Characterization of Christabel

The Characterization of Christabel Critics from around the world have put insight into the many ways that â€Å"[t]he lovely lady, Christabel† can be characterized (Coleridge 23). Samuel Taylor Coleridge uses many words to describe Christabel, but with literary analysis of â€Å"Christabel,† provided by scholars, she can be characterized at a deeper level than the way she is described in the text of the poem. Her description plays role in allowing the reader to relate with her quickly and be able to learn more about Christabel as the poem continues.Deeper meaning to her characterization is portrayed throughout the plot of the poem as she is entranced and deceived by Geraldine. Even though the poem is incomplete, a thorough understanding of Christabel’s character can be derived from what Coleridge has completed essay writer for you. The characterization of Christabel is explained through Christianity, â€Å"the fall of innocence† and purity (Radley 69), and â€Å"the transition from â€Å"innocence† to â€Å"experience† (Harding 40). † Christianity plays a major role throughout the poem to characterize Christabel. â€Å"Christabel herself personifies moral innocence. She â€Å"appears well-intentioned, virginal, and naive† (Ulmer 378). These qualities go along with those of a Christian who has not been exposed to sin and still has purity. â€Å"Christabel is repeatedly characterized â€Å"as a sinless child†¦ â€Å"Christabel suffers innocently, like Christ [;]† her â€Å"beauty has a particular innocence about it, being associated with the beauty of Christ† (qtd. in Ulmer 378). Christabel is seen as pure and sinless on the surface, but as the poem continues the perception of her innocence shifts toward her permitting sin to come into her life. Cooper contends that â€Å"physical evil, no matter how supernatural its source, cannot touch Christabel’s soul unless she consents to it†Ã¢â‚¬  (qtd. in Ulmer 379). At the oak tree Geraldine deceives Christabel and causes her to question her faith and give in to sin. Ulmer reports that â€Å"Christabel’s encounter with Geraldine thus reenacts the Fall, with the complicities of that encounter signifying the girl’s subjection to Original Sin† (381). After Christabel’s night time encounter with Geraldine, she â€Å"finds Geraldine even more beautiful than the night before.Convinced that her evening with Geraldine was sinful, Christabel prays for redemption† (Overview: â€Å"Christabel†). Like the serpent in The Garden of Eden, Geraldine tricks Christabel into sin and starts the downfall of Christabel’s perceived innocence and purity, but her guilt eventually overcomes sin. The Christian character upheld by Christabel prevails and Geraldine’s spell is overcome. In Addition to Christianity and the introduction to sin playing a role in the characterization o f Christabel, â€Å"the fall of [her] innocence† adds emphasis as well (Radley 69).According to Radley, â€Å"Christabel† lines 279-331, â€Å"the bedchamber scene, begins by presenting a picture of Christabel, in all her innocence, praying in the wood. This image is recapitulated for the reader to [emphasize her] innocence before the fall† (71). Christabel has a hold on her sexual innocence up to this point in the poem. Geraldine has been able to quickly expose her to sexual evil and Christabel has not contested participation. The morning after the bedchamber encounter â€Å"Geraldine appears more beautiful and more voluptuous† (Radley 71). Christabel quickly realizes her sin saying â€Å"Sure I have sinned! (Coleridge 381). She has now been awakened to sexual knowledge and has been directly â€Å"affected by her contact with evil† (Radley 72). Radley explains â€Å"a kind of allegory of the bed chamber is here enacted† out of Bracyâ€℠¢s dream of a snake strangling a dove, the story of Adam and Eve (73-74). Christabel is exposed to sexual knowledge, similarly to how Adam and Eve notice their nudity once they eat the forbidden fruit. â€Å"The fall of [Christabel’s] innocence† is due to an attraction and entrancement of Geraldine leading to the exposure to â€Å"a world of sin† (Coleridge 673).The loss of Christabel’s purity and exposure to sin builds up to â€Å"the transition from â€Å"innocence† to â€Å"experience†Ã¢â‚¬  (Harding 40). The poem explains Christabel has beautiful and innocent when she is introduced, but she is quickly corrupted by evil resulting in a completely different person. According to Mulvihill, â€Å"Christabel has been abandoned to possible danger by virtue of a number of circumstances, including her own naively sympathetic nature† (260). This dangerous characteristic is easily recognized by Geraldine and taken advantage of.Christabelâ €™s sympathetic nature attracts Geraldine, allowing the seduction of Christabel to take place (Mulvihill 260,264). Christabel’s failure â€Å"to read the warning signs—Geraldine’s refusal to pray, the tongue of light in the dying fire (Coleridge 142,159)—Christabel permits herself to accept Geraldine† (Harding 49). The warning signs never occur to Christabel because she has never been exposed to such evil in her life. â€Å"She is orphaned by the departure of a certain kind of spirituality that is associated with womanhood and motherhood.This deprivation leaves her vulnerable to the irruption of the tyrannous Geraldine† (Harding 47). Harding Explains, She finds a mother figure in Geraldine â€Å"following Christabel’s seduction by Geraldine and the fever-like crisis of the mysterious spell, Geraldine and Christabel are described â€Å"As a mother with her child† (Coleridge 301). † The void of a mother figure feels as if it may have been filled until the morning she realizes the deceit and understands the sin committed. â€Å"The fact that Christabel’s imputation of sin is self-implicating suggests the latter possibility† (Mulvihill 266).She has realized her own sin has us fully aware of Geraldine’s evil. Her innocence has become experience and she is no longer able to have her purity. The character of Christabel is explained throughout the poem with the use of literary analysis. Christianity, â€Å"the fall of innocence† (Radley 69), and â€Å"the transition from â€Å"innocence† to â€Å"experience† (Harding 40) are portrayed from analysis to show how Christabel is characterized. † Her innocence is ultimately the cause of her downfall in becoming exposed to the world and the sin held within. Her white robe is part of her imitation of innocence and purity, so that initially she seems â€Å"holy† in the same way that she later declares Chri stabel to be. But white is also the color of death: of the shroud and the life-drained complexion† (Chambers 26). Christabel is â€Å"holy† until death tries to take over and take the purity out of her white complexion (Chambers 26). Works Cited Chambers, Jane. â€Å"Coleridge’s CHRISTABEL, Lines48-52. † Explicator 41. 3 (1983): 25. Academic Search Premier. Web. 17 Feb. 2013.Coleridge, Samuel Taylor. â€Å"Christabel. † English Literature. New York: Norton & Company Inc. , 2006. 1634-1649. Print. Harding, Anthony John. â€Å"Mythopoeic Elements In â€Å"Christabel. † Modern Language Quarterly 44. 1 (198): 39-50. Academic Search Premier. Web. 13 Feb. 2013 Mulvihill, James. â€Å"Like A Lady Of A Far Countree†: Coleridge’s â€Å"Christabel† And Fear Of Invasion. † Papers On Language & Literature 44. 3 (2008): 250-275. Academic Search Premier. Web. 15 Feb. 2013 â€Å"Overview: â€Å"christabel†. Gale Online En cyclopedia. Detroit. : Gale, 2013. Literature Resource Center. Web. 17 Feb 2013. Radley, Virginia L. Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Boston: Twayne Publishers, Inc. , 1966. 66-75. Print. Ulmer, William A. â€Å"Christabel And The Origin Of Evil. †Ã‚  Studies In Philology  104. 3 (2007): 376- 407. Academic Search Premier. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. Ulmer, William A. â€Å"Christabel And The Origin Of Evil. †Ã‚  Studies In Philology  104. 3 (2007): 376- 407. Academic Search Premier. Web. 15 Feb. 2013.

The Effectiveness of Celebrity Endorsement in Advertising

Advertising is one of the most effective strategies of non-price competition, that’s why it is closely associated and widely used in terms of monopolistic competition. Companies in monopolistic competitive market can not sell more of their differentiated product without lowering the price. Thus, advertising is a great instrument to gain more customers and increase the sales without cutting the price. Despite of different views on economic effectiveness of advertising, modern large companies in monopolistic competition spend millions of dollars for promotion of own brands, goods or services. It is a known tactic to employ celebrity endorsement for advertising own product. In particular, for many years Michael Jordan has been appearing in Nike ads, and the products of this company are associated with Jordan on global scale. Many companies use a celebrity or athlete for advertising its goods or services because celebrity endorsement attracts more attention of target audience, as well as it increases credibility and improves reputation of the brand in customers’ eyes, leading eventually to higher sales. Specialists comment that celebrity is already a known brand, and his/her endorsement of the product helps to make it more popular. â€Å"You have the core brand and then you have the celebrity brand, and, when that confluence is positive, the impact can be tremendous† (Storey, 2006). In my opinion, participation of professional athletes in ads of certain brands can be considered quite convincing and effective from two perspectives. First of all, only successful powerful companies, which offer mostly first-class quality products, can afford inviting famous sportsmen (like Michael Jordan or David Beckham) to advertise their goods. Besides, sport is a passion of people of different ages. Both children and adults around the world love sports very much, and that’s why target audience of such advertising is very large. Nevertheless, recently British specialists found out that currently the effectiveness of celebrity endorsement is firmly decreasing (BBC News, 2007). References Celebrity Ads' Impact Questioned. (2007, February 27). BBC News. The British Broadcasting Company. Retrieved February 25, 2008, from ;http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/6400419.stm;. Storey, L. (2006, October 12). Seeing Stars. The New York Times. Retrieved February 25, 2008.

