The novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Essay Example for Free

The novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Essay The novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is Set during the Great Depression in the 1930s in a place called Soledad. When the wall street crash as with the introduction of new machinery led to poverty and unemployment, leaving thousands of workers stranded without work, migrating from place to place searching for some money and a place to sleep. The story Of mice and men starts with a description of the place Lennie and George ended up in after running away from Wead and showed the bad conditions that migrant workers are in. In the novel Lennie and George are the main characters. Lennie is described as a slow and dumb character, while in contrast George is a smart leader and could do much more if he wasnt carrying Lennie along with him all the time. Lennie and George are best friends who travel all over the place together, searching for food, shelter, and some money. In other words they migrant workers. Lennie and George are both similar to the other workers as they are migrant workers but are also unique because migrant workers usually travel alone, but not them they travel together. Lennie and George both have a dream that one day they will own a piece of land. In the novel there are a few themes that teach important life lessons, a few are. friendship. Friendship is very important in this novel because Lennie and George are rare travelling best friends and throughout the novel their friendship is tested is tested to the limit. Another one is hopes and dreams, Lennie and George always survive by speaking about their dreams of one day owning a piece of land as Lennie always says when he is down, tell us George, tell us about the farm. Paragraph 2 The Wall street crash, the Great Depression and new machinery all led to poverty and unemployment and increased the number of migrant workers by thousands. These migrant workers had a very bad lifestyle, they wouldnt stay in one place or settle down and are always moving about. Evidence of this is Guys like us are the loneliest guys in the world, they got no family, they dont belong no place, they work up a stake and the next thing you know theyre poundin their tail on some other ranch. This was said by George explaining to Lennie that all migrant workers are lonely and never settle down in one place. The migrant workers , just as they have the bad lifestyle of not settling down; they dont have long term friendship or family, support to that is If them guys gets in trouble. They can rot for all anybody gives a damn but not us This explains that migrant workers have no real friends or people that care for them, another one is they got no family this one also tells us that migrant workers have no relations with their families. Migrant workers have very few possessions and the possessions they do have they carry in a bag called a bindle : their shelves where loaded with little articles, soap and balcum powder, razors and those western magazine, ranch men love to read and there where medicines on the shelves and little vials, combs and a few neck ties, this shows that what migrant workers own are few and are only the things they need most as they are travelling and they only cary around their necessities. Migrant workers rarely have any real relationships with women because they are always travelling around, and the only way they can have a family feel and be with women is if they pay for it through brothel : Old Susys place, where workers can just set in the chairs and have a couple of those shots and pass the time of day This explains that the workers have to pay for relationships with women. Over all the traits of the migrant workers are interconnected. For example, they dont have long term friendships because they travel all time, they also dons have relationships with women because of their loneliness and inability to settle down, they have very few possessions because they cant carry many possessions around with them. They also get low pay which limits the number of possessions that they can buy. Paragraph 3. As a result of the circumstances and the living conditions of the migrant workers, they end up lonely, isolated, violent, selfish and have no job satisfaction. Unlike Lennie and George who have each other and who travel together, most migrant workers are lonely and feel very isolated, I seen the guys that go around on the ranches alone, that aint no good, they dont have no fun, after a long time they get mean, they get so that they dont want to talk to nobody. This shows and explains that the migrant workers were lonely and isolated and also that because of that they resort to violence. Violence and a harsh lifestyle are very common characteristics traits found in migrant workers. An example is Candys experience, Theyll can me purty soon, jus as soon as I cant wamp put no bunk houses theyll put me on the county this is said by Candy and it shows the harsh lifestyles of migrant workers and shows that when they are not performing or cant do their job any more. They will get sacked, another quote that shows violence is well if you were to take him and shoot him in the back of the head right there, well hell never know what hit him this shows the violence that is going around inside these ranches. Other examples of violence are when curly attacked Lennie: Then Curlys rage exploded come on ya big bastard, get up