Essay Role of Faith in Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre

The Role of Faith in Jane Eyre In Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontes inspirational novel, religion is embraced through a series of spiritual explorations. Bronte portrays Janes character and zest for religion by revealing Janes transitions from Gateshead to Lowood, Lowood to Thornfield, and Thornfield to Moor House. Each location plays a significant role in the development of Janes perspective on religion. Jane struggles to acquire true faith in God, which will help her overcome the obstacles of her itinerant life. Janes first encounter with religion was with Helen Burns, her only friend at Lowood. Before her arrival at Lowood, Jane lived uncomfortably with her malevolent Aunt Reed who constantly rebuked and†¦show more content†¦After Miss Temple left Lowood, Jane realized she needed to resign her position at Lowood and explore new possibilities of employment. Jane accepted a job as a governess at Thornfield, a manor six miles from Lowood. Immediately, Jane falls into a smooth career of instructing a young girl, Adele. As time passes, however, the growing affection between Mr. Rochester, Thornfields owner, and Jane swells into a passionate love affair. Unfortunately, at the wedding, Jane was informed that Mr. Rochester is married to a lunatic. After the interruption, Jane prayed to God for solace. Jane was terribly reluctant to leave Thornfield, but strongly objected to Rochesters attempted bigamy and refused to consider living with him while church and state deemed him marr ied to another woman. Janes every desire and emotion yearned for her beloved Mr. Rochester, but her morals and strong faith lead her away from the manor. I longed to be his; I panted to return (Bronte 306) but I knew what I had to do, and I did it mechanically. (Bronte 305) For days Jane wandered over unknown territory without a cent to her name and without the only love she had ever known. The only comfort she had was the unwavering belief that God must have led [her] on. (Bronte 306) Dismissing true love and a life-long friend, is perhaps the ultimate sacrifice. Nevertheless, Jane stumbled upon Moor House and recovered from the tragic loss. Jane encountered St. John Rivers,Show MoreRelatedJane Eyre Feminist Analysis1066 Words   |  5 Pagesintuition. Jane Eyre, a semi-autobiography by Charlotte Brontà «, is an exemplary novel where an untraditional heroine defies societal normality. The female protagonist Jane Eyre exhibits a self-created drive for personal success and a perpetual ambition to learn, characteristics customary of men. After the publication of Jane Eyre, many critics has viewed it through the feminist literary lenses, claiming it to contain biblical feminism. In the literary analysis â€Å"Charlotte Brontà «Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s Religion: Faith, FeminismRead MoreThe Upbringing Of Orphans By Charles Dickens And Jane Eyre1714 Words   |  7 Pagesmany, and leads readers to wonder about the injustices of the conditions of the orphans. The novels Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens 1838 and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte 1847 depicted much of the 19th century working class and illustrated the treatment of orphans with di fferent socio-economic perspectives. The role of the two orphans in the novels (Oliver and Jane) leads the reader through a maze of experiences, encountering life s threats and grasping its opportunities. The novels show an insightRead MoreEssay about Passion and Practicality of Jane Eyre1862 Words   |  8 PagesPassion and Practicality of Jane Eyre      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre is a coming-of-age story about an unconventional womans development within a society of strict rules and expectations. At pivotal moments in Janes life, she makes choices which are influenced by her emotions and/or her reason. Through the results of those choices, Jane learns to balance passion and practicality to achieve true happiness.    Jane is a spirited woman, and her emotions give her a strength of characterRead MoreSt. John and Jane Eyre Essay2064 Words   |  9 Pagessee our point of view makes one sympathetic. â€Å"Jane Eyre† by Charlotte Bronte follows the story of a rebellious young girl who matures into a stable woman. During her life journey, Jane encounters many people including St. John. St. John is has devoted his life to God and wishes to bring Jane to India with him. St. John is a sympathetic character because he truly believes that his commitment to his religion will benefit him in the after life. Because Jane is the narrator, the reader is given a biasedRead MoreTremendous Spirit and Feminism Displayed in Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre1949 Words   |  8 PagesTremendous spirit. The enviable trait that Jane Eyre from Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre possesses is what stimulates her to achieve self-actualization despite the fact that she is a woman. True feminism isn’t as violent as a handful of vicious extremists claim it to be. The accurate definition of feminism is â€Å"the doctrine advocating women’s social, political, civil, educational and all other rights as equal to those of men.† Women of Charlotte Bronte’s era did not have basic rights such as the aforementionedRead More Religion Through Spiritual Explorations in Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre1564 Words   |  7 PagesReligion Through Spiritual Explorations in Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre In Jane Eyre, religion is embraced through a series of spiritual explorations. Bronte portrays Janes character and zest for religion by revealing Janes transitions from Gateshead to Lowood, Lowood to Thornfield, and Thornfield to Moor House. Jane ultimately rejects everyone of these organized styles of worship. However, that does not mean that she rejects all their beliefs. She is forever changed by each experienceRead MoreFunhouse Mirrors: Jane Eyre and Bertha Mason Essay1717 Words   |  7 PagesTim Bartlett ENG 396 March 23, 2011 Funhouse Mirrors: Jane Eyre and Bertha Mason â€Å"Jane Eyre† is a book centred around female duality. In a time when females were still expected to fulfill their â€Å"womanly duties,† Charlotte Bronte wrote a novel dealing with a woman’s view on morality sexuality, passion sensibility, and conformity insanity, among other themes. This motif of duality plays a strong part in the dynamism that makes up the book, and is not limited to the themes, but is also usedRead MoreTheme Of Feminism In Jane Eyre1733 Words   |  7 PagesEmily Griesinger perceives that Charlotte Brontà «Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s focus on both women and religion to be so prominent in Jane Eyre that she coined the term â€Å"biblical feminism† to simultaneously refer to these two themes. Brontà « wrote the novel in a time where radical feminist Protestantism was increasingly explored, and Griesinger’s overarching view is that Brontà « intended to illustrate that women of faith, like Jane, â€Å"are not disempowered but find strengt h to obey God even if it means going against social andRead MoreMarxist Criticism On Charlotte Bronte s Jane Eyre1467 Words   |  6 PagesYair Guerrero Mrs. Jones AP Literature and Composition March 18, 2016 Marxist Criticism on Charlotte Brontà « s Jane Eyre Some novels will not let the reader escape the social setting, and Charlotte Brontà « s Jane Eyre is no acceptation. The author implements a symphony of details that strikes the reader as a full blown portrait of society. The novel s surroundings profoundly influence the thoughts, emotions, and actions of every character, which makes out the setting to be as important to theRead MoreEssay about Injustices of Jane Eyre854 Words   |  4 PagesReaders are exposed to the different reactions of Jane, Helen, and Miss Temple to injustice. In Charlotte Brontà «Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s novel, Jane Eyre, there is a great deal of injustice done to these three characters. Jane suffers with injustice throughout her lifetime, from Mrs. Reed’s abuse to Mr. Brocklehurst’s false accusations. She finds it hard to ignore it and always wants to take revenge. Although Helen also suffers from injustice in Lowood, she does not take action because she believes that justice will

Adam and Eves Relationship to Each Other and God in...

