Finding Nemo Film Analysis

Finding Nemo Film Analysis  »Ã‚ ¿ Pixar Animation Studios made a large splash at the summer box office on May 30, 2003 with Finding Nemo. Directed by Andrew Stanton and Co-Director Lee Unkrich, Finding Nemo won an Oscar, thirty-four other awards, and thirty-five nominations; also, the film was ranked in the top ten American Film Institutes list of the ten greatest films in the genre Animation in June 2008. With all of the movies accomplishments, how could one not see this joyful movie? This film also stars Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, and Alexander Gould (Finding Nemo). Finding Nemo is a tale of an adventurous young clownfish, Nemo, who ends up in an aquarium. In search to find his son, Marlin finds Dory, and the two of them encounter adventures and reunite with Nemo. Finding Nemo is a remarkable movie due to the enlightening theme, meticulous and glorious animation, and a well-played cast. The theme of Finding Nemo forms through a father-son love story. Several components of the story help interpret the message of the film. One major element is the concern about Nemos short fin, a deformity that keeps Marlin worried. Stanton states: [Nemos disability is] a metaphor for anything you worry is insufficient or hasnt formed yet in your child (Corliss). Parents become worried about a handicap in their child and think that the disability is a corrupt view of the parent. This movie can teach parents that there is no perfect father or child, like Marlin and Nemo. On Marlins journey, Marlin is set on finding his son when divers take Nemo; on his journey he meets the unforgettable Crush who is the complete opposite of Marlin, relaxed with parenting. Corliss explains, When Marlin asks the sea turtle Crush how a father knows when his kids are ready to swim out on their own, the wise dude replies, Well, you never really know. But when they know, you know- yknow?'(Corliss). Parents c an relate to Crush and Nemos devoted dad that children need to grow up and discover the world. The message of the movie is important for parents; the message is about letting go and getting back. According to Corliss, Nemos fish-out-of-water plot was hatched back in 1992, when he visited Marine World in Vallejo, Calif. His feelings of protectiveness towards his own boy Ben inspired the father-son story (Corliss). By looking at the views of Stanton, readers may see how he and other parents feel about the letting go and getting back policy. Even though parents may find the policy hard to follow, watching this movie can help relieve the hard way of stress by understanding the lesson of the movie. O Sullivan elucidates, [Nemos]father is forced to enlist the aide of a beautiful stranger to decipher the only clue left at the crime scene, even while the pair narrowly averts such threats as a trio of predatory thugs foundering in a 12-step program (O Sullivan). Through all of Marlins comica l, action-packed, and nerve-racking encounters, he learns his lesson after gaining Nemo back, knowing when to hold means knowing when to let go. The spectacular animation is a huge hit in Finding Nemo. The almost impossible underwater animation requires many elements and hard work and Pixar has outdone it. The animation consists of glorious images that represent the ocean in varying degrees of darkness and light, stillness and turbulence, clarity and obscurity, and in ways that high light the myriad colors possessed by underwater life(McCarthy). McCarthy describes the underwater animation with such beauty that how could one resist to see the hard work paid off. In addition, the underwater detail is the product of meticulous effort. Ansen proclaims, High on the movies list of accomplishments is its creation of an undersea wonderland whose opalescent colors and shifting light reflect the enchanted aura of dreamy aquatic photography (Ansen). The movie successfully sustains a watery ambience, which is not an easy thing to do given that water is semitransparent. With an unexpected beauty, Finding Nemo is able to portray decent use of color and form. According to Ebert, Finding Nemo is one of those rare movies where I [want] to sit in the front row and let the images wash out to the edges of my field of vision (Ebert).This animation makes people feel like they are inside