The Life of Martin Guerre Essay Example for Free

The Life of Martin Guerre Essay 1) Much of the first page is taken up with descriptions of the country. What does it communicate? Descriptions of the land and country in which the characters live sets the scene and the time period of the story. On the first page, we are given images of isolation due to the heavy winter that buried [the land] under whiteness. This gives us a view into the feudalist lifestyles of the peasants in the mountains, and the leisure they enjoyed despite their hard work. 2) Why is the marriage of Bertrande de Rols and Martin Guerre the first scene in this novel? The marriage of Bertrande de Rols and Martin Guerre is the main focus of the entire story, which is the reason why the book begins in such a way. The story later goes back and explains the relationship between the two families and how their arranged marriage came about, but the initial focus is on the marriage itself in its infancy. 3) What does the reader learn of the families involved in the wedding in the first pages? The reader learns that the families Guerre and de Rols are both rich and prosperous peasant families living in the village of Artigues. The families had been rivals for generations, ever since there was a misunderstanding between the great-grandfathers of the young couple. However, the birth and betrothal of Martin and Bertrande, who were born a very short time apart,  marked the end of the families quarrels. 4) Why is Martin so accepting when he is punished by his father? Martin knows his place in the family. One day he will grow up to take his fathers position at the head of the table as the cap dhostal. He understands that if he has no obedience for [his] father, [his] son will have none for [him]. He must learn to obey his father and learn from him in every way, so that he will be capable of filling his shoes when his father is gone. Otherwise, the family will be left in ruin [and] despair. In a sense, Martin is expected to become his father, which we later find out is not his wish at all. 5) Why cant Bertrande stay contentedly with Arnaud, a man who gives her pleasure, supports her family and is a good farmer? Despite the fact that Arnaud was the man for whom [Bertrande] felta great and joyous passion, she couldnt stay contentedly with him. She was a very strong catholic who could not accept the shadow of sin and danger which accompanied [Arnaud], even though he made her happier than Martin ever could or would have. 6) Why is nobody prepared to support and believe Bertrande? If Bertrande were to win the case against Arnaud, the only person the victory would benefit is herself. She would have peace of mind in the fact that she was right, and she would have a chance at absolution from her sins. However, she would be going against the common good. Everyone else in her family realises that the outcome of the case will determine the familys fate in generations to come, and for this reason would have [her] still deceived. Her sister-in-law pleads with her to drop the charges, otherwise the family shall never be happy again [and] the farm will never prosper again. 7) Why do you think Arnaud du Tilh refuses to leave Bertrande when she gives him warning of her conviction? When Arnaud came to the Guerre household in the guise of Martin Guerre, he had originallyintended to stay only long enough to pick up a little silver or gold. However, he ended up getting more than he bargained for. He fell in love with Bertrande, which prohibited him from deserting her to years of pain. To leave at this time would also look like an admission of guilt. Arnaud had found himself stuck in the situation, and had no choice but to sit tight and hope that he was not found guilty. 8) Why might Bertrande feel unsure about prosecuting the new Martin? Bertrande, like Arnaud, was in a lose-lose situation. Her love for Arnaud was as strong as his love for her, and he did not appear a monster to her. However, to stay with him would be to commit a sin most black, going against her beliefs and principles. On the other hand, prosecuting him would destroy everything that made her happy Arnaud, her family and the farm. This caused her to be unsure about what course of action to take. CHAPTER TWO: Rieux 9) What is the significance of Bertrandes confusion about the sun? Bertrandes confusion about the sun reflects her strength of mind. Everything seemed strangeshe had never before left the parish of Artigues. The first time Bertrande left Artigues and stayed in her aunts house, the sun seemed to shine through western windows in the morning. In actual fact the windows were facing east and the sun shone as normal; the only difference was Bertrandes confused perception due to her being in a foreign place. The next time she stays in the house is when she is older and stronger, and she [marvels] that she had ever felt confused about the direction. 10) Why does Arnaud smile when he hears Bertrandes response to his death sentence? Arnaud really did love Bertrande and cared for her deeply, ordering all things he could imagine to increase her comfort when she was ill. When he hears her outcry in spite of the sentence just passed upon him, his face [is] brightwith joy. In view of what has happened, this is a powerful quote from which we finally gain some insight into Arnauds character. This man has been sentenced to death, yet all he cares about is the fact that Bertrande does indeed have feelings for him and love him as he loves her. CHAPTER THREE: Toulouse 11) Read Bertrandes conversation with the priest. Why does he try to convince Bertrande to withdraw charges against Arnaud du Tilh? The priest, having considered the entire situation closely, believes the consequences would be far less if Bertrande withdrew the accusation against Arnaud. He has had much to do with Arnaud, and suspects himself that he is not the true Martin Guerre. However, he valued him more than he valued the raw, impatientthoughtlessselfish Martin Guerre who ran away and was willing to accept the new Martin who he says simply spent eight years in a hard school. 