on your feet. No big son- of- a- bitch is gonna laugh at me, Ill show ya whos yella. This shows the violence that Curly attacked Lennie with and then started hitting him for nothing. Quite often migrant workers are suspicious of one another, when Lennie and George joined the ranch and were shown to their beds: Says positively kills lice, roaches and other scourge, what the hell kinda bed are you givin us anyways, we dont want no pants rabbits This shows that George and Lennie were suspicious of the hygiene and beds that they were given, another one is I dont like Curly, he aint a nice fella. this was said by Curlys wife and it explains that she was suspicious and hateful towards her own husband. Of all the work the migrant workers do they never get any job satisfaction as they are usually at another ranch before their work has grown so they will never get to see the work that they have done, they also work very hard but get unfair low pay, I aint so bright or I wouldnt be buckin barely For my fifty and found. If I had my own little place Id be bringing in my own crops stead of doin all the work and not getting what comes outa the ground. That shows that migrant workers have no job satisfaction and are angry because theyre all the hard work and not being rewarded for it. No wonder they turn to violence. Paragraph 4. For many Americans at that time the American dream was something to work for and to keep them going, the American dream is the dream of being famous or financially successful or as we saw with the story of Lennie and George it is just wanting to own a piece of land and independence . We first saw the American dream with George and Lennie as they dreamed of one day owning a piece of land. Someday were gonna get the jack together and were gonna have a little house an a couple of acres and a cow and some pigs an live offa the fata da land explains the dream of George and Lennie and shows the hope that they both have, and dhows us what they both wake up for every morning. Candy is an old character that has been in the ranch for many years, and through those years his dreams got lost, but when he found out of George and Lennies dream his got revived, he leaned forward eagerly, spose I went in with you guys thas three hundred an fifty bucks, Id put in the chicken an hose the garden some, howd that be Shows the eagerness and excitement that he was in when he found an opportunity to bring his dream back to life, he also offered all the money he has without thinking twice about it and that shows his determination. Candy is an old man who would like nothing more than some company and a long rest. Curlys wife is also a character with a dream, but her dream is quite different than some of the workers around the ranch. Her dream is to be an actress in the movies, but like most, her dream does not come true. Coulda been in the movies, and had nice clothes like they wear, an I coulda sat in them big hotels and had pitchers took of me this guy said I was a natural. Curlys wife shows how much she wanted her dream and also shows the details of her dream, but also shows the disappointment A her dream is now gone because she is married to Curly. Crooks character is another example of the racism against blacks at that time. Crooks is a lonely character with no friends or family and very small contact with other people on the ranch, but even in the dullest of places, in the saddest of people you can find dreams and hopes. Crooks dream is really just to be independent and to be around a few friends and we found that out when he said If you guys would like a hand to work for nothing, just his keep, why Id come an lend a hand, I aint so crippled I can work like any son of a bitch if I want to , this shows that Crooks is not really interested in money or land but is just looking for some company and independence. Paragraph 5. Language is a very important part of Of Mice and Men, It gives us a true sense and an insight of the atmosphere in the novel. Throughout this section i will be speaking about the aspects of language in Of mice and Men like dialect, accent and colloquial language. Dialect is defined as words that are common to a particular region. Steinbecks characters speak in a Californian dialect, at that time in California and all around America the dialect was very unique and different, they would use many words such as bindle, which is a bag that the migrant workers carried with all their belongings in it. Lennie put his bindle, on the neighbouring bunk and sat down, shows the word is being used in every day situations. Another word is Swamper, which means cleaners, The old swamper shifted his broom and held it between his elbow, in Of Mice and Men Candy is the swamper, another commonly used word is Greybacks- Which means bed bugs, Then how come he got grey bugs, George was working up a slow anger. at the time lice and bedbugs were very common as the level of hygiene was very low. In those times a rural area was usually referred to as the brush , I want you to come right here an hide in the brush. George had instructed Lennie to hide in the brush if he got in any trouble. The author did not fail to show the accent that the people spoke with in those times, when the people in California spoke they would usually not finish their words and senesces, all the characters spoke in the accent and one of them is Curlys wife, I aint told this to nobody before may be I oughtnt to coulda been in the movies, an gad nice clothes all of them