the movie. Also, for many people, they could have a second-viewing for the effects. A perfect cast comments the perfect movie. Dory needing an enthusiastic personality was matched with the perfect voice, Ellen DeGeneres. Ansen believes, Ellen DeGeneres, hilarious and poignant, gives a tour de force reading (Ansen). DeGeneres attracts a prodigious crowd to Finding Nemo. According to Holden, Ms. DeGeneres infuses what could have been a one-note role with an irresistible enthusiasm and playfulness (Holden). Without her reading, Dory would not have the same personality. Other characters are also very memorable. Michael O Sullivan observes, Pixars attention to minute details of characterization—lobsters speak with New England accents, seagulls are mindless, yapping clones [fixate] on their next meal—pay off big time (O Sullivan). These voices also bring in the full effect of the characters and movie, making the movie very comical. Finding Nemos fame is an outcome of an unforgettable theme, breathtaking animation, and a comical and perfect-fitting cast. The paradox of love theme can relate to all parents and future parents. Furthermore, the spectacular and detailed animation can warrant for a second viewing and make people feel in a state of reverie. Finally, the cast produces a stunning success. This film is outstanding connecting to each person in the audience. Finding Nemo is a success to Pixar films and one must not resist seeing it! Works Cited Ansen, David. Freeing Nemo: A Whale of a Tale. Newsweek. Newsweek, Inc., 2 June 2003. Web. 12 January 2010. Corliss, Richard. Hook, Line, and Thinker. Time. Time Inc., 19 May 2003. Web. 12 January 2010. Ebert, Roger. Finding Nemo. Rogerebert.com. Rogerebert.com, 30 May 2003. Web. 14 January 2010. Finding Nemo. Internet Movie Database. IMDb.com, Inc. Web. 27 January 2010. Holden, Stephen. Film Review: Vast Sea, Tiny Fish. Big Crisis. The New York Times. The New York Times Company, 30 May 2003. Web. 13 January 2010. McCarthy, Todd. Finding Nemo. Variety. Reed Business Information, 26 May 2003. Web. 12 January 2010. O Sullivan, Michael. Finding Nemo: This Fish Story is a Keeper. The Washington Post. The Washington Post Company, 30 May 2003. Web. 13 January 2010.

Macbeth and Macduff Essay

You have some excellent points, but I think you’re missing an essential part of the question here – compare and contrast. So far you’ve spoken about Macbeth in great detail and neglected the other two. The key here is balance. Say Macbeth is like so†¦. where as Banquo is like so†¦ and Macduff like so†¦ (this is contrasting) When comparing you are going to have to look at how each reacts in certain situations compared to Macbeth. For instance, Banquo reacts to the prophesies of the â€Å"weird sisters† with suspicion, mistrust and a certain level of foreboding whereas Macbeth reacts with elated disbelief, hangs on every word and sees it as the beginning of great things. And from his reaction the things said by the sisters were ambitions that were within him already whereas Banquo had no real ambitions to become father to a line of kings before that. That’s why he says â€Å"Speak to me who neither begs nor fears your favors nor your hate† – or something like that. And use quotes. A good essay always has good quotes woven into it. But don’t go wild with them. Just place one or two here and there to support a point. Also, personally I have never viewed Macduff and Banquo as heroes. They lack the heroic potency of a Shakespearean hero. Shakespearean heroes are dense characters and these two are pretty straightforward. With Shakespeare there’s always more to a hero than meets the eye. So I would say, it is clear beyond doubt that Macbeth is the hero of the play. But the key is – he’s a tragic hero, one who ends up a fallen hero. And aren’t such heroes always the best? Banquo and Macduff would have been boring heroes, clean, cut and straight as they are. They would have been so predictable. Whereas with Macbeth you could never know what he was going to do. In the beginning we are introduced to this good, noble guy who’s fatal flaw is ambition and we hope he won’t go through with Duncan’s murder but he does; we pity him, hope for his redemption even and are shocked by the things that he begins to do after the murder as he grows bolder and bolder.

