How does a post colonial reading of Jane Eyre expose the authors deep Essay

How does a post colonial reading of Jane Eyre expose the authors deep anxiety regarding the idealogy of imperialism - Essay Example Jane’s Experiences The character of the protagonist Jane Eyre is the center of a struggle that is purely based on class. As an orphan, Jane suffered the consequences of poverty even though she is educated. Getting meager income from being a governess, she found herself in a low social standing -- hence, powerless. As a woman, she also experienced the vicious treatment from men in a patriarchal society (Morris, 1999). Due to these experiences, Jane identified herself with the millions in fervent yet in silent revolution against such inequalities. By studying her dialogues, it can be observed that Jane compared herself to a champion for the slaves who struggled hard for the attainment of freedom and the eradication of oppression, in a very indirect way. In her own terms, she fought against the notion that men are superior to women, and attempted to subdue that men's unjust treatment towards the women can always be justified. Although Jane acknowledged the fact that the social an d economic as well as cultural inequalities are realities that she needed to embrace, she remained firm in her belief that a time will come when ‘people will be liberated from such hell-like conditions’ (Glen, 1997). A feminist in her own right, Jane remarked: Women suffer from too rigid a restraint, too absolute stagnation, precisely as men would suffer; and it is narrow-minded in their more privileged fellow-creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and embroidering bags. It is thoughtless to condemn them, or laugh at them, if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex. (Dunn & Bronte, 2001, p.99) Britain’s Colonial Rule The Victorian era marked Britain’s international expansion of power, wealth and culture. The empire, which included India, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, Hong Kong Gibraltar, Rhodesia and several islan ds in the West Indies and various colonies in the African coast, was the biggest in the world during the period. Generally, the prevailing attitude of the British about the view that the English was destined to rule the world and that they had the supreme responsibility to instill culture to the ‘uncivilized’ was a key factor in its exploration and subjugation of peoples. This was heavily examined by Bronte, which can be gleaned from her works particularly in Jane Eyre (Berg, 1987). Although the author distanced herself on the issue of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, she still tackled slavery in some of her works. In the novel, Jane eventually inherited the wealth of her uncle which was derived from Madeira, a fictitious British colony. In an honorable manner, she divided the amount and the estates she obtained among her cousins. However, it should be pointed out that because of this inheritance sourced from slave colonies, Jane obtained the freedom that she longed for ( Bell, 2008). Mr. Rochester, Jane’s husband, was depicted to have worked and found his fortune in the West Indies. There, he found himself attracted to a half-Creole and Jamaican-raised Bertha who he saw

The Civil Rights Movement Essay Example for Free

The Civil Rights Movement Essay The Civil Rights Movement is one of the most well known social movements in American History. But have you ever stopped to think of what really makes up a movement? Social movements are demonstrations used to express dissatisfaction with a certain policy or practice. Movements are all made possible by devoted leaders, bold, ordinary citizens, community support, and political institutions. Although the aforementioned components make social movements possible, the main driving force for a successful movement- such as the Civil Rights Movement- is having bold individuals willing to take risks for the cause. People willing to risk their lives for a cause are the main factor that can push a movement to success. An example of a group of ordinary people that had a profound impact on the Civil Rights Movement is the Greensboro Four. The Greensboro Four were students at North Carolina AT that facilitated sit-ins at the Woolworth’s store â€Å"whites only† lunch counter. They were refused service and were asked to leave, but instead of fighting back or leaving, they merely sat at the lunch counter and waited to be served. They knew that they would not be served, but for the sake of making their point known they remained seated until the store closed. As a result of their protest, many other protesters followed in their footsteps in the following days. Each day, the Woolworth’s store was occupied by more and more African-American protesters. Sales at the store dropped drastically, and in the end the segregation policy at the store was abandoned. Protests in neighboring towns arose as the news of the Greensboro Four spread. The Greensboro Four helped bring integration to North Carolina quickly. They acted as models, and their success inspired other people to stand up for their rights. Without visionaries such as the Greensboro Four, people would not have taken the risk to protest against segregation. There would have been nobody to inspire ordinary people, and convince them that they could cause a change and get rid of segregation. The Greensboro Four, and other individuals that stood out like them, are a prime example of why the Civil Rights Movement was successful. The brave individuals took a risk to support their cause, despite the hardships they faced in the process. Their protests not only inspired other people to start their own protests, but they gave hope to people that were aspiring to eliminate segregation.

