Summary of A Victim Essay Example

Summary of A Victim Essay In Bruno Bettelheim’s A Victim, his purpose is to prove that the victim has as much control over a situation as the aggressor. He demonstrates that if one does not act like a victim, then one will not be treated as a victim. Bettelheim also proves that if a person does not behave in an expected way then one can not stereotype them (Bettelheim 57). Bettelheim makes the point that the victim acts in ways that are just as annoying as the aggressor’s actions. Attention is not brought to it because it is easier to say if the aggression will come to a stop, then the person getting victimized reactions will change. He explains that will not always happen, because the victim and aggressor are interlocked. They both have the same effect on each other, and no one assumes that the victims actions play a role on the aggressor’s reaction (57). Bettelheim’s next point is if one does not act like a victim then one will not be treated as a victim. Because he does not beg or act like there was such a difference in him and the guard, he is not acting as the rest of the victims. It is shocking to the guard, his expectations of the Jewish people is not how this man is acting, and he lets the man through to get further treatment. Since the man does not act like a victim, it is hard for the guard to treat him as one (58). â€Å"Since I did not act as the dangerous Jew was expected to, I did not activate the anxieties that went with his stereotype† (58). We will write a custom essay sample on Summary of A Victim specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Summary of A Victim specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Summary of A Victim specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Bettelheim’s main purpose, is that the victim has as much control over a situation as the aggressor.

Induction Training Essays

Induction Training Essays Induction Training Essay Induction Training Essay Induction Training is extremely vital for Beginners. Good induction training make sure new comers are retained, and settled in quickly and happily. Induction training is more than skill training. It is about the basics that new employees take. By doing this the employees would know when the shifts are, where the notice-board is, whats the routine for holidays, sick days, where the canteen is, what is the dress code, and where the toilets are, new employees need to understand the organizations tasks, goals, values, personnel practices, health and safety rules, and the job theyre required to do with understandable methods. Proper induction training is a legal requirement. Employers have the duty to provide new employees with all relevant information and training relating to health and safety. As a manager for new employees it is their responsibility to ensure that induction training is properly planned. The trainers must make sure its planned and organized properly for their new comer. An induction training plan must be issued to each new employee, before the new employee starts, and this is copied to everyone in the organization who is involved in providing the training, so the new comer and everyone else involved can see whats happening and that everything is included. Creating and issuing a suitable induction plan for each new comer will help them do their job better and quicker and with less dependence on the employers time in the future. Employees who are not properly inducted need a lot more looking after. On The Job Training  The Advantages of Using On Job Training:  Training can be delivered at a specific time, for example immediately before a job is to be performed for real in the workplace. The trainee will have opportunities to practice immediately and they would have instant feedback. Training an employee in their own working environment, with equipment they are familiar with and people they know, can help them gain direct experience. The Disadvantages of Using On Job Training:  The training may be given little by little and not properly planned; the trainee would then get an unclear picture of the organization. Too much training can be delivered in one session leading to information overload and trainee fatigue. This would make the trainee forget things, miss understand things, or not know things. The trainer may not have sufficient knowledge of the company and this would make the training pointless as he or she would know sufficient things but also insufficient things. The trainer may also pass on bad habits for the trainee to learn. Basics of On The Job Training  Preparation:  Good preparation is essential; the best trainers  have useful examples of practice exercises. The worst thing of on the job training is trying to demonstrate how to use equipment when the trainer has forgotten the password that gives access to the computer program or the key to the equipment cupboard. So preparing the training is vital. Start with the Learner:  The trainee begins by learning how much the trainer knows already. It would save a lot of training time if the trainee knows some information on how to use computers etc. instead of the trainer training them to use them. For example, Tescos have hired two new employees and they have to train on how to work the computers at the till. If the employees know the basic functions of the computer already, then it would save training time, all the trainer has to do is make sure of this and just teach them the parts they dont know about. Picking the Best Time: When employees train, they need to select the best time for them too. Otherwise the training days would clash with something the employee had already planed, if there is a clash, and then the employee would have to tell the Human resources department that, they cannot make that time or day. Also if the employee misses the training day, then he or she would miss information about their job and might also fail the course. Off The Job Training:  Off the job training is basically when, trainees work off the job. This is issued when it is not suitable for training on the job. The sorts of things that need off the job training are things to do with machines. E.g. in Tescos, the machines at the tills would be off the training because trainees would need to know the functions and controls and how to use the machine correctly.  Disciplinary:  Disciplinary is to do with, Health and safety, Attitude and Behavior, Equipment, Uniform and pending investigations.  When an employee or employees are hired, they have to follow the disciplinary procedure. This procedure is used to ensure the health and safety of staff and customers, attitude towards customers, behavior, uniform and equipment. With health and safety, Tescos would use warning signs to show slippery surfaces etc. These sign are put up to ensure that both the Employees and customers are safe, not being able to put up a warning sign whether if the employee didnt spill anything, the risk of safety towards the customers is vast. Also if the employee who did spill something but hasnt put up a warning sign, he or she would probably get a sack or get a warning. The warnings that are issued are, verbal, formal, and if the employee still disapproves then they would get a sack. Customer Service  Customers always expect good customer services in any stop. In Tescos  customers would expect to look for help when they are looking for a particular item. Staff would give guidance to the customers and guide them to the aisle. Without customer service, a customer would have to look all around the store looking for the item, when it would have been far easier if the staff provided the customer service. Customer service do many things one of the out store services is collecting trolleys that have been abandoned or left randomly in a parking space; the staff also collects them in the trolley parks. This is helpful for the customers as it enables them to get a trolley just outside the store instead of walking to the trolley parks to get them. Another Service in store would be smart cars or wheel chairs for the disabled; this helps the disabled big time because if they couldnt push a trolley or walk they can use these instead. So, Tescos provide these to enable disabled people to also shop with ease.  Customer service is all about how the staff treats and helps the customers, the staff have to be in full uniform (if they have one), dressed neatly, correct attitude, handling goods safely and polite. If this were not met then it would be poor customer service and could put a mark on the companies name.