Commentator on the human condition Essay

Michael Leunig is a commentator on the human condition who uses simple, short cartoons to express his ideas to the public. In The Plotter, he conveys the message that society operates in a created sense of urgency. The idea is that the majority of the people believe that acting too slowly upon seeing an opportunity means there will be no other chances of success later on and thus must move quickly. Another idea that arises in The Plotter is that life is a journey and not a destination. This is all shown using intriguing techniques in his interesting and comical cartoon that captures its viewers. The episode starts out with an individual character walking towards the left slowly followed by the screen. Every step is taken with precision, taking about the same amount of time for each step to land, and this is emphasised by the musical beat of the background. The music is motion-toned as the pitch rises as a hurrying man runs from right to left, passing the individual. As the man runs past he calls out † â€Å", and the individual’s response is † † After this, the pitch is lowered again and the individual continues walking slowly. Only in a matter of seconds, a lady comes running by in the same direction and as she passes she yells † † to which he replies † â€Å". One by one, people run past him trying to condemn and mock the leisurely individual for not conforming, however, the individual remains unhurt by their sayings and repeats pleasant words as an answer to the runners. The technique of dialogue and its setting out is very important. It tells the viewer that the individual thinks in his own ways, not conforming to the society that believes in the created sense of urgency. This individual has his own objective in life and wants to live by experiencing everything slowly while others try to make him keep in touch with the real world hence the call â€Å"you wont know whats happening, you wont be clever. † Visual techniques used by Michael Leunig to deliver his ideas include colour, foreground/backgrounding and body language. The colour of the background is natural, with the sky in blue and the ground in green as grass usually is. This use of natural colour has connotations to the natural instincts of human beings and thus links with the issue that Leunig suggests. The colour of the people running in the background is darker than the individual who stands in the foreground, possibly containing the meaning of evil in the runners, who together represent the majority of the world. The foregrounding of the individual and the backgrounding of the runners signifies the individual over the other people, as if criticising the world in the background and using the individual character to portray the world that should be as it always is with Michael Leunig’s works. The posture and body language of the characters in The Plotter is organised so that the individual is slightly hunched showing the person’s humbleness while the runners are portrayed standing tall and strong showing false confidence. Through these techniques, Michael Leunig illustrates a simple and interesting story with deep meaning,

The Issue Of Breast Cancer - 830 Words

Introduction: Background: The issue of breast cancer affecting many individuals is a growing one. At the present time period it is now found that one in every eight women will be told they have breast cancer (â€Å"National Breast Cancer Foundation†, 2012). Therefore there is a significant amount of research going into this area. In addition, to the large amount of women and smaller amount of men who will be potentially diagnosed with breast cancer has become a global burden because those with metastatic cancer will eventually have cancer cells travel to other parts of their body (â€Å"National Breast Cancer Foundation†, 2012). MCF-7 cells are commonly used to study the mechanism of action and how the tumor works for human breast cancer (Osborn, Trent Hobbs, n.d.). These types of cells are the most common in laboratories for cancer research. According to C. Osborn MCF-7 cells are used because they typically â€Å"demonstrate similar morphology†, however the chromosomal stru ctures can be different. Thus leading to varied results. In addition, Osborn states that MCF-7 cell lines will usually have estrogen receptors, and progesterone receptors. The amounts of estrogen and progesterone receptors can affect the proliferation of the cells. (Osborn, Trent, Hobbs, n.d.). Therefore, the experiment will be using cells taken from a sixty nine year old patient with metastatic cancer. In recent studies, MCF-7 cells have been studied to find what chemical agents cause the cells to proliferateShow MoreRelatedThe Issue Of Breast Cancer1233 Words   |  5 PagesFrame: Issue To hear the word cancer come out of a providers mouth can be one of the scariest times of anyone life. So many questions pop into ones head, what do I have or how did I get it, and what do I do know. Breast and cervical cancer are two of the most common cancers diagnosed in women worldwide (Siegel, Miller, Jemal, 2015). Breast cancer starts to develop when cells in the breast start to grow out of control and form tumors (American Cancer Society , 2015). The population that breast cancerRead MoreThe Issues of Breast Cancer in Nigeria Essay1552 Words   |  7 Pages‘mild breast lumps.’ It is an ailment that could lead to breast cancer. We are happy to see women respond to our awareness programs.† said Dr. Rosa Phil (1). In her article, Dr. Phil commends Mrs. Anyanwu for taking action against breast cancer as she recommends all women do the same. The issue of breast cancer is fast becoming a major one. There is a huge hole to be filled in the area of breast cancer awareness in Nigeria. An article posted in the ‘The Daily Trust’ titled, â€Å"Breast Cancer amongstRead MoreBreast Cancer : A Widespread Condition And A Genuine Wellbeing Issue1767 Words   |  8 Pages Introduction: Cancer is a widespread condition and a genuine wellbeing issue(1). More than one in three individuals will add to some type of cancer at some stage in their lifetime. There are several distinct sorts of cancer(1). The most widely recognized cancer in Saudi Arabia in 2010 are: Breast Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL), Thyroid Cancer, Leukemia(2). The frequency of cancer in Saudi Arabia reported by the Saudi Cancer Registry between January 01 and December 31, 2010Read MoreBreast Cancer : A Major Health Issue For Men Essay1028 Words   |  5 PagesProstate cancer is a major health issue for men in New Zealand. This essay will discuss a health initiative that aims to improve health outcomes for men and the role of the nurse in the health initiative. Culture of nursing, and its impact on prostate cancer in men will also be described (McMurray Clendon, 2012). Task A) The Ministry of Health (2013) launched a four year programme to improve health outcomes for men with prostate cancer called The Prostate Cancer Awareness and Quality ImprovementRead MoreBreast Cancer : My Health Related Issue On The Life Span Of An Person1447 Words   |  6 Pagesbe based on ‘Breast Cancer’ as my health related issue in the life span of an person. Cancer (also known as malignancy) is the general name for a gathering of more than 100 diseases. Despite that there are many sorts of cancer, all cancers begin in light of irregular cells lose control of their growth. Untreated cancers can bring severe illnesses and even lead to death. Cells in almost any part of the body can develop into cancer, and can spread to different ranges of the body. Breast disease is aRead MoreUsing Genetic Testing For Breast Cancer1497 Words   |  6 PagesAccording to Susan G. Komen only about 5 to 10% of breast cancer in the United States are due to inherited genes mutation. In other words, breast cancer is not always linked from a parent to child, only a small amount of people in the U.S. have an inherited gene. Genes are pieces of DNA that every cell in the body contains which includes the genetic code for your body. If there are any changes in the genetic code- DNA and RNA molecules that carry genetic information in the living body, there willRead MoreEssay on Male Breast Cancer 1361 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"The term â€Å"breast cancer† refers to a malignant tumor that has developed from cells in the breast† (Breast Cancer,n.d). What society does not realize, is that men have breasts. If men can have abnormal cell growths in the breast, they are except-able to breast cancer as well. Men need to be aware of the prevention, diagnoses, and treatments for male breast cancer. Society links breast cancer to women, but what about the males in our society? Males have breast tissues, Boys andRead More Cancer Essay1378 Words   |  6 PagesIn recent years, cancer prevalence has been increasing globally. It is now one of the top 10 causes of death among the middle and high income countries worldwide (World Health Organisation, 2008). In Singapore, cancer has surpassed cardiovascular disease and become the top killer over the last 3 years (Ministry of Health, 2007). Breast cancer tops the chart among Singaporean women (Health Promotion Board, 2007). Thousands of women are diagnosed with breast cancer annually and it causes approximatelyRead MoreBreast Cancer Awareness1695 Words   |  7 PagesThesis Statement: While both women and men can also get the breast cancer disease there is a cure with awareness to breast cancer. I. Breast Cancer and Who It Attacks A) What Is the Disease and Who It Affects 1. Disease which is a malignant cancer 2. Cells forms within the tissue of the breast 3. Victims are shocked 4. Both men and women get this disease 5. Women will be diagnosed more than men II. Common Risks Factors For Breast Cancer A) This Disease Can Be Caused By 1. One’s diet and lifestyle Read MoreWomen’S Health Issues Require Separate And Unique Attention1205 Words   |  5 PagesWomen’s health issues require separate and unique attention from the medical world. Women represent the transition that society is also facing in regard to economics, health and wellness issues. ‘Healthy mind does, indeed produce a healthy body’. While, women are suffering from various health issues from past. Although, men and women share many health concerns. Women health issues include conditions that only effect women anatomy such as from child birth, pregnancy, menstruation till menopause. These