Most certainly all theologians and readers of the Bible interpret Genesis story of the creation of Earths first human couple, Adam and Eve, as one of comedy-turned-tragedy, being that their blissful lives were shattered when Satan tempted Eve with the promise of knowledge by eating the forbidden fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, the one tree in the garden that God designated as untouchable. However, Genesis does not fill-in the missing background information as to the reasons why man and woman came to be the first rational, mortal creations of Gods divinity. Moreover, most believers in the Bible do not know the specific similarities and differences regarding the two humans characteristics, and how their relationship impact each other as†¦show more content†¦He blessed man and woman, although biologically different, with characteristics that were passed down onto future generations: Not equal, as thir sex not equal seemd;/ For contemplation hee and valor formd,/ For softness sh ee and sweet attractive Grace (Book IV, lines 295-297). Men were blessed with philosophical reasoning whereas women were blessed with intuitive reasoning. According to Roberta Martins article, Milton and the Intelligible Flame: Sweet Converse in the poetry and prose, Adam and Eves conversation is a creative act producing higher states of mind and spirit on the abstract level, and progeny on the physical, and while conversation leads to degrees of intellectual, spiritual, and bodily union, it allows each of the First Parents to retain individual identity. Unlike married couples of today that war with the social roles and complications in a domestic lifestyle, Adam and Eve were created to work in peace and harmony with each other and their charges- the animals and plants. They compliment each other, holding no authority over each others actions, treating each other with the utmost respect, returning each others loving declarations with an equal show of affection by both parties, and t he match between beauty and intuition, strength and intellect is simply sublime. Moreover, they share the responsibility of tending the garden withoutShow MoreRelatedParadise Lost Critical Analysis1680 Words   |  7 PagesMilton: The Secret Feminist Throughout the poem of Paradise Lost, gender inequality is visible in the relationship between Eve and the male characters. Upon a closer look, one can see that, in a nuanced manner, the poem challenges much of the Eve’s discrimination. Common interpretations during the time period depicted Eve as a weak-minded, subservient, or evil woman. Instead of following a similar pattern, Milton goes so far as to defend Eve by forming a relatable and persuasive Satan and describingRead MoreMilton s Paradise Lost : The Fall Of Humanity And The Fallen Angels844 Words   |  4 PagesMilton’s Paradise Lost is reviewing the fall of humanity and the story behind each particular and important character, like Satan, the arc-and the fallen angels, but most importantly Milton shows the story from Adam’s and Eve’s point of view. Their characters and personality not only grow but develop so much between their ordinary lives and the fall. Adam and Eve coexisted in harmony in Eden before the fall, lived in harmony and love, sharing a wonderful experience of immortality and infinite opportunitiesRead MoreParadise Lost by John Milton1447 Words   |  6 Pagesas inferior to men, Milton’s Paradise Lost presents a view of women that could be described as proto-feminist and advanced for its time. During the 17th century, the stereotypical women lived as â€Å"either obedient as ‘Milton Mother’ or disobedient and wanton if they neglect[ed] their responsibilities as wife, which [signified] submissiveness and motherhood† (qtd. in Wang 4). Some scholars argue that Milton used this predominant viewpoint of his time in Paradise Lost; Sandra Gilbert (1978) writesRead MoreThe Paradise Lost By Milton1380 Words   |  6 PagesMilton reproduces the scenes of Bible in his Paradise Lost. This epic reveals the sin and degradation of human beings in twelve volumes. In the beginning, because of Satan’s challenging of authority, he has bee n expelled from the realm of heaven to the hell by God. This rebelling hero always seeks for a chance to take his revenge on the unshakable authority. Based on consideration of the strength of his party, man, the newest creation of God, turned into the ideal target. In the end, Eve successfullyRead MoreEssay on Parallelism of Satan and Eve in John Milton ´s Paradise Lost863 Words   |  4 Pages In John Milton’s Paradise Lost, the parallelism between Satan and Eve’s fall is strong in that they were once both the highest before pure perfection. Lucifer is associated with evil, which stems from his free will leading to his rebellion against God and, ultimately, his great fall. He is known as the one who introduces sin to Adam and Eve – the first humans to ever exist. His plan to go against God is the beginning of a whole new world to the universe and a whole new significance of himselfRead MoreThe Role of Eve in Paradise Lost1589 Words   |  7 Pagesimport ance Milton attached to Eve’s role in Paradise Lost and in the Garden of Eden is now recognised and acknowledged. (Green, 1996) Milton’s treatment of Adam and Eve’s relationship is complex. Sometimes referring to them in ways that indicate equality, (ibid) sometimes stressing their separateness as individuals (ibid) and other times they are complementary halves of a whole. (ibid) Taking on the view that many support; that Milton intended Eve to seem completely inferior to Adam, we can examine Eves roleRead More Essay on John Milton’s Paradise Lost - Defense for the Allegory of Sin and Death1574 Words   |  7 Pagesand Death in Paradise Lost Milton claims his epic poem Paradise Lost exceeds the work of his accomplished predecessors. He argues that he tackles the most difficult task of recounting the history of not just one hero, but the entire human race. However, he does not appear to follow the conventional rules of an epic when he introduces an allegory into Paradise Lost through his portrayal of Sin and Death in Book II. Some readers denounce his work for this inconsistency, but others justify hisRead MoreParadise Lost Eve Analysis984 Words   |  4 Pagesmakers. In Paradise Lost, Milton emphasises the idea of equality, free will and dialogue. The author reveals Adam and Eve’s relationship and highlights Eve’s liberty, freedom and Adam’s need for her. Consequently, we find many instances where Milton serves Eve’s right with Adam and establishes her equality through self-judgement and independence. The origin of Eve is one of the instances where Milton reveals her importance and equality to Adam. In the poem, it is Adam who prays to God for aRead More Importance of Preserving the Union in John Milton’s Paradise Lost5579 Words   |  23 PagesThe Importance of Preserving the Union in Paradise Lost  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   Critics have long argued over the power structure operating in the gender relations of Miltons Paradise Lost. However, to really understand Adam and Eve and the intricacies of their relationship, it is necessary to view them in terms of a union, not as separate people vying for power. Because they are a union of contraries, the power dilemma is a moot point even though a hierarchy exists; it is a hierarchy of knowledgeRead MoreImportance of Book Iv of Paradise Lost1152 Words   |  5 PagesElucidate the importance of The Fourth Book of Paradise Lost.    Answer: In the Fourth book of Paradise Lost, we are given more insight into the character of Eve and Satan. As Eve narrates her first waking moments after her own creation, we are immediately introduced to Eves weakness, vanity. She awakes near a lake and sees an image of herself and thinks the images beautiful. Modern readers, especially coming from a feminist perspective, might view Eves admiration of herself not as vanity or a weakness

Alices Adventures in Wonderland Hunger, Dominance, and Undesirability Free Essays

Hunger, Dominance, and Undesirability Lewis Carroll’s fairy tale, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, written in 1865, fuels the stereotype of how girls are required to be petite, feminine, and submissive to men through Alice’s eating habits, the contrast between young Alice and older women characters, male control, and Alice’s behaviour at the end of the story. This influences the minds of young audience members who read Carroll’s work instills the idea that in order to be beautiful, a girl must control her desire to eat and never overpower the men they associate with. In Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, the author targets the importance of a woman’s size and how food consumption influences femininity and desirability. We will write a custom essay sample on Alices Adventures in Wonderland: Hunger, Dominance, and Undesirability or any similar topic only for you Order Now During the story, Alice is exposed to various situations involving food and beverages. Carroll’s first introduction on the emphasis on Alice’s size, is when she is falling down the rabbit hole and she sees a jar labelled â€Å"Orange Marmalade†. When she grabs the jar, she finds that there is nothing inside. This is an early indication that unless Alice is instructed to satisfy her hunger,she must not indulge her desires or her level of perfection will decrease. Throughout the story, Alice is then exposed to bottles and foods that are labelled â€Å"Eat Me† or â€Å"Drink Me. † Without hesitation, she ingests the products with labels. Alice’s petiteness, and thus her beauty, come directly from her eating and drinking habits. Only when she is allowed to eat, does her body undergo positive Brewer 2 changes. These positive changes lead her to experience new adventures and improve her education, which is another noticeable attribute in the tale. Anna Helle-Valle and Per-Elinar Binder argue that â€Å"the body is central to self-experience† and to Alice, the size of her body determines what she is able to do and how she sees herself (Helle-Valle and Binder 4). The Caterpillar in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, offers insight into the ideal of size. The extreme changes in size damages one’s self identity. Alice shares her confusion with the Caterpillar during their first meeting: â€Å"I’m not myself, you see-being so many different sizes in a day is very confusing† (81). The Caterpillar forces her to say who she is, but because of her recent changes in size, she is not able to say who she believes herself to be. Size is critical to one’s understanding of the self, and Carroll’s Alice struggles with understanding that a small size is important. In a societal context, Alice represents what a girl should be: petite and feminine. However, she expresses her concern for her small size during a conversation with the Caterpillar. The Caterpillar is the male authoritarian figure in the section and is furious with her concern. He then informs Alice that three inches is, in fact, a â€Å"good height to be† (84). The Caterpillar forces Alice to be comfortable with herself, for being any larger causes her to be less desirable to her new found dominant male figure. The Caterpillar’s statement offers no argument, and Alice’s perfect and submissive attitude cause her to listen to the dominant with no complaint. In Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is the idea that female sexuality consists of the importance of curiosity and politeness, and a submissive attitude: this is due to Carroll’s desires and the Victorian beliefs. In the story, Alice’s character is that of an ideal girl, and her curiosity often leads to find new and exciting ventures in Wonderland. The reason that Alice is able to experience Wonderland is because of her curious nature that led her to tumble down the rabbit Brewer 3 hole. Jennifer Geer contends that Alice’s manners, as well as the want to impress the creatures in Wonderland, comes from the moral implication of Victorian literature (Geer 2). The literature in the 1800s centers on politeness and manners, which Alice offers to all of the creatures and people in Wonderland. One of the most positive attributes that female sexuality should possess is a submissive female attitude. Through the fairy tale, mature female sexuality is portrayed as â€Å"frightening and destructive† (Garland 2). This is evident through the Queen of Hearts and her influence on the King of Heart’s behaviour. The Queen in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, is in direct opposition of Alice’s character. Where Alice is the ideal, polite and petite, the Queen is aggressive and large in stature. The ‘suit’ of hearts, that the Queen has cloaked herself in, is in no coincidence the colour red, for this is often associated with a tumultuous and confident sexuality. In Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, the colour red is given a negative connotation by the Queen’s negative attitude. She often thunders the expression â€Å"off with their head†, and Garland explains that this is the Queen’s desire of male castration (Garland 8). The dislike for female domination is evident in the literature of the time, as well as the ideas of Sigmund Freud. The Queen’s concern with castration would be comparable to the worry of female authority in society. The Queen, once again, expresses undesirability by her heavy weight and yearning for tarts. It affects her personality, and makes her become evil and arrogant, thus making her unwanted and a threat to male competence. Her desire for male subordination and ugly nature, is the author’s way to sway female readers to keep their aggressiveness at bay. An aggressive female not only creates shame for manhood, but does not correspond with the ideologies of those living in Mid-Victorian times when Carroll wrote Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The effect of a dominant female is shown in the King of Hearts. The Queen of Brewer 4 Hearts’ husband is constantly being forced to carry out her will and listen to her often violent demands. The King of Hearts, because of his treatment by the Queen, is weak and submissive and thus, has nothing to offer. The ideal for male dominance is expressed by the male superiors that control Alice. When she is instructed to take food or beverages, it is either done by no director or a male authoritarian figure. The King would never offer instruction to a female and simply just follows demands made by the Queen. In Mid-Victorian times, the latter was not acceptable behaviour. Geer claims that in the Victorian era, the adult world belongs to the male whereas a woman’s world should be entirely dedicated to motherhood (Geer 14). In Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Carroll chooses the Duchess to be the antagonist to this position. The Duchess is characterized as a mother who continually causes harm to her child due to her aggressive nature and desire to eat. She often brings food into situations where it is not applicable, and in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, it is directly linked to why she is a neglectful mother and horrible woman. The ideas that women lose their desirability and femininity when they are not submissive to their male counterparts and when their lives are not dedicated to the raising of a family are shown through the aggressive nature of the Queen and the Duchess, and ultimately Alice’s fall into barbaric womanhood. Throughout Carroll’s story, Alice is everything that a mature woman should be. She is polite, kind, submissive, and has control over her desire to eat. She would take direction from the Mouse, the Caterpillar, the Queen and the Duchess without hesitation. However, during the trial scene of the tale, her fate of womanhood is foreshadowed. During the trial, Alice begins to Brewer 5 take notice of the food that was in the jury room. She immediately begins to feel herself becoming larger. When her name was called to take the stand during the trial, the King politely informs Alice that she will not be able to take her seat due to her enlarged size. However, she refuses to entertain the meek King’s instruction. Alice continues to grow and becomes more arrogant and the Queen is forced to order her execution. In the beginning of the fairy tale, Alice is a petite and beautiful girl, but the desire for food turned her into a rude and undesirable woman. Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland not only is influenced by the beliefs of the people living in the Mid-Victorian era, but also by the belief that eating causes inferiority. In the twenty-first century, the image of beauty is causing women of all ages to be concerned with becoming large and undesirable, and Carroll’s story only encourages the overwhelming concern by idealizing petite Alice, creating a grotesque image of large women, and how male authoritarianism should control womanhood. Alice’s fall from grace as she grows larger reinstates that belief and influences readers that to be feminine, one must never become too large and forget the role that Carroll had wanted for women in society. Brewer 6 Work Cited Carroll, Lewis. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Sam’l Gabriel Sons and Company New York, 1916. Electronic. 02. Nov. 2012 Garland, Carina. â€Å"Curious Appetites: Food, Desire, Gender and Subjectivity in Lewis Carroll’s Alice Texts†. Lion and the Unicorn 32. 1 (2008): 22-39. Academic Search Premier. Web. 30 Oct. 2012. Geer, Jennifer. â€Å"All Sorts of Pitfalls and Surprises: Competing Views of Idealized Girlhood in Lewis Carroll’s Alice Books. † Children’s Literature 31 (2003): 1-24. Professional Development Collection. Web. 30. Oct. 2012. Helle-Valle, Anna and Per-Elinar Binder. â€Å"In Wonderland: A Phenomenological, Developmental and Self Psychological Analysis of a Child’s Playful Encounter with a New Reality. † Nordic Psychology 61. 2 (2009): 16-28. PsycARTICLES. Web. 30. Oct. 2012. How to cite Alices Adventures in Wonderland: Hunger, Dominance, and Undesirability, Papers