12) What do you think of the idea that Bertrande is motivated to proceed with the appeal out of anger at those who have oppressed her? Can this idea be supported by the text? In an era where women were indeed oppressed in a male-dominated society, it is understandable that a woman like Bertrande would have feelings of anger towards her oppressors. It is certain that she feels anger and a kind of hatred towards Arnaud, saying that [she] has not demanded his death, but now [she] must demand it. It is possible that Arnaud is copping the brunt of all of her hardships that came about after Martin left her. Although this idea is feasible, Bertrande has several other reasons for pursuing justice. By falling in love with Arnaud, he has damned [her] soul. Because she believes that this is a mortal sin, she wants to be  ridof his presence by any means necessary. It is also her biggest flaw, her incapability to deny the truth, that she must pursue it to the end. 13) On her journey to Toulouse, Bertrande recalls that in her mind she travelled this journey with Martin when he first left home. Why does Martins memory motivate her to pursue this course against Arnaud du Tilh? Even though Martin never treated Bertrande as well as Arnaud did, he still represented for her what is morally right because she was committed to him through marriage. In this sense, the memory of Martin brings back the memory of a simple life, free of lies and conspiracy, where her happiness came from knowing she was doing the right thing. 14) During the trial, why is the uncles description of Arnaud so damning? Carbon Bareau describes Arnaud in a way that everyone can identify with. He says that he has a way of stealing the heart, which is exactly what he did when he first came to the Guerre household. The priest valued him, the children loved him, and so did Bertrande. Carbon Bareau also says that he has no respect for the laws, which gave people an explanation of his anger when he was refused the money entrusted to Pierre Guerre. 15) After the trial, loneliness and solitude are again Bertrandes fate. She receives little support from her family, her church, the court or the waiting crowds. In this context, what does solitary justice mean? Bertrande has found justice in the outcome of the trial; however she is the only one who will benefit from it. She has lost everyone she loves for the sake of a truth, to free [herself] from a deceit which was consuming and killing [her]. Bertrande was doomed to live an unhappy, solitary life, whatever she did. If she dropped the accusation, she would be unhappy because of her sins. Because she followed it through, she lost everything. CHAPTER FOUR: Afterword 16) What effect does the information about the original trial report have on your understanding of The Wife of Martin Guerre? The original trial report made me realise that The Wife of Martin Guerre is based on real events in history, therefore making the events in the story seem more feasible. 17) Is it wise, or desirable or even possible to represent this story accurately? Janet Lewis says that the story which I offer here differs somewhat from the [real] story, because no verdict or decision was actually reached. If this had have been the case in The Wife of Martin Guerre, we would not be left with the sense of irony and moral injustice that created the vital messages we take from the story. THEMES: The nature of deception 1) Why does her family continue to believe the impostor is Martin after Bertrandes accusations? Because of the success of the Feudal/patriarchal society Bertrandes family have happily lived in for generations, they would not change a cobblestone. They choose to disbelieve Bertrande, for it is only the truth for [her], not for [them]. By doing this, they choose to keep their happiness and prosperity without feeling any guilt. 2) The family wants Bertrande to pretend that Arnaud is her husband to maintain the happiness he has brought them. What does this suggest about deception? The situation presented in the novel may suggest that deception is not entirely black-and-white, as it is often perceived to be. Although Arnaud is doing the wrong thing by impersonating Martin and intruding on the lives of the Guerre family, he proves himself to be a kinder, gentler, more  passionate man than the true Martin ever was. Even though Arnauds deception is wrong, many good things come out of it. 3) How is it possible for Bertrande to be deceived into mistaking Arnaud du Tilh for her husband? Because Bertrande was so unhappy in Martins absence, her defences against Arnauds way of stealing the heart were weak. She just wanted to be happy again, and Arnaud took advantage of all the emotion tightly tied in check for so many years. It is also possible that she accepted Arnaud in order to spite the real Martin for being cruel to her. 4) Do you think the novel suggests that deception might at times be justified? The novel suggests that deception, although generally being a bad thing, can sometimes have positive outcomes. It also strongly enforces that however justified deception may be, the truth cannot be hidden forever. Bertrande tried to deny the truth