The Hidden Gem of Gre All Possible Essay Topics

The Hidden Gem of Gre All Possible Essay Topics Begin with general subjects that you are conversant with then narrow down to a particular topic. Deciding upon a topic is an essential issue that partly estimates final success of the job. It is impossible to generate an actual friend online. Shopping online isn't secure or secure. Choosing Good Gre All Possible Essay Topics A typical dictionary for reference ought to be kept handy while preparation. So, the next time you're solving questions on Reading Comprehension, don't forget that the Rotten Tomato technique offers you healthy outcomes. A part of rhetorical analysis might appear a true problem to students. Some folks claim essay you're able to tell if a nation is excellent by taking a look at the achievements of its rulers, artists, or scientists. They believe that in order to thrive, a society must put its own overall success before the well-being of its individual citizens. They believe that scientific discoveries ha ve given us a much better understanding of the world around us. One of the benefits of public schooling is the fact that it is a distinctly distinct environment from home, where learning subjects at home makes it almost impossible to stay disciplined on occasion. Present-day affairs in the financial and economic spheres of the nation are always a popular selection of topics for the examiners. Very often it becomes tough to choose 1 topic either due to the many ideas in the student's head, or due to their complete absence. The candidate is needed to support her or his point of view with examples and reasoning. Gre All Possible Essay Topics at a Glance Essays are definitely the most popular academic paper that looks might appear easy to writer. Feel free to pick a topic which you will delight in writing about and not just one that you believe will please your professor. Let's get going with a streak of process analysis essay topics that will help you on your way to an excell ent process analysis essay. Categories, essay topics could possibly be divided into. Students are often fearful of rhetorical analysis essays because they don't know how to write them. Students often utilize answer grids as a way to conserve time. In such a circumstance, a student must select an ideal topic to write about. Some students utilize the very first idea that arrives in their head and work on it, but the outcome isn't successful. College students should base their selection of an area of study on the access to work in that area. New Ideas Into Gre All Possible Essay Topics Never Before Revealed Essay is about putting into beautiful words, our ideas and ideas. Be attentive to the size it must be and begin writing the narrative essay outline. Regardless of what piece of writing you are assigned at your institution, the comprehensive paper has to be interesting to read. At that time, you can begin writing full length practice essays. The point here is to understand what you're going to write before writing it. The significance of research in persuasive writing cannot be overstated. You may trust us to offer expert assistance for many of your academic writing needs. Use transition words to create your text coherent and simple to read. If you want to read faster, you should realize that speed reading can't be achieved overnight. An essay should quintessentially include a very good introduction, followed by a comprehensive body and finally a superb conclusion. Critical judgment of work in any certain field has little value unless it comes from somebody who is a specialist in that area.

Clarkson Lumber Company Experienced Significant Sales Growth

From 1993 through 1995, Clarkson Lumber Company experienced significant sales growth – 19.0% from 1993 to 1994 and 30.0% between 1994 and 1995. Profitability also increased, but not nearly at the same pace as sales revenue. Net income rose from $60,000 in 1993 to $68,000 in 1994 (a 13.3% increase), to $77,000 in 1995 (13.2% increase). This increase in sales and profitability demanded growth in working capital and fixed assets to finance the growth, creating a need for cash that outpaced free cash flow into the firm. Furthermore, Mr. Clarkson’s buyout payments to Mr. Holtz in 1995 and 1996 only added to the liquidity predicament. Thus, Clarkson was compelled to draw upon his line of credit with Suburban National Bank and begin relying heavily on trade credit, quickly maxing out his bank credit line by the end of 1995. The financial strength of Clarkson Lumber has deteriorated between 1993 and 1995. Clarkson had a free cash flow to the firm of +$2,000 in 1994, but that dropped to -$159,000 for 1995. EBITDA increased over the period, but not matching the pace of net debt increases; Clarkson’s leverage (Net Debt / EBITDA) was 1.21 in 1993, increasing to 2.31 and 2.95 in 1994 and 1995, respectively. First quarter 1996 statements annualized over the entire