Entrepreneurial Leadership Paper Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Entrepreneurial Leadership Paper - Assignment Example Five Guys emphasizes service quality more than business profitability, as the management believes that this policy is the best way to meet customer expectations. Jerry Murrell, one of the co-founders of Five Guys, says that his business plan was simply to â€Å"sell a really good, juicy burger on a fresh bun. Make perfect French fries. Don’t cut corners† (as cited in Contemporary Business, 2012). The company is not ready to compromise its product quality despite the considerable amount of money and time it has to invest to sustain it. The case study reflects that the company imported potatoes from northern Idaho regardless of the slow growth issues in order to obtain solid and tasty potatoes; and in contrast to this, the firm’s competitors imported cheaper and low quality potatoes from Florida or California (Contemporary Business, 2012). Similarly, when most of the fast food chains served dehydrated frozen fries to take advantages of size, Five Guys always provid ed its customers with fresh fries. It is observed that most of the other food chains tried to pool cheap raw materials in order to enhance wealth maximization. This business philosophy benefited the organization in achieving high level customer loyalty. From the case study, it is obvious that customers patiently wait for burger even if its 17 different toppings are made to order and it is a time consuming task (Contemporary Business, 2012). Furthermore, Five Guys’ distinct philosophy helped the company to eliminate advertising expenses since the strategy itself was a sufficient asset to make customers advertise for the company. Analyze the original values of the start-up company and how it remains strong today Since the beginning, Five Guys has been successful, and it is one of the few food chains in America that remained unaffected by recent global recession (QSR Insights, 2012). While seeking the reason, it is clear that the company’s strict policies have helped it t o overcome various market difficulties throughout its history. In other words, original values for the start-up company still remain strong despite some negligible changes. As the company management had decided at the time of Five Guys foundation, the firm still continues to offer quality products and services to its customers. At the start up time, the company had decided not to use low quality ingredients or serve frozen food items to people. Minimizing advertisement expenses and thereby passing savings to customers was another start up value of the firm. Even in the midst of the recent global recession, the company was not ready to use low quality ingredients for its food items. In addition, the company still focuses on its customer advertising strategy together with employee incentive schemes to promote its business. Even when the company began franchising in 2002, it was vigilant, insisting that franchisees do not use low quality products and do not render low quality services. In order to ensure franchisees’ potentiality, the firm does not franchise to anyone unless the prospect operates a minimum of five restaurants. Throughout its history, the company received numerous awards for its efficiency and customer services. Most notably, the firm obtained Washington Magazine’s â€Å"Number 1 Burger† award for seven years (Contemporary Business, 2012). However, according to 2010 annual report by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Five Guys’

Fundamental Duties Influences Practice and Decision Making of a Nurse Coursework - 4

Fundamental Duties Influences Practice and Decision Making of a Nurse - Coursework Example In accordance with the Hippocratic Oath and Nightingale pledge, the fundamental duties of a nurse can be apparently observed as adopting along with executing various preventives measures for eliminating any sort of risk that arise during the treatment procedure or at the time of conducting clinical works and delivering positive outcomes in future. By evaluating the Hippocratic Oath and Nightingale pledge, it can be reckoned that the nurses will provide quality care to the patients by taking guidance of the oath.   This eventually influences the practice and also the decision-making procedure of the nurses in the form of various ways. These ways comprise maintaining integrity within the operational procedure, preserving privacy and most importantly ensuring that the confidentiality rights of the patients during treatment are well derived (McMullen, Howie, Howie & Philipsen, 2013).     The other fundamental duty of the nurses, as described by the Hippocratic Oath and Nightingale pledge, is identified to be taking effective decisions relating to the development of patients’ healthcare. The nurses are responsible for taking decisions that can prove to be beneficial in enhancing the well-being of the patients.   In this regard, nurses usually become responsible for taking ethical decisions relating to patients’ safety and health without hampering their respective rights. While providing care to the patients, the nurses need to follow certain code of ethics that are oriented within the Hippocratic Oath and Nightingale pledge. This factor ultimately influences a nurse’s practice as well as decision making towards deriving varied positive outcomes, which could be measured in the form of improving the wellbeing of the patients (McMullen et al., 2013).  

State law enforcement agencies Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

State law enforcement agencies - Assignment Example There are several law enforcement agencies in a state. Police department is one of the major law enforcement agencies listed in these criteria. US state police has an important role to play in the day-to-day activities needed to keep the society safe and healthy. Peace in society cannot be achieved with out police intervention. The significant duty of the police department is to cater the needs of society by enforcing law and order to the society. Societal harmony can be preserved by he timely involvement of the police department. Thus, crime stop and prevention is also a major duty of the police department. Another important state law enforcement agency is the Public safety department whose primary duty is the protection of people from any adverse problems related to the public safety. Freedom and security of people is just what needed to be achieved by the enforcement of such laws in every state.

Financial Research Report Math Problem Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Financial Research Report - Math Problem Example These locations are thus the operational locations of the bank. The bank has been operated throughout the past 115 years and during this long term history, banking system all over the world has underwent a lot of change with respect to the technologies along with innovated products and services. The most interesting feature of the bank is that its mode of operating and doing business within the community did not change along with the market trend during its past numerous years of existence. The Chairman of Capital City Bank Group believes that his bank provides a favorable environment to the employees who work over there and provides great benefits to them through promotion of family values and various other amenities for making them feel like home (Capital City Bank Group, 2011). Capital City Bank Group is an outstanding performer in the US banking industry and the bank holds an excellent position of repute not only within the industry but within the business communities as well. Th e success of the bank is evident through the various achievements it has attained throughout its years of operations within the industry. During the recent past, the bank has expanded towards a wide geographical location outside the area of Tallahassee. Along with expansion through physical location spreading, the bank has also increased its reach of client towards various locations of the country (Capital City Bank Group, 2011). Capital City Bank Group is a financial services company which comprehensively values to its customers and this form of the bank’s business operations has added genuine value towards the prospect of the company. The prospect will be validated in the next sections of this research paper in terms of ratio and trend analysis of the banks’ performance over the past three years and projecting those of the future three years. Along with the projection of future performance of the bank, the stock performance will also be compared with that of S&P†™s 500 Index for evaluating the prospect of investing in the bank’s stocks. Ratio Analysis The ratio analysis and the trend analysis in this section will be performed with the help of past three years’ financial figures collected from the annual reports of Capital City Bank Group. The sources from where the data related to financial performance of the bank has been collected have been provided at the end of this research report. Ratios Actual 2008 Actual 2009 Actual 2010 Projected 2011 Projected 2012 Projected 2013 Liquidity Ratios Current Ratio= Current asset / current liability 1.34 0.96 1.86 1.89 1.94 1.98 Debt to equity ratio= Total liabilities / Owner’s equity 7.53 8.13 8.99 9.23 9.46 9.55 Operating Efficiency Ratio 64.91 % 77.33 % 84.23 % 86.25 % 88.37 % 92.33 % Profitability Ratios Return on sales or profit margin= (Net profit / Net Sales) *100 10.66 % - - 2.89 % 3.56 % 6.89 % Return on assets= (Net Profit / Total Assets)*100 0.59 % - - 0.52 % 0.56 % 0. 62 % Return on equity= (Net profit / Owner’s equity)*100 5.06 % - - 4.11 % 6.45 % 9.12 % Note: Ratios related to net profit during the years 2009 and 2010 have been kept blank due to the reason that

Classification & Division Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Classification & Division - Essay Example rting as always involves the question of winning, every team endeavors to triumphs over the other and that is what constitutes the essence of the sports. In the same breadth, no team would want to be outweighed the easiest way and would put spirited fight salvage the situation (Eric Digest 29). It is unfortunate that in most occasion sports which are intended for the good reasons end up in an orgy of violence. In fact, sports and violence can be comfortably be spoken of in the same line of statement. Most sports turn to be violent not at the beginning of the march, but during progression or at the end of the game, this leave only one option to explain the source of the violence in sports; the fans not being happy with the results and the only way to ease their tension and anger is to brew tension and disrupt the otherwise peaceful environment to turn chaotic. For the purpose of in-depth understanding of the nature of violence in sports, this paper has classified the various sources of the violence witnessed in the sports with regard to what instigate them (Eric Digest 31). There can be a dichotomous and a chronology of the violence in sports to bring about order in comprehending the information. To give a rational opinion about this, we have to enumerate the parties actively involved in the sporting activities; the players, the fans, and the officiating body. It is possible that violence can be instigated by any of the three parties mentioned. The officiating personnel are sometimes the best source of violence in sports in reference to the decision they make on how the players engage in contradicting the rules of the game (Eric Digest 23). For instance, when a football referee give a penalty shoot during injury time there is most likely to be an eruption of violence as the fans of the other team will view it malicious and meant to necessitate defeat on them. The other source of violence is between the fans, fans have always been known to have natural hatred on

City of Santa Anas Purpose, Vision, Values and Goals Essay

City of Santa Anas Purpose, Vision, Values and Goals - Essay Example Each element of the vision is translated into measurable goals. For example, one element of the visions is â€Å"investment in children† (1). The goals set to realize this vision include ensuring a safe community and being a catalyst for the positive development of young people. It also has a vision of â€Å"appreciation of diversity† (2). This vision can be realized by the formulation of a specific goal which is â€Å"recruit and retain a highly-skilled and diverse workforce† (2). From these examples, it is clear that goals flow from vision. After setting the goals, the implementation process begins. This involves translating the goals into actions or formulating strategies to ensure the goals are achieved. For the organization purpose to be achieved, every department in the organization should work towards a common goal since each department has specific actions to perform that flow from the goals. For example, to â€Å"ensure a safe community† the commu nity development agency is required to â€Å"develop and implement programs to deter and alleviate the effects of illegal behavior† (2). ... However, for these actions to be enacted, the support in terms of funds, equipment, and manpower is needed; thus, the budgetary allocation is crucial. Through the roles assigned, each department in the city is made aware of what is expected if the council is successful in its endeavor. Identification of vision, goals, and actions is vital in strengthening the government’s budgeting process. From the vision, achievable goals are set, and in order to achieve the goals, some actions must be performed. In this case, if the actions are performed as expected, it means the vision, as well as the purpose of the organization, will be achieved. For this to happen, resources in terms of finance, materials and equipment, and manpower with required skills are needed. Where do the resources come from? The government has to provide the resources needed for successful implementation of goals, but it cannot just give out resources without a plan. It has to establish how much is needed in order to achieve each goal and allocate resources accordingly. Some goals which are more important are given more priority than others. Some actions can also enhance the implementation process by these means reducing the need for financial allocation. For example, by employing a highly skilled diverse workforce continuously, there is a possibility to ensure improved systems and high-quality services to customers and to develop the required programs. Thus, it is crucial for the government to have vision and objectives, so as to allocate resources efficiently for the overall success of government services and economic growth.  

