Poverty and Inequality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Poverty and Inequality - Essay Example Contemporary scholars of poverty offer a different approach towards understanding poverty. In contemporary view, poverty is multidimensional and it is not dependent on income alone, rather it depends on lack of capabilities, deprivation or lack of resources and other important aspects such as security, rights and freedoms. Most traditional scholars depended on the traditional method of indexing poverty levels but the contemporary view has been helpful in giving clearer methods of dealing with poverty. Multidimensional study of poverty may take on the objective and subjective references in measurement of data. Measurement may also be dependent on the relative and absolute approaches in the references. In this discourse, several indices applying the latter and former methods will be under application in determining poverty and inequality. In order to calculate inequality, however, one has to understand what inequality means in an economic perspective in relation to poverty. In any given population, there is a difference between what people within the population earn. The uneven distribution of income in any given population is income inequality. In order for there to be income, there has to be several sources of income. These sources of income may be combinational or independent per person receiving the income. Income may result from wages, rent, bank account interests, salaries or even profits made in business transactions ( Stiglitz, 2012). In order to understand the complexities of economic inequality, the best specimen to use for the study is a family. In the study, the family’s income is under analysis, and then the family members ranked from the lowest income earner to the highest income earner. After the ranking, the incomes aid in establishing a Lorenz curve that is important in analysis of income. In order for a

Supply Chain Management Essay Example for Free

Supply Chain Management Essay Storage has always been an important aspect of economic development. For manufacturers, strategic warehousing offered a way to reduce holding or dwell time of materials and parts. On the outbound side of manufacturing, warehouses can be used to create product assortments for customer shipment. An important charge in warehousing is maximum flexibility. Ideally a warehouse will simultaneously provide economic and service benefits. Warehouses offer many economic benefits for companies. One economic benefit of a warehouse is derived from the ability to consolidate products from a number of production plants into large, consolidated shipments delivered to customers. Also, big shipments from production plants are often broken into smaller shipments and arranged for local delivery. Break bulk shipments significantly reduce freight costs. In addition, warehouses allow production to be postponed or delayed until actual demand is certain. Once demand is determined in terms of product type and quantity, minor processing can quickly make final products available, reducing inventory requirements. Warehouses also provide buffers for seasonality, improve production efficiency, and support marketing efforts that often send logistics managers scrambling to meet surges in demand. Economic benefits of warehousing occur when overall logistics costs are reduced. For example, if adding a warehouse in a logistical system reduces overall transportation cost by an amount greater than required investment and operational cost, then total cost will be reduced. When total cost reductions are achievable, the warehouse is economically justified. Four basic economic benefits are: Consolidation and Break-bulk, Sorting, Seasonal storage, and Reverse logistics. The economic benefits of consolidation and break-bulk are to reduce transportation cost by using warehouse capability to increase shipment economies of scale. Consolidation occurs when a warehouse pull together small shipments from a number of sources and combine them into larger, more economical, shipping loads intended for same location. Small, flexible shipment in. Large, economical shipments out. The benefits of consolidation are the lower in transportation cost as goods could be ship full truckload and quicker delivery instead of transporting the products as small shipments from different sources. With larger volume, you are able to get the lower rates, improved service, shorter transit time and less handling of your freight. Economy of scale is achieved by transporting the large shipment from origin to destination. Break-bulk occurs when a warehouse receive bulk shipments and breaking these small shipments for delivery to various customer. Break-bulk warehouse operations are similar to consolidation except there no storage is performed. The long-distance transportation movement is a large shipment, transport cost is lower and there is less difficulty in tracking. Both consolidation and break-bulk arrangement use warehouse capacity to improve transportation efficiency. Many logistical arrangement involve both consolidation and break-bulk. How do warehouses perform assortment? The basic benefit of sorting is done to reconfigure freight as it flows from origin to destination. There are three types of assortments performed in the warehouses namely – Cross docking, Mixing, and Assembly are widely performed in logistical systems. The objective of cross-docking is to combine inventory from multiple origins into an assortment for a specific customer. This operation is used by retailers for the fast moving store inventories. The distributor cross dock process consolidates inbound products from different vendor into mixed product pallet, which is delivered to the customer when the final item is received. The transportation cross dock process combines shipments from a number of different carriers in the less-than-truckload ( LTL ) and small package industries to gain economy of scale. The retail cross dock process involves the receipt of products from multiple vendors and sorting onto outbound trucks for a number of retail stores. The benefits of cross docking is to reduction in cost, as the product no longer requires picking and put away in the warehouse. The reduction in time from production to customer, which helps improve customer satisfaction. The reduction in the need for warehouse space, as there is no requirement to storage of products. The objective of supply mixing is to support manufacturing operations. Products and components are supplied to a mixing warehouse located in close proximity to the manufacturing plant, when requested by the plant, necessary sortation will be carried out and ship to the plant directly. It is a popular strategy to support manufacturing firms with JIT (Just-In-Time) and MRP ( Materials Requirement Planning) system. Mixing is performed at an intermediate location between shipment origin and destination. In this process the inbound products are combined with those regularly stored at the warehouse. The net effect is to reduce the overall product storage in a logistical system while achieving customer specific assortment and minimizing transportation cost. Assembly supports manufacturing operations. The components from a variety of second tier suppliers are assembled in a warehouse located close to the manufacturing plant. Products and components are assembled from a variety of second-tier suppliers by a warehouse, often referred to as lead suppliers or tier one suppliers, located in close proximity to the manufacturing plant. While manufacturing organizations have traditionally performed assembly, it has become common to utilize value-added services performed by a lead or tier one supplier or an integrated service provider (ISP) to sort, sequence, and deliver components when needed in manufacturing. Like cross-docking and mixing, assembly serves to achieve a process grouping of inventory at a precise time and location. The direct economic benefit of storage is to accommodate seasonal production or demand. For example, Santa Clarita storage and toys are typically produced year-round but are sold only during a very short marketing period. In contrast, agricultural products are harvested at specific times, with subsequent consumption occurring throughout the year. Both situations require inventory storage to support marketing efforts. Storage provides an inventory buffer, which allows production efficientcies within the constraints imposed by material sources and consumers. Reverse logistics is concerned with controlled and regular inventory. Controlled inventory consists of hazardous materials and product recalls that have potential consumer health or environmental considerations. The reclamation of controlled inventory must be performed under strict operating scrutiny that prevents improper disposal. As one might expect, varied governmental agencies, such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Department of Transportation (DOT), the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), are directly involved in disposal of controlled inventory. A broader perspective includes all relating to logistics activities carried out in source reduction, recycling, substitution, reuse of materials and disposal† , Council of Logistics Management. This means that, reverse logistics are basically discarded products, used products, products or parts previously shipped, hazardous and non-hazardous waste from packages and products, information, raw material, in process inventory and finished goods. Currently, reverse logistics deals not only with return processing but also with repair, customer service, parts management, end-of-life manufacturing and order fulfillment. Less attention has traditionally focused on reclamation of regular inventory.