Spanish Verbs Morir and Morirse

Spanish Verbs Morir and Morirse Question: I am reading your explanation on caer and caerse and am interested to know if you have addressed morir and morirse. Not being a native speaker, those two verbs are very confusing for me and my students. Answer: Thats a great question. Although some verbs, like caer, are used in the reflexive form to indicate an unexpected action, that isnt the case with morir, which typically means to die (either literally or figuratively). In general, it is always grammatically correct to use morir (the nonreflexive form) to mean to die. Some examples: Mi perrita murià ³ hace 3 dà ­as. My puppy died three days ago. Mi padre murià ³ y no sabemos cul era su contraseà ±a. My father died, and we dont know what his password was. Si elegimos no hacer nada, entonces la esperanza morir. If we choose to do nothing, then hope will die. Muere de cncer la cantante mexicana. The Mexican singer is dying of cancer. Al menos cinco soldados murieron y ocho resultaron heridos. At least five soldiers died and eight were injured. Although not mandatory in such instances, the reflexive form, morirse can be used when speaking about a natural death, especially one that didnt come suddenly. It can also be used when speaking of friends or relatives. Some examples: Los dinosaurios no se murieron de frà ­o. The dinosaurs didnt die of cold. Mi amigo se murià ³ hace dos dà ­as en un trgico accidente. My friend died two days ago in a tragic accident. Yo me morirà © sin tus besos. I will die without your kisses. Me choca cuando se mueren los escritores que me gustan. I am shocked when writers that I like die. Mis abuelos se murieron en Colombia y yo no pude ir a sus funerales. My grandparents died in Colombia and I couldnt go to their funerals. However, this isnt a hard and fast rule. You might also think of morirse as being more informal or less serious-sounding than morir. Or you might think of morirse as a somewhat softer form of the verb. If youre uncertain which one to use, morir is probably the safer choice.

International Trade and Technology Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

International Trade and Technology - Assignment Example It can be seen that countries that have the resources and capacity end up benefitting from the ideas originating from the other nations that have weaker intellectual property protection (Roos, 2008). However, such countries also stand better chances for development since their ideas can be improved to come up with valuable products. Countries need weak intellectual property protection when they are still in the developing stages and they do not have the resources to turn their ideas into valuable product. This will help these countries to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) that can boost their economies (Haydam, 2001). On the other hand, countries that have vibrant economies need stronger intellectual property protection in order to protect their interests. 2. The World Trade Organization (WTO) in partnership with the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) are specifically concerned with setting parameters for and directing the economic policies of governments around t he world (Haydam, 2001). In other words, WTO is responsible for facilitating trade among different nations and making sure that fair trade practices are upheld. However, the main issue with WTO is that it determines the amount of debt a country can get from international monetary organizations like IMF and World Bank. Developed countries enjoy an unfavourable advantage compared to developing countries which entails that they have an upper hand in various trade deals. The key element of The Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) is mainly related to protection of property rights. The technical barriers to the agreement involve the fact that less developed countries are often found at the receiving end since they may lack the technology and equipment to transform ideas into meaningful products that can be traded in order to boost their own local economies. As a result of the fact that developing nations may not have sufficient equipment to develop v arious products, they end up giving in to countries that have the resources which may not bring the anticipated results. 3. In most cases, the host country benefits from the international migration of scientists and technologists from poorer countries to wealthier countries. These people would boost growth and development in the host countries where they will get the opportunity to get jobs that suit their qualifications and skills. Warhurst (2008) suggest that migrant workers especially in developed countries positively contribute to their economic development. However, the main problem is that migrant workers are poorly remunerated since the host countries would also be intending to take advantage of them. Apart from failing to get salaries that are not commensurate with their skills and qualifications, the migrant workers will significantly contribute to the development of the host countries. Their knowledge and skills would be used to develop other countries while their own coun tries continue to lag behind in terms of development. Therefore, it can be seen that the host countries, developed nations in particular are the winners in as far as the aspect of skilled migrant workers is concerned. The original countries where these people come from are losers as a result of skills flight. The people who are supposed to carry out research and development project in the country

Head Start Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Head Start - Essay Example This then would create a Head Start pilot program for eight states, allowing them to design their own early childhood programs, funded with federal Head Start grants. The state programs would have to "meet or exceed" national quality standards, but would not have to follow the detailed federal regulations that apply to local Head Start centers. Democrats called the pilot program nothing more than a block grant, and said it signaled the eventual end of Head Start (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/congress/july-dec03/headstart_07-25.html, 2003). This debate has reached even the most ordinary citizen of most states. There is an ongoing argument whether this Head Start program is really beneficial to underprivileged children. Moreover, there are now series of arguments whether Head Start program of benefiting the younger children should be continually implemented. Head Start program was specifically established to provide assistance and financial aid to low-income families with infants and toddlers and pregnant women which is called Early Head Start. The Early Head Start program address needs such as physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development requirements; knowledge of parents to be better caregivers and teachers to their children; and need for economic independence. More specifically, this program aims to (http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb/programs/ehs/ehs.htm, 2002). Ensure quality by meeting the requirements in the Head Start Program Performance Standards and other applicable regulations; Provide early, individualized child development and parent education services to low-income infants and toddlers and their families according to a plan developed jointly by the parents and staff; Provide services through an appropriate mix of home visits, experiences at the Early Head Start center, and experiences in other settings such as family or center-based child care; Provide early opportunities for infants and toddlers with and without disabilities to grow and develop together in nurturing and inclusive settings; Ensure that the Early Head Start program is supportive and nurturing of families; Respond to the needs of families, including, where appropriate, the need for full-time child care for working families; Connect with other service providers at the local level to ensure that a comprehensive array of health, nutrition, and other services is provided to the program's pregnant women, very young children, and their families; Recruit, train, and supervise high quality staff to ensure the kind of warm and continuous relationships between caregivers and children that are crucial to learning and development for infants and toddlers; Ensure parent involvement in policy and decision making; and Coordinate with local Head Start and other child development programs in order to ensure continuity of services for these children and families. Why do we have to Continue Supporting Head Start Program Based on reports, Head Start has been a tremendous success. From the young children that have been subjected to the program, their level of I.Q. considerably developed, their reading, writing and math skills also improved. Moreover, the