Examination of Heathcliffs character in the plot of Wuthering Heights :: English Literature

Examination of Heathcliff's character in the plot of Wuthering Heights WutheringHeights centers around the story of Heathcliff. The first paragraph of the novel provides a vivid physical picture of him, as Lockwood describes how his "black eyes" withdraw suspiciously under his brows at Lockwood's approach. Nelly's story begins with his introduction into the Earnshaw family, his vengeful machinations drive the entire plot, and his death ends the book. The desire to understand him and his motivations keeps us engaged in the novel. His many levels cause us to delve deeper than expected, and the introspection allows us to fully explore not only Heathcliff but also the novel itself. Heathcliff, however, defies being understood, and it is difficult for us to resist seeing what they want or expect to see in him. The novel teases with the possibility that Heathcliff is something other than what he seems; that his cruelty is merely an expression of his frustrated love for Catherine, or that his sinister behaviors serve to conceal the heart of a romantic hero. We expect Heathcliff's character to contain such a hidden virtue because he resembles a hero in a romance novel. Traditionally, romance novel heroes appear dangerous, brooding, and cold at first, only later to emerge as fiercely devoted and loving. However, Heathcliff does not reform, and his malevolence proves so great and long-lasting that it cannot be adequately explained even as a desire for revenge against Hindley, Catherine, Edgar, etc. As he himself points out, his abuse of Isabella is purely sadistic, as he amuses himself by seeing how much abuse she can take and still come cringing back for more. The author does the same thing to the readers to us that Heathcliff does to Isabella, testing to see how many times the reader can be shocked by Heathcliff's gratuitous violence and still, masochistically, insist on seeing him as a romantic hero. Heathcliff drives the plot, as without Heathcliff we would not have any of the problems needed to be dealt with. Heathcliff is connected in some way to almost everyone in this novel, and unfortunately in some way he deals with them negatively. Heathcliff helps to attach all of these stories together, as he is the reason such misfortune happens to everyone and thus he sits at the crux of the basic plot. He remains throughout the novel to be somehow involved in most happenings, whether it is part of the present day with Mr. Lockwood or when Nelly recalls of his doings back in the day when Catherine was still alive.He Considering this historical context, Heathcliff seems to embody the anxieties that the book's upper- and middle-class audience had Examination of Heathcliff's character in the plot of Wuthering Heights :: English Literature Examination of Heathcliff's character in the plot of Wuthering Heights WutheringHeights centers around the story of Heathcliff. The first paragraph of the novel provides a vivid physical picture of him, as Lockwood describes how his "black eyes" withdraw suspiciously under his brows at Lockwood's approach. Nelly's story begins with his introduction into the Earnshaw family, his vengeful machinations drive the entire plot, and his death ends the book. The desire to understand him and his motivations keeps us engaged in the novel. His many levels cause us to delve deeper than expected, and the introspection allows us to fully explore not only Heathcliff but also the novel itself. Heathcliff, however, defies being understood, and it is difficult for us to resist seeing what they want or expect to see in him. The novel teases with the possibility that Heathcliff is something other than what he seems; that his cruelty is merely an expression of his frustrated love for Catherine, or that his sinister behaviors serve to conceal the heart of a romantic hero. We expect Heathcliff's character to contain such a hidden virtue because he resembles a hero in a romance novel. Traditionally, romance novel heroes appear dangerous, brooding, and cold at first, only later to emerge as fiercely devoted and loving. However, Heathcliff does not reform, and his malevolence proves so great and long-lasting that it cannot be adequately explained even as a desire for revenge against Hindley, Catherine, Edgar, etc. As he himself points out, his abuse of Isabella is purely sadistic, as he amuses himself by seeing how much abuse she can take and still come cringing back for more. The author does the same thing to the readers to us that Heathcliff does to Isabella, testing to see how many times the reader can be shocked by Heathcliff's gratuitous violence and still, masochistically, insist on seeing him as a romantic hero. Heathcliff drives the plot, as without Heathcliff we would not have any of the problems needed to be dealt with. Heathcliff is connected in some way to almost everyone in this novel, and unfortunately in some way he deals with them negatively. Heathcliff helps to attach all of these stories together, as he is the reason such misfortune happens to everyone and thus he sits at the crux of the basic plot. He remains throughout the novel to be somehow involved in most happenings, whether it is part of the present day with Mr. Lockwood or when Nelly recalls of his doings back in the day when Catherine was still alive.He Considering this historical context, Heathcliff seems to embody the anxieties that the book's upper- and middle-class audience had

