Choicepoint - 3743 Words

Introduction Based in Alpharetta, Georgia, ChoicePoint was formerly a struggling insurance services unit of Equifax. Derek Smith successfully trimmed its labor-intensive operations and replaced them with technologically based ones, which resulted in both higher growth and higher margins. This allowed the company to spin off from Equifax and become publicly traded in 1997. The company’s initial focus was data services for the insurance industry. As its business matured and expanded, ChoicePoint also entered into non-insurance markets and was able to consolidate fragmented industries through acquisition and integration. ChoicePoint tapped various public and private sources to gather data, assembled it into proprietary databases, and†¦show more content†¦Criticism 2: Data Inaccuracies Another issue from critics focused on inaccuracies in the industry’s records. Examples show that based on false information provided by ChoicePoint one employee had been fired from a company and another applying for job have been denied employment. â€Å"Another incident involved a ChoicePoint subsidiary charged with having supplied the state of Florida with a list of individuals mistakenly identified as felons. The state used the list to purge its voter roles in the 2000 presidential election—thus depriving individuals of their constitutional right to vote.† (CP, 5). Organizational Security Gaps: Organization Critical Infrastructures ChoicePoint claims that they gave employees (but not independent contractors) a training manual which taught â€Å"investigatory procedures,† but when this was examined during a court case, the process was declared to be â€Å"opaque.† Clearly, if ChoicePoint had procedures in place that only applied to employees and not independent contractors working for the company, they left a big gap in the organization cornerstone. It would appear as though â€Å"senior management’s role to provide the leadership that establishes security as an important issue in the organization,† (Dutta, 77) was not in place. In addition, the proper scrutiny was not given to security procedures, to ensure that they would serve their purpose. Also, basedShow MoreRelated$55 Million Dollar Data Breach at Choicepoint1077 Words   |  5 Pages$55 Million Dollar Data Breach at ChoicePoint Abstract Personal data breaches have become epidemic in the U.S. where innocent citizens sensitive information is being left unprotected and subsequently disseminated between hackers. ChoicePoint is an organization that is a premier data broker and credentialing service in the industry. The company was guilty of failing to fulfil their own policy of thoroughly evaluating prospective customer organizations which resulted in a major breach. TheRead MoreChoicepoint Case Analysys1748 Words   |  7 PagesChoicepoint: A Case of Privacy in the 21st Century Introduction Since its founding in 1776, America has been a country where the rights of individuals are one of the most important issues. As time has passed and the country progressed, this issue has evolved and taken different forms; the Civil War was fought over whether people of all colors had the right to freedom, in the early 20th century women finally demanded their long overdue right to vote (Wikipedia, 2003), and most recently, inRead MoreWeaknesses Of Choicepoint Information Security Management Practices1522 Words   |  7 PagesQuestion 1. What weaknesses in ChoicePoint Information Security Management practices likely contributed to their data breach? Please explain how they contributed and what Choice Point could do to strengthen these areas. Answer: From the beginning, ChoicePoint took steps to protect its data from risks such as theft, computer hacking, and misuse. Its facilities were outfitted with numerous security cameras, and all visitors were required to be photographed. Employees had to use ID cards, personalRead MoreChoicepoint: A Case of Privacy in the 21st Century Essay1723 Words   |  7 PagesChoicepoint: A Case of Privacy in the 21st Century Introduction Since its founding in 1776, America has been a country where the rights of individuals are one of the most important issues. As time has passed and the country progressed, this issue has evolved and taken different forms; the Civil War was fought over whether people of all colors had the right to freedom, in the early 20th century women finally demanded their long overdue right to vote (Wikipedia, 2003), and most recently, inRead MoreWeaknesses Of Choicepoint Information Security Management Practices1431 Words   |  6 Pages1. What weaknesses in ChoicePoint Information Security Management practices likely contributed to their data breach? Please explain how they contributed and what Choice Point could do to strengthen these areas. In the ChoicePoint case study, By the end of 2004, ChoicePoint was running a business in the personal data industry with almost $920 million annual revenues. Beside Acxiom and Lexis-Nexis, ChoicePoint was either first or second in that industry. Although ChoicePoint s focus was on securingRead MoreAnalysis Of Choicepoint s Information