Leo Tolstoy’s Art

Tolstoy is one of those writers whose life intervened in his literary activity; the events from real life influenced the specificity of themes and topics, raised in his works. He practiced various genres from novels, short stories to non-fiction letters.The beginning of his work as a writer coincided with his military service. The first considerable writing took six year to be completed. It was a trilogy that consisted of three novels dealing with different period of life of a person: Childhood (1852), Boyhood, (1854) and Adolescence (1857). The first novel of the trilogy in a lyrical and enchanting manner describes the innocence and joy of life through child's-eye view. The trilogy is autobiographical and presents the psychological and moral development of the hero from age ten to his late teens.After Tolstoy left army in 1856 he strengthened himself as a talented participator of Russian literary processes. His military experience, gained in Crimean War, served him as a prolific sou rce of material for new literary works, and consequently was employed for a number of short stories. Thus his â€Å"Sebastopol Tales† fiercely criticize war and ennoble an ordinary soldier. When Childhood, Adolescence, and the war stories appeared, everyone hailed them as â€Å"the first full and complete artistic expression of the psychological process.†[1]One the greatest novels by Tolstoy is War and Peace. While the scope of War and Peace is epic, Tolstoy does not load the novel down with historical facts and dates. Instead, he brings history alive by making it personal. A reader watches the intimate destinies of the Rostovs, the Bezukhovs, the Bolkonskys unfold with a level of emotion and attachment that no historical account could convey. And their fates are projected on to the destiny of a nation. It is this powerful historical fiction with a purpose that won Tolstoy his well-deserved international acknowledgement. War and Peace is universal in its appeal because of the universality of its themes: that war is profoundly alien to human nature; that the average soldier's patriotism is the building block of nations (e.g. the character of captain Tushin); the limited impact that even great individuals have on history (Napoleon and Kutuzov).Tolstoy draws his characters with simple brush strokes, with psychological depth, that makes them real. For example, the character of Natasha Rostova, whose beauty and attractiveness depended not so much on her appearance, as on her youth and her inner energy, the beauty of her soul reveals to us the symbolic significance she has in the novel. Unlike all the other main characters whose names are known to the reader before their physical appearance is described, Natasha is left nameless. She appears not like a true human being but sooner as a mythical creature that personifies the joy of life: â€Å"This black-eyed, wide-mouthed girl, not pretty but full of life . . . ran to hide her flushed face in the lace of her mother’s mantilla—not paying the least attention to her severe remark—and began to laugh. She laughed, and in fragmentary sentences tried to explain about a doll which she produced from the folds of her frock.† [2]In Anna Karenina, probably his stylistically most perfect novel, he sought to create a novel in the tradition of the Greek classics. He dwells on marital happiness, the fate of an abused woman in society and the role of physical and spiritual love in marriage. In Anna Karenina the epic horizons are narrower than in War and Peace, yet the feelings of the characters are more sharp and acute, their sufferings at times even more profound. Anna's and Vronsky's story of forbidden love strikes readers because Tolstoy shows the fatal inevitability of a mutual attraction, its development and then its fading and its tragic denouement. Anna and Vronsky are depicted as being destroyed by some external force, in fact, by each other.Tolstoy writes that they involuntarily submit to the other:   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Involuntarily submitting to the weakness of Anna –who had given herself up to him entirely, and placed her fate in his hands, ready to accept anything–he had long ceased to think that they might part, as he had thought then†¦.   [He] had completely abandoned himself to his passion, and that passion was binding him more and more closely to her.†[3]The brilliance of Tolstoy's art is his almost casual description of details that, at first sight seems insignificant and accidental, but which later come to play a crucial role in a character's fate. In the end, the drama of Anna's love is portrayed with such strength that it cannot leave any reader indifferent.After he had written Anna Karenina, Tolstoy got determined against literature. He wanted henceforth to be a moral philosopher rather than an artist. And as Anthony Daniels notes in his article, many people subsequently fell under Tolstoy’s didactic t eaching, even – for a time – Chekhov.[4] This didactics became peculiar to his successive works. In Tolstoy's literature we find the contemplation of what are the proper ways of living. For instance in his short story â€Å"How Much Land Does A Man Need?† the main character is an ordinary farmer whose own greed destroys him. In this literary work, the author exploits Pahom's search as a symbolic warning that longing for too much can result in loss of everything.Tolstoy strengthens his moral believes by his stories. Through the symbolism he endeavors to preach his philosophy and deliver hidden messages to readers. Thus, main character’s running against the sun conveys the symbolic meaning that Pahom is moving against time and course of life. This symbolic device produces the atmosphere of haste and panic. However, at the end of the story the main character dies and all his pursuit for unreal aim turns out to be worthless. The morality of the story is that we must properly estimate our abilities and what is more important our needs. Tolstoy finishes this story with the conclusion that finally we all will need not more that only small piece of land: â€Å"His servant picked up the spade and dug a grave long enough for Pahà ³m to he in, and buried him in it. Six feet from his head to his heels was all he needed†.[5]In the mid-1880s Tolstoy continues writing short stories. He tends to use fairy tales or religious legends to develop their ideas in his own works. The style of these short stories is plain but expressive. They often reveal Tolstoy’s religious convictions. In 1886, Tolstoy publishes the novella â€Å"The Death of Ivan Illych.†Ã‚   The story concerns dying man who becomes aware that his life is nearly over. By the time Tolstoy wrote â€Å"The Death of Ivan Illych†, he got engaged in extremely puritanical ideas. His protagonist's main pleasure in life is playing bridge with his friends, which is con demned by the writer as vicious because, like music at the conservatoire, it is frivolous, artificial, and inauthentic. He severely criticizes this character and depicts his life as a shallow, terrible being: â€Å"Ivan Illych's life had been most simple and most ordinary and therefore most terrible.†[6] Ivan is a conformist; opinions and expectations of people of socially higher rank usually determine Ivan’s behavior and wishes.He tries to keep up friendship with only those who have good social position. That is why his life is terrible; there is no place for free will, for well-grounded decision. And the only exemplary character in this story is a peasant Gerasim. Tolstoy wrote about the peasants as about the moral agents, bearers of moral virtues. In â€Å"The Death of Ivan Illych† Ivan learned something from Gerasim, who made him see a possibility to which Ivan's way of living had kept his eyes shut, a possibility that was excluded by the way he lived. Ivan Illych had been caught up in a way of life that excluded the possibility of care for and devotion to other people. By his example Gerasim opened up for Ivan what was a new possibility and made him realize what was wrong with his life. In this story Tolstoy juxtaposes moral peasant with a morally weak nobleman.Though in his late works Tolstoy exhibited too ideological approach when evolving his characters and presenting themes that led to simplifications, his penetrating psychological analysis had great influence on later literature. The most important thing is that Tolstoy succeeded in his major endeavor as a writer to use his linguistic and artistic means to portray eternal human passions through typical traits of his epoch, going beyond linguistic, ethnic and other borders. Tolstoy solved this task excellently. And this is why he is a classic of both Russian and world literature.Works Cited List:Daniels, Anthony. â€Å"Chekhov & Tolstoy†. New Criterion. Vol. 23: 8, April 20 05.Orwin Tussing, Donna. Tolstoy’s Art and Thought, 1847-1880. Princeton University Press, 1993Tolstoy, Leo. Anna Karenina. Aylmer Maude – Transl., Louise Maude – Transl., London: Penguin, 1978.—-, â€Å"How Much Land Does a Man Need?†   Twenty-three Tales, Transl. L. and A. Maude, New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1907: 113-122—-, â€Å"The Death of Ivan Illych† Aylmer Maude – Transl., Louise Maude – Transl., Retrieved on December 3, 2005 from Tolstoy Library  http://home.aol.com/Tolstoy28—-, War and Peace. Henry Gifford – editor, Aylmer Maude – Transl., Louise Maude – Transl., Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.[1]Donna Tussing Orwin. Tolstoy’s Art and Thought, 1847-1880. Princeton University Press, 1993: 19[2] Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace, 39 [3] Tolstoy, Leo Anna Karenina, 381 [4] Anthony Daniels, Chekhov & Tolstoy, 31 [5] Tolstoy Leo, Twenty-three Tales, â€Å"How Much Land Does A Man Need?†, 122 [6] Tolstoy Leo, The Death of Ivan Illych, Chapter II

