Sarah Winnemucca Native American Activist and Writer

Population Aging And Human Life Expectancy - 1160 Words

In the present days, the world is experiencing the transition in its population, the total number of people aged 65 and more has gradually become larger. This transition is called population aging. Population aging refers to a trend that the proportion of people aged 65 and more is expanding in an area. Population aging can be measured by the ratio between the total number of people who are 65 years old and older than 65-year-old and the total population in a certain district. In the United States, the situation of population aging is more severe than that in the past. The decrease in both mortality and fertility and the advanced medical technology that helps in expanding human’s life expectancy can be main reasons for this†¦show more content†¦According to Siegel’s article based on the discussion of the social security system and the age distribution of the population, Siegel thinks that there is a strong relationship between the social security system and the age distribution of the population and the elderly aged dependency ratio can be the proper measure to reflect the link between elderly people and working age population. The elderly dependency ratio is based on past trends of mortality, fertility and net migration to project population in the future. This measure presents constant growing in the population; especially, it gives relatively possible population number for the next two decades. However, elderly aged dependency ratio is not a reliable measure when it is used to project the future population more than two decades. For example, individuals in the U.S. have become reluctant to have kids, as the opportunity cost of having a child is considerably high while a person’s income after tax and other fees is comparatively low. On the other side, with the improvement in medical technology and health care system, the mortality rate has decreased. Human’s life expectancy has changed over past several decades. It is stat ed in Siegel’s article â€Å"Between 1935, †¦ †¦, and 1997, life expectancy at birth rose from 59.9 years to 73.6 years for men and from 63.9 years to 79.4 years for women.† This demonstrates a dramatic change in human’s life

Literary Analysis of The Gift of the Magi free essay sample

The twists and turns of the plot as it unfolds within O. Henrys â€Å"The Gift of the Magi† are what simply captivate the reader in such a short amount of pages. The story of Jim and Della on a cold Christmas Eve at the turn of 20th century America is centered around what is remarkably relevant to what many readers have experienced in their own lives; the inevitable stresses, sacrifices, and joys of the holiday season. Strapped for cash and wanting to give her beloved husband the most luxurious gift for Christmas to express her deep passion for him, we are immediately introduced to the initial situation at hand. With only a dollar and some change to spend on Jim, Della is forced into a situation where she must find a way to acquire the appropriate funds to spend on Jims gift, but how? This is what leads us to the major conflict of the short story. We will write a custom essay sample on Literary Analysis of The Gift of the Magi or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Though in a more traditional style, a story will introduce you to a situation and will then carry out events that eventually lead to a major conflict. Instead, in O. Henrys unorthodox style of telling his story, the narrator puts the reader in the midst of an issue that must be resolved. It is said that the hardscrabble couple have only two things that are considered of any high value; Jims gold watch and Dellas luscious locks of hair, or â€Å"cascade of brown waters† (185) as her hair is referred to. With this in mind, Della decides, after lengthy tearful contemplation, that she must sell her hair and risk her beauty in exchange for the money to buy Jims gift. Though this decision has led to the solution of the original situation at hand of how Della will find money for her gift, it has ultimately led to the most considerable conflict of the story that is the question of whether or not Jim will appreciate her gift, or be upset at the cost of the gift. The most suspenseful part of the story comes during the rising action and complication within the scene where Della awaits for Jims return home from work after she has cut off her hair he had so deeply admired. The narrator compares Dellas now curly-headed appearance to that of a â€Å"truant schoolboy† (186) and Della also worries that Jim may think she resembles a â€Å"Coney Island chorus girl† (186) as she looks at her reflection and begins to doubt her decision will pay off. As she readies the house for supper, Jim arrives home, and it is at this point that the stories reaches its complication. Jims reaction is best defined as shocked and aghast when he sees his short-haired wife. He is visibly neither upset nor elated, but simply stares with little emotional expression at Della. Della, of course, does not know what to make of this reaction and struggles to understand if he approves or not. After finally snapping out of his staggered trance, Jim explains the reasoning for his reaction that is found within the gift that he had bought for Della as we reach the climax of the story. Jim had bought Della a set of combs that she had coveted for a length of time, but Jim had never been able to get her due to his lack of money. It is now made clear why he had reacted with such shock and it is also made clear that he is not upset with Dellas decision to cut off her hair as he states that â€Å"theres (nothing) in the way of a haircut or a shave or a shampoo† (187) that could make him lose feelings for Della. This climactic twist in the plot is what may surprise, or ensure, the reader and his or her thoughts of how Jim would react, though the suspense is not yet fully lifted as the reader is still left to guess how Jim may react to what Della spent the money for her hair on, and also how Jim was able to get the money for his gift considering the rather equivalent financial status of both partners at the time. Following Dellas revealing of the platinum chain for Jims watch as her gift to Jim, the suspense is finally released from the scene in the denouement when Jim tells Della, with a genuine smile, that he had sold his watch for the combs. It is at this point that we realize that both of their gifts had become relatively futile to their respective recipients, yet both Jim and Della found themselves more delighted than if they had received the most useful gift in the world. The conclusion to this story is the narrators final paragraphs were he relates the couple to the Magi and praises Jim and Della of being the wisest givers of all, contrary to popular belief. The comparison O. Henry makes between the story of Jim and Della and that of the Magi is rather relevant as the Magi were the ones who are credited with being the origins of the â€Å"giving nature† of the Christmas season. In this story, we see a man and a woman so blinded by love that they are willing to make ultimate sacrifices for the happiness of the other. Similar to the Magi, Della and Tim put each other before themselves and through their generosity and considerable lengths they both went to achieve that generosity is something more admirable than any materialistic gift they could ever offer each other, thus making the uselessness of their gifts irrelevant. This story is a story that can touch any person that has had to gone through a heavy sacrifice or gave up something they so covet in order to enlighten someone else, especially during the holiday seasons. It is a short narrative that magnifies the intangible value of sentimentality and belittles the importance of physical offerings. Jim and Della equally appreciate the efforts each other made to make the other happy, despite their poorness and struggles. The admiration is not found within the platinum chain or the combs, but through the sacrifices of Dellas hair and Jims watch, the most valuable possessions they have, and each partner understands the length each other are willing to go to make the other happy. The irony of the turnout of events where both partners gave up something to buy something that is rendered inferior by the end of the story adds to the meaning of the story by adding a resemblance between Jim and Della and deepening their endless love for each other. O. Henrys story redefines the meanings of â€Å"value† and â€Å"valuable†, just as in the instance where it is stated that Dellas hair and Jims watch are the most valuable of their possessions. Because they are so poor, these two things were the only things that could offer a way for them to get enough money to buy their gifts, and essentially turnout to be priceless. O. Henry makes it blatantly known that love should be the most valuable possession anyone can have, and it is obvious that both Jim and Della have love for each other and therefore do not need anything else to satisfy the other. In all, â€Å"The Gift of the Magi†, written in such a folk tale-like manner, is an easy read with deep sentimental values offered throughout its content. It makes one realize that one does not not always have to buy the best gift for someone, but you must make them understand your love for them through some sentimental value, and then you have given and received the best gift of all.