Security Management Practices1484 Words   |  6 PagesInformation Security Management practices that likely contributed to their data break are: †¢ Verification Process †¢ Access to virtually any data †¢ Recognition of Fraudulent Activity Verification Process While reading this document I realized, if ChoicePoint would have taken adequate measures to verify who their customers were some of the resulting consequences could have been mitigated. Though various checks were put into place to authenticate their customers, identity thieves still managed to circumventRead MoreCp Case Study962 Words   |  4 Pages------------------------------------------------- MISM 2301 1. Itemize the nature of the information security breach at ChoicePoint and how this adversely affected the organization. Be sure to include both tangible and intangible losses in preparing your response. [table] Security Breach | Effect on ChoicePoint | A pass of the authentication of customers | * Data soon became available after authentication breach * Revealed hole in ChoicePoint security system * Trust of security standards instantly lost | Social securityRead MoreEssay on Pre-Employment Screening Industry Report1529 Words   |  7 Pageslarge companies accounting for almost 25% of the industrys total revenue. Total revenue for the pre-employment screening industry is forecasted to be approximately $4 billion in 2007 with the top five playersÂâ€"U.S. Investigations, First Advantage, ChoicePoint, Kroll and ADPÂâ€"accounting for approximately $900 million in annual revenue. HireRight, Axciom, and Accurate Background are examples of some of the more prominent mid-size companies in the industry. Pre-Employment Screening Pre-employmentRead More Snakes of Time in Dantes Hell Essay1314 Words   |  6 PagesIn 2005, they revealed a new face, Olatunji Oluwatosin, an identity thief. From his base in Los Angeles, Olatunji Oluwatosin stole private information, such as credit card numbers, of hundreds of United States citizens from the national database ChoicePoint. Oluwatosin, utilizing the snake’s deceptive arts, remained undetected when he began; however, as his crimes progressed, people became aware of his crimes, leading to his eventual capture. Oluwatosin’s crime shows the complex relationship betweenRead MoreThe Verichip and Its Use Essay1790 Words   |  8 Pagesdatabases make complete profiles on any person who has the VeriChip implant. Included in these biographical sketches may be the consumer’s name, address, social security number, credit reports and even the medical records. An example of this is at, ChoicePoint Inc., a data broker, aggregates and sells personal informat ion to insurance companies, firms looking for improved marketing insights and even the federal government. The company tracks information regarding consumer behavior and maintains databases

Antigone, The Daughter Of Oedipus And Clytemnestra

In this Greacan tragedy, Antigone, the daughter of Oedipus and Clytemnestra seeks to bury her brother Polyneices much against the wishes and orders of her uncle and the king, Creon. Her parents and her brothers are both dead and she wishes to leave behind her beautiful sister Ismene and join her family in the underworld. Polyneices, her brother died fighting for the throne against his brother Eteocles. Polyneices fought against Eteocles for the throne and died fighting. He was from Thebes and in the midst of the war, caused havoc and damage in Thebes. Creon saw this as treason to the state of Thebes as he caused destruction to his own home state. Creon ordered the burial of Eteocles, but ordered that the body of Polyneices must remain and rot for the people of Thebes to understand what treason to the state can cost them. This pained Antigone who rebelled, went against her uncle’s wishes and tried to bury Polyneices. Characters of women in the period of Sophocles were generalized and Antigone highlights how she as a pivotal character to the play did not fit into such generalizations. Antigone was a Greek woman who thought differently from their women and did not wish to continue life on Earth, but wished to go join her family in the underworld. Her desire to join her family was the one which led her to violate the order passed by Creon and bury her brother. ‘And if I have to die for this pure crime,†¨I am content, for I shall rest beside him;†¨His love will answer mine,’ saidShow MoreRelated Destiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice - Prophecies in Oedipus, Antigone, and Agamemnon1008 Words   |  5 Pagesnbsp; The Damning Prophecies in Oedipus, Antigone, and Agamemnonnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; nbsp; Oracles, seers, and prophets are used in Greek tragedy to provide foreshadowing for the audience and characters. The seers wisdom is conveyed through the pronouncement of oracles or prophecies. They confer forecasts to principal characters that affect the characters future. Although not always believed, and often endeavored to be foiled, seers, oracles, and prophets in Greek tragedies foretellRead More The Philosophy and Psychology of Sophocles’s Antigone