nice clothes like they wear, an I coulda sat in them big hotels an had pitchers took of me. This is full of words and sentences that indicate the presence of a Californian accent such as pitchers, like they wear, and also the way her sentences re structured and her words are incomplete. Colloquial language is another important aspect of language as it shows the way people spoke. Throughout the novella, colloquial language is widely used, all characters use the language. I bet she even gives the stable buck the eye, This was said to show that Curlys wife even looks to attract the stable buck. They would also say things like he aint no cuckoo which means that he isnt stupid. And sure its swell which just means its great. Their choice of words are also different as they say things like pitchers and I aint. Steinbeck also uses imagery in his writing which includes animal imagery. He uses animal imagery mainly to describe characters, Lennie is often described as a large and slow character and his character is captured well when he is described as an animal. Lennie dribbled his paw in the water this compared Lennie to a bear as he drank, another is, behind him walks the opposite, a huge man, shapeless of face, with large pale eyes, he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws., This also compares him to a bear explaining his bad posture and features. More support is His huge companion drank in huge gulps in the water, again here. Steinbeck does this to give us a greater idea of the way it feels to be around Lennie. When Steinbeck makes his comparisons he often uses similes to better help describe his character, as he did with the character of Lennie. Colour is also an important factor as it helps to describe many characters. The colour red for example helps describe Curlys wife as she is a character related with death and she is also a character that tries to attract with sex appeal. A girl was standing there, she had full rouged lips and wide spaced eyes, heavily made up, her fingernails were red. Her hair hung in little rolled clusters, like sausages. She wore a cotton house dress and red mules of which were little bouquets of red feathers, this shows the association colour red has with sex. The colour red is also associated with danger as Lennie tries to avoid her after George warns him, listen to me you crazy bastard, he said fiercely, dont you even take a look at that bitch, I dont care what she says and what she do here Curlys wife is associated with danger as George is scared she will get Lennie in trouble. The colour reds association with death also involves Curlys wife as she was killed by Lennie He looked down at her carefully, he moved his hand from over her mouth and she lay still, Curlys wife had died. Conclusion: The Migrant workers had a difficult life and the didnt make it easier for each other either, in a life full of violence, loneliness and un cleanliness the migrant workers have to struggle in their lives and if you were black at that time then life is even worse for you as racism at that time was very strong, you could say that the only thing that everyone at that time woke up for in the morning are the dreams that they all had, even though most of the dreams never came true and most of the people knew that they still all needed something to wake up to, which teaches us a valuable life lesson which is to always have a dream. I think the theme of the story is that you always need someone to rely one as weve learned from the novella that if you have no one you could go crazy. In conclusion I think this novella shows us how a difficult lifestyle can push friendships to the limit

Biography of Andrew Carnegie Essay -- Andrew Carnegie Management Wealt

Biography of Andrew Carnegie Andrew Carnegie was born into a poor working class family living in the town of Dunfermline, Scotland, in 1835. His father operated a small hand looming business located in the family home. The Carnegies was literate, well read, and active in the politics of the day. It was a time of repression of the Scottish worker by the Government, the employers, and the culture. Rebellious in thought as well as actively participating in protests was part of the Carnegie family life style. He was exposed to all of Scotland’s dramatic portrayal of Scottish Heroes. He learned the poetry and songs that were filled with the heroics of the underdog and their fight for equality. Andrew Carnegie’s mother was the strong parent in the family. She protected her two sons from associating with any corrupting values. Andrew said, "Yes, mother would have taken her two boys, one under each arm, and perished with them then they should mingle with low company in their extreme youth. There was not a prouder family in the land. Anything low, mean, deceitful, shifty, course, underhand, or gossipy was foreign to the heroic soul [mother]". Andrew idealized his mother, his country and its heritage, and the struggle for fair treatment of the worker. The Carnegie family left Scotland when Andrew was 13, and came to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the urging of his two aunts. His mother was the behind the move and she continued to be a motivator, supporter, and controller of Andrew and his personal interests for the rest of her life. Carnegie arrived in America in 1848, and found the state of official social equality he had been searching for. Although the worker had not gained equality in living and working conditions, at least the laws of