Success Factor for Zara

What are the Key success factors of Zara? â€Å"The ability to respond to customer requirements on a timely basis has always been a fundamental element of the marketing concept. † Martin Christopher et. al. Hence, it is important being proactive in a market such as the fast-fashion industry which Zara is operating in, time is always a crucial factor. The fast-fashion market, amongst other things, is characterized by short lifecycles, high volatility, low predictability, and high-impulse purchases. Therefore, it is very important for Zara to constantly have their products available for a potential customer in order to sell and earn more profit.Since the fast-fashion market is also constantly shifting and trends can be replaced over a night, there is a low predictability. This makes it a lot more difficult to compose accurate forecasts. In order to stay competitive in the market, it is important to take be aware of these types of factors mentioned above, and make sure you are no t left behind. One of Zara? s distinctive key success factors is their valuable and planned integrated logistics and supply chain management. This allows them to further develop and deliver a competitive marketing mix.In a marketplace where customers expect to find the latest designs that are still in fashion, Zara is an outstanding example of how to make that possible. It usually takes at least six months in the textile industry for an idea to be transformed into a product and reach the store shelves. By reducing the lead-time through efficient channel management, Zara has developed a vertical integrated business model, which allows them to change some parts of their inventory in only a couple of weeks. This strategy is nowadays known as the â€Å"Quick Response† (QR).The definition of QR can be described as; â€Å"A state of responsiveness and flexibility in which an organization seeks to provide a highly diverse range of products and services to a customer/consumer in the exact quantity, variety, quality, time, place and price, as dictated by real-time customer/consumer demand. †Neil Towers et. al The QR strategy allows Zara to create products that are inspired by the latest fashion trends from around the world through diverse media sources displayed to a broad public, leading fashion scenes, movies, bloggers, etc.By having products for a reasonable price with relatively high quality, Zara is one of the leading fast-fashion companies in the world. But, how does their company function to have this much success? One of the main reasons why Zara is so competitive is because they have suppliers that are strategically designed to fulfill their conceptual idea. Their conceptual idea is to supply trendy clothes, to a broad market, for a reasonable price. Almost 30 percent of the company`s suppliers are situated in either Spain or parts of Europe.The local presence of the manufacturing facilities within a short distance to many of their stores and hea dquarters, has allowed the company to be very flexible in a changing market. With high integration to the company? s suppliers, the products that are highly sensitive to availability and proactive response are mainly produced in Europe. They minimize costs and lead-time because of the local presence, which makes it possible to introduce new and fresh merchandise multiple times a year.Since, major parts of the production are situated locally, the products can reach the stores at the right time, meet the actual demand, and reach a higher sell-through. The other part of their product line that is not susceptible for seasonal change is outsourced to low-cost-labor countries in Asia. The combination of suppliers works as a competitive advantage. It promotes high-impulse purchasing from their new lines while still profiting for their basic product lines. Another key success factor is their pricing strategy.The company uses a market-based pricing strategy, which means that they design prod ucts at a fixed price according to what the costumers are willing to pay. All the costs to produce and deliver the product combined with the planned gross margin for profit are then calculated in accordance to the final retail price. Besides the pricing strategy, Zara also uses a market-oriented approach, which refers to being aware and predicting costumers hidden needs. As studies has revealed, the company only spends one percent of their annual turnover on advertising.They put most of their resources into using modern technologies, such as point-of-sales data collected from their stores as an effective communication tool. By regularly collecting POS-data, and translating the information into real demand and different consumption patterns, the company can deliver the exact quantity of merchandise, at the right time, to their stores. This activity minimizes the costs and results in higher profit, which can be used for other business activities such as expansion, product development and so on.Not to mention, it also makes it possible for the company to evaluate and predict which products that will have a shorter or longer product life cycle. Hence, will result in higher sell-through, quick elimination of products that are out of fashion, and replenishment of new merchandise. Another reason to why their internationalization has been so successful is the fact that their merchandize can be sold in many different parts of the world. Even regardless of cultural differences. One of the reasons is that their consumer’s love garments from the high-end market and Zara copies those garments at lower prices for their consumers.In some cultures the company is using adaptation tools. For example, each store manager is allowed to make slight modifications to the assortment to achieve a better match between supply and demand in certain countries. In addition, the location of the stores is another successful factor. Zara has chosen to position their stores in attractive and high-trafficked locations. Also, Zara’s stores are designed by professional store decorators in accordance to Zara’s business image. The interior of the Zara in Central for instance is very similar to other high-end fashion stores, which gives customers the same feeling as shopping in a luxury store.References Used the two articles posted by Dawn on FB Lectures Tutorials And: Retrieved on 2012-03-11http://www. google. com. hk/books? hl=sv&lr=&id=-9Ja0ZQ6gSMC&oi=fnd&pg=PA62&dq=market+orientation+and+supply+chain+management+in+the+fashion+industry&ots=0FiX4Yvyf5&sig=BoBe-KOlSiOaY6igTvN7NvyPVYM&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=market%20orientation%20and%20supply%20chain%20management%20in%20the%20fashion%20industry&f=false Retrieved on 2012-03-11 http://martin-christopher. info/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/CREATING-AGILE-SUPPLY-CHAINS-IN-THE-FASHION-INDUSTRY. pdf

Educational Attainment in China after 1949 Essay

This essay is about the two readings involving research on educational attainment in China, particularly, the effects of state policies and social origins of people in China who are trying to obtain their education, on particular periods. We will begin by discussing the first research paper by Deng and Treiman. The Treiman paper discussed its intention to gather and analyze data to answer the three hypotheses, namely: 1) Effect on social origin in China as education expands, during the Cultural Revolution; 2) Considerable effect of educational attainment among the bureaucrats of China during the Cultural Revolution; and 3) Considerable effect of educational attainment to men of elitist background as compared to men of military or cadre background, during the Cultural Revolution (Treiman, 413) . The Treiman paper gathered and analyzed its data from a particular period of China’s census returns. The conclusion for the three hypotheses was in the affirmative. During Cultural Revolution, state policies was implemented to foster educational attainment among the youth of working class or peasant background, and has discriminated the youth of elitist background, thus proving the first theory true (Treiman, 424) . It should also follow the second theory as true as the data showed a decline of educational attainment among the elitist, and an increase of educational attainment among the peasants (Treiman, 424) . Incidentally, the data also showed that even the decline affects both elitist and cadres or with military background, much impact was felt by the elitist rather than the cadre, thus proving the third theory true (Treiman, 425) . In the second research, Zhou, Moen and Tuma measured the effects of educational attainment based on social origin on a more stretched period as compared to the Treiman paper. The Tuma paper explored four historical periods: The Great Leap Forward, Destratification Policies, Cultural Revolution and Post-Mao Era. The Tuma paper further made use of interviewing respondents on particular cities for its data and to prove their hypothesis that socio-economic status was not a factor in attaining education, rather, political status dictated educational attainment during those four periods (Tuma, 201) . The results of the data showed the same as that of the results discussed with the Treiman paper. However, it does not particularly established its theory as true since the data results were varied, having educational attainment effects on all three classes in all historical periods (Tuma, 217) . The two papers indeed came with the same data results, that there are effects on educational attainment based on social origins. The papers differ in such ways as using specific topics. The Treiman paper was clear in its intention to answer its theories because its theories were more specific than the theory used by the Tuma paper. Treiman paper likewise used a specific Era, while the Tuma paper explored four periods, which could be quite confusing. Further, aside from using social origin as basis of the research, the Tuma paper dwelled on other basis such as gender inequality and geographical location, thus creating more confusion.

Toulmin Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Toulmin Analysis - Essay Example The backing is also reinforced by the claim that the Web is godsend to the narrator as a writer. The backing is also emphasized by not only the assertion that research that used to be carried out in days is now done in minutes, but also the assertion that the author when not working spends a lot of time in the Web’s info-thickets’ reading (Carr 2). Additionally, the backing is emphasized by the assertion that the more time spent on the web makes a person to straggle stay focused on lengthy pieces of writing. There qualifier for the argument is that the Net has become a universal medium that provides most information which flows not only through eyes and ears, but also the mind (Carr 4). A direct rebuttal to the claim that the Internet is affecting the way we think appears in this article. The narrator claims that the advantage of accessing such an incredible of information are diverse and many. In support of the rebuttal, the narrator claims that media supply the stuff of thought as well as shape the process of

Stress Management Assessment Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Stress Management Assessment - Term Paper Example The second principle that he violated was lack of identifying the important issues in that there are those issues that have high and low importance that he should have considered, above all others. For example, he had so many interruptions from his subordinates in that some matters they were interrupting him would have waited like mail and phone calls. Additionally, by planning his schedule he would have managed to indicate matters that reduced urgency and those that did not. Efficient time management is a principle that requires that more be accomplished, and less time is wasted. Whereby it is important to plan things that one should do, but it does not mean that when an urgent matter arises, and it is important to should not be attended to by the individual(Whetten & Kim, 128). In the case of Chet, he violated the principles of efficient time management where he failed to list the things he would accomplish by the end of the day. Secondly, he did not prioritize his tasks. When he was coming from home to work, he wanted to complete the project before the end of the day, but when he got to the office, he found other managerial jobs waiting for him. Because he lacked a plan on how to work his schedule, he failed to accomplish an important task of completing his project, which has been pending for months. Chet has a problem of procrastinating his important tasks and setting them aside not realizing that he was increasing his workload by not attending to im portant matters. There is a problem in the organizational structure of the organization because first Norris Company in the Central plant has the head office meaning that all the productions are made in the company. However, Chet is the only manager in the whole facility and for that reason; he ends up carrying out tasks that he would have delegated to a personal secretary or an assistant manager. Secondly, the lower management has more employees compared to

Rainmaker Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Rainmaker - Essay Example It is quite obvious that the insurance company was dishonest in their implementation of a stratagem that compromises the health of the customers for which their company is concurrently built upon. The decision process that a company should use to draw its policies should be a 360-degree conscientious effort to ensure that none of its provisions violate the moral and ethical standards it wishes to adhere upon. Moral rules should be engaged in the forming of the corporate bylaws so that all are within the scope of what is legally permitted. This calls for legal advisers knowledgeable in the conjuncture of business and law as well as the company executives who have firsthand knowledge of how it operates. Moral principle is something that is formulated within the company and determined by the individual components of the organization. This is what differentiates one company from all of the other companies. Moral standard is identified by the industry for which the business belongs to. Th is is put together by practitioners of the said trade. Great Benefit Life Insurance neglected the moral rules and the moral standards in how they conducted their business. Motivated by the prospect of high profits, they were willing to deviate from legal and ethical standards which caused them an enormous stake in the end. The quest for profit was its downfall as the company declared for bankruptcy and many were left unemployed. Consequently, the Blacks who wanted none of the money from the civil case and Rudy ended up with nothing. It was a no-win situation instigated by corporate misjudgment and moral