and The Eumenides in Aeschylus’ Oresteia2178 Words   |  9 PagesThe Philosophy and Psychology of Sophocles’s Antigone and The Eumenides in Aeschylus’ Oresteia There is a consensus among readers of the poetry or plays written in the fifth century that the plays succeed with inspiring profound movement on the audience. The methods or reasons for the reader to be moved by a text are often disputed. Specific to tragic works the concepts of philosophy and psychology are critical elements to understand the cause of the stirred emotions of individuals whoRead MoreGrief And Grief2078 Words   |  9 Pagesin that of the empowerment to the individual knowledge gained. The ways that grief can be to a characters advantage throughout the tragedies varies, with grief playing different roles within each plotline. This is especially seen when comparing Oedipus and Medea. Grief holds such fascination because of its unpredictability and sly way of altering how a character thinks and behaves. The power of grief is unparalleled to any other feeling. Grief is one of, if not the strongest, of human emotion. ItsRead MoreThe Origins of Greek Theatre Essay2307 Words   |  10 Pagesbelieved to be the first play of a trilogy about the marriage of the 50 daughters of Danaà ¼s, which included the plays The Egyptians and The Danaà ¯ds. The Persians, presented in 472 BC, is a historical tragedy about the Battle of Salamà ­s, the scene being laid in Persia at the court of the mother of King Xerxes I.The Seven Against Thebes, produced in 467 BC, is based on a Theban legend, the conflict between the two sons of Oedipus, Eteocles and Polyneices, for the throne of Thebes. It is believed toRead MoreGreek Mythology8088 Words   |  33 Pages  without  a  male  partner.  Subsequently  he  suffered  the  wrath  of  Zeus,   who  once  hurled  him  from  Olympus  for  coming  to  the  aid  of  his  mother;  this  fall  down  onto  the  island   of  Lemnos  crippled  Hephaestus.  The  birth  of  Athena  was  even  stranger.  Zeus  and  Metis,  daughter  of   the  Titan  Oceanus,  were  the  parents  of  Athena.  But  Gaea  had  warned  Zeus  that,  after  giving  birth  to   the  girl  with  whom  she  was  pregnant,  Metis  would  bear  a  son  destined  to  rule  heaven.  To  avoid  losing   his  throne  to  a  son,  Zeus  swallowed  Metis

Mystery and Fear in The Withered Arm Free Essays

string(50) " discomfort of using her name, as if it is taboo\." How does the social/ historical context ad to the fear and mystery created? In the Withered Arm, Hardy uses various literary techniques to create mystery and fear. Through crafting his characters’ personalities, forming events and setting a tone for his story, Hardy treats the reader as If they were one of the characters. Through the story, Information Is drip fed to us as well as the characters which creates mystery, because we experience the consequences of the characters actions along with them. We will write a custom essay sample on Mystery and Fear in The Withered Arm or any similar topic only for you Order Now With the additional background knowledge of historical and social context, the reader is already in the loop, so they can gain a deeper understanding of the story. The modern reader knows that this information could often cause much more fear and mystery back then, due to the superstitious persona’s of people living in the Victorian sass’s. They would have been more easily influenced therefore, in a way, a better audience, as they would have interpreted Hardy’s writing exactly the way he wanted them to- with a feeling of fear and in an atmosphere of mystery. In the first pages of The Withered Arm Hardy sets the tone for his story. Hardy creates a dark tone In chapter one. The title ‘A Loran Milkmaid’ means that the story will be sad about someone who lives an Isolated life and seems to blend Into the background. This Is because In the sass It would be very common for women of a somewhat lower class to be milkmaids. The first sentence also creates mystery ‘It was an 80 cow dairy†¦ Troop of the millers, regular†¦ Were all at work’, this seems like a very casual setting, very normal and plain. This is the factor, which creates mystery, as the reader thinks that it is almost too normal. The word ‘regular’ signifies no break from routine, s if these people have been working this way all their lives. Another quote is the title ‘The Withered Arm’ that coincides with pain, or a wound of some kind. This creates fear, as the person affected could be either dead or alive and it could be any of the characters. Hardy thus Invites the reader to engage in his story. Although setting doesn’t play a strong part In the story, It Is still Important. Take the description of Road’s house for example; ‘a rafter showed Like a bone protruding through the skin’. The reference to the bone creates an ghostly feeling for the reader, as It Is described n quite a graphic manner. It will also cause fear, as the connotations of ‘bone’ include other gory images, like blood. This description allows the reader to empathic with Road’s situation. The description of her