(Critical Analysis) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

(Critical Analysis) - Essay Example She goes to the extent of looting to ensure that her sick brother gets daily medicine for his survival. The film shows some religious institutions, such as church, and they way they help suffering neighbors and members. Good neighbors, like Madea and Pastor Brian, take the responsibility of taking care of these young children by giving them food and ensuring they find their relatives in town. One of the relatives is the woman named April, who is the children’s aunty. She is a nightclub singer and an alcohol addict living with a married man who has ran away from the responsibility of taking care of his family. At the end of the film, she transforms from her past lifestyle into a loving and caring aunty and later gets married to Sandino; an immigrant who she accommodated in her basement. According to IMBd website, the film, cast actors and actress have been nominated and won several awards. Some of the awards include Bet Awards, Black Reel Awards and Image Awards in 2010. For ex ample, in 2010, Adams Rodriguez (Sandino in the film) won the Image Awards under â€Å"the Outstanding Character in a Motion Picture.† The film can be classified into three theories of communication namely inclusion, need for control and need for affection. The theory of inclusion applies in this film where Sandino a middle aged immigrant in search of work and a place to settle in a foreign country approaches church leaders for help. The church leader requests April to accommodate him, she allows her to stay in the basement. Sandino fits well in this theory as he seeks to be liked and loved by Jennifer and her little brothers. He goes to the extent of buying them the syringes and medicine for Jennifer’s younger brother. Jennifer wonders why he is concerned and good to them; according to her the world is unfair and presents a tough face to all the people in it. Sandino fights to be loved by all; April included, as he repairs one of the rooms and ensures that everything is in place for the comfort of the young ones. At the end, he comes out to defend Jennifer as he was about of be raped by April’s boy friend. Sandino makes April to transform her past behavior of mistreating her niece and nephews and addiction to alcohol. Sandino ends up to be loved by all in April’s family and church members, who end up organizing a nice wedding between him and April. The theory of need for control is also found in this film. One of the funny characters in this film is Madea, who is firm, in control and wants to be recognized as one in charge of the activities going on in her house and that of anyone she comes in contact with. The film introduces Madea from on set. She wakes up after Jennifer and her brothers try to loot her house. She firmly disrupts her husband’s sleep, she show her power of control when she invites Jennifer and her brothers to have a meal with them. She wants them to refer to her as ‘madam’ whenever they answer her questions. She shows the control in her by driving the children to April’s house. She orders one of them to knock the door as loud as he can until April wakes up. Madea commands April to take her niece and nephews, which she accepts without further argument. Although Madea may be seen as controlling freak, Jennifer goes to her to figure out how to pray. Though she did not understand the Biblical stories, she agreed to teach Jennifer. She extended her generosity by advising her how she could manage all her

Media plan for Nescafe in the United Kingdom Essay

Media plan for Nescafe in the United Kingdom - Essay Example First, the company’s promotional message will be explored to establish the quality of content in Nescafà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s advertising campaign. Second, each identified advertising medium will specify how the advertisements will be implemented. Lastly, the cost of implementation and challenges to the campaign will be discussed as an overview of the plan. As currently stated on their website, Nescafà © UK is launching a worldwide campaign to promote responsible farming, production, and consumption. In this effect, Nescafà © wants to push the message of not only providing the best coffee in a cup, but also to â€Å"go beyond the cup†. With this, it is important that the message for the campaign will focus on this particularly tagline to show the uniformity in concept of the entire campaign message. As such, the theme, â€Å"go beyond the cup†, should represent these three areas which Nescafà © currently puts its focus on. Mixed media advertising means equally utilizing both the traditional and modern media for product promotion. With today’s technology-driven society, Nescafà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s mixed media plan will include the use of internet in targeting young consumers (aged 18 - 45 years old) who mostly subscribe to modern forms of communication. On the other hand, Nescafà © will also continue placing advertisements to radio, print, and television because it recognizes the fact that these traditional forms of media, given their significance in advertising, will become more effective if it is integrated by the new media. Advertisements in print, radio, and television remain a competitive form of product promotion because it gives lasting impression to consumers and establishes a stronger brand identity. Because of this, Nescafà © will showcase in TV, print, and radio advertisements in major broadcast networks in the UK. First, Nescafà © will tap two television companies, ITV2 and SKY1, to showcase the advertisements of the company. These TV networks contain

Analyze in detail how Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Essay Example for Free