year projected leverage to increase to 4.94 by the end of 1996, assuming no credit line cap and no other changes. The trade discount of 2% provides a very attractive opportunity for Clarkson Lumber to dramatically increaseShow MoreRelatedClarkson Lumber Case Analysis Essay802 Words   |  4 PagesStatement of the Problem At first glance, Clarkson Lumber appears to be a healthy company. However, despite rapid growth and increasing sales Clarkson Lumber finds itself searching for additional funding to compensate for a shortage in cash to fund its expanding business. Clarkson Lumber is in this situation for a number of reasons. The companys inability to receive payments from customers in a timely manner created a severe impact in the companys cash flows. The age of account receivablesRead MoreClarkson Lumber2050 Words   |  9 Pages29, 1996 Clarkson Lumber Company After a rapid growth in its business during recent years, the Clarkson Lumber Company, in the spring of 1996, anticipated a further substantial increase in sales. Despite good profits, the company had experienced a shortage of cash and had found it necessary to increase its borrowing from the Suburban National Bank to $399,000 in the spring of 1996. The maximum loan that Suburban National would make to any one borrower was $400,000 and Clarkson had been ableRead MoreMarketing Principle Quiz20161 Words   |  81 Pageswell it made the soap and not on what customers wanted from a bar of soap. It had a _____ orientation. | | | | | Selected Answer: |   a.   production | Correct Answer: |   a.   production | Feedback: | The production orientation forces a company to build whatever it builds best, that is, whatever it has the experience and expertise in doing. | | | | |   Ã‚  Question 2 | 1 out of 1 points    | | Redefining the business mission of a mattress manufacturer as â€Å"a good night’s sleep,†Read MoreProject Mgmt296381 Words   |  1186 PagesMANAGERIAL PROCESS Published by McGraw-Hill/Irwin, a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10020. Copyright  © 2011 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written consent of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., including, but not limited to, in any network or other electronic storage or

Ghalibiat free essay sample

His first language was Urdu, but Persian and Turkish were also spoken at home. He got his education in Persian and Arabic at a young age. When Ghalib was in his early teens, a newly converted Muslim tourist from Iran (Abdus Samad, originally named Hormuzd, a Zoroastrian) came to Agra. He stayed at Ghalibs home for 2 years. He was a highly educated individual and Ghalib learned Persian, Arabic, philosophy, and logic from him. Although Ghalib himself was far prouder of his poetic achievements in Persian, he is today more famous for his Urdu ghazals. Numerous elucidations of Ghalibs ghazal compilations have been written by Urdu scholars. The first such elucidation or Sharh was written by Ali Haider Nazm Tabatabai of Hyderabad during the rule of the last Nizam of Hyderabad. Before Ghalib, the ghazal was primarily an expression of anguished love; but Ghalib expressed philosophy, the travails and mysteries of life and wrote ghazals on many other subjects, vastly expanding the scope of the ghazal. We will write a custom essay sample on Ghalibiat or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This work is considered his paramount contribution to Urdu poetry and literature. In keeping with the conventions of the classical ghazal, in most of Ghalibs verses, the identity and the gender of the beloved is indeterminate. The critic/poet/writer Shamsur Rahman Faruqui explains that the convention of having the idea of a lover or beloved instead of an actual lover/beloved freed the poet-protagonist-lover from the demands of realism. Love poetry in Urdu from the last quarter of the seventeenth century onwards consists mostly of poems about love and not love poems in the Western sense of the term. The first complete English translation of Ghalibs ghazals was written by Sarfaraz K. Niazi and published by Rupa Co in India and Ferozsons in Pakistan. The title of this book is Love Sonnets of Ghalib and it contains complete Roman transliteration, explication and an extensive lexicon. His Letters Mirza Ghalib was a gifted letter writer. Not only Urdu poetry but the prose is also indebted to Mirza Ghalib. His letters gave foundation to easy and popular Urdu. Before Ghalib, letter writing in Urdu was highly ornamental. He made his letters talk by using words and sentences as if he were conversing with the reader. According to him Sau kos se ba-zaban-e-qalam baatein kiya karo aur hijr mein visaal ke maze liya karo (from hundred of miles talk with the tongue of the pen and enjoy the joy of meeting even when you are separated). His letters were very informal, some times he would just write the name of the person and start the letter. He himself was very humorous and also made his letter very interesting. He said Main koshish karta hoon keh koi aesi baat likhoon jo parhay khoosh ho jaaye (I want to write the lines that whoever reads those should