house then goes on to say the walls were made of mud, this shows the reader Just how working class Rhoda is and how life must be a struggle for her. We now know that Farmer Lodge, whom she fell pregnant with, was of a higher class, and when he abandoned Rhoda, he clearly left her with very little possessions. In the 19th Century, no husband or an illegitimate hill would immediately lower a woman’s social status, as would lack of expensive material objects. Hardy also uses various personalities In the Withered Arm, to add detail to the story. As each character arrives In the plot, some Information Is slowly revealed. He has designed them for the sole purpose of creating mystery and fear for the reader. Gertrude, as a female character would have been objectified in the Victorian times. Characters I. E. Farmer Lodge, causes us to consider what Gertrude purpose in Holystone is. What with the age difference between her and Lodge, they would have title to discuss and this leads us to think that Lodge only wants her for her looks. For example, ‘†¦ Married experience sank into proneness and worse’, shows how through the decay of Gertrude limb along with her looks, Mr. and Mrs. Lodges’ connections had slowly started to deteriorate. Mentions of Gertrude wishes to ‘regain some at least of her personal beauty give us an idea of the immense stress put on women in Victorian times to look good for their men. This again creates mystery as we wonder what Lodge’s intentions with Gertrude are. The events, which follow the arrival of Gertrude Lodge in Holystone, create a sinister atmosphere. Although Rhoda had never met the new bride, she carried a strong grudge against her, apparently caused by her ever-growing Jealousy. One night Rhoda had a supernatural vision of the young Mrs. Lodge with ‘†¦ Features shockingly distorted†¦ ‘ and ‘†¦ Wrinkled as by age†¦ ‘ In addition, Gertrude flashes her new ring at Rhoda taunting her, the figure thrust forward its left hand mockingly. This shows the reader that Rhoda has not only taken an immediate dislike to Gertrude but also creates mystery because the reader yearns to find out why. In the vision, Rhoda grabs Ghost Gertrude by the arm, which connects with a deeper emotion of envy. Road’s seeming obsession with Gertrude, and finding out everything about her has led to this. Subconsciously, Rhoda may be so Jealous of Gertrude hands, which are so opposite to her own, that she may want to ruin them in some way, to prevent Lodge from being attracted to her. This is why she grabbed Gertrude in her ‘dream’. To cause her hands to Wither’ and at the same time lose their youthfulness. By introducing Rhoda Brooks ‘horrid fascination’ with Gertrude limbs Hardy creates fear. At first, the reader may think that her interest has something to do with Road’s insecurities, which could be triggered by the fact, that she has over-worked her own hands, as she is a milkmaid. However, when Rhoda begins to inquire deeper, through the quote: move never told me what sort of hands she has†, it suggests that she wants even more knowledge. By calling Gertrude ‘she’, it’s similar to fear or discomfort of using her name, as if it is taboo. You read "Mystery and Fear in The Withered Arm" in category "Papers" As the quote is an implied question, we immediately want the answer. The word ‘sort’ entails that there are many types of hands, which seems strange to the reader. Maybe Rhoda thinks that the ‘quality of hands signifies Gertrude class. There is also already reference to the title Withered Arm’. There is almost a sickening feeling of some kind of affection towards Gertrude, but Hardy also creates fear, by never fully explaining the two women’s relationship. Thomas Hardy manages to create both mystery and fear, through the question asked in the aftermath of Road’s late night encounter. â€Å"What was the noise in your chimer last night†¦ You fell off the bed surely? Hardy gives the question to Road’s son, who is already an inquisitive character; this gives IM an innocent incentive, to enquire without suspicion. The mystery is created for the reader because supposedly, Road’s encounter was a dream, however if Road’s son heard it too, we begin to question the likeliness of what we’v e been told. Hardy has created doubt for the reader, and we are now suspicious of both Rhoda and Gertrude. Fear is created for Rhoda as she has already assumed that â€Å"it was not a dream†, but now her uncertainties have been confirmed. The question comes directly and used it effectively. As the reader, we are both surprised and fearful of this ‘incubus’ which is apparently haunting Rhoda. As the truth hits both reader and character at the same time, Hardy makes it easier for us to empathic with her. When Farmer Lodge, lies to Gertrude about Rhoda and her son, secrecy is introduced into the Withered Arm. The quote â€Å"l think he lives with his mother, a mile of two off’ creates mystery, in the sense that, a son would not really be something to keep secret from one’s new wife. As the reader, we know that the boy is in fact Farmer Lodge’s son, so when we catch him in the lie, we wonder