Sunday, November 10, 2019

Worship of Nature

The Worship of Nature John Greenleaf Whittier, famous poet in the ninetieth century, has shown throughout the poem, The Worship of Nature, a splendid explanation of how the natural world relates to us in both a physical and a spiritual sense. A spiritual sense that the word â€Å"Worship† deals with the ideal belief that there is or was something in which created all things. Also, society and order can be compared to nature in such a way that nature is everything that is, was, or will be created. Within the rhyme scheme of the Shakespearian sonnet, John Greenleaf Whittier has focused this poem under the theme of Creator and his Creation. Beginning his first stanza with: â€Å"HE harp at Nature’s advent strung† (Nature line 1), Whittier emphasizes â€Å"HE† in which it represents God harp or sculpting â€Å"Nature. † In this sense, Nature represents God’s creations. As you progress farther through the poem some common elements of nature for example: life, death, water, earth, fire, and air. The ocean looketh up to the heaven, / And mirrors every star† (Nature line 7-8). These lines implies that mimicking others is a waist because it impossible for a copy which mirrors another to become the original. Combining God’s creations and mimicking others, John Greenleaf Whittier sets a tone of holy and sanctifying. John Greenleaf Whittier uses the Shakespearian sonnet to his advantage by staging the first two lines into a cause and the la tter into an effect. It may be easiest to relate this theory to the last stanza. Music is a reoccurring component of this poem that refers back to the first stanza about God being the creator playing a harp making a beautiful symphony for all of his creations. Whittier has a very strange order in his poem but it makes sense at the end when he relay all together by implying that everything takes it own course and continues to move forward since the beginning of time which is eternity when talking about God. To put it briefly, John Greenleaf Whittier wants us understand that we must not live others lives, be ourselves and prosperous.

Friday, November 8, 2019

How to Make Sure You Buy the Best Magnifier

How to Make Sure You Buy the Best Magnifier After you get a rock hammer- maybe even before- youll need a magnifier. The big Sherlock Holmes type lens is a clichà ©; instead, you want a lightweight, powerful magnifier (also called a loupe) that has impeccable optics and is easy to use. Get the best magnifier for demanding jobs like inspecting gemstones and crystals; in the field, for quick looks at minerals, buy a decent magnifier you can afford to lose. Using a Magnifier Hold the lens up next to your eye, then bring your specimen close to it, only a few centimeters from your face. The point is to focus your attention through the lens, the same way you look through eyeglasses. If you normally wear glasses, you may want to keep them on. A magnifier wont correct for astigmatism. How Many X? The X factor of a magnifier refers to how much it magnifies. Sherlocks magnifying glass makes things look 2 or 3 times bigger; that is, its 2x or 3x. Geologists like to have 5x to 10x, but more than that is hard to use in the field because the lenses are very small. 5x or 7x lenses offer a wider field of vision, while a 10x magnifier gives you the closest look at tiny crystals, trace minerals, grain surfaces, and microfossils. Magnifier Flaws to Watch for Check the lens for scratches. Set the magnifier on a piece of white paper and see if the lens adds color of its own. Now pick it up and examine several objects, including one with a fine pattern like a halftone picture. The view through the lens should be clear as air with no internal reflections. Highlights should be crisp and brilliant, with no colored fringes (that is, the lens should be achromatic). A flat object should not look warped or buckled- move it to and fro to be sure. A magnifier should not be loosely put together. Magnifier Bonuses Given the same X factor, a larger lens is better. A ring or loop to attach a lanyard is a good thing; so is a leather or plastic case. A lens held with a removable retaining ring can be taken out for cleaning. And a brand name on the magnifier, while not always a guarantee of quality, means you can contact the manufacturer. Doublet, Triplet, Coddington Good lensmakers combine two or three pieces of glass to correct for chromatic aberration- what gives an image blurred, colored fringes. Doublets can be quite satisfactory, but the triplet is the gold standard. Coddington lenses employ a deep cut inside the solid glass, using an air gap to create the same effect as a triplet. Being solid glass, they cannot ever come apart- a consideration if you get wet a lot.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Reflection on Three Critical Incidents in Practice The WritePass Journal