Coca-Cola Internal Analysis and SWOT Analysis Essay

Coca-Cola Internal Analysis and SWOT Analysis - Essay Example Naturally this means that the organizations must develop their internal capabilities to the extent that they will be difficult for competitors to imitate or substitute. This paper conducts an internal analysis of the Coca-Cola Company in order to delineate those resources and capabilities from which it derives its strength as well as those competencies that it either lacks or poorly executes and as such are its major weaknesses that competitors could exploit. The paper begins with an evaluation of Coca-Cola’s tangible and intangible resources that lead to its strengths then uses the value-chain analysis to bring out and then analyze the company’s weaknesses. Analysis Resource and competency analysis According to Henry (2011) whereas the existence of resources is important, by themselves they do not confer any benefits to the organization. It is how efficiently these resources are configured that provides the organization with competencies that allow the organization t o achieve competitive advantage. ... company able to blend ingredients into the unique Coke formula X -Ability to continuously come up with new products and/or expand product lines -Managing the world’s largest beverage distribution system (Coca-Cola, 2012) also effective in franchising -Enterprise Value: US$ 173.46 billion (Yahoo! Finance, 2012) -Current Ratio above 1 from 2009 to 2011 (EBIT Financial, 2012). -Return on Equity, Operating margin and Net margins have been double digits since 2007 (EBIT Financial, 2012) Financial - Has the resources for R&D, market development, market expansion and so on. -Company’s efficient in turning its product to cash - Ability to consistently deliver profits reassures investors and other suppliers of financial capital -146,200 employees Human -Also has a strong diversity and inclusion policy that enriches its talent pool - Holds secret formula X Intellectual / technological -Own and market four of the world’s top five nonalcoholic sparkling beverage bran ds: Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Fanta and Sprite. Intangibles -Intelligently exploited the mystery of Coke’s formula X for market positioning -Renown for superior advertising and other market promotion techniques From the table above three key strengths emerge. Firstly, Coca-Cola has a remarkable global presence. This enables the company to leverage its economies of scale to weaken the power of its suppliers as well as its customers. Also, this global presence implies that the company is able to balance its performance in slow economic regions with that from booming economic regions to sustain its profitability. Secondly, the company’s healthy financial position even during the global recession gives it a good credit rating. This means the company can easily raise additional capital for various strategic

Analyst Report on Bridgestone Tyres Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Analyst Report on Bridgestone Tyres - Essay Example The net income Bridgestone Corp performed extraordinarily In Europe where sales increased by 17% followed by Americans where sales increased by 1%. However, the net sales in Japan remain unchanged compared to 2011. The total assets of the company increased by 14% to 3,038.3 billion in 2012; this increase in the assets by financed by a 12% increase in the total liabilities and 3% increased in the total equity. The company returns showed a strong growth as well. The return on stockholders’ equity increased by 4.6 percentage points to 13.7% and return on assets increased by 2.2 percentage points to 6.0% in 2012. The company promises significant returns as well as strong value addition in future. Company Profile Ticker symbol: 5108.T Mission Statement: Serving Society with Superior Quality Corporate headquarters: Tokyo, Japan Date of Incorporation: March 1st, 1931 Public Auditor: Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited Name of CEO: Masaaki Tsuya Name of CFO: Koki Takahashi Stock classifi cations: Common Stock Authorized: 1,450,000,000 shares Issued: 813,102,321 shares Exchange: Tokyo Stock Exchange Dividends: 21.9 billion Industry Profile Market Sector The company belongs to the Consumer Discretionary Sector. It is a sector of the economy that comprises businesses that sell non-essential products or services. Leaders Toyota Motor Corp Comcast Corp Amazon.com Inc Industry The company belongs to the Auto Components Industry. The industry comprise companies that supply low value to high value component to auto makers around the world. Stock Comparison with Competitors Bridgestone Corporation’s stock has shown a remarkable growth since January 2012 as compared to Pirelli’s and Goodyear’s stock as shown in the figure. The graph notes some of the major events – dividends, earnings and news. The news article states that the company has invested billions of yen into the research and development to produce tyres with maximized durability and value . The company, currently, has invested millions of yen into a new North American desert plant to extract a new form of natural rubber for tyre manufacturing. This stresses that the company continues to strive hard fpr excellence. The graph shows that company has continued to announce dividends and interim dividends at year ends and half year ends respectively. This has strengthened the belief of the investors in the stock value. Likewise, the company announced promising earnings which has allowed the company to maintain number one position in the global tyre market. Both the dividends and earnings have an impact on the stock price – in this case, the company’s stock price has risen par the competitors’ value after continuously posting strong earninsg and dividends. Market Capitalization Company Market Capitalization Bridgestone Corp 20.24B Goodyear 3.9B Continental 27B Michelin 14.4B Market capitalization is basically the market value of the company’s out standing shares. It determines the size of the company which allows for conclusion on asset allocation and risk factor. The analysis shows Bridgestone Corp has the largest capitalization compared to its three giant competitors – Goodyear, Continental AG and Michelin. With the capitalization of â‚ ¬20.24 billion, it falls in the ‘large cap’ pool of companies with a strong asset allocation and less risk. Global Presence Bridgestone Corpo

Hamlet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 5

Hamlet - Essay Example Thesis statement: In the play Hamlet, the protagonist’s initial relationship and attitude (suspiciousness) toward death undergoes transformation and tends him to realize that revenge can solve his problems and death is usual and natural process because his realization of the inevitability of this phenomenon forces him to face alienation within his private (family) and public (society) circles. Death and Hamlet: relationship and attitude Suspiciousness: In the play, the protagonist’s (say, prince Hamlet) initial relationship with his approach towards death is based on his doubt on the ghost’s words. To be specific, he did not suspect that his uncle (say, King Claudius) is his father’s murderer. In the play, the protagonist suspiciously points out to his friend on the ghost’s existence that, â€Å"Tis very strange† (I.iii.31). Besides, the protagonist does not suspect his mother because there is no solid evidence to prove her role in the conspi racy. When the ghost instilled the protagonist’s mind with suspicion, he began to consider that death is the antagonist in his life. One can see that the unexpected murder forced the prince to change his attitude. Now, he cannot imagine himself as the next ruler of his nation because his uncle is the king. Besides, he cannot act according to the words uttered by the ghost because no one will believe his words. On the other side, the protagonist realizes that he cannot trust anybody within his public domain. All these facts force the protagonist to consider that death is trying to ruin his life. For instance, he is helpless to prove the authenticity of the apparition forcing him to act against the king. The only thing that he knows is death is trying to trap him within his private circle, and he must try to break this chain. Revenge: Somehow, the protagonist manages to keep himself away from the influence of suspicious attitude because revelation of truth transforms his opinio n on death. Now, his aim is to defeat him enemies by taking apt measures. Now, he realizes that death is the real villain because the same created much more trouble in his life. Still, he does not try to attack the murderer because he does not have any solid proof to prove his theory. One can see that the protagonist is calculative because he tries to collect evidences against his uncle. This proves that the protagonist is not afraid of death. Instead, he considers himself as the agent of death. He knows that his duty is to challenge the king and to punish him with death. In the play, the protagonist states that, â€Å"There’s ne’er a villain dwelling in all Denmark† (I.v.9). On the other side, the king knows that the protagonist suspects him as the mastermind behind the murder. Still, he knows that the protagonist is helpless and he cannot act against him because he is the ultimate authority within his kingdom. So, the protagonist chooses the best possible way to deal with this problem, hiding his motive behind the fake identity of a lunatic. One can see that the urge to destroy the foes tends the protagonist to choose a strange identity. Now, he cannot go back to his real identity because his aim is to save his nation from the conspirators. To be specific, the protagonist realizes that he cannot support the murderer and lead a normal life. Realization: But planning does not help the protagonist to save his lover from the clutches of death. To be specific, the protagonist was totally immersed in revenge and he tries to avoid his lover (Ophelia). He knows that his relationship cannot help him to attain his aim. But his lover does not suspect that the protagonist is pretending as a lunatic person to fool his enemies. She considers that he lover is mad and others will not allow her to have marital relationship with him.

The Right To Fashion Among Individuals Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Right To Fashion Among Individuals - Essay Example The philosophy of fashion speaks about how style is different from fashion wearing clothes means helping to give one’s body a sense of appearance that helps to define ourselves. Most people can understand what kind of a person one is just by the clothes he or she wears. Having an eye for detail or for fashionable clothing helps to up a person’s level of appearance in the eyes of both her/himself and in the eyes of other people around him. Not being able to reveal fashion through personal senses, or not being able to dress oneself in the kind of clothing one wants to is equivalent to the same feeling of having one’s body chained and not being able to do anything about it. Fashion is like freedom and liberation from the monotonous lives that most people live in the world today. It helps to bring about change and color in a person’s outlook towards life. It helps a person to feel light and also helps to alter his or her mood. This was fashion – dressin g oneself as one wanted to and trying to bring about a sort of look and appearance in the clothing of a person. This same activity and process were carried out in different parts o the world with respect to different kinds of clothing that were born from the creativity and uniqueness that different people had. Today, they are known as designers; however, in those days, they were known as the harbingers of freedom and creativity. Fashion is restricted now though, in many parts of the world and women are not given their due right to dress as they please.