this government promoted its attainment. He had been filled with the idealism of a radical reformer in Scotland, but in America he quickly became involved with his own climb to success. His greatest characteristic was his ability to take advantage of any opportunity that was offered to him. His first opportunity to advance was his promotion from a factory bobbin boy to writing entries into his employer’s accounts. At 15, he grabbed at the chance to leave the factory for a job as a telegraph messenger. Andrew made it his concern to learn the name of every business owner in the city. Recognizing these men on the street shortened... ... . . . the ultimate source of Carnegie’s consuming ambition remains elusive. Ultimately human behavior results from the way in which an individual accommodates himself to the contradictions and ambiguities with in himself and his society.. . . . Andrew Carnegie had a personal set of paradoxes. The best his biographers can do is to designate the pressures and document the response . . . . In himself Carnegie knew kindness and cruelty, vanity and shame, generosity and greed, doubt and confidence (Baker 27). Carnegie cannot be understood even with reading all of his writings. He came from a very poor childhood, worked in sweat factories, and yet in his later life, these memories were obliterated by his powerful drive for power and wealth. Swetnam believes that, "Carnegie developed a philosophy of his own. It was made up of his early religious and political training, rugged individualism, desire for mastery and achievement, greed, generosity, and a conviction that the world-and especially those close to him-needed his ideas and guidance. No small element was his struggle of conscience over having indulged in what in 1868 he had alluded to as the ‘worship of the golden calf’" ( 67). Biography of Andrew Carnegie Essay -- Andrew Carnegie Management Wealt Biography of Andrew Carnegie Andrew Carnegie was born into a poor working class family living in the town of Dunfermline, Scotland, in 1835. His father operated a small hand looming business located in the family home. The Carnegies was literate, well read, and active in the politics of the day. It was a time of repression of the Scottish worker by the Government, the employers, and the culture. Rebellious in thought as well as actively participating in protests was part of the Carnegie family life style. He was exposed to all of Scotland’s dramatic portrayal of Scottish Heroes. He learned the poetry and songs that were filled with the heroics of the underdog and their fight for equality. Andrew Carnegie’s mother was the strong parent in the family. She protected her two sons from associating with any corrupting values. Andrew said, "Yes, mother would have taken her two boys, one under each arm, and perished with them then they should mingle with low company in their extreme youth. There was not a prouder family in the land. Anything low, mean, deceitful, shifty, course, underhand, or gossipy was foreign to the heroic soul [mother]". Andrew idealized his mother, his country and its heritage, and the struggle for fair treatment of the worker. The Carnegie family left Scotland when Andrew was 13, and came to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the urging of his two aunts. His mother was the behind the move and she continued to be a motivator, supporter, and controller of Andrew and his personal interests for the rest of her life. Carnegie arrived in America in 1848, and found the state of official social equality he had been searching for. Although the worker had not gained equality in living and working conditions, at least the laws of this government promoted its attainment. He had been filled with the idealism of a radical reformer in Scotland, but in America he quickly became involved with his own climb to success. His greatest characteristic was his ability to take advantage of any opportunity that was offered to him. His first opportunity to advance was his promotion from a factory bobbin boy to writing entries into his employer’s accounts. At 15, he grabbed at the chance to leave the factory for a job as a telegraph messenger. Andrew made it his concern to learn the name of every business owner in the city. Recognizing these men on the street shortened... ... . . . the ultimate source of Carnegie’s consuming ambition remains elusive. Ultimately human behavior results from the way in which an individual accommodates himself to the contradictions and ambiguities with in himself and his society.. . . . Andrew Carnegie had a personal set of paradoxes. The best his biographers can do is to designate the pressures and document the response . . . . In himself Carnegie knew kindness and cruelty, vanity and shame, generosity and greed, doubt and confidence (Baker 27). Carnegie cannot be understood even with reading all of his writings. He came from a very poor childhood, worked in sweat factories, and yet in his later life, these memories were obliterated by his powerful drive for power and wealth. Swetnam believes that, "Carnegie developed a philosophy of his own. It was made up of his early religious and political training, rugged individualism, desire for mastery and achievement, greed, generosity, and a conviction that the world-and especially those close to him-needed his ideas and guidance. No small element was his struggle of conscience over having indulged in what in 1868 he had alluded to as the ‘worship of the golden calf’" ( 67).

