The Hellenized Rome Essay - 1926 Words

The Hellenized Rome The Roman Empire began as a small colony, in the city of Rome, and eventually, became one of the largest empires that the world has ever known before its ultimate demise. Because of the vast size of their territory, and the number of cultures they consumed throughout their existence, the Romans were heavily influenced by the Greeks and other Hellenistic civilizations. Two different groups of professors argue this point. Professors Matthews, Platt, and Noble argue this influence is reflected by Roman music, philosophy, literature, architecture, art, culture/government, and technology and science; and Professor Weber argues this is reflected in the areas of government/law, the influence and effects of conquests,†¦show more content†¦continue their discourse of Hellenistic influence in philosophy. Matthews et al. state that philosophy in the early and late Roman world was indebted to the conquered Hellenistic civilizations. In the early Roman Empire, Greek S kepticism appealed to many Romans after the Greek philosopher, Carneades, had been brought to Rome in 155 BCE.iii They state that Skepticism faded after Carneades’ death, but was revived in the late empire, and eventually, became a permanent influence of western thought. The later popularity of Greek Stoicism influenced a number of people including Emperor Marcus Aurelias (Commodus). Finally, they argue that Romans synthesized the various Greek schools of philosophy (Stoicism, Platonism, etc.) to create a new school of thought known as Neoplatonism.iv Matthews et al. argue that Romans gained significantly from Hellenistic civilizations with respect to literature. Their argument includes mentioning the famed library of Alexandria, which contained more than 700,000 volumes of books.v They argue that much of early Roman literature was noteworthy for its strong Greek flavour; many early writers wrote in Greek because they found Latin inferior for high art. Further, they state tha t Romans used the Greek writing style for history, lyric and epic poetry, comedy, and tragedy before creating their own styles. Roman writers took plots from old Hellenistic tales and breathed new life into them (such as Plautus who borrowed from theShow MoreRelatedThe Rise of the Early Churh896 Words   |  4 Pages Jews began to become Hellenized. There was approximately four Hellenized Jews to one Traditional Jew. To get to the Hellenized Jews, PB and Jelly traveled to the city, which was urbanized. They began walking around, observing people and asking questions. There were many problems with the Jews, but they many were finally resolved when the apostolic church council decided not to require convert to obvious law. With a new religion that meant more continuity for the Hellenized Jews. PB and Jelly beganRead MoreOctavian and Marc Antony- The Duel of Words and Deeds1091 Words   |  4 PagesAugustus(De Vita Caesarum - Divus Augustus) will serve as our main guide to this war of image. After the assassination of Julius Caesar, Marc Antony, Marcus Lepidus, and Octavian met in October 43 BC to join together, rule the entire government of Rome, and the control the Roman provinces. In power, they were equal to the consuls and had the right to select magistrates. The triumvirs mission, during their first five year term, can be broken down into three objectives: to pursue and punish theRead More Women changing From Hellenistic to Late Antiquity Essay777 Words   |  4 Pagespossible that no woman could ever have a say in the government of Sparta or the democracy of Athens. When the Hellenistic Kingdoms started to spur, new opportunities for women appeared. Levack stated that, â€Å"Greek women in Egypt, as well as many other Hellenized land, enjoyed full citizenship and held religious offices.† This simply shows that the women of the middle class had new privileges, but what about the women of higher class and ranking? 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Herod the great was a powerful, brutal and ruthless leader, who accomplished a large amount, however under his rule Jewish people were extremely poor and highly taxed. His strong affiliation with Rome and Hellenization caused a great dislike among the Jews. In four AD when Herod the great died, his empire was divided amongst his three sons who weren’t quite capable of handling such a vast empire, this state of unsure created a power vacuum thatRead MoreEssay on The Age of Alexander1793 Words   |  8 PagesPergamum. The old beliefs in Olympian gods were infused with foreign elements, especially from the east; Oriental ecstatic cults, such as those of Cybele, Isis, and Mithras, become popular in the Hellenized world. The 3rd century BC saw the rise of ancient Rome. After securing most of the Italic peninsula, Rome entered into a protracted conflict with the Carthaginians for control of Sicily, Spain and the other regions of Punic domination in the Punic Wars. The former empire of Alexander was taken steadilyRead MorePersecution In The Early Church3587 Words   |  15 Pagesenlightened world. It was not merely the message of the Christians that resulted in persecution, but the combination of the wrong message to the wrong people at the wrong time. Had the Christians been preaching their message to groups such as the Hellenized Jews or the Am Ha’aretz they would have probably been met with either acceptance or at worst disinterest.Persecutions of the Christian begin the same day Stephen was stone to death. The words in Acts 8:4 at that time mean on that same day. Saul

Analysis Of The Nameless Boy - 3175 Words

S.S.S #1 (Araby) There is a force so powerful that it can control lives, this force is love. In the short story Araby, the nameless boy has fallen in love for an unnamed girl, who is Mangan’s sister, after moving to Dublin, Ireland. Each morning the boy will watch her through the front window in the parlour and quickly grab his books to walk behind her ,through their dull village, all the way to the point at which their paths diverge. Araby is about a young boy whom is not named who moves into a house in Dublin, Ireland. The previous tenant, an Irish priest, had died in the drawing room and left his belongings to his sister and the house had a quite musty smell as it had not been inhabited for quite some time. The family had moved in and as time went by, the boy made friends at his school, Christian Brother’s School, which was located within walking distance. The neighbors had a beautiful daughter ,whom is also not named but is the sister of Mangan, and each morning the boy would watch her leave her house from the window in the front parlour and grab his books so that he could walk behind her quietly until their paths diverged at which point he would quicken his pace and pass her. One day when the boy was walking behind her, she stopped and asked him if he was going to Araby, the eastern bazaar that came to near Dublin each year, as she could not go because she had already made a commitment to a school retreat. The boy was so stunned that he did not know what to say andShow MoreRelatedEssay Analysis of the Boy and the Bank Officer1165 Words   |  5 PagesEssay Analysis Philip Ross created a great essay in â€Å"The Boy and the Bank Officer.† He carefully chose creative and descriptive language while keeping the rhythm of the essay. He created an informative and insightful essay about a boy and a man’s experience while at the bank. This essay shows that people do care about the well-being of others, even if it is for their own good. The essay, â€Å"The Boy and the Bank Officer,† starts out with a nameless man who thinks back to a old friend of his. TheRead MoreKing of the Bingo Game1745 Words   |  7 PagesAnalysis of â€Å"King of the Bingo Game† Ideas of slavery, identity, and what is acceptable behavior differ greatly in the past-Civil War North and South. Ralph Ellison’s â€Å"King of the Bingo Game† depicts how traditional southern slave mentalities are in conflict even after Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of the slaves, leading many, like the nameless main character to try and find a new identity and giving him a taste of power to control his life and the lives of others. From the beginningRead MoreThe Duff Is A Teen Movie1494 Words   |  6 Pagesmyopic view of life as a normal, nameless high school student. 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To Joyce, an epiphany occurs at the instant when the spirit and essence of a character is revealed, when all the forces that endure and influence his life converge, and when we can, in that moment, comprehend and appreciateRead MoreThe Driving And The Road1378 Words   |  6 Pagescharacteristic dystopia we have discussed throughout the semester. Despite the hopeless nature of a dystopia, McCarthy somehow managed to incorporate numerous meaningful displays of humanity into the storyline between the two nameless protagonists who are referred to as the â€Å"man† and the â€Å"boy†. In addition to the humanity the protagonists exhibit, McCarthy includes an equal number of scenes that parade the most appalling, barbaric spectacles in literature. By adding such revolting scenes into the book’s plo tRead More Comparing James Joyces Araby and Ernest Hemingways A Clean, Well-Lighted Place1363 Words   |  6 Pagesenthusiastic hope or hopeful enthusiasm that his pilgrimage to Araby will yield him if not the answer (to the question which manifests as a nameless longing), then the key to the answer. This answer is represented by Mangans sister (whose name is not mentioned, as with the Hebrew G-d), whom the boy hopes to access through the gesture of his quest.1 At the end, the boy looks up again, like the lights at the beginning, into the darkness above. In A Clean, Well-Lighted Place, the light shines downRead MoreGirls And Girls By Alice Munro1380 Words   |  6 PagesBoys and Girls is an analysis of the development of gender roles and focuses on how a young girl was being forced into the female mold. The story, narrated by a young girl, details the time in her life when she leaves childhood and its freedoms behind and realizes that to be a girl is to be, eventually, a woman. She starts to grasp that becoming a girl fraught with difficulties because she senses that women are considered the social inferiors of men. She starts off with a strong sense of selfRead MoreRole of Kamala in Hermann Hesses Siddhartha1300 Words   |  6 Pagesthe narration of the life of a young boy – the eponymous Siddhartha by a third-person omniscient narrator. My goal in this essay is to explore the role of the most important female character in Siddhartha, Kamala. Siddhartha is set in India, the story concurs with the life of Gotama the Buddha and therefore is estimated to take place around the 5th-6th century B.C. Many female characters play a part in Siddhartha’s journey. Siddhartha’s mother, the nameless young woman in the forest that attemptsRead More Themes of Honor and Shame in Invisible Man Essay1383 Words   |  6 PagesNorth, where the black is allowed more freedom. As a character, he is not complex, he is even naà ¯ve. Yet, Ellison’s narration is successful enough to show that he improves as he makes radical decisions about his life at the end of the book. The nameless narrator is a young black person, who attends his college regularly. He follows certain directions to lead a normal life. Yet, his life has to diverge from what it is as he makes a huge mistake, which can not be forgiven by the Headmaster, Dr. BledsoeRead MoreThe Hangmans Horror: Roger, Sadism, and Psychopathy in Lord of the Flies1506 Words   |  7 Pagesthe opportunity and put in circumstances that foster anarchy and violence, such as those that the boys find themselves in in Lord of the Flies. Through a use of complex psychopathy, a disintegration of societal morality, and violent imagery and symbolism, Golding shows that, while everyone is potentially civilized, humans are essentially savage by nature. Roger begins the novel as a stoic, silent boy, smaller and weaker than Jack but â€Å"with an inner intensity and avoidance and secrecy,† (Golding 20)