Kristens cookie company Essay Example for Free

Kristens cookie company Essay From the given data we can draw the following Process Flowchart The case analysis yields the following points 1. The time taken to fill rush order will depend on whether there are any orders that are being processed currently or not. Accordingly we will have two scenarios a). No order is being processed when the rush order is received. The time in this case will be equal to the sum of the time required for all the processes. Time = 6 + 2 + 1 + 9 + 5 + 2 + 1 = 26minute b). An order is being processed when the rush order is received. In the worst case, the cookies will have just been put in the oven. Thus oven will not be free before (1 + 9)= 10 minutes. By this time, the washing of the bowl and mixing of the dough for the rush order will be done. This will take 8 min. Since oven will not be free for 2 more minutes. Thus total time for this process will be 8 + 2 + 1+ 9 + 5 + 2 + 1 = 28 minutes Every additional order of a dozen cookies will take an additional 10 minutes to fulfill (as the time taken for baking is the only bottleneck involved) 2. If we are open for 4 hours (or 240 minutes), the number of orders that can be filled will be: Every order will take 10 minutes, since the baking time (ie 10min) is the bottleneck, except the first order which will take 6+ 2 =8min in the beginning and the last order which will take 5+2+1=8 more minutes. Thus, [240 (8+8)] / 10 = 22.4 orders can be filled in a day. That is 22 orders or 22*12 = 264 cookies in a day. 3. I am performing the process of washing, mixing and filling the dough in the tray, while the roommate is putting the tray in the oven, packing, and collecting the payment Thus for each order I spend: 6 + 2 = 8 minutes Roommate spends: 1 + 2 + 1 = 4 minutes A problem of idle time arises when more than one order is to be fulfilled, now if 2 simultaneous orders come, then I will have an idle time of 2 minutes and the roommate will have an idle time of 6 minutes. 4. If we order 2 dozen cookies or 3 dozen cookies, then my time will be reduced for washing and mixing, since the dough for 3 dozen cookies can be mixed together. That is my time will be reduced by 6 minutes for a 2 dozen order and 12 minutes for a 3 dozen order. My roommates time will be reduced by 1minute for 2dozen and 2 minute for 3 dozen. It is the time required for collecting payment since now she will collect payment only once for the whole order. However the total time for the process is still the same, since the baking process is the bottleneck and this will not affect the process of baking ,If this time that is saved, can be utilized for some productive work, which can earn more than the discounts we give, only then should we give discounts for 2 dozen or 3 dozen orders. 5. The business can be run smoothly using only one food processor, but the minimum number of trays that are required are 2 trays. This can be explained as follows The total time required for fulfilling an order is 26 minutes, now if another order is taken before the fulfillment of the first order then we will need another tray in which to place the ingredient mix and prepare it for baking. If we have further orders then the first tray can be used again since it will have come back after the cooling cycle. 6. To make cookies in lesser time we can use 3 ovens or use an oven with a larger capacity. With 3 ovens we can make 3 dozen cookies in just 31 minutes as compared to 48 minutes taken with just 1 oven. This amounts to an increase of 35% in sales due to time being saved. Addition of an extra oven can also help in this regard; with an extra oven we can fill 28 orders in a day instead of only 22 orders. Thus the additional rent that we can pay for an additional oven will be an amount lesser than the additional profit made by tending to 6 extra orders in a day. The additional oven will be very useful since the main Bottleneck encountered in this process is the time taken to bake the cookies. Additional analysis 1. If I were to do the whole process by myself it would take me 36 minutes to fill 2 orders which come back-to-back. The problem in this case would be that there can be no parallel processing. Thus after every 2 orders the process of baking has to start afresh, hence the total number of orders that can be filled per day will be X = (240*2)/36 = 13.333 Therefore only 13 orders can be filled everyday as compared to 22 that can be filled by 2 people. Hence working alone would have the same costs but sales would decrease by close to 50%. 2. There will be no effect on the time taken to manufacture the Crash priority order that has come up; both the new order and the order already in the oven can be delivered on time. The only problem here can arise if we have other orders in queue when this order arrives, then those orders will have to be kept waiting when we attend to this order. We can charge the customer a premium which will be equal to the number of orders whose delivery time will be extended beyond an hour due to this order. i.e. if we have 6 orders in queue and 3 of them are delayed due to the new order then Premium charged= No. of orders unfulfilled due to the new order * price; 3. The entire process time taken here is 26 minutes; every additional order will take an additional 10 minutes. Therefore we can service 4 orders in the first hour and 6 orders in every subsequent hour, this holds good if we have to deliver within an hour. If that restriction is relaxed, then delivery time we promise will be determined by the number of orders already in queue and any work-in-progress The formula that we can use for determining delivery time will be Time = (No. of orders in the queue*10 minutes) + (Work in progress* Time remaining in baking) + 10 minutes (Baking time of the new order) + 8 minutes (time till packing) i.e. if we have 3 orders in queue and another order which has to be baked for a further 5 minutes the delivery time we can promise will be Time = (3*10) + (5) +10+8 = 53 minutes. This is how we can promise delivery. 4. The major factors that should be considered at this stage of planning the business are what prices to charge, how many orders to accept and what can the profit be, the business has no extra costs apart from the input costs. But to safeguard against breakdown of equipment we must add a maintenance charge for the machine maintenance, the other costs that can come into picture are the opportunity costs, i.e. if our time was utilized in other tasks what could have been the profit we could have made. Hence these are the important factors that must be considered at this stage of planning. 5. If the product was a standard product then the following changes could be made * We can have 3 ovens, this will be useful because if the product is a standard one then we will always make 3 dozen cookies every time we prepare a mix, thus it would be useful for us to have 3 ovens as it would considerably reduce our time and give faster output * We can increase the number of orders that we can service each night * The order-taking system will be changed since now there is no customization so we will only be required to ask the customer as to how many dozens does he/she want These are the changes that should be made if the product is changed to a standardized one.