Marxism And Capitalism Essay Example For Students

Marxism And Capitalism Essay Modern Marxs theoretical work is the understanding of the nature of humanbeings and how they have constructed their historical world. Marx is considereda modernist because his views and theories fit the meaning of Modernity, whichare human freedom and the right to free choice. To Marx, Capitalism is a barrierto the notion of human freedom and choice. Five aspects of his political theorywhich are modern is how he views human nature, effects of Capitalism on humannatures with emphasis on significance of labor, class struggles withinCapitalism, the demise of Capitalism and the need for the transition toCommunism. Marx belief of human nature is that it changes over time; it ishistorical and dynamic. In understanding human nature, it is important tounderstand what part labor plays in human nature. To be Human is to labor,(88) therefore Marx believes that Humans work in the world with other Humans inexchange with nature to get what they desire. Thus since human nature is dynamicso are huma ns wants and desires. In order to achieve ones wants anddesires one must labor with others around them and with nature. Since labor isthe activity of a group, the ever-changing world created through the labor ofthose groups also creates the humans themselves and directly affects them. Through labor, humanity creates and is responsible for the world that they livein. Marx suggests that Capitalism leads to the centralization and concentrationof living spaces of where people lives, means of production, monopolies and thedistribution of more power to the bourgeoisie. The success of Capitalism isdirectly connected to capital and wage labor. Capitalisms goal is to increaseprofits called accumulation; profits then reinvested else where to make morecapital. . . . like the buying and selling of an object in the capitalistmarket, but in this case the exchange is money for the ability of labor, whatMarx calls labor power. (xxv) Capitalism flourishes by extracting surplusvalue, or profit, from the commodities produced by the working class. Withoutcapitals and profits there are obviously no wages and a place to do any type oflabor power; and without wage labor capital can not increase itself. Both aredependent on each other for the flourishing of Capitalism. Capitalism is a f ormof life that does not do justice to human abilities and capacities; it is adivision from basic powers to humans and the exploitations of human workers. Workers are forced to sell their labor power to capitalists and capitalists haveno choice but are forced to exploit labor to gain capital; therefore thelaborers are commodities themselves in the capitalist market. As the result ofCapitalism, labor has been under admonition and oppression. Instead of picturingthe world as it is, Capitalism pictures the world in a distorted view. A viewthat leads to the alienation of the true is meaning of human nature. The viewthat places the products of laborers more important than the laborersthemselves; thus the laborers are objectified. Laborers then do not realize thatthey are the ones who are in control of product that they produce. Alienatedlabor hence turns the species-existence of man, and also nature as his mentalspecies capacity, into an existence alien to him, into the means of hisindividual existence. (64) The distorted view leads to the miscognition ofself of the working class who are cut off from their essential powers. They failto real ize that the world is of their own making and that they have the abilityto create and recreate the world in which that they live in. Marxs theory ofprivileging of economic matters places an emphasis on class struggles that arerelated to the forces of production as well as the relations of productions. .u35bc814acff0ad4aab86394d279a3741 , .u35bc814acff0ad4aab86394d279a3741 .postImageUrl , .u35bc814acff0ad4aab86394d279a3741 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u35bc814acff0ad4aab86394d279a3741 , .u35bc814acff0ad4aab86394d279a3741:hover , .u35bc814acff0ad4aab86394d279a3741:visited , .u35bc814acff0ad4aab86394d279a3741:active { border:0!important; } .u35bc814acff0ad4aab86394d279a3741 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u35bc814acff0ad4aab86394d279a3741 { 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; } .u35bc814acff0ad4aab86394d279a3741:active , .u35bc814acff0ad4aab86394d279a3741:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u35bc814acff0ad4aab86394d279a3741 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u35bc814acff0ad4aab86394d279a3741 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u35bc814acff0ad4aab86394d279a3741 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u35bc814acff0ad4aab86394d279a3741 .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; } .u35bc814acff0ad4aab86394d279a3741:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u35bc814acff0ad4aab86394d279a3741 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u35bc814acff0ad4aab86394d279a3741 .u35bc814acff0ad4aab86394d279a3741-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u35bc814acff0ad4aab86394d279a3741:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: 'Breaker' Morant - Major JF Thomas character analy EssayEconomics is the production of the exchange of goods and services through laborarrangements. In every society there is a way to distribute goods and servicescalled a mode of production. The mode of production is the combination of theforces of productions; like raw materials, technology or labor forces; and therelations of productions or the relationship among human beings related toforces of production. Ones relations of productions in a Capitalist societydetermine ones location in the mode of production, that is, their class. In aCapitalist society everyone is located in a class, either the class of thebourgeoisie ( capitalist) or the proletariat (working class). More important thenany talent or skill, the class position is the fundamental factor thatdetermines ones life as a human being. To be bourgeois (capitalist) is tohave many property of ones own; to be proletariat is having no property andliving by the rules of the bourgeoisie. The bourgeoisie keeps more and moredoing away with . . . the means of productions, and of property. It has . .. centralised means of productions and has concentrated property in a fewhands. (162 ; 163) To Marx, class is a restriction and a retraint on themeans and the modes of production; the laborer is dependent upon the wage laborand has no individuality. Taking the capital out of the hands of the capitalistand spreading the profit and properties equally with the proletariat. Marx wantsthe proletariat to have the ability of free labor, where separation of class nolonger exists; and that can be true in a Communist society. Marxs theoriespredict that the contradictions and weaknesses within capitalism will causeincreasingly severe economic crises and deepening impoverishment of the workingclass. The rich get richer (the bourgeoisie) and the poor get poorer (theproletariat). In order for the bourgeoisie to survive is the most importantfactor is the arrangement and growth of capital; the must for capital is wagelabor. So therefore wage labor rests solely on the rivalry between the laborers. What the bourgeoisie, therefore, produces, above all, is its own grave?diggers. (169) The bourgeoisie who choose to super exploit their workersfor the surplus value will find that they are indeed setting a trap forthemselves since the must for capital is labor. If the workers will not workthere is no capital to invest in anything. Once the workers are fed up withtheir situations and realize there is a need to get together for a revolutionand change of labor, the bourgeoisie has lost everything they owned; and thatwill lead to the end of a class based society. In the resulting classlesssociety of Communism, the coercive state will be replaced by rational economiccooperation. In Communist society, accumulated labor is but means to widen,to enrich, to promote the existence of the laborer. (171) The accumulatedlabor in Communism is not just to benefit one and only one person; but it is tobenefit the workers as well as the employer. Everyone will be rewarded accordingto how hard they work and people will have the equal chance of to moving up thesocial ladder. In the place of the old bourgeoisie society, with its classesand class antagonisms, we shall have an association, in which the freedevelopment of each is the condition for the free development of all. (176)Workers will have independence and freedom of labor; and each person is seen asan individual that is part of a bigger and greater society. As a whole, KarlMarx is considered a modernist because he believed in human freedom and choice. He saw the problems arising from the effects that Capitalism was having on theproletariat and clearly they had no human freedoms or choice. To Marx,Capitalism not only presented humanity with an upside down views of the worldand the self-thorough their labor, but also reinforced divisions of class. As aresult they laborers finally realize that they are the makers of the commoditiesand the commodities are not the makers of laborers.

