Amigo Brothers Plot, Characters, Themes

Amigo Brothers is a short story by Piri Thomas. It was published in 1978 as part of Stories from El Barrio, Thomas short story collection for young adults. Amigo Brothers follows two best friends from a poor New York City neighborhood as they prepare to compete against each other in their shared passion: boxing. Fast Facts: Amigo Brothers Author: Piri ThomasYear Published: 1978Publisher: KnopfGenre: Young adult fictionOriginal Language: EnglishType of Work: Short storyThemes: Positivity, purity of sports, Afro-Latin cultureCharacters: Antonio Cruz, Felix Vargasï » ¿ Plot Amigo Brothers tells the story of Antonio Cruz and Felix Vargas, teenage best friends who live and breathe the sport of boxing. They train together whenever they can and share an encyclopedic knowledge of the sport and its stars. Their passion for boxing is a positive element of their lives that has kept them away from gangs and drugs, which are prevalent in their New York City neighborhood. One day, Antonio and Felix learn that they are set to fight each other in an elimination bout that will determine which of them goes on to compete in the Golden Gloves—the first step towards a real professional fighting career. Initially, the two friends pretend that their upcoming fight changes nothing. However, they soon agree that they should separate until the fight in order to train independently. In addition to physical training, both Antonio and Felix work to get into the right psychological state to fight their best friend. On fight night, Tompkins Square Park is filled with cheering fans. Because they know each other so well, Felix and Antonio are able to counter each others every move throughout the fight. Both boys are battered and exhausted by the end of the fight, but when the final bell sounds, they immediately embrace in shared triumph, and the crowd cheers. Before the winner of the fight can be announced, Felix and Antonio walk away, arm in arm. Major Characters Antonio Cruz. Antonio is tall and lanky—a naturally skilled technical boxer. He uses his long reach to penetrate his opponent’s defenses. Felix Vargas. Felix is short and stocky—not as technically skilled as Antonio, but a powerful slugger. He relies on the power of his punches to pummel opponents into submission. Literary Style Amigo Brothers is told in a straightforward manner using a third-person narrator. The prose is simple and all information is given efficiently and without fanfare, a style that makes the story accessible for all readers. The dialogue includes Puerto Rican slang, which adds a casual, genuine dimension to the characters conversations. Themes Positivity. Thomas saw his writing as a tool to help kids in underprivileged neighborhoods see potential paths for their lives beyond gangs and violence. In Amigo Brothers, Thomas purposefully minimized the presence and power of gangs and crime. In one sequence, Felix is menaced by some gang members, but they let him pass unmolested when he does some shadow-boxing, demonstrating his skills. The scene suggests that positive activities have the power to protect and serve you. Purity of Sports. The book suggests that the sportsmanlike behavior the boys have learned while training to be boxers has helped them become remarkable. They fight each other not out of hatred or even the desire to win, but rather for the love of competition. At the end of each fight, the boys are triumphant and happy for each other no matter who wins, because they tried their best and survived. Sources â€Å"STORIES FROM EL BARRIO by Piri Thomas.† Kirkus Reviews, www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/piri-thomas/stories-from-el-barrio/.â€Å"Why Piri Thomas Coming of Age Memoir Still Resonates Today.† Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 20 June 2017, www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/piri-thomas-and-power-self-portrayal-180963651/.Berger, Joseph. â€Å"Piri Thomas, Author of Down These Mean Streets, Dies.† The New York Times, The New York Times, 19 Oct. 2011, www.nytimes.com/2011/10/20/books/piri-thomas-author-of-down-these-mean-streets-dies.html.Marta. â€Å"‘Puerto Rican Negro’: Defining Race in Piri Thomass Down These Mean Streets | MELUS | Oxford Academic.† OUP Academic, Oxford University Press, 1 June 2004, academic.oup.com/melus/article-abstract/29/2/205/941660?redirectedFromfulltext.Short Stories for Students. Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Short Stories. Gale Group, 2010.