Indias Foreign Policy Towards China: An Analysis

Indias Foreign Policy Towards China: An Analysis KAUTILYAS THOUGHTS ON FOREIGN POLICY AND ANALYSE ITS RELEVANCE TO MODERN INDIA PARTICULARLY WITH REGARDS TO CHINA CHAPTER I METHODOLOGY General 1. The making of foreign policy is an exercise to achieve ends and means of a nation state. Conceptually it is based on long term goals and related short term objectives. It is the product of past history, geography, evolving national power and prevalent international environment, which is largely out of countrys control[1]. 2. Indian Foreign Policy towards China was initially based on idealism of Nehru, steered towards realism by Mrs Indira Gandhi, asserted by Rajiv Gandhi and culminated with India going overtly nuclear under Vajpayee in May 1998. From Hindi-Chini bhai bhai to potential enemy number one to great friend, India just does not know how to deal with its neighbourhood dragon that has played its cards so skilfully vis-à  -vis India. 3. Indias dominant geostrategic location, vast natural and technological manpower resources, a vibrant emerging economy backed by strong military and nuclear capability, visible soft power and presence of the Indian Diaspora the world over, make it an ideal candidate to be a major player in the world in general and South Asian region in particular. 4. India and China are the two major powers in Asia with global aspirations and some significant conflicting interests. As a result, some amount of friction in their bilateral relationship is inevitable. The geopolitical reality of Asia makes sure that it will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for Hindi-Chini to be bhai-bhai (brothers) in the foreseeable future. If India and China continue to rise in the next few years, a security competition between the two regional giants will be all but inevitable. If India is serious about its desire to emerge as a major global power, then it will have to tackle the challenge of Chinas rise. A rising China will not tolerate a rising India as its peer competitor. Even if a rising India does not have any intention of becoming a regional hegemon, China will try its best to constrain India as it has already done to a large extent. And it is that containment that India has to guard against. India should make a serious attempt to manage the fr ictions by expanding the zone of cooperation with allies even as it tries to steadfastly pursue its national interests. 5. Indian foreign policy agenda should be driven by only Indias national security imperatives. India needs to be more pro-active, consistent, and realistic when engaging China. It is time for India to realise that Its great power aspirations cannot be realised without a cold-blooded realistic assessment of its own strategic interests in an anarchic international system where there are no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests. 6. It would be prudent to look, into the wisdom of Kautilyas , Arthashastra, a treatise on polity and statecraft to learn the lessons on war and strategy , national power and national security and threat perception and threat assessment. Statement of Problem 7. To study Kautilyas thoughts on strategy and analyse its relevance to the present day Indian Geo-political environment with particular regards to China. Justification of the Study 8. Kautilyas Arthashastra has been recognised the world over as an invaluable treatise on all facets of statecraft and polity. Its eternal wisdom and timelessness can be gauged from the fact that it is still quoted by scholars, academicians, bureaucrats and soldiers alike the world over. The interest generated in this epic illustrates that the thoughts on strategy to sustain and advance a state still provides valuable lessons. The twentieth century which has seen two world wars of long duration and host of other conflicts worldwide has also generated a fairly large number of studies on strategy commensurate with the advances in technology and new methods in warfare. But there is certain universality about classical strategic thoughts which prompts academics and scholars to go back to these works both in terms of comparative analysis and their reinterpretation in the changing world. 9. Strategy over the ages has been defined in different ways reflective of the times in which they were made and the existing interstate relations and economic and social state of a nation. Higher or Grand strategy is hardly understood nor does it seem to have been practised in India. It is therefore important to study the various facets of this vital subject as propounded by Kautilya in his Arthashastra, as it is so critical for the existence and security of a nation. Scope 10. The Arthashastra is a compendium on various aspects of statecraft and lays down measures to be followed by a king to sustain and advance a state. The contents of this treatise are very exhaustive covering a broad spectrum to include the minor details at one end to grand strategy on the other. However this study concentrates on the various facets of stratagem enunciated by Kautilya and analyse their relevance to modern India particularly with regards to China Method of Data Collection 11. All the information for this study has been gathered from various books (refer bibliography) and internet. Content 12. Background. Kautilyas Arthashastra is an excellent treatise on statecraft, economic policy and military strategy. It is said to have been written by Kautilya, also known by the name Chanakya or Vishnugupta, the prime minister of Indias first great emperor, Chandragupta Maurya. This chapter will include the following:- (a) Authenticity and date of Arthashastra. (b) Historical account of life of Kautilya. 13. Kautilyas Foreign Policy. In Interstate relations power constitutes the ability of a nation to impose its will on another nation despite resistance. This Chapter will include:- (a) Saptanga concept of state. Kautilyas theory of the state describes the seven constituent elements of any state[2] and is an exposition of the theory of the Circle of States (The mandala theory) as the basis for a foreign policy of expansion by conquest. The seven constituents are the basis of the national power and happiness. He then relates as to how national power varies due to expansion or calamities and how pursuance of national interest is directly related to the possession of national power. (b) Postulates of foreign policy. As a political realist, Kautilya assumed that every nation acts to maximize power and self-interest, and therefore moral principles or obligations have little or no force in actions among nations[3]. Kautilyas postulates on foreign policy international relations, national security to include internal and external security, war waging methodology to include Mantrayuddha or War by Counsel, Prakasayuddha or Open War, kutayuddha or Concealed War, Gudayuddha or Clandestine War. 14. Mandala Concept as the Basis of National Strategy. Kautilya, says that the the aggressor (Vijigishu), should conclude, peace when he finds that he is weaker than the enemy[4]; he should wage war when he finds himself to be stronger; he should adopt neutrality when assesses that neither he nor his enemy can settle the score; he should seek refuge when he is weak; and he should adopt the duel policy in a contingency requiring the help from, another ruler. War and foreign policy issues are thus decided in an ad hoc framework of political expediency. When progress is equally attainable by means of peace and war, Kautilya says that the former is to be preferred. This is so, for war involves expenditure in men and money, residence in a foreign land, and suffering.This chapter will include the following:- (a) Mandala Theory. Kautilya believed that countries which shared a common border were natural enemies. However, any state on the other side of that enemy is a natural choice for an ally for they, too, are at risk from the same enemy. In other words, he believed in the principle of â€Å"the enemy of my enemy is my friend.† The idea is best envisioned by a series of concentric circles (not a normal configuration of states, admittedly, but easier to describe), which actually makes them look a bit like a mandala. (b) Potential enemies. â€Å"A neighboring prince possessed of the excellences of an enemy is the foe; one in calamity is vulnerable; one without support or with weak support is fit to be exterminated; in the reverse case, fit to be harassed or weakened. These are the different types of enemies[5].† (c) Alliances. A perfect ally is said to have six qualities,namely, constant, under control, quickly mobilising, hereditary, great and not given to double dealing. (d) The six measures of foreign policy. Kautilya however believes that there are spin-offs of these, thus providing six methods of foreign policy. These are making peace, waging war, staying quiet, preparing for war, seeking support, and the dual policy of making peace with one while waging war against another[6]. Ones circumstances will dictate which methods should be used. 15. Application of Mandala Theory in the Contemporary Indian geo-political Scenario. This Chapter will include the classification of friends, enemies, potential enemies, and likely allies on the basis of Mandala theory. 16. Implication of Chinas Rise in Indian Perspective. This chapter will include the following:- (a) Chinas comprehensive strategy. (b) Chinese Balance of power strategy in Asia. (c) Chinese economic Strategy. (d) Chinas encirclement policy. (e) Relationship with Indias neighbours. (f) Chinas perception of India. (g) Indias perception of China. (h) Implication of Chinas strategy on Indias security. 17. Application of Kautilyan Wisdom in Sino-Indian Relations. This chapter will include the following:- (a) Chinese critical vulnerabilities. (b) Indian options to counter Chinese threat. (c) Suggested Indian Strategy against China. â€Å"Miraculous results can be achieved by practising the methods of subversion†. Kautilya CHAPTER II BACKGROUND General 1. Kautilya, also known as Chanakya [7]or Vishnugupta, was an Indian statesman and philosopher who lived around 350 B.C.E. He is one of the most famous Indian political thinkers who participated in the social and political revolutions of his age. Though he lived a long time ago, certain principles from his theory are still relevant in todays context. His most famous work is Arthashastra, translated differently by various authors, but in its most acceptable meaning, the â€Å"science of political economy[8].† The book, written in Sanskrit, discusses theories and principles of governing a state. Arthashastra remains unique in all of Indian literature because of its unabashed advocacy of realpolitik. Indian scholars continued to study it for its clear-cut arguments and formal prose till the twelfth century. After that period it lost its significance. It has again become the focus of attention of thinkers who want to see a change in the Indian foreign policy[9]. 2. Kautilya was a Brahmin minister under Chandragupta Maurya[10], the first king of the great Mauryan Empire in India. The empire was the largest and most powerful political and military empire of ancient India. It was founded in 321 B.C.E. by Chandragupta Maurya[11], who had overthrown the Nanda Dynasty and begun expanding his power across central and western India. The Empire stretched to the North along the natural boundaries of the Himalayas, and to the east stretching into what is now Assam. To the West, it reached beyond modern Pakistan and included Baluchistan in Persia and significant portions of what is now Afghanistan, including the modern Herat and Kandahar provinces. 3. Many call Kautilya the first political realist in the world.[12] His work differed from existing political theory in that it talked about ways of running the administration which were based more on self interest than on morality. The frank and brutal advice he offers the king in his treatise makes Machiavellis â€Å"The Prince† seem mild.[13] There are four different characteristics of a realist approach to international relations:[14] (a) The assumption that human nature is aggressive. (b) The belief that international relations will always be characterized by conflict. (c) The belief that the foremost goal of the king shall be the protection of the state and its people. (d) The belief that the state must be strong politically, economically, and militarily so as to minimize the possibility of an attack. 4. He thus talked about balance of power before this term was actually invented.[15] He said that the king should consider all his neighbors as his enemies and that any state on the opposite side of a neighbor is a potential ally. So, if countries were in a line, countries 1, 3, 5, 7 could be friends, as could 2, 4, and 6. But countries 1, 2, and 3 could never be friends. This status would change as soon as country 1 conquered country 2. From that very instant country 3 (a friend) would be the new enemy. This is called his ‘mandala theory.'[16] Arthashastra 5. It is necessary to bear in mind that the Arthashastra, â€Å"the science of wealth and warfare,† was just discovered and translated in the past century in Mysore by R. Shamasastry[17], and that until then, there was no knowledge of any such compilation, despite scant allusions made to an â€Å"Arthashastra,† and its alternative names â€Å"Nitisastra† and â€Å"Dandaniti,† in the Mahabharata[18].Thomas Trautmann dates the text to c.150 A.D. and, through rigorous statistical analysis, he concludes that the Arthashastra had several authors spanning a wide range of dates,[19] which adds to the puzzle of how historically obscure the text has been for over the past two millennia. Nevertheless, its secretive nature adds credence to its function as a handbook on efficient statecraft for kings and high-level ministers. 6. Artha has always been regarded as one of the four purusharthas,[20] yet its teachings have been relegated to animal fables and folklore. No such shastras seem to have been compiled for public knowledge, as was the case of the Dharmashastras and Kamashastras. In stark contrast to the latter, the manuscript discovered in 1902 by Shamasastry was compiled as a guidebook for kings and high-level officials, rather than the average individual. The result is a perspective advocating a top-down style of governance with little or no representation held by the general populace, and the continual maintenance of such a state with energetic leadership and extensive secret service. Though the king and upper echelons of society involuntarily accepted such authority because of religious ideals just as much as the general populace did, the Arthashastra suggests the existence of a small elite with a secular and realist outlook that actively worked to uphold this power scheme and determine the overal l course of the kingdom.