Analysis of the Poem: The Darkling Thrush Essay

Speaker: The speaker in the first two stanzas is portrayed as pessimistic and dark, but this changed in the two last stanzas. In any case, the speaker is conveyed to have strong feelings for nature. Form: Rhyming scheme is clearly visible giving to poem a rhythm. The 3rd stanza’s rhyming scheme seems to have been modified, if not a little disturbed having a not as good phonetic ending at the end of each stanza conveying the speaker’s disturbance and surprise at the appearance of the thrush. Imagery: L.1 the coppice became a gate conveying that it’s not in its natural state, humans could have modified it. L2: â€Å"When Frost was spectre-grey† a spectre/ghost is something dangerous, menacing, conveying Frost is dangerous, and cold is dangerous, deadly. The Frost being as cold as a ghost. L2-3: Frost and Winter with capital letters, this personifies them. ïÆ'   Cold, winter, death theme introduced. They will be the two â€Å"main characters â€Å"of the poem. L3: â€Å"Winter’s dregs† winters residue, conveys the snow. L3-4: â€Å"Winter’s dregs made desolate, The weakening eye of day† The snow is taking over the day, dark over light. â€Å"Eye of day† conveys the sun symbolizing light, happiness, warmth, is being taken over by â€Å"Winter’s dreg’s† darkness, snow, cold. L5-6: â€Å"The tangled bine-stems scored the sky, like strings of broken lyres† this simile compares plants that are reaching for t he sky, like broken lyres, lyres are instruments symbolizing usually illusion, and mostly the instruments of the gods. Lyres are therefor in the sky with the gods, and the plants are trying to do the same, but will never reach it â€Å"Broken Lyres† or broken â€Å"illusions†. This simile conveys somehow the sky in contrast to earth, heaven, and hell that plants are trying to flee â€Å"score the sky†. L7-8: â€Å"And all mankind that haunted nigh† all the men that were hunting close by, â€Å"Had sought their household fires† had gone back to their house by the fire for warmth. Winter, or death, is more powerful than men with guns. L9: â€Å"The land’s sharp features seemed to be† sharp here conveys the cold. This verse introduces the nature or â€Å"land† as main theme of the stanza. L9-10 â€Å"The land’s sharp features seemed to be† the lands cold features seemed to be â€Å"The Century’s corpse outleant† the Century’s dead body. This metaphor connects the two verses and develops them further in doing so. The land’s â€Å"features† are now clearer to convey member’s like body members. This metaphor also connects â€Å"the land† to the â€Å"Century’s dead body† the speaker here could also convey his thoughts that our present Century is dying. L11-12: â€Å"His crypt the cloudy canopy† This verse conveys the transformation of the â€Å"cloudy† canopy, the unclear, mysterious conveying menace canopy (human being afraid of the unknown) into a crypt, chamber for the dead. Once again the death (here of nature specifically) is here conveyed. This continues the metaphor of the dying land by â€Å"his† asserting a personification of the land. This verse transforms the â€Å"cloudy canopy† into the chamber of death â€Å"crypt† of the land. Finally, to finish the portraying image of a dead body in a crypt, the image of a funeral is clearly conveyed through the 12th verse. â€Å"The wind his death-lament.† This image portrays the wind as the relative, or witness, grieving the land’s death. L13-14: â€Å"The ancient pulse of germ and birth† the verse bring through the image of a â€Å"pulse† of life, that is now no more â€Å"ancient† used to be, but no longer is. â€Å"Was shrunken hard and dry† this continuation of the verse beforehand confirms the death of the â€Å"pulse of germ and birth†, of life, that was â€Å"shrunken hard and dry† that was killed by winter. The use of â€Å"shrunken hard and dry† contrasting â€Å"the pulse of germ and birth† is very well chosen. The pulse of germ and birth is something soft, happy, promising, whereas the use of â€Å"shrunken† shrinks the promising life, turns it into something hard and dry. The contrast of life and death is portrayed here through nature. L15-16: â€Å"And every spirit upon earth seemed fervourless as I† This conveys the desperation and hopelessness that seems to be shared by â€Å"every spirit upon this earth† the whole world seems to have no more hope for better days. With these two last verses, it leaves the second stanza on sorrowful â€Å"fervourless† tone. L16-17: â€Å"At once a voice arose among the bleak twigs overhead† The 3rd stanza starts off with an element of surprise, raising the curiosity of the reader creating suspense of who this might be, or what. This also somehow creates a certain feeling of hope. The 3rd stanza also starts of unlike the other first stanzas through hearing, and not seeing. Therefor the images that were up to now conveyed through the eyes, is not conveyed through the ears. L19-20: â€Å"In full-hearted evensong of joy unlimited† this element brings about hope and joy which was not brought through so far. L21-22: â€Å"An aged thrush, frail, gaunt, and small, in blast-beruffled plume† The suspense is now broken, we find out what this element of surprise and joy is, a bird, a â€Å"Thrush† like indicated in the poem’s title. The sense goes back to seeing now, and the bird is portrayed as â€Å"frail, gaunt, and small† in contrast to the merciless powerful cold winter and death that was conveyed beforehand transforming an entire land into corpse, and yet this bird is full of joy and life unlike â€Å"every spirit on earth†. The bird’s appearance is further more explicit in verse 22 â€Å"In blast-beruffled plume† This feeds further the contrast between the bird and the harsh winter. Indeed the thrush is not only portrayed as markedly frail, but the sharp wind has ruffled his feathers, and we can imag ine the tail-feathers blown nearly inside-out by the sharp blast. L23-24: These verses are very important as they mark another contrast between the bird’s appearance, and â€Å"character†. Indeed this feeble blast-beruffled bird that was conveyed earlier on â€Å"had chosen thus to fling his soul upon the growing gloom† This small bird is like a brave small weak, and yet brave soldier â€Å"flinging† his soul into the midst of a battle, â€Å"upon a growing gloom† that menaces to kill him at any moment. The 3rd stanza brings through an element of hope and surprise. L25-29: The senses are now changed into hearing again as the speaker describes the â€Å"carolings† of the little bird that seems to light up â€Å"terrestrial things â€Å"afar or nigh around† (near or far) into this growing gloom that the speaker doesn’t seem to understand. L30-32: The final 3 verses of the last stanza are very important as they will change the view of the speaker. Indeed the â€Å"happy good night air† of this bird â€Å"some blessed Hope† which is conveyed to be brought through to the speaker by this thrush â€Å"whereof he knew, and I was unaware† The speaker here conveys the relief and comfort and wisdom that was brought to him through the natural wisdom and bravery as well as optimism of this feeble and delicate, yet brave, and tenacious thrush. On this the poem ends on a good note full of hope and optimism for the future.