In Defense of Military Pay Essay Example For Students

In Defense of Military Pay Essay I was in the Army for more than twenty years, and I can say that joining the military was the best decision I have ever made. There are many differences between military and civilian pay and benefits. The Military gets pay base on your pay grade and time in service, based on a pay scale issued by defense finance and accounting services (DFAS). According to the fiscal year 2014, military pay scale the average enlisted service member E-1 with two years of service in the military is paid $1,532. 00 per month and an E-9 with 10 years of service in the military is paid $4,837. 00. Civilians get paid either hourly or on a salary. When I join the Military was because, of job security, pay, good education benefits and an excellent retirement system, this are just a few of the top reasons I seek federal employment. Others consider government careers because of desirable travel opportunities, training availability, different occupations and the ability to locate jobs nationwide and overseas. One of the benefits Military service member receive is free housing or Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is an allowance to offset the cost of housing when you do not received government provided housing. Your BAH depend upon your location, pay grade, and if you are married or single, based on a pay scale issued by defense finance and accounting services (DFAS) military pay scale the average enlisted soldier E-1 and E-2 with dependents get paid $2,607. 00 per month, without dependents they get paid $1,956. 00 per month and an E-9 with dependents get paid $3,696. 00 per month, without dependents he gets paid $2,832. 00 per month. This benefits service are for members leaving off post. Single soldiers E-4 and below have to leave in the barracks, they have their own rooms but they have to share kitchen and bathrooms. In the civilian sector most jobs will not offer any additional pay for housing. The second benefit that Military service member receive is Basic Allowance for Subsistence, this allowance is to cover for their meals. This allowance is not intended to cover the cost of meals for family members. Enlisted members with less than 4 months of service used to be paid BAS at a lower rate. That difference was eliminated in 2002. BAS used to be calculated on a daily basis. That means that a person who received BAS got just little bit more during months that had 31 days in them and a little bit less during the month of February. In 2002, congress changed the law so that BAS is a set monthly rate. BAS for enlisted soldiers is $357. 55 a month. Officers get paid $242. 60 a month. In the civilian side jobs don’t offer any additional pay for meals. The third benefit that the Military has is free health care. Military members receive medical, dental and vision care. Military personnel don’t have to put any out of pocket money. In addition, the spouse and dependent children of an active-duty member may also enroll in military Health Care (a small enrollment fee and annual deductible may apply). In the civilian sector healthcare in most jobs is not available until a set amount of time has been worked or you are a full-time employee. The family members are not covered unless health care has been purchased for the additional family member. Vision and dental care has to be purchased through the employer if available or from outside resource. Another benefit that Military has is Military Tuition Assistance. The military tuition assistance is a benefit paid to eligible service member of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard. .u4987692d1a8e3e6f0cf7aaa9bb4978ee , .u4987692d1a8e3e6f0cf7aaa9bb4978ee .postImageUrl , .u4987692d1a8e3e6f0cf7aaa9bb4978ee .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u4987692d1a8e3e6f0cf7aaa9bb4978ee , .u4987692d1a8e3e6f0cf7aaa9bb4978ee:hover , .u4987692d1a8e3e6f0cf7aaa9bb4978ee:visited , .u4987692d1a8e3e6f0cf7aaa9bb4978ee:active { border:0!important; } .u4987692d1a8e3e6f0cf7aaa9bb4978ee .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u4987692d1a8e3e6f0cf7aaa9bb4978ee { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u4987692d1a8e3e6f0cf7aaa9bb4978ee:active , .u4987692d1a8e3e6f0cf7aaa9bb4978ee:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u4987692d1a8e3e6f0cf7aaa9bb4978ee .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u4987692d1a8e3e6f0cf7aaa9bb4978ee .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u4987692d1a8e3e6f0cf7aaa9bb4978ee .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u4987692d1a8e3e6f0cf7aaa9bb4978ee .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u4987692d1a8e3e6f0cf7aaa9bb4978ee:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u4987692d1a8e3e6f0cf7aaa9bb4978ee .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u4987692d1a8e3e6f0cf7aaa9bb4978ee .u4987692d1a8e3e6f0cf7aaa9bb4978ee-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u4987692d1a8e3e6f0cf7aaa9bb4978ee:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Genetics EssayCongress has giving each service the ability to pay up to 100% for the tuition expenses of its members while they are still on active duty. Army service member have a tuition assistance of $4,500. 00 for fiscal year. Navy service member have 16 semester hours per fiscal year not to exceed $4,000. 00 per fiscal year. Marines TA would be authorized for only one course. Coast Guard have 75% of the tuition assistance not to exceed 187. 50 per credit hour. In addition military spouse can get up to $4,000. 00 for tuition assistance. In the civilian side they have to pay out of pocket to go to school or try to get a grant or loan. In conclusion I think if Military services member would add their basic pay, basic allowance for housing, basic allowance for subsistence, Cost of Leaving allowance and their Military Health Care; they will notice that Military services members are better off than Civilians. I know military service members have to work longer hours 24/7, be on call and sometimes worked on the weekends; but adding all the allowance up, I’m sure military soldiers get a good monthly pay check.

Debt and Factoring free essay sample

Nowadays, every business needs finance. But at the same time, bad debt has become a stinging problem for the creditors. Many companies are faced with the high credit risk, so obtaining it can be one of the most difficult parts of running your business. So what is the solution for this problem? You can see, there are so many types of business finance, including: bank loans, credit cards, leasing, even outsides investors, family and friend loans†¦ But in my opinion, one of the quickest forms of low cost business finance is factoring, where you can get up to 85% of the value of your invoice immediately, and the remainder (minus the factoring company’s fee) after the money is collected. kFactoring is one of the best ways to get quick finance, improving your cashflow and allowing you to make the most of your sales without risking late payment. What is factoring? You can image that just be simple to sell your invoice to a factoring company. You can get cash quickly, have a chance to access immediate funds, without having to wait for the customer to pay the invoice. You also don’t have to collect the debt. Because you transfer the mission to the factoring company. They get debt and have to collect it. Of course, you lose some of the value of the invoice. And the difference between the price it paid for the invoice and the money from the debtor is the factor’s overall profit. They can provide money either with recourse or without recourse. This is particularly beneficial to those of you who are in a growth period and committing more working capital to customer credit \ debtors. There are three basically parties involved in factoring transaction. First, the seller of goods. Second, the buyer of goods. And lastly, the factor or factoring company. Three parties interact each other during the purchase of goods. And what about the history of factoring? In fact, it started centuries ago. It was used in England before 1400. It appears to be closely related to early merchant banking activities. As time rolled on, factoring underwent several changes. The changes are brought about by technology, the organization of companies particularly air travel and non-face to face communications technologies starting with the telegraph, followed by the telephone and then computers. The changes in the legal structures also influenced the changes in factoring rules. But in general, the purpose of it is as the same. Factoring is becoming popular tool to solve problems relating collection, delays recievables. So what are the advantages of factoring over other types of finance? Time Saving – With factoring, you don’t waste too much time to chase debts, administer sales ledger. Instead that you can concentrate on the other major areas of your business and improve your efficiency. You can use this money to invest in stock, real estate Cost Naturally, one of the key considerations when thinking about factoring solutions is the amount it will cost. Obviously it will mean that profit margins are reduced when the factor’s service fee is taken into account. However, factoring your invoices is still cheaper than using credit cards, overdrafts or many other forms of finance. Factoring also gives you set fees, whereas credit cards and overdrafts costs can build up if you keep using them and not paying them off in full. Speed – Factoring allow you to capitalise on your invoices with a minimum of delay. You can get up to 85% of the invoice within 24 hours, helping to maintain a good working cashflow rather than requiring you to wait 30/60 days for a customer to pay (If they pay on time! . This is particularly useful if you get a large order that requires you to spend on stock and production costs before you get paid; factoring allows you to accept the order with much less risk to your cashflow. Security – Factoring does not require you to use your home or business assets as security for the finance, as the money is secured on the sales you have already made. Bear in mind though that some factoring companies will not want to fac tor risky invoices; as they carry the risk rather than you. Suitable for Businesses of All Sizes- One big advantage of factoring is that it is potentially suitable for businesses of all sizes; especially now there are invoice finance firms that are targeted at small businesses and their needs. The above listed advantage do not mean that the factoring operation are totally free from any limitation. Some of main limitations of such transaction are listed below: Reputation – Some less reputable invoice finance companies can damage your customer relations by being too aggressive in collecting factored invoices. However, you can avoid this problem by choosing a well known and reputable firm. Control – Factoring reduces the control you have over your debts, as the invoice finance company collects them for you. However, this also means less work on your part. factoring can have a negative impact on the way a business operates. * The factor usually takes over the maintenance of the sales ledger. Customers may prefer to deal with the company it is trading with rather than a factor. However, if the factors techniques are clearly agreed beforehand, there will usually be no problem. * Factoring may impose constraints on the way to do business. For non-recourse factoring, most factors will want to pre-approve customers, which may cause delays. The factor will apply credit limits to individual customers (though these should be no lower than prudent credit control would suggest). * The client company might only want the finance arrangements and yet it might feel it is paying for collection services they do not really need. * Ending a factoring arrangement can be difficult where the only exit route is to repurchase the sales ledger or to switch factors and that could cause a sudden shortfall in your working capital.