Lysistrata Essays (861 words) - Lysistrata, Women In War, Myrrhine

Lysistrata A play about making war - and not making love... The Talbot Theatre production of Lysistrata both entertained and delighted this member of the audience, who was there partly because of an English assignment requirement, but mainly because of the opportunity to enjoy a live theatre production. The theatre company employed many different components to bring this antiwar play to life that evening on the stage. These components can be broken into three categories, which visually enhanced the text of the play. The first of these categories is the setting, the stage lighting, and the props. The second component is the symbolism of some of those props, and the third component is the character portrayals by the actors on the stage. To take us back to ancient Greece, the props master employed a very simple interpretation using columns on a raised set of steps, with a backdrop of blue. To add to the feel of the era, a statue stands in the middle of the platform. This platform serves double duty as the Akropolis and as the Citadel, both of which the women have occupied. When the men light a fire below the walls of the Akropolis, smoke pours out of the bundle of sticks, making it appear as if a fire has really been ignited. Fortunately the women are ready and the fire is extinguished and the men all doused with water, which is portrayed well with buckets and actions that look as if the men are being driven away by the water. When Kinesias comes to see Myrrhine, and they head off to Pan's cave, the stage lighting is dimmed to give the effect of the darkness of being in a cave. The most strikingly visual use of stage props is the appearance of larger than life erect phalluses under the tunics of all the male main characters during the second half of the play. These seemingly grotesque male members serve to symbolize the frustration of the men. However, they are also a symbol of how the men's political power has been superceded by the primitive urge for sex, and how the women now hold power over the men. The statue, which is on the platform, is dressed in armor and symbolizes the war. The shield is taken by the women to be used for the purpose of swearing their oath, but they quickly realize that they cannot swear for peace on a shield used for war. This warrior statue disappears at the end of the play, reappearing as a female, the statue of PEACE, considerably shapelier and more enticing to the men. The characters presented the most impressive visual component. Lysistrata was portrayed perfectly as a down-to-earth woman who has had enough of war and is willing to lead a revolution to end it. Most of the rest of the women are portrayed as being frothy little things, more interested in clothing, shopping and sex, interests which Lysistrata feels that she can employ to bring about the change in the men's attitudes. The costumes on the main characters evoked the image of the time, and helped to define the characters. Both the members of the female chorus and the male chorus are dressed in white, to keep them separate in our minds from the main characters of the story. However, they are employed in such a way in the play as to explain a lot of the story to us by carrying a lot of the action and dialogue of the altercations between the sexes. The main characters employed a number of acting techniques to convey the images of the play. Lampito carries herself differently and speaks with an accent, and although she is dressed somewhat the same as the other women, we realize that she comes from Sparta. The Magistrate struts on to the stage, accompanied by a constable, only to be harassed and ultimately humiliated by the women, who will not be arrested. They turn the tables on the constable by tying him up with his own rope, and then send the magistrate and the constable packing. Comic moments happen when the desperate-for-sex women try to sneak away from the Citadel and are caught by Lysistrata. One of these women takes the helmet from the statue and tries to simulate a pregnancy that was not there the day before. An excellent portrayal of a frustrated husband is seen when Kinesias comes to find Myrrhine. This is the first appearance of a male with a very large protuberance under his tunic,

Solutions for College Dropout Essay Example

Solutions for College Dropout Essay Example Solutions for College Dropout Paper Solutions for College Dropout Paper Essay Topic: College application The Solution to Increasing Dropout Rates While there are many problems college students face while attempting to obtain a degree, the largest hindrance from completion is that of financial ability. One of the largest contributors to college dropout rates is the lack of financial support. Many college students must work either full or part time to support themselves or their families. With the declining economy and increasing costs of college tuition, funds are being scarcely distributed and many college students find that they are unable to continue their education due of this. The degree Of importance placed on college education is in decline, and each year the number of students completing their degree is decreasing. There have been a vast number of surveys and polls of college students and some of the outcomes are astounding. According to the US Department of Education, only 20 percent of young students who enter a two year institution will graduate within three years. While those who enroll in a four year institution have a slightly higher graduation rate of 40 percent in six years. In doffs society higher education is key for the majority of the josh market, but many college students find that even tit a college degree they cannot find work. The standard college student today is no longer 18 years old and enrolling in a four year university program. The new standard that is vastly seen is that of a part-time, older individual who is often working while trying to juggle their busy schedule. According to a report in the New York Times, two-thirds of students said the economic climate had significantly affected their college choice, and 13 percent said they could not afford to attend their first-choice university, the highest percentage since that question was first asked in 2006. With college tuition rates increasing many students without a credential are plunged underwater financially. Men students leave college with no credential and a load of debt, they may be worse off than when they entered. With so many college students facing the financial burdens that college tuition imposes, this has grown to increase the degree completion rate to an all-time high. Students often find themselves forced to choose between continuing their education and simply putting food on the table. It is not surprising to see that many forgo completing their education in order to do so. According too survey of college drop outs, 71 percent of students agreed that the reason for not completing their intended program was that they needed to go to work and make money. Having less off burden to financial responsibility would definitely help many of the students facing these problems. Am proposing a plan to the US. Federal government to implement a new plan for receiving financial aid. This plan will not only be based upon merit and satisfactory grades or financial need, but the biggest change will come from increased rates for trine completed. This new system Will integrate the college dents current course level and anticipated graduation date and base financial aid accordingly. Think of this increase in financial aid for students as you would a raise in a job for performance. The main goal of this program is to provide incentive for students to continue on their education pathway and obtain their degree. The current process for financial aid for a student is based on the students financial status. If a student has an EPIC (Expected gamely Contribution) of O they will qualify for a fully funded Peel Grant which is roughly enough to cover the needs Of one year for a full time community college student. If a student plans to attend a four year university, the current amount of financial aid given does not even cover half Of that cost. The new proposed program Will use the same standards for initial financial aid awarded to a student, but for each year that the student satisfactorily completes their courses, their financial aid Will increase by 15 percent. This new program will be provided to all current and new applicants who are currently eligible to receive a LIST federally funded Peel Grant. The program is to still be funded by the US Federal Government, but to increase he funding for this propose a one percent federal tax increase on all major corporations and businesses with an annual income of $250,000 or greater. This will likely incur great opposition initially as to why the increase in tax rate is on that of large businesses. In response to this, the effort of this new program will be to eliminate additional costly training by employers to undereducated employees. By having college students who are actually obtaining their college degrees working for these large companies, the need for additional training will decline, Thus, saving funds in order to finance the one percent proposed increase to increase financial aid. The proposed program will set to be launched during the upcoming years financial aid process and coincide with the initial financial aid applications. A new committee of current financial aid staff will be formed to oversee the addition to the program, and will be set in place to answer questions and to help prevent fraud. The method for monitoring the students progress is to still be the responsibility Of the institution to where the student is enrolled. If a student fails to enroll for the following year and apply for financial aid, then no increase in financial aid funds Will be provided to them. Also, if any break of one semester or more is taken during the school year the increased financial aid Will be lost. If a student fails to meet the standard 77 or above grade in any course that is being federally funded then financial aid will be lost as well. The program is intended for students who satisfactorily complete a consecutive term year after year until degree completion is obtained. This newly proposed program will help to alleviate the financial burden that many college students face, By offering a greater incentive to students to complete their degree in a Emily manner, the degree completion rate will increase.

Human Resource Information System-101 Assignment

Human Resource Information System-101 - Assignment Example The process ensures that the organization has the right mix of employee with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the particular jobs (Kavanagh, Thite, and Johnson 284). Job descriptions provides for the working relationships between the employee and the organization. Job descriptions are used in determining the compensation structures, promotions, dismissals, training, performance appraisals, disciplinary procedures and employee grievances handling. Numerous techniques such as the critical incident reporting, task inventory analysis and questionnaires can be used to conduct job analysis (Kavanagh, Thite, and Johnson 285). Advantages of HRIS over â€Å"paper and pencil† approach to HR operations Web-based tools such as the O*Net database which is an online repository with more than 1,000 occupations have enhanced the convenience of job analysis (Kavanagh, Thite, and Johnson 286). Guide.com also provides simple, job analysis tools to the HR professionals. HRIS have en abled online administration of job analysis questionnaires and surveys to the job incumbents. HRIS have increased accuracy and timeliness of job analysis. HRIS will assist the managers to reduce HR administration costs, improve the service to personnel and enhance the reliability of internal reporting by minimizing human input errors on employee database. HRIS will support relational databases and improve report generation since the systems contain query capabilities. HRIS enhances the secure distribution of employee data thus maintaining employee privacy (Kavanagh, Thite, and Johnson 287). Advantages of service oriented architecture for HRIS With the emergency of computer technology, software and internet technologies, most HR professionals know use HRIS to support HR transactional and administrative activities such as data accuracy and employee privacy. Service oriented architecture has enabled HR administrators to leverage on technology in HR administration. Service-oriented arch itecture involves organizing and utilizing distributed computing capabilities that are under the control of different domains in assessing, offering and using capabilities to realize desired organizational effects. The process is focused on adding value to the business rather than the technologies. SOA includes both internal and external services that communicate through coordination among various services in order to achieve the shared organizational goals. Some principles that guide SOA include flexibility, loose coupling, modularity, optimization and standards-based computing (Kavanagh, Thite, and Johnson 290). Some of the benefits of SOA architecture include improved alignment of business strategies and processes, IT consolidation capabilities and integration in order to reduce associated costs and faster implementation through modeling and reuse. For instance, eXtensible Markup Language (XML) supports SOA through data sharing over numerous information systems via the Internet. XML-Enhanced SOA improves the security of employee data and reduces transactional costs while improving customer satisfaction. It also supports compliance with HR policies and business change requirements. XML-SOA supports various HR administration structures like outsourcing, self-service

What Is Discrimination Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

What Is Discrimination - Literature review Example A racial group means a group of people defined by their race, color, and nationality (including citizenship) ethnic or national origins. Victimization means treating someone less favorably because they have made a complaint of discrimination (a "protected act"), or are thought to have done so; or because they have supported someone else who has made a complaint of discrimination. Vivid legal responsibility is the legal basis whereby an organization may become legally liable for the acts of its employees or agents. This can apply even where the institution had no knowledge of the acts and where, if it had been aware, it would disapprove or have disapproved of the acts in question. (Andrew, 1995) Direct discrimination is when a person is treated less favorably by another in a comparable situation. For example, A40-year-old woman applies for a job and is told she cannot have the job because the company is looking for new employees in their 20s. An African couple is looking for a school for their child and is told by their local school that the child cannot go to that school because there are no non-white children there. A man applies for a job and does not get it and is told that the company does not want gay people working there. (Andrew, 1995) The west of the city is mainly occupied by black people. This means that proportionately more non-black people will be applying for the job. A facility is "open to everyone", but it is on the third floor and there is no lift. This means that people in wheelchairs cannot use the facility. A company insists that people cannot leave their desks during the day apart from toilet breaks and lunch. This means that practicing Muslims cannot work there since they cannot pray at the appointed times.(Ibid, 1995) Indirect discrimination occurs where the effect of certain requirements, conditions or practices imposed by an employer or education provider has an adverse impact disproportionately on one group or other. Indirect discrimination can also occur when a rule or condition, which is applied equally to everyone, can be met by a considerably smaller proportion of people from a particular group, the rule is to their disadvantage, and it cannot be justified on other grounds. (Alf, 1958) Â  