Upton Sinclairs Purpose in Writing The Jungle Essay examples -- Upton

Upton Sinclair's Purpose in Writing The Jungle Upton Sinclair wrote this book for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, he tries to awaken the reader to the terrible living conditions of immigrants in the cities around the turn of the century. Chicago has the most potent examples of these conditions. Secondly, he attempts to show the advantages of socialism in helping to remedy the problems of a society such as the one that exists in Chicago at this time. Sinclair accomplishes his objectives with an extremely powerful story. Jurgis Rudkus and his family seem to be an average immigrant family of the period. They are not wealthy and they are easily fooled by schemes designed to take what little they have. The language barrier encountered by these people is a major factor in allowing them to be swindled. The immigrants of this period tend to trust anyone who is fluent in their native language. This fact is put to use twice early in their time in America. A Lithuanian lawyer is sought to read over the contract for the purchase of their house. Jurgis is suspicious when the lawyer and the agent are on a first name basis. However, when the lawyer tells him that it is a legal and fair document, Jurgis believes him. The lawyer does not tell him of the loopholes that will eventually lead to the loss of the house. After Jurgis works in the packing house for a while, a man tells him in Lithuanian that he can now become a citizen. Jurgis is then registered to vote, and told about one of the candidates. Nothing is said of the other candidate, so he votes for the man that he is told of, and receives money for this vote. Another problem faced by most of the immigrants of Chicago is making a living. Jurgis gets a job on the first day trying. He is paid the princely sum of $1.25 a day. In Lithuania, this is a lot of money. With the wages of himself and his brother, the entire family should be able to keep solvent. Due to the hidden charges for the house, he finds that he is dreadfully wrong. Eventually, all of the family members must seek work, just to survive. Life becomes a 'hand-to-mouth' proposition. Even after the family loses the house, things do not get any easier. During this time period, there is no such thing as job security. All of the packing houses have a 'speed-up' polic... ... This work paints a very vivid picture of the world of the immigrant of the early 1900's. It makes the reader think about the injustices that existed then, and to some extent, still exist. The story seems to be true to life, and not the least bit contrived. The reader is wrapped up in the life of Jurgis Rudkus. Every time he seems to be on top of things, he is knocked off by some unseen force. The book is very difficult to put down because the fate of the main character always seems to be hanging on the brink. This book is an indispensable insight into the history of the era. However, the socialist propaganda at the end seems to be a bit hard to accept. It is too large of a dose, and seems to abandon Jurgis. This appears to be the only problem with the book, and can be almost overlooked by the reader, if it is desired. Upton Sinclair wrote a very impressive work. It is definitely worth the time to read it. It shows many facets of life during the period. The storyteller has a very dynamic person to narrarate. The hopes and dreams of a generation of immigrants to the United States are presented in a very thought-provoking manner.