enjoy it). When the third wife of one of his friends died, he wrote. Some scholar says that Ghalib would have the same place in Urdu literature if only on the basis of his letters. They have been translated into English by Ralph Russell, The Oxford Ghalib. Ghalib was a chronicler of this turbulent period. One by one, Ghalib saw the bazaars – Khas Bazaar, Urdu Bazaar, Kharam-ka Bazaar, disappear, whole mohallas (localities) and katras (lanes) vanish. The havelis (mansions) of his friends were razed to the ground. Ghalib wrote that Delhi had become a desert. Water was scarce. Delhi was now â€Å" a military camp†. It was the end of the feudal elite to which Ghalib had belonged. He wrote: â€Å"An ocean of blood churns around me- Alas! Were these all! The future will show What more remains for me to see†. His Pen Name His original Takhallus (pen-name) was Asad, drawn from his given name, Asadullah Khan. At some point early in his poetic career he also decided to adopt the Takhallus Ghalib (meaning all conquering, superior, most excellent). Popular legend has it that he changed his pen name to Ghalib when he came across this sher (couplet) by another poet who used the takhallus (pen name) Asad: The legend says that upon hearing this couplet, Ghalib ruefully exclaimed, whoever authored this couplet does indeed deserve the Lords rahmat (mercy) (for having composed such a deplorable specimen of Urdu poetry). If I use the takhallus Asad, then surely (people will mistake this couplet to be mine and) there will be much laanat (curse) on me! And, saying so, he changed his takhallus to Ghalib. However, this legend is little more than a figment of the legend-creators imagination. Extensive research performed by commentators and scholars of Ghalibs works, notably Imtiyaz Ali Arshi and Kalidas Gupta Raza, has succeeded in identifying the chronology of Ghalibs published work (sometimes down to the exact calendar day! ). Although the takhallus Asad appears more infrequently in Ghalibs work than Ghalib, it appears that he did use both his noms de plume interchangeably throughout his career and did not seem to prefer either one over the other. Mirza Ghalib and Sir Syed Ahmed Khan 1855, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan finished his highly scholarly, very well researched and illustrated edition of Abul Fazl’s Ai’n-e Akbari, itself an extraordinarily difficult book. Having finished the work to his satisfaction, and believing that Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib was a person who would appreciate his labours, Syed Ahmad approached the great Ghalib to write a taqriz (in the convention of the times, a laudatory foreword) for it. Ghalib obliged, but what he did produce was a short Persian poem castigating the Ai’n-e Akbari, and by implication, the imperial, sumptuous, literate and learned Mughal culture of which it was a product. The least that could be said against it was that the book had little value even as an antique document. Ghalib practically reprimanded Syed Ahmad Khan for wasting his talents and time on dead things. Worse, he praised sky-high the â€Å"Sahibs of England† who at that time held all the keys to all the a’ins in this world. This poem is often referred to but has never translated in English. Shamsur Rahman Faruqi wrote an English translation. The poem was unexpected, but it came at the time when Syed Ahmad Khan’s thought and feelings themselves were inclining toward change. Ghalib seemed to be acutely aware of a European[English]-sponsored change in world polity, especially Indian polity. Syed Ahmad might well have been piqued at Ghalib’s admonitions, but he would also have realized that Ghalib’s reading of the situation, though not nuanced enough, was basically accurate. Syed Ahmad Khan may also have felt that he, being better informed about the English and the outside world, should have himself seen the change that now seemed to be just round the corner. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan never again wrote a word in praise of the Ai’n-e Akbari and in fact gave up taking active interest in history and archaeology, and became a social reformer. Personal Life Mirza was born in Kala Mahal in Agra. In the end of 18th century, his birthplace was converted into Indrabhan Girls Inter College. The birth room of Mirza Ghalib is preserved within the school. Around 1810, he was married to Umrao Begum, daughter of Nawab Ilahi Bakhsh Khan of Loharu (younger brother of the first Nawab of Loharu, Nawab Mirza Ahmad Baksh Khan, at the age of thirteen. He had seven children, none of whom survived (this pain has found its echo in some of Ghalibs ghazals). There are conflicting reports regarding his relationship with his wife. She was considered to be pious, conservative and God-fearing. Ghalib was proud of his reputation as a rake. He was once imprisoned for gambling and subsequently relished the affair with pride. In the Mughal court circles, he even acquired a reputation as a ladies man. Once, when someone praised the poetry of the pious Sheikh Sahbai in his presence, Ghalib immediately retorted: â€Å"How can Sahbai be a poet? He