Reflection on Three Critical Incidents in Practice Introduction Reflection on Three Critical Incidents in Practice ). These meetings were important since it helped me clearly identify the problems of my service user and reflect on the best solution for his circumstances. I also felt on our meetings that I was allowed to critically thing through the problem and create a solution that is feasible for the client and my team. Incident Two Description of Incident A social care assessment was completed for a service user who underwent hip replacement after suffering from a fall at his home. After careful consideration, the team decided to transfer the patient from the hospital to a step down bed to allow for mobility rehabilitation. A physiotherapist completed a home visit to ascertain the type and level of support that the service user will need. The aim of the team is to restore normal living and independence for the patient as soon as possible. However, the physiotherapist reported that the service user’s home was unfit for habitation. There was no heating and a side lamp in the lounge remains as the only source of light. The house was filthy with black trash bags strewn in the kitchen. There was no food in the refrigerator. The house smelled of urine with the bed covers looking visibly soiled while the toilet also needs plumbing. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE, 2013) guideline for fall prevention has emphasised the need to assess the conditions of the home and make changes to facilitate easier mobility of the service user. As the environment is physically adjusted to the needs of the patient, this will prevent recurrent falls and will help improve mobilisation of the patient (NICE, 2013). On analysis, the patient was living alone and had difficulty maintaining the cleanliness of his home prior to his fall. This would suggest the need for assistance in the activities of his daily living. Although the patient refused any help, health and social care workers can act on the best interest of the patient and make changes on the patient’s home to make it safe and liveable (Glasby et al., 2008). The NICE (2013) guideline also states that home hazard assessment should be performed to allow safety interventions and home modifications. Consistent with the experience of the service use r of this incident, the home assessment was part of discharge planning. In addition, the NICE (2013) guideline emphasises that home modifications should be carried out within the agreed time frame between the patient and appropriate members of the healthcare team. However, it should be noted that home hazard assessment is not effective when follow-up and interventions are not introduced. The physical modification of the house alone is also not effective in preventing a recurrent fall. House modification should be supported with appropriate interventions for the patient. Critical Care Incident The service user is only allowed to stay for six weeks at the rehabilitation unit.   Since the house needs repair and deep cleaning, there would be not enough time for the service user to move to his house after his discharge. The service user also refused to have carers since he feels that he is capable of taking care of himself. He explicitly stated that he does not want additional support to assist him with activities for daily living (ADL) and made a verbal request to the rehabilitation team to help him return to his home. For this particular case, the critical care incident involves respecting the wishes of the patient or acting on the best interest of the patient. As a qualified worker, I have to convince the patient that he could not immediately return to independent living since his house has to be repaired. In the meantime, we have to find a suitable place for him to stay before he can go home. Since the patient was adamant in returning home, I have to decide between actin g on the best interest of the patient or respecting patient autonomy. This means, I either have to follow the patient’s wishes of returning him to his home even if it is still not fit for his condition or convincing him to stay in a temporary shelter. I consider this as an incident since social care workers should respect patient autonomy. However, this is difficult to follow especially if respecting the patient’s autonomy would not be for his best interest. On reflection, I began to question how I offered support to the patient after he expressed that he wants to go home after attending the six-weeks rehabilitation. It is understandable that patients who suffer from a fall do not want to be a burden to others. The NICE (2013) guideline notes that patients do not want to become an added burden to the staff when they want to ask help for mobilisation. On the other hand, I also have to inform the patient about his condition and why he needs to return to a home that is clean and modified for his needs. Hence, there is a need to introduce multidisciplinary management when caring for patients who have undergone hip fracture surgery. For instance, the NICE (2011) guideline for hip