Analyze in detail how Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Essay John Steinbecks first hand experience of what life was like during the American Depression allowed him to write an accurate novel on life during this dull time. It also gives us a good idea of certain aspects of the Depression; about how migrant workers lived and also how they were treated. The Depression changed peoples thoughts and views on life, how sensitive they were to others and how they acted around people. This is especially true of the migrant workers in Of Mice and Men. Loneliness took a major role in the migrant workers lives. The vast majority of the workers traveled alone across America, moving from ranch to ranch. Family values were non-existent, because of this they didnt belong anywhere. The workers believed it was survival of the fittest between them. There were a large number of drifting workers, all-looking for the same jobs. Competition for work was fierce. There was a general feeling of loneliness at the time for the workers. George emphasizes this feeling when he is talking to Lennie by the brush: Guys like us, which work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They dont belong no place. Because of a vast amount of suspicion on the ranch the workers often chose a solitary existence. It also made relationships between the workers very shallow. It would seem that the majority of the workers could not forge a meaningful relationship. Yet, it wasnt just the workers who felt lonely. Curleys wife also displays loneliness: I get awful lonelyYou can talk to people, but I cant talk to nobody but Curley. Crooks also seems very lonely: I tell ya a guy gets too lonely, an he gets sick. Both Crooks and Curleys wife also choose a life of solitude because of the suspicion. It is harder for them to establish meaningful relationships because the obstacles of discrimination and sexism that exists on the ranch. Loneliness was common for almost everyone. Different people did different things to try and cope with loneliness. Some would play cards. Some would play horseshoes. Crooks would read his books and Curleys wife tries attention seeking by hanging around the bunks. They did anything to avoid the loneliness and boredom. Entertainment was a form of escape from their boring lives. Apart from the simple things the workers would do during the month like cards and horseshoes, there was no entertainment, so they all looked forward to the end of the month: Well, a guy got to have some fun sometime. This was when they would get their pay and go into town. They would spend their money on drink and prostitutes. Again, anything that would allow them to escape from their lonely lives. It was normal for the workers to spend the best part of the night in a whore house where they could get alcohol and women. A guy can go in an get drunk and get everthing out his system all at once, an no messes. And once that night was done that was it until the end of the next month. This demonstrates the attitude on the ranch toward women: they are just objects which can be used whenever they please. They arent considered as eqaul at all. The attitude towards Curleys wife is another example of how women were poorly treated, poorly regarded and were by a long way, less equal than men. Newly married and in an unfamiliar place, she is not allowed to talk to anyone but Curley. She resents this and approaches the other ranch workers with the excuse of looking for Curley. The men instantly have their guard up and assure each other that she is nothing but trouble. They regard her as a woman to be used and make no attempt to get to know her. Probably the most important aspect of workers lives was the dream they all shared. But because of their tendencies to go into town at the end of the month they would never realize their dream, as many of their dreams involved saving up money, whoich usually they wasted. Crooks sums it up quite well: I seen hundreds of men come by on the road an on the ranches with their bindles on their back an that same damn thing in their heads. Hundreds of them. They come, an they quit an they go on; an every damn one of ems got a little piece of land in his head. An every goddamn one of em ever gets it. Just like heaven. It was a simple dream. All they wanted was to own their own place. A piece of land and a house to live in, somewhere they werent told what to do, a place where they could choose who could stay on their land and who had to move on, and a place where at the end of the harvest they could keep what they had harvested. George points this out: Id have my own little place, an Id be bringing in my own crops, stead of doin all the work and not getting what comes up outa the ground. But for most this dream would never be fulfilled. Their loneliness would always be with them. This would mean they would have to escape from their loneliness by going into town and spending their money. But without money they would never be able to buy their own place. As with loneliness, having dreams was not exclusive to the workers. Curleys wife often dreamt of what her life would have been like if she would have been in movies: Coulda been in the movies, an had nice clothes-all them nice clothes like they wear. An I coulda sat in them big hotels, an had pictures took of me. As for George and Lennie there is hope. They have each other to look after one another and are not as lonely as the other migrants. Becausebecause I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you. says Lennie. Because they have each other, they have a better chance of realizing their dream. They both have someone to talk to and travel with which helps them not get so lonely. It is this companionship that gives them their chance. Also, because of their companionship, they are very different from all the other workers on the ranch. None of the other workers had someone to travel with. Their companionship is seen as very unusual: Well, I never seen a guy take so much trouble for another guy. says Carlson. Slim also says: I hardly never seen two guys travel together. It was a rare thing to see during that period. It was also rare for the workers show genuine care for each other of for anyone else. George and Lennie are an exception to this. Along with the good things that came with travelling together, George and Lennies companionship also brought along suspicion. Suspicion was very common on the ranches. The boss is suspicious as soon as George and Lennie arrive. He is suspicious of George because he wont let Lennie speak: I said what stake you got in this guy? You takin his pay away from him? He later says I got my eye on you. It isnt just the boss who is wary of the workers. It seems everyone is suspicious of each other: Maybe everbody in the whole damn world is scared of each other. says Slim. This is emphasized a lot by the way hardly anyone travels together and by the way George accuses Candy of listening in on his conversation with Lennie: Say, what the hell you doin listenin? Curley is also suspicious of anybody when it comes to his new wife. He runs around a lot looking for her and at one point accuses Slim of messing with her. Finally, most of the men on the ranch are worried about talking to Curleys wife. They accuse her of giving men the eye and think she is a tart. There is a large amount of suspicion all over the ranch aimed at anyone around the ranch itself. As well as a lot of suspicion, maybe leading to the following, there was also a fair amount of violence. Curley is the main source of violence on the ranch. He was jealous and suspicious of people and this leads to him causing trouble. He is said to pick on big guys the most because he was so small: He hates big guys. Hes alla time picking scraps with big guys. He is also said to be a good boxer and has proved this by doing well in certain tournaments. Hes often wary and is ready for a fight: His eyes flashed over George, took in his height, measured his reach, and looked at his trim middle. Curley finally demonstrates his foul temper and his willingness to fight by picking on Lennie and hitting him several times. George mentions the sense of violence on the ranch: After a long time they get mean. They get wantin to fight all the time. Another side to the violence on the ranch is the attraction of it. Whit is very eager when he sees Curley going after Slim: I guess maybe Id like to see this. and But I like to see the fuss if it comes off. Come on les go. Crooks is a target of the violence also. The time at Christmas when they set after him is an example of this. He is often verbally abused as well. The workers are very casual about racist language. They use words like nigger behind his back and even to his face: Sure the stable bucks a nigger. Nigger huh? Yeah. Nice fella, too. And such words are even said to his face: Listen, Nigger. says Curleys wife. Racism was still very common during this period and segregation was also common. Crooks wasnt allowed in the white workers bunk house and he is put in the barn, by himself, which had very poor living conditions. He had to put up with a lot of abuse and discrimination and because of this he had developed a protective shell, which he would withdraw back into whenever he was being abused, this made him suspicious of anyone trying to help him or take an interest in him. Crooks was a dignified man and would often refer to his mauled book of rights to emphasize he had rights. He would also refer to his book if he thought someone was doing something that impeded his rights. Crooks was also very lonely and he craves someone to talk to as much as any of the other workers on the ranch. A good example of his dignity and his loneliness mixed together is when Lennie comes into his room he tries to be angry but he knows he needs someone to talk to and allows Lennie to stay in his room. Women were used and treated unfairly during this period also. During this time women were generally seen as a possession. Men believed that they owned the women and that they could use them however or for whatever they wanted. This is shown by the way the workers talk about the women at the whorehouses and also by the way the workers talk about Curleys wife. She is seen, as something Curley owns, an item or possession not a person. She is also referred to as jail-bait, a tart and nothing but trouble. Quotes like Jesus, what a tramp., Dont you even look at that bitch. and Well, I think Curleys marrieda tart. which refer to Curleys wife all emphasize the disrespect shown to women in this period. Although men liked to think women were their possessions, they also had other possessions. They would carry around little things like razors and keep them in a bindle while traveling. When they werent traveling they would keep their possessions in an apple crate hung up on the wall. They never carried around much and things would get left behind; for example, the roach killer that got left behind by the last worker that occupied Georges bunk. Hygiene wasnt all that good. As well as the roach infested bunks there were rats underneath the floorboards. The food wasnt all that good either and medicine was very simple. Candy tells about how one guy would clean the potatoes if they had spots on them and he would scrape off the red bits in the eggs. Candy also complains of a stomachache the turnips gave him and asks for some whiskey to treat his stomachache. Overall life in the bunkhouses was very harsh. In conclusion, the novel has given us a very clear picture of what life like for the migrant workers moving from ranch to ranch. Loneliness was a serious part of their lives. It was part of a vicious circle that included entertainment, money and their dream. Their dreams were what kept them going. But loneliness would continue to stop them realizing their dreams. They were so lonely they needed the entertainment to help them escape from their loneliness and boredom after work. This cost money; money they needed to realize their dream, and from entertainment they wasted the money they needed to realize a dream, and found themselves lonely again, causing the vicious circle to continue. Life was very rough on the workers. No family to speak of or get closed to. They believed that they didnt belong anywhere. They went to a ranch, worked up a stake and then blew it in the nearest town. This would happen every month and even though the workers dreamt, the vast majority eventually realized their dream would never come true. But kept dreaming to keep up some hope even though deep down they realized it was not possible.