Principles of economics

Introduction This essay seeks to present an insight into an emerging economic event in china. China is among the top performing economies in the Asia. Its economic growth has been remarkable over the last years. Local economists predict an increase in the domestic growth. However, this might not be the case because there are some signs of economic stagnation.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Principles of economics specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is a period when the levels of domestic production are either declining or constant. The major causes of weak domestic production are insufficient skills, insufficient raw materials and/ or low demand for consumer products. This essay therefore, humbly, concisely and clearly reflects the key points contained in the economic article by Bradsher (2013). The essay also contains an application of major economic concepts of supply and demand, market structures, elasticit y and cost of production into the real perspective of China’s economic trend as depicted in the article. Below are weightier issues. Key points According to Bradsher (2013), top Chinese economists have noticed an indicator of a decrease in the Chinese exports. Exports are the goods and services that china ships out of the country to meet the demand of an external market, say Australia. Another key point in the article is the fact that china’s economic growth is sluggish. Economic growth of a country (including China) is measured by various criteria. Total domestic production forms a foundation for an economic growth. Domestic production derives its stimulation from the level of local and international demand for goods and services. Concisely, the only reason for china’s economic growth is the availability of lending services from policy-regulated financial institution and overnight package. Increase in lending has boosted the levels of production whereas low dem and for the goods and services both in the local and international market, suppresses the growth. Another key factor on its own is the increased lending in China. The Chinese government has increased lending opportunities to businesses. The rationale for the move is to stimulate production and thus economic growth. The last key point is about consumer spending. Noticeably, the levels of consumer spending have been rising in the country. Consumer spending levels can be measured by household-purchase quantity levels and/or quality. The more the quantity of goods and services purchased by consumers, the higher the spending levels. The argument is true when quality is considered. The higher the quality of goods and products purchased by consumers, the higher the spending levels (Buchanan, 1999).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Economic concepts in application Supply and demand- demand is the ability and willingness of a consumer to spend a specific amount of money on a commodity at a particular time. Demand of a certain good or product is influenced by taste and preference, levels of customers’ income, availability of alternatives and price of the goods and services. Decreased levels of demand for Chinese products in the international market are the chief cause of weak levels of export experienced by the country. In simple terms, the ability and willingness by international consumers to buy goods and services from China has decreased. The reasons for the decrease are the same factors that influence demand. For instance, the international market could have identified a cheaper source of goods that the Chinese producers provide. In that case, they would channel more of their resources to purchase from a cheaper supplier as opposed to China (Buchanan, 1999). The willingness of Chinese nationals to consume local goods is the reason for increased consume r spending in China. That is, consumers only spend on what they want and need. Demand, on the other hand is induced by consumers’ needs and want. The more the needs and want (demand), the higher the levels of spending and aggregately, this leads to increase in consumer spending (Adil, 2006). Supply on the other hand is the ability and willingness of a seller to sell his products at a specific price at a particular time holding things constant. The levels of supply are influenced by prevailing commodity prices, prices of alternative commodities and prices of factors of production. The Chinese state controlled bank has increased the levels of lending. In other words, the supply of funds has increased. Therefore, borrowers obtain funds at a lower cost since the supply levels are higher than the demand (Buchanan, 1999).  Cost of production- it is the price of the resources used to provide consumer goods and services. The factors of production (labor, land, capital and enterpris e) have different prices due to their nature. Cost of production can be offset by high profit levels due to high sales levels. During the period of low demand, sales levels are low and businesses make losses. Losses discourage production levels and thus less economic growth. China’s sluggish economic growth is partly because of unequaled cost of production (Adil, 2006). Conclusion To conclude, Bradsher (2013) is to the point going by the content of its article. Exports stimulate domestic production. It is also a source of foreign income to a country. If the levels of a country’s export decrease because of less demand for foreign goods by international markets, a chief production stimulus would be lost. Less domestic production would therefore impede economic growth rate, thus sluggish china’s economic growth.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Principles of economics specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn M ore References Adil, J. R. (2006). Supply and demand. Mankato, Minn: Capstone Press. Bradsher K. ( 2013, August 8). China’s Economy unexpectedly stumbles again on weak export results. The New York Times. Web. Buchanan, J. M. (1999). The demand and supply of public goods. Indianapolis: Liberty Fund. This essay on Principles of economics was written and submitted by user Giselle Daniels to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Saving the animals essays

Saving the animals essays In Buffalo New York on October 23rd of last year, Dr. Barnett Slepian was murdered. He wasnt killed because of his financial status or because of a dispute he had with a patient. Someone who never really knew Dr. Slepian, someone who never met his family, a person who didnt agree with Dr. Slepians job, took his life. This is a great example to show how a disagreement in ideology can lead to actions that no one has the authority to take. An animal liberator bombing a meat processing plant is like the pro-life activist killing the doctor who performs abortions. Both of the actions dont achieve the results that are intended, they both claim that they help save the lives of the innocent, and they are both hypocritical. The results that are wanted can not be achieved through causing pain and suffering to the opposing party. When a sniper took the life of Dr. Slepian he was trying to move the cause of pro-life forward. The end result was not what he had wanted; the medical community was outraged and the people who believed in the right to choose strengthened their resolve. This quote by Dr. Henry Morgentaler, the countrys best-known pro-abortion crusader, illustrates this point very accurately. "This is a sign of the moral bankruptcy of the so-called pro-life movement. It bespeaks their frustration and rage at the fact that they have not been able to convince the public of the rightness of their cause," (Cnn 2) The frustration that Dr. Morgentaler mentions is even further enhanced when the pro-lifers see that their cause is regressing from public empathy. The example of the murder of Dr. Slepian is a good analogy to what the bombing of the meat processing plant would cause. The people in the factory would be massacred and the people who dont support the cause of animal liberation would be outraged. The intended result of lower consumption of animal meat would not ...

Strategic Management Unit 5 DB week two Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Strategic Management Unit 5 DB week two - Essay Example This made InBev, which is originally Brazilian, the largest beer maker. In 2007 the new company boasted $36.4 billion in net sales. The company became in charge of 300 independent brands once the two had sealed the deal. Although the company was bought out, Anheuser Busch was well involved in the new management as its director and CEO were given positions in management, which business wise was sure to give it longevity. The acquisition was majorly successful owing solely to the fact that InBev did their research into the weaknesses their target company had, painted a clear picture of how they could be faced with so many hurdles in the case that they turned out to be long term and this could result in bankruptcy (Ross, Westerfield, & Jordan 2006). $580 million is the stunning price that News Corp put on the table in its desire to purchase MySpace. The purchase proved to be fruitful up until 2008 when Facebook completely took over the networking world as the leading social site completely displacing MySpace (Ulijn 2010). The downward trend continued until the company sold MySpace off to Specific Media at $35 million, which was as good a deal as they would get. This acquisition failed solely because NewsCorp was a little rush in its purchase and did not fully consider the possibility of harsh competition and as such had little to no preparation for the

China-home for Apple or Samsung Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

China-home for Apple or Samsung - Research Paper Example The age of consumerism has accentuated the need for business organizations to ensure distinction between products and services so as to emerge successful in the competitive and turbulent business market. A section would also be devoted towards analysing the ethical aspects in marketing communication. Thereafter a primary study would also be conducted to analyse the consumer behaviour of the target market audience so as to finally conclude the study and suggest a set of plausible recommendations for the company so as to ensure sustainable competitive advantage in the lucrative Chinese consumer market. Introduction The era of globalisation has opened up a plethora of opportunities for business organizations. The emergence of new markets like Russia and China has opened up opportunities in a market where the traditional markets like Europe and USA are getting saturated beyond limits. However in order to make a successful international expansion it is very necessary to have a well knit business plan so as to effectively capture the market. Marketing communication plays a very significant role in this regard. This is because of the fact that marketing communications are the only source where the company conveys its intended message to the target market audience. In case of new markets this assumes even more significance as the positioning and image of the brand is largely developed as a result of marketing communication strategy used by the company. The present study would analyse the integrated marketing communication strategy for Apple for its proposed expansion into the Chinese market. The choi ce of the organization and the market assumes significance considering the fact that Apple is one of the most dominant brands and China is the fastest growing market in the world. Market and Literature Review Apple is one of the most repute brands and has been constantly rated among the top brands by leading agencies like Forbes and Fortune (Forbes, 2011). The company’s USP in the market is focussed on its innovative abilities to design new products. The company heavily relies on both internal as well as external communications to drive its products in the market (O'Grady, 2008, p.42). Apple is known to have a communications strategy that involves creation of a buzz while launching a new product or entering a market. The company strives on creating a ‘wow’ factor around the launch of a product. This was evident from the fact that long queues where observed during launch of iPods (ICMR, 2008). Apple’s competitor Samsung on the other hand relies on sponsorsh ips and advertisements on print and electronic media to communicate its message to the target market audience. The pricing of its products are also more competitive as compared to Apple. The product strategy of Apple is largely based on the aspect of innovation and uniqueness in design and features. Apple relies on cult based marketing in which the customers constitute a loyal lot and undertake measures to protect the brand and company. The company believes in turning customers into followers so as to generate loyalty and promote the brand in the market.