Boundaries Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Boundaries - Essay Example In other wise we compartmentalize too much so that our professional lives cause damages to our private lives. This paper analyses the necessities of achieving work-life balancing. Manpower shortage, especially skilled manpower shortage is one of the major problems, in European and American countries. Volume of work and manpower shortages is increasing day by day which force organizations in these countries to ask their existing employees to stay back for overtime on a regular basis. For example, nursing professionals in these countries forced to work even up to 16 hours per day because of the shortage of nursing professional in these countries. Many of the IT organizations in these countries are outsourcing their jobs to countries like India and China in order to tackle the manpower shortage problems. Globally, the regular working hours of an employee is fixed to eight hours per day because of the necessities of ample rest a person needs before starting another day in the office. An employee needs to maintain his physical and mental health for delivering his maximum productivity. However, organizations of the modern era are forgetting about it and asking their employees to work overtime on a regular basis which is creating problems in their personal life. The overload of work often forces the employee to forget his family commitments and family problems may start to develop in his life. â€Å"Workers in poorer quality jobs (with poor job security, work overload, low levels of time and task autonomy, low flexibility and low job satisfaction) have worse work-life interference than those in better quality jobs† (Pocock et al p.7). Former French president Jacques Chirac also expressed similar concerns. In his opinion, â€Å"poor work-life balance arises from long and intense working hours may enhance the productivity of the organizations; however, better productivity should not come at the expense of the quality of life and social cohesion† (Bloom et al,2006, p.5). (Bloom et al, p.5). Man is a social animals rather than a machine. Moreover, he has emotions, feelings and thoughts which segregate him from other objects in this world. He is working for living, not living for working. But many of the organizations perceive the employees just like machines. Machines do not need rest or break until it damages. It is impossible for a person to work in that manner because of the non-mechanistic components present in him. Johnson (2008) also expressed similar concerns. In his opinion, â€Å"Extended working hours and more than required time spent at work place paves way for health complaints and too much of stress that can lead to injuries like an accident when driving†(Johnson). It is difficult for a worker to concentrate on a particular topic more than certain time period. Body and mind should cooperate properly to fix the attention of a person on a particular topic for longer period. Both body and mind needs periodical relaxati on or rest in order to function properly. Long working hours will destroy both body and mind which may reflect in the personal and professional life of a person if he forced to work longer periods continuously. â€Å"Heart diseases, fatigue, stress, depression, chronic infections, diabetes, back aches, general health complaints and death are some of the grievances one has to face while working late and for long† (Johnson) The morality of asking employees to work for

Face recognition

Face recognition Face recognition are processes involved in recognition of faces. Explanations of face recognition include feature analysis versus holistic forms. Remembering and recognising faces are an important skill one applies each day of their lives. It is important to the social interactions, to work and school activities, and in peoples personal family lives. Although most of the research in this area has been undertaken on faces it is in fact rare in real life that we need to identify someone from their face alone. Information from a persons clothes, voice, mannerisms etc, and the context in which we encounter them all help in the identification process Sometimes we fail to recognise someone because they are not wearing the clothes we normally see them in or because they are in an unexpected context. Holistic form theory is an unconventional to feature analysis approach to face recognition. Although features are important in describing faces and therefore do have some role to play in face recognition, dependence only on bottom up processing for such a complex activity is very unlikely. Bruce and Young (1986) proposed a top down approach to face recognition in which they argued that recognising a face is a highly complex process involving stored knowledge of semantic and emotional information and is therefore much more than adding together the sum total of a faces features. According to the Holistic approach a face is recognised as a whole, analysing not just the separate features but also the configuration of the face, the relationship between the individual features, feelings aroused by the face and semantic information about the face. Such an approach is sometimes referred to as a template model (Ellis 1975) whereby we have a stored template or pattern for each person as we k now and when presented with a face try to match this stimulus to our mental template. Several studies illustrate how recognition depends on the layout or configuration of the face as a whole. Young and Hay (1986) demonstrated the importance of configurable processing of faces. They cut pictures of famous faces horizontally and ensured the participants could recognise the two separate halves. Then they combined two separate halves together and measured time taken to and accuracy of, naming the top and bottom halves of the composite figures. This proved very difficult for participants as the composite seemed to produce a new holistic face in which it was difficult to perceive the separate halves. A particularly intriguing find was that if the composite faces were inverted participants could name the to half much better than when the faces were the correct way up, despite the fact that inverted faces are normally much harder to recognise. Similar research involves disrupting the configuration of the faces in other ways, either by scrambling the facial features or by inverting the face. Haig (1984) showed how recognition times increased for faces of famous people where the spacing between features or the configuration of features had been altered. Yin (1969) found that inverted faces are much harder to recognise. Although errors are found when attempting to recognise any object that has been inverted, faces seem to produce particular difficulties. Cohen (1989) suggests that this demonstrates that faces are normally recognised holistically, and inversion destroys the global pattern relationships between features. Thus, such findings could be interpreted as evidence for the holistic approach to face recognition.Mohammad A consensus has developed that the process underlying face identification (meaning the process by which a person recognizes a visual stimulus as being Aunt Bertha, my mail carrier, or Arnold Schwarzenegger) and the process underlying most forms of basic-level object recognition (Meaning the process by which a person recognizes a visual stimulus as being a table, a boat, or a human face) are different. A number of lines of evidence showing dissociations between face identification and basic-level object recognition support this conclusion. For example, faces are more difficult to identify in photographic negatives than are basic-level objects (Bruce Langton, 1994; Galper, 1970; Galper Hochberg, 1971; Phillips, 1972), and faces show greater recognition costs when turned upside down than do basic-level objects (Carey Diamond, 1977;Scapinello Yarmey, 1970; Yin, 1969; see Valentine, 1988, for a review). Additional evidence that face identification and basic level object recognition are accomplished by different processes comes from work in neuroscience. Sergent, Ohta, and MacDonald (1992), using positron emission tomography (PET), found regions of the right hemisphere that become active during face identification that are not active during basic-level object recognition. Further, a righthemisphere advantage for identifying faces is well documented (for reviews, see Davidoff, 1982; H. D. Ellis, 1983), whereas the evidence for hemispheric specialization during basic-level object recognition is far less clear, with some studies finding a left-hemisphere advantage (Bryden Rainey, 1963; McKeever Jackson, 1979; Wyke Ettlinger, 1961; Young, Bion, Ellis, 1980), others finding aright-hemisphere advantage (Schmuller Goodman, 1980), and still others finding no advantage for one hemisphere over the other (Biederman Cooper, 1991; Kimura Durnford, 1974; Levine Banich, 1982). Perhaps the most persuasive evidence that basic-level object recognition and face identification are accomplished by different processes comes from studies of brain-damaged patients showing a neurological double dissociation between the two processes. Farah (1994) found 27 cases in the literature in which patient showed impaired face identification but intact basiclevel object recognition and 16 cases in which a patient showed impaired basic-level object recognition but intact face identification, arguing strongly that different neural subtract underline with two tasks Given that face identification and basic-level object recognition occur through different processes, the next logical question to consider is how the memory representations used for the two processes might differ. The most common speculation in the current literature is that faces use configured or holistic representations, whereas basic-level objects use featural representations. Unfortunately, this method of characterizing the differences in the representations is rather vague, and as OToole, Abdi, Deffenbacher, and Valentin (1995) and Bruce and Humphreys (1994) pointed out, it has different meanings for different researchers. When researchers say that face identification uses Further support for a holistic model of face recognition comes from studies investigating the superiority of recognition over recall. People have been found to be consistently better at recognising faces seen before than they are at recalling them. A study by Ellis et al (1975) illustrates the difficulties involved in recalling faces. Participants were shown six photographs of male faces for ten seconds and then asked them immediately to recall the face so that it could be reconstructed using photo fit materials. When judges attempted to pick out the target face from the photo fit reconstructions only an average of 12.5% identifications were correct indicating that the reconstructed faces did not closely resemble the original stimulus face. It seems that in order to describe a face we need to convert our stored mental representations of that face into words. The fact that this seems to be so difficult and so ineffective as illustrated in this study would indicate that we do store faces as wholes rather than as sets of separate features. According to Bruce and Youngs Holistic model of face recognition there are different types of information that can be obtained from faces, some of which are used for familiar faces and others for unfamiliar faces. When firstly we see a face it is encoded structurally, meaning that we encode the visual information, processing the look of the face. If this matches an existing face recognition unit (FRU) then this will be activated. The FRU contains not just physical information but also semantic knowledge. Activation of the FRU triggers activation of the person identity node which enables access to a wealth of information about the person including their occupation, interests, where we normally encounter them, whether we are comfortable with them or not, whether we have friends in common or not. The final stage in the recognition process allows for name generation. According to Bruce and Young names are stored separately to the FRU and person identity nodes but can only be accessed via the identity nodes. This would explain the frustrating and embarrassing experience of knowing lots of details about a person we meet but not being able to think of their name. Young, Hay and Ellis tested the Holistic model in 1985. They asked participants to keep a diary and record problems experienced in face recognition every day. Out of 1008 incidents there were no reports of naming an individual without knowing other information about them. But in 190 cases the opposite occurred, participants reported knowing information about individuals but could not name them. These findings are consistent with the sequence of events proposed by the holistic model where by names can only be accessed if semantic information been accessed first. Further analysis of the diary data showed that of the 1008 incidents there were 233 reports of experiencing familiarity without any personal information being available. Again this supports the sequential nature of the model as these would be cases where an FRU has been triggered causing the feeling of familiarity, but the identity Node has failed to activate, hence the lack of availability of any further information about the person. Holistic form theory is an alternative to feature analysis approach to face recognition. Although features are important in describing faces and therefore do have some role to play in face recognition, reliance only on bottom up processing for such a complex activity is very unlikely. According to the Holistic approach a face is recognised as a whole, analysing not just the separate features but also the configuration of the face, the relationship between the individual features, feelings aroused by the face and semantic information about the face. There is also another theory called feature analysis theory which is an example of a bottom up theory in which it is suggested that analysis if individual facial features plays a crucial role in face recognition.