how trustworthy he may be. In Victorian times, ‘a mile or two off would be a very long distance, and would usually mean, outside the village. Why would such a wealthy man, worry about a 3rd class worker from his farm, who probably lives quite a Journey away. Is Lodge ashamed of his ex-family, or is he simply trying to hide their ongoing contact from Gertrude? The reader once again asks questions, as does Gertrude, but Farmer Lodge seems to keep his answers vague in order to avoid confrontation. It is as if he is trying to conceal his old life from his new life, so we get the idea that he is living in constant fear of his two worlds colliding. This mysterious factor not only make us question whether he loud be willing to sever his ties with his other family to prevent sabotaging his new ‘sugar-daddy profile but also whether he may be hiding other, more private secrets†¦ During the women’s Journey to visit Trundle, Hardy uses pathetic fallacy to create fear. The quote thick clouds made the atmosphere dark, though it was yet only early afternoon’ shows how the weather sets a dampener on the mood, consequently creating tension between Gertrude and Rhoda. It is common knowledge, that rain and dark clouds indicate bad weather, which can generate fear not only through setting the mood. To show that something strange is about to happen a connection between gloominess and the supernatural is established, as the quote goes on to say: ‘The wind howled’. This not only personifies the wind, by giving it a voice of its own but also, howling can be linked to werewolves which are supernatural animals often used in stories to portray the supernatural, therefore creating a mysterious and unnerving feeling for the reader. By slowly, introducing negative vocabulary in this section such as ‘dismally Hardy has captivated our attention, as he prepares us for the event, which will quickly change the course of the story. This yet again shows his consideration of structure and language to create mystery and fear. The curse in this tale is the reason why Gertrude develops a Withered Arm’; however, it is not confirmed who cursed Gertrude until she visits Conjurer Trundle. In the sass’s medical science was not half as advanced as it is today therefore people would turn to look for answers in the thing they knew best; superstition. This is why Gertrude unfortunate incident is explained purely through magic; Conjurer Trundle would not have enough information in order to diagnose her with medical facts to back up his sections. Hardy’s purpose for Trundle, as a character, is to incorporate fear in the story. From the very beginning, the reader has reason to be suspicious of the Conjurer. The quote â€Å"they say†¦ He had powers other folks had not† spoken by Gertrude, means that he would have a unique ability to perform rituals and spells of the mystical sort in order to aid the village people in their issues. The fact that Rhoda says they also adds mystery, as often the insecurity of the Victorian townspeople, would leave people with unanswered questions. It is indefinite where this information is coming from. The hesitation in Road’s voice would show that people would have a wary attitude toward Conjurer Trundle. His name in itself has a mysterious sound as to conjure’ could mean to summon’. Would this mysterious figure ‘summon’ some spirits to reveal Rhoda as Gertrude enemy? Hardy has written in such detail to ensure that both reader and character are wary of his personality. Another quote, its the work of an enemy causes distrust towards Trundle from the readers and the characters view, as they wonder how Trundle could have possibly made such a quick diagnosis and thus makes the reader evaluate how reliable Trundle is. In addition, how the verdict is delivered in such a short and spunky sentence shows the reader what a solemn character he is, almost replying nationalistically as if he was preoccupied elsewhere. The suddenness of it creates fear and the reader is almost frightened of reading on. When afterwards Gertrude attitude has changed so eerily in such a short amount of time the reader can be confident that the ‘enemy described is Rhoda herself. On of the scariest events is the death of Road’s son, not a main character in the story but an event, which abruptly ends the story; thus making it more mysterious. When Gertrude visits the jail to fulfill her last spell in order to cure her arm, there is a shocking twist of fate. The quote ‘a second shriek rent the air of the enclosure’ warns the reader that there have been consequences of the actions of a character. The word ‘shriek signifies pain, and as the same word is used to describe the feeling of relief coming from Gertrude to the horror-stricken Rhoda, more fear is created. How can these two women have anything more in common? The reader is afraid of what Rhoda will do next, as Hardy has already shown us her true colors so we know exactly what she is capable of. By changing the plot, Hardy creates even more mystery. As the reader, we were sure that a happy ending would ensue, we now once again fear for Gertrude, as her ‘enemy has returned. This broadens the possibilities of what could happen next and creates both mystery and fear. Hardy has yet again induced a feeling of uncertainty for the reader, by leaving the story at such an ambiguous point. Throughout ‘The Withered Arm’ we have had to use our own Judgment and instincts to try to predict the story, which is what has created a fair part of the mystery for the reader. We also fear our own opinion, of making a false accusation and surprising ourselves. Hardy has pressured us into doing this and therefore induced fear from the very beginning, while withholding information, without us even reading too deep into the story. Through leaving certain questions unanswered, I empathetic with people from the Victorian era, who would also have been kept in the dark. I appreciate the way that Hardy has molded his story to create mystery and fear, through his individual writing style. He has kept the reader attentive, thinking through every detail carefully while making his story engaging and entertaining. Yet another successfully created literary piece by Thomas Hardy. How to cite Mystery and Fear in The Withered Arm, Papers

Mystery and Fear in The Withered Arm Free Essays

string(50) " discomfort of using her name, as if it is taboo\." How does the social/ historical context ad to the fear and mystery created? In the Withered Arm, Hardy uses various literary techniques to create mystery and fear. Through crafting his characters’ personalities, forming events and setting a tone for his story, Hardy treats the reader as If they were one of the characters. Through the story, Information Is drip fed to us as well as the characters which creates mystery, because we experience the consequences of the characters actions along with them. We will write a custom essay sample on Mystery and Fear in The Withered Arm or any similar topic only for you Order Now With the additional background knowledge of historical and social context, the reader is already in the loop, so they can gain a deeper understanding of the story. The modern reader knows that this information could often cause much more fear and mystery back then, due to the superstitious persona’s of people living in the Victorian sass’s. They would have been more easily influenced therefore, in a way, a better audience, as they would have interpreted Hardy’s writing exactly the way he wanted them to- with a feeling of fear and in an atmosphere of mystery. In the first pages of The Withered Arm Hardy sets the tone for his story. Hardy creates a dark tone In chapter one. The title ‘A Loran Milkmaid’ means that the story will be sad about someone who lives an Isolated life and seems to blend Into the background. This Is because In the sass It would be very common for women of a somewhat lower class to be milkmaids. The first sentence also creates mystery ‘It was an 80 cow dairy†¦ Troop of the millers, regular†¦ Were all at work’, this seems like a very casual setting, very normal and plain. This is the factor, which creates mystery, as the reader thinks that it is almost too normal. The word ‘regular’ signifies no break from routine, s if these people have been working this way all their lives. Another quote is the title ‘The Withered Arm’ that coincides with pain, or a wound of some kind. This creates fear, as the person affected could be either dead or alive and it could be any of the characters. Hardy thus Invites the reader to engage in his story. Although setting doesn’t play a strong part In the story, It Is still Important. Take the description of Road’s house for example; ‘a rafter showed Like a bone protruding through the skin’. The reference to the bone creates an ghostly feeling for the reader, as It Is described n quite a graphic manner. It will also cause fear, as the connotations of ‘bone’ include other gory images, like blood. This description allows the reader to empathic with Road’s situation. The description of her house then goes on to say the walls were made of mud, this shows the reader Just how working class Rhoda is and how life must be a struggle for her. We now know that Farmer Lodge, whom she fell pregnant with, was of a higher class, and when he abandoned Rhoda, he clearly left her with very little possessions. In the 19th Century, no husband or an illegitimate hill would immediately lower a woman’s social status, as would lack of expensive material objects. Hardy also uses various personalities In the Withered Arm, to add detail to the story. As each character arrives In the plot, some Information Is slowly revealed. He has designed them for the sole purpose of creating mystery and fear for the reader. Gertrude, as a female character would have been objectified in the Victorian times. Characters I. E. Farmer Lodge, causes us to consider what Gertrude purpose in Holystone is. What with the age difference between her and Lodge, they would have title to discuss and this leads us to think that Lodge only wants her for her looks. For example, ‘†¦ Married experience sank into proneness and worse’, shows how through the decay of Gertrude limb along with her