[21] 7. It is for this reason that the Arthashastra advocates reordering the priorities of the purusharthas, by valuing materialism over religion and morality.[22] Similarly, R.P. Kangle notes that â€Å"these ideals are meant for individuals† and that the conduct of public life was not to be guided by these rules for individual morality[23]. Management of the state necessitated realism, not idealism. It required the prudence and precise calculation of measures undertaken alongside their short and long-term consequences, which formulated the theoretical beginnings of economics: â€Å"Wealth will slip away from that childish man who constantly consults the stars: the only [guiding] star of wealth is itself; what can the stars of the sky do? Man, without wealth, does not get it even after a hundred attempts. Just as elephants are needed to catch elephants, so does wealth capture more wealth[24].† Public welfare was contingent upon the strength of the state. The latter was achi eved by internal development or territorial expansion, both of which were realized through power[25]. 8. The Arthashastra regards both economics and foreign policy as zero-sum games: the state would need to prosper economically lest it be overtaken by wealthier imperialist neighbors or suffer from internal rebellion by discontented government officials and military leaders. Furthermore, internal development would naturally lead to population growth and would eventually necessitate expansion, which is why L.N. Rangarajan notes that â€Å"the aim of creating a well-run state is to provide the base for expansion. Continuing with this logic, Kautilya deals in Book 7 with all the theoretical possibilities of conducting an expansionist foreign policy.†[26] Hence, the prime motive of the state was the never-ending pursuit of artha. It is only after dedicating its energies to this end can the state or king then move on to fulfilling dharma and kama. 9. This Arthashastra is primarily a book of political realism where State is paramount and King shall carry out duties as advised in his book to preserve his state. For Kautilya, military strategy was an integral part of the science of polity[27] and he made no distinction between military techniques and statecraft. Kautilyas work is so deep rooted in realism that he goes to describe the gory and brutal means a King must adopt to be in power. This could have been one reason why Ashoka, the grandson of Chandragupta Maurya whom Kautilya advised renounced violence and war thus taking the path of Dharma or Morals. 10. I will also be making a few references to the other books of Arthashatra where topics of Management have been dealt with. The areas covered under Management include training, management education, leadership skills, selection of employees, consultation, crisis management, risk management, strategic management, corporate governance, information systems, intelligence network, competition, mergers and acquisitions, etc. among many others. Kautilya 11. There are a large of theories as to who Chanakya, or Kautilya or Vishnugupta , was. Kautilya was an enigmatic whose origin is shrouded in mystery. However, all sources of Indian tradition Brahmin, Buddhist and Jain agree that Kautilya destroyed the Nanda dynasty and installed Chandragupta Maurya on the throne of Magadha. 12. One theory about his origin is that Chanakya was a Kerala Brahmin who somehow reached the court of the Nanda king at Pataliputra[28]. The next theory is that Chanakya was a North Indian Brahmin born and educated in Taxila[29] and that he was physically ugly, had a disgusting complexion and his limbs were deformed. As per Jain tradition, his parents noticed that Chanakya was born with full set of teeth, a mark of future king. They had the teeth removed as either parent did not want him to become a King . He became a King maker instead. 13. At a very early age little Chanakya started studying Vedas. He later also studied politics and economics. As a student and later a professor, the University of Taxila became Chanakyas breeding ground of acquiring knowledge in the practical and theoretical aspects on all walks of life. However, with the Greek armies of Selucus threatening to invade India, and the various kingdoms in the subcontinent on the verge of war and aggression with each other, Chanakya left the university at Taxila, and proceeded in his own words to strengthen the country politically and economically and to save the country from the clutches of foreign invaders. 14. In Magadha, Chanakya was insulted by the King of Patliputra, Dhana Nanda and he vowed to destroy the Nanda dynasty. He came upon Chandragupta and together, Chanakya and Chandragupta set about attacking the Nanda kingdom until finally Chandragupta was installed as the king of Magadha[30]. According to written tradition, Chanakya was a fearless person, not afraid of death, disgrace or defeat. He was compassionate of the poor and evil to schemers. 15. Chanakya then retired from active life and reflected on all that he had learnt during the process of overthrowing Dhana Nanda. Since he found the earlier works on statecraft[31] unsatisfactory in many respects, he composed his own definitive work presenting his ideas concerning the ways in which a ruler should gain power and maintain his authority. For Chanakya, military strategy was an integral part of the science of polity and he made no distinction between military techniques and statecraft. Thus came into being the ‘Arthashastra. There is no doubt that this treatise is the work of a genius, who spoke of matters which have held relevance down the ages to contemporary times with striking infallibility. The military writings of Chanakya precede those of Machiavelli and Clausewitz by centuries but seldom has this fact been acknowledged much less credited outside India. â€Å"The king who understands the interdependence of the six methods of foreign policy, plays, as he pleases, with other rulers bound to him by the chains of his intellect†. Kautilya CHAPTER III KAUTILYAN FOREIGN POLICY Saptanga Concept Of State 16. Kautilyas theory of the state describes the seven constituent elements of any state[32] and is an exposition of the theory of the Circle of States (The mandala theory) as the basis for a foreign policy of expansion by conquest. Of the seven elements, six (the King, the ministers, the people, the fortified city, the Treasury and the army) are internal elements; only the ally is an element outside the borders. The structure and organization of the six internal elements of a well ordered state are fully developed and explained by Kautilya in books I to 5. The aim of creating a well-run state is to provide the base for expansion. Continuing this logic, Kautilya in Book 7 deaIs with all theoretical possibilities of conducting an expansionist foreign policy. Before a King actually sets out on an expedition of conquest he has to take steps to guard himself against the dangers which might weaken any of constituent elements of his own state. Kautilya uses the word calamity (vyasana) in th e precise sense of any event which weakens any constituent element of a state, thereby preventing it from being to its full potential in the conduct of foreign policy or war[33]. 17. This theory in one form or another (in part, as elements of national power), has survived to this very day as a mainstay of reflection and analysis of international politics. Kautilya enumerates the desirable qualities each of these elements should display and points out, too, that his list of elements is arranged in descending order of importance: each succeeding element is less important than the one before it, the king being most important of all. A ruler who possesses the elements of state and who wisely takes care of them will never be defeated, he says, and then devotes the whole of Book VIII[34] to a systematic analysis of the troubles and calamities which might befall each one of these elements (in other words, to their malfunctioning). 18. The king is the focal point of analysis; he strives to maintain and improve his position knowing that the determinants of status in international society are two: power and happiness: The possession of power and happiness in a greater degree makes a king superior to another; in a lesser degree, inferior; and in an equal degree, equal. Hence a king shall always endeavour to augment his power and elevate his happiness. 19. Neither power nor happiness is clearly or exhaustively defined or analysed. We know, however, that power is to be understood as strength and that it has three components[35]:- (a) Mantrashakti; Power of counsel, deliberation or decision-making, including capacity for intrigue. (b) Prabhushakti; The treasury and the army. (c) Utsahashakti; Resolve and determination. 20. Thus power refers essentially to activity and application of the elements of the state, just mentioned. Happiness on the other hand is that which can be attained by the use of power. It is to some degree a measure of success of foreign policy and the implementation of its objectives, but it also indicates those qualities such as righteousness and also internal stability and not power alone that enter into the determination of international status. 21. A kings position is not, however, unchanging; his status relative to another king is variable and needs continuous attention. A king prevents deterioration in his position and secures an improvement (a desire for which is a built-in feature of the system) in two ways: by attention to the elements of his power, and by external action. Kautilya enjoins the ruler to pursue power investment: a wise king adopts policies that add to the resources of his country and enable him to build forts, to construct buildings and commercial roads, to open new plantations and villages, to exploit mines and timber and elephant forests, and at the same time to harass similar works of the enemy[36]. Status is also obviously affected by successes in military and other fields, but the king is cautioned to rely on strengthening his own power before embarking upon foreign adventures. According to Kautilya, and here is one of the more interesting portions of his analysis, the kings status read national pow er determines his foreign policy. That policy differs according to whether it is directed toward kings who are superior, inferior or equal to him. The bulk of the international portions of the Arthashastra are a discussion of the policies that may be appropriately pursued by superior or inferior kings[37]. Postulates Of Foreign Policy 22. As a political realist, Kautilya assumed that every nation acts to maximize power and self-interest, and therefore moral principles or obligations have little or no force in actions among nations[38]. While it is good to have an ally, the alliance will last only as long as it is in that allys as well as ones own self-interest, because an ally looks to the securing of his own interests in the event of simultaneity of calamities and in the event of the growth of the enemys power[39]. Whether one goes to war or remains at peace depends entirely upon the self-interest of, or advantage to, ones kingdom: War and peace are considered solely from the point of view of profit. One keeps an ally not because of good will or moral obligation, but because one is strong and can advance ones own self-interest as well as the self-interest of the ally, for when one has an army, ones ally remains friendly, or (even) the enemy becomes friendly.[40] Because nations always act in their political, econ omic, and military self-interest, even times of peace have the potential to turn abruptly into times of war, allies into enemies, and even enemies into allies. Kautilya probably assumed that peaceful empires cannot last forever, and that conflict among smaller states is more common in history. 23. For Kautilya, this principle of foreign policy that nations act in their political, economic, and military self-interest was a timeless truth of his science of politics, or arthasastra. He did not believe that nations never act in an altruistic manner indeed, Kautilya advocated humanitarian acts that also coincided with ones self-interest but he did believe that one must assume, if entrusted with political or military power that ones neighbours will eventually act in their own interests. Put another way, one would be betraying ones own people if one did not assume a worst-case scenario. A nation forced to rely on the kindness of neighbouring states is weak and, unless it can change rapidly, doomed to destruction. 24. Arthashastra is concerned with the security and foreign policy needs of a small state, in an environment with numerous other small states. The scope for enlargement of this small state was limited to the Indian subcontinent. The area extending from the Himalayas in the north to the sea in the south and a thousand yojanas[41] wide from East to West is the area of operation of the King-Emperor'[42]. Territories beyond the subcontinent are not included, probably for the reason that the conqueror is expected to establish in the conquered territories a social order based on the Aryas dharma, varna and ashrama system. Kautilya perhaps considered the establishment of such a social order outside the limits of India impractical or even undesirable[43]. 25. The guiding principles which govern the Kautilyan theory of foreign policy are[44]:- (a) A king shall develop his state, i.e., augment its resources and power in order to enable him to embark on a campaign of conquest; (b) The enemy shall be eliminated; (c) Those who help are friends; (d) A prudent course shall always be adopted; (e) Peace is to be preferred to war; and (f) A kings behaviour, in victory and in defeat, must be just. 26. The first verse of {6.2}, ‘Sama vyayamau yogakshemayoryonih ‘The welfare of a state [ensuring the security of the state within its existing boundaries and acquiring new territory to enlarge it] depends on adopting a policy of non-intervention or overt action establish the basis for all foreign policy. 27. This non-intervention, a method designed to build up confidence between kings, is to be understood in a specialized sense. It is not a policy of doing nothing but the deliberate choice of a policy of keeping away from foreign entanglements, in order to enjoy the fruits of past acquisitions by consolidating them. 28. Vyayama, (industry or activity) implies an active foreign policy, Yoga, the objective of enlargement of ones power and influence, and, through these, ones territory. These are the two stages of policy. Both depend on the state making progress, either materially in terms of its treasury and army or diplomatically in terms of its relations with other states. 