The Nature of Ambition Essay - 1043 Words

Throughout history, ambition has been a driving force both for individuals and society. Ambition is an eager and sometimes an exorbitant desire for elevation, honor, power, supremacy or simply the achievement of something. The origin of this word comes from the word â€Å"ambicioun† and explains the yearning for money and wealth or power in general. Ambition is basically an instinct. No matter what background or age you are, you are surely ambitious in any way. This eagerness is not only a driving force for both individuals and society but could also end in a fiasco. We set our goals and try to achieve them being ambitious. Sometimes trying to reach our goals is a risky undertaking but only through this we find our talents and get more†¦show more content†¦There were only three reasons for why they are successful! First of all, they needed an ambition, a goal, and a destination. Ambition was important because it gave them a purpose in their life. The goal was the essence of the ambition and helped them to be organized and follow a certain plan to achieve the goal and the achievement of the goal is the destination. To me, being ambitious means to visualize and actualise life. We need to see things at first and after a short glance we exactly know what we want. The wish itself will not make it come true but it helps us to be strong and underlines our ambition to accomplish what we want. Also important is having a good friend at your side who can push you and your ambition as well. Friends who are great and prosperous, not only concerning their balance in their bank account but rather their wealth of success, will make you change and will make you great. You should stay far, far away from people who try to put you down. To become a so-called â€Å"high flyer† you need to listen to yourself, not to others. You simply have to follow your dreams. Wanting to realize your dreams and trying to be motivated you should spend a great deal of time with people who have a positive image and attitude. Today, you should only count on yourself. Sometimes you will find somebody who you can count on but these people are rare and hard to find. Trust in yourselfShow MoreRelatedAmbition In Macbeth983 Words   |  4 Pages The Destructive Power of Ambition Ambition can be the one thing that drives people forward in life, motivating and inspiring them to be successful, but, ambition can also lead to one’s demise, infecting anyone and everyone involved. In the play Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare, Macbeth’s ambition is the main cause for the destruction of those around him. Macbeth’s thirst for power puts an end to many lives of many innocent individuals, as he is blind from all sense of rationality due toRead MoreThe Human Nature Of The Prince, Thomas Hobbes And James Madison1447 Words   |  6 Pagesthoughts. The question now is what type of reasoning is natural to us all? This human nature is a topic explored by thinkers such as Thomas Hobbes in Leviathan, Niccollà ² Machiavelli in The Prince, Thomas Hobbes and James Madison in The Essential Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers. Human nature is the force that pushes an individual to his or her actions. Political theory, as a result, is shaped around th is nature for the sake of survival. One way to get man to his natural instincts is by hypotheticallyRead MoreExplore the Link Between Ambition and Evil in Lord of the Flies and Macbeth976 Words   |  4 PagesIn Golding’s’ wartime novel, human nature is put under the microscope by a Misanthropist, dead set on exposing Humanity for what it holds; Innate evil. Evil in what way you ask? In ambition. For in our world, Shakespeare’s, and Golding’s, Ambition truly is the source of all evil. In Macbeth, Shakespeare does well to disguise ambition as the true source of villainy, behind the faà §ade that is Lady Macbeth and the witches. Without ambition, there would never be any action, no good, no evil, would EveRead MoreA Utopian world is impossible to create because nature would not allow it. Shakespeare’s play shows700 Words   |  3 PagesA Utopian world is impossible to create because nature would not allow it. Shakespeare’s play shows that no matter how much language players and technology changes human nature overall is misinterpreted. In order to have a perfect world, we need conflicts to occur because imperfection is key to perfection. A Utopian society only revolves in a persons mind. A person might think of a Utopian Society to escape their situation but they do not look at the disadvantages, let us take killing, for exampleRead MoreMacbeth, By William Shakespeare716 Words   |  3 Pagesresult of Macbeth’s interaction with the three witches, in which the notion that his physical courage is accompanied with an insatiable yet empty ambition and a tendency to self-doubt becomes known. These three attributes: bravery, ambition, and self-doubt, struggle for mastery of Macbeth throughout the play. As the story progresses, Macbeth’s ambition spurs him into regrettable action in which self-doubt and guilt cause him to undergo intense inner conflict between right and wrong, causing a dominoRead MoreTheme Of Ambition In Macbeth915 Words   |   4 Pagesunbridled ambition and its ramifications are extensively portrayed within William Shakespeare’s tragedy; Macbeth. Within this play, ambition is portrayed as a corrupting and unquenchable force through the main concepts of mental imbalance, supernatural behaviors and betrayal. The consuming desires of Macbeth and their repercussions are vividly enhanced through the use of various expressive literary techniques. Ultimately, Macbeth is a play that explores and reiterates the tragic and pestilent nature ofRead MoreFrankensteins ambition877 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Topic #3 Victor’s driving, obsessive ambition ruined his life and led to his own death and the murder of his loved ones. Illustrate how ambition affects not only Victor and Robert Walton, but also the creature in Frankenstein. Thesis Statement: Ambition and the quest for knowledge is a fatal flaw in the characters of Victor Frankenstein, Robert Walton, and the creature. In Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel, ‘Frankenstein’, a recurring motif of ambition and the quest for knowledge is present among theRead More Destructive Ambition in Shakespeares Macbeth Essays1671 Words   |  7 PagesDestructive Ambition in Macbeth      Ã‚  Ã‚   William Shakespeares tragic play Macbeth presents the fizzled drive of an ambitious husband and wife. This essay is the story of their destructive ambition.    Fanny Kemble in Lady Macbeth refers to the ambition of Lady Macbeth:      [. . .] to have seen Banquos ghost at the banqueting table ... and persisted in her fierce mocking of her husbands terror would have been impossible to human nature. The hypothesis makes Lady Macbeth a monsterRead MoreMacbeth and Picture of Dorian Gray Essay1821 Words   |  6 Pages amongst others. Historical Values/Context: Was shunned by the public for it’s immoral and unorthodox nature. Hint of homosexuality Faustian Bargain – (decay of living standard) Cultural Values/Context: Values of humanity (fear of losing humanity/identity) Macbeth – Elizabethan Era Macbeth goes under manipulation by the witches, and is seen to swap his soul due to his pride and ambition, which eventually leads to his destruction. Quote: Macbeth says, The Prince of Cumberland! That is a stepRead MoreTragedy of Ambition as a Description of Macbeth Essay898 Words   |  4 PagesTragedy of Ambition as a Description of Macbeth Tragedy of ambition is indeed at the very heart of, and is the very essence of Macbeth. While other themes flow through the text and contribute to the downfall of Macbeth, ambition remains the fueling desire that plagues Macbeth throughout the duration of the play. In tragedy, the responder views the fall of a hero, and the events causing this descent. The text is focused on Macbeths main flaw, ambition, or the desire