William Shakespeare Symbolic Plays

Symbols play major roles in everyday situations whether it is in real life, novels, or even movies. In fact, more and more authors nowadays are learning from older play-writers such as William Shakespeare by reading and analyzing their plays. They learn how to develop their novels by incorporating symbols based on action or drama. There are several examples of William Shakespeare’s famous plays that have numerous symbols that tie the story together which include Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, & Julius Caesar.However, the most notable play written by Shakespeare is Macbeth. The play Macbeth written by the world- renowned play-writer William Shakespeare is a play that symbols tie the story together. Three key symbols that emerge in the play are a crown, a crystal ball, and lastly, hallucinations. Every one of these symbols represents a variety of concepts in Macbeth. The first of the three major symbols that tie the play together is the crown. In general, a crown is a symbol that rep resents royalty, authority, leadership, etc.There are many things that come to mind when you think of crown, however, this play changes everything. In Macbeth, the crown represents a variety of concepts and issues that change the fact that characters lives forever. It causes loyal characters such as Macbeth to commit many dreaded acts being numerous counts of murder. Macbeth wouldn’t have gone on with the plan if Lady Macbeth didn’t want as much as she did convince her husband to murder all those people by saying, â€Å"From this time Such I account thy love. Art thou afraid To be in thine act and valor. (Act 1, Scene 7, Page 59, Lines 38-40) When she attired those words, it convinced Macbeth to go along with the original plan. But when he becomes king, and all the murders are done with he begins mistrusting people so he tells himself, â€Å"To be thus is nothing. But to be safety. † (Act 3, Scene 1, Page 15, Line 53) As a result, Macbeth frequently talks to th e witches and they give him different prophecies that give him the confidence he needs to remain king. The second major symbol in the play is hallucination, which is found numerous times and is shown to be a problem mainly because of the murders.Macbeth says to himself shortly after killing Duncan â€Å"Whence is that knocking? How am not with me when every noise appalls me? What hands are here? Ha! They pluck out mine eyes. Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand? No this hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine. Making the green one red. † (Act 2, Scene 2, Page 81, Lines 60- 63) Macbeth had another time where the hallucination caused him to see the ghost of Banquet which he told the ghost â€Å"Thou canst not say I did it: never shake thy gory locks at me. (Act 3 Scene 4 Page 143, Lines 63-64) The hallucination of the ghost of Banquet represented the guilt from all the crimes that Macbeth had committed. After that scene Macbeth g radually becomes even crazier than he already was and becomes very reckless with his power. Clearly, he was very emotionally unstable as he continues to commit murders. All the hallucinations are a big factor of why Macbeth was unsteady and ended up dying. The third and final major symbol of this play is the crystal ball, which represents looking into the future.I made a choice to make the symbol crystal ball symbolize the prophecies that the witches continuously give Macbeth. Crystal balls typically represent fortune-tellers and the future. That is what started the whole problem and that is the witches and their prophecies for Macbeth. If their prophecies did not take place, Macbeth still would have been Duncan’s loyal general and close friend, but the three witches came to Macbeth and told him, First Witch: â€Å"All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glacis! † Second Witch: â€Å"All hail, Macbeth!Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor! † Third Witch â€Å"All hai l, Macbeth! Hail to the thane of Cawdor! † That is what caused him to kill the king who thought very highly of him who even gave him the honor of becoming the Thane of Cawdor. Afterwards, when he is knee deep in the murders, he goes back to the witches so that he can attain more prophecies. This time, just to manipulate him, they tell him. First Apparition: â€Å"Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff. Beware the thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough. † Second Apparition â€Å"Macbeth!Macbeth! Macbeth! Be bloody, bold, and resolute; Laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of women born shall harm Macbeth. † Third Apparition â€Å"Be lion-mettled, proud and take no care who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are. Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him. † Through the witches’ prophecies, Macbeth gained a load of confidence, which lead him to his eventual death. That is why the cryst al ball prophecies told is a major symbol in the play.In the play Macbeth, written by the world renowned writer, William Shakespeare, the symbols tie the story together. Three major symbols that are shown often in the play are the crown, the crystal ball, and the hallucinations. These symbols represent a variety of concepts that can be interpreted to the progress of the play. The crown signifies the division of power occurring throughout the play, the hallucinations symbolize the problems occurring in Macbeth's life, and finally the crystal ball represents the prophecies and the events that will happen in the future.