29. The problem of defence of a state is intimately bound up with the question of its foreign relations. It is from hostile states that the state needs to be defended. Foreign relations are mainly discussed from the stand point of the â€Å"Vijigisu†[45]. In other words, it seeks to show how a state, desirous of extending its influence and expanding its territory, should conduct its relations with foreign states. A states position is determined by its relative progress or relative decline vis-a-vis other states in the neighbourhood. 30. The most important of a kings neighbours is the ‘enemy. Among the states surrounding a kingdom, there is always one who is the natural enemy. Presumably, this is the one neighbour who has designs on the king and, in the absence of any action, will be out to attack the king. The other neighbours may be hostile (aribhavi), friendly (mitrabhavi) or vassal (bhrityabhavi). There may also be a small buffer state between the king and the enemy (antardih). However, the main target of the conqueror is always the designated natural enemy; ‘one cannot make peace with an enemy'[46]. The reason for many aspects of the analysis of foreign policy being couched in terms of the conqueror out manoeuvring the enemy, is that the enemy is also the target of the diplomacy of the conqueror. When the conditions are ripe, a military campaign will be undertaken against him. 31. Allies are important; in fact, allies are described as a ‘constituent element of a state, the only external constituent. An alliance is based on giving help. â€Å"A friend is ever a well-wisher†[47]. Kautilya gives us a comprehensive analysis of the type of kings with whom an alliance is desirable and the types of allies based on their character and motivation. 32. Since prudence should always govern choice of policy, Kautilya is against both spineless submission and foolhardy valour[48]. Therefore, peace should always be preferred to war: ‘When the degree of progress is the same in pursu UK Construction Industry: Health and Safety Analysis UK Construction Industry: Health and Safety Analysis To formulate a Comparative Analysis of the Health and Safety Practices and Procedures to the UK Construction Industry and their application to a Large Commercial Construction Organisation Rebecca Barraclough Table of Contents (Jump to) Rationale Introduction Aims, Objectives Hypothesis Aims Objectives Hypothesis Null Hypothesis Initial Literature Review Methodology 1. Rationale The increased emphasis on health and safety in the construction industry in more recent years is the key influence of this study. In particular the company I am employed by has upped its game in terms of safety measures and places a substantial emphasis on the importance of health and safety. I feel a comparative analysis of the companys performance in comparison to how the rest of the industry is performing would provide them with beneficial information and help to identify strengths and weaknesses within the company. 2. Introduction Health and safety within the workplace has come a long way particularly since the introduction of the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) 1974. Historically people often accepted that accidents and ill-health were all part of having a job and greater risks were taken without much regard to safety measures. Over time health and safety within the work place has become increasingly dominant with a greater emphasis on safety measures. However, although statistics produced by the Health and safety Executive shows there has been a decline in the number of work place accidents, in the period of 2015/2016 alone 1.3 million working people suffered from a work-related illness. (HSE.gov) It is clear that this still remains a dominant issue and there is room for improvement. Employees, members of public and visitors equally have a right to protection of their health and safety when in and around a work place. Legislation and regulations are firmly in place to regulate this; often issues are identified and improvement notices are issued nevertheless more serious injuries and fatalities are covered by Criminal Law and could lead to major fines and even imprisonment. As reported by the Health and Safety Executive the construction industry is a major employer equating to around 6% of the workforce in the UK. This study will look into the background of health and safety in construction, analysing accident statistics and safety measures. It will include a comparative analysis of the performance of a large commercial construction company compared with other leading contractors within the industry. 3. Aims, Objectives Hypothesis 3.1 Aims To analyse health, safety and welfare performance within the construction industry Compare the performance of a large commercial construction organisation to the wider industry and evaluate behavioural safety within the organisation 3.2 Objectives Background to construction health safety and welfare performance over the last 10 years To identify the 5 highest risk activities in the construction industry and the safety measures implemented to reduce the risk. Compare the performance of a large commercial construction organisation in comparison of how the rest of the industry is performing and evaluate their behavioural safety culture To capture and appraise any emerging trends to consider areas of good performance and possible areas of improvement 3.3 Hypothesis Statistics will show that there has been a decrease in the number of accidents reported to the Health and Safety Executive within the construction industry over the past 10 years 3.4 Null hypothesis Statistics will show that there has been an increase in the number of accidents reported to the Health and Safety Executive within the construction industry over the past 10 years 4. Initial Literature Review 4.1 Health and Safety Defined Health and Safety in general terms can be defined as Regulations and procedures intended to prevent accident or injury in workplaces or public environments (oxforddictionaries.com) 4.2 Health and Safety at Work Everyday masses of people leave the safety of their homes to go to work and earn a living; it is their right to return home at the end of the day free from injury and ill-health. Not only do employers have responsibilities to keep their employees safe but individuals also have a duty to protect their own wellbeing. 4.3 Health and Safety at Work Ack 1974 (HSWA) The Health and Safety at Work Act was introduced in 1974 in attempts to improve health, safety and welfare within the work place. In England, Scotland and Wales this is the primary legislation of health and safety and sets out stringent guidelines and regulations, it also imposes legal duties on both employees and employers. Considerable amount of the legislation within the Act incorporates the recommendations made by Lord Roben in his health and safety at work report, published in 1972. The report aimed to identify any improvements necessary to the health and safety of persons at work by reviewing current provisions. Some of the legal duties imposed on both employers and employees are set out below: Employers Responsibilities; Protect the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees Provide and maintain plant and systems of work that are safe and without risk to health Have arrangements for ensuring safety and absence of risk to health in connection with use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances Provide such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure health and safety at work of employees Maintain any place of work under their control in a condition that is safe and without risk to health, and with access to and egress from it, that are safe and without such risks Provide and maintain an environment that is safe, without risks to health and adequate as regards with the welfare of employees (citb 2015, pg 5) Employees Responsibilities: Take responsible care for the health and safety of themselves or others who may be affected by their acts or omissions Co-operate with their employer in all matters relating to health and safety Not intestinally or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interests of health, safety or welfare Use anything provided by the employer in accordance with instructions Report anything that is thought to be dangerous (citb 2015, pg 6) 4.4 The Health and Safety Commission The Royal Assent of the HSWA was followed by the formation of the The Health and Safety Commission (HSC). The primary responsibility of the HSCs was to ensure the security of peoples health, safety and welfare at work, to protect the public from potential harm caused by work situations and to provide guidance about the provisions enforced with in the Act to local authorities and the Health and Safety Executives. 4.5 The Health and Safety Executive 1975 saw the introduction of The Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The remit of the HSE was to enforce health and safety legislation within the workplace, they consist of health and safety inspectors who visit a workplace without notice and carry out inspections. They have the authority to issue improvement notices or prohibition notices when company/individuals are in breach of health and safety law or in some cases prosecute. 4.6 Health and Safety in Construction The construction industry is diverse and could be seen as one of the higher risk industries due to the nature of works and specialist activities that take place on a construction site. The HSE collate data and statistics on accident rates within the industry, research suggests that 5% of the UK industry is made up from construction. Although this appears to be minimal, figures show that 10% of minor injuries and 22% of fatalities reported occur within this sector. In the period of 2015-2016 they reported that 43 fatalities occurred in the construction industry alone. They estimate that around 4% of employees in construction are affected by a work related illness each year and 3% sustain an injury through work. This would equate to 2.2 million working days lost. With all of this in mind it is clear that the emphasis of health and safety needs to remain a dominant influence. 4.7 Build UK Build UK focuses on key industry issues that can deliver change and enable the construction supply chain to improve the efficiency and delivery of construction projects for the benefit of the UK economy. (builduk.org) Health and safety is one of the issues focused on by Build UK, they aim to identify common standards that would improve health and safety performance and continually strive to improve the management of safety. Currently 27 large contractors are members of Build UK and their accident statistics are recorded annually. Such figures would from a basis for a comparative analysis between some of the leading contractors in the UK in terms of safety performance. 4.8 Statistics At first glance it appears that there has been a decline in the in number of accidents occurring in the construction industry each year. The table below was taken from the labour force survey and shows the trend of self-reported none-fatal injuries per 100,000 workers between the years 2000 to 2016; Source: Labour Force Survey (LFS) 4.9 Behavioural Safety Often many accidents in the workplace could be easily avoided, a significant amount of accidents are caused by unreasonable behaviour or ignorance. Using behavioural safety models within a work place encourages manager and workforce participation and can often influence peoples attitudes and behaviours towards safety. It promotes communication and reinforces safe behaviour. Below is the model used in the behavioural safety programme; Source HSE.GOV 5. Methodology Research can be described as a method of finding out new facts and drawing up conclusions, it is also a way of expanding existing knowledge. Triangulation Triangulation in research can be defined as; using two or more sources using two or more methods more than one researcher exploring the same object A triangulation method is to be used in this study to gather a varied amount of data to reflect the industry and increase validity. Both primary and secondary research will be incorporated; the source of the secondary research will be textbooks, official publications and official statistics. The primary research will include a mixed method approach of questionnaires and interviews. Methodological Model Data Collection Both the primary and secondary research will incorporate a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods in attempts to increase the validity of the information collected. There are advantages of both methods; Quantitative; Data can be collected and analysed within a reasonable amount of time Results taken from a sample can be generalized if the response rate is reasonably high and if the sample is representable It is often reliable and repeatable research It can be anonymous and ethical Qualitative; Topics can be explored in depth and with greater detail Uses subjective information Offers flexibility as fewer participants are needed Semi-structured questionnaires including both open and closed ended question will be sent out to participants, a representable sample will be used from the hierarchy of construction to increase the validity of the data; In attempts to increase the response rate a percentage of the questionnaires will be handed out following on from a site induction, I predict that 100% of these will be completed. The remaining will be emailed or handed out in person, in total I estimate that 70% of all questionnaires will returned. Interviews will be carried out as the second part of the primary research; the interviewees will be within a large commercial construction organisation and will include a health and safety manager, a site manager and an operative. There will also be an interview carried on an employee of the HSE; this will be to gain an outside non bias perspective. Data Analysis https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/health_and_safety http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/history/index.htm http://www.chsg.co.uk/news/health-and-safety-in-the-uk-construction-industry/ http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/ http://www.hse.gov.uk/STATISTICS/industry/construction/construction.pdf http://www.kier.co.uk/~/media/Files/K/Kier/Annual%20Reports/annual-reports-2016/download/Kier%20CR%20reporting%20guidelines%20rev%201.pdf