Swot Analysis for Usaa

Management 303 SWOT Analysis on USAA Savings Bank Section I- Organizational History USAA Savings Bank has been around for a long time believe it or not. In 1922 USAA was originally founded in San Antonio, Texas when 25 Army officers decided to come together and insure each other’s automobiles. William Garrison was USAA’s first elected president. Shortly after that USAA’s first employee was Harold Dunton, who was hired as a general manager. Major Walter Moore purchased the first automobile insurance policy for $114. 4 and became USAA’s first member. Two years later in 1924 USAA printed their first credo. The company motto was â€Å"Service to the Services. † 1928 was the year that USAA started advertising 8,000 active component service members among 38,000 possible. In 1929 things started turning for the worse, as the stock market crashed and the Great Depression followed shortly after. By the end of the 1920’s USAA earned a net profit of $144 ,000 before dividends. From 1930’s on up USAA has been incredibly successful. 931-1940 USAA’s employee population grows even through the Great Depression. Employee numbers sky rocketed and doubled, from 46 to 99. The company’s membership doubles from 15,000 to 30,000, despite the ongoing tough economic times. 1932 the first Annual Report to its members was established and published. A year later USAA exceeds minimum reserve holdings mandated by the Texas Board of Insurance Commissioners and returns $230,000 to members. In 1934 Stuart Gwyn is the first woman to join USAA’s management team. USAA graduated to having 60% of all eligible U.S. military officers become members in 1936 while also being able to end the decade with a net profit of $643,000 before dividends. Section II- Strengths and Weaknesses Some of USAA’s many strengths come in numbers. USAA ranks 62nd in net worth among Fortune 500 companies and 144th for revenue, the company has proven to be a very financially strong organization. Our net worth owned and managed assets, revenue, net income and membership all increased and continues to grow. In addition, member satisfaction and customer service remains consistently high.USAA produced colossal numbers as far as Net worth goes. From 2008 earning $14. 6 billion in net worth to $17. 0 in 2009, $18. 7 in 2010, $20. 0 billion and so far over $21. 3 billion. These numbers only keep getting better. Some of USAA’s highlights as of June 30, 2012 in totals: 9. 1 million in Total members, the company now offers a total of 38 million products, and a total of 23. 7 thousand employees. Classifications go as follows 28th largest bank, 5th largest homeowners insurance, 8th largest credit card provider, and 6th largest auto insurer.USAA’s property and casualty insurance group received high ratings for financial strength from three of the major agencies-A. M. Best, Moody’s and standard & Poor’s. A. M. Best Company gave USAA an A++ (superior, highest of 16 possible ratings). Moody’s Investors Service gave USAA an Aaa (Exceptional, highest of 21 possible ratings). Standard & Poor’s gave USAA an AA+ (Very strong, second highest of 21 possible ratings). Ward’s 50 Placed USAA’s P&C Insurance Group on the Ward’s 50 list, which is a benchmarking group of top-performing insurance companies, for 22 consecutive years. 2012). IDC Financial Publishing Inc. gave USAA 111 consecutive Superior ratings as of 2012’s 1st quarter for USAA Federal Savings Bank. Thomson Reuters Bank Insight (formerly Highline Banking Data Services) rated USAA in the Top 15% of peer group as of 1st quarter 2012. These are all considered strengths for USAA because they are all astonishing milestones for the USAA Federal Savings Bank. It has helped catapult the company to where it is today. Everybody that has USAA loves it bottom line.