fracture expresses that a patient should be involved in a hip fracture programme that addresses all his health needs. Specifically, the guideline states that multidisciplinary teams should aim for recovery of mobility, functions and independence. The same guideline also reiterates that multidisciplinary teams should enable return of service users or patients to their residence and ensure the long-term wellbeing of this group. On analysis, our multidisciplinary team is following measures to ensure that the service user will return to a home that is safe and modified for his needs. This reflects values and ethics, one of the 9 PCF domains. The value of patient safety and ethics when caring for patients are demonstrated in our actions of helping the patient return to a safe environment following his discharge from the rehabilitation unit. Changing Awareness I had to consider the best interest of my patient even if he insists on returning to his home immediately after his discharge from the rehabilitation unit. Barrett et al. (2005) express that social care workers should always place the safety and best interest of the service user when deciding on appropriate interventions for the patient. This is consistent with the ethical principle of non-maleficence and beneficence (Runciman and Merry, 2012). The primary role of social care workers is to do no harm. Since the patient refused to receive additional support for ADL, I am aware that returning him to an unmodified home will increase the risk of recurrent fall. Although the patient was deemed as having the capacity to perform the activities of daily living, I felt that his current house is unsafe. Adding a challenge to the service user’s case was his refusal to have a carer to look after his needs and assist him with daily living. As noted previously, patients want to feel that they are still needed and they still have the capacity to perform ADL (NICE, 2011). Surrendering one’s independence to a carer is perceived as demeaning and also depressing (NICE, 2011). Hence, I sought the manager’s approval to transfer the service user to a residential home temporarily until his house has been deep cleaned and modified. On analysis, patient-centred care is important to improve patient satisfaction and increase adherence to a care plan. However, there are cases where social care workers have to intervene in the best interest of a patient (Collins, 2009a). This case exemplifies this exception and shows the influence of social car e workers in making meaningful decisions for the health and wellbeing of services users. Incident Three Description of the event I completed a social care assessment for an elderly female patient who suffered from a fall in her home. She was transferred to the rehabilitation care home following her admission from the hospital. Healthcare team members recommend the restarting of the previous care package and increasing the package. On the completion of my assessment, my recommendations were identical to that of the healthcare professionals in my team. I recommend increasing the care package since the service user is experiencing poor health and has difficulty eating independently. The patient and her family members were very reluctant to accept the additions to the care package. Family members contacted my team and arranged a meeting with all health professionals involved in the care of the patient. The purpose of the meeting was to determine the type of support that the service user needs and to identify any additions in her care package. During the case conference, health and social care professionals explained why the patient needs modifications in her home and a carer to assist her in her ADL. For instance, it was explained to the family why the service user will need a stair lift and a pendant alarm. Additionally, the health and social care team agreed with my recommendations to provide the patient with support in preparing meals, intake of medications and personal hygiene. Although the family was apprehensive about the additional cost, they finally agreed to the increase. Critical Care Incident The service user was very reluctant to return to her home after a consultation was made on why her care package will be increased from two calls to four calls per day. She was also informed to hire one carer to support her needs and to assist her with ADL. Considering the cost implications of an added carer and increasing the number of calls each day, the service user declined the addition in the care package. The critical care incident in this case is the need to convince the patient that she needs the additions to her care package. This became a dilemma since this request entails that the patient and family members will have to make out-of-pocket expenditures. This could mean an added burden to the care of the patient. To convince my patient, I have to consider my knowledge on elderly care after hip surgery. This means I should give sufficient information about her condition and why she needs the additions to her care package. Since I am practicing patient-centred care, I gently