Cyrano de Bergerac: Cyranos Qualities :: Cyrano De Bergerac Essays

Throughout Edmond Rostand’s classic play, Cyrano de Bergerac, the title character, Cyrano, is a passionate writer whose complex and rich personal qualities are the foundation of his peerless eloquence. Cyrano’s unrivaled sense of humor is a defense against those who humiliate him for his outlandish appearance. For example, during the â€Å"nose† speech, Cyrano challenges Valvert with twenty stunningly varied and complex alternative suggestions, one more stinging than the next, to replace Valvert’s banal attempt at insult. Cyrano's retaliation against Valvert's feeble attempt at embarrassment backfires as Cyrano destroys his opponent with a tirade of ingenious examples of how better to insult "the nose": â€Å"It’s a rock, a peak, a cape! No, more than a cape: a peninsula!† (41). In addition to Cyrano’s wit, his language is deeply thought-out and rich with poetic imagination. Cyrano amplifies upon a single word by using concr ete words to spin a simple concept into a memorable poetic experience. Cyrano illustrates the value of Christian’s need for a kiss from Roxane: â€Å"After all, what is a kiss? A vow made at closer range, a more precise promise, a confession that contains its own proof, a seal placed on a pact that has already been signed; it’s a secret told to the mouth rather than to the ear, a fleeting moment filled with the hush of eternity†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (126). Furthermore, it is in compensation for Cyrano’s great suffering that his verbal style is so sensitive and brilliant. He will always love in vain: 2 â€Å"Look at me and tell me what hope this protuberance might leave me!†¦I go into a garden, smelling the fragrance of spring with my poor monstrous nose, and watch a man and a woman strolling together in the moonlight. I think how much I, too, would like to be walking arm in arm with a woman, under the moon† (51). Incorporating cleverness and eloquence into his language, Cyrano replies to Le Bret’s sympathy with the response that he would never let a â€Å"sublime† tear be lowered by having to run down such an ugly nose.

The Relationship of Macbeth and His Wife in Act 1 Scene 5 and 7

The Relationship of Macbeth and his wife in Act 1 Scene 5 and 7 From the beginning of the play, the relationship between Macbeth and his wife seem to be the expected partnership in romance, however, as the play progresses, our expectations seems to change for the worst. We are informed that Macbeth desires to be King of Scotland and initially, his wife appears to be supportive of him as a wife should be but her response to this changes quite drastically as we read further on. We are first introduced to Lady Macbeth when she reads the letter which Macbeth sent to her recapping his encounter with the three witches.She now becomes aware of Macbeth’s wish to become king but she knows that his conscience inhibits him from partaking in any risky business. She uses the phrase â€Å"yet do I fear thy nature, is too full o’th’milk of human kindness†¦ † in her opening soliloquy which suggests that he is a very kind and worthy gentleman. â€Å"Thou wouldst be g reat, art not without ambition but without the illness should attend it. † She explains how he has the ambition to become king but lacks the boldness to become violent if needed to get the crown.This helps to show how sensible and timid Macbeth can be and why Lady Macbeth has to intervene to make the situation progress further. To our surprise, Lady Macbeth appears to be the complete opposite of her husband’s supposed character. She is determined to make sure that Macbeth becomes king under any circumstances that need to be undertaken. At the end of her soliloquy, she says â€Å"Hie thee hither, that I may pour out my spirits to thine ear, and chastise with the valour of my tongue all that impedes thee from the golden round†¦ which means that she wishes to persuade and talk him out of whatever may be keeping him from seizing the crown. This furthermore emphasizes her persistence to crown him as king and shower her with glory. Throughout this act, Lady Macbeth appe ars to be the stronger partner and this is reflected when she calls upon supernatural powers, much greater than her own, to make her less of a woman and more like a man. â€Å"Come, you spirits that tend on moral thoughts, unsex me here and fill from the crown to the toe topfull of direst cruelty†¦ She has made herself aware that she has to uphold the greater position in the relationship so that their aim of getting the crown is accomplished. The audience finds this act quite shocking as females are meant to be the fairer sex. During the rest of her call to the spirits, she develops the sense of maliciousness and ruthlessness which accentuates the depth of her serious attitude. At this point in the play, the audience has reached a full understanding of Macbeth and his wife’s ambition.When Macbeth is introduced in Scene 5, he begins with â€Å"my dearest love† focusing on Lady Macbeth which shows the position he holds his wife at proving quite admirable to the aud ience. However, Lady Macbeth shows no mercy to the situation. King Duncan planned to go to the castle that night and wished to leave tomorrow but Lady Macbeth’s response to this was â€Å"O never shall sun that morrow see† which implies he will not be leaving tomorrow leading to the cruel suggestion of death. This line reflects her decisive character showing that she is taking the lead role here.She also teaches Macbeth the way in which he must deceive Duncan and instructs him on the arts of hypocrisy as she says â€Å"†¦ look like th’innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t. † By using this metaphor, it shows that she is manipulating Macbeth and challenges his feelings of guilt and pity for Duncan and replaces them with demeaning and spiteful emotions. Lady Macbeth encourages him to be deceitful to his loyal and trusting leader that is Duncan and the audience can begin to make the judgement that the evil spirits are now manifesting in Lady Macbeth’s heart from her evil suggestions.She knows that Macbeth hasn’t got what it takes to make this plan work so she takes the leading role by saying ‘Leave all the rest to me† at the end of Scene 5. At the beginning of Scene 7 opening with Macbeth’s soliloquy, we as the audience, really get a sense of guilt that seeps through Macbeth. This is beyond his usual attitude so this is hard for him to cope with. He knows how much he wants to be king but what frightens him the most are the consequences. He uses the metaphor â€Å"If th’assassination could trammel up the consequence and catch with his surcease, success†¦ e’d jump the life to come†¦ † which translated means â€Å"If this assassination could work like a net and prevent any consequences, he would be more than happy to risk the afterlife to do so. † Macbeth knows that Duncan is a highly respected man because of his good intentions and purely hearted natu re so he is afraid if he is made known to the people that he is responsible, the chances of him becoming king will be shattered. He contemplates the idea of killing Duncan and weighs up the advantages and disadvantages. The only know advantage is that he will become King.However, the disadvantages are what he already is considered to Duncan. â€Å"First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, strong both against the deed; then as his host who should against his murderer shut the door, not bear the knife myself. † This quote from Scene 7 shows that Macbeth is in conflict with what Lady Macbeth is instructing and his loyal personality is urging him not to fulfil the â€Å"horrid deed†. After considering what a â€Å"meek† leader Duncan was, we as the audience can really depict a picture as to what Macbeth was emoting.When Lady Macbeth enters, Macbeth’s final decision has now been displayed. â€Å"We will proceed no further in this business. He hath honoured me of late†¦ † He has decided to cancel the plan because of how nicely Duncan had treated him that evening. The amount of guilt was too much for him to bear so the easiest escape for him was to abort the business. To his misfortune, Lady Macbeth did not take the current news very lightly. She begins to bombard him with insults and various accusations. â€Å"Art thou afeard to be the same in thine own act and valour, as thou art in desire? Lady Macbeth begins to question him and whether he is afraid to do what he must to achieve what he desires. As she has handed herself to the powers of darkness, she speaks to him brutally by saying â€Å"Was the hope drunk wherein you dressed yourself? Hath it slept since? † suggesting that he was drunk when he made the decision to kill Duncan. He raging fury increases furthermore when she says â€Å"Which thou esteem’st the ornament of life, and live a coward in thine own esteem, letting I dare not wait upon I would, lik e the poor cat i’th’adage? calling him a coward if he doesn’t take the crown that he has always wanted to own. At this point in the play, the relationship between Lady Macbeth and his wife reaches its peak as they have a great dispute. Macbeth’s counter argument is not as furious as Lady Macbeth as he simply responds with â€Å"Prithee, peace. I dare do all that may become a man; Who dares do more is none. †He believes that he has done all that a man can do in this situation however Lady Macbeth disagrees. She believes that his definition is wrong and that he only becomes and man if he does the deed.Now Lady Macbeth is raging, she decides to use the excuse that Macbeth doesn’t love her which is the typical response for a woman to use in an argument with her partner. In addition to this, to emphasize the depth of evil in her she creates a vivid inhuman image in the audience’s mind â€Å"I have given such and know how tender ‘tis to love the babe that milks me: I would, while it was smiling in my face have plucked the nipple from my boneless gums and dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you have done to this. As she is the mother of the child, this makes the image even more disturbing as she has sworn to herself that she would have done it just as Macbeth swore he would do the rotten deed. The audience can really see the evil thoughts capturing her mind at this point as thoughts like this would not be evoked from a normal female figure. Macbeth is emotionally moved by the lengths Lady Macbeth would go to keep her word so he sees this as an opportunity to voice his fear of failure. â€Å"If we should fail? † Lady Macbeth’s response is â€Å"We fail? But screw your courage to the sticking-place and we’ll not fail. which suggests that it is impossible for them for them to fail if he just becomes more courageous. Lady Macbeth has planned the whole murder and reveals it to Macbeth which he can find no faults for himself. At this point in the scene, there is finally some common ground between Macbeth and his wife. â€Å"When Duncan is asleep, whereto the rather shall his day’s hard journey soundly invite him, his two chamberlains will I with wine and wassail so convince that memory the warder of the brain shall be fume, and the receipt of reason a limbeck only. She plans on making the guards so drunk so that they won’t be able to remember any affairs that take place during the night. Macbeth begins to understand his wife’s plans and knows that once the blood is put onto the guard’s daggers, people will assume they are the culprits. By the end of the scene, Macbeth has decided to go ahead with the murder, using every muscle in his body to help him carry out this task.He appears to have changed his tone also as he ends with â€Å"False face must hide what the false heart doth know† which in some aspects is similar to what Lady Macb eth had originally told him to do. By the end of both scenes, the audience can really determine the flow of Macbeth and his wife’s relationship. Originally, Lady Macbeth supported Macbeth’s desire to become King of Scotland but as the play went on, the support had turned into force and she did not have a friendly approach to the situation as she called upon the dark spirits to disable any feelings of remorse as a human being should have.Macbeth knew that the deed he was influenced to pursue was cruel and would have rotten consequences but his the persuasive tone of his wife led him to change his mind and use the same words she used on him to her. It is not an ordinary relationship as the audience can see the manifestation of the dark powers between one side of the partnership which leads to other side to perform murderous tasks.