early on because the new Martin made her happy, but this came back to haunt her when her suspicion turned to certainty and she knew she was committing a huge sin. If everybody had have decided to accept Arnaud as Martin and live the white lie, business on the farm would have gone on as usual. However, Bertrande could not, with a clear conscience, justify going against her beliefs and becoming the wife of Arnaud du Tilh. 5) Are those who believe Arnaud wilfully blind, or are they actually completely innocent of his deceit? There are many reasons why many people rejected the notion that Arnaud was not the real Martin Guerre. Most of Bertrandes family believed that Bertrande had gone mad as a result of Martins long absence, followed by his sudden return. Others thought that she had a greed of authority and of money, saying that it was all a plan to destroy Martin and possess the farm. Even if Bertrandes family did know that Arnaud was an impostor, they wouldnt have kicked up a fuss about it. Their main concern was the wellbeing of the farm and their happy lifestyle, and would not jeopardise that by siding with Bertrande. THEMES: Social institutions and the individual 6) RELIGION: What is the priests motivation in encouraging Bertrande to go against the rules of her religion by staying with a man she believes is not her husband? When the priest urges Bertrande to withdraw the charges before it is too late, he knows that this will be going against her religious morals. He is justified in saying this though, because he believes Bertrande is in danger of sinning far more greatly than if she stayed with Arnaud. If she sends a good and worthy man to his death to achieve vengeance, the priest is afraid that she will harm not only [herself], but all who love [her], 7) MARRIAGE: Why does Bertrande not have the same freedom as Martin to reject the institutions that govern her? Bertrande lives in sixteenth century France, in an era where the patriarchal system was dominant. Women were expected to be virtuous and faithful to their husbands, and did not have the freedom, rights and opportunities that the men had. 8) THE LEGAL SYSTEM: Is Bertrande wrong to trust that the law will deliver the truth? It was always a risky endeavour for Bertrande to try and prosecute Arnaud du Tilh. In a time where women were not supposed to be individuals, it is surprising that she was given any credibility by the judges at all. In the end, however, the law did deliver the truth. Bertrandes fault was that she relied on it to solve all her problems. This was not possible, as legal  justice and moral justice are two very different things. 9) WOMEN AND POWER: Explore the role of each woman in the text and discuss the impact of their lack of autonomy and power on their lives. Bertrande did not show the characteristics typically seen in women of her time. She displayed very strong and individual qualities, but her gender did not allow her to express herself, which she needed to do. Being a woman trapped her in her situation with Arnaud, because she was expected by everyone else to be the faithful wife to both Martin and his impersonator. Madame Guerre was in the same position as Bertrande. As the wife of the cap dhostal, she was expected to support her husband in every way she could. We see evidence of the impact of her lack of power when Martin receives his punishment from his father: Madame Guerre caught her breath but made no outcry. She was opposed to this harsh punishment and wanted to comfort her son, but she knew that she could not argue with the head of the house. She, too, often had to make sacrifices for the common good. Martins sisters were treated equally to every other woman in the house. They were given duties that they were expected to carry out, and had no choice in the matter. In the novel, we are not even given the sisters names, which shows how unimportant they were as individuals. 10) INDIVIDUAL ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Does the family fulfil its responsibilities to Bertrande, just as she tries to fulfil her responsibilities in return? The family didnt have any responsibilities towards Bertrande in the first place. Everything that everyone did was to serve the family as a whole, and so they gave Bertrande no support in her quest for truth and justice because it was detrimental to the family. They were not interested in pursuing a truth that none of [them] believed. THEMES: Justice 11) LEGAL JUSTICE: Arnaud du Tilh is convicted of multiple crimes but Martin Guerre is convicted of none. Is this just? Martin Guerre should have received equal punishment to Arnaud, because his abandonment was the very cause of all the problems in the first place. He gave his permission for Arnaud to impersonate him. While Martin was off abandoning his family and his responsibility, Arnaud was in his place earning the respect many say that he deserved more than Martin did anyway. 12) MORAL JUSTICE: Do you think that Bertrandes position suggests that moral justice is not achieved? In the official court document, there is a phrase that says, But I would willingly ask you if this Monsieur Martin Guerre who was so harsh towards his wife, did not deserve a punishment as severe as that of Arnaut Tillier, for having been by his absence the cause of this wrongdoing? One would think that Bertrandes victory would finally give her freedom and credibility. However, she is given the opposite bitter, solitary justice. Nobody really cares that she was right, and they do not try to stop her when she leaves. If moral justice had been achieved, Bertrande would not have ended up in the position she did.