Stede Bonnet, the Gentleman Pirate Biography

Major Stede Bonnet (1688-1718) was known as the Gentleman Pirate. Most of the men associated with the Golden Age of Piracy were reluctant pirates. They were desperate but skilled sailors and brawlers who either could not find honest work or who were driven to piracy by the inhuman conditions onboard merchant or navy ships at the time. Some, like Black Bart Roberts, were captured by pirates, forced to join, and found the life to their liking. Bonnet is the exception. He was a wealthy planter in Barbados who decided to outfit a pirate ship and set sail for riches and adventure. It is for this reason that he is often referred to as the Gentleman Pirate. Fast Facts Known For: PiracyAlso Known As: The Gentleman PirateBorn: 1688, BarbadosDied: December 10, 1718, Charleston, North CarolinaSpouse: Mary Allamby Early Life Stede Bonnet was born in 1688 to a family of wealthy English landowners on the island of Barbados. His father died when Stede was only six years old, and he inherited the family estates. He married a local girl, Mary Allamby, in 1709. They had four children, of whom three survived to adulthood. Bonnet served as a major in the Barbados militia, but it is doubtful that he had much training or experience. Sometime in early 1717, Bonnet decided to abandon his life on Barbados completely and turn to a life of piracy. Why he did is unknown for certain, but Captain Charles Johnson, a contemporary, claimed that Bonnet found â€Å"some discomforts in a married state† and that his â€Å"disorder of mind† was well known to the citizens of Barbados. The Revenge Bonnet purchased a seaworthy 10-gun sloop, named her the Revenge, and set sail. He apparently implied to local authorities that he was planning on serving as a privateer or even a pirate-hunter while he equipped his vessel. He hired a crew of 70 men, making it clear to them that they would be pirates, and found himself some skilled officers to run the ship, as he himself had no knowledge of sailing or pirating. He had a comfortable cabin, which he filled with his favorite books. His crew thought him eccentric and had little respect for him. Piracy Along the Eastern Seaboard Bonnet jumped into piracy with both feet, quickly attacking and taking several prizes along the eastern seaboard from the Carolinas to New York in the summer of 1717. He turned most of them loose after plundering them but burned a ship from Barbados because he didn’t want news of his new career to reach his home. Sometime in August or September, they sighted a mighty Spanish man-o-war and Bonnet ordered an attack. The pirates were driven off, their ship was badly beaten, and half of the crew dead. Bonnet himself was badly injured. Collaboration with Blackbeard Not long afterward, Bonnet met Edward Blackbeard Teach, who was just then setting out as a pirate captain in his own right after having served for some time under the legendary pirate Benjamin Hornigold. Bonnets men begged the capable Blackbeard to take over the Revenge from the unstable Bonnet. Blackbeard was only too happy to oblige, as the Revenge was a good ship. He kept Bonnet on board as a guest, which seemed to suit the still-recovering Bonnet just fine. According to the captain of a ship plundered by the pirates, Bonnet would walk the deck in his nightgown, reading books and muttering to himself. The Protestant Caesar Sometime in the spring of 1718, Bonnet struck out on his own again. By then Blackbeard had acquired the mighty ship Queen Annes Revenge and didnt really need Bonnet anymore. On March 28, 1718, Bonnet once again bit off more than he could chew, attacking a well-armed merchantman named the Protestant Caesar off the coast of Honduras. Again, he lost the battle and his crew was extremely restless. When the encountered Blackbeard again soon after, Bonnets men and officers begged him to take command. Blackbeard obliged, putting a loyal man named Richards in charge of the Revenge and inviting Bonnet to stay