Pronunciation-Based Changes in the Spanish Words for And and Or

Pronunciation-Based Changes in the Spanish Words for And and Or Two of the most common conjunctions in Spanish - y (meaning and) and o (meaning or) - can change spelling and pronunciation based on the word that follows. In that way, they are much like the a of English changing to an before a vowel sound. And, like the a-to-an change, the transformation is based on how the following word is pronounced rather than how it is spelled. When Do Y and O Change? Both the y and o changes help keep the conjunction from blending into the following word. (The blending of two words into what sounds like one is called elision when it involves the dropping or omission of sounds, and it is common in both English and Spanish.) Here are the changes that are made: Y becomes e when it precedes a word that begins with the i sound. Typically, y becomes e when it precedes most words that begin with i- or hi-.O becomes u when it precedes a word that begins with the o sound. Thus o becomes u when it precedes words words starting with o- or ho-. Because the changes are based on pronunciation rather than spelling, y does not change before words, such as hierba, that begin with the ia, ie, io, or iu sound, regardless of spelling. Those two-letter combinations are known as diphthongs; the initial sounds are very similar to the Spanish y sound when y comes before a vowel. Sample Sentences Showing Use of Y and O Reciben tratamiento cruel e inhumano. (They are receiving cruel and inhumane treatment. The y changes to e because the inhumano begins with the i sound.) Nuestro conocimiento nos enseà ±a dos cosas claras: posibilidades e imposibilidades. (Our knowledge teaches us two clear things: possibilities and impossibilities. The e is used because imposibilidades begins with the i sound.) Fabricamos barras e hilos de cobre. (We manufacture copper bars and wires. The e is used because hilos begins with the i sound even though the first letter is h.)   Est enteramente construido de nieve y hielo. (It is built completely of snow and ice. The y does not change because hielo begins with the ie diphthong.) Hay un equilibrio osmà ³tico y ià ³nico. (There is an osmotic and ionic equilibrium. The y is used because ià ³nico begins with the io diphthong.) Hay muchas diferencias entre catolicismo e hinduismo. (There are many differences between Catholicism and Hinduism. The y changes to e because hinduismo begins with the i sound even though its first letter is h.) Vendemos productos de limpieza e higiene. (We sell cleaning and hygiene products. Higiene begins with the i sound.) Usamos punto y coma para separar las frases u oraciones que constituyen una enumeracià ³n. (We use a semicolon to separate phrases or sentences that make up a list.) No recuerdo si fue ayer u hoy. (I dont remember if it was yesterday or today. Unlike with the changes involving y to e, the o changes even though oy is a diphthong.)  ¿Quà © operador de telà ©fonos ofrece las tarifas ms baratas para viajar a frica u Oriente Medio? (Which phone operator offers the lowest costs for traveling to Africa or the Middle East? The rule of changing o to u applies even if the word following is a proper noun.) La Can Make Similar Change The desire to keep the sounds of important words from being lost due to elision is also behind the changing of la to el in some circumstances with feminine sounds. Although there are exceptions, el is used instead of la before singular feminine nouns where the first syllable of the noun is stressed. Thus the eagle is el guila even though guila is feminine. The change doesnt occur with plural nouns or where the stress isnt on the first syllable. In standard written Spanish, una becomes un (meaning one, a, or and) under the same circumstances. Thus, an eagle is un guila. These changes and those involving y and o are the only situations where Spanish changes words depend on sounds that follow. Key Takeaways The Spanish conjugation y (meaning and) changes to e when the word that follows begins with the i sound.The Spanish conjugation o (meaning or) changes to u when the word that follows begins with the o sound.These changes are triggered by pronunciation only, not how a word is spelled.