walruses :: essays research papers

WALRUSES Walruses are one of the largest seals or related to the seal species living in the Arctic Circle. I researched the description, behavior, survival, and interesting facts that may come in handy. Walruses may have a social life but still be treacherous. The species of walruses can be gray, brown, or reddish depending on the weather. For example, when the sun is out and, stays out for a period of time they may be reddish. Walruses can weight 1,000-4,000 pounds. Walruses gain alot of their weight from what they eat and how much they eat. Walruses can be as long as 9-14feet long. My research animal has a small head and tiny black eyes you could hardly see. Walrus’s adaptations to survive in the cold are their tusks, blubber, and eating two times a day, which keeps them alive. The walrus’s most important survival tools are their tusks. Walruses live in the Arctic Region. Walruses can live on ice floes for a long period of time. When walruses migrate they start at the Chuckcki Sea and end at the Bering Sea. Unlike birds, female walruses do not lay eggs they give live birth. Walrus’s average life span is forty years, unless humans or natural enemies hunt them. Normally walruses eat 3,000-6,000 clams per eating. Their favorite foods are clams, snails, and mussels. Polar bears are walrus’s natural enemies. This is so because polar bears try to eat walruses. Walruses protect themselves from enemies such as polar bears with their tusks. Walruses are unique because they have a very social life. Although if they’re mad they are capable of damage a steady, sturdy boat or injure human. Walruses are some how related or one of the largest seals. Also walruses tusks are made out of ivory. So you can see, walruses have many social skills and tend to eat alot. Also, walruses can have a very long life span because how large they are. I really enjoyed researching on the walruses for many reasons.

How do feminists view the division of labour

How do feminists view the division of labour within the family home? sy Chelb7 How do feminists view the division of labour within the family home? Feminism is a collection of movements and beliefs aimed at defining and defending women's rights within society and politics aiming for all round equality, A big issue that arises within women rights is inequality in the household. The division of labour in the home is how fairly the jobs are shared between the partners in the household.Sociologists named Young and Willmott carried out a study in 1937 in aethnal Green, London. They looked into the roles in families within the home and come to the conclusion that Over time most families have become The symmetrical family. This implies roles are being shared between the man and women Within the home. They called this the march Of progress. Feminists reject this ‘March Of progress' View as they say roles are not equal within the home. In a research there is evidence that men ‘hel p' at home but it is far from symmetry within the roles.Feminists say that men usually claim to be helping by doing the pleasurable jobs rather than the work, herefore research so far suggests feminists view the division of labour within the family home as unequal. Sociologist Ann Oakley disagrees with Young and Willmotts view. Rather than seeing a march of progress tonards symmetry since 19th century Ilke Young and Willmott do, Oakley describes how â€Å"the housewife role has become the dominant role tor married women†. She also argues that Men only ever ‘help' at home rather than work. Another sociologist supporting Oakley's idea Is Mary Boulton (1983b.During research Boulton found that fewer than of husbands had a major ole in childcare. She argues that Young and Willmott exaggerate men's contribution by look'ng at tasks that involve childcare rather than responsibilities. When reviewing the research so far it becomes apparent that women sociologists (particularly f eminists) support the idea that men rarely take on tasks within the home and that male sociologists support that this is in fact improving and we are on a march towards progress, Twisting this biased view are two sociologists named Hilary Silver (1987) and Juliet Schor (1993).They argued that because of ommercialised good and services the housewife role has almost disappeared, They say that items such as freezers. microwave ovens and ready meals reduce the amount of domestic labour to be done, However critics argue that for poorer women this iS not an Option. Feminists argue that even though commercialisation has been reduced the Other chores are still not shared equallyq The impact Of paid work iS a more recent debate in feminists. Logically if both man and women Of the house are in paid full time work feminists say that the housework should be shared equally between the couple.Feminists argue that this is not the case. women are being made to carry a dual burden. This outcome is d etermined in large part by traditional gender roles that have been accepted by society over time. on the other hand to the feminist view some sociologists argue that women working In full time paid jobs lead to a more equal division of labour. Jonathan Gershuny (1994) found 83% of housework and those who worked part time still done 82%. Wives who worked full time did 73% of housework. Gershuny explains this trend towards greater equality in terms of gradual change in values and parental role models.He argues social values are gradually adapting to the fact more women are working full time. Similarly Oriel Sullivan's (2000) analysis of nationally representative data collected in 1975, 1987 and 1997 found a trend towards greater equality as men did more domestic labour. Particularly there was an increase in couples with an equal division with men doing more traditionally women's Jobs. Feminists view this division of labour as inaccurate. Equality and symmetry within housework would me an each partner is doing 50% of housework and chores.Whereas even sociologists who are gainst the feminist view towards domestic labour are showing in their results that well over 50% of housework is done by women. Sociologist Dunne (1999)done a study on 37 cohabiting lesbian couples with dependent children. Dunne found evidence of symmetry in their relationships. In lesbian relationships household tasks are not linked to a particular gender scripts. This allows lesbian couples to have more equal relationships. For example as one of the women said in Dunne's study â€Å"In heterosexual relationships there is always a subconscious belief that women are upposed to do the housework.This supports the radical feminist view that relationships between men and women are inevitably patriarchal and that women can only achieve equality in same sex relationships. Similarly, Jeffery Weeks (1999) argues that same sex relationships offer greater possibilities of equality because the division of l abour is open to negotiation and agreement and not based on a patriarchal tradition. To conclude evidence shows that a women being in paid work leads to more equality in the division of labour, though probably only if she is in full work.Many feminists argue that in reality the effect of this is limited and women still continue to shoulder a dual or triple burden. Feminists argue that the root of the problem is patriarchy. Patriarchy ensures that women earn less at work and therefore have less bargaining in the home. Patriarchal gender scripts shape societys expectations about the domestic roles within the house. In my opinion until the subconscious belief that women should do the domestic work has being changed by society's outlook feminists will always feel that patriarchy is the main reason for the inequality of labour within the home.

Commissioned Officer Essay Example

Commissioned Officer Essay Example Commissioned Officer Essay Commissioned Officer Essay I would like to start by emphasizing that it is my goal to become a Commissioned Officer, and I am determined to face whatever odds to achieve this goal.In my opinion, being a Commissioned Officer is being a Leader, in its truest essence, and in the tradition of the U.S. Coast Guard. I believe that if there is any organization where effective leadership must be cultivated and developed, it is in the military. In view of this, I could say that I am up to satisfying what the position requires.I desire to become a Commissioned Officer with Leadership as my battlecry, both as an end, and as a means. As an end, it has always been my passion to become a leader of men. Serving as a Commissioned Officer would become a realization of this passion. Meanwhile, leadership has become a means for me because I exercise the desired leadership traits to get every man on my team to work for the accomplishment of every mission. Leadership is entwined with my values, both as a man in uniform, and as a p erson.In the past, I have exemplified leadership by serving 4 years in the US Marines. There, I have earned the respect, confidence, and loyal cooperation of other Marines by demonstrating leadership traits such as Justice, Judgement, Dependability, Initiative, Decisiveness, Tact, Integrity, Enthusiasm, Bearing, Unselfishness, Courage, Knowledge, Loyalty and Endurance.I have also displayed skills, specifically in communication and information gathering, as a linguist under a DEA contract. This specialty on the field of intelligence adds to my credentials as an Officer Candidate and as a leader. I am fluent in other languages such as Italian and Spanish, and these excellent communication skills would serve as helpful additions to my skills if ever I am able to become an Officer. I believe that it is crucial that a leader knows how to communicate with his men and with other people to whom duty calls him to speak to. With my excellent language skills, along with the leadership traits t hat I have gained from my experience in the US Marines and from the training in the Officer Candidate School, I am positive that I would be able to communicate ideas and intentions well. I believe this ability is rare among other aspiring leaders.With regards to the rudiments of military and leadership skills, I believe that I have enough competence, and my performance will certainly speak of this. However, since people say that nobody is perfect and that there would always be loopholes into the ideal, I commit to keep on striving everyday to become the Leader that I desire to become. This is my passion. And I hope that through this narrative, I have been able to narrate well about my potentials and capabilities, enough to bring me closer to my goals and objectives.References:Marine Corps Leadership Traits. Competencies Skills. Center for Strategic Leadership Studies. Retrieved 07 Nov 2006 at   6mcd.usmc.mil/ftl_site/Handbook/marine_corps_leadership__traits.htm.http://leadership. au.af.mil/sls-skil.htm#marines:legacee.com/Info/Leadership/LeadershipTraits.html

Future Computers essays

Future Computers essays Computer capabilities in the future-for a computer type Computer is a part of our nowadays world. More and more we become dependent on computers. So far computers havent overcame peoples brains, but in the near future computers will be more intelligent than we could ever dreamed about it. Soon every step that we make will be followed by computers. The main thing is, how it will affect peoples lives, worldviews, and thinking. Are we going to be dependent on our brains or will we have to depend only on computers? Future computers that see will change how we use consumer electronics and computing devices at home and work. For instance, your TV could pause the show you are watching without the need for a remote control. Just by seeing you get up to go get a beer, your TV would know you're leaving the room and no longer paying attention. Other applications might include a set of programs that help handicapped people control their PCs and all other connected devices in the home with head or eye movements. There could also be intuitive documents that sense when students are confused by "looking" at their facial expressions. Then, a computer might retrieve some supplemental information that could help the stumped student better understand the context of what he's reading. Computers created within the next two decades could revolve around a technology in which laser beams converge inside crystals the size of sugar cubes, forming holographic images for processing huge amounts of information. Perhaps by the year 2020, computers will revolve around new types of optical processors. These "holographic computers" might use crystals that receive and manipulate data-laden images, processing information much faster than conventional computers. Future computers will be more human oriented, knowing how to track the users' behaviors and habits, thus better serving their individual needs. With the new operating system, users will n...