What are the benefits of globalizing processes How the international Essay

What are the benefits of globalizing processes How the international relations are affected by this - Essay Example The concept is oversimplified and exaggerated (Scholte, 1). This is because the term globalization has diverse concepts of which five can be distinguished. As the first one, globalization can be defined from the internationalization perspective. It indicates economic and trade relations between different countries. It refers to flow of capital investments as well as movement of people and ideas between countries. The second concept of globalization which is liberalization refers to removal of trade and border restrictions in order to promote free trade among countries. With this concept, amalgamation of international trade relations is generated. This kind of globalization can be actually seen in reduction and in many cases abolition of trade obstructions, visas and capital controls. Then there is the third concept that relates globalization with universalization. It can be defined as spreading of ideas and cultural experiences to people in every country to promote a common perspecti ve of culture in global humanism. This concept is becoming more common with globalization of automobiles, Chinese restaurants, cattle rearing and so on. The fourth concept of globalization is modernization; it is a radical concept that spreads the notions of modernism like capitalism, industrialism, individualism all over the world. This process essentially destroys the prevalent cultures and regional concepts. This concept of globalization is evident in the imperialism of McDonalds, Hollywood and CNN. A fifth approach that has defined globalization is respatialization. It includes restructure of social borders with a growing transplanetary relation with people. Under the fifth concept, social space can no longer by defined by territorial borders and distances (Scholte, 16-17). The benefit of globalization is very often a debatable issue wherein the major concern is the conditions of the developing third world countries. With the advent of globalization, some argue

Types Of Natural Resources

Types Of Natural Resources Resource is a general term for substance, energy and information that can be exploited and developed by human. It is a naturally occurring substance that widely exists in nature and human society which can bring wealth to humanity. According to Elcome (1998), natural resources are the natural commodities and features of the Earths physical environment that are exploited by the human populations. Natural resources are extracted from the Earth to use in their existing form and often changed in form during the manufacturing process, which turns natural resources into products. The world is heading for an ecological credit crunch far worse than the current financial crisis because humans are over-using the natural resources of the planet, an international study warns today. The Living Planet report calculates that humans are using 30% more resources than the Earth can replenish each year, which is leading to deforestation, degraded soils, polluted air and water, and dramatic declines in numbers of fish and other species. (Jowit, 2008) Basically, natural resources are classified into two major categories, which are renewable resources and non-renewable resources. Renewable resources are further sub-categorized into sustainable and perpetual resources, while non-renewable resources are divided into consumable, recoverable and recyclable resources. Renewable resources are the first major category of the types of natural resources. Renewable resources are the resources which regenerate through natural processes within a reasonable time period. They have the potential to regenerate as long as it is not used up faster than it is replaced (Bagad, 2009). As shown in Diagram 1, renewable resources are sub-distinguished into sustainable and perpetual resources. A sustainable resource has a few characteristics which make it naturally to be classified as one of the sub-classes of renewable resources. One of its characteristics is the ability to maintain its resources for a period of time because its supply are currently available to be used and believed to sustain for the coming hundred and even thousand of years. It is also reliable in a perspective way as its usage hardly or does not cause any pollution to the environment. In turn, this uncountable and environmentally friendly resource can be utilized effectively. Examples of this cla ss resource include soil, forest, and water in aquifers. To improve the perspective towards sustainable resource characteristics, forest is chosen to be illustrated. Forest is formed with thousands of trees and every single of them has the capability to reproduce and renew themselves, where need not human to assist for growth or produce. Forest has large production capacity, long rotation time, and multiply uses (Nine unique features of forest, n. d). To be qualified holds the position as the second sub-class of the first major category of natural resources, perpetual resource has certain features which differ as well as share with sustainable resource. Particularly, perpetual resource has unbounded supply of its resource to be repetitively used forever, as compared to that of sustainable. While its reliability to be used and cause free-pollution to the environment is the characteristics sharing with sustainable resource. Tidal, wind, wave and solar energy are the examples for perpetual resource. Let further discuss on wind and solar energy for better understanding of the characteristics for perpetual resource. Wind contains tremendous amount of energy and it uses sophisticated turbines to convert this energy to electric power. Wind is just moving air created as the sun heats the earths surface. As long as the sun is shining, the wind remains an infinite. Though wind only generated little power in the United States in 2009, it is the fastest growing source of the new electric power, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration. For the case of solar energy, the Sun has produced energy in the form of heat and light since the Earth formed. This formation of the heat is categorical as solar. Since solar energy is originated from the Sun, it does not bring harmful pollution to environment and its infinity supply definitely make it has feasibility and might substitutes any other form of resources. Ashok (n.d.) stated that in the 21st century solar energy is expected to become increasingly attractive as an energy source because of its inexhaustible supply and its nonpolluting character, in stark contrast to the finite fossil fuels coals, petroleum, and natural gas. In addition to the first major category pointed in above, the non-renewable resources likewise make up the second major category of the types of natural resources. As discussed by Perman, Yue, McGilvray and Common (1999), non-renewable resources are formed by geological processes that usually take millions of years, so that they can be viewed as existing in the form of fixed stocks of reserves which, once extracted, cannot be renewed. Most experts and scientists translate non-renewable resources as not environmental friendly, cause to damaging effects towards living things, lead to imbalance of the ecosystem. In fact, non-renewable resources are sub-classified into three forms, which comprised of consumable, recyclable and recoverable resources as illustrated in Diagram 1. The first sub-class of the second category of natural resources is consumable resource and as its name implied, it can be consumed either partially or completely of its supply. In order to indicate the quantity of this resource that could be undertaken before its depletion occurs and requiring replenishment, a rate of consumption or capacity has been introduced. Fossil fuels are the best example to fit into this sub-class because it is consumable and it has limited resource to be supplied for long term. It is composed of oil, natural gas and coal, these 3 major types and they are all have broad usage to anyone in any country, which makes it be the most useful resource among others. Now, with only about 4.5 percent of the world population, the United States accounts for a quarter of total fossil fuel use, the largest per capita consumption of any country (Pimental Patzek, 2006). Whereas, the second sub-class of the second category of natural resources goes to recyclable. Recyclable resource has a unique characteristic, which is it can be reused again by applying some technological advance such as in machinery to reproduce it into either a brand new product or renew it alike original product. This recycling resource is beneficial to society as well as can remains its scarce resource, and thus it is worth to be recycled. Materials from discarded industrial products are usually being recycled. Holechek, Cole, Fisher and Valdez (2000) discussed that recycled metals become increasingly important as resources are depleted in the U.S. because metal recycling is cost-effective, progress continues to be made in recycling technology. Metallic ores are compatible to be an example for this sub-class as it is now widely being recycled and modified into different types of products. The third sub-category of non-renewable resources is recoverable resource. Recoverable resources are the amount of resources identified in a reserve that are technologically or economically feasible to extract. Mineral reserves and all other deposits that may eventually become available, either known deposits that are not economically or technologically recoverable at present, or unknown deposits, rich or lean, that may be inferred to exist but have not been recovered yet. Rock, though it is hard and strong, does not stay that way forever. When it undergoes the process of weathering, small grains and tiny particles are worn out and sand is formed. One of the examples of recoverable resources is sand. Mattern (2005) mentioned that weathering and erosion are processes that use natural forces like wind, water, and ice to break down and transport rocks and other material. It takes thousands or millions years to form sand, depending on the climate changes and environmental elements. The m ost abundant constituent of sand is silica, usually in the form of quartz. There are lands on Earth that are still unexplored. It is believed that much sand will be discovered in the future. In conclusion, the types of natural resources are classified into renewable and non-renewable as its two major categories. While each of this major category can be sub-differentiated into several classes, i.e. sustainable and perpetual for renewable and consumable, recyclable and recoverable for non-renewable. Each of these sub-classes has its unique and specific characteristic which holds it from being categorized into the others.

The Man Who Planted Trees Essay example -- Literary Review, Jean Giono

The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono was wan extraordinary story about one man’s efforts to help the environment. It tells the story of one shepherd's extensive and successful singlehanded determination to re-forest a desolate valley in the foothills of the Alps near Provence throughout the first half of the 20th century. The story is narrated by a man who throughout the book in anonymous. The story begins in the year 1910, when a young man is undertaking a long hiking trip through Provence, France, and into the Alps. The narrator runs out of water in a treeless, uninhabited valley where there is no trace of civilization. The narrator finds only a dried up well, but is saved by a middle-aged shepherd who gives him a drink of water from his water-gourd. Later, the shepherd takes the narrator to his cottage where he offers him food and a place for the night. As the narrator stays for the night he becomes curious about this shepherd, who lives all alone in this stone house, and decides to stay for a while longer. The shepherd, after being widowed, had decided to restore the ruined landscape of the isolated and largely abandoned valley by single-handedly cultivating a forest, tree by tree. The shepherd, Elzà ©ard Bouffier, makes holes in the ground and plants acorns that he had collected from far away into those holes. The narrator was astonished at what this man had done all on his own. It was an amazing project that not just anyone could have done. The narrator leaves the shepherd knowing for sure that he would be back to see what he had accomplished. He later fights in World War One. In 1920 the man returns back to the same valley. Instead of seeing a desolated valley with little progress, to his astonishment there were saplings... ...t. By late 2005, through the Pan-African Green Belt Network, over fifteen African countries had become involved with the Green Belt Movement. The movement spread beyond the African borders to the United States. For her lifelong dedication to environmental and human rights Maathai received numerous awards, including the Goldman Environmental Prize, the Right Livelihood Award, and the United Nation's Africa Prize for Leadership. Furthermore, in 2004 Maathai was honored with the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize becoming the first black woman and the first environmentalist to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Maathai was best known as the founder of the Green Belt Movement: an initiative to plant trees in forested areas of Kenya that were starting to be used commercially. Critics wondered whether a "tree planter" was truly a peace activist and I am here to say she was.