Using material from item A and elsewher Essay Example for Free

Using material from item A and elsewher Essay Using material from item A and elsewhere, assess the view that the growth of religious fundamentalism is a reaction to globalisation As mentioned in item A ‘much has been written about the decline of religious beliefs and the secularisation of modern societies’ this states that the growth of fundamentalism represents a culture which tends to be a clash between the sacred an secular. Fundamentalism refers to ‘black and white’ thinking that opposes modernism or any sort of progressive beliefs about religion and social topics. Rejecting modern beliefs does not particularly make fundamentalist group violent. Whilst the item mentions ‘they reject modern interpretations o faith as having lost their ways because teachings have been watered down’ this supports the idea that fundamentalist groups tend to oppose anything that challenges their religious interpretations and opinions. There are various characteristics of fundamentalism; a sociologist Bruce indicates the fact that religious text are seen as perfect. Referring back to the item it suggests that ‘fundamentalism seek a return to a literal interpretation of their holy book and strict obedience to religious teachings’ this supports Bruce idea as such holy teaching must be read literally-be it the bible, quran or the torah for e.g. Homosexuality is seen to be a sin, and fundamentalist groups are strongly against this view. Although there are many holy teachings and beliefs, one consequence of this is that fundamentalism rejects religious pluralism; there can be but one literal truth. This reflects on the important implications for what school teach for e.g. in some Christian schools in USA, the obect the scientific explanations of creation. Another aspect of fundamentalist is there is a profound rejection of modern society. Living in the modern world is seen as problematic because of the variety of choice; including too much choice of religion, sexuality, lifestyle etc. As mentioned in the item ‘while fundamentalism may have views that differ greatly from the mainstream’ this supports the perception that fundamentalists reject the idea of choice and assert the value of tradition. Lastly, another characteristic is activism. Activism is strongly encouraged whereby fundamentalists are vocal in their struggle of good against evil. In their ways of active approach many fundamentalists resort to violence in bid to express both their hatred of modernity and the need for tradition values to return for all. Examples of extremist fundamentalism include the shooting of  Malala, bombing of abortion clinics, 9/11 etc, Islamic fundamentalists. Quoting from the item ‘some sociologists argue that one response to globalisation has been the growth of religious fundamentalists’ This was the central view of Giddens whom mentioned that globalisation has turned the whole planet earth into a ‘global village’ such that every point o n the planet is constant and lose touch with the rest of the world via electronic, satellite or telephone communication. This has had a huge impact on fundamentalism. There are clear examples of how globalisation has helped fundamentalist groups for e.g. Terrorist groups such al-qaeda have various websites to both communication members and grow in numbers. Depite the fact that fundamentalists are against modernity, they can be seen as hypocritical groups as they tend to use modern ways and technology to spread their views. Another clear example is represented by the Miss World beauty Pageant in Nigeria 2002 A ‘blasphemous’ article was published by a newspaper office suggesting the prophet Muhammed (pbuh) would have liked a Miss World Beauty Queen. This had raised riots by Muslim fundamentalists which claimed over 100 lives. Assessing the view that globalisation has a growing state of fundamentalists, if such articles were not published, would there be such a large scale of fundamentalist activity? However growth in fundamentalism can be due to other factors beside globalisation. A response to secularisation; once again Bruce identifies fundamentalism is caused by secularisation- he argues the decline in religion in modern society, combining the views of science and rationality, undermines traditional faiths which supports evidence from the item as it mentions ‘but fundamentalism seems to go against this trend’ and therefore this does not truly suggest that globalisation is the main reaction to the growth of fundamentalist groups. Almond et al agree secularisation and modernisation produces fundamentalist however implying that it is caused by facets such as low levels of education and high levels of inequality, economic problems displacement of people by war, and western resentment and hatred. This also ties in with such facts that fundamentalism is more likely to develop when; there is just one sacred perfect text which followers can argue, a religion must have a common enemy etc. Such aspects determine that globalisation is not the only factor, there are many other ways of fundamentalist groups increasing Another aspect may be certainty in a world of choice.  Fundamentalists groups tend to have an appeal to those who seek a moral anchor in a world of unlimited choice i.e. young people. Modernity creates a moral ambiguity- unaware of what to do and therefore leading to a profusion of choice and a lack of guidance. This verifies the idea that globalisation is not the only reason as to why fundamentalists is growing, but attracting people in other ways. Lastly, Karen Armstrongs view also supports the view that it is not due to globalization. She argues there is nothing in Islamic religion which tends to lead towards fundamentalist beliefs. Many Islamic leaders and followers are in favour of westernisation and modernisation. However her argument differs to many as she states that the west has tried to impose modernisation too rapidly in these countries and as a result, this has lead to mass resentment f the west by many Islamic populations in the world, thus encouraging Islamic fundamentalism. In conclusion, although gloablisation does play a major role as to why fundamentalist groups are promptly growing, we cannot assume this is the only way. Assessing the view of this, it does need to be taken into consideration that there are other elements which have an impact of fundamentalist groups vastly spreading such as secularisation, economic problems, certainty in a world of choice etc.

Development and Diversity Essay Example for Free

Development and Diversity Essay When a child is conceived they begin to develop in the mother whom and continue to develop until adulthood. Today we look at these developments and find new ways to teach children that all develop at different rates. Throughout history child development was ignored and little attention was paid to the advantages in their early abilities such as language usage, and physical growth that occurs during childhood and adolescence. Throughout the years there has been many people have come up with theories that support the growth of the development of children. I will talk about one of these theories here. B. F. Skinner, who carried out experimental work mainly in comparative psychology from the 1930s to the 1950s, but remained behaviorisms best known theorist and exponent virtually until his death in 1990, developed a distinct kind of behaviorist philosophy, which came to be called radical behaviorism. He also claimed to have found a new version of psychological science, which he called behavior analysis or the experimental analysis of behavior (Richard Culatta) The behaviorist theory is a worldview that operates on a principle of â€Å"stimulus-response. All behavior caused by external stimuli all behavior can be explained without the need to consider internal mental states or consciousness. Originators and important contributors of this theory are John B. Watson, Ivan Pavlov, B. F. Skinner. The behaviorist theory is based off of positive and negative feedback to students in a classroom. It is a way to train the students in learning the correct way so they can keep moving onto the level of their education. An example can be a mouse in a cage that is really thirsty. Well the mouse will do and try anything to get out of that cage to get something to drink but when it finds the feeding bottle and see that all it has to do is push the little tab on the end to get some water the mouse is satisfied. The same go for students and children. Children will fight tooth and nail to try and get out of anything that they do not like but if they see a reward at the end they will stay with it to get the reward. This keeps them focused and controlled at the same time. There are three main contributors to this theory John B.  Watson, Ivan Pavlov, B. F. Skinner. These three have all contributed to this theory in one way or another. John B. Watson conducted research on animals, children, and advertising to further the theory. Ivan Pavlov conducted research on temperament of children, conditioning and involuntary reflex actions. Finally B. F. Skinner invented his own philosophy called radical behaviorism. All of these men have helped to improve on the theory to help us understand children’s learn and development better so we can teach them in better ways. Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten† (B. F. Skinner) The theory of behaviorism can be used in a classroom setting in many ways. It is the way that it is used that will determine if it works for the teacher and the student or hurts the teacher and the student. Giving children goals at an early age to accomplish tasks in the classroom can be a really good thing. Children always want a reward for the things they do. They are taught that at a very early age with their parents when doing thing like picking up their rooms and getting a reward for that at home. Well that carries into the classroom setting also. To reward students is giving them very positive feedback on their work many teachers use the star system. A large chart on the wall with all the student’s names and stars for the good work they have done. This gives students a little push to do their best because they want those stars so they can be proud or even get a reward for the most stars. This is a great idea in most cases but teachers need to be careful with this also because it can backfire on them. If you have a student that is a slower learner and does not receive stars like the others this can hurt that student and their learning. Yes there has be negative feedback with positive feedback but if all the child gets is negative feedback it can lead to them just giving up and we do not want that. So we have to walk a fine line when it comes to using different techniques in the classroom. All students are different and learn different so we have to work around that so all of our students receive the same education as the other. You can use activities in your classroom that go along with behaviorism and that will benefit your students in many ways. For example take ten sentences that go along with your lesson plan. Say you are teaching about animals in your class this week you can make up ten sentences and leave one word out of each sentence. Then you would list the missing words out of order and have the children fill in the blanks with the words that are off to the side. You can give rewards for their work to stimulate them in doing their best by giving a sticker for each one they get correct. This is a good way to do it because you have a really good chance of getting at least one sticker and all are happy but most of the kids will do well because they are going to try for more than just one. There are many different theories in education that can help a teacher in the classroom. These all work to give the student a better learning experience. It is the way you use them that will determine if they work or not for you and your students. With behaviorism you need to give positive and negative feedback to your student it is that you have to walk a fine line so you do not discourage your students from learning but make them want to be the best student they can be.