Judaism †Meaning of life Essay

The meaning of life is a philosophical question concerning the significance of life or existence in general. It can also be expressed in different forms, such as â€Å"Why are we here? â€Å", â€Å"What is life all about? â€Å", and â€Å"What is the purpose of existence? † It has been the subject of much philosophical, scientific, and theological speculation throughout history. There have been a large number of proposed answers to these questions from many different cultural and ideological backgrounds. The meaning of life is in the philosophical and religious conceptions of existence, social ties, consciousness, and happiness, and borders on many other issues, such as symbolic meaning, ontology, value, purpose, ethics, good and evil, free will, the existence of one or multiple Gods, conceptions of God, the soul, and the afterlife. Scientific contributions focus primarily on describing related empirical facts about the universe, exploring the context and parameters concerning the ‘how’ of life. Science also studies and can provide recommendations for the pursuit of well-being and a related conception of morality. An alternative, humanistic approach poses the question â€Å"What is the meaning of my life? † The value of the question pertaining to the purpose of life may coincide with the achievement of ultimate reality, or a feeling of oneness, or even a feeling of sacredness. governs the universe. Closeness with the God of Israel is through study of His Torah, and adherence to its mitzvot (divine laws). In traditional Judaism, God established a special covenant with a people, the people of Israel, at Mount Sinai, giving the Jewish commandments. Torah comprises the written Pentateuch and the transcribed oral tradition, further developed through the generations. The Jewish people are intended as â€Å"a kingdom of priests and a holy nation†[69] and a â€Å"light to the Nations†, influencing the other peoples to keep their own religio-ethical Seven Laws of Noah. The messianic era is seen as the perfection of this dual path to God. Jewish observances involve ethical and ritual, affirmative and prohibative injunctions. Modern Jewish denominations differ over the nature, relevance and emphases of mitzvot. Jewish philosophy emphasises that God is not affected or benefited, but the individual and society benefit by drawing close to God. The rationalist Maimonides sees the ethical and ritual divine commandments as a necessary, but insufficient preparation for philosophical understanding of God, with its love and awe. [70] Among fundamental values in the Torah are pursuit of justice, compassion, peace, kindness, hard work, prosperity, humility, and education. [71][72] The world to come,[73] prepared in the present, elevates man to an everlasting connection with God. [74] Simeon the Righteous says, â€Å"the world stands on three things: on Torah, on worship, and on acts of loving kindness. † The prayer book relates, â€Å"blessed is our God who created us for his honor†¦ and planted within us everlasting life. † Of this context, the Talmud states, â€Å"everything that God does is for the good,† including suffering. The Jewish mystical Kabbalah gives complimentary esoteric meanings of life. As well as Judaism providing an immanent relationship with God (personal theism), in Kabbalah the spiritual and physical creation is a paradoxical manifestation of the immanent aspects of God’s Being (panentheism), related to the Shekhinah (Divine feminine). Jewish observance unites the sephirot (Divine attributes) on high, restoring harmony to creation. In Lurianic Kabbalah, the meaning of life is the messianic rectification of the shattered sparks of God’s persona, exiled in physical existence (the Kelipot shells), through the actions of Jewish observance. [75] Through this, in Hasidic Judaism the ultimate essential â€Å"desire† of God is the revelation of the Omnipresent Divine essence through materiality, achieved by man from within his limited physical realm, when the body will give life to the soul. Zoroastrianism Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy named after its prophet Zoroaster, which is believed to have influenced the beliefs of Judaism and its descendant religions. [77] Zoroastrians believe in a universe created by a transcendental God, Ahura Mazda, to whom all worship is ultimately directed. Ahura Mazda’s creation is asha, truth and order, and it is in conflict with its antithesis, druj, falsehood and disorder. (See also Zoroastrian eschatology). Since humanity possesses free will, people must be responsible for their moral choices. By using free will, people must take an active role in the universal conflict, with good thoughts, good words and good deeds to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay.

Belmont is a place of youth, happiness and concord, Venice a place of age, melancholy and strife Essay