reasoned out with the patient why she needs a carer once she returns home. The Department of Health (2008) reiterate that the patient should be involved in healthcare decision-making about their care and discharge. While I recognise the service user’s rights to refuse treatment, one should also consider that social care workers have to work in the best interest of their patients. Hence, I tried to convince the patient that she needs an addition to her care package to ensure that she is safe in her home and receives adequate nutritional support. I used my knowledge in elderly malnutrition in informing the patient why she needs an addition to her care. For example, I informed her that since she is an elderly, she is at risk of malnutrition compared to the general population. Malnutrition in the elderly is defined as a basal metabolic index (BMI) of 18.5 (Harris and Hboubi, 2005). This condition could be corrected with appropriate diet, nutrition and support (Harris and Hboubi, 2005). Further, malnutrition is a significant deterrent to optimal health and wellbeing (Age UK, 2010). Patients recover slowly or not at all when they are suffering from malnutrition. Hence, it is important to address malnutrition at this stage. Apart from malnutrition, there is also the issue of adherence to medications. There is evidence that adherence to medications might not be high amongst elderly patients (Maclaughlin et al., 2005). It is suggested that cognitive functions of this group are in decline. Hence, there is a need to introduce medicati on prompts to remind patients when to take their medications. Since the patient remains undecided after our consultation, I asked her to confide to her family and seek their advice. Engagement of family members in the treatment and care of patients has been shown to be effective in improving health outcomes (Glasby et al., 2008). One of the reasons for this effect is that family members are more committed to improving health outcomes of patients. Changing Awareness This incident helped me understood the domains of rights, justice and economic well-being in the PCF. It is the right of all service users to receive equitable care (Department of Health, 2008). Justice is not satisfied when service users do not receive equal access to healthcare services. However, the economic well-being of the patients should also be taken into account when recommending additions to care packages. It should not become an added burden to a family who might have suffered from financial difficulties as a result of the patient’s illness. It was evident from the case that the family has difficulty supporting the service user. The cost implication of an addition in care package could act as a deterrent to access in health services. For instance, the family of the service user was initially reluctant to support the addition to the patient’s care package due to its cost implications. While support from social care services is available for different groups of service users, financial support is limited. Hence, this could be an important deterrent to care. In my future practice, I should ensure that al additions to a patient’s care package should be well justified, especially if the NHS does not cover these additions. For my professional development, I should always act on the best interest of the patient in ensuring that care is cost-effective and does not require patients and their family members to make out-of-pocket expenditures. On reflection, the incident was a learning experience since I need to be more acquainted on the economics of care. I evaluated my actions after arriving at the deci sion to request for additions to the care package and discovered that I was acting on the best interest of the patient. I learned that as a social care worker, I should always be an advocate for the patient. In my future practice, I will follow the same actions I made for this case. I will improve my communication skills with my patients to help them feel that I empathise with them and only wants the best care for them. Conclusion The three incidents presented in this brief illustrate the importance of patient-centred care when providing support for service users. Lessons from these incidents could be used to improve my current practise. Specifically, there is a need to communicate effectively with team members to ensure optimal and quality care of the patients. In incident one, I learned the importance of exercising my leadership and professionalism when acting on behalf of the best interest of the patient. I also learned the importance of facilitating normalisation and independence amongst my service users. Maintaining their independence would help improve their self-worth. In incident two, the values of patient safety and independence were exemplified. A home hazard assessment will improve patient safety since homes will be modified to suit the needs of the patient. In incident three, I learned to empathise with patients and to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of additions in care packages. Although the pati ent’s family was