The three stages of Change Management

The three stages of Change Management We live in the age of change. The implication of this statement, is not that changes only happen in our time, but, is that changes in the recent few decades have been comparatively more frequent and exert relatively major influences on every aspect of human life. In fact, changes command so much attention that, in recent years, the spotlight has been on how to manage change: Change Management. Change management, according to definition from BNET Business Dictionary (n.d.) is the coordination of a structured period of transition from situation A to situation B in order to achieve lasting change within an organization. Change management in the organizational context is the study of change, how to exercise change, how to cope with change and the necessity of change to ensure sustainability. Management of change is a complex subject of study; attention has to be paid in regards to the continuity of change, i.e. there are 2 types of change namely incremental change (minor change, adaptation, modification) and discontinuous change (revolutionary change, transformational change). Organizations experience consistent cycles of change in which periods of incremental change are punctuated by intervals of discontinuous change (Nadler and Tushman 1995, cited in Hayes 2002, p. 5). This cycle is referred to as punctuated equilibrium by Romanelli and Tushman in 1994 (cited in Hayes 2002, p. 5). Academics and scholars have, throughout time, developed various theories on change management. One of the famous thinker in the field of change management, Lewin (1951, cited in Campbell and Craig 2008, p. 512) introduced the force-field model which describes the state of change in an organization as the equilibrium between the force that push for change and the restraining force that struggles to keep the status quo unchanged. Additionally, Kotter (1995, cited in Huczynski and Buchanan 2007, p. 604) proposes 8 steps to organizational transformation: Establish a sense of urgency Form a guiding coalition Create a vision Communicate the vision Empower people to act on the vision Create short-term wins Consolidate improvements to produce further change Institutionalize new approaches Kurt Lewin in 1951 (cited in Kinicki and Kreitner 2008, p. 402) also introduced a 3-stage model for change. What are the 3 stages? Unfreezing: In a nutshell it means that to change, an organization first need to have the desire for change. Organization needs to be unhappy with the old behaviour. Changing: Moving to the desired state of change. Refreezing: Stabilize and normalize the changed state. Mentioned above are few of the theories that students studying Organizational Behaviour will find familiar. Kurt Lewins models for change remain largely applicable even in the 21st century as successful change always depends on striking a balance between change implementation and managing resistance to change. Besides, the 3-stage model correctly illustrated the process of change; the difference now being the increasing speed of the change cycle as organizational environment becomes more volatile. In my humble opinion however, Kotters 8-step model is an over-simplified interpretation of the process of change. The fundamental assumption that change happens in logical sequence and that managers are all rational beings are in themselves impractical as changes often involve unpredictable irregularities and managers do not always follow the book. Realistically, decisions made by managers are seldom rational. When organizations try to put into action change plans, it is almost always certain that the effort will be met with resistance. Resistance to change comes in one form or another. To borrow the words of Fronda and Moriceau (2008), there are 3 forms of resistance: revolt, withdrawal (alienation from work) and discreet resistance (low morale, low productivity and high absenteeism). On resistance towards change, we started off with a rather negative perception in the last paragraph. However, this is not necessarily so, resistance is detrimental only when it is not delicately handled, downplayed or ignored. Waddell and Sohal (1998) in their journal article titled Resistance: a constructive tool for change management states that resistance to change shows that it is nonsensical to assume right away that all change is beneficial; that it is human nature to doubt the outcome of change. Furthermore they argued that resistance to change ensures a balance between organizations desire for change and its practical need of stability and constancy (Waddell and Sohal 1998). The crucial question remained: How can management adopt the right strategy so as to be successful in change initiation? Many people have this huge misconception about the existence of the mythical best strategy for change. In my opinion, it is downright absurd to conclude that there is one best strategy to be used for all change initiatives; each organization is affected by its distinct external and internal factors when implementing change. After a routine of extensive reading, I found the contingency approach to change advocated by Dunphy and Stace (2001, cited in Huczynski and Buchanan, p. 603) most viable. The Dunphy-Stace contingency approach to change implementation The table content outlines the different strategies that managers can employ under different circumstances to implementing changes. Participative change management, despite being touted by a number of academics in the field of change management as the best solutions to change, does not always work. This is because participation and involvement in change process, from formulation to implementation, is extremely time-consuming, even more so when consensus fails to be reached. Thus when organizations are put under situations where the need for change is so critical that it is change or die, managers will be better off exercising decisiveness and dictatorial decision-making. Ideally, however, it is always best to involve employees in planning and carrying out change to minimize resistance and ensure cooperation. My view is echoed in the journal article by Stanleigh (2008) titled Effecting successful change management initiatives, in which he states 6 reasons why change initiatives fail: Not engaging all employees Managing change only at the executive level Telling people they have to change, were in a crisis Sending staffs on a change program and expecting change to occur Not honouring the past Not giving time for staffs to vent first and then change Not to be forgotten is the role of constructive conversation. Efforts to bring about change often fail because the change agent failed to listen. Jabri, Adrian and Boje (2008) in their article comment on change agents: [c]hange agents want to change the organization; indeed, they have been trained to change it. Change agents may even know what the organization needs. Many change agents have been trained to think about how to communicate the change in ways that people will accept it. That training reflects a caring for the audience, even as it limits the audiences participation. The audience is mere spectator to the change, rather than witness to it. In order to change successfully, an effective, two-way communication between managers and employees must be in place. Managers must learn to listen to the voices of the employees because the employees possess hands-on knowledge which might not be readily available to someone in managerial position. Conversation enables the contribution of every employee to be fully appreciated and integrated into the grand plan of change. Summing up my argument in the previous paragraphs, to be able to adopt a clearly defined strategy for the successful initiation of change, management needs to evaluate current situation, the necessity for change, and the urgency for the change. Management then needs to decide on a suitable approach based on the model proposed by Dexter Dunphy and Doug Stace (2001). Whenever possible, managers should maximize stakeholders participation in the change process. Moreover, from planning to implementation of change, managers should never overlook the importance of conversation. The management as the change agent needs to learn to listen. Throughout history we can see a large number of organizations that have made attempts to change. Some of these organizations succeeded; some, unfortunately, failed. By adopting the right strategies, we observe that organizations can manage their change successfully. One recent example is the effort by Dell Inc. to reduce the power consumption of its approximately 50000 computers during non-operational hours. In light of the increasing cost of energy, or more specifically, electricity, Dell Inc. has decided to put into action an overhaul of its power management. To formulate a company-wide power management plan, Jay Taylor, the senior engineer global strategist at Dell, brought together several departments at Dell, including product, facilities management, CTO and IT groups. These stakeholders all contributed their expertise in their respective fields to assist in the planning. By coordinating the skills of its employees in different fields, and pairing this effort with the latest tec hnology, Dell managed to come up with a very efficient power management plan which resulted in 40% reduction in computer-related energy cost, translating to US$ 1.8 million savings annually. The inspiring part of the whole initiative is that Dell managed to implement the power management plan and achieve cost-saving without hampering its day-to-day operation, thanks to its skillful handling of available expertise and effective co-ordinations between stakeholders from different fields. As a conclusion, change management plays an essential role in ensuring organizations survival. To achieve competitive advantage and sustainability in this turbulent period of economy, organization needs to be able to adapt to the external environment rapidly and routinely by constantly learning. It is therefore imperative for leaders and managers alike to have a thorough understanding of the nature, theories and practice of change management.

Touching Wedding Speech by the Bride -- Wedding Toasts Roasts Speeches

Touching Wedding Speech by the Bride It is not traditional for the bride to speak but I thought it only right that I start married life as I mean to go on - by having the last word. I would like to take this chance to thank everyone for taking the time to share this magical day with us. Today wouldn’t have been as special as it is without you - our family and friends. I hope everyone is enjoying themselves and that the open bar kept you entertained while we were having our photos taken. Please remember to take lots of photos and sign the guest book – please include any advice you have on married life! I would like to thank Mary and Rose for doing the readings. We have a small gift here for you. A big thank you goes to my bridesmaids, Nicola and Caroline who were both a great help in preparing for the big event and in keeping me calm throughout the day. I have a little something here for you. Jane and Terry have welcomed me into the family and even put up with me staying with them after I lost my roomate. Thank you for raising Charlie so well for me. I understand that the warranty is out of date now and the refund deadline has long since passed. I might keep him for a while though as he has so many qualities - charm, brains and beauty are sadly the only ones missing I would like to thank my mom (mum) and dad for all their love, support and guidance throughout my life. I would not be where I am t... ...rue. I love you Charles for all that you have made of yourself in this life, and for what I know we will make together in our lives from this day on. I am so proud to be your wife. The most beautiful wedding gift I'll have today is knowing in my heart I have your love forever........... I would like to take time now to remember those who are unable to be with us today. Many of our family were unable to travel to Chicago (Edinburgh). Others will be looking down on our wedding day- we especially remember my granmother (gran) McFarlane and grandfather (grandpa) Cook and Charlie’s grandpa whose birthday would have been today. I would therefore like to propose a toast.†¦. (raise glass) to absent friends†¦..

William Shakespeares Hamlet :: Shakespeare Hamlet Essays

William Shakespeare's Hamlet Disillusionment. Depression. Despair. These are the burning emotions churning in young Hamlet's soul as he attempts to come to terms with his father's death and his mother's incestuous, illicit marriage. While Hamlet tries to pick up the pieces of his shattered idealism, he consciously embarks on a quest to seek the truth hidden in Elsinore; this, in stark contrast to Claudius' fervent attempts to obscure the truth of murder. Deception versus truth; illusion versus reality. In the play, Prince Hamlet is constantly having to differentiate amongst them. However, there is always an exception to the rule, and in this case, the exception lies in Act 2, Scene 2, where an "honest" conversation (sans the gilded trappings of deceit) takes place between Hamlet and Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern. Via the use of prose and figurative language, Shakespeare utilizes the passage to illustrate Hamlet's view of the cosmos and mankind. Throughout the play, the themes of illusion and mendaciousness have been carefully developed. The entire royal Danish court is ensnared in a web of espionage, betrayal, and lies. Not a single man speaks his mind, nor addresses his purpose clearly. As Polonius puts it so perfectly: "And thus do we of wisdom and of reach^Ã… By indirections find directions out" Act 2, Scene 2, Lines 71-3 The many falsehoods and deceptions uttered in Hamlet are expressed through eloquent, formal, poetic language (iambic pentameter), tantamount to an art form. If deceit is a painted, ornate subject then, its foil of truth is simple and unvarnished. Accordingly, when the pretenses of illusion are discarded in Act 2, Scene 2, the language is written in direct prose. Addressing Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern, Hamlet pleads with them to deliver up honest speech about the intent of their arrival: "[offer up] Anything but to th' purpose." Act 2, Scene 2, Line 300 In a gesture of extreme significance, in a quote complementary to Polonius' aforementioned one, Hamlet demands: "Be even and direct with me whether you were sent for or no." Act 2, Scene 2, Lines 310-11 Being the bumbling fools they are, Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern disclose their intentions and purposes to Hamlet, revealing the King and Queen's instructions. Thus does truth prevail in this passage. For this reason, the whole passage is devoid of the "artful" poetic devices that are used in the better portion of the play. The recurring motif of corruption also appears in the passage.