Black Canyon Coffee Essay

Company Background Black Canyon Coffee (BCC) is a Thailand based coffee shop which has grown to become the largest coffee shop chain in Thailand. BCC opened their first store in 1993 in Bangkok and since then company has experienced 15 to 20 per cent annual growth with very little debt. Though Thailand is a low coffee consuming country but with the help of strategic marketing BCC has been able to penetrate the market. Presently BCC had 78 locations in 2002, and nearly 100 locations in 2003. BCC was founded by Pravit C. Pong who also is the managing director of the firm. Currently BCC has about 1000 staff members, 500 of which are direct employees and rest being joint venture partners and franchisees. BCC considers Starbucks, Coffee World, Au Bon Pain as their competitors and believe that by focusing on their core competency BCC can outperform their competitors. Problem Analysis As the articles states, BCC founders had no prior experience in restaurant business and were not even coffee drinkers. Coming from an IT background, founders of BCC wanted to start a business of their own. BCC follows an industrial organization (I/O) model because the company was formed by strategically analyzing external environment and factors. Realizing that food is one of the basic necessity of human being, Pravit along with his colleagues without any prior experience in the food sector saw that coffee was soon becoming a popular drink in Thailand. Because founders were new and naà ¯ve in the business, financial institutions were not ready to invest in the business and so mostly they had to work around with what they had out of their own pocket. BCC came out with a vision of being the best coffee house and international cuisine restaurant in Thailand by focusing on customer relationships and the quality of food that is being served to them. Their mission is to satisfy BCCâ€℠¢s consumers with both the products, services, and  personnel of Black Canyon. BCC operated three different types of outlets namely kiosks, mini-restaurants and full restaurants. All these outlets differ from each other in the services they offer and the revenue they generate. Company is expecting a growing emphasis on kiosks in location such as gas stations and other grocery stores. Though kiosks only sell coffee, beverages and snacks while restaurant serves coffee, beverages, snacks fast food and other continental food dishes. Hence, one of the issue in hand with Black Canyon Coffee is which franchise they should focus on in its expansion (kiosks, mini-restaurants, full-sized restaurant). Different franchise options have different benefits and drawbacks associated with them and having an Industrial organization model in place they have to make strategic decisions based on external environment. Another issue that BCC is facing is that of expanding globally or change their business model. Since, BCC has captured the Thai market they are looking for newer ways to gain market share. BCC has considered two opportunities for change in business model. First option was to sell branded Black Canyon Coffee beans in supermarket and other retail outlets. Second option is to get expertise in food service and develop a separate restaurant concept. BCC is not sure about which option should they work in to because they don’t have efficient managerial skills to work on it. BCC has also planned to go global and expand in different countries. They have opened few stores in other countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia and they are planning to open shops in Australia and North America. Though BCC has started expanding globally but the shops are all joint venture operations with other foreign outlets because BCC does not have enough capital to fund investments in multiple countries. Another reason of why BCC is interested going through franchise route is because BCC wants a local partner who understands culture and tradition of the county and its people. Local business partners carries more understanding and knowledge of the culture and traditions people follow as they are one among them. Another issue with opening shops in foreign locations is that of lack of efficient human resource. Experiences staff who speaks English in BCC are very few and hence if they are one place planning the start-up they cannot function someplace else and so the expansion rate slows down. Another challenge with the expansion is that of increased complexity of supply chain. Having foreign outlets scattered across the  world, BCC needs to fight with stale inventory or stock shortages. With these challenges and restraints in place BCC has to take corresponding steps to expand globally. Solutions Analysis Coffee consumption is increasing not only in Thailand but also in other Asian countries which provides BCC a great business opportunity to expand. According to me BCC should plan on expanding throughout Asia initially through kiosks. They should also go ahead with selling branded Black Canyon Coffee beans in supermarket and other retail outlet. For expansion in America and Europe they should focus into the niche of high-end restaurant business. Cost of goods sold at kiosks is twice that of a restaurant and so is the productivity. Though range of services available at kiosks are little less compares to a restaurant but the setup expenses, franchise fee and other expenses are lesser compared to the restaurant. Kiosks provide the highest profit margin to the company and hence will help BCC to generate revenue. Opening multiple kiosks not only in Thailand but throughout Asia will help company to expand and increase company’s potential growth and since kiosks are much easier than a restaurant to open it would be more feasible for BCC staff to work on it. Though rent of a kiosk is more than that of a restaurant in Thailand but different countries have different cost associated with it and so kiosks is the most efficient way to expand in Asia. Selling branded coffee across the globe would allow BCC to enter into new market and make an impression on coffee consumers. This move will provide a product for customers to consume in the comfort of their homes. This would also act as a response of how consumers find the product and whether or not BCC should invest more in the country. This would also increase the revenue for the company while avoiding high costs associated with operating a kiosk or restaurant. Once the above expansion plans work successfully BCC needs to expand its marketing efforts and let people know that they offer both western items and other Asian specialties. Black Canyon Coffee will benefit the most if its strategic implementation consists of franchising opportunities coupled with selling braded BCC beans in supermarket s and other retail outlets. BCC headquarters should take control of the location of new franchises and provide adequate training for new franchise owners so that vision and mission of BCC should be reflected  throughout the organization. Creating locally owned and managed franchises allows each location to add specific menu items that are appropriate for each region they are serving. BCC should continue its reliance on its Bangkok headquarters as a distribution warehouse which provides quality control of all the offered products. Centralization helps in better management of the organization. Since, BCC is incapable of self-packaging on a large scale level, it needs to ally with a packaging company in Bangkok for near future production. The low cost associated with instant coffee production and BCC’s high brand recognition and perceived quality will make for a smooth and highly profitable expansion with lowest risk. For first two years, BCC should focus on selling beans in Thailand and other countries of Asia. Once this generates capital BCC needs to manage three year expansion plan of kiosks in Thailand and other Asian countries by partnering with local entities so that necessary changes could be catered. Once the initial expansion plan is met company should be able to generate market value and show its existence in the Asian market. This should attract various other investors who are ready to invest in further expansion of the company. By this stage BCC should have gained much needed experience and exposure to enter American and European market. Conclusion BCC is an industrial organization before expanding into other countries they need to transform their skills from external environment to internal environment. Training employees is one of the most vital key of BCC’s success. They need to polish their work force so that implementation phase can be worked in smoothly and efficiently. To summarize BCC should first focus on selling the branded beans across Thailand and other Asian countries as this would help generate capital. Next step would be to expand in other Asian countries through opening kiosks which would be the safest bet to start with as it requires less setup expenses and less time for the setup. Success with this step would help in further expansion in American and European markets.