Land law in ksa and uk Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Land law in ksa and uk - Essay Example The Rules of land Laws in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia In Saudi Arabia, the greater percentage of total land is owned by the government. Private individuals own only the property in the urban area and land which is cultivated in the rural areas. The law stipulates that all land titles deeds must be registered. However, accurate information on the extent of land registration does not exist (Sait & Lim, 2006). Initially, the law stated that real estate could only be owned by the native citizens until when the property laws were amended to give the right to foreigners to also own property. However, for individuals who are not citizens of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to invest in property there is a need for them to seek council of ministers approval. Three categories of land exist in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These include developed land, undeveloped land, and protective zones. Developed land constitutes constructed environment of towns and villages and land, which has been agriculturally developed. The law states that this land may be sold, bought, or inherited. Land, which is not developed, constitutes grazing pasture and wilderness. Grazing land and pasture is a common good. As such, the law authorizes every citizen to use it. However, the wilderness is a state property, which may be open to all unless the state imposes some restrictions. The Saudi land law uses the Waqf. This is a form of land ownership in, which a Saudi national has the right to transfer property to an organization or foundation for long term charitable or religious reasons. Once land or the property has been transferred under Waqf, the law does not allow further transfer or alienation of the same property. The Rules of the Land Law in United Kingdom The United Kingdom law is the law of real property in Wales and England. This law entails acquisition, priority and content of rights and obligations among people with land interests (Gray & Gray, 2009). The old content of English land law is relate d to property rights that come from common law, the registration system and equity. Normally, ownership of land in the United Kingdom is acquired through a sale contract where the buyer acquires the land through a written agreement with the seller, and there is an exchange of money. In order to complete such a purchase, the law states that the purchaser of the land must formally register his intention to buy the land in land registry. Apart from sale contracts, the law stipulates that individuals may acquire interests in land through contribution to home acquisition price, or to family life if the courts of the land can find evidence of a common purpose that this should occur. The law also recognizes a constructive or resulting trust over the property, and in credit of individuals of social interest in their households, these do not need to be registered just like a lease whose duration is less than seven years (Gray & Gray, 2009). Further, the law stipulates that individuals can ac quire land through propriety estoppels. This refers to a situation where an individual is assured to receive land or property, and relied on this to their detriment, the court may acknowledge it. Adverse possession is a form of ownership which allows a person who

British Electoral System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

British Electoral System - Essay Example In this system ranks are provided by the voter to the candidates by marking 1, 2, 3 etc on the ballot paper against the name of the candidate. The candidates are ranked across different parties or within the same party by the voters. Certain quota of votes must be achieved by the candidate in order to win. This system is used â€Å"for local government elections in Northern Ireland and Scotland, European Parliament elections in Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Assembly† (Voting systems in the UK, 2008, p.2).Under this system the voters can cast their votes into two parts, firstly for constituency MP and second for party list. The lack of proportionality that arises from the FPTP is compensated by this system. â€Å"AMS is used for elections to the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales and the London Assembly† (Voting systems in the UK, 2008, pp.2- 3).   Closed Party List SystemThis system is applicable to a multi member constituency. The electo rs vote for the party and as per the proportion won by the party, it gets seat in the constituency.† The Closed Party List system has been used for European Parliament elections in the UK since 1999 except in Northern Ireland where STV is used† (Voting systems in the UK, 2008, p.3).The Single- member plurality, which is followed by the British Electoral system was believed to facilitate â€Å"a two-party system of alternating single-party majority government†.... le transferable vote In this system ranks are provided by the voter to the candidates by marking 1, 2, 3 etc on the ballot paper against the name of the candidate. The candidates are ranked across different parties or within the same party by the voters. Certain quota of votes must be achieved by the candidate in order to win. This system is used â€Å"for local government elections in Northern Ireland and Scotland, European Parliament elections in Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Assembly† (Voting systems in the UK, 2008, p.2). Additional Member system Under this system the voters can cast their votes into two parts, firstly for constituency MP and second for party list. The lack of proportionality that arises from the FPTP is compensated by this system. â€Å"AMS is used for elections to the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales and the London Assembly† (Voting systems in the UK, 2008, pp.2- 3). Closed Party List System This system is applicabl e to a multi member constituency. The electors vote for the party and as per the proportion won by the party, it gets seat in the constituency.† The Closed Party List system has been used for European Parliament elections in the UK since 1999 except in Northern Ireland where STV is used† (Voting systems in the UK, 2008, p.3). Effectiveness of the Electoral System The Single- member plurality, which is followed by the British Electoral system was believed to facilitate â€Å"a two-party system of alternating single-party majority government†. But in the 2010 UK election no party could secure an overall majority due to which formation of peacetime coalition government was done (Curtice, 2010, p. 623). This issue raised questions on the effectiveness of the system. To understand this merits and demerits of

Computers in Society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Computers in Society - Essay Example These fives ways include; 1. Social networking -- many people belong to at least one social networking group like LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter and they are actively talking to their friends and business associates about this election; you can even find this information on MySpace. 2. YouTube -- because YouTube has the ability to replay in video anything you want to replay, a viewer can find any speech that was given from the beginning of the 2008 campaign by any candidate necessary. 3. Network Journalism Sites -- any of the networks have full coverage of the debates and places like MSNBC will have a replay of all the debates, commentary and other information about the candidates as they happen. You can replay any of this information at any time. 5. Text messaging -- Mozes is one of many text messaging websites where an individual can go and create their own list of keywords. People who sign up to receive information from them can receive broadcasts about many different things. Some people are predicting that this is one way that candidates can set up broadcasts that allow people to know their schedules or to send out specific messages. Since both the Democratic and the Republican party already send out specific messages via phone, this will be another technology that can allow more information to get through to voters. According to Guy Kawasaki (2008) the Internet will have the most impact on the presidential election because it allows everyone to educate themselves about the candidates and what they are saying. They can read news, listen to the various debates and make up their own minds about how to vote. This also allows many different people to voice their opinions and opinions influence others. According to Kawasaki, "Much like radio for Roosevelt and TV for JFK, the 2008 race for the White House will be determined by candidates’ abilities to connect with and galvanize supporters online" (p. 25). Some people will

The Impact Of Satisfaction And Image On Loyalty Essay Example for Free

The Impact Of Satisfaction And Image On Loyalty Essay The research was undertaken by three eminent scholars with strong qualifications in the field of customer services and business; two of them having attained the rank of professor and the other a doctor working as a research fellow. Their background suggests that the research was of a high quality and followed the laid down procedures for a doctoral thesis or research paper. It was directed at examining the relationship between image and satisfaction to customer loyalty. Current literature on the subject has been inconclusive on the impact of satisfaction on loyalty without considering the effect of image on the same. This research aimed to fill this void. By addressing the subject matter and testing it using hypotheses, the researchers adopted qualitative and quantitative research methods and were able to come up with a general statement that image impacts loyalty from an emotive rather than a cognitive point of view. Entrepreneurs are concerned at how they can retain their market share and the methods they can adopt to increase the number of clients that patronize their outlets. A lot of emphasis has been placed on the importance of customer service in ensuring repeat clients and new customers (Anderson et al. 1994:54). For the most part it has been true that customers who have been well treated and had all their concerns attended to in a timely manner are likely to return to the establishment for further business. However customer satisfaction has not been able to explain why clientele appear to shift loyalties to new outlets or to competitors despite receiving excellent services (Chi Qu, 2007). This phenomenon suggests that there are other factors that influence customers in making their final decisions on which places to patronize. This research has addressed this issue by studying the effect of image as a predictor of customer loyalty. Abraham Maslow developed his hierarchy of needs theory which posited that man graduates from satisfying the basic needs to the pinnacle of the pyramid where self actualization is achieved. Self actualization has little to do with physical aspects and more to do with personal feelings and perceptions of self. Thus as a pointer to what influences customer loyalty, the researchers picked on a good factor to base their study on. Nonetheless in this era of global recession other factors like price should have been included in their study so as to compare the overall effect of price differentials to customer loyalty. The rise of budget airlines like Easy Jet or the popularity of supermarket chains such as Wall mart are primarily due to the fair prices they charge in comparison to other stores (Fredericks and Salter, 1995:30). Thus in limiting themselves to image and customer satisfactions the researchers left out an important factor that may change the overall results of the study. By confining their study to ski resorts the researchers have narrowed the application of their research findings in that the nature of studies in ski resorts find little relevance to other areas of business. To begin with ski resorts are a feature of areas that experience a certain type of climate and appeal to people who are accustomed to that kind of weather (Matzler et al. , 2007). Those living in warmer climates may patronize tourist attractions not necessarily because of image but because of the available attractions (Bigne? t al. , 2001:609). Some of the most famous tourist destinations in the world do not have excellent facilities but offer the clientele a once in a life time experience such as the wildebeest migration that occurs across the Masai Mara in Kenya (Kenya safari holidays, 2008). Secondly, most customers going to ski resorts do so because they want to ski. This restricts the research applicability to this kind of pastime as opposed to providing a general observation that can be useful to all types of businesses. The researchers made good use of available literature as a starting point to base their study. Most of the material they researched on was from primary sources in journals and a few books. Primary sources are vital in that they provide firsthand information about the subject matter from the author’s perspective. The problem with relying too much on such material is the obvious bias that most authors have in expounding their views. Secondary sources help to balance the overall picture by presenting alternative views and critiques of works done by other researchers. Sample population numbers were high enough to give a truly representative result of the study. With over 6,000 respondents to the online survey, the study was able to capture enough data to satisfy the research needs. The issue of enticing the respondents by offering attractive prizes could raise ethical questions and may have influenced the respondents to respond in a certain fashion. Respondents may have filled out the survey hoping that their responses reflected the expected outcome and thus improved their chances of winning the prizes. In adopting a multi-attribute approach in studying the effects of image on loyalty, the researchers were able to investigate a number of parameters that affect people’s perceptions. Despite the holistic nature of this approach, the use of Likert scale tools to determine the respondents’ views can be misleading as the results are highly subjective with one respondent rating a certain parameter differently from another irrespective of a general consensus on the nature of the service being offered or the factor being tested (Homburg and Giering, 2001:55). The hypotheses postulated by the researchers fail to include the possibility that there could be other more important factors that impact customer loyalty (Mittal and Kamakura, 2001:137). Such aspects include proximity of a resort to the client’s domicile, prices charged by the outlet, complimentary services offered as an incentive, and the nature of the ski terrain that may encourage amateurs or more experienced skiers to patronize the resort (Fakeye and Crompton, 1991:11). A fourth hypothesis should have been included to addresses these issues and could have been structured as follows; H4: Apart from image and loyalty there are other factors that significantly determine customer loyalty. Null hypothesis: Image and loyalty are the only factors that determine customer loyalty Respondents to the survey were not determined by the researchers and as such their study could not have investigated other aspects of the sample population like the differences in loyalty based on ethnic identities or gender. Any results based on the nationalities or gender of the respondents may not correctly reflect the true picture without purposely setting out to research such aspects. The research findings more or less confirmed the researchers’ thesis and added to the available literature on the subject. An interesting outcome was that the influence of image was more of an emotive response than a cognitive one (Kandampully and Suhartanto, 2000:349) This will assist entrepreneurs to develop the emotive image factors like patriotic themes or domestic settings that will make the customers feel that they are quite at home, though away from home (Gallarza et al. , 2001:62). However, the study is incomplete because it fails to address other factors that impact loyalty and it does not investigate the responses by respondents with different backgrounds to establish whether the findings are universal or ethnic specific. By focusing on ski resorts, the study is severely limited in its application as the findings in that industry may not be relevant to other business models or geographical destinations. This research is invaluable as a tool to improve to improve market share and annual incomes for ski resort outlets. By maintaining good customer service and working on developing the emotive image of the establishment, the management is bound to see an increase rise in customer loyalty (Eskildsen et al. , 2004:862). Its findings should be compiled in a simple format for the ski resort operators to understand and apply in their daily operations. The researchers may want to add on a caveat that the image and loyalty are not the only factors responsible for customer loyalty and that further studies may be required to identify other issues that may be influential. In summary, the research has been able to investigate the relationship between image, customer satisfaction and loyalty within the scope of the researchers outline. Despite the research failing to examine all aspects that impact customer loyalty, this should not invalidate their study but rather open up other opportunities for other researchers to take up the challenge to provide such answers. Further studies on the same subject matter should be structured to provide a general theory that will apply to all types of businesses.