buy custom Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder essay

buy custom Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder essay Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a nervousness-associated disorder that is characterized by repeated compulsions and/ or obsessions that obstruct the victims ability to effectively function at work, school or socially (Lowe, 2007, p. 1). An obsession can be defined as an impulse, a thought or an image that keeps repeating and as a result causes anxiety while a compulsion is a behavior that a person suffering from OCD frequently engages him/ herself in because of the obsessions (Foa Kozak, 2005, p. 15). OCD victims usually take long before they are diagnosed. This is due to the fact that most of them do not understand the symptoms of the condition while others feel embarrassed and guilty. In one way or the other, OCD related symptoms are experienced by most individuals particularly when stressed. Nonetheless, this disorder can have severe effects on social life, work and personal relationships among others. OCD is rated the tenth most immobilizing illness in terms of retreating life quality and loss of property. OCD can be experienced in many ways but the most common ones include disturbing, unfriendly and recurring feelings, impulses, misgivings, and images which in most cases are impossible to ignore (Abramowitz, 2009). It is these thoughts that cause the individual to experience the obsessive-part of the illness and cause the individual to have recurring coercions in an unsuccessful effort to alleviate the obsession and counteract the fear. Some victims may experience obsession but do not show physical compulsion a type of OCD commonly referred to as Pure O. Commonly experienced obsessions include; causing mischief to other people or to oneself, germs and contagion, aggressive or offensive sexual thoughts, ordering objects or throwing them away. Several researches and studies have been carried out in the past few years concerning the causes of ODC. Following this, several causes of OCD have been suggested and some of these include; brain and chemical dysfunction, infection, genetics, psychodynamics, depression and life. It has also been hypothesized that there might be numerous types of OCD and that which develops in childhood is different of the one that develops in adulthood. Brain and chemical dysfunction is one of the causes of OCD that is gaining popularity. The probability is that the level of brain dysfunction in OCD victims is higher than in people who do not have it. This involves the Seretonin, which is a chemical courier or neurotransmitter that facilitates communication between nerve cells as well as connecting these cells to the brain (Penzel, 2000, p. 318). Research has revealed that this neurotransmitter is involved with most of the biological processes taking place in the body such as sleep, antagonism, mood, pain and appetite. Since the different parts of the brain have unlike levels of urgency and priority, it is their coordination with the nerves that may cause severe perplexity to the reasoning part of the brain, commonly referred to as Cortex. For instance, as the Thalamus processes all the images coming from the other parts of the body to the brain, the Caudate Nucleus controls and filters all the thoughts and information. Now when these thoughts are misinterpreted, the reasoning part of the brain, Cortex, becomes confused and responds chemically to a danger perceived by the non-reasoning part of the brain and the urgent need to respond as if this danger is a reality. Actually, the Caudate Nucleus is sending unnecessary impulses and thoughts to the Cortex where emotions and thoughts combine; the over active Cingulate Nucleus at the center of the brain shifts attention from one behavior and/ or thought to another. With time, it becomes over active and seizes up on certain thoughts, behaviors or ideas (Penzel, 2000). It is therefoe this Cingulate that alerts the OCD victim that something horrible will take place if the impulses are not accomplished. Thus when the Thalamus is sending information that makes the individual aware of everything happening around them, the Caudate Nucleus causes invasive thoughts while the Cortex perceives major danger that needs immediate response and finally the Cingulate Gyr us requires that compulsions be carried out so as to alleviate the terrible unease feelings. A streptococcal illness of the throat has been believed to result in the body mistaking healthy cells for the infection thus resulting to cellular damage. Once this happens with the brain, the disease fighting system of the body attacks the exterior of the nerve cells in the Basal Ganglia of the brain consequently resulting to symptoms of OCD (Lowe, 2007). However, these symptoms may just take a short time and the occurrence of OCD caused by such an infection is still very rare. Several researches and studies have shown the likelihood that victims of OCD are likely to have one or more of their family members having OCD (Meng, 2001, p. 14). However, the chances that it is genetically inherited are questionable. For instance, it does not automatic follow that both identical twins will have OCD even if there is a member of the family suffering from it. This theory states that disruptions in development or early sexual and unconscious desires are likely to result into OCD. Concerning development, the theory suggests that the child deals with the conflicts between the reasoning and thinking part of the brain and that part which wants to work in its own way in an unstable way thus resulting to mental problems in future. As for the unconscious desires, the theory suggests that for instance, a person may fear to run over people because he actually wants to do it; thus to