Ethnic Nationalism or Civic Nationalism †World History Essay

Ethnic Nationalism or Civic Nationalism – World History Essay Free Online Research Papers Ethnic Nationalism or Civic Nationalism World History Essay Throughout our world, there are many different nations throughout the world with different nationalities. But what is a nationality? What makes each nation different from each other? Nationalism is the feeling of commonality that one has with people from similar backgrounds, ethnicities, and cultures. Nationalism has the power to create entire new states, move borders, and start wars. There are the theories of Civic Nationalism and Ethnic Nationalism. Civic Nationalism is the theory that one belongs to a country based on one’s choice to live there. Ethnic Nationalism is the belief that one can only belong to a nation if one is of the correct blood. The forces of Nationalism were at work greatly throughout the 20th century, both positively and negatively. One of the most negative examples of nationalism this century was the regime of Adolph Hitler in Nazi Germany. Adolph Hitler used a combination of myth, ethnic nationalism, and national pride in his regime of power, which resulted in the deaths of millions of innocent people. Nevertheless, German people felt pride in their nation and in their leader, who was bringing Germany back as a world power. Adolph Hitler used pre-existing nationalist sentiment, pre-existing views on other nationalities, and sheer force to instigate his regime. His Ethnic Nationalist views led both to the extermination of millions as well as his desire to make gains in Europe. The extreme negative forces of Ethnic Nationalism were at work in Germany under Adolph Hitler. Hitler believed in a 19th century German belief known as the Volk, in which Germany surpassed other nations in terms of culture and society and had a duty to dominate. Hitler’s views of Ethnic Nationalism led to the Second World War and resulted in an international conflict. Hitler held the belief that other races in Germany were causing German society to decay. He beliefs that the German Aryan race of blond hair and blue eyes is superior to all others, and he dreams of a European union of Aryans, free of undesirable races. The nations he would like to unite in a union of Aryans in clued Germany, Scandinavia, The Netherlands, and England. This aggressive form of nationalism also led to increased militarism in Germany. In 1938, Austria formed a union with Germany. A large amount of people in Austria were of German â€Å"stock† and spoke the same language. Hitler belie ved that â€Å"those of the same blood belong in the same Reich!† (Holocaust Timeline) Throughout Europe and into Southern Russia, German people had settled. Hitler wished to push east and eventually settle these areas with Aryan people. Nazi Germany’s nationalist ambitions were the major cause behind World War II, and their desire to dominate over inferior races is demonstrated through their invasions of Czechoslovakia and Poland. Not only was nationalism a driving force behind Hitler’s goals once in power, but nationalism was one of the major causes of Hitler’s success in gaining control of Germany. After Germany’s defeat in World War I, German nationalism was dealt a severe blow. Hitler himself was completely devastated by the German loss. He said of when he heard the news, â€Å"Since the day when I had stood at my mother’s grave, I had not wept†¦But not I could not help it. And so it had all been in vain†¦Did all this happen so that a gang of wretched criminals could lay hands on the fatherland.† (From Herder to Hitler) The Nazi party appealed to Germans reeling from their defeat in the First World War, which resulted in massive reparation payments to be made to the allies. The promise of a reborn Germany (the swastika symbolised rebirth) that would be the new great military power on the planet offered promise to many. Hitler promised a better country a nd said that the reason the country had crumbled was because of the non-Germans living and infiltrating German society. Hitler played off pre-existing ideas. At this time in Europe, the Jews were mainly a minority nation without a country of their own to live in. A lot of the Jews did not have much land so turned to education as a means of getting by. Many Jews became lawyers, journalists, doctors, and civil servants. Non-Jews resented the position of Jews in business etc. and the number of them getting an education. Jews were often subject to violent displays of protest in Europe at this time. Hitler played off these pre-existing notions about them and used them as a scapegoat for the nation’s problems. One of the major reasons for Hitler’s popularity was the Great Depression. The Great Depression affected one out of two German people and affected Working and Middle class Germans alike. (Howarth) The points offered by the Nazi party had something for everyo ne and eventually Hitler was elected in 1933. In this way, nationalist forces were in favour of Adolph Hitler and let to his rise to power. At the time, German people were inspired by the promises of a better future of a glorious powerful Germany. Nationalism is a very powerful force, however, and can be used both positively and negatively. When Adolph Hitler used nationalism to gain control of Germany, he did not have positive motives as we would see them today. He wanted to control Germany and establish his Aryan state. Hitler’s beliefs in Ethnic Nationalism had a very dark side to them. Ethnic Nationalism in Nazi Germany led to the extermination of millions of â€Å"inferior† races. This practice has come to be known as ethnic cleansing, creating a nation made up only of those who belong by blood. Hitler held the belief that the German Aryan race of blond hair and blue eyes reigned supreme over all other races. This belief was rooted in the Social Darwinist theories of the earlier century. He believed the mixing of Germans and non-Germans had resulted in the deterioration of German society. This also comes from the Darwinist theory in that mixing of different races results in an inferior breed that has less physical and mental abilities. (Heller to Hitler) Under the Nazi’s â€Å"Law for the Protection of German blood and honour,† Jewish people were designated a different race. The subsequent Nuremberg Laws resulted in the Jews having their civil rights taken aw ay and legally declared separate from Germans. In order to bring about Aryan racial supremacy in Germany, the Germans had millions of Jews sent to concentration camps, where they either had to perform arduous labour for the Germans or were executed by firing squad or the gas chambers. Jews weren’t the only people subjected to Germany’s ethnic cleansing. Germany also deemed gypsies, communists, Slavs, religious minorities, and gays undesirable. During Hitler’s Nazi regime, the numbers of people executed are in the millions. The estimates range from the 10 million mark all the way up to the 26 million mark. (Wikipedia.org) Hitler’s views on racial supremacy, therefore, resulted in one of the largest mass murders in history, and are a horrific example of what the force of nationalism can do. When we look at nationalism in Nazi Germany, we can see a regime that appealed to people’s nationalism and managed to get to power because of it. German people wanted to better themselves and they liked what the Nazis promised, a better future for Germany and a stronger Germany. Adolph Hitler’s ideas for a unified Aryan Europe led to the Second World War, one of the most brutal conflicts in history in which millions of soldiers were killed. His dislike for the Jews and his ideas of German nationalism led to the extermination of millions of Jews, gypsies, gays, and other minorities. The forces of nationalism active in Nazi Germany around the time of the Second World War are an excellent example of how nationalism can inspire people and give them hope, yet cause conflict and horrific acts. Nationalism cannot be called a positive force, even for the German people in this case, as these feelings of nationalism led to a brutal international conflict. Research Papers on Ethnic Nationalism or Civic Nationalism - World History EssayAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2Quebec and CanadaThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationRelationship between Media Coverage and Social and19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraGenetic EngineeringBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XPETSTEL analysis of IndiaAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into Asia

Things fall apart Essays

Things fall apart Essays Things fall apart Paper Things fall apart Paper Essay Topic: Things Fall apart Chinua Achebes masterpiece Things Fall Apart, published in 1959, was sold over two million times in the United States and over eight million times worldwide. Chinua Achebe is one of the great intellectual and ethical figures of our time, says Leon Botstein, President of the Bard College. (Back of the Book) Certainly, the novel shows ethnical issues among tribes, which were evoked at the time of colonialism. Umuofia, an Ibo tribe in Africa, which had its unique language, its dignified culture and a value system that had continued for many years as they trace back into their ancestry. Okonkwo, the protagonist of the novel, represents the uniqueness of the culture; its best and worst with his own rises and falls, which unfortunately ends with death. Things Fall Apart deals with the social and psychological conflicts that were created by the invasion of the white men and their own culture. Achebe particularly shows the destruction of the African tribes and the negative aspects that were arising, due to the imposition of the western cultures. The Ibo people had their own unique culture, in which they truly believed in. Every tribe in Africa had their own culture, their own beliefs and languages. The villages were never the same, for example Umuofia, the village of Okonkwo. Umuofias inhabitants believed in the chi, or personal god. It determined much of a persons destiny and character. When a man says yes his chi says yes also (page 27). But at the same time, one did not challenge his or her chi. The Ibo religion had a tendency to symbolize numerous gods. They had a god for every different natural phenomenon that occurred. They also valued greatness and courage. The main character Okonkwo, obsessed with greatness, was honoured by the tribe. He was a great wrestler and had gotten many titles at a young age, which reflected his power and his will to fight. Weak people were not welcomed. They were mostly the kind of people that were called efulefu, worthless, empty men. (p. 143) The tribe hold tight to these beliefs and every man therefore tried to reach greatness, by getting titles. Among the Ibo the art of conversation is regarded very highly, and proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten (p. 7). They also had the ilo, the place where all important ceremonies are held. This tribe was unique. It was pure, since no foreigner lived there. Most of them did not even see a white man. At the time when the Westerners came to Umuofia, they knew that changes are going to occur, but were not aware of the danger. Showing both kindness and strong belief in their own religion, the missionaries succeeded in converting the Africans little by little into Christianity. They managed to change the perspectives of the natives and moved them slowly away from their original religion and beliefs. Even though the natives knew that this change is not to be denied, they did not really take any action against it, since they did not realize the dangerous situation for them and their culture. The elders consulted their Oracle and it told them that the strange men would break their clan and spread destruction among them. (p. 138) Okonkwo was the only one who was aware of the danger that the interaction would bring with it. First, when his own tribe particularly was not affected by the whites he said, They were fools; they had been warned that danger was ahead. They should have armed themselves with their guns and their machetes even when they went to market. (p. 140) But this is exactly the tragedy that Okonkwo had to face with his own tribe. They knew what was going on but they did too little to resist against it. The missionaries had come to Umuofia. They had built there church there, won a handful of converts and were already sending evangelists to the surrounding towns and villages. That was a source of great sorrow to the leaders of the clan; but many of them believed that the strange faith and white mans god would not last. (p. 143) When the people of Umuofia started to realize the whole situation, destruction had already come. In a tribal society, the most important thing is the unity of the members, the absolute obedience to the ruling of the elders and the gods and the goddess. This is lost when some of them get attracted to missionaries who arrive and teach them the western way of life, like the twins and the son of Okonkwo, Nwoye. Nwoye did not fully understand. But he was happy to leave his father (Page 152). Many people got converted into Christianity, since their African culture was really strict and rules were to follow precisely. If you do not follow the rules, or if you are something or someone that is said to be osu, the outcast, or said to be damned by the gods and goddess of the tribe, you had no rights and were excluded of the village. For example, twins were not allowed in the Umuofian culture. Unfortunately, these lead to an increasing openness to the western thoughts and religion and eventually allowed the Europeans to exploit and make the Africans weak. When Okonkwo was sent to exile, he heard about all this, but he did not think it will truly happen. It was only after his return, when he realized that everything had changed. People did not truly believe in their culture anymore and it was not like what he wanted it to be. The Westerners had destroyed everything that was valuable for him. But he wanted to fight against them. He was not willing to give up. I shall fight alone if I choose (Page 201). He symbolizes the tribe, because as he rises and falls, the village has its ups and downs, too. At the end it is a tragedy that he commits suicide, but he dies in a martyr death. He kills himself, because he sees the deterioration of his village, and he sees that no one reacts to it; therefore he wants the people to realize the danger and wants them not to give their unique culture. He would rather die in disgrace than seeing his culture fall apart. And that is what happens at the end. His tribe realized too late that their culture had been torn apart by the Westerners. The novel shows the destruction of an African tribe due to the imposition of the Western people. It shows how bad it can be to convert people to another culture, forcing them to leave their own behind. It destroys their uniqueness and all their beliefs. They do not know what is right and what is wrong anymore, since foreign people with foreign believes tell them what to do. The ones that impose do not understand about the values of the native culture and what they mean to the people. Looking at Okonkwo, it is a tragic story that should open our eyes and make us start realizing that no one should try to force another culture or an individual to change their beliefs and. Because everyone has their own beliefs and own culture that they follow and that they appreciate. As a result, we shall not break the peace and we shall not do something that will harm others, which will eventually lead to violence and destruction of ones culture.