The Effects of Child Family Interaction

The Effects of Child Family Interaction Child and family interaction: the setting The scene shows Eaton Kerr, a toddler, in a happy and playful family photo shoot with other members of his family. These family members are his mother, Kerry; his father, Jonathan; and his doting 8 year old brother, Jordan. The Kerr family lives in Northern Ireland. Kerry is clearly enamoured of her little boy. In her own words, she â€Å"cant bear to be away from him† and could just â€Å"gobble him up†. This is probably intensified by the fact that Eaton had been an unproblematic infant, who slept well, ate well and rarely cried. Kerry and Jonathan apparently had an easy time in the first few months after his birth. This is evident in the casual and relaxed manner that can be seen with the entire family. However, one and a half years later, Kerry is yearning for a baby girl. Having previously lost two female children, and currently raising two little boys, Kerry hungers for a female child. A scene in which she strokes her dogs head longingly could perhaps be an indicator of how much she craves another child. Kerry has a tendency for potential fatal blood clots, which is typically increased in pregnancy. Despite past medical complications and a clear understanding of the associated risks, Kerry is determined to pursue her dream. She is booked into the hospital for a medical scan to assess potential risk of cerebrovascular or cardiovascular events during pregnancy. The results are daunting and confirm that a pregnancy could be lifethreatening for the young mother. Understandably, Kerry is dejected by the prognosis, and four months later, she still has not come to terms with the outcomes of the scan. Her severe levels of unhappiness culminate in clinical depression: she is perpetually unhappy and tired; has lost all motivation to carry out even mundane everyday tasks; and finds no pleasure in things that normally make her happy (anhedonia). The loss of her two baby girls in the past appears to be constantly on her mind and she keeps photo scans of the embryos which would serve as a constant negative reminder. The fact that she has named these two offspring (Jordana and Caitlin) shows the depth of the attachment she feels for them. In addition, it seems she has recently lost her father all these are textbook triggers for clinical depression. Using the DSM-1 classification of mental health diseases, Kerrys depression would be classified as severe, as she confesses to having had suicidal thoughts. It is a well-known fact that depressed mothers find it difficult to respond to their childrens needs. In a poor attempt to discipline her toddler, Kerry tries to implement strict upbringing rules which are often not suitable to Eatons developmental phase. This is clearly corroborated by the evidence of Eatons corresponding stunted development. However, the little boy is shown as striving to obey his mother, only becoming rebellious at the often-dreaded bedtime etc, thus showing signs of his first battle for independence at eighteen months. Poor sleep hygiene that is common among depressed patients is also proving to be problematic in the mother-child relationship. In the video, classifying humans according to their sleep patterns, Eaton is categorised as a lark early to bed and early to wake; while Kerry is a contradicting owl who is up till late at night and, consequently, stays in bed till late in the afternoon. This means that Eaton is often up, for hours, sometimes for up to three and a half hours, crying for his mother before he gets any attention. He is losing numerous battles for his independence in this power struggle and is learning that he has no control over his environment. Although it is not voiced in the videotape, the constant absence of Eatons father, Jonathan, suggests possible family problems. He has to leave for work early as he helps run the family energy business, and appears to be blissfully unaware of the problems in his home. Therefore, Kerry is probably going through these difficult times alo ne. Without the vital family and social support, her depression is likely to worsen and would essentially adversely impact on her little boy. Child development As Kerry is unable to motivate herself to do anything, she is also incapable of stimulating the young Eaton. Her apparent insensitivity to his emotional needs is clearly evident and would be detrimental to the childs development. This is seen with simple tests as outlined below: Progress testing: carried out by a child development specialist with picture books and block shapes. The results of this showed that Eaton could complete less than one third of his tasks and is behind other children of his chronological age. Empathy testing: using a scientifically based questionnaire, Kerry scored high on the empathy testing. However, she has been unable to pass this on to Eaton who scored very low on these tests, having a tendency towards blatant aggression towards not just his mother, but also to his eight-year old brother, Jordan. This sort of behaviour could lead to bullying traits in the future. Interaction experiment: this shows that Kerry is unwilling to allow Eaton grow and learn. By limiting his playtime to toys and games that dont stimulate him, she is inadvertently limiting his development, probably in an unconscious and failing attempt to foster attachment to her. It seems she doesnt want him to gain independence, but would rather he remain dependent on her. Analysis of child-mother interaction: a literature review Attachment theory John Bowlbys attachment theory is a psychological and ethological description that helps to explain an infants attachment to a parent or caregiver. Infants become attached to adults who are sensitive and responsive in their interactions with them. The way a parent responds to their young infant in different situations is key to the development of patterns of attachment in the child. These patterns are the skeletal framework that guides the childs feelings, thoughts and expectations in subsequent relationships (Bretherton et al, 1999). According to Bowlbys theory, through physical and emotional closeness with a parent or caregiver, the child develops an internal working model, reflecting the parents own response to him/her. In Eatons case his thought process might mirror the insensitivity that he has experienced from his depressed mother, and could potentially cause problems in the future. Family dynamics: a secure base The point of attachment should ideally provide a secure base from which the child can explore the environment and return when he/she feels fearful. If Eaton lacks that secure haven, his mental health would be compromised. In his book, A Secure Base, John Bowlby (1998) describes the initiation of the mother-infant interaction. He highlights an initial elation and extreme possessiveness immediately after delivery. This phase was probably evident in Kerry, in the first few months when she stated her joy and reluctance to let Eaton out of her sight. However, the well documented lively social interaction alternating with phases of disengagement may have developed a pronounced effect of the latter phase, especially after the disheartening results of her hospital scan. Peri- and post-natal conditions that could affect (hinder or foster) positive attachment and the effective formation of a secure base, as outlined by Bowlby (1998) are outlined below: Adequate support for the mother with other aspects of household chores, etc. A secure base for the mother herself Length of separation from the baby in the hours and days following delivery Birth experience Attitudes and expectations expressed by the mother during her pregnancy It is not clear from the brief clips of the videotape which, if any, of the above factors are applicable to Kerrys experience. However, interpreting non-verbal communication and appearances, I think it is possible that Kerry receives little or no support around the house, especially as Jonathan departs for work early and eight-year old Jordan would be if limited help. This proposed lack of support could mean that Kerry does not have her own personal security base and might have been in need of assurances. While we are not privy to Kerrys birth experience during the delivery of little Eaton, her past medical history, in addition to that statement â€Å"Ive cheated life once alreadyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ , suggest that she may have had a difficult pregnancy, which, in addition, could have led to prolonged periods of separation from her newborn in the periods immediately following the birth. The Maternal Deprivation Theory Revisiting the controversial ‘maternal deprivation theory, in the World Health Organization report on Maternal Care and Mental Health, Bowlby (1951) explored the effects of deprivation of maternal care. Maternal deprivation is not limited in definition to mothers who are physically absent from their infants lives; it also applies to mothers who are not sensitive or responsive to their childs needs. In this report, Bowlby concluded that a warm, intimate and continuous child-mother relationship, in which both parties find satisfaction and enjoyment, is essential. Lack of such a satisfactory relationship could lead to significant and irreversible mental health malformations. The case of Eaton and his mother, Kerry, could be seen as a classic example of the maternal deprivation theory. While Kerry is present physically, her own self-admitted lack of motivation and uninvolved attitude is not adequate to foster that close relationship with her second son. As highlighted by Bowlby and later his close colleague, Mary Ainsworth (1962), Eaton could be at risk of having some mental problems in the future, if a timely and effective intervention is not implemented. The long-term effects of poor child-family interactions The consequences of the poor maternal and possibly paternal interaction which Eaton is accustomed to cannot be overemphasised. In a recent study using a conceptual model derived from the attachment theory, it was shown that attachment anxiety and low empathy significantly increases the odds of child molester status (Woods and Riggs, 2008). Furthermore, attachment insecurity in childhood is linked to externalizing behaviour and higher and stable patterns of depressive behaviour at the adolscence stage (Allen et al, 2007). Also, conversely, avoidance of closeness in depressed mothers is implicated in the development of internalizing symptoms in their children, because individuals who are avoidant of closeness, logically, are poor care givers (Whiffen et al, 2005). Research also shows that infants and toddlers of depressed mothers are at increased risk of developing attachment insecurity and behavioural difficulties than offspring of nondisordered mothers (Cicchetti et al, 1998). Observing the effects of maternal depression on social cognition and behaviour in parent-child interactions, Lovejoy (2007) depressed mothers, as a group, exhibited more negative behaviour. Furthermore, maternal depression was found to be associated with negative parent-child interactions and more negative, albeit fairly accurate, perceptions of child behaviour. This factor could be a major implicating factor in the apparent poor development that Eaton shows. An older study by Seiner and Gelfand (1995) showed that enacted maternal withdrawal and depression led to toddlers physically withdrawing from their mothers, making more negative physical bids for attention and generally becoming unfocused and negative, displaying their distress in a developmentally appropriate manner. In addition, the children made no attempt to comfort their mothers; this can be related to Eatons unsympathetic reaction to his mothers apparent distress in the video. There are numerous other studies in the literature that explore the negative impact of poor interaction between child and mother (or care giver). There is a clear association between attachment and maternal depression, and the development of the recipient child. Recently, Vieten and Astin (2008) evaluated the effectiveness of an eight-week mindfulness-based intervention during pregnancy on prenatal stress and mood. Their findings demonstrate that mothers who received this intervention showed significantly reduced anxiety and negative effect during the third trimester in comparison to those who did not receive the intervention. It is well-documented that stress and negative mood during pregnancy increase the risk of poor childbirth outcomes and postnatal mood problems and may interfere with mother-infant attachment and child development. Accordingly, such interventions may be pivotal in supporting mothers in preparation for child delivery. Conclusion In the course of research for this write-up, I have a gained a greater understanding of the attachment theory and the role of the â€Å"secure base† in molding a childs development. More importantly, I am now aware of the need to provide as much support to the mother as is expected for the newborn. This is especially the case for at-risk mothers. Partners and family members need to be a part of the support programme to ensure that mothers receive the care and security they need in order to effectively carry out their newly acquired duties.