Can Utopia be obtained in a Capitalist Society :: essays research papers

In a capitalist society can utopia really be obtained? I really don’t think so; because if utopia is defined as a place of ideal perfection especially in laws, government, and social conditions, then a place where everything is perfect for everyone is not likely. Perfection, I believe, cannot be obtained in a capitalist society because of competition. Competition can help society in many areas, such as improving technology, forcing individuals to work harder, and making more money for the overall economy. But ideal perfection can’t be realistic with competition.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Because of competition, in my opinion, perfection in laws cannot be attained. One reason I think this is true is because of the many laws that governments of a capitalist society has; such as monopoly be outlawed. Laws are not ideal perfect because they are some people who would want to generate more money and can’t because of some law that would prevent them to do so. There might also be some ethical issues between businesses that might lead to imperfection. There might be some common law within businesses that might be unfair for other business that makes society imperfect. Ideal perfection means that all people in the society are not only happy with their economic status but also have no need to improve on that, and when we have competition playing a major part in our society, there is no chance of improvement not happening.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Government perfection is really hard to attained because it is rare when everyone agrees on something that the government provides. Government has to maintain not only a good economic system, but also a stable society. In an ideally perfect government there cannot be any differentiation in taxes, nor can there be such a great difference between upper class and lower class. In a capitalistic society there is differentiation in taxes and a wide gap between upper and lower class incomes. A good, successful government in my opinion cannot be ideally perfect. I would think that that could only happen if the government controls the people, like a communist country, but then that in the society’s point of view isn’t perfect either.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Can social conditions really be perfect, ideally perfect, for everyone? This is I believe the strongest argument against attaining utopia. What is perfect social conditions, is it everyone having a job, family, and values. Is it following the economic system and trying to reach for the ultimate goal in a capitalist society, which is the bottom line.

Explore F.Scotts Fitzgeralds presentation of class and wealth in The Great Gatsby and The Diamond as Big as the Ritz

Wealth and social class permeate much of F. Scott Fitzgerald's ‘The Great Gatsby' and ‘The Diamond as Big as the Ritz'. Set during the roaring twenties when many people had newly accumulated wealth after the war, both texts seek to explore and satirise the complexities of wealth and social class. They particularly focus on how far people may go to fit into a social class or protect their fortune. Despite ‘The Diamond as Big as the Ritz' being set within the fantasy genre, elements of Fitzgerald's own life run as undercurrents throughout both texts. Fitzgerald's life features heavily in the texts, be it through the characterisation of Nick and Gatsby or the underlying references to his personal experiences. The experiences of the main protagonists' form parallels with Fitzgerald's interactions with the wealthy, both at Princeton and Great Neck and in his relationship with Zelda. ‘The Diamond as Big as the Ritz' satirises the exuberant wealth experienced by Fitzgerald when visiting a Princeton classmate. ‘The Great Gatsby' on the other hand, is more reliant on aspects of Fitzgerald's own life which forms the emotional foundation of the novel. Gatsby's relationship with Daisy mirrors Fitzgerald's turbulent relationship with Zelda who much like Daisy, was regarded as being incredibly materialistic. Gatsby can therefore be seen as a representing Fitzgerald's pursuit of sufficient wealth to support an aristocratic love interest. He does this to the detriment of his artistic integrity which he compromised by writing short stories to fund Zelda's opulent lifestyle. This is mirrored by Gatsby compromising his integrity and personal worth by bootlegging and lying about being the ‘son of some wealthy people in the Middle-West', in order to please Daisy and hopefully gain acceptance. He fails in both these areas. In integrating elements of his personal life, Fitzgerald may be implying that loving someone of a different social class comes with compromises and that one may lose sight of who they are in the process. ‘The Great Gatsby' by virtue of its representations of wealth and class can be seen as a running criticism of the American Dream and America's obsession with wealth amidst the hedonistic culture of the 1920's. The American