Art reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Art reflection - Essay Example I was particularly amazed by the traditional Indian exhibits, which were displayed on the walls of the museum. What amazed me most was a handmade craft of a man, which the Indians refer to as â€Å"Wild Man of the Woods.† The craft was made in 1900 and was in the past known as â€Å"Kwakiutl.† Willie Seaweed, an Indian carver who died in 1967, made the craft. This craft has played a major role in conserving the American Indian culture as well as conserving their natural history and anthropology. The craft has been preserved is an ethnographic pieces, which is an illustration of the culture in which the Indians associate themselves with. This craft amazed me more since it was new to me and I had not seen it before but I had read about it. This event has played a huge role in changing my perception about the traditional Indian lifestyles. I believed that the Indians were more interested in music and had no passion for other forms of art. However, this artwork alongside many other artworks, which I came across, has changed my view on traditional Indian lifestyles. I have developed more interest and an inquest of their

Project guide Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Project guide - Essay Example calculating your costs; estimating the benefits to customers and the limits on how much they’re willing to pay; and comparing your products, services, and prices to others that are similar i.e. with the competitors. Maximum current profit- here marketer estimate the demand and costs associated with alternative prices and choose the price that produces maximum current profit, cash flow, or return on investment (ROI). Product/service quality leadership- providing high quality services at higher price specially targets premium customers. Here marketer believes in perfection with no compromise and thus offers his service at higher price. A price is being established on the basis of owner’s own choice by following any of the above major objectives and also by the willingness of the consumers on how much they can pay, what are the substitutes available to them, is your competitor offering the same or better service that too on a lower cost than your service, you have to evaluate and then set the price of the product. The price could be a low one so that you could attract and have access to a larger audience. Or you could approach it from the opposite end – charge a high premium so that each service would generate a lot of revenue and you would not have to work the long hours nor have more over-head. For e.g. one of my friends is running a restaurant named as ‘The Diners Park’ and has invested a major chunk of his capital for this venture. So earlier, with the fixed costs, it was getting really hard for him to generate substantial profit. The customers very often like the quality of food and ambience of his restaurant but it was the price of the food items which was the main concern of his customers and of his as well. He earlier took product/service-quality leader as an objective and thus set the prices higher than his competitors but provided a high –class premium quality food and services. But after analyzing the whole case he found that though

Business Statistics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Business Statistics - Essay Example ategy refers to an operation that an organization conducts to converse information concerning services and products to potential customers in order to induce them to purchase such products (Tellis 1). In contemporary organizations, the main aim of advertising strategy is to increase awareness of organizations’ services and products, upsurge total customers and competitors and finally, to fosters the business image of an organization. For any business entity interested in succeeding, advertisement is very vital because through it, an organization is capable of getting new customers as it increases its total consumer base. Secondly, advertisement is important as it retains the organizations’ customers thus avoiding their diversion to other products. Thirdly, advertisement escalates the total company sales because when a company advertises definite commodity, it will explain to individuals why that commodity is better than its substitute hence enhancing many people to prefer their commodity. Finally, advertisement leads to fortunate change in a company’s’ products hence increasing its total sales (Tellis 3). I decided to analyze the importance of advertis ing to an organization since it will help me understand whether increasing the budgets assigned to advertising has any positive effect on the performance of the organization. My business research will entail ten business organizations in U.S that advertise their goods and services together with other ten business organizations that do not advertise their products. I will conduct random sampling from a list of both organizations that advertise their products and those that do not. I will select ten organizations from each list and collect information concerning my research questions from these organizations before concluding on my hypothesis. Therefore, the total sample for this research is twenty organizations. The data collected will be mainly related to the three research hypotheses that the research is

Cultural Identity Essay Example for Free

Cultural Identity Essay Stuart Hall beings his discussion on Cultural Identity and Diaspora with a discussion on the emerging new cinema in the Caribbean which is known as Third Cinema. This new form of cinema is considered as the visual representation of the Afro-Caribbean subjects- â€Å"blacks† of the diasporas of the west- the new post colonial subjects. Using this discussion as a starting point Hall addresses the issues of identity, cultural practices, and cultural production. There is a new cinema emerging in the Caribbean known as the Third Cinema. It is considered as the visual representation of the Afro-Caribbean in the post colonial context. In this visual medium â€Å"Blacks† are represented as the new postcolonial subjects. In the context of cultural identity hall questions regarding the identity of this emerging new subjects. From where does he speak? Very often identity is represented as a finished product. Hall argues that instead of considering cultural identity as a finished product we should think of it a production which is never complete and is always in process. He discusses two ways of reflecting on cultural identity. Firstly, identity understood as a collective, shared history among individuals affiliated by race or ethnicity that is considered to be fixed or stable. According to this understanding our cultural identity reflects the common historical experiences and shared cultural codes which provide us as â€Å"one people.† This is known as the oneness of cultural identity, beneath the shifting divisions and changes of our actual history. From the perspective of the Caribbean’s this would be the Caribbeanness of the black experience. This is the identity the Black diaspora must discover. This understanding did play a crucial role in the Negritude movements. It was a creative mode of representing the true identity of the marginalised people. Indeed this act of rediscovery has played crucial role in the emergence of many of the important social movements of our time like feminist, ani-colonial and anti-racist. Stuart Hall also explores a second form of cultural identity that exist among the Caribbean, this is an identity understood as unstable, metamorphic, and even contradictory which signifies an identity marked by multiple points of similarities as well as differences. This cultural identity refers to â€Å"what they really are†, or rather â€Å"what they have become.† Without understanding this new identity one cannot speak of Caribbean identity as â€Å"one identity or on experience.† There are ruptures and discontinuities that constitute the Caribbean’s uniqueness. Based on this second understanding of identity as an unstable Hall discusses Caribbean cultural identity as one of heterogeneous composites. It is this second notion of identity that offers a proper understanding of the traumatic character of the colonial experience of the Caribbean people. To explain the process of identity formation, Hall uses Derridas theory ‘differance’ as support, and Hall sees the temporary positioning of identity as strategic and arbitrary. He then uses the three presencesAfrican, European, and Americanin the Caribbean to illustrate the idea of traces in our identity. A Caribbean experiences three kinds of cultural identities. Firstly, the cultural identity of the Africans which is considered as site of the repressed, secondly, the cultural identity of the Europeans which is the site of the colonialist, and thirdly, the cultural identity of the Americans which is a new world- a site of cultural confrontation. Thus the presence of these three cultural identities offers the possibility of creolization and points of new becoming. Finally, he defines the Caribbean identity as diaspora identity.

Essay --

The first reason that teacher content knowledge is important is that it changes the way teachers involve students in the activities. Like for instance, in math, students that have teachers that show different ways of working out a problem will usually learn more from them than teachers that just go by the basic rules.†More knowledgeable teachers tend to focus on approaching the students question mathematically rather than looking up the answers and giving it to the students.† Similarly, like science teachers with more content knowledge tend to suggest different explanation and give additional information that can be used. The second reason why teacher content knowledge is important is that it influences the way teachers approach and use instructional materials. â€Å"More knowledgeable teachers were more skillful at identifying reasonable math or science story lines in materials, while less knowledgeable teachers have a hard time doing so.† â€Å"In mathematics, content knowledge also had an effect of teachers instructional decisions when using materials. In science, when planning a lesson on... Essay -- The first reason that teacher content knowledge is important is that it changes the way teachers involve students in the activities. Like for instance, in math, students that have teachers that show different ways of working out a problem will usually learn more from them than teachers that just go by the basic rules.†More knowledgeable teachers tend to focus on approaching the students question mathematically rather than looking up the answers and giving it to the students.† Similarly, like science teachers with more content knowledge tend to suggest different explanation and give additional information that can be used. The second reason why teacher content knowledge is important is that it influences the way teachers approach and use instructional materials. â€Å"More knowledgeable teachers were more skillful at identifying reasonable math or science story lines in materials, while less knowledgeable teachers have a hard time doing so.† â€Å"In mathematics, content knowledge also had an effect of teachers instructional decisions when using materials. In science, when planning a lesson on...