keep the consciousness out of mind, he uses a lot of energy which consequently gives the thought an obsessive quality (Meng, 2001, p. 14). Individual with severe depression tend to develop OCD symptoms just in the same way those with OCD suffer depression. Shame and guilt in life is also considered as a cause of OCD especially in children (Lowe, 2007). They tend to experience guilt over their needs at an early age a condition that is prevalent to fanatical people. According to Abramowitz (2009), the symptoms of OCD range from mild to brutal; they include compulsions, the need to act in order to cancel out an obsession, and obsessions, the feelings and thoughts which make the patient anxious or distressed. Even though most victims experienced both compulsions and obsessions, it is possible for a patient to exhibit only one. Compulsions are characterized by recurring behaviors such as checking to ensure that everything is well, washing and cleaning surfaces, hands etc, hoarding and collecting objects that are unnecessary and arranging things among others. Mental compulsion involves repeating of prayers or certain scriptures and/or phrases in the mind. Obsessions on the other hand are characterized by thoughts and feelings that the objects around are contaminated or dirty, worry about hygiene and health, urge to keep unnecessary things, disrupting thoughts about sex and/ or aggression, worry about safety; for instance worrying about a door that h as been left unlocked and general thoughts (Abramowitz, 2009, p. 9). Avoidance of dreaded situations is also familiar though it often leads to further preoccupation with the obsessive thoughts. OCD is diagnosed by administering screening inquiries to an individual who is suspected to be suffering from it, assessment of the family OCD history, and the existing symptoms. Apart from checking for symptoms of compulsion and obsession through mental-status examinaation, practitioners also investigate the possibility that the symptoms may be a result of another emotional infirmity and not OCD (Foa Kozak, 2005, p. 14). Most of the individuals suffering from OCD have experienced the symptoms indefinitely with periods of improvement alternating with those of difficulties. Nevertheless, the prognosis is preferential for victims with milder symptoms and those who had no other illnesses before developing OCD. According to Lowe (2007), OCD treatments include; medication and behavioral therapies. The most common medications that are prescribed to OCD patients are the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). Lowe asserts that the purpose of these medications is to increase the levels of neurochemical serotonin in the brain since they are usually low in OCD victims. As suggested by the name of the medications, SSRIs work by carefully and selectively holding back serotonin reuptake in the brain. This holding back specifically occurs at the junction where the nerve cells are interconnected, a place known as the synapse, so as to ensure that message transfer from one nerve cell to another is limited. SSRIs also keep the serotonin in the synapses. This is possible because they prevent serotonin reuptake back to the nerve cell that specializes in conveying the impulses. Serotonin reuptake is believed to be responsible for lessening the generation of new serotonin. As a result messages from serotonin keep on coming through. Consequently, this helps in activating the cells whi ch were initially deactivated by the OCD, thus relieving the patient of the symptoms of the disorder. Examples of SSRIs include sertraline, paroxetine, citalopram, fluoxetine, escitalopram and fluvoxamine (Lowe, 2007, p. 58). SSRIs can in general be tolerated since their side effects are generally gentle. Common side effects include agitation, nausea, headache, diarrhea, and insomnia however; these effects diminish in the first month of use. Other medications that can be used in place of the SSRIs are the clomipramine and atypical though their side effects have been reported to be severe than those of the SSRIs (Lowe, 2007, p. 58). Behavioral therapies that are commonly administered to OCD victims include; ritual avoidance and exposure. The avoidance of rituals engages a mental-health expert in helping the patient to oppose the push to engage in obsessive behaviors. Exposure therapy, on the other hand, is a process through which the OCD victim is exposed to situations that are likely to increase his urge to be involved in obsessive behaviors, thereby helping him him/her to resist the urge (Foa Kozak, 2005, p. 21). In other words, the behavioral experts help the OCD patients to transform their negative way of thinking that is linked with the anxiety involved with the OCD. In conclusion, OCD can be described as a type of disorder that results from recurring obsessions and compulsions whose effects are severe to an extent that they interfere with the victims way of relating to the surrounding and the people around him. Several factors have been brought forward to explain the causes of the disorder. Some of these include; brain and chemical dysfunction, infection, genetics, psychodynamics, depression and life, though the universally accepted cause is brain and chemical dysfunction. A person is said to have OCD if he show signs such as hoarding, repeated cleaning, concerns of security, hygiene etc. such signs are diagnosed by examining the patients family history as well as asking questions that screen his mental health. There are two ways through with OCD can be treated. One is by administering medications, SSRIs are the most recommended, and the second is behavioral therapy where the patients are helped to overcome their urge to get involved in compulsi ve thoughts. Buy custom Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder essay