Dream had originally been founded on the notion that anyone, irrespective of their background could achieve anything in the ‘land of opportunity' if they worked hard enough. Fitzgerald however, believed that the American Dream was just an ‘illusion' and that it had been corrupted by the of pursuit wealth. He consistently challenged the idea of the achievability of the American Dream in ‘The Great Gatsby'. The geographical motifs of East and West Egg embody just how unachievable the American Dream is. This geographical separation may symbolise the hypothetical and literal divides between the nouveau riche who reside in West Egg and aristocrats of East egg, consequently highlighting how they will forever lead separate existences. This gives the impression of the American Dream being highly flawed, as having acquired great wealth does not translate into acceptance for the people of West Egg, who are seen as the social subordinates of the aristocrats of East Egg. This is further established by the behaviour of the guests at Gatsby's party. The people of West Egg lack the refinement, grace and manners of their aristocratic counterparts for whom these traits form the rudiments of their social class. This consequently demonstrates how East and West Egg are separated by more than geographical distance but also by simple things such as social etiquette and fashion choices. Jordan's party (who consist of fellow East Eggers) are ‘spread around a table on the outside of the garden' ‘carefully on guard', emphasising that even within the intimate confines of the party the divide is still apparent and the people of East Egg are reluctant to mix. The corruption of the American Dream is further explored through the main protagonists' initial amazement and delight (early on in the text) at the great wealth they encounter. Fitzgerald employs a myriad of symbolisms, metaphors and similes to depict the sheer luxury and over exuberance of the aristocrats within both texts. Through these devices he is able to satirise the materialistic world the aristocrats inhabit, making it appear outlandish. In ‘The Diamond as Big as the Ritz' John Unger, a boy from Hades with ‘meager standards of living' is ‘amused and delighted', by the luxurious lifestyle Percy and his family lead. When he arrives with Percy they are driven in what Percy dismissively calls a ‘buggy'. However, the reader can extrapolate from John's reaction at the ‘thousand minute tapestries of silk, woven with jewels' that the vehicle is far from an old buggy. In this instance John's amazement may have been employed to paradox Percy's dismissive attitude towards wealth as he refers to the luxurious car as ‘old junk'. Fitzgerald may have used this paradox highlight the hollow nature of the wealthy, whose lives are fueled by consumerism to the extent that they place little value to the possessions everyone else would deem as extraordinary. In ‘The Great Gatsby', Nick is also amazed by the wealth he experiences at the Buchanan home. His first interaction with Daisy and Jordon has a dream like quality to it. When he meets the women they are dressed in white, ‘their dresses rippling and fluttering †¦ a short flight around the house' this gives the women an angelic quality which hints at how Nick is initially drawn in by their great wealth. This surreal and dream like quality of wealth is also reflected in ‘The Diamond as Big as the Ritz' with the depiction of the girl who is dressed like ‘Titania'. In the play, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Titania is the queen of the fairies which Fitzgerald may have used to allude to the magical and mystifying qualities of wealth present within both texts. Conversely, the amazement the main protagonists' initially showcased soon dissipates when they discover the corruptive nature of wealth and the wealthy. Despite the people of East Egg possessing an abundance of grace, elegance and taste (that comes with adhering to the norms of aristocratic society) they lack compassion. The East Eggers are presented as little more than bullies who use their money to alleviate any concerns they have, irrespective of who they hurt in the process. This morally corrupt nature of the rich is explored through the Buchanan's in ‘The Great Gatsby' and the Washingtons' in ‘The Diamond as Big as the Ritz'. The Buchanans' are presented as ‘careless people' who ‘smash[ed] things up' only to retreat back into ‘their vast carelessness'. Their lack of moral fiber is further emphasised when instead of attending Gatsby's funeral they move into a house far away. Fitzgerald may have used the Buchanans' as a moral didactic for the readers to illustrate how wealth can corrupt when one allows themself to become consumed by it. On the other hand, it could represent the unfair nature of capitalist societies whereby the wealthy upper-class can afford to pay for peace of mind. This conflicts with Gatsby whom despite accumulating his wealth through criminality is kind and loving, keeping watch outside Daisy's window to insure Tom does not hurt her, consequently