reluctant to spend for additions in care packages, the family eventually agreed to these additions. This reflective brief shows that a holistic approach should be made when addressing the needs of services users. This approach would view the issues of a patient’s case based on the social, environmental and political contexts. In this brief, health policies in the UK and NICE guidelines were used to support the discussions in this brief. The NICE guidelines serve as an important resource for information on how to manage patients with different health conditions. Social care workers could collaborate with inter-agencies to ensure that quality care is provided for each service user. As part of my professional development plan, I will continue to seek for opportunities to work with other professionals and practice positive communication. I also learned that I should respect the wishes of the service users and facilitate their independence and promote return to normal activities. I also learned that allowing my service users to regain their independence, their self-worth will increase and they will become more empowered. I also have to show empathy when addressing the needs of my patients, especially if they are concerned about the additional financial costs of additions in their care packages. Reflection has allowed me to become a better social care worker. In my future practice, I will use the lessons learned from the incidents to improve care for my service users References Age UK (2010) Seven Steps to end malnutrition, London: Age UK. Barrett, G., Sellman, D. Thomas, J. (2005) Interprofessional working in health and social care: Professional perspectives, London: Palgrave Macmillan. Carpenter, J., Webb, C., Bostock, K. Coomber, C. (2012) SCIE Research briefing 43: Effective supervision in social work and social care [Online]. Available from: scie.org.uk/publications/briefings/briefing43/ (Accessed: 12th December, 2013). Clouston, T. Westcott, L. (2005) Working in health and social care: an introduction for allied health professionals, London: Elsevier Health Sciences. Collins, S. (2009a) Effective communication: A workbook for social care workers, London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Collins, S. (2009b) Reflecting on and developing your practice: A workbook for social care workers, London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Department of Health (2008) Our Health, our care, our say: A new direction for community services, London: Department of Health. Fan, C. (2011) ‘Factors associated with care burden and quality of life among caregivers of the mentally ill in Chinese society’, International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 57(2), pp. 195-206. Glasby, J., Dickinson, H. Community Care (2008) Partnership working in health and social care, London: Policy Press. Gordon, C., Wilks, R. McCaw-Binns, A. (2013) ‘Effect of aerobic exercise (walking) training on functional status and health-related quality of life in chronic stroke survivors: a randomised controlled trial’, Stroke, 44(4), pp. 1179-1181. Harris, D. Haboubi, N. (2005) ‘Malnutrition screening in the elderly population’, Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 98(9), pp. 411-414. Jasper, M. (2006) Professional development, reflection and decision-making, Oxford: Oxford University Press. Jones, L. (2010) Reflective practice in nursing, Exeter: Learning Matters Ltd. Langhorne, P., Bernhardt, J., Kwakkel, G. (2011) ‘Stroke rehabilitation’, The Lancet, 377(9778), pp. 1693-1702. Maclaughlin, E., Raehl, C., Treadway, A., Sterling, T., Zoller, D. Bond, C. (2005) ‘Assessing medication adherence in the elderly: which tools to use in clinical practice?’, Drugs Aging, 22(3), pp. 231-2455. McCullagh, E., Brigstocke, G., Donaldson, N. Kaira, L. (2005) ‘Determinants of caregiving burden and quality of life in caregivers of stroke patients’, Stroke, 36, pp. 2181-2186. NICE (2013) Falls: The assessment and prevention of falls in older people, London: NICE. NICE (2011) Hip fracture: The management of hip fracture in adults, London: NICE. NICE (2008) Stroke: the diagnosis and acute management of stroke and transient iscahemic attacks, London: NICE. Peck, E., Dickinson, H. Community Care (2008) Managing and leading in inter-agency settings, London: Policy Press in association with Community Care. Pollard, K., Thomas, J. Miers, M. (2010) Understanding interprofessional working in health and social care: Theory and Practice, London: Palgrave Macmillan Limited. Rimmer, J. Wang, E. (2005) ‘Aerobic exercise training in stroke survivors’,  Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation,  12(1), pp. 17-30. Runciman, B. Merry, A. (2012) Safety and ethics in healthcare: A guide to getting it right, London: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. Taylor, B. (2006) Reflective practice: A guide for nurses and midwives, Maidenhead: Open University Press. The College of Social Work (2013) Professional Capabilities Framework [Online]. Available from: tcsw.org.uk/uploadedFiles/PCFDomainsNOV.pdf (Accessed: 2nd December, 2013).