on board the Queen Annes Revenge. Split with Blackbeard In June of 1718, the Queen Annes Revenge ran aground off the coast of North Carolina. Bonnet was sent with a handful of men to the town of Bath to try and arrange a pardon for the pirates if they would give up their thievery. He was successful, but when he returned he found that Blackbeard had double-crossed him, sailing off with some of the men and all of the loot. He had marooned the remainder of the men nearby, but Bonnet rescued them. Bonnet swore revenge, but never again saw Blackbeard, which was probably just as well for Bonnet. Captain Thomas Alias Bonnet rescued the men and set sail once again in the Revenge. He had no treasure or even food, so they needed to return to piracy. He wished to preserve his pardon, however, so he changed the name of the Revenge to the Royal James and referred to himself as Captain Thomas to his victims. He still didnt know anything about sailing and the de facto commander was quartermaster Robert Tucker. From July to September 1718 was the high point of Bonnets piratical career, as he captured several vessels off of the Atlantic seaboard during this time. Capture, Trial, and Execution Bonnets luck ran out on September 27, 1718. A patrol of pirate bounty hunters under the command of Colonel William Rhett (who was actually looking for Charles Vane) spotted Bonnet in the Cape Fear River inlet with two of his prizes. Bonnet tried to fight his way out, but Rhett managed to corner the pirates and capture them after a five-hour battle. Bonnet and his crew were sent to Charleston, where they were put on trial for piracy. They were all found guilty. A total of 22 pirates were hanged on November 8, 1718, and more were hanged on November 13. Bonnet appealed to the governor for clemency and there was some discussion of sending him to England. In the end, he, too, was hanged on December 10, 1718. Legacy of Stede Bonnet, Gentleman Pirate Stede Bonnets story is a sad one. He must have been a very unhappy man indeed on his prosperous Barbados plantation in order to chuck it all for the life of a pirate. Part of his inexplicable decision was leaving his family behind. After he set sail in 1717, they never saw one another again. Was Bonnet lured by the supposedly romantic life of the pirates? Was he nagged into it by his wife? Or was it all due to the disorder of mind that so many of his Barbados contemporaries noted in him? Its impossible to tell, but his eloquent plea for compassion to the governor seems to imply genuine regret and contrition. Bonnet wasnt much of a pirate. When they were working with others, such as Blackbeard or Robert Tucker, his crews managed to capture some genuine prizes. However, Bonnets solo commands were marked by failure and poor decision making, such as attacking a fully armed Spanish man-o-war. He did not have a lasting impact on commerce or trade. The pirate flag usually attributed to Stede Bonnet is black with a white skull in the center. Below the skull is a horizontal bone, and on either side of the skull, there was a dagger and a heart. It is not known for certain that this is Bonnets flag, although he is known to have flown one in battle. Bonnet is remembered today by pirate historians and aficionados mostly for two reasons. First of all, he is associated with the legendary Blackbeard and is a part of that pirates larger story. Second, Bonnet was born wealthy, and as such is one of the extremely few pirates who deliberately chose that lifestyle. He had many options in his life, yet he chose piracy. Sources Cordingly, David. Pirates: Terror on the High Seas-From the Caribbean to the South China Sea. Hardcover, 1st edition, Turner Pub, October 1, 1996. Defoe, Daniel. A General History of the Pyrates. Hardcover, New edition edition, Dent, 1972. Konstam, Angus. The World Atlas of Pirates: Treasures and Treachery on the Seven Seas--in Maps, Tall Tales, and Pictures. Hardcover, First American Edition edition, Lyons Press, October 1, 2009.