Pestel Analysis Of Icici Prudential Economics Essay

Pestel Analysis Of Icici Prudential Economics Essay Threat of New Entrants. The average entrepreneur cant come along and start a large insurance company. The threat of new entrants lies within the insurance industry itself. Some companies have carved out niche areas in which they underwrite insurance. These insurance companies are fearful of being squeezed out by the big players. Another threat for many insurance companies is other financial services companies entering the market. Power of Suppliers. The suppliers of capital might not pose a big threat, but the threat of suppliers luring away human capital does. If a talented insurance underwriter is working for a smaller insurance company (or one in a niche industry), there is the chance that person will be enticed away by larger companies looking to move into a particular market. Power of Buyers.  The individual doesnt pose much of a threat to the insurance industry. Large corporate clients have a lot more bargaining power with insurance companies. Large corporate clients like airlines and pharmaceutical companies pay millions of dollars a year in premiums. Insurance companies try extremely hard to get high-margin corporate clients. Availability of Substitutes.  This one is pretty straight forward, for there are plenty of substitutes in the insurance industry. Most large insurance companies offer similar suites of services. Whether it is auto, home, commercial, health or life insurance, chances are there are competitors that can offer similar services. In some areas of insurance, however, the availability of substitutes is  few and far between. Companies focusing on niche areas usually have a competitive advantage, but this advantage depends entirely on the size of the niche and on whether there are any barriers preventing other firms from entering. Competitive Rivalry.  The insurance industry is becoming highly competitive. The difference between one insurance company and another is usually not that great. As a result, insurance has become more like a commodity an area in which the insurance company with the low cost structure, greater efficiency and better customer service will beat out competitors. Insurance companies also use higher investment returns and a variety of insurance investment products to try to lure in customers. In the long run, were likely to see more consolidation in the insurance industry. Larger companies prefer to take over or merge with other companies rather than spend the money to market and advertise to people. Pestel analysis Political and legal factors Within Indian political ambitions and rise of communalism, fissiparous tendencies are on the rise and may well continue for quite some time. Based on this the insurance companies might introduce political risk coverage in their policies. In India the only area where customers consider to a take insurance cover is on customs duty change but also on certain conditions. The term political risk has a wider connotation than commonly understood or assumed. It covers events rising not just from politics, but risks in the course of international transactions. Based on this the insurance companies come up with new policies with respect to the problems arising out of foreign legal jurisdiction, political changes and also currency exchange difficulties being faced by many developing countries. Reforms in the Insurance sector were initiated with the passage of the IRDA Bill in Parliament in December 1999. The IRDA since its incorporation as a statutory body in April 2000 has fastidiously stuck t o its schedule of framing regulations and registering the private sector insurance companies. In India the entry mode for a company to start up a new life insurance company is to have a paid up capital of 100 crore rupees. Other rules got in by IRDA are Mandatory Investments of LIC Life Fund in government securities to be reduced from 75% to 50% GIC and its subsidiaries are not to hold more than 5% in any company (There current holdings to be brought down to this level over a period of time) Economic Factors The interest rates at bank and also the provident fund variation affect the life insurance industry as people are always attracted by a higher return. So compared to this the lower return policy is not attractive to the customers. Another factor which affects the life insurance industry is Unemployment, as unemployed people would not have any earnings, savings would be comparatively less which would mean less sales in-turn affecting the GDP of the country and also the industry. Other factors which contribute to the insurance industry are the natural factors like earthquakes, monsoons etc, as these events lead to a lot of deaths, the insurance companies have to pay claim against the policy. A typical Indian will want a better product with a low income so he prefers to pay in annuity or installments (EMI), so that they will not have extra savings to invest in the insurance policy. One of the main reasons for the economic factor is the inflation rate in todays market. High inflation rate will tend to reduce the insurances business as the money paid to the policy holder during the time of maturity will be less and it would be less attractive for the investor. Social-cultural factors Population is one of the major factors affecting the industry as the growth in population will indirectly help the companies to capture more market with more people. Life styles is another factor which affect the industry, the current life styles of the people in India are increasingly becoming like nuclear families, as both the parents would be working there would be a possibility of an accident, which would mean more sales for the company In terms of life insurance. Similarly people are interested in having a car and more cars in the road would mean more sales for life insurance. The third factor is the level of education, as India is still a developing country more than 50% of the population is illiterate and the other 50% are not sure about the concept of life insurance, creating the awareness for the product is a big challenge and one of the more contributing factors that affect the life insurance industry. Technological Factors Internet is becoming a fast house hold name in India where every house in the urban area has a connection. The life insurance industry has taken advantage of this with having many policies which can be flexible to the customer. The customer can check the flexibility sitting at home and select the best policy, pay the monthly installments and everything would be done within minutes. One more factor is the debit and credit card facilities where the customer can pay the installments easily. The life insurance industry is taking a huge advantage of the technology advancement in the world and making it their competitive advantage. Environmental factors Insurance companies in India are more affected by the environmental factors which can affect the industry. The Tsunami in 2008 which had such an impact in the south western India, Drivers of growth in the insurance industry. Government support The existing rule according to the IRDA in India is that a foreign partner can hold a maximum of 26% of equity in an insurance company. Countering this a proposal has been submitted to the government to increase the limit to 49% which would mean more money to be pumped in the market. In 1999, a total of Rs. 8.7 billion has been supplied by the foreign partners and 21 private companies have been granted licenses. Competition The intense rivalry among the players in the life insurance market is going to affect the industry in a positive way. LIC which has the most market share is showing signs of losing their grip in the competition and other companies like ICICI prudential, Metlife India are gaining. Legal aspects The insurance sectors growth is more than 3 times the growth of its economy in India. So many businesses or the domestic firms will aim to invest in insurance sector. Moreover, the growth of insurance in India is 13 times more than the growth of insurance industry in the developed countries. So foreign companies will be fostering an immense desire to invest in the Indian insurance market. Industry life cycle model Source: (Johnson, et al.2005) The theory for the Industry Life cycle is given in the Appendix. Analysing the life insurance industry in India the key observations are, the Industry is in the shake-out stage relating to the porters 5 forces analysis we can evaluate that the entry into the market is difficult and there is immense competitive rivalry in the industry and the companies are innovating with many flexible policies to suit the potential customer. The present market players like LIC, ICICI Prudential, Metlife India insurance are having a strong Managerial and Financial position, they are capable of holding the market which in the present market scenario is a key to holding customers so the weak companies are not able to cope up with this scenario and are either being taken over by the big companies or they are just run over. Scenario 1 Joint-Venture In the future we might see a lot of companies merging in order to compete with LIC which has about 68% of the market share. The next major company holding the market is ICICI Prudential with 8% which is also a joint venture between ICICI Bank and Prudential life Insurance. The difference between the top two companies is 60%. Which can also be told as a monopoly by LIC. As the insurance industry is one of the most emerging in the world many companies want to compete for the market share.Given the scenario, the only weakness that LIC has is their customer relationship management, other companies have made that area their strongest. Taking into consideration one of the drivers for change that is mentioned above, which says that the government might increase the limit of foreign companies equity to 49%, there are many opportunities for the joint ventures to happen. Few companies have already established themselves in the market like AIG with Tata, ING with Vyasaya. Scenario 2 Life Insurance becoming more tech-savvy. Another scenario is that the life insurance companies make trading online for the customers. That is make everything available in the internet for the customers like paying of premium, choosing the right policies etc. ICICI Prudential has tried its hand at the technology by giving more information about their policies and services they offer to the customers where the customers can check and enquire anything they want to know. This is one of the stepping stones to the technology of having everything electronic where the customer wont be harnessed to the paper work of having a life insurance. Many other companies have taken upon this area and soon it will be a boon to the customers. Scenario 3 Life insurance as growth of the economy Since Indias life insurance industry liberalized in 1999, there have been companies coming to India and with it increasing the competition, the innovation, the flexibilities etc. Insurance industrys contribution towards the GDP has increased significantly from 2.3% in 2001 to 5.2% in 2011. The Life insurance covers have increased about 12times in the past decade and Many analysts predict that by 2020 India will be one of the three top countries in the insurance market. The statistics say that the insurance industry will reach upto $350-$400 billion by 2020. (Study of insurance sector, 2011) Changing scenario in the life insurance industry! http://www.unepfi.org/fileadmin/documents/insurance_climatechange_statement.pdf

Rabbit Tobacco :: essays research papers

My grandmother grew up in Americus, GA, a rural town over 100 miles south of Atlanta. Her parents were of Cherokee descent, so I asked her about any herbal remedies passed down to her. She told me of several, but the one that she remembered with the most clarity was rabbit tobacco. Rabbit tobacco is also known as lasting, everlasting, sweet balsam, white balsam, feather-weed, and sweet cudweed. Its scientific name is Gaphalium obtusifolium. These annual herbs reach a height of 1 to 3 feet and have erect stems with brown, shriveled leaves persisting into winter and stems covered with felt-like hairs in summer. The leaves are 1 to 3 inches long, and alternate. The flowers, minute in whitish heads, appear in late summer to fall. Fields, pastures, and disturbed areas are the sites of this common native plant of the eastern United States. The Cherokee named it rabbit tobacco because they believe it was the rabbit who took attended the plant. In Cherokee medicine, it is believed that councils of animals created diseases in order to avenge the loss of their families and living spaces. The plants, being sympathetic to humans, decided to each furnish a cure for these diseases. It is believed that the spirit of the plant will tell a sick person which one to use to cure his illness. Rabbit tobacco can be used medicinally in several ways. Smoking the leaves is good for sinusitis, head colds, and congestion. In hot teas, it is used to treat sore throats, fevers, diarrhea, colds, flu, pneumonia, asthma, and coughs, as well as a mild nerve sedative, a diuretic, and an antispasmodic. My grandmother said it was most often used in her home as a salve made of lard and ground up leaves. It was applied to the chest and back and caused profuse sweating. The effect is similar to Vicks in that it helped open up breathing passages. It is also believed by the Cherokee, as well as other Native American tribes, to help cleanse a house after a person’s absence or to cleanse the body after accidental contact with â€Å"bad medicine".

Analysis of We Real Cool by Gwendolyn Brooks Essay -- essays research

Poetry Essay â€Å"We Real Cool†, Gwendolyn Brooks The poem â€Å"We Real Cool† is a very powerful poem, although expressed with very few words. To me, this poem describes the bottom line of the well known â€Å"ghetto life†. It describes the desperate and what they need, other than the usual what they want, money. Without actually telling us all about the seven young men, it does tell us about them. The poem tells of the men’s fears, their ambitions, and who they think they are, versus who they really are. The poem begins with the word â€Å"We†, which is the only line in the poem that begins in this such manor, although the word â€Å"we† is repeated six more times throughout the poem. The â€Å"we† that I believe is represented at the beginning is the unity that comes from these seven friends. When y...

Evaluation of Telémakhos’ Actions Essay -- Aristotle Telemakhos Essays

Evaluation of Telà ©makhos’ Actions Authors and poets in ancient and modern literature laud the actions of heroes and condemn the actions of villains—judging which is laudable action comes from understanding the virtues. Our greatest stories are nothing if not conflict between antagonist and protagonist, a battle against that esteemed as good and that which is evil. In ancient literature, our understanding of virtuous action comes principally from Aristotle. The path of virtue is the middle ground, such that it â€Å"is an intermediate between excess and defect† (Aristotle 1220). Just as Aristotle gives a framework with which to judge virtuous action, so Dante presents a framework with which to punish actions deemed outside of virtue. In Dante’s Inferno we meet non-Christians, those not baptized, whom God punishes according to the severity of their sin. At the entrance to Hell, Dante reads an inscription above the gate that says, â€Å"Abandon every hope, you who enter here† (Dante 1416). He ll is a place of stasis—the dead found there can never leave. Drawing from Homer’s Odyssey, this essay explores the actions of Odysseus’ son Telà ©makhos. By applying Aristotle’s Nichomacean Ethics and incorporating Dante’s system of punishment, this essay evaluates Telà ©makhos’ actions and places him in his proper place in hell: submerged in a hot river of blood forever. In order to know what virtuous action is, one must carefully choose between too much and too little. Aristotle says, â€Å"It is possible to fail in many ways, while to succeed is possible only in one way† (Aristotle 1221). This teaching is the premise of Nichomacean Ethics; Aristotle teaches what modern readers know as â€Å"The Golden Mean†Ã¢â‚¬â€the understanding that moral virtue â€Å"is a mean bet... ... audience just as Virgil warns Dante of his own fate. In the opening lines of the Inferno Dante says, â€Å"In the middle of the journey of our life I came to my senses in a dark forest, for I had lost the straight path† (1408). This straight path is the way of virtue. The relevance of virtue is as applicable today as it was in the time of Homer, Aristotle, and Dante—and in a Dantean understanding of the world, failure to follow the mean carries with it the punishment of an eternity in Hell. Works Cited Aristotle. Nichomacean Ethics. Trans. W. D. Ross. Wilkie and Hurt 1220-1225. Dante, Alighieri. The Divine Comedy. Trans. H. R. Huse. Wilkie and Hurt 1398-1571. Homer. The Odyssey. Trans. Robert Fitzgerald. Wilkie and Hurt 273-594. Wilkie, Brian, and James Hurt, ed. Literature of the Western World Volume 1. 5th Ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. 2001.