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Choose any topic Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Choose any topic - Assignment Example For instance, president Obama, while asking Congress to vote on his decision to act on the use of chemical weapons by Assad in Syria, manifests the truth in the statement that might is right. President Obama seeks to act on the situation simply because it poses a threat to its national security and of ‘friends’. This action will be in violation of international law that only allows the Security Council to sanction recourse to war. The President downplays the role of the UN in the matter and does not wait for its decision. From this action, it can be inferred that mighty nations can do as they wish without feeling bound by international laws. Ironically, the president states in his speech that right creates might while doing exactly the opposite. In a similar vein, former president Bush went on with pre-emptive war in Iraq even though the issue was before the UN. The reason put forward were that Iraq posed a threat to the national security of the US. This opinion fuelled the policy of the US to attack their enemies before the enemies attacked US. Similarly, Bush unilaterally decided that Iran with Nuclear weapons would be a great threat to world security. This misplaced notion that the US has the responsibility to bring change or protect the world could only stem on the operationalization of might is right. To sum it up, Kimen Valaskaki states in his article that whatever interpretation is given to pre-emptive actions leans towards the wrong assertion of the might is right concept at the expense of the weaker nations. It is indeed true that might is right is a reality in the present

Friday, November 1, 2019

Define the utility of Katharine Kolcabas Comfort theory for Essay

Define the utility of Katharine Kolcabas Comfort theory for application to clinical practice using an actual clinical problem you observed - Essay Example This meeting of needs may be addressed physically, socioculturally, psychospiritually or environmentally. Whatever the means adopted, the ultimate aim is to reduce the discomfort of the patient which is perhaps the primary goal of any nursing care activity. Although it may be impossible to utilize all contexts (physical, psychospiritual, sociocultural or environmental) simultaneously; there is yet the possibility of utilizing the maximum modes possible, all aim at reducing discomfort while enhancing the feeling of comfort (Sitzman & Eichelberger, 2011). In my opinion, one of the main problems that are encountered in the clinical setting on frequent basis is the care of patients having impaired integrity of skin, especially those patients who are unable to move on their own and are therefore immobilized to a variable extent. This group of patients comprises a special population who are destined towards a slow decline in their health status if appropriate measures are not taken during the early stages of their illness. As skin is the main barrier between the external and internal environment of the body, any defect in this barrier is likely to expose the individual to a variety of pathogens that can not only infect the dermatological tissue, but also invade the body, affect other organs and destroy the homeostasis of the body ultimately resulting in an unfavorable outcome (Freinkel & Woodley, 2001). A gravely uncomfortable consequence of impaired skin integrity is seen in the form of development of pressure-sores in patients are immobilized for extended periods of time. These lesions result due to the presence of persistent pressure on certain areas of the body and can ultimately contribute towards the fatality of the disease for which a patient is under treatment. The intervention designed for the chosen problem includes a number of measures that are collectively

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Impact of Globalization on General Motors Essay

Impact of Globalization on General Motors - Essay Example These include simplifying the process where possible, finding cheaper but high quality material to help with the manufacturing process (Reader 2006, p.7). Additionally the company believes that innovative technology will help it attain better production hence increasing output but the question is how globalisation in the automotive industry affects GM. Globalisation is a double-edged sword that cuts both ways in this case it has both the positive and the negative impact on any industry. However, the degree of managing these effects determines the success or failure of a company in a particular industry. When examining the effects of globalisation in a company for instance GM, we have to look at all the department, branches, plants and any subsidiaries of the company. The reason for this is that globalisation is a multifaceted phenomenon. For instance, we have to look at how globalisation has affected GM employees, the production process, the marketing aspect, the information technolo gy aspect and the management aspect (Alias 2008, p.10). The complexity of the automotive industry demands that the company should effectively deal with the impact of globalisation because if the competitors are able to deal with it more effectively than the GM then this can be catastrophic or detrimental to both the company image and the market. The world is moving towards becoming a global village hence having a very fast rate of globalisation. As a result, companies should strategise and gear up for this cause to avoid eradication due to drastic changes. However, in dealing with the effects of globalisation on the GM it is important to separate all the sections and critically examining them individually ratherthat having a... The paper tells that increased globalisation has led to increased competition in the automotive industry with registration of new entrants who have better ways of manufacturing and production of vehicles. However, one of the biggest competitors to GM is the Japanese company Toyota manufacturing durable and affordable vehicles. Additionally, due to the persistent hard economic times more and more people are opting to buy fuel-efficient vehicle and vehicles whose spare parts are easily available. The Toyota Company has managed to tap into this market both locally and globally hence giving GM very stiff competition. Additionally, due to globalisation vehicles are becoming cheaper hence reducing the profit margin of GM. Because of this, it forces the company to seek ways of cutting down costs in order to increase the profit margin because they cannot increase the prices due to the demand and supply forces of the market. Globalisation has also made information readily available to consume rs in the market. Additionally, the introduction of ecommerce solution has also cut down on the cost of business transactions. Customers are now able to purchase vehicles from another counter through the internet and go through all the relevant processes that will enable him or her get the vehicle at his or her disposal. GM has to deal with these globalisation effects in order to stay afloat in business. The distance between countries is closing up very fast due to the development of efficient ways of transportation and business transactions are becoming easier due to the technological development.