Vergil as the Greatest of all Latin Poets

Vergil is generally acknowledged as the greatest of all Latin poets. He was famous in his own lifetime and was the first poet in the history of Latin literature to be the subject of lectures given by a contemporary teacher. There seemed to be a great deal of interest in him and on his rare appearances in Rome he was pointed out in the streets as if he were a celebrity. However, in his private life he was know to be very shy and preferred the quiet countryside to the pandemonium of Rome. He was born as Publius Vergilius Maro in Andes, a small village, near Mantua (Mantova), Italy on October 15, 70 BC. He had two brothers; Silo, who died in his childhood, and Flaccus, who lived to be a young man. Vergil's father, a potter and cattle farmer, worked hard to provide his son with an Aristocratic education. After he completed his studies in Cremona and Milan, Vergil went to Rome to study law and rhetoric at Epidius' academy. It was in Rome that he met Gaius Maecenas, a Roman statesman and patron of the arts, who saw Vergil's promise of greatness and sponsored his education. In addition he developed a friendship with Octavian, who later became Emperor Augustus. While in Rome, he studied alongside many prominent poets including Gaius Cornelius Gallus, Horace, and Lucius Varius Rufus. After leaving Rome, Vergil went to Naples to study under Siro. Here, he studied philosophy and also became a member of a group of Epicurean thinkers outside Naples. This group gathered in Campania, at a retreat known as â€Å"the Garden†, under the leadership of Siro, Vergil's teacher and friend. Originally, Vergil wanted to study law but he gave up after pleading only one court case and devoted himself to philosophy and literature. He spent most of his life in the countryside of Campania, but kept a house on the Esquiline Hill in Rome, which was given to him by his friend and patron Maecenas. He wrote three major works in his lifetime. Early in his career he wrote the Ecologues, a book of 10 pastoral poems. This was followed by the Georgics, a didactic poem on farm life. His last and greatest work was the Aeneid, a mythological epic poem describing the seven-year wanderings of the hero Aeneas. Vergil's first major work was composed between 42 and 37 BC. This was a ten book pastoral poem know as the Eclogues or Bucolic. It was modeled on the Idylls of Theocritus, an Alexandrian poet. Vergil's emphasis is on graceful rhymes and the description of a romantic setting in northern Italy, but he also added many realistic details such as, his father's eviction from his farm due to political seizure. The most famous of The Ecolouges, The fourth celebrates the birth of a child who is destined to usher in a new Golden Age of peace and goodwill. Critics have made definite connections between Vergil's fictional characters and real people. Some have suggested that the divine birth refers to Mark Anthony, or possibly Vergil's friend Octavian, who became Augustus, Rome's first emperor. Still others see this divine birth as a reference to the birth of Christ. His next major work was the Georgics, or Art of Husbandry, which was written from 36 to 29 BC. It is a four-book poem that described the life of a farmer. Its inspiration is said to come from the Greek poet Hesiod's Works and Days. Vergil's position as the leading poet of the age was confirmed with the Georgics publication. The poem deals with planting, caring for orchards and vineyards, stock management, and beekeeping. However, the main emphasis is on the values of Roman life, particularly the work ethic. The poem was designed to be universal in scope with the topics of war, peace, death and resurrection concluding each book. Vergil devoted his last ten years to the composition of the Aeneid. This is his last and, by far, best known work. It was written between the years of 30 to 19 BC in twelve books. Modeled after Homer's epics, the Iliad and the Odessey, the Aeneid is a mythological epic describing the seven-year wanderings of the Roman hero Aeneas, from the fall of Troy to his military victory in Italy. Aeneas, while central to the story, is more symbolic than realistic. His character exists to tell the story of the founding of Rome and to personify the Roman values of duty and responsibility. In the story, Aeneas escaped from Troy carrying his father on his shoulders and leading his young son Ascanius by the hand. He brought together a fleet of Trojans and sailed the eastern Mediterranean Sea to Thrace, Crete, Epirus, and Sicily before being shipwrecked on the coast of Africa. Here Dido, the queen of Carthage, fell in love with Aeneas. The two began to live together as husband and wife and Aeneas intended to make Carthage his home. Jupiter, king of the gods, warned Aeneas that he must leave Dido in order to continue on his destined mission to found Rome. In despair, Dido killed herself when Aeneas departed for Italy. After landing at the mouth of the Tiber River in Italy, Aeneas killed Turnus, the king of the Rutulians, in a war for the hand of Lavinia, who was the princess of Latium. According to Vergil, the Romans were direct descendents of Ascanius, the founder of Alba Longa, the mother city of Rome. The Aeneid is usually considered the first great literary epic, unlike the Iliad, which in essence is a work of oral poetry. The Aeneid was written as a deliberate attempt to glorify Rome at the request of Augustus Ceasar. The historical elements are especially prominent in books five through eight, the central portion of the poem. The Aeneid became a classic in its own day. All of Rome, particularly the royal family, followed the progress of the epic. Vergil would read aloud from rough drafts of the Aeneid to Augustus, his sister, Octavia, and Maecenas. As he refined his work during his later years, the poet led a comfortable life, devoting himself to historical research. In 19 BC, Vergil set out on a trip to Greece and Asia with the intention of revising his masterpiece. In Athens, he met Augustus and unfortunately became very ill during his stay in Greece. Augustus escorted his friend back to Brundisium, Italy, where he died before his epic could be revised to his satisfaction. To prevent the Aeneid from being read in rough form, Vergil left instructions that it be destroyed. Augustus, realizing the value of this work, intervened before this request could be carried out and assigned two of Vergil's poet friends, Varius Rufus and Plotius Tucca, to edit the manuscript for publication. The work was completed near the end of 18 BC. It achieved immediate acceptance throughout the Mediterranean as the definitive Roman epic. On his deathbed, Vergil immortalized himself with a short epitaph, which his friends inscribed above his grave. It ends with this line: â€Å"I sang of pastures, farms and rulers†. This became a touching summary of his three great works.

Cosi – Louis Nowra

Cosi by Louis Nowra conveys significant ideas about human nature. Through the play Cosi, the audience witnesses the lives of mentally ill people unfold before them. Central characters Lewis, Doug and Julie each show and express a different view upon the world and work towards their own idea of reality. They each express their individual ideas of the norm and work together to escape reality. Many themes such as love and infidelity as well as change are conveyed throughout the play. Cosi is a comic play written by Australian playwright, Louis Nowra. An interesting feature of the play is the use of the ‘play within a play' device, which gives the play a distinctive quality. This allows the issues and concerns of the play to be reflected and commented upon in he other play as both plays are juxtaposed. The themes of â€Å"Cosi Fan Tutte† deal with love, sex and fidelity are illustrated and commented upon in the modern context as seen through Henry's emotive language â€Å"Free love, women are not to be trusted† His opinion is generated through various experiences and general knowledge. The theme of love and fidelity causes controversy as the characters have different opinions which differ from each other. One of the main themes in Cosi, is the central idea of personal growth. All characters experience growth, however, Lewis' personal growth is the most significant as his simple dialogue states â€Å"no one can sing† exemplifying his negatively towards the patients. This is juxtaposed to his dialogue. â€Å"This comes first† when Lewis begins to see the play as his top prority. His transformation is outlined through Lucy's dialogue â€Å"Working with these people has changed you. showing Lucy's thoughts concering Lewis. Lewis' inner journey has provided him with a new understanding of not only himself but the world around him. Lewis is the protagonist of the play. To begin with, Lewis lacks confidence; the stage directions describe him as â€Å"not knowing what to say,† and talking â€Å"hesitantly† and â€Å"uncertainly. † Puttin g on the play for Lewis is motivated by his need for some quick cash. ‘What if someone forgets to take their medicine and-‘Is one of the many quotes that Lewis says that expresses his uncertainty. The play opens to a dark stage. This darkness is symbolic of many things. Firstly, it represents Lewis entering into a new world- very different from his own. The juxtaposition of light and dark represents his understanding of each world. The second idea represented is the loneliness of the patients within the institution. Like a child pulling the bed covers over his head, afraid of what he can't see and therefore could be lurking in the dark, society feared and misunderstood these people, keeping them locked away. Out of sight and therefore, seemingly out of mind. The final idea is that this opening symbolises Lewis entering into this world and shinning a light into their darkness. That is, coming into a world that he did not understand and therefore feared and offering the patients improvement in their lives and the potential for belonging, understanding and friendship. Doug is a pyromaniac – a firelighter – both in reality and symbolically. His actions threaten to get the show cancelled in its early stages when he sets fire to a toilet. Doug is the most sexually frank character asking questions like: â€Å"Was Lucy a virgin when you first had her? † and â€Å"How many did Lucy have before you? † He comes across as a crass character but his questions serve an important purpose. Like fires, his frank questions tend to spark actions or reactions. They are catalysts for thought. It’s Doug who reveals to Lucy that Julie has â€Å"gone for† Lewis, which leads to the final confrontation between Lucy and Lewis. Julie’s character is significant in a number of ways. Firstly, her views about love seem to be in direct opposition to Lucy’s (Lewis’ girlfriend). Julie has, â€Å"always thought that love was being foolish and stupid. It’s about being on the edge and I like being on the edge. † Whereas Lucy sees love as well down the list of priorities in life: â€Å"After bread, a shelter, equality, health, procreation, money comes maybe love. † However, interestingly, their characters are also similar. Julie says about men and fidelity: â€Å"I don’t like men’s double standards, I guess. Men want women to deceive them because it’ll prove their worst thoughts about women†¦Ã¢â‚¬  While Lucy says that men want women to â€Å"pretend they’re true and faithful† because â€Å"that’s how they want us to be, even if they’re not true and faithful themselves. † Julie, in a way, is an altered version of Lucy in the world of the mental institution. She is the character who completely brings Lewis into this new, strange world. Her kiss with him in the dark marks the full transition of Lewis. † I like the dark,† Julie says; because it’s in the dark that you can be who you really want to be.