Pride and Prejudice: Literary Criticism

When asking typical child who their hero or heroine is, a common answer would be Superman, Batman, or Cat Woman. To these kids, a hero is defined as someone with extraordinary physical strength and the bravery to fight any villain, such as the Joker, without any personal benefit or reward. Although their view of a hero is very childish and uninformed, they are in a way correct. Although a hero may not always need to physically battle villains, they must have emotional strength, bravery, and perseverance to overcome whatever troubles their respective villain brings forward. In the novel, Pride and Prejudice, author Jane Austen portrays her view of heroes, heroines, and villains in a satirically love story. Andrew H. Wright has written a literary criticism essay, titled â€Å"Heroines, Heroes, and Villains in Pride and Prejudice†, in which he states his opinion of Austen’s purpose. Although critic Andrew H. Wright states that some people are simply destined to be heroes, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen features characters that are capable of overcoming their own weaknesses that rise as heroes due to their own perseverance and those who interfere with a potential-hero’s progress become villains. Although Andrew H. Wright dismisses this key point Austen makes, Pride and Prejudice introduces characters that are able to overcome their own flaws that rise as heroes. First off, Wright states how he believes Elizabeth to be the heroine of the story. In the first paragraph he quickly states: â€Å"Elizabeth is definitely the heroine: not only does she explicitly represent one of the words of the title of the story; she quite thoroughly dominates the action† (Wright 97). Wright misinterprets the reason that Elizabeth is a heroine. It’s true that Elizabeth dominates the action throughout, though that is only a result of being the main character. By no means is her development as a character influenced by the number of mentions she receives in the novel. On another note, Wright is incorrect in saying that Elizabeth only represents one of the words of the title of the story, as Austen intends her to represent both. An example of this occurs when Darcy proposes to Elizabeth: â€Å"Elizabeth’s astonishment was beyond impression†¦he was not more eloquent on the subject of tenderness than of pride. His sense of her inferiority-of its being a degradation-of the family obstacles† (Austen 185). This quote is a rime example of how many interpret the title of Pride and Prejudice, believing that Darcy is intended to be the â€Å"pride† and Elizabeth is intended to be the â€Å"prejudice†. In actuality, both characters exhibit both of the traits. In observing Darcy’s excessive pride, Elizabeth is very prejudiced. In disgust with Darcy’s proposal, Elizabeth goes onto say that: â€Å"From the very beginning, from the very first moment I may almost say, of my acquaintance with you, your manners, impressing me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain of the feelings of others† (Austen 188). Elizabeth’s nasty comment about Darcy confirms that she, before even getting to know Mr. Darcy, deems him as snobbish, showing her prejudice. Darcy is very prejudiced in making judgments on Elizabeth based on her family and wealth. An example of Darcy’s prejudice occurs when Elizabeth rejects his first proposal: â€Å"I did everything in my power to separate my friend from your sister, or that I rejoice in my success† (Austen 187). Darcy believes that by separating Mr. Bingley from Jane, he is doing what is best for his friend. It should not be Darcy’s concern to be involved in his friend’s relationship, and Mr. Bingley should know what is best for himself. Wright is misguided in saying that Elizabeth only represents only one of the words in the title, thus making her the heroine, when Darcy and Elizabeth represent both these characteristics. Elizabeth ultimately overcomes her own flaws and is able to be happily with Darcy, yet she first had to deal with villainous characters. The villains in Pride and Prejudice disrupt a potential-hero’s progress, yet this is misinterpreted by Wright. Once again, Andrew H. Wright understands what the basic theme Jane Austen intends to share, but he misunderstands the reason why it is true. In his critical essay, Wright discusses: â€Å"George Wickham is at once the most plausible and the most villainous of Jane Austen’s anti-heroes: he is handsome, persuasive, personable† (Wright 108). Indeed, this is all true, yet not once does Wright mention why Wickham is a villain, other than the fact that Elizabeth was attracted to him. Wright ignores the fact that Wickham is a sick man because of what happened with Darcy’s sister. In the novel, Darcy reveals to Elizabeth in his letter: â€Å"Mr. Wickham's chief object was unquestionably my sister's fortune, which is thirty thousand pounds; but I cannot help supposing that the hope of revenging himself on me was a strong inducement† (Austen 196). Without a doubt, Wickham interferes with Elizabeth’s marriage with Mr. Darcy to entertain himself and bother Darcy. Elizabeth’s chances of realizing her inevitable love for Darcy are this delayed. It is important to note that perhaps Elizabeth expresses feelings at first for Wickham’s character, described a handsome and personable, because of her prejudice. At Meryton, Elizabeth first observes Wickham as beyond all the other officers â€Å"in person, countenance, air, and walk† (Austen 75). Elizabeth notices him to be different from the other officers, and associates him positively because he is an officer. Wickham’s irresistible characteristics attract Elizabeth away from Darcy because her prejudice forces her to dismiss any chance at him being flawed upon first meeting him. The final reason Wickham is a villainous character is because of his elopement with Lydia, leading to a misunderstanding between Elizabeth and Darcy. As Elizabeth tells Darcy of her discovery of Wickham and Lydia’s elopement, Darcy begins â€Å"walking up and down the room in earnest meditation; his brow contracted, his air gloomy. Elizabeth soon observed and instantly understood it. Her power was sinking; every thing must sink under such a proof of family weakness, such an assurance of the deepest disgrace. (Austen 264). Elizabeth greatly misunderstands this situation thinking that Darcy leaves because he no longer wants to be connected with the family’s suddenly poor social status. In actuality, Darcy is going to London to fix the situation for the Bennet family. Due to this misunderstanding, Elizabeth assumes that Darcy is no longer interested in her. Wickham’s villainous act of running off with Lydia causes great trouble for Elizabeth, separating her from Da rcy and causing great worry about her social status. Wright only acknowledges Wickham’s villainy for being attractive and simply another relationship for Elizabeth, and not for one which interrupts her inevitable relationship with Darcy. As shown in Pride and Prejudice villains are a blocking force of a potential-hero’s progress. Even though critic Andrew H. Wright believes that some people are simply destined to be heroes, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen features characters that are capable of overcoming their own weaknesses that rise as heroes due to their own perseverance and those who interfere with a otential-hero’s progress become villains. Elizabeth Bennet outlines Austen’s definition of a hero, as Wickham does as a villain. Through the tough times brought upon her by villains, and her own weaknesses which she must overcome, Elizabeth becomes Austen’s definition of a hero by overcoming her weaknesses. Her prejudice and excessive pride are the qualities which lead her to trouble and confusion in her relationship with Darcy. It is clear why Austen first titled the novel First Impressions, because as this story’s heroine learns, they can be quite deceiving.