Creon The Tragic Hero of Sophocles Antigone Essay -- Essays Papers

Creon The Tragic Hero of Sophocles Antigone Every Greek tragedy must have a tragic hero. In Sophocle’s play, Antigone, the most tragic hero is Creon. He is an essentially good man of high position who takes pride in his role as king. He possesses the tragic flaws of excessive pride and an oversized ego. This causes the tragic reversal that leads to his emotional ruin and eventual remorse and repentance. As King of Thebes, Creon is forced to make difficult decisions. As a new ruler, he feels it is necessary to prove himself to his citizens, therefore he rules his state with a firm hand. He believes that Polyneices should not be buried because he was a traitor to his country and family. Creon knew this decision would be hard on some people, but did not anticipate how greatly it would affect his niece, Antigone. Because Antigone goes against Creon’s will and law and buries her brother, she forces him into a position where he again has to make a difficult decision. He must choose to kill his own family member and uphold the law, or punish her less severely and show that he was wrong in a previous decision. Creon’s pride does not allow him show leniency toward Antigone, and he arrogantly defends his decision by stating, â€Å" whoever may be the man appointed by the city, that man must be obeyed in everything, little or great, just or unjust† (line 608). Creon’s arrogance and pride is the tragic flaw that leads to his inevitable downfall. He does not hand down a just sent...

The Media and Today’s Youth

The Media and Today’s Youth Today, there is no escape from the flamboyant displays of sex and violence on television, in the movies, and in commercial advertising. When watching the morning news, the television floods with reports of sexual assault and murder. When waiting in line at the grocery store, it is impossible to ignore the headlines accusing wives of cheating and husbands of abuse. When driving on the highway, it is difficult to concentrate on the road with audacious billboards with half-naked women around every corner.Similarly, it seems that today’s children are becoming increasingly dependent of modern technology including cell phones, video games, and internet, making the sex and violence seen in the media more accessible than ever. So if a young girl is experimenting with sex before she has even reached puberty, or if a young boy brings a gun to elementary school, this behavior cannot be blamed on characteristics inherited at birth. Rather, it is the unav oidable truth that young people are corrupted by the constant exposure to the provocative media.Children were certainly not born with the aforementioned negative behaviors, therefore it must be a direct effect of the environment. So does this mean that people are born moral and molded into violent, promiscuous creatures? According to the ancient Chinese philosopher Mencius, humans are â€Å"inherently good† and in order to demonstrate the ability of outside forces to molest the natural good nature of humans, he compares the human heart to a barley seed.Though all seeds, like the human heart have the potential to grow just as strong and healthy as the rest, there is always the possibility that external obstacles will inhibit some from succeeding as much as others. Similarly, the philosopher Hsun Tzu explains that the environment that a person grows in will significantly affect the person he or she is soon to become. Although he contrasts the argument of Mencius in his beliefs that humans are born with evil tendencies and are only made good through training and education.Both philosophers, however, agree that training and mentoring is vital to shaping behavior. If a man is surrounded by evil, it is inevitable that he will develop evil characteristics. Therefore, the theories of both Mencius and Tzu contrast the current values of American popular culture. Constant exposure to pop media promoting uninhibited sex is leading to a total loss of conservative values, especially among young girls. Values such as monogamy, loyalty, modesty, and self-respect are crucial to maintaining a decent image of the American Woman.Fashion magazines directed toward young women are bursting with photo-shopped ads for perfume, jewelry, and clothing showing women with little clothing covering their hourglass frames. If kids are exposed to over 250,000 commercial advertisements by the age of 17, then it is impossible to deny that this influences their views on what types of behav ior is appropriate. Not only are young girls pressured to keep up with unrealistic body images but also with ridiculous norms of behavior for their age group, including drinking excessively, dressing provocatively, and acting recklessly.Watching a show every week like Jersey Shore which openly glorifies sex and drinking will undoubtedly begin to make young girls believe that such behavior is desirable. A typical episode of this popular show includes an entertaining portrayal of a small group of young Italian adults who are paid to act foolishly. On a typical day, the group of â€Å"guidos† spend time working out, tanning, drinking, and helping out at a beach-side t-shirt shop on the infamous Jersey Shore boardwalk. The end of the show highlights their evening routine including unhealthy amounts of alcohol, minimal clothing, and lots of sexual content.Girls who act inappropriately at a young age were clearly taught how to do so by the poor role models who are paid millions of dollars per year to corrupt American youth. To make matters worse, these ideas seem to be reinforced with displays of sexual innuendo everywhere young people look. The explosion of personal computers within the last 20 years has allowed children to have more access to adult content than ever before. The internet is flooded with websites streaming free pornography and all a child needs is a computer and Google search.While there are some ways that parents can censor what their children view online, most kids are knowledgeable enough about computers to get around any firewalls. Additionally, there is very few children today who do not own a smartphone; a personal device that opens the doors to unlimited searching without censorship. But who needs porn when there is sexting? Today’s young people seem to be increasingly more open to send each other sexually explicit text messages or pictures without true control over where they are sent.The idea of sexting would seem much more sc andalous, however, if they were not observing such behavior from their role models on TV, in magazines, or on the internet. Unfortunately, sex in the media is not the only problem. Violent video games are becoming increasingly more realistic and allow people to live vicariously through the animation, causing real-life violence to seem mundane. For example, the game Grand Theft Auto is wildly popular among the youth as it allows players to earn points through stealing cars, mugging pedestrians, assaulting prostitutes, and murdering strangers.This type of game is obviously entertaining, but should not be available for kids at the local videogame provider. To make matters worse, the quickly advancing technology allows for a more life-like picture than ever before. Therefore, the line drawn between fantasy and reality becomes blurry; a dangerous problem when it comes to violent crimes. Kids who are involved in gang violence and vicious crimes had to have learned this behavior from somew here.While it is a valid point that television and videogames cannot make a person do something they do not want to do, it is undeniable that the media is capable of putting the idea in that person’s head. While adults are able to put violent and sexual content inside of context, children are not mature enough to realize the difference between how people act on entertainment television versus real life. With adult content becoming available to increasingly younger age groups, it appears that there is no limit to how young children are able to access the world of sex and violence.Hsun Tzu reinforces this argument with his statement that â€Å"environment is everything† when it comes to the root of human nature and his belief that values are learned through practice. The corruption of today’s young people is a negative bi-product of the digital revolution and has created colossal problems for the youth of society. But it is your responsibility as the youth of Amer ica to take a step back and realize that we need to hold on tight to our morals and values if we want to preserve The American Dream.