has never tasted wine, nor has he ever gambled; he has not been beaten with slippers by lovers, nor has he ever seen the inside of a jail. He died in Delhi on February 15, 1869. The house where he lived in Gali Qasim Jaan, Ballimaran, Chandni Chowk, in Old Delhi has now been turned into Ghalib Memorial and houses a permanent Ghalib exhibition. Religious Views Ghalib was a very liberal mystic who believed that the search for God within liberated the seeker from the narrowly Orthodox Islam, encouraging the devotee to look beyond the letter of the law to its narrow essence. His Sufi views and mysticism is greatly reflected in his poems and ghazals. As he once stated: The object of my worship lies beyond perceptions reach; For men who see, the Kaaba is a compass, nothing more. Like many other Urdu poets, Ghalib was capable of writing profoundly religious poetry, yet was skeptical about the literalist interpretation of the Islamic scriptures. On the Islamic view and claims of paradise, he once wrote in a letter to a friend: â€Å"In paradise it is true that I shall drink at dawn the pure wine mentioned in the Quran, but where in paradise are the long walks with intoxicated friends in the night, or the drunken crowds shouting merrily? Where shall I find there the intoxication of Monsoon clouds? Where there is no autumn, how can spring exist? If the beautiful houris are always there, where will be the sadness of separation and the joy of union? Where shall we find there a girl who flees away when we would kiss her? † He staunchly disdained the Orthodox Muslim Sheikhs of the Ulema, who in his poems always represent narrow-mindedness and hypocrisy: â€Å"The Sheikh hovers by the tavern door, but believe me, Ghalib, I am sure I saw him slip in As I departed. In another verse directed towards the Muslim maulavis (clerics), he criticized them for their ignorance and arrogant certitude: Look deeper, it is you alone who cannot hear the music of his secrets. In his letters, Ghalib frequently contrasted the narrow legalism of the Ulema with its pre-occupation with teaching the baniyas and the brats, and wallowing in the problems of menstruation and menstrual bleeding and real spirituality for which you had to study the works of the mystics and take into ones heart the essential truth of Gods reality and his expression in all things. Ghalib believed that if God laid within and could be reached less by ritual than by love, then he was as accessible to Hindus as to Muslims. As a testament to this, he would later playfully write in a letter that during a trip to Benares, he was half tempted to settle down there for good and that he wished he had renounced Islam, put a Hindu sectarian mark on his forehead, tied a sectarian thread around his waist and seated himself on the banks of the Ganges so that he could wash the contamination of his existence away from himself and like a drop be one with the river. During the anti-British Rebellion in Delhi on 5 October 1857, three weeks after the British troops had entered through Kashmiri Gate, some soldiers climbed into Ghalibs neighbourhood and hauled him off to Colonel Burn for questioning. He appeared in front of the colonel wearing a Turkish style headdress. The colonel, bemused at his appearance, inquired in broken Urdu, Well? You Muslim? , to which Ghalib replied, Half? The colonel asked, What does that mean? In response, Ghalib said, I drink wine, but I dont eat pork. Views on Hindustan In his poem Chirag-i-Dair (Temple lamps) which was composed during his trip to Benaras during the spring of 1827, Ghalib mused about the land of Hindustan (the Indian subcontinent) and how Qiyamah (Doomsday) has failed to arrive, in spite of the numerous conflicts plaguing it. â€Å"Said I one night to a pristine seer (Who knew the secrets of whirling time) Sir, you well perceive That goodness and faith, Fidelity and love Have all departed from this sorry land Father and son are at each others throat; Brother fights brother, Unity and federation are undermined Despite all these ominous signs, Why has not Doomsday come? Who holds the reins of the Final Catastrophe? The hoary old man of lucent ken Pointed towards Kashi and gently smiled The Architect, he said, is fond of this edifice Because of which there is color in life; He Would not like it to perish and fall. Contemporaries and Disciples Ghalibs closest rival was poet Zauq, tutor of Bahadur Shah Zafar II, the then emperor of India with his seat in Delhi. There are some amusing anecdotes of the competition between Ghalib and Zauq and exchange of jibes between them. However, there was mutual respect for each others talent. Both also admired and acknowledged the supremacy of Meer Taqi Meer, a towering figure of 18th century Urdu Poetry. Another poet Momin, whose ghazals had a distinctly lyrical flavour, was also a famous contemporary of Ghalib. Ghalib was not only a poet, he was also a prolific prose writer. His letters are a reflection of the political and social climate of the time. They also refer to many contemporaries like Mir Mehdi Majrooh, who himself was a good poet and Ghalibs life-long acquaintance.