George Washington Proclamation Of Neutrality

Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality George Washington's decision to announce a policy of neutrality benefited the e nation because it protected them from foreign enemies and it prevented riots and in correction between political parties. The proclamation of neutrality, issued in 1 793, was published to Stay neutral between the French and British during their war and became the foundation f American policy toward Europe until the twentieth century.Both American political parties ink ewe that they were too weak to get involved in a war and too dependent on British trade. They gag reed that the United States could bankrupt the federal government if they entered the con flick. This policy of neutrality prevented the nation from being too attached to another, as stated in Washington's Farewell Address, â€Å"so likewise, a passionate attachment Of one nation for anon her produces a variety of evils. This decision also prevented the United States from creating enemies with the opposin g nation. Washington also wanted to announce a policy of neutrality b teen political parties. He states in the Farewell Address, â€Å"It agitates the community with LIFO ended jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection.It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which find s a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another†¦ † This pass age explains how the dispute between the political parties will create riots between the people. Washington's decision to announce a policy of neutrality benefited the nation in numerous ways.

Evaluate the appropriateness of business information Essay

In this task I will be evaluating the appropriateness of business information used to make a strategic decision. In this part of the task I will be focusing on Tesco business. I will be talking about the importance in strategic decisions within Tesco and how they use the decisions for their business. Also I will be evaluating how the strategic decisions affect the financial performance of Tesco. Tesco Price Promise Website: Tesco uses the price checker to show customers that they are the cheapest supermarket out of the three leading supermarkets, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Asda. This is an important strategy for Tesco as they are able to gain customers as well as being competitors this leads to Tesco being able to make more profit compared to Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s. Tesco has given this facility to people so that they are able to see where they have saved money and what they have got cheaper. Tesco has mainly got the price checker facility for themselves and this would be so that they can see what they need to do to be able to gain more customers as they are able to see what there consumers like. Tesco’s provide information which is valid and up to date so that it is easy and fast for the customers to compare the prices of every product they buy. This strategy is used to create marketing plans which then leads on to the strategic decisions made for Tesco. This is done by using the information as part of their marketing plan which will gain customers and maintain their business. Tesco Price Promise Receipt: Tesco doesn’t only provide their customers with the facility to go home and check on the internet how much they are saving but they also give their customer the opportunity to check how much they have saved compared to Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s. This is done when they buy 10 or more items, they would automatically compare your final prices with the other supermarkets and give you two receipt of which one contains your main shopping list and prices and one says you have ‘ £ (something amount) off your next shop’ and this something amount is the amount of money you have saved in your shopping that same day. You are given two options at the bottom of the receipt which is where you can go to the customer service desk and get a voucher for the  amount you have shopped of using the code go onto online. Most importantly Tesco is giving the chance for you to do everything while shopping this is an advantage towards the customers as they would not want to go home and go through a long process whereas they can do it fast and much more easily. This increase profits the profit within the business as Tesco is providing you with products for cheaper and helping you. This also becomes more competitive against a rival as they have a way to increase customers and steal the customers there rivals have. This concludes to a positive financial performance as Tesco are gaining customers and earning a profit compared to other supermarkets. Tesco Club Card: Tesco has a club card facility, and this is a card which can be kept as a key ring as well as a card in your wallet. This allows you to gain points every time you shop at Tesco. This is also beneficial to Tesco as well because they are able to see what you have bought in your shopping basket and according to that they send you vouchers on your most bought items, allowing you to buy more. Also they give you vouchers so that you come back to Tesco as your shopping would be cheaper than it normally is, this attracts customers as they are saving money on their shop and this is what they want. This information Tesco is gaining helps them as they are able to achieve more customers so this increase the rival competitors and they are also gaining an increase in profit and customers due to the fact more people are shopping at Tesco and using the services they provide, this also means Tesco are able to develop even more. Tesco’s financial accounts from 2011-2012 The image above shows the financial highlights of Tesco within the world and the image on the right shows the financial highlights of Tesco in the UK. These figures reflect on the strategic decision as it would help Tesco to make future budgets and it also shows whether the services and facilities they have set up actually help make a profit for the business. Also it helps make long term decision like where they should expand next and how they would meet their aims. Also the price checker would has contributed to this as it has increased the amount of customers that shop at Tesco also it has shown people awareness of the Tesco business itself and this has increased the sales of Tesco which has been able to increase the sales revenue. Conclusion: Overall, I believe that Tesco has many strategies and these strategies help Tesco to make further decisions on what they will be doing as they would be aiming to increase profit, and become the better rivals. Tesco’s financial performance is getting better due to the better strategic decisions made within the company to increase profit and gain customers. Tesco uses the clever tools for them to be an effective company so that financial performances increase, which allows marketing plans to be made. This allows Tesco to create their strategic decisions, proving the information is appropriate.

Dollar General Corporation Essay

Abstract Dollar General Corporation is United States largest small-box discount retailer headquartered in Goodlettsville, Tennessee [1]. Dollar General offers both name brand products and generic merchandise [2]. Its competitors include Family Dollar, Dollar Tree which also operate in deep discount segment of US retailing. The following case study discusses about the various political, economic, social and technological forces that Dollar General have faced and their impact on the company. The report also talks about the critical success factors of Dollar General. The report is concluded by summary of key learning’s from the case study. PEST Analysis for Dollar General Political: In the year of 2006, Janet Calvert, a former store manager, filed a complaint that she was paid less than the male storage managers because of her gender, in violation of the Equal Pay Act and title VII of Civil Rights act of 1964. There were other plaintiffs which were added to this case. This case resulted in Dollar General reaching a settlement in principle, by which it would pay $15.5 million to the plaintiffs and their legal charges costing around $3.25 million. The company was expected to receive reimbursement of $15.9 million from its Employment Practices Liability Insurance if these payments were approved by the court. This case did impact Dollar General Approach towards pay setting policies and procedures for new store managers [3]. Economic: During the recession period from 2007-2009, the customers of Dollar stores suffered from unemployment and lower purchasing power. And even the people from higher income brackets started purchasing the dollar store products fo r seeking larger bargains. This led to the increase in the customer traffic and larger sales for Dollar stores. Dollar general  captivated upon this scenario and continually reviewed its merchandise mix, and adjusted it accordingly. It expanded its offerings of consumable goods to serve customers’ needs and increased its sales [3]. Dollar General captured trade-down shoppers who came from middle and higher level of incomes (who generally had not shopped at dollar stores for all these years, but came during the recession to find bargains). Over the time the company adjusted its pricing strategy for items by pricing it from $1 to no more than $10. And managers of this company also believed that the company’s ability to attract customers of varying economic status depends on offering both national and store brands [3]. This way Dollar General was able to satisfy the customers of varying economic status, which resulted in more sales and profit for the company. Social: Consumer psychology during the recession period was to get the products at a lower price and the store to be available at a convenient distance (not too far). During this time Dollar General varied its price from $1 to no more than $10 and offered consumable goods at a very reasonable price. And it has also opened new stores within the reach of 3 to 5 miles, so that every customer is able to get easy access to their neighbourhood store [3]. This resulted in satisfying customer’s need as well as increasing company’s sales. Technology: During the year 2008 when the cost of the fuel increased, the Dollar General’s distribution costs went up and the company’s gross profit was affected. In order to mitigate this problem, the company completed the installation of a voice pick system by the year 2010 in all the distribution centres, so that the employees in the distribution centres can communicate with warehouse software systems by speech recognition [3]. This was a good strategic move by the company as its use is expected to increase rapidly over the next few years with evolving technological advancements. The company also installed new analytical and monitoring tools to assist with inventory shrinkage reduction efforts [3], which was a major part of company’s effort to increase gross margin. CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS’s for Dollar General In this case for instance, good leadership and management was a CSF for Dollar General. As we can see that, there was major expansion of business activities and stores with the entry of David Perdue (the company’s new  general manager) in the year 2003. In addition, the company through his leadership also initiated Project Alpha, which was based on extensive analysis of performance of each store and the company’s inventory management model. Few of the structural changes that company undergone during this project include shutting down over 400 underperforming stores and writing off old inventory. These strategic alignments have been the major part of company’s CSF, as it was able to focus more on most viable stores and new inventories which have led the company into high effectiveness in their business activities [4]. Moreover, the company specialized in low, middle and fixed income families as their major customers. This has been used as the company’s CS F, as this group forms the largest proportion in the market. Even though the purchasing power of this category is low when compared to the higher segments in U.S. but their huge population is a contributory factor for success of the company [4]. Dollar General Social responsibility Rick Dreiling, Chairman and CEO of Dollar General, explained the company’s commitment towards literacy through the Dollar General Literacy Foundation program. The company actively engages customers in a way: â€Å"At each and every cash register of a Dollar General store, customers get to learn about the Dollar General Literacy Foundation program through brochures with a postage-paid reply card that can be mailed in for a referral to a local organization that offers exclusively free literacy services. Further, they also have the opportunity to donate money to this worthy cause. In 2012, Dollar General Customers donated more than $10 million to directly benefit the Dollar General Literacy Foundation’s efforts in helping people learn how to read, speak English or get their General Education Diploma (GED) [5].† Key learning’s from the case From this case one can clearly understand that Dollar General played its cards right. When there was recession, the company retained its regular customers and attracted new customers by adjusting sales mix in order to drive more customer traffic and larger purchases. It expanded its stores by taking the advantage of weak real estate market to lower its operating costs for future years. Careful management of merchandise categories had allowed  Dollar General to increase its same-store sales. Private label brands during recession helped increase the growth of the company. These all strategic moves which were made under efficient leadership and management transformed the company into a leader in the dollar store retail sector with sales of more than $13 billion by 2011 [3]. References [1] Dollar General, Retrieved October 11 2014, http://www2.dollargeneral.com/About-Us/pages/Index.aspx [2] Dollar General, Retrieved October 11 2014, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dollar_General [3] Parnell, John A. (2014). Strategic Management: Theory and Practice. 4th edition. SAGE Publications. [4] Dollar General Case Memo Marketing Essay, Retrieved October 11 2014, http://www.ukessays.com/essays/marketing/dollar-general-case-memo-marketing-essay.php [5] Amway, GM, and Dollar General among corporations making ‘Good’ A Goal, Retrieved October 10 2014, http://www.forbes.com/sites/devinthorpe/2013/08/29/amway-gm-and-dollar-general-among-corporations-making-good-a-goal/2/