looks, Mr. and Mrs. Lodges’ connections had slowly started to deteriorate. Mentions of Gertrude wishes to ‘regain some at least of her personal beauty give us an idea of the immense stress put on women in Victorian times to look good for their men. This again creates mystery as we wonder what Lodge’s intentions with Gertrude are. The events, which follow the arrival of Gertrude Lodge in Holystone, create a sinister atmosphere. Although Rhoda had never met the new bride, she carried a strong grudge against her, apparently caused by her ever-growing Jealousy. One night Rhoda had a supernatural vision of the young Mrs. Lodge with ‘†¦ Features shockingly distorted†¦ ‘ and ‘†¦ Wrinkled as by age†¦ ‘ In addition, Gertrude flashes her new ring at Rhoda taunting her, the figure thrust forward its left hand mockingly. This shows the reader that Rhoda has not only taken an immediate dislike to Gertrude but also creates mystery because the reader yearns to find out why. In the vision, Rhoda grabs Ghost Gertrude by the arm, which connects with a deeper emotion of envy. Road’s seeming obsession with Gertrude, and finding out everything about her has led to this. Subconsciously, Rhoda may be so Jealous of Gertrude hands, which are so opposite to her own, that she may want to ruin them in some way, to prevent Lodge from being attracted to her. This is why she grabbed Gertrude in her ‘dream’. To cause her hands to Wither’ and at the same time lose their youthfulness. By introducing Rhoda Brooks ‘horrid fascination’ with Gertrude limbs Hardy creates fear. At first, the reader may think that her interest has something to do with Road’s insecurities, which could be triggered by the fact, that she has over-worked her own hands, as she is a milkmaid. However, when Rhoda begins to inquire deeper, through the quote: move never told me what sort of hands she has†, it suggests that she wants even more knowledge. By calling Gertrude ‘she’, it’s similar to fear or discomfort of using her name, as if it is taboo. You read "Mystery and Fear in The Withered Arm" in category "Papers" As the quote is an implied question, we immediately want the answer. The word ‘sort’ entails that there are many types of hands, which seems strange to the reader. Maybe Rhoda thinks that the ‘quality of hands signifies Gertrude class. There is also already reference to the title Withered Arm’. There is almost a sickening feeling of some kind of affection towards Gertrude, but Hardy also creates fear, by never fully explaining the two women’s relationship. Thomas Hardy manages to create both mystery and fear, through the question asked in the aftermath of Road’s late night encounter. â€Å"What was the noise in your chimer last night†¦ You fell off the bed surely? Hardy gives the question to Road’s son, who is already an inquisitive character; this gives IM an innocent incentive, to enquire without suspicion. The mystery is created for the reader because supposedly, Road’s encounter was a dream, however if Road’s son heard it too, we begin to question the likeliness of what we’v e been told. Hardy has created doubt for the reader, and we are now suspicious of both Rhoda and Gertrude. Fear is created for Rhoda as she has already assumed that â€Å"it was not a dream†, but now her uncertainties have been confirmed. The question comes directly and used it effectively. As the reader, we are both surprised and fearful of this ‘incubus’ which is apparently haunting Rhoda. As the truth hits both reader and character at the same time, Hardy makes it easier for us to empathic with her. When Farmer Lodge, lies to Gertrude about Rhoda and her son, secrecy is introduced into the Withered Arm. The quote â€Å"l think he lives with his mother, a mile of two off’ creates mystery, in the sense that, a son would not really be something to keep secret from one’s new wife. As the reader, we know that the boy is in fact Farmer Lodge’s son, so when we catch him in the lie, we wonder how trustworthy he may be. In Victorian times, ‘a mile or two off would be a very long distance, and would usually mean, outside the village. Why would such a wealthy man, worry about a 3rd class worker from his farm, who probably lives quite a Journey away. Is Lodge ashamed of his ex-family, or is he simply trying to hide their ongoing contact from Gertrude? The reader once again asks questions, as does Gertrude, but Farmer Lodge seems to keep his answers vague in order to avoid confrontation. It is as if he is trying to conceal his old life from his new life, so we get the idea that he is living in constant fear of his two worlds colliding. This mysterious factor not only make us question whether he loud be willing to sever his ties with his other family to prevent sabotaging his new ‘sugar-daddy profile but also whether he may be hiding other, more private secrets†¦ During the women’s Journey to visit Trundle, Hardy uses pathetic fallacy to create fear. The quote thick clouds made the atmosphere dark, though it was yet only early afternoon’ shows how the weather sets a dampener on the mood, consequently creating tension between Gertrude and