lover, who are always waiting for her, are death, her own abrupt and defiant death (Forward xiv). Defiant in death as she was in life, one can only hope that Plath has found what she was missing.Works Cited Bennett, Paula. My Life A Loaded Gun, Female Creativity and Feminist Poetics. Boston: Beacon Press, 1986. Lowell, Robert. â€Å"Foreword. †Ã‚  Ariel. New York: First Perennial Classics, 1999. xiii-xvi. Print. O ‘Reilly, Caitriona. â€Å"Sylvia Plath. † N. p. , n. d. Web. 10 Nov. 2011. ;lt;http://www. us. oup. com/us/pdf/americanlit/plath. pdf;gt;. Plath, Sylvia. â€Å"A Birthday Present. †Ã‚  Ariel. New York: First Perennial Classics, 1999. 48-51. Print. Uroff, M. D.. â€Å"Sylvia Plath and Confessional Poetry: a Reconsideration. †Ã‚  The Iowa Review  8. 1 (1977): 104-115. JStor. Web. 16 Nov. 201 1. ;lt;http://www. jstor. org/stable/20158710;gt;.