Shakespeare sets â€Å"The Merchant of Venice†, in two very contrasting settings of Venice and Belmont. Venice is the city of the merchants; it symbolizes money, business, men and hate. Belmont is a magical town which Shakespeare created to symbolise women, happiness, poetry and love. Shakespeare uses this juxtaposition to give a dramatic effect on the audience and he uses the places to introduce various contrasting themes and emotions. In Shakespeare’s time, to set the play in two very different settings was particularly radical and innovative because of the traditions of theatre set by Greek unities. It was simply not possible to show too much on the stage and so the audience would have come to ‘hear the play’, rather than to see it. By focusing closely upon language differences to show character or setting Shakespeare broke the rules of unity, which had been revived in the Renaissance period. The characteristics of Venice are shown as that of strife, age and melancholy and those of Belmont as a place of happiness and concord. Initially, these places seem to fit the title’s descriptions and Shakespeare shows how the places oppose each other. However, gradually and once the audience begin to ‘hear the play’, it appears all is not as opposing as it seems. Through the language and ideas brought out through the plot, the audience realises it is not the complete truth and that there is more to each setting than is first thought. The more you delve into the play, the more it is apparent that the two places’ themes appear to be often crossed over and constantly change. Strife, for example, is brought into Belmont by an aged father’s will which shows how the concepts of Venice are introduced into the magical place of Belmont. Whereas, in Venice, Belmont’s youthful attitude intervenes when a couple in Venice run off together when the parent forbids it. As the play progresses even more similarities appear between the two settings and more often than not the concepts of the contrasting places become crossed. In Act 1, Scene 1, the audience is introduced to Venice and its themes and characteristics. These themes of age, melancholy and strife are shown throughout the scene through the language Shakespeare uses. The play begins in a melancholy tone, as Antonio is introduced, â€Å"In sooth I know not why I am so sad.† Here Shakespeare demonstrates the melancholy in Venice through the character Antonio’s sadness and confusion. As the audience later find out, Antonio is one of the richest merchants, however this initial line shows despite his money he is discontented and this shows how Venice is not perfect. Even though, Venice is a wealthy industrial, business-rife city it is not as exciting as first thought by the audience for whom it had the appearance that it was an exotic and thrilling place. For Antonio, Venice has not lived up to his expectations. This first line primarily helps to set the impression that working in Venice is risky business and that the merchants lives are full of worry and anxiety. The majority of the first act is written in prose which was used, in the Elizabethan era, to show gossip or low life characters. As the story unfolds of Antonio’s fortune, it is brought to the audience’s attention how his fortune lays on the sea. â€Å"Your mind is tossing on the ocean,† This indicates to the audience that, Antonio must own some sort of big ship and that his mind is constantly with his boats. He always worries that something is going to go wrong. This shows the issues of melancholy and anxiety that lie in Venice. Antonio also represents age, because he is one of the oldest merchants in Venice and is getting weary of life. He is also in denial of life’s value and thinks that everything is always going to go wrong. â€Å"Why then you are in love.† â€Å"Fie, Fie!† Here, when Solanio suggests his sadness is down to love, Antonio dismisses it, as if he is fated to be miserable. He is very flippant about the idea that he will ever have anyone to share his life with. The language Shakespeare uses suggests that although Antonio is rich, he will never be happy and that he is doomed in terms of love and relationships. The audience, see the first cross-over between Venice and Belmont when Bassanio enters during this scene. He talks in verse, which gives the impression of a softer, more exciting tone. He also has a whole speech about love, which encourages the audience to think that Venice is not all it may seem. However, despite all the love language, the idea of money and Venetian values can still be found. He explains that Portia is beautiful, but she is also rich and Bassanio needs her money. Shakespeare liberally interposes the speech with money phrases, as he mentions, â€Å"debts I owe†, â€Å"warranty†, â€Å"prodigal† and â€Å"rate†. Bassanio talks of Portia as, â€Å"A lady richly left,† which keeps in with the Venetian themes of money over love. By the end of this scene, through the style and language Shakespeare uses, the audience builds up the ideas and concepts of melancholy, strife and age surrounding Venice. Scene 2 opens with a wealthy, but weary Portia, â€Å"By my troth, Nerissa, my little body is aweary of this great world.† This quotation echoes the opening of Scene 1 and Antonio’s sadness, and it echoes the problems Antonio has found with wealth. This opening suggests melancholy in the magical place of Belmont as well. The audience’s first impression of Belmont is shown as strife- ridden and not a complete contrast to Venice. Shakespeare uses this to create dramatic excitement as it not what the audience expects and it gives the impression that Belmont is all not what it appears. However, one of the key ideas to notice is that in Belmont, it is woman orientated, which does contrast to Venice’s male dominated world. However, as a woman, Portia’s freedom is strictly limited and although Belmont may have a woman at its head, it is still a restricted world. This mirrors the realism of the male domination in the Elizabethan times and it gives something for the audience to relate too. The only factor, that causes all the apparent strife and melancholy in Belmont, is one of love, not money. Portia is worried because her future lies in the caskets left by her deceased father. As the audience become aware of the plot, it also becomes apparent that aspects of Venice are already sneaking into Belmont. This is shown through the caskets; her father set up a kind of lottery to decide her future, which is like gambling- a strong aspect of Venetian values. â€Å"Therefore the lottery that He hath devised in these three chests of gold, silver, and lead†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Also, by making the conflict work and by trying to achieve concord, she is causing herself melancholy and strife by keeping to her word. The scene is spoken in prose which contrasts to the love of Belmont. Shakespeare uses this for dramatic effect, as the audience would expect the characters to speak in poetry in such a beautiful, romantic setting. Nerissa and Portia gossip about the suitors who have already come to woo her and when Bassanio is mentioned, Portia becomes elated and excited. â€Å"I remember him well, and I remember him worthy of thy praise.† Bassanio symbolises youth, happiness and concord coming into Belmont. Yet, this proves to be contrasting that a merchant of dreary Venice is bringing happiness into Belmont, where the audience would have anticipated it to be the other way around. Shakespeare does this to create dramatic effect and to show the audience how the plot is unexpected. Act 3, Scene 2 follows a scene of hatred. Shakespeare completely contrasts this in this scene, as it is all about love. In this scene this is where it may seem most clear about Belmont’s youthful, happy, peaceful theme. However, even in the second line, â€Å"hazard† is said, which is a Venetian type word. It is written entirely in poetry to help achieve the romantic effect for the audience. The morals of Belmont are obvious when Portia says, â€Å"Before you venture for me. I could teach you How to choose right, but then I am forsworn.† She remembers her fathers’ will and knows, despite how much she is in love, that she cannot sway him to the right choice. This shows, a typical Belmont value, unlike Venice, she is sworn to secrecy. However, soon after we see another cross-over of age from Venice. Her father, despite being dead, is still overruling everything causing strife and melancholy. This reminds the audience of the situation between Shylock and his daughter and how similar the two situations appear. However, Portia quickly brings back the feeling of love and happiness back to Belmont, â€Å"One half of me is yours, the other half yours- Mine own, I would say: but if mine then yours, a And so all yours.† The length, style and content of Portia’s speech creates dramatic tension, That tension then becomes the subject of Bassanio’s speech, as he compares his waiting to the agony of being, â€Å"upon the rack.† Here Bassanio brings back a contrast to Belmont’s soft language and turns back to Venetian ways. However, Portia remains romantic and emphasises the fairytale aspect of Belmont. â€Å"Then if he loses he makes a swan-like end, Fading in music.† Shakespeare continues in the romantic style of language and Belmont begins to take hold of Bassanio and he is also converted to Belmont language. He talks in poetic verse and for once is rejecting the attractions of riches. â€Å"Therefore thou gaudy gold, Hard food for Midas, I will none of thee,† Surely enough, he chooses the correct lead casket, which once again represents the true values of love and Belmont, instead of the gold casket which is where the Venetian values lie. It also shows the triumph of his inner feelings over the outward show, which is also more typical to Belmont. Although, soon enough, he returns back to Venetian values, while splitting up the romantic verse, with Portia injecting financial words, â€Å"A thousand times more fair, ten thousand times More rich, that only to stand high in your account.† Following this, Portia begins to plot and set up the ring trick which is another Venetian theme creeping back in to Belmont. â€Å"I give them with this ring, Which when you part from, lose or give away, Let it presage the ruin of your love, And be my vantage to exclaim on you.† Here Shakespeare uses Portia, to bring conflict into the present and future of the idyllic Belmont marriage. Shakespeare does this to create dramatic tension between Bassanio and Portia and to create dramatic effect so the audience feel anxious after the joyful and romantic marriage. The scene comes to a problematic close as Venice continues to sweep back into Belmont bringing strife, melancholy and age as news that Bassanio’s friend, Antonio is in trouble. â€Å"I have engag’d myself to a dear friend, Engag’d my friend to his mere enemy, To feed my means.† Here Shakespeare completely changes the tone of the scene to one of worry, fear and misery. He uses the bad news of the Venetian strife and melancholy to create dramatic effect. The audience feel such a contrast of moods from romance to sudden melancholy and Shakespeare uses this to prove the cross-over between both places and how the moods of each place interlink with each other. Act 4, Scene 1 is more commonly known as The Trial Scene. In this scene, the crossover between the themes of Venice and Belmont is shown constantly through the language and symbols used by Shakespeare. Firstly the people from both places come together and the stories from both places intervene with each other. This proves the point that both places are far more similar than how they first appear.In the scene, Portia and Nerissa disguise themselves as the lawyer and lawyer’s clerk. Here, Shakespeare uses dramatic irony to add to the intensity of the plot and the excitement of the scene. The atmosphere in the early part of the scene is so intense that it seems as though Shylock himself is being tried, rather than having his case against Antonio heard. Shakespeare uses this to show the audience how the law is in control, not Shylock. Shakespeare allows the appearing fair and unbiased Duke of Venice to show partiality towards Antonio, â€Å"I am sorry for thee.† The scene is generally full of strife, which is mainly caused by Shylock. He represents the age, melancholy and strife in Venice. His hatred for Christians, causes the conflict in the court. â€Å"I bear Antonio, that I follow thus A losing suit against him. Are you answer’d?† Also Shakespeare uses Shylock’s knife and scales to add symbolic meaning as well as drama. He believes in law and sacrifice; both of which are typical for Venetian values. The Court and the Duke also symbolise how law is needed to run Venice and keep control. Human values and opinions are not important, it is all based on the system of the law. â€Å"To have the due and forfeit of my bond If you deny it, let the danger light Upon your charter and your city’s freedom!† This ancient precedent of the law again represents the age in Venice. â€Å"If you deny me, fee upon your law There is no force in the decrees of Venice.† Also, Shakespeare uses the character of Antonio to show age and strife in this scene. He is the oldest out of his friends and thinks he is approaching his death. Shakespeare shows how Antonio is prejudiced against Jews, through the language he uses, â€Å"You may as well do anything most hard As to seek to soften that- than which what’s harder- His Jewish heart.† He believes that there is nothing harder than a Jewish heart and that they have no feelings. As Nerissa and Portia enter the scene, an element of youth is brought into Venice. Portia brings in Belmont’s values of concord and happiness and her beliefs of how human values are more important than the law. She asks Shylock to be merciful and she looks at him as a human, rather than just a Jew. However Shylock’s response to this is, â€Å"On what compulsion must I?† evokes the quality of mercy speech which sums up the values of Belmont and how the values of mercy remains strong, â€Å"The quality of mercy is not strain’d, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath.† Shakespeare uses this speech of Portia’s to bring in concord to Venice and tries to convert the Venetians to Belmont ways. However, despite her best efforts, Shylock refuses to be merciful and Portia is resorted to using the Venetian laws. â€Å"It must not be; there is no power in Venice Can alter a decree established.† This shows how Venetian ways are taking hold of Portia as she turns almost selfish as she is only thinking about the best interests of her own husband. She uses these laws of Venice to strip Shylock of everything including his religion, money and his pride. Still, Portia is not only contented with that, Shakespeare uses her character and the ring trick to take strife back to Belmont. â€Å"And if your wife be not a mad woman And know how well I have deserv’d this ring.† Shakespeare use the ring trick to show the balance of power between the sexes, and Shakespeare uses Portia to show how the female can have the underlying power in the marriage. He makes the audience think about the consequences the ring and power will have on the marriage and how the trick may have ruined the trust in their strong and loving relationship. In conclusion, overall I think it is not correct to set the themes of Venice as age, melancholy and strife and those of Belmont as youth, happiness and concord. From analysing the language and style Shakespeare uses throughout the play, but mainly in Act 1 Scenes 1 and 2, Act 3 Scene 2 and in Act 4 Scene 1, I believe that the themes of both places continuously interlock and crossover with each other. Shakespeare uses the language and characters of both settings to show the audience how even though both places may appear to be completely contrasting initially, as you delve deeper it becomes clear that the settings are more alike than the audience may first realise. However, Venice is full of strife, age and melancholy at times and at first it seems to definitely appear as if those are the values of Venice. Furthermore Belmont, on occasion, seems to be full of youth, concord and happiness. Therefore, the themes of these places are, in turn, correct, however more often than not the values of the settings swap and interfere with each other to create the dramatic effect for the audience, encouraging them to think about the ‘old values’ in an age of commercialism and the social problems surrounding the different classes in Elizabethan society.