Blockbusters and Star Wars Essay

If one views the top grossing films of all time, it becomes easy to see that most of the films rely heavily on computer generated images, whether to enhance live action or the animation of popular animated features. Many cinematic experts cite the fact that blockbusters in the last thirty years have relied increasingly on special effects to the point that they overshadow the plot, which in essence becomes superfluous. However, this is hardly the case, and most blockbuster films feature plotlines and ideologies that date back to the earliest days of cinema when special effects were scarce. One of the most popular film franchises in history, Star Wars contains not only special effects that helped change movie making, but it also features a plot with many of the same elements as classic western films, including the ideological battle of good versus evil, the wild frontier, and archetypal characters. In the first few years of its existence, cinema was nothing more than a novelty that possessed little artistic value. The idea of moving images was more than enough to attract audiences, though like all novelties, the public would soon grow weary of the invention without the efforts of men like Edwin S. Porter. Undoubtedly, Porter can be said to be the creator of the first blockbuster in movie history, with 1903’s The Great Train Robbery. The film advanced filmmaking in many regards, as not only the first western, but also by incorporating action, violence, frontier humor, color, special effects, and a full-screen closeup of a bandit firing his pistol at the audience. While a short film featuring only one reel of action, it soon led to the proliferation of the nickelodeon as the most popular and commercially successful film of the pre-nickelodeon era, establishing the idea that film could be a commercially-viable medium. This realization that films could make money would eventually become the driving force behind the Hollywood film industry, and the conventions of the western would serve as the perfect template for plots to the present day. When the Hollywood studio system emerged in the 1910s and 1920s, films were produced much in the way of automobiles, with an assembly line mentality and factory-based production operations that allowed the studios to dominate the movie industry in the U. S. and abroad. The impact of the western formula on the success of film was apparent and by the mid-1920s, nearly half of Universal Studio’s annual output of feature films was westerns. After remaining the most profitable genre of film for decades, by the 1960s the western had peaked both as a viable Hollywood commodity and as a national myth to ease America’s rural-urban transformation, in part brought low by a combination of market saturation and generic exhaustion. However, many of its familiar conventions would find their way into the plots of some of the biggest blockbusters in history. Over seventy years after Porter’s blockbuster, George Lucas would also change the face of cinema, relying on the basic plot techniques developed through the evolution of the western. Stars Wars is credited as ushering in not only the era of dominating special effects, but also remains one of the highest grossing blockbusters of all time, with a worldwide box office take of $797,000,000, not to mention another few billion from its subsequent sequels and prequels. While Star Wars contains amazing artistry in the scale and scope of its special effects, its plot still relies on the simple conventions of the western film, which are designed to be accessible to all audiences. Often considered the first blockbuster to star one of cinema’s greatest icons, John Wayne, the film Stagecoach is an adult drama that had deep roots and moral lessons that helped make it a timeless classic, whose plot is about a group of strangers thrown together on a journey and put under stress so that the strengths and weaknesses of the character within them is revealed; this same basic formula has been seen in blockbuster films like Apollo 13 and the biggest blockbuster in history, Titanic. While both of these later films are heavy with special effects, they feature these proven plot techniques, much like Star Wars. The first time viewers see the heroic Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, it almost looks like a scene from a western. The classic desert landscape, the flat, expansive land and the big sky are all classic icons of the western genre. It is this vastness that is a key characteristic in Star Wars and westerns. Specific settings for westerns include lonely isolated forts, the isolated homestead, the jail, or small frontier towns that are forming at the edges of civilization. Luke, much like the young heroes of westerns, yearns only to get off the farm and lead a life of greater excitement. It is only when the Empire storms through and kills his family is he forced to become a man and take on the evil forces conspired against him. Usually, the central plot of the western film is the classic, simple goal of maintaining law and order on the frontier in a fast-paced action story: â€Å"It is normally rooted in archetypal conflict – good vs. bad, virtue vs. evil, white hat vs. black hat†¦ Often the hero of a western meets his opposite â€Å"double,† a mirror of his own evil side that he has to destroy† (Dirks). For Luke, the good, his opposition is Darth Vader, the evil. This point is even illustrated by the color of the clothing they wear, as Luke dresses in white and Vader is decked out in ominous black. This element of good versus evil, or white hat versus black hat is a key to western films and make it easy for viewers to delineate between good characters and bad characters is traditionally easy in conventional western movies. There is little question as to who the good guys and bad guys are. And, this is even seen in Luke’s sister, Leia, who begins the movie wearing an all-white dress. The white clothing of Luke and Leia link them through their apparent goodness, even though it is not revealed until later that they are brother and sister. The only character that is seen in both white and black is Han Solo, who wears a white shirt with a black vest. Unlike Luke and Leia, Han has elements of mischief and is also an outlaw. The white shirt signifies his goodness, while the black vest hints of his less than admirable qualities–his greed, selfishness, and willingness to deal with shady characters. When Han is introduced into the movie, he kills an alien within the first few minutes. According to author Stephen D. Greydanus, this scene is typical of western films: â€Å"The saloon shootouts, of course, come from that other great American mythology, the Western. (So does Han Solo’s general cowboy look and demeanor. ) By the 1970s, though, the Western no longer enjoyed the hold on the popular imagination it once had, though its influence has continued to be felt in films [like] Star Wars†. With all the element of classic westerns, including cowboy-type characters, evil villains, and a plot filled with action, it would only seem appropriate that Star Wars also possessed a classic theme, as many popular westerns do. However, Han’s goodness is finally known and he becomes one of the rebels’ greatest assets and is one of the movie’s best examples of a western style cowboy. While Star Wars could be considered a western set in space, it certainly possesses more elements and intricacies of plot than are given credit. While none of the conventions are new, they helped infuse the modern blockbuster with the spirit of old Hollywood, to very profitable results. A few true westerns have become blockbusters in the past thirty years, most notably Dances with Wolves, which grossed $424,200,000 worldwide, and featured many of the same elements as Star Wars, including good versus evil, the encroaching omnipresent technological power, and the perseverant hero. Ironically, Dances With Wolves even won the Academy Award for best film, beating out the film Goodfellas, which actually ended with an homage to Edwin S. Porter’s original western; it featured one of the most sinister mobsters in the movie shooting his gun directly at the audience at the end of the film, almost exactly duplicating the ending of Porter’s film. This just goes to show that regardless of what genre today’s Hollywood blockbusters fall under, the plot elements of the American western permeate most, from the simple battle of good versus evil to the ultimate victory enjoyed by the pure-hearted hero. Bibliography All-Time Worldwide Box office, Internet Movie Database, 2008, retrieved 2 April 2008, . Dirks, Tim, The Great Train Robbery (1903), The Greatest Films, 2008, retrieved 2 April 2008, . Dirks, Tim, Western Films, The Greatest Films, 2008, retrieved 2 April 2008, . Eyman, Scott and Gianetti, Louis, Flashback: A Brief History of Film, New Jersey, Prentice Hall, 1991. Greydanus, Steven D. , An American Mythology: Why Star Wars Still Matters,† Decent Films Guide, 2007, retrieved 2 April 2008, . Levy, Emanuel, Oscar History: Western Genre–Best Picture, EmanuelLevy. com, 2008, retrieved 2 April 2008, . Lucas, George. Star Wars. Hollywood, CA, Twentieth Century Fox, 1977. Schatz, Thomas, Cowboy Business, The New York Times, November 10, 2007, retrieved 2 April 2008, . Schatz, Thomas, Studio System, Film Reference, 2007, retrieved 2 April 2008, . Williamson, Ed, John Wayne’s First Blockbuster Movie, Epinions, 2002, retrieved 2 April 2008, .

Religious Clothing Restrictions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Religious Clothing Restrictions - Essay Example In most cases, the wearers of religious symbols such as crosses, crucifixes and prayer beads, hijabs, burqas and niqabs are genuine religious people with a strong and real personal connection with religion. In other minority cases, people do wear religious symbols especially crosses and crucifixes as fashion accessories while some Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Hindus and Jews wear these attire and symbols due to the politics of identity. However, this discussion proves that, a majority of these people who put on these religious clothing are honest followers of their respective religion. It is important for people to respect other people’s religious beliefs, and consequently abolish the restrictions imposed on the wearing of religious clothing; this is because most people wear religious attire as an expression of their respect for their traditions and religion. Wearing these clothes gives people a religious identity, and gives them a sense of self awareness and awareness of the requirements of their beliefs and traditions. Most of these people believe that wearing this clothes enhances their commitment to spiritual life and that affirming this to the public only strengthens their belief (Grimm). It is the work of the followers of a particular religious belief to decide among themselves what religious dress and symbols are appropriate in light of the teachings of their religion. Criticizing people’s policies and religious belief on clothing and religious symbol is usually received as criticism. of not only the individual, but the religion as well. Making observations in a prejudiced and uncourteous manner about the religious and traditional clothes and symbols of certain members of society would appear to be racial or religious discrimination which is against civil and human rights. In a democratic society, people should be accorded many rights, religion included. The right to religion translates to the right to express ones faith through actions, belief and even dress code. In Britain for example, the Government has expressed its social commitment to religious by promoting a diverse society with different faiths whose followers are universally treated as citizens of t he United Kingdom. In France on the other hand, the government officially banned the wearing of facial veils; this comes at an age where most Muslim women are married to domineering men who force them to wear veils. Some of the