Rhoda. It is common knowledge, that rain and dark clouds indicate bad weather, which can generate fear not only through setting the mood. To show that something strange is about to happen a connection between gloominess and the supernatural is established, as the quote goes on to say: ‘The wind howled’. This not only personifies the wind, by giving it a voice of its own but also, howling can be linked to werewolves which are supernatural animals often used in stories to portray the supernatural, therefore creating a mysterious and unnerving feeling for the reader. By slowly, introducing negative vocabulary in this section such as ‘dismally Hardy has captivated our attention, as he prepares us for the event, which will quickly change the course of the story. This yet again shows his consideration of structure and language to create mystery and fear. The curse in this tale is the reason why Gertrude develops a Withered Arm’; however, it is not confirmed who cursed Gertrude until she visits Conjurer Trundle. In the sass’s medical science was not half as advanced as it is today therefore people would turn to look for answers in the thing they knew best; superstition. This is why Gertrude unfortunate incident is explained purely through magic; Conjurer Trundle would not have enough information in order to diagnose her with medical facts to back up his sections. Hardy’s purpose for Trundle, as a character, is to incorporate fear in the story. From the very beginning, the reader has reason to be suspicious of the Conjurer. The quote â€Å"they say†¦ He had powers other folks had not† spoken by Gertrude, means that he would have a unique ability to perform rituals and spells of the mystical sort in order to aid the village people in their issues. The fact that Rhoda says they also adds mystery, as often the insecurity of the Victorian townspeople, would leave people with unanswered questions. It is indefinite where this information is coming from. The hesitation in Road’s voice would show that people would have a wary attitude toward Conjurer Trundle. His name in itself has a mysterious sound as to conjure’ could mean to summon’. Would this mysterious figure ‘summon’ some spirits to reveal Rhoda as Gertrude enemy? Hardy has written in such detail to ensure that both reader and character are wary of his personality. Another quote, its the work of an enemy causes distrust towards Trundle from the readers and the characters view, as they wonder how Trundle could have possibly made such a quick diagnosis and thus makes the reader evaluate how reliable Trundle is. In addition, how the verdict is delivered in such a short and spunky sentence shows the reader what a solemn character he is, almost replying nationalistically as if he was preoccupied elsewhere. The suddenness of it creates fear and the reader is almost frightened of reading on. When afterwards Gertrude attitude has changed so eerily in such a short amount of time the reader can be confident that the ‘enemy described is Rhoda herself. On of the scariest events is the death of Road’s son, not a main character in the story but an event, which abruptly ends the story; thus making it more mysterious. When Gertrude visits the jail to fulfill her last spell in order to cure her arm, there is a shocking twist of fate. The quote ‘a second shriek rent the air of the enclosure’ warns the reader that there have been consequences of the actions of a character. The word ‘shriek signifies pain, and as the same word is used to describe the feeling of relief coming from Gertrude to the horror-stricken Rhoda, more fear is created. How can these two women have anything more in common? The reader is afraid of what Rhoda will do next, as Hardy has already shown us her true colors so we know exactly what she is capable of. By changing the plot, Hardy creates even more mystery. As the reader, we were sure that a happy ending would ensue, we now once again fear for Gertrude, as her ‘enemy has returned. This broadens the possibilities of what could happen next and creates both mystery and fear. Hardy has yet again induced a feeling of uncertainty for the reader, by leaving the story at such an ambiguous point. Throughout ‘The Withered Arm’ we have had to use our own Judgment and instincts to try to predict the story, which is what has created a fair part of the mystery for the reader. We also fear our own opinion, of making a false accusation and surprising ourselves. Hardy has pressured us into doing this and therefore induced fear from the very beginning, while withholding information, without us even reading too deep into the story. Through leaving certain questions unanswered, I empathetic with people from the Victorian era, who would also have been kept in the dark. I appreciate the way that Hardy has molded his story to create mystery and fear, through his individual writing style. He has kept the reader attentive, thinking through every detail carefully while making his story engaging and entertaining. Yet another successfully created literary piece by Thomas Hardy. How to cite Mystery and Fear in The Withered Arm, Papers