Harrison Bergeron Essays

Harrison Bergeron Essays Harrison Bergeron Essay Harrison Bergeron Essay In the short story, ‘Harrison Bergeron’, the author Kurt Vonnegut has presented his views concerning the nature of American society. The author has presented a critique of the possible future of the American society. The main theme of this story is egalitarianism. Through this story, the author mocks at the attempt to bring uniformity by ironically presenting the method of bringing equality between the individuals in the American society. However, it is important to remember that imposed uniformity or equality destroys all individuality and creative abilities. This story can be considered as the critique of the idea that the greatest ideal is to establish equality, by using any means, between individuals in the society.   This criticism of the contemporary society is brought out when the author begins the story with the statement that : â€Å"The year was 2081, and everybody was finally equal†. (Vonnegut, para 1). This statement can be considered as the thesis of the author that egalitarianism is not that acceptable as it destroys the creative abilities of the individuals. The government, according to this story, introduced amendments to the constitution, according to which all beautiful , capable, and talented individuals were required to reduce their rare abilities in order to establish an egalitarian society. The charge of bringing about this equality is given to given to United States Handicapper General. The term ‘handicapper’ is significant because it implies that the people with less abilities were given the power to reduce the strengths of those people who possessed greater abilities. It is interesting to note that instead of improving the ability of people, the administration attempts to lower the abilities of people, and perhaps this is the only way to build an egalitarian society. : The author refers to the family of George and Hazel Bergeron and their son Harrison. Hazel â€Å"had a perfectly average intelligence† (Vonnegut, para 3), which was ideal for the present American society which demanded less from the people. On the other hand George, who was intelligent, â€Å"had a little mental handicap radio in his ear†. (Vonnegut, para 3)He was supposed to wear this transmitter as there was a possibility of George taking advantage of his intellectual abilities. The reference to Hazel and George is the perfect example of the attitude of the government towards the people who possessed better intellect. George’s intellectual ability was reduced by the transmitter given by the government. On the other hand, Hazel did not have any obligation to wear such instruments, as she possessed lesser abilities. George and Hazel are presented as discussing the TV program, and the problem caused to George due to the instrument that created noise in his ears. However, Hazel is jealous of George because she was not given the facility of wearing such an instrument. However, George is not able to get rid of the mental handicap because this may encourage him to compete with other people, and according government laws, it is not proper to compete with other individuals in the society. It is stated that: â€Å"†¦pretty soon we’d be right back to the dark ages again, with everybody competing against everybody else†.(Vonnegut,   para 29) This statement shows that competition is forbidden in such a society where one can find perfect law and order situation. The description of ballerina shows that she possessed great talents, but she was compelled to wear â€Å"handicap bags† which were â€Å"as big as those worn by two-hundred pound men†. (Vonnegut, para 40) The TV announcement gives information pertaining to Harrison Bergeron who possessed genius like talents. He was considered by his parents as abnormal. A person who possessed extraordinary physical and intellectual talents was considered as abnormal. Harrison was not yet handicapped, and this had increased his capacity to threaten the society which gave importance to equality among individuals. It is mentioned that Harrison was imprisoned for his abilities, and the bad news was that he had escaped from the prison. The TV announcement shows the photograph of Harrison in order to inform the viewers that dangerous Harrison may destroy the stability of the egalitarian American society. The government had attempted to reduce the beauty and positive qualities of Harrison as the author makes the statement that: â€Å"†¦but Harrison looked like a walking junkyard. In the race of life, Harrison carried three hundred pounds†. (Vonnegut, para 45) These lines show the attempt made by the government to reduce the abilities of the individuals. In the meantime, it is found that Harrison was able to attack the TV studio. The author presents Harrison as the person who tried to protest the attempt of the government to reduce his abilities. Harrison smashed his handicap bag, and destroyed the headphones and spectacles which had created problems for his physical and intellectual freedom. Harrison showed his contempt for government laws by dancing and enjoying the music. He also removed the mental and physical handicaps of ballerinas and musicians. However, in the end the Handicap General appears in the scene with double–barreled shot gun,and she killed Harrison and his companion. With this, the government had gained upper hand over those people who tried to abandon the law of the land. This short story has provided the critique of those people who demanded special concessions for the people with lesser abilities in order to create equality among different individuals in the society. The author has indirectly criticized the attempt of the modern government and other people to destroy racial, gender, and other differences. This story presents a hypothetical picture wherein the government controlled by the people with lesser abilities may destroy the ability of others in order to protect their selfish motives. It criticizes the government’s attempt to interfere in the relationship between individuals in the society.

Jewish Revolt essays

Jewish Revolt essays The Jewish revolt led by Bar Kochba in 132 AD was not the work of a single if a single radical revolutionary. It was the inevitable result of years of promises not kept to the Jews, and laws which suppressed the basis of Jews as a nation. To understand the reason for Bar Kochbas Revolt one must go back many years even before the war. Prior to Hadrian, an emperor by the name of Trajan was the ruler of the Roman empire. Due to the rebellion of the Jews in the Diaspora to the east and the west of them, Trajan, in order to keep the Jews in Palestine from rebelling he had to send a great general to be governor of the Jews in Palestine, a general who was well with the harshness in which he treated people. This generals name was Tineius Rufus, he was the general that put down the uprising of the Jews in Parthia. Because of Rufus reputation of his severity to the Jews, he uprooted any thought of the Jews in Palestine to rebel against Rome at that time. The Jews did not want to rebel anyway. Trajan had promised the Jews that he would rebuild the asenv ,hc, the Jews assumed this also meant The Pagans in Palestine did not want the asenv ,hc to be rebuilt, they thought that if it was rebuilt it would be the rebirth of the Jewish nation. Also, in addition, Trajan, the Emperor who made this promise died and was succeeded by Hadrian. The Jews were unsure if Hadrian would keep the promise that Trajan once made. Hadrian wanted to go to Jerusalem to see what he was rebuilding before he started the construction. When Hadrian got there he was awed by the sight of a once desolate and fruitful city in ruins. He immediately wanted to start the reconstruction. However later the Jews were surprised and disappointed to discover that Hadrian wanted to rebuild Jerusalem not as a city for the Jews to restart in, but as a Pagan city sanctified to the Pagan G-...

Corporate Operations of the BMW Group Case Study

Corporate Operations of the BMW Group - Case Study Example The BMW Group is a global manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles. According to the BMW Group website (2008) the company concentrates entirely on premium standards and outstanding quality for all its brands and across all relevant segments. The BMW Group owns the BMW, MINI and Rolls Royce brands and it defines its strategic objective: "The BMW Group is the leading provider of premium products and premium services for individual mobility" (BMW Group 2008). . The BMW Group's headquarters are in Munich, Germany where activities in over 150 countries are coordinated. It has 8 research and development centers - BMW Group Research and Innovation Center (FIZ), Munich; BMW Group Research and Technology, Munich; BMW Group Car IT, Munich; Innovation and Technology Center in Landshut Plant; BMW Group Designworks, Newbury Park, USA; BMW Group Engineering and Emissions Test Center, Oxnard, USA; BMW Group Technology Office, Palo Alto, USA; BMW Motoren GmbH Steyr, Austria; BMW Group Technology Office, Tokyo, Japan; BMW Group Development Office, Beijing, China. It has 17 production facilities in 6 countries: Berlin plant, Dingolfing plant, Eisenach plant, Contract production in Graz (Austria), Goodwood plant (GB), Hams Hall plant (GB), Landshut plant, Leipzig plant, Munich plant, Oxford plant (GB), Regensburg plant, Rosslyn plant (South Africa), Shenyang plant (China), Spartanburg plant (USA), Steyr plant (Austria), Swindon plant (GB), Wackersdorf pla nt. Assembly is done with external partners in different countries - Jakarta, Indonesia; Kaliningrad, Russia; Cairo, Egypt; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Rayong, Thailand; Chennai, India. Sales and marketing subsidiaries are also present in many countries, helping maintain and enhance BMW's presence in key markets - Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, USA. (BMW Group, 2008). The BMW Group deals not only with automotive products, it also develops, produces and markets motorcycles, as well as comprehensive financial services for private and business customers. For its BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, the BMW Group it is the only "car maker to pursue a purely premium strategy for all market sectors covered by its brands, from exclusive smaller cars to top-of-the-range luxury limousines", according to the group website (2008). For motorcycles, aside from the strategy to build the best motorcycles, the company has set standards for technology, environmental protection and safety, and customer service in the pre- and after-sales phases. Seeing financial services as a key factor in BMW's successful operations, it has established financing and leasing, asset

