Cultural Confusion in Moses Ascending essays

Cultural Confusion in Moses Ascending essays While Moses Ascending takes place in a tumultuous historical time period the books main focus seems to be on internal divisions within the main character. It traces the transition of Moses from an apathetic recluse to a man determined to claim his identity and his ascendancy in a hostile world. This transition is the product of the clash of cultural worlds within this book and the changes in Moses as a person and as a writer are a byproduct of this conflict. The Moses of the beginning of the novel is a character who is struggling with a sense of broken identity. His life is a strange dichotomy where he enjoys the economic privileges of a white man but is susceptible to the prejudices common toward black men. He is the epitome of Braithwaites false dream Tall, with slow dignity/(so goes the saying/so went the dream. (103) Even with the economic status of a white man and further privileges such as employing a white right hand man who is basically a servant, Moses initial ascendancy is illusionary. As we see with Moses false imprisonment and his lack of knowledge about the illiteracy of Bobbie, Moses understanding of himself and those around him is not the same as the reality of the outside world. These illusions crumble throughout the novel as Moses self-imposed isolation is harbored by the influx of the real world. Moses attempts to break all cultural ties in order to have the peace he feels he needs to write his Opus. However this peace is disturbed by a black power movement in his very basement. Moses had wanted to live the end of his life free of drama. But by both force and coercion he is drawn into a world that makes him question his own complacency with his condition and the condition of the world. Progressively throughout the novel Moses realized that through his seclusion from his own heritage he had limited both the scope of his memoirs and his own develop...

2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry - Molecular Machines

2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry - Molecular Machines The 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry is awarded to Jean-Pierre Sauvage (University of Strasbourg, France), Sir J. Fraser Stoddart (Northwestern Univeristy, Illinois, USA), and Bernard L. Feringa (University of Groningen, the Netherlands) for the design and synthesis of molecular machines. What Are Molecular Machines and Why Are They Important? Molecular machines are molecule that move in a certain way or perform a task when given energy. At this point in time, miniscule molecular motors are at the same level of sophistication as electric motors in the 1830s. As scientists refine their understanding of how to get molecules to move in certain way, they pave the future for using the tiny machines to store energy, make new materials, and detect changes or substances. What Do The Nobel Prize Winners Win? The winners of this years Nobel Prize in Chemistry each receive a Nobel Prize medal, an elaborately decorated award, and prize money. The 8 million Swedish krona will be split equally between the laureates. Understand the Achievements Jean-Pierre Sauvage laid the groundwork for the development of molecular machines in 1983 when he formed the molecular chain called catenane. The significance of catenane is that its atoms were linked by mechanical bonds rather than traditional covalent bonds, so the parts of the chain could be more easily opened and closed. In 1991, Fraser Stoddard moved ahead when he developed a molecule called a rotaxane. This was a molecular ring on an axle. The ring could be made to move along the axle, leading to the inventions of molecular computer chips, molecular muscles, and a molecular lift. In 1999, Bernard Feringa was the first person to devise a molecular motor. He formed a rotor blade and demonstrated he could make all of the blades spin in the same direction. From there, he moved on to design a nanocar. Natural Molecules Are Machines Molecular machines have been known in nature. The classic example is a bacterial flagellum, which moves the organism forward. The Nobel Prize in Chemistry recognizes the significance of being able to design tiny functional machines from molecules and the importance of making a molecular toolbox from which humanity can build more intricate miniature machines. Where does the research go from here? Practical applications of nanomachines include smart materials, nanobots that deliver drugs or detect diseased tissue, and high-density memory.