Definition Essay Example The Right Stuff - Bestessay4u

Definition Essay Tom Wolfe’s celebrated novel The Right Stuff (1979) narrates the story of seven US pilots who were central to the nation’s post-war experiments with space program and investigational high-speed aircraft. The story of The Right Stuff has been the result of Wolfe’s all-embracing research and he treats the theme in a realistic manner. The seven military pilots in the novel dedicated their lives in pioneering the in forwarding the US technology which helped in the advancement of rocket-powered flight. They ultimately succeeded in breaking the boundaries of earth and pioneer the US space development programs. However, the novel is more illustrious for its definition of a key concept, ‘The Right Stuff’, which corresponds to some essential talents and qualities of the most elite that are associated with seven pilots including bravery, physical fitness, mental determination, patriotism, self sacrifice and willingness to risk one’s life. According to Tom Wolfe, the concept of ‘The Right Stuff’ is a virtue of the highest order which includes some unique qualities. These talents and qualities break up the men from the boys and they include bravery, physical fitness, mental determination, patriotism, self sacrifice and willingness to risk one’s life. In defining the concept of ‘The Right Stuff’, the author, first of all, connects it to the quality of bravery and it is background of military flight training that he demonstrates this specific element of the great concept. Thus, Wolfe, in the early pages of his book suggests that bravery is an â€Å"ineffable quality† which only people with ‘The Right Stuff’ can acquire. Conversely, one needs to comprehend bravery as something more than merely â€Å"being willing to risk your life.† (Wolfe, 17) In fact, bravery, to the author, refers to the unrelenting in pursuit of glory which is accompanied by steadiness and almost modesty. Another chief component of the concept of ‘The Right Stuff’, according to Wolfe, is the patriotism of military pilots which distinguish them from the ordinary citizens of a nation. The author illustrates the self sacrificing patriotism as essential feature of this concept and he makes use of the combat experiences of the seven pilots as the best example of this concept.   The altruistic self-sacrifice of these men is evident in their keenness to offer their service to the prosperity of the nation away from their families and friends and this feature corresponds to ‘The Right Stuff’ in them. Although bravery is an essential component of ‘The Right Stuff’, it is not all about that and, in fact, it is much more than mere bravery. To him, the concept is something more than the willingness to risk one’s life and it is, exactly, about intellect, courage and elegance under pressure which leads people to greater deeds in life. According to Wolfe, â€Å"a man should have the ability to go up in a hurtling piece of machinery and put his hide on the line and have the moxie, the reflexes, the experience, the coolness, to pull it back at the last yawning moment.† (Wolfe, 148) Therefore, one with mere bravery cannot possess ‘The Right Stuff’. Also, the author points out that the concept of ‘The Right Stuff’ refers to â€Å"presence† and an â€Å"aura† in people and he illustrates it with the example of Senator John Glenn (Wolfe, 277). Accordingly, this character is â€Å"the sort of mortal who brought tears to other men’s eyes† (Wolfe, 279) To Wolfe, the significance of this quality is unquestionable and â€Å"Even the President would become merely another awed male in the presence of the right stuff† (Wolfe, 217) He also illustrates the importance of the â€Å"aura† with the example of General Chuck Yeager. In conclusion, Wolfe defines the concept of ‘The Right Stuff’ in a broader sense which cannot be encapsulated in just a few words.   The concept incorporates essential talents and qualities such as bravery, physical fitness, mental determination, patriotism, self sacrifice and willingness to risk one’s life.   However, it needs to be realized as a quality above and beyond mere bravery, courage, talent, and patriotism and the author presents the various elements of ‘The Right Stuff’ through the various characters in the novel. Works Cited Wolfe, Tom. The Right Stuff. New York: Bantam Books. 2001. P 17. Its Time to Order Your Essay Join the team of thousands of students who have trusted our essay help online. They were able to improve their grades with our help, so you can do it too. Open Live Chat and order now.

Law of Coverture

Law of Coverture In English and American law, coverture refers to womens legal status after marriage: legally, upon marriage, the husband and wife were treated as one entity. In essence, the wifes separate legal existence disappeared as far as property rights and certain other rights were concerned. Under coverture, wives could not control their own property unless specific provisions were made before marriage. They could not file lawsuits or be sued separately, nor could they execute contracts. The husband could use, sell or dispose of her property (again, unless prior provisions were made) without her permission. A woman who was subject to coverture was called  feme covert, and an unmarried woman or other woman able to own property and make contracts was called  feme solo.  The terms come from medieval Norman terms. In American legal history, changes in the late 18th and early 19th century began to extend  womens property rights; these changes  affected coverture laws. A widow was entitled, for instance, to a percentage of her husbands property after his death (dower), and some laws required a womans consent to the selling of property if it could affect her dower. Sir William Blackstone, in his 1765 authoritative legal text, Commentaries on the Laws of England, said this about coverture and the legal rights of married women: By marriage, the husband and wife are one person in law: that is, the very being or legal existence of the woman is suspended during the marriage, or at least incorporated and consolidated into that of the husband: under whose wing, protection, and cover, she performs every thing; and is therefore called ... a feme-covert.... Blackstone went on to describe the status of a feme covert as covert-baron or under the influence and protection of her husband, in a relationship similar to that of a subject to a baron or lord.   He also noted that a husband could not grant to his wife anything such as property, and could not make legal agreements with her after marriage because it would be like gifting something to ones self or making a contract with ones self.  He also stated that contracts made between a future husband and wife were void upon marriage.   United States Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black is quoted saying, in a thought expressed by others before him, that the old common-law fiction that the husband and wife are one...has worked out in reality to mean...the one is the husband. Name Change at Marriage and Coverture The tradition of a woman taking her husbands name at marriage may be rooted in this idea of a woman becoming one with her husband and the one is the husband. Despite this tradition, laws requiring a married woman to take her husbands name were not on the books in the United Kingdom or the United States until Hawaii was admitted to the US as a state in 1959.  Common law permitted any person to change their name through life as long as it was not for fraudulent purposes. Nevertheless, in 1879, a judge in Massachusetts found that Lucy Stone could not vote under her maiden name and had to use her married name.  Lucy Stone had infamously kept her name upon her marriage in 1855, giving rise to the term Stoners for women who kept their names after marriage.   Lucy Stone had been among those who had won a limited right to vote, only for the school committee.  She refused to comply, continuing to use Lucy Stone, often amended by married to Henry Blackwell on legal documents and hotel registers. Pronunciation: KUV-e-cher or KUV-e-choorAlso Known As: cover, feme-covert