Suboxone Neuron and Post-synaptic Potentials Free Essays

Suboxone Biological Psychology Suboxone | Addiction psychology has made a great impact on the field of biological psychology, especially when it comes to subjects such as | |psycho-pharmacology. The abuse of prescription pain medicine has risen to an estimated 9 million in America alone who take the medication for | |non-medical reasons. The psychology field has had a new revolution in addiction control called Suboxone. We will write a custom essay sample on Suboxone: Neuron and Post-synaptic Potentials or any similar topic only for you Order Now In order for psychiatric doctors or other| |doctors to prescribe this medicine they are required to complete a training course on the substance. Rapidly replacing Methadone, a more | |traditional detox and maintenance drug used for many years, Suboxone seems to have many treatment advantages over it. | |Buprenophine | |Buprenophine, the chemical compound found in Suboxone has stated that it is suitable for people who still have social ties to their families and | |employers whereas Methadone is suited best for those who need additional structure in their treatment with more supervision. While it is nearly | |impossible to overdose on Suboxone due to its ceiling effect, Methadone is easily abused as it is a full-agonist opiate. Another advantage that | |Suboxone has over Methadone is it readability. Where patients must go to Methadone clinics for dosing, doctors can prescribe Suboxone for a month | |at a time, allowing patients to detox and maintain their treatment. Buprenophine is available in two pill forms, one without Naloxone-called | |Subutex, or one with Naloxone-called Suboxone. Naloxone is a well known opiate antagonist, that when injected, causes instant withdraw in the | |patient. Putting this ingredient as an additive with Buprenophine keeps the drug from being abused. Buprenophine is usually prescribed for just a | |few weeks, but some patients may need maintenance doses depending on their opiate usage and/or dependency. In order to better understand the way | |Suboxone and other opiates work within the central nervous system individuals should understand post-synaptic potentials, synaptic ransmission, the| |receptors that produce and regulate behavior (including abusing opiates), as well as understanding and knowing the primary neurotransmitters and | |their role in brain function and behavior. | |Excitatory and Inhibitory Post-synaptic Potentials | |The role of excitatory and inhibitory post-synaptic potentials is summed up by NCBI Bookshelf (n. d. ; | |â€Å"Postsynaptic conductance changes and the potential changes that accompany them alter the pro bability that an action potential will be produced in | |the postsynaptic cell. Post-synaptic Potentials decrease the probability that the post synaptic cell will generate an action potential. PSPs are | |called excitatory (or EPSPs) if they increase the likelihood of a postsynaptic action potential occurring, and inhibitory (or IPSPs) if they | |decrease this likelihood. Given that most neurons receive inputs from both excitatory and inhibitory synapses, it is important to understand more | |precisely the mechanisms that determine whether a particular synapse excites or inhibits its postsynaptic partner. â€Å" | |Synaptic Transmission and Receptors Producing and Regulating Behavior | |Neurons communicate through synaptic transmission. The synapse can be found as a tiny gap found in the middle of the axon terminal and the neuron | |next to it. Neurotransmitters are chemical substances that are located in synaptic vesicles are responsible for delivering messages across the | |synapse and bind to the receptor sites. When a molecule of a neurotransmitter binds to the receptor it then continues to activate or inhibit the | |neuron until the deactivation occurs. A method of deactivation is called re-uptake, allowing the neurotransmitter molecules to be delivered back to| |the presynaptic neuron. Various drugs, including opiates such as hydrocodone or methadone function as agonists because they increase the activity | |of the neurotransmitter while others such as Naloxone act as antagonists decreasing the activity of the neurotransmitter. | |Primary Neurotransmitters | |The three major neurons located in the nervous system are the sensory, motor, and inter-neurons. Sensory neurons are responsible to input messages | |from the sense organs to the spinal cord and brain. Motor neurons carry impulses from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and organs. | |Interneurons perform connective or associative functions within the nervous system. The brain and spinal cord are called the central nervous system | |while all neurons that connect the CNS to the muscles, glands, and sensory receptors are located in the peripheral nervous system. In this regard, | |the PNS is divided into two systems:the somatic nervous system that includes sensory and motor neurons, and the autonomic nervous system required to| |regulate glands as well as other involuntary functions such as circulation, breathing, and digestion. The autonomic nervous system consists of two | |branches as well. The sympathetic branch activates or arouses bodily organs while the parasympathetic branch does the complete opposite. Most | |nerves enter and leave the CNS via the spinal cord. | | | How to cite Suboxone: Neuron and Post-synaptic Potentials, Papers