illustrating that wealth alone does not corrupt but when coupled with high social status it can have disastrous effects. Moreover, in both texts religion (which is supposed to strengthen ones moral compass) has been replaced by consumerism. Atrocious things are carried out in the name of wealth in the texts, including murder and imprisonment. These things are written off as a natural pre-requisite of success and expansion. Here Fitzgerald argues that wealth can be its own prison blinding its pursuers, dehumanizing them to the extent that they devalue human life and assume that everyone can be bought. Fitzgerald satirizes the absurd nature of the rich when Mr. Washington tries ‘offering a bribe to God' with a voice immersed in ‘inextinguishable pride'. Ross Posnock, a Marxist writer, praised Fitzgerald in his essay ‘A New World, Material Without Being real' for his presentation of the capitalist society in ‘The Great Gatsby'1. Posnock believed that Fitzgerald had captured the capitalist society's obsession with material wealth and how it leads to people being regarded as little more than object that can be acquired along with capital in order to boost ones social status. Gatsby's vast wardrobe is a ‘heavy defensive wall' consisting of ‘thick silk' and ‘expensive dye' which support the Marxist view of material possessions providing a barrier against hardship which the rich can hide behind. For Gatsby, and many others, material possessions help to protect their status in the same way the ‘invisible cloak' of Gatsby's army uniform had hidden his lower class status when he first met Daisy. In general, the negative portrayal of consumerism in his work has made him very popular with Marxist writers. In conclusion, Fitzgerald uses ‘The Great Gatsby' and ‘The Diamond as Big as Ritz' to highlight the negative elements of wealth and class, whilst particularly emphasising that class roles will never be crossed. Both texts highlight the potential hazards of capitalist societies when one becomes consumed by materialism, placing greater importance on monetary fortune and status than the consequences of their actions. Although Fitzgerald presents both wealth and class in negative lights he reminds the reader that wealth alone does not give way to moral corruption hinting that it is wealth in conjunction with high social class that leads to the decaying of one's moral compass.

Common Graduate School Admissions Essay Topics

Without a doubt, the admissions essay is the most challenging part of the  graduate school application.  Fortunately, many graduate programs provide some guidance by posting specific questions for applicants to answer. However, if you are still in need of ideas for an admissions essay, look no further. Composing the graduate admissions essay will never be easy but considering the range of topics ahead of time may help you in planning an effective essay that aids your graduate school application. Experience and Qualifications Academic Achievements: Discuss your academic background and achievements. Of which are you most proud?Research Experiences: Discuss your work in research as an undergraduate.Internships and Field Experience: Discuss your applied experiences in this field. How have these experiences shaped your career goals?Personal Experience and Philosophy: Write an autobiographical essay. Is there anything in your background that you think would be relevant to your application for admission to graduate school? Describe your life up to now: family, friends, home, school, work, and particularly those experiences most relevant to your interests in psychology. What is your approach to life?Strengths and Weaknesses:   Discuss your personal and academic skills. Identify your strengths and weaknesses. How will these contribute to your success as a graduate student and professional? How do you compensate for your weaknesses? Interests and Goals Immediate Objectives: Why do you plan to attend graduate school? Explain how you expect graduate school will contribute to your career goals. What do you plan to do with your degree?Career Plans: What are your long-term career goals? Where do you see yourself, career-wise, ten years after graduation?Academic Interests: What would you like to study? Describe your academic interests. What areas would you like to research?Match to Faculty: Explain how your research interests match those of the faculty. With whom would you like to work? Who would you choose as your  mentor? Essay Advice Most of your grad school applications will require similar essays, but you not should write a generic essay for all of the programs to which youre applying. Instead, tailor your essay to match each program. This is especially true when describing your research interests and their match to the training provided by the graduate program. Your goal is to show how your interests and abilities fit the program and faculty. Make it clear that you are invested in the program by identifying how your skills and interests match specific faculty in the program as well as the grad programs stated objectives.