People Attitude Toward Death and God in the Holocaust Essay

People Attitude Toward Death and God in the Holocaust - Essay Example Over this issue God is autocratic and no leniency is shown to anyone. The meaning and impact of death needs to be known from the spiritual aspect to understand its implications properly. The greatest 'incarnation' of genocide-evil ever to be born on this Plant Earth, Adolph Hitler-did he not say when he finally realized that suicide was the only alternative for him, "Brutal force has not won anything durable" Death is the ultimate prerogative of the human being. It is the unavoidable inevitability. Let us understand it from the point of view of action-reaction theory. Every action has the reaction and the intensity of the reaction is in proportion to the intensity of the action. Over this no dispute exists between the scientists and the spiritualists. One of the rare agreements between the two contending forces; the two opposing forces; the forces that normally do not see eye to eye with each other! As per this theory, death happens to one individual or one million individuals at a t ime, not without a reason. Death is an act of divine retribution. Suddenness involved in the death, one must admit, is the grace of God! Awaiting death is tortuous and leads to serious psychological maladjustments. During war-time, prisoners of war, and the people live in fear of death. Simon Wiesenthal, in his book, "The Sunflower," describes such a situation thus: "And one piece of bad news followed another, each more alarming than the last. Today's news was worse than yesterday's, and tomorrow's would be worse still."(Wiesenthal, 1998, p. 4) The book by Anna Porter deals with the preventive measures to stall holocaust. Many in Israel were jealous of the honest attempts made by Kasztner to save the lives of Jews from certain death in the concentration camps. The man who accused him was Malchiel Greenwad, He "was a disappointed, angry, toothless old man with a black yarmulke and a small beard; his one ambition had been to become a journalist. ...Few people took Grnwald or his frequent outpourings of hate seriously. He was particularly hysterical in his attacks on the ruling Labor Party..." (Porter, 2007, p.375) Kasztner, who negotiated the deal with the Nazis, knew how tough the job was! Porter writes, "Kasztner looked out the window at the bare, grimy bricks of the courtyard. The sun lit up a corner where someone had hung a small basket of blue flowers, now withered. Perhaps the woman who had tended them had been dragged away to the Srvr prison, or Kistarcsa, or was already on her way to Auschwitz-Birkenau. "Because, Herr Hofrat, it was the best I could do. And we have to supply everything: medicines, baby food, blankets if -- God forbid -- winter comes and we are still waiting [for the war to end]Stern nodded."(Porter, 2007, p.203) Anna's book is about tough negotiations of Kasztner to save the lives of Jews and this aspect needs to be viewed from the point of view of political negotiations, for a great humanitarian cause. How can a 14 year old digest the intricacies of philosophical logic related to death The devastating novel by Imre Kertesz, "Fateless" is about the life in concentration camp, of Gyorgy Koves, a Hungarian Jew .He writes, " At the destination station under his feet was

Who is profiling for Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Who is profiling for - Essay Example In â€Å"The Violent Kid Profile,† Mary Lord claims that the new method being used to detect violence from unpredictable students will take over the student dignity of millions of students at school. She feels profiling is wrong and is a form of offender, and she also believes that it goes against the Bill of Rights as well. Thus, some students unintentionally suffer the profiling they have no control over. In general, I agree with Mary Lord who claims that profiling has negative effects on students at high school. Those negative impacts are further discussed in this paper with specific reference to Mary Lord’s article â€Å"The Violent Kid Profile†. However, the paper does not aim to provide biased information but is designed to present both positives and negatives of profiling. One of the most crucial criticisms against profiling involves the uncertainty about the causes of the problem behavior that a teenager demonstrates. This is the weakness of profiling that it lacks exposing the actual reason behind a problem behavior and accepts the behavior as an intentional, violent act. The fact that the profiled actions might just be the similar actions performed by other teenagers in the same situation and with the same capacity is ignored! Certain actions are logical to be expected on the basis of reasonableness and situation. Lord points out that some profiles apply equivocal standards to evaluate students behaviors and provide vague standards to include students in the list of those having problems, anxiety abd related issues. She quotes Kevin Dwyer president of the National Association of school Psychologists, who describes some of these profiled behaviors as, â€Å"Listens to songs that promote violence... Appears to be an average student....Isolated... Dr ess sloppily† (Para 6). The behaviors mentioned by Kevin Dwyer are too normal to be observed in the new generation. Therefore, adding such standards to

MGT Leadership and Ethics Unit 1 IP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

MGT Leadership and Ethics Unit 1 IP - Essay Example It is vital to note that during their day to day responsibilities, leaders make changes that would enhance their performance as well as the productivity of other employees. Such changes are not always acceptable to the employees or other managers. In this regard, a good leader should be in a position to address the challenges that arise from the organizational changes. One of the major ways of enhancing the productivity of the work force and increasing the profitability is by creating a culture of team work. Despite, the efforts by the CEO of one of my client organization to improve the performance of his firm, he is faced by resistance from some managers and employees. This paper seeks to analyze the situation and recommend the CEO on the steps to take. One of the major strategies that the CEO should emulate in order to effectively deal with the situation is to hold in-house meetings with his employees and educate them on the importance of team work. It is vital to note that some of the employees are not resisting the formation of teams not because they do want the idea but because they do not understand their relevance. One of the advantages of team work is that it results to the improved working relationship that enables employees to assist each other when faced with challenges. Additionally, team allows individuals to exercise their leadership qualities an aspect that provides them with opportunities to be promoted to senior level of management. The CEO should also engage with the employees during the formation of the team in order for each of the employee to feel comfortable. According to Nahavandi (2006), communicating with the employees and the managers is one of the initial strategies that the leader should adopt. In any organization, leading and managing are different aspects. While leading entails organizing the team members in order to attain the objectives of an organization, managing implies directing and giving instructions that should be strictly followed by the members of the team. Leading process is all inclusive where employees are free to provide their ideas to the leaders and the leaders can consult their team on certain issues. On the other hand, managing process does not allow for close intermingling between the managers and his or her teams. In his efforts to create a team-based empowered organization, the CEO is trying to lead his change initiative. As an experienced leader, he has noticed that there is lack of participation in the organization an aspect that other managers cannot detect. Contrary to the command and control style that other managers are adopting towards the employees, the CEO is focused at serving his customers effectively. In their studies on leadership in organizations Den and Koopman (2002), argues that a good leader should be focused at improving the productivity of his followers not by use of unquestionable instructions but by the use of all inclusive engagements with his followers. Based on t he resistance that the mangers are providing, the CEO can use different arguments to preside the managers. The CEO should advise the managers to resist from using the dictatorial style of management. This is based on the fact that apart from limiting the productivity and growth of the employees, the firm will not effectively compete with other firms that have now turned into team works. Similarly, the CEO should encourage the managers to emulate team work based

Domestic Violence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Domestic Violence - Essay Example Having realized that most programs address domestic violence post-mortem, early intervention programs need to be focused on. For instance, educational programs that impart information about this issue and campaigns for information dissemination are but a few examples of what can be done even before the early signs of domestic violence are observed. Once signs are seen, next line interventions may include visiting those homes that have a high probability of suffering from domestic violence, and again information campaigns (Wolfe & Jaffe, 1999). Carter et al (1999) further share that the suffering of children exposed to domestic violence has compelled a diverse set of parties who would like to contribute to its resolution These agencies include the "National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, the American Bar Association, the American Medical Association, and the American Psychological Association" (p. 4). These associations have been instrumental at putting forth suggestions , forming committees, organizing research, and other information dissemination vehicles. Tertiary programs on domestic violence are those which are more popular and are firmly established to date (Wolfe & Jaffe, 1999).   There has been some evidence on the positive outcomes of domestic violence programs, but these remain inconclusive and hard to implement. For domestic violence prevention to be effectual, there needs to be core shifts in mindset at the person and community levels (Levine, 1981).

Critic of A Family Finds Entertainment by Ryan Trecartin Essay

Critic of A Family Finds Entertainment by Ryan Trecartin - Essay Example The genius of the film is not in the plot. The story is generally reflective of a teenager’s life in a highly urbanized environment whose sense of self is driven by consumerism and mass media. It is about a suicidal teenage character named Skippy whose gender is quite difficult to define but easily recognized to be Trecatin (being such, Skippy will be addressed as a boy) being clod in an outlandish costume who started in the film hidden in the second floor bathroom of their home. Skippy was asked and pleaded to come out by family and friends but instead of coming out, indulged in a surreal self assessment in the character of Kafka that drove him to cut himself. The irony was presented with the partying and singing downstairs while Skippy is in a self-mortification mood ready to cut himself/herself up. Strangely, a seashell told him to stop and stop he did. He left home and met a filmmaker but later hit by a car. A band played in electric frenzy followed by fireworks and festiv ity. The idea of the movie was not to conform but rather to challenge which is the genius of the film. ... recatin playing a role of female makes a statement that narration should be gender neutral and characterization should depend on the personality of the characters. This explains the over emphasized dialogues of the characters with Trecatin playing as Skippy and another female character. The construction of the character is not based on physiology but rather on the articulation of its mind. The way it investigate the circumstances and progression of the life of Skippy demonstrates that narration and story-telling can be done in non linear and even unrealistic way. The speech also does not have to taken literally just like Skippy’s seeming existentialist articulation when he was contemplating of suicide. There, it requires the consideration of not just the dialogue of the character but also the accompanying juxtaposition of the character’s body and its facial expression to finally get what the character is saying. This explains why the characters are outlandish because th ey complement the seemingly curt verbiages to complete a full dialogue. To illustrate, one can feel the gravity of the proposition that confounds Skippy when he was attempting to kill himself. Yet, the narration was only a serious of short talk, with series of impressions that were cut short by editing, but we are able to get it when we factored in the facial expression, the altered speech, the unorthodox lingo and body language of Skippy. The message that was delivered by shell or snail for Skippy not to take his life seems Kafkaesque in surrealism, but we get the message clear. Taking the whole context and narration of the film, Trecatin only illustrates that there are other ways of investigating certain phenomena whose story-telling is more contemporary albeit absurd in its presentation but the