Research and Theory Behind the Sociology of Education

Research and Theory Behind the Sociology of Education The sociology of education is a diverse and vibrant subfield that features theory and research focused on how education as a social institution is affected by and affects other social institutions and the social structure overall, and how various social forces shape the policies, practices, and outcomes of schooling. While education is typically viewed in most societies as a pathway to personal development, success, and social mobility, and as a cornerstone of democracy, sociologists who study education take a critical view of these assumptions to study how the institution actually operates within society. They consider what other social functions education might have, like for example socialization into gender and class roles, and what other social outcomes contemporary educational institutions might produce, like reproducing class and racial hierarchies, among others. Theoretical Approaches within the Sociology of Education Classical French sociologist Émile Durkheim was one of the first sociologists to consider the social function of education. He believed that moral education was necessary for society to exist  because it provided the basis for the social solidarity that held society together. By writing about education in this way, Durkheim established the functionalist perspective on education. This perspective champions the work of socialization that takes place within the educational institution, including the teaching of society’s culture, including moral values, ethics, politics, religious beliefs, habits, and norms. According to this view, the socializing function of education also serves to promote social control  and to curb  deviant behavior. The symbolic interaction  approach to studying education focuses on interactions during the schooling process and the outcomes of those interactions. For instance, interactions between students and teachers, and social forces that shape those interactions like race, class, and gender, create expectations on both parts. Teachers expect certain behaviors from certain students, and those expectations, when communicated to students through interaction, can actually produce those very behaviors. This is called the â€Å"teacher expectancy effect.† For example, if a white teacher expects a black student to perform below average on a math test when compared to white students, over time the teacher may act in ways that encourage black students  to underperform. Stemming from Marxs theory of the relationship between workers and capitalism, the conflict theory approach to education examines the way educational institutions and the hierarchy of degree levels contribute to the reproduction of hierarchies and inequalities in society. This approach recognizes that schooling reflects  class, racial, and gender stratification, and tends to reproduce it. For example, sociologists have documented in many different settings how tracking of students based on class, race, and gender effectively sorts students into classes of laborers and managers/entrepreneurs, which reproduces the already existing class structure rather than producing social mobility. Sociologists who work from this perspective also assert that educational institutions and school curricula are products of the dominant worldviews, beliefs, and values of the majority, which typically produces educational experiences that marginalize and disadvantage those in the minority in terms of race, class, gender, sexuality, and ability, among other things. By operating in this fashion, the educational institution is involved in the  work of reproducing power, domination, oppression, and inequality within society.  It is for this reason that there have long been campaigns across the U.S. to include ethnic studies courses in middle schools and high schools, in order to balance a curriculum otherwise structured by a white, colonialist worldview. In fact, sociologists have found that providing ethnic studies courses to students of color who are on the brink of failing out or dropping out of high school effectively re-engages and inspires them, raises their overall grade point average and improves their academic performance overall. Notable Sociological Studies of Education Learning to Labour, 1977, by Paul Willis. An ethnographic study set in England focused on the reproduction of the working class within the school system.Preparing for Power: Americas Elite Boarding Schools, 1987, by Cookson and Persell. An ethnographic study set at elite boarding schools in the U.S. focused on the reproduction of the social and economic elite.Women Without Class: Girls, Race, and Identity, 2003, by Julie Bettie. An ethnographic study of how gender, race, and class intersect within the schooling experience to leave some without the cultural capital necessary for social mobility within society.Academic Profiling:  Latinos, Asian Americans, and the Achievement Gap, 2013, by Gilda Ochoa. An ethnographic study within a California high school of how race, class, and gender intersect to produce the achievement gap between Latinos and Asian Americans.

Evaluation of Research Methodology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Evaluation of Research Methodology - Essay Example We will examine the different types of approaches and methods that favored by all the three types of researchers. We will discuss quantitative-qualitative debate and examine the advantages and disadvantages of both the methods. These research styles are set within their philosophical, political and practical context. During the discussion there is an emphasis on the need to adopt a critical and reflexive approach to research. In the process of discussion we will evaluate all the three main research methods. We will also look at the possibilities for combining different approaches and methods in the same research project through a process. This multi-method approach and strategy would argue that this is helpful for researchers in seeking to reduce the impact of personal bias and maximize validity in research. While it is difficult to define precisely what social research actually is, there are certain aspects of the nation 'research' which can largely be agreed upon. The first of these is that researches is not an arbitrary activity, but follow certain rules and procedures. There are many types of research method available, and some of these in common usages include for instance social surveys, experiments, observations and depth interviews. Further more, we are interested in generating information of sorts, either to develop further insights into an area - to explain or