Alchemist Answer Key

1)Why does Coelho open with the modified myth of Narcissus? How does the new version differ from the original one? How does it change the myth’s meaning? What might the author be suggesting about how we perceive ourselves and the world? Paulo Coelho began with the tale of Narcissus to show the reader that when you are so caught up in your own life you do not realize the greater things like nature and friends. It differs because it leaves out how the lake was also too caught up in its own beauty to notice other people. The new myth focuses more on positive outcomes from unfortunate events while the original is negative. It portrays everything to be self-centered. This relates to the tale of the Alchemist because, in chasing his personal legend, Santiago had to learn to see the world for all that it was, not just as it related to his personal struggle. 2)The novel opens with Santiago thinking about his sheep. What does he observe about their existence? How might the sheep symbolize the way some people live their lives? How does his observation that they â€Å"have forgotten to rely on their own instincts† foreshadow later events in the story? He observes that all they are concerned with is eating and sleeping. They do not have deeper thoughts or needs. Just like people that do not try to learn or grow, they continue blandly through life. They don't look around or try to learn from those around them. Because Santiago is different, he bravely leaves his comfortable existence and travels to the pyramids in search of his treasure. Along the way he learns to trust in himself and to understand the ways of the earth. 3)To what degree is his father’s observation about travelers (â€Å"They come in search of new things, but when they leave they are basically the same people they were when they arrived. â€Å") true about Santiago? )The old man tells Santiago the story about the miner and the emerald. How does it connect to Santiago’s situation? What does he mean when he says that â€Å"treasure is uncovered by the force of flowing water, and it is buried by the same currents†? What does this quote have to do with the miner/emerald story? 5)What point does the old man’s story about the boy in the castle and the drops of oil make? How might this story apply to us in our modern lives? You shouldn't worry too much about your family and flock that you don’t enjoy everything that is around you, but you also shouldn't completely forget about the ones you love. )How does the King assist Santiago in recognizing omens? When does Santiago use this help? The king opens Santiago's eyes to the possibility that there are signs/omens all around him and that he needs to be on the lookout for these as he goes about his life. God has prepared a path for everyone to follow. You just have to read the omens that he left for you. Santiago uses this help when he does not know where to go or what to do. 7)How do Santiago’s thoughts and perceptions about himself and the world begin to change on pages 42-44? Describe three (3) things that Santiago sees now that he has never noticed before. )Why do you think Coelho chose crystal? How does the crystal merchant’s explanation for not taking the pilgrimage to Mecca hig hlight the difference between Santiago and the merchant? Coelho chose crystal merchant because he wanted to showcase the different paths a person may chose in life. Whereas Santiago feels eager to pursue his Personal Legend and get to Egypt, the crystal merchant fears pursuing his own dream to make a pilgrimage to Mecca because he worries he will have nothing to live for afterward. 9) The Englishman and his goals are described in the novel. What is he looking for? What does he demonstrate to Santiago that the Englishman already knows? Santiago says that the progress made at the crystal shop is an example of the principle of the Soul of the World. What does he mean? How does he define this? How does he connect the idea to the relationship between the caravan and the desert? 10) The oasis is described in great detail. How does its lushness, laughter, and color reflect what Santiago finds there? Where else in the story does Coelho provide details about the physical setting in order to lend more meaning to the events which occur there? 1)What is the meaning of the two (2) dead hawks and the falcon in the oasis? How does this omen change Santiago’s status in society? It doesn’t really have a meaning santiago has the skill of knowing future. It is not nature telling him the future, but he can feel the future as Santiago is capable of entering and understanding the soul of the world and well as the language of the world. This lets him understand and â€Å"read† the future through the omens. The reading of omens in the natural world gives Santiago a special status reserved for men much older and learned than he is. 2) During his trek through the desert with the alchemist, Santiago is told of many basic truths. The alchemist says, â€Å"There is only one way to learn. It’s through action. Everything you need to know you have learned through your journey. † What are some of the things Santiago has learned through action? 13) Why did Santiago have to go through the dangers of the tribal wars on the outskirts of the oasis in order to reach the Pyramids? At this point, the boy remembers the old proverb: â€Å"The darkest hour of the night came just before the dawn. How does this apply to his situation now? At the end of the journey, why did the alchemist leave Santiago alone to complete it? Santiago must endure trials in order to fulfill his Personal Legend and thus comprehend the Lan guage of the World. One's goals are never reached unless we are willing to face fears. The proverb totally applies to his situation as things become their very worst before they get better. The alchemist left Santiago alone because every person's journey is an individual one; no one can help you realize your own dreams. 4) Earlier in the story, the alchemist told Santiago â€Å"when you possess great treasures within you, and try to tell others of them, seldom are you believed. † At the end of the story, how does this simple lesson change Santiago’s life? How does it lead him back to the treasure he was looking for? When Santiago encountered the thieves, he told them the truth, and they didn’t believe him, which saved his life. This quote from earlier in the book was mentioned, about how people become more skeptical when they are older: Everyone, when they are young, knows what their Personal Legend is. At that point in their lives, everything is clear and everything is possible. They are not afraid to dream, and to yearn for everything they would like to see happen to them in their lives. But, as time passes, a mysterious force begins to convince them that it will be impossible for them to realize their Personal Legend. † 1) What is alchemy? What processes were involved? Who performed it and why? Who were the famous alchemists of the medieval period? Alchemy (the â€Å"Royal Art†, or â€Å"Great Work†), a form of speculative thought, is perhaps best known as attempting to turn base metals into gold, and for trying to discover a cure for diseases and a way of extending the human life span. The word alchemy comes from the Arabic word al-kimia. It is in fact a system of thought, related to broad disciplines including natural philosophy, medicine, astrology, metallurgy, and hermetic thinking. The name alchemy is largely known to the west today due to its connection with the philosophy that surfaced in 12th century Europe via contacts with the Arabic world. But the study of alchemy and alchemical processes seems to be quite universal, with some evidence of it from ancient India, China, Persia, Egypt, and others, describing specific experiments with mercury, salt, and sulphur, etc. Transmutation, or change from one state of existence into another, is a key concept in Alchemy – for example, the process for lead to change into gold, or, for someone to go from a state of sickness to health, or from old age back to youth again (the â€Å"elixir of life†). The transmutation of metals was to be accomplished by a specific powder or elixir, often called the â€Å"Philosopher's Stone†, which would cause the changes to occur. The alchemists, after a profound examination of natural processes and the secrets of nature, arrived at a view that involved two polarities of nature; one being mercury, the volatile intellect, and the other, sulphur, connected with the soul. Paracelsus added a third principle, salt, which as a solid, corresponds to that of the body. To the alchemist, these Paracelsian â€Å"Tria Prima† are not only chemical substances, but spiritual forces. The qualities of heat, dryness, coldness and moisture were, according to Aristotle, joined with the â€Å"prima materia† to develop into the four elements. Alchemy has been practiced for centuries by mainly chemists for the reason that they wanted to discover the relationship of man to the cosmos and take advantage of that relationship to the betterment of mankind and to find the â€Å"philosopher's stone,† an elusive substance that was believed to make possible the creation of an elixir of immortality and the transmutation of common substances into gold. In Middle Ages alchemy was used as a tool in advancement of medicine. Zosimus, Geber, Albertus Magnus, Paracelsus Isaac Newton, Roger Bacon and St. Thomas Aquinas were the famous alchemists of the medieval period. 2) Research the Philosopher’s Stone and the Elixir of Life. The philosophers' stone or stone of the philosophers (Latin: lapis philosophorum) is a legendary alchemical substance said to be capable of turning base metals (lead, for example) into gold (chrysopoeia) or silver. It was also sometimes believed to be an elixir of life, useful for rejuvenation and possibly for achieving immortality. For many centuries, it was the most sought-after goal in Western alchemy. The philosophers' stone was the central symbol of the mystical terminology of alchemy, symbolizing perfection at its finest, enlightenment, and heavenly bliss. Efforts to discover the philosophers' stone were known as the Magnum Opus (â€Å"Great Work†). The philosophers' stone has been attributed with many mystical and magical properties. The most commonly mentioned properties are the ability to transmute base metals into gold or silver, and the ability to heal all forms of illness and prolong the life of any person who consumes a small part of the philosophers' stone. Other mentioned properties include: creation of perpetually burning lamps, transmutation of common crystals into precious stones and diamonds, reviving of dead plants, creation of flexible or malleable glass, or the creation of a clone or homunculus. The philosophers' stone is created by the alchemical method known as The Magnum Opus or The Great Work. Often expressed as a series of color changes or chemical processes, the instructions for creating the philosophers' stone are varied. When expressed in colors, the work may pass through phases of nigredo, albedo, citrinitas, and rubedo. When expressed as a series of chemical processes that includes 3 stages multiplication, and projection. The elixir of life, also known as elixir of immortality and sometimes equated with the philosopher's stone, is a legendary/mythical potion, or drink, that when drank from a certain cup, at a certain time, grants the drinker eternal life and/or eternal youth. Many alchemists pursued it. The elixir of life was also said to be able to create life. It is related to the myths of Thoth and Hermes Trismegistus, both of whom in various tales are said to have drunk â€Å"the white drops† (liquid gold) and thus achieved immortality. It is mentioned in one of the Nag Hammadi texts. Comte de St. Germain, an 18th century nobleman of uncertain origin and mysterious capabilities, was also reputed to have the Elixir and to be several hundred years old. Many European recipes specify that elixir is to be stored in clocks to amplify the effects of immortality on the user. Frenchman Nicolas Flamel was also a reputed creator of the Elixir.

Liam O’Flaherty and The Anglo-Irish War Essay

Liam O’Flaherty (1896-1984) †¢ Served in the Irish Guards of the British Army from 19151917 †¢ Suffered serious injury from a bomb blast in Belgium; was discharged due to depression. †¢ Following WWI, traveled widely and developed a world view based on atheism, communism, and the notion that Ireland should be an independent nation Liam O’Flaherty (1896-1984) †¢ Joined the Irish Republican Army to push for Irish independence. †¢ Opposed the 1921 treaty that made Ireland a part of the British Commonwealth. †¢ Wrote 13 novels between 1923 and 1976, many of which focused on the effects of war, revolution, and social upheaval in Ireland. Anglo-Irish War – Origins The Easter Rising took place on 24 April, 1916 in Dublin, Ireland. The Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) successfully incited a rising of about 1,600 rebels, which was quickly crushed by Crown (British) forces. The handling of the rebels, however, created mass sympathy and the consequences of this rebellion are still felt in Irish and international politics. The Anglo-Irish War †¢ 1919: The Irish Parliament, lead by Eamon de Valera and Michael Collins, declared Ireland a free state. †¢ The Irish Republic army launched guerilla warfare during the Irish War of Independence Anglo-Irish War – 1920 March — Thomas McCurtain, Lord Mayor of Cork was shot in front of his family by British forces. October — His successor, Terence McSwiney, dies after a 74-day hunger strike. 1 November — Kevin Barry, an 18-year-old medical student, was hanged for his part in an ambush he took part in when he was 16. 21 November — Collins’s ‘Squad’ killed fourteen members of an elite British spy group known as the ‘Cairo Gang’. Revenge was taken by Crown forces, who fired on the crowd in Croke Park. 12 people were killed and 60 wounded. Later that evening, two IRA men and one innocent man were shot ‘while escaping’ — in fact, they were marched into the prison courtyard and told to run, and when they refused they were shot in the back. Afterwards, 21 November became known as ‘Bloody Sunday’5. Bloody Sunday The Anglo-Irish War – 1920 (cont.) 28 November — a flying column led by Tom Barry killed 18 auxilaries in an ambush at Kilmichael in west Cork. Shortly after, revenge was taken by the burning of the centre of the city of Cork. December — the Government of Ireland Act set up Home Rule parliaments in Dublin and Belfast. Each parliament was given control over domestic affairs. Sinn Fà ©in rejected it. This Act implemented the Partition of Ireland. The Anglo-Irish War – 1921 25 May — the IRA burned Dublin’s custom house, where seven government departments were located. The attack led to the capture or death of more than 80 IRA men. 22 June, at the opening of the northern parliament at Stormount, King George V appealed for a truce: Pause, to stretch out the hand of forbearance and conciliation, to forgive and forget. King George V, 22 June, 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty An Irish Free State (Saorstà ¡t Éireann) of 26 counties was established The Irish state was a Dominion and was still part of the Commonwealth The British Monarch would remain as head of state and would be represented by the Governor-General The Royal Navy retained control of the ports of Cobh, Berehaven and Lough Swilly The border between the Free State and Northern Ireland would be drawn up by a Boundary Commission Aftermath of the Anglo-Irish Treaty 1922: The Irish civil war breaks out between pro- and anti-treaty parties. Armed groups crossed into Northern Ireland and attacked British installations. They hoped to force the British to give up control of Northern Ireland. Today’s IRA stems from anti-treaty forces. May 1923: The civil war ends and Northern Ireland was still part of the United Kingdom. 1937: A new constitution ratified by the Irish government changes the name of the Irish Free State to Ireland. 1949: Ireland formally declares its independence from Britain. Ireland had cut all ties with the United Kingdom and became an independent republic.