Monday, October 28, 2019

The Darkness Out There Essay Example for Free

The Darkness Out There Essay In this essay I am going to compare the differences and similarities between, the opening chapter of a nineteenth century novel called Great Expectations written by Charles Dickens, and a modern short story called The Darkness Out There written by Penelope Lively.  Great Expectations is a child-hood memory, told by an adult. The story is about a young orphan called Pip, who lived with his sister, and his brother in law who is the towns blacksmith. Pip does a good deed one night for a convict who has escaped prison. This is not mentioned after a while in the story. Pip then finds out that he has a benefactor who has left him a large sum of money to live with in the capital city, London. Pip wished to be a gentlemen when he was young, the benefactor helped make this wish come true. Whilst living in London Pip begins to forget his roots and look down upon people who are of lower status to him. Later on in the novel Pip discovers that his secret benefactor is the convict he helped when he was a youth. The Darkness Out There is about a young girl called Sandra who has high hopes for her future; in the story Sandra joins a club, which helps the elderly in her community. She and another boy meet an old woman called Mrs. Rutter who lives in a small cottage near a place called; Packers End. In the story Sandra finds out many things about Mrs. Rutter, which is in contrast to her outward appearance. In the story Sandra and her friend discovers many secrets about her life as a young woman during the war. Sandra later teaches herself a lesson; not to judge people by their appearance or how they treat you. The setting in the opening paragraphs of Great Expectations is in a graveyard; bleak place overgrown with nettles was the churchyard it is a dark and isolated flat wilderness. The setting reflects how Pip is feeling; he is very cold and in a highly emotional state. And that the small bundle of shivers growing afraid of it all and beginning to cry, was Pip. The story The Darkness Out There opens with a sunny pleasant setting; she walked through flowers, the girl, ox-eye daises and vetch and cow parsley, keeping to the track at the sedge of the field, this is in contrast to the title, which involves darkness. Packers End, is where most of is told, is also in contrast to the bright sunny opening setting; The dark reach of spinney came right to the gate there so that she would have to walk by the edge Sandra is afraid of Packers End; You didnt go by yourself through Packers End if you could help it, not after tea-time, anyway. Many rumours were told about Packers End. When Sandra was young she believed that Witches and wolves and tigers. Sometimes theyd go there for a dare. As a child she grew afraid of Packers End. As she got older the rumours changed to ghosts of German pilots who were left there to die! She wouldnt go there for a thousand pounds. Pip is a young orphan who is living with his sister and brother-in-law; both his parents have died they died was Pip was a very young child. We know this because Pip does not know what his parents look like so he constantly visits their graves. His sister does not speak about their parents, maybe because she thinks he is too young. Pip is in search of his identity. Pip was small for his age; though I was at that time under-sized, for my years, and not strong. When Pip is in the graveyard he feels like as if he is spiritually with his entire family; which is maybe why he is at the graveyard a lot, but knowing they have passed away. Pip has a very vast or vivid imagination; we know this when he tries to picture his parents by looking at the way the names are carved out on the gravestones. To show that he gave a lot of respect to his elders, he spoke to the convict using the word sir. Pip was a brave character, because he keeps his word with the convict and also swears an oath. In the opening paragraphs Pip was very vulnerable the small bundle of shivers growing afraid of it all and beginning to cry, was Pip. The convicts character is very aggressive; his opening line is a command. Hold your noise! Cried a terrible voice, as a man started up from among the graves at the side of the church porch. He was also in hiding before he made his appearance; he could have been watching him all along! The convict also threatens him, keep still, you little devil, or Ill cut your throat! He continues to talk aggressively. The convict has continuously threatened Pip but has never harmed him. Then later on he learns that Pip has no parents. Pip is very little compared to the convict. Near the end the convicts finds out that Pips brother-in-law is the village blacksmith, so he orders Pip to get him some food (wittles) and a file he intimidated him to do so by tilting him after each command and then at the end he threatened him by saying; Or Ill have your heart and liver out. The convict reinforces his threats by involving another man which he says is worse than him, he says that he is finding it difficult from keeping the man away from Pip. Near the end of the novel we find out the Pips benefactor is the convict himself.