The History Of Afghanistan History Essay

The History Of Afghanistan History Essay After the September 11th attacks on America, many nations were drawn into the War on Terror. With this escalating conflict came the names of many countries that the American public knew little about. Prior to 9/11, Americans knew Afghanistan simply as a country in the Middle East. In the aftermath of 9/11, Americans now associate Afghanistan with words like Al Qaeda and the Taliban. Despite the recent press coverage on this land-locked nation, few understand the history of Afghanistan, including the rich cultural aspects, political climate, and society of this country. As the future of Afghanistan is being lived and written right now, a clear understanding of the countrys history is imperative in understanding the new global circumstances. It is for this reason that Meredith L. Runion has written this book, published by Geenwood Press. The author is a Program Manager in the Directorate of Science and Technology for the U.S. Federal Government and has been involved in several efforts regarding the Middle East. She is regarded as a specialist in the history of Afghanistan. The author has produced a volume that reflects her current research on Afghanistan. In addition to writing several articles on the subject, The History of Afghanistan, is her first published book. Meredith is a native of the Washington D.C. area, and holds advanced degrees in Decision Science and Business. The book is intended for students and general readers. It is also serves as an appropriate starting material for researchers trying to find concise yet all-inclusive text on the entire history of Afghanistan and the rulers that have governed it. The United States, being a superpower which attacked Afghanistan and is now embroiled in the War Against Terror in this region, shares a special relationship with this country. Yet, many Americans know very little about Afghanistan, its history and the people who occupy this region. Therefore the author has made special effort to keep the book simple, concise and easy to follow for the American readers. Among the many other questions the writer addresses some are as given: How did Afghanistan get to be the way it is? What kind of political systems have evolved there? What kind of influence does it have in the region? What are the dominant political, religious and cultural forces that move its leaders? These and many other questions have been answered in this volume. The book under review is a nonfiction account of the history of Afghanistan. It provides an abridged history of Afghanistan, from the emergence of civilization to the United States overthrow of the Taliban in late 2001. The history is almost entirely political and military in nature, recounting shifting dynasties and governments and successive invasions by empires and great powers. Major points in the book describe how modern Afghanistan is a melting pot of a multitude of cultures, tribes, and political influences all under the guiding belief of Islam. The author repeatedly stresses that due to the countrys strategic location along the crucial trade routes between Central Asia and the Middle East, Afghanistan has suffered repeated conquests throughout its tumultuous history. In spite of this, Afghanistan has proven to be a resilient force in the face of long term conquests, as the United States is experiencing today. It starts with an introduction to the country, focusing on its geography and people. It discusses its location in the region, its physical features and agricultural potential. It also discusses its economy and the ethnic groups inhabiting the country. It is interesting to note that the author has devoted a complete chapter to Afghanistans prehistory. While libraries and bookstores are filled with a multitude of works on the early life of Mesopotamia and Persia, very little can be found about Afghanistans prehistory. Further, most books provide only one or two paragraphs on the early civilization era of Afghanistan, usually after Alexander the Great conquered this region. By including a complete chapter on the countrys prehistory the writer has made the book appealing to general public as well as students of history. The next chapter discusses the early civilizations which flourished in this area. Brief yet informative material has been presented about the Aryan Civilization, the Medes Empire, the arrival of Alexander the Great in the region and the Greco-Bactrian rule in Afghanistan. Most books on the subject ignore the intermediate period between the early civilizations and the arrival of Islam in Afghanistan. However, the writer has discussed the Greek-Hellenistic culture prevailing in the area till the conquests led by Muslim invaders. The Macedonian Empire, the division under Seleucid and Mauryan Rule, the Greco-Bactrian and Parthian eras, The Kushan Empire and the Sassanid Dynasty have been dealt with by the author in this chapter before moving on to the advent of Muslim conquerors. Conspicuous, however, is the authors lack of attention to the rule of Islamic Empires in Afghanistan. The Islamic Empires of this region were some of the most powerful and influential ones during the period extending from 10th century A.D., and played a significant role in shaping the history of Central Asia, Persia and India. The indisposition of the author to handle this period of history in greater detail will come as a surprise to researchers and historians. The following chapter discusses the Mongolian Invasion, the Timurid Empire and Safavid Rule leading up to the creation of the first Afghan state under Ahmed Shah Durrani in 1747. A complete chapter has been written by the author detailing the Anglo-Afghan Wars from 1839 to 1919. Once again the author very concisely narrates the history of Afghanistan during this period ensuring that no important event is left out. Events leading up to the Soviet Invasion, Retreat of Soviet forces and the Afghan Civil War have been described by the author in a succinct manner. Since the history of Afghanistan during this period has been covered by a significant number of books, and that too in great detail, it is relieving to note that the writer has not presented extensive material reproducing the same events in the book. Instead the author sticks to presenting the events briefly. The next chapter in the book discusses the rise of fundamentalism in Afghan society. This covers the role of the Mujahideen, the rise of the Taliban, their war with the Northern Alliance and finally the advent of Osama bin Laden on the global scene. This chapter will be of particular interest to Western readers, especially those in the United States who are not clear about the origin of the Taliban. Afghanistan is a nation about which Western readers knew very little about till the events of 2001. Overall, Runion gives an insightful overview of such a country. In general, the book lays greater stress on the historical events occurring in the past 30 years. According to Frank W. Thackeray and John E. Findling, both professors at Indiana University and foreword-writers for the book, the past 30 years have been witness to a great deal of historical change, and it is to this change that this book is primarily addressed. The material in the book has been presented in an orderly manner, with the author focusing on the chronological order of the historical events. The language used is simple and helpful for students wishing to acquire knowledge about the subject matter in a short time duration. However it must be noted that the book presents a very brief overview of the history of Afghanistan, with the overly plain language at times becoming simple even for high school students. As the reader moves towards the more modern history of Afghanistan, it becomes perfectly clear that this book was written for Americans who wanted to know more about Afghanistan after 2001. If that is the only purpose of the readers, this book will prove fine. But if the readers are history students or researchers, they will find vast other eras of history getting ignored. The book contains additional chapters that add useful detail to the historical narrative. One chapter is a thorough chronology of important historical events, making it easy for readers to follow the flow of Afghanistans history. Another chapter features biographical sketches of the nations most important figures who have contributed to the historical development of the Afghan nation. The book also contains a comprehensive bibliography, so that those readers interested in the subject matter can find more about the nation and its history. Each chapter is followed by detailed notes explaining the contents of the chapter, making extensive references to works of other writers and historians on Afghanistan. Included alongside these items is a glossary of frequently used terms, and a guide to further readings. The author apparently did a great deal of research and references multiple sources to provide an unbiased look into Afghanistan. It was noted that the chronology of this book moves in a haphazard fashion, and the areas the author chooses to focus on are sometimes puzzling. Even though Afghanistan was a neutral nation during WWI and WWII, those wars are discussed in a paragraph. The authors style of narrating the events which have not yet occurred in a specific section becomes irritating at times. For example, the author writes: That king ruled until the war was over in 1967 Then the next section will begin: The war of regicidal independence began in 1960 This is fairly common, and has the readers sometimes struggling to put their mindset back into chronological order. The absence of maps was greatly felt, which could have assisted in explaining the historical contents of the book. Similarly, the book contained no illustrations or images, making it a tiresome and unamusing read at times. Inclusion of maps and illustrations could have added to the appeal and quality of the book Overall, the book makes a satisfactory attempt to explain the major historical events of Afghanistan very briefly. Some historical details have been ignored by the author. For an introductory history to Afghanistan, this serves its purpose, but it will probably pique rather than satiate the readers search for knowledge, which may have been the authors point all along. The book has about 150 pages, so if the readers want an in depth material this probably isnt recommended. However, this is a great starting material for those wanting to gain more understanding on the country and the current focus on modern events and conflicts It is recommended for general public wishing to acquire elementary knowledge and background information about the history of Afghanistan in a concise manner. Students of history and researchers looking for in-depth material on the subject however will be disappointed.