Microhabitat Variation

Temperature results for this observational study show that temperature mean and standard deviation values vary as you go from one location to another. These results are basically affected by several factors. One factor for example is the amount of sunlight received by a particular area. Shaded locations, such as under a holly tree and another tree near the shore pond registered lower mean temperatures (20.55 C and 21.03 C respectively) compared to those areas that are more exposed to direct sunlight such as the sunny patch of grass (31.60 C) and at the bleachers (28.52 C). exposure to direct sunlight obviously increases the temperature of a certain area while the absence of it decreases the temperature. Also, the canopy of the trees hinders the sunlight to penetrate the area under it thus, contributing to the lowering of the temperature of the said locations. The amount of sunlight that enters the Earth has great effect on air temperature. But as sunlight passes through the air, it does not heat it but rather, warms the air above the liquids (streams, ponds) and solids (soil) on the Earth. Usually, the warmest time of the day is the middle because it is when the sunlight is directly hitting these liquids and solids. â€Å"Temperature is usually low at midnight, decreasing in the early hours of the morning, and then increasing rapidly until just after midday. It then decreases during the night† (http://www.niwascience.co.nz/edu/resources/climate/plots/). Also, it is warmer during summer because there are more time for the Earth’s surface to heat up as compared during winter time. This event is also observable inside a thermometer, an instrument used to measure temperature. The liquid inside this instrument expands and goes up when the air surrounding it is warm. During colder days on the other hand, the liquid contracts and goes down. On the other hand, the temperature values observed under a tree showed a larger standard deviation (32.74) as compared to other areas observed. This can be explained by the fact that trees have the ability to reduce wind and air circulation especially in humid climates. Large trees with dense foliage can limit air circulation on hot days and increase the landscape's humidity by decreasing the amount of available sunlight. The lower a tree's branches are to the ground, the more it contributes to an airless space (http:www.). Variations on the activities of the tree in order to adapt to the existing sunlight amount caused the wide range of temperature values observed in this specific location. The scatterplot shows that the average temperatures of the study locations and the number of animals observed on those locations have no significant relationship with one another as proven by a high P value (0.135). Also, the two variables have a weak positive relationship as shown by a positive R value (0.377). These observations mean that although the two variables have no significant relationship, it should still be noted that they have a positive and direct relationship, which means that as the average temperatures of the study locations increases, so does the number of animals observed on those locations and vice versa. The abovementioned observations can be explained by the fact that animals’ survival is greatly affected by any change in their surrounding environment’s temperature. According to Liebig's Law of the Minimum, â€Å"population growth will be limited by the required factor that is in shortest supply† (http://www.utm.edu/departments/cens/biology/rirwin/441_442/441PhysEc.htm). The factor in shortest supply can be called as the limiting factor which determines the abundance or lack of a certain number of animals and other organisms and it can either be an abiotic of biotic factor. In this experiment, we regarded the temperature as the main abiotic factor under observation. Different animals have different tolerance levels for different factors affecting their survival. For temperature, â€Å"eurythermals† have wide range of tolerance for temperatures while â€Å"stenothermal† refers to those who have narrow tolerance for temperature. These mean that if a certain organism or group of organism cannot adapt to an environment with limiting factors that are necessary for their survival, or they cannot tolerate any drastic increase or decrease in temperature, they may be unable to reproduce or worse, die. Another explanation for this event is the ability of animal for thermoregulation. â€Å"Thermoregulation is the ability of an organism to keep its body temperature within certain boundaries, even when temperature surrounding is very different† (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoregulation). It one process of homeostasis which is a vigorous condition of constancy between an animal’s internal and external environments. In relation to this, there are two conditions that can happen to an organism when it cannot regulate its internal and external environments and maintain its normal temperature. One is hyperthermia, this can happen when an organism’s body temperature significantly increases above normal. On the other hand, it’s opposite is known as hypothermia wherein the body temperature decreases below the normal level. When an organism suffers any of these two conditions, it can be very fatal. These concepts only prove that the average temperatures of the study area and the number of animals found in each observed area have a direct relationship with one another. And these can happen either during the hot day or cold day but may have different manifestations depending on the kind of organism and how it adapts to the changes in its environment. Animals tend to prefer microclimates that show very little variation in temperature because it will be of great cost to them if they always have to regulate their body temperatures in order to adapt to their environment. And in vice versa, it will be of great help to them if they do not need to do this anymore because they will save up their energy for other metabolic processes such as reproduction or food storage and consumption. Sources: Lecture: Physiological Ecology. Retrieved November 8, 2006, from   http://www.utm.edu/departments/cens/biology/rirwin/441_442/441PhysEc.htm Mackintoch, L. Answers to Questions. Retrieved November 8, 2006, from   http://www.niwascience.co.nz/edu/resources/climate/plots/ Streich A., Janssen D., Gaussoin R., and Rodie S. (2003, July). Landscapes for Shade. Retrieved November 8, 2006 Sunlight's Effect on Air Temperature. Retrieved November 8, 2006 from http://science.howstuffworks.com/question651.htm Thermoregulation.   Retrieved November 8, 2006 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoregulation            

Analysis Of Frankenstein And The Metamorphosis Essay -- Franz Ka

In this essay I will analyze both Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis and how they use similar techniques of inquisitive questioning and unjust rejection throughout their stories in order to show how two strange â€Å"monstrosities† try to come into a culture. For instance, how seeing Gregor’s reaction to his sudden transformation, in metamorphosis, where instead of shock at how unreasonable it is, he simply remarks at the new tendencies the transformation has come with. We can better see the purpose on why Frankenstein’s monster was so obsessed with trying to integrate itself into human society. While these details at first glance might seem to be nuances of a much bigger picture they hold great importance to these characters and how they develop as the reader will see in the rest of the essay to come. To begin, let’s give a short description of Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein, Frankenstein is the story of a scientist named Victor Frankenstein who successfully managed to create an artificial lifeform, made of sewn together body parts, and known only as the monster. Although, he did succeed in creating life the monster he created only served to disgust him. He abandons his creation to its own devices and although the monster is a kind gentle soul, the repeated rejections by society and his creator only cause it pain and eventually it lashes out, first by murdering Victor’s brother, than his best friend, and finally his wife. The creature however finds no solace in any of this for even though he has gained his revenge he also destroyed the only connection to society he ever had. The creature leaves society and travels towards the north pole, where victor per sues to his de... ... middle of paper ... ...to the idea of Frankenstein’s monster as a societal outcast, and something we can see emphasized in Gregor’s character as he becomes more and more estranged by his family. The monster on multiple occasions attempts to learn and be a part of human society and culture whether it have been with gentle family he spies on in the forest, where he learns to read, write and speak from overhearing lessons from Felix to Agatha, or the time when he dived into the lake to save a girl from drowning. That despite the fact that he is rejected by society he still feels a need to be a part of it. Similar to how even though the removal of furniture from Gregor’s room would have increased the amount he had to move around with and made it easier to allow his new bug like habits. It would also have removed some connection to his family, and may even have lead to him forgetting who he is.

Why the Quran was written in Arabic Research Proposal

Why the Quran was written in Arabic - Research Proposal Example If a person set a target of ten words to learn in a day, it would only take them7 months to learn the Quran. The Quran is believed to have been written in Arabic; the language that was first revealed to the prophet through the angels. As evident from the Holy Quran Chapter 14 verse 4 states â€Å"And we never sent a messenger save with the language of his nation, that he might make (our revealed message) clear for them†. 2Arabic was regarded as the language of the prophet and that of his people and thus the best way to convey a message to the chosen people would be through the language most used by the people. Arabic was the language of the last messenger of Allah, Muhammad. Some scholars see no religious inclination there as they felt it was only natural for an Arab to write exclusively in his native language.3 It would make no sense for the Holy Quran to be inscribed in any other language for the use by the Arabs. The Quran is not written by the Prophet nor was it his invention but was dictated to him by the spirit and angel of Allah. It is important for Muslim faithful’s to accept that it was through the miracle of Angel Gabriel revealing God’s word to the prophet that the Quran came to existence. This project is imperative in this day and age. It is important to iron out this issue once and for all to help improve cohesiveness and unity between practicing faithful’s of different religions. Many people who do not understand the Arabic language- those who cannot speak or read it feel left out from the teachings of the Quran, and thus the major significance of this project will be to help them understand the truth behind the choice of language. To remove all doubt that the Quran is the message from God Allah the most high and not the writings of his messenger prophet Muhammad will also help all skeptics; Muslims