Summary and Response to When Bad Thing Happen to Good People essays

Summary and Response to When Bad Thing Happen to Good People essays Rabbi Harold S. Kushner's work, When Bad Things Happen to Good People, was inspired by the suffering he experienced with the tragic death of his son, Aaron. He, like many people who experience tragedy and loss, especially the loss of a child, experienced a search for meaning and a crisis of faith. This is especially interesting, considering the fact that Kushner is a Rabbiand it shows how "bad things" can cause a struggle in faith in anyone. He writes that he composed the book for people, like him, "who have been hurt by life," and now struggle with God as a result. Kushner begins his book with a discussion of the universal question, "Why do the righteous suffer'" He then provides a summary of the commonly quoted "reasons," including punishment, trial (the righteous being "tested), suffering as contribution to a "grand design," as an education, Kushner then comments on the "story of Job," the archetypal Biblical tale quoted in relation to suffering, and concludes that God is not all powerful, but, instead is "all good." The third chapter deals with indiscriminate suffering, i.e. "wrong place at wrong time." And concludes that some things "just happen" for no In chapter four, Kushner comments on the fact that good people are not exempt from suffering. People don't suffer because of being "bad." Instead it is due to "natural law," which is blind. The fifth chapter deals with "evil," and the human ability to choose it. That some evil committed by people (do to their human choice), can result in sufferingthat has nothing to do with God. Kushner points out in chapter six that God can only help those who help themselves accept or handle their sufferingthat the individual can contribute to suffering by their reaction to it. Chapter seven asserts that God cannot do ev ...

Pros and Cons of Having a College Roommate

Pros and Cons of Having a College Roommate You may be a first-year student filling out new-student paperwork, trying to decide if youd like a roommate or not. Or you may be a student who has had a roommate for several years and now is interested in living on your own. So how can you decide if having a college roommate is a good idea for your particular situation? Consider the financial aspects. At the end of the day, at least for most college students, theres only so much money to go around. If living in a single / without a roommate will increase the cost of attending college significantly for you, then sticking it out with a roommate for another year (or two or three) is a good idea. If, however, you think you can swing living on your own financially or you think having your own space is worth the extra cost, than not having a roommate might be in the cards. Just think carefully about what any increased costs will mean for your time in school and beyond, if you are using loans to finance your education. (Also consider whether you should live on or off campus or even in a Greek house when factoring in housing and roommate costs.) Think about having a general roommate, not just one person in particular. You may have lived with the same roommate since your first year on campus, so in your mind, the choice is between that person or no one. But that doesnt have to be the case. While its important to consider if you want to live with an old roommate again, its also important to consider whether you want to live with a roommate in general. Have you enjoyed having someone to talk to? To borrow things from? To share stories and laughs with? To help out when you both needed a little lift? Or are you ready for some space and time on your own? Reflect on what you want your college experience to be like. If youre already in college, think back on the memories and experiences youve come to value the most. Who was involved? What made them meaningful for you? And if youre about to start college, think about what you want your college experience to look like. How does having a roommate fit into all of that? Sure, roommates can be a major pain in the brain, but they can also challenge each other to step outside of comfort zones and try new things. Would you have joined a fraternity, for example, had it not been for your roommate? Or learned about a new culture or food? Or attended an on-campus event that really opened your eyes about an important issue? Think about what set-up would best support your academic experience. True, college life involves a lot of learning outside of the classroom. But your primary reason for being in college is to graduate. If youre the type of person who enjoys, say, hanging out in the quad for a little while but really likes to head back to a quiet room to get a few hours of studying done, than perhaps a roommate isnt the best choice for you. That being said, roommates can also make awesome study buddies, motivators, tutors, and even lifesavers when they let you use their laptop when yours breaks 20 minutes before your paper is due. They can also help keep you focused and ensure the room stays a place where you both can study even when your friends pop over with other plans. Consider all the ways that having a roommate will have an impact on your academics both positively and negatively.

Basel II Compliance on Ghanaian Banks Dissertation

Basel II Compliance on Ghanaian Banks - Dissertation Example Thus the Basel II compliance regulations have already successfully shifted the Ghanaian Banks' strategy and policy direction away from their common sphere to a higher level of operational risk management. This study has specifically found out a higher level of positive correlation between customer credit related variables and Basel II compliance regulations. For instance a poor level of customer credit control at major Ghanaian Banks is basically related to the Lukewarm support for the Basel II compliance regulations. Thus this study proves that a higher level of Basle compliance adoption would definitely lead to better operational risk management and thus better customer credit control measures. 1. Introduction Background to the study Structural constraints that affect efficient operational risk management systems being implemented at the individual bank level and the industry level in Ghana. Structural constraints in the Ghanaian Commercial Banking Sector in particular and the whole domestic banking sector in general have been considered to be substantial in scope and effects in preventing the effective implementation of some of the Basel II compliance criteria in Ghana. However at the same time this research effort has identified the existence of some significant structural constraints such as Ghanaian banks' staffs, operational overheads, poor customer satisfaction metrics and significant integration related negative synergies, e.g. technology deficiencies. Thus the Ghanaian Bank requires restructuring of its operational management structures and a reevaluation of its current strengths. The subsequent efforts by the top management to carry out business process remodeling on the lines of strategic operational... Structural constraints that affect efficient operational risk management systems being implemented at the individual bank level and the industry level in Ghana. Structural constraints in the Ghanaian Commercial Banking Sector in particular and the whole domestic banking sector in general have been considered to be substantial in scope and effects in preventing the effective implementation of some of the Basel II compliance criteria in Ghana. However at the same time this research effort has identified the existence of some significant structural constraints such as Ghanaian banks’ staffs, operational overheads, poor customer satisfaction metrics and significant integration related negative synergies, e.g. technology deficiencies. Thus the Ghanaian Bank requires restructuring of its operational management structures and a reevaluation of its current strengths. The subsequent efforts by the top management to carry out business process remodeling on the lines of strategic operational reorientation have produced mixed results though there aren’t known metrics to measure the success rate. Structural constraints apart a number of ot her drawbacks have bedeviled the outcomes to a certain extent though. Domestic banking industry in the international arena in general and Ghanaian Banking sector in particular has been experiencing an upsurge in demand and supply over the past years due to a variety of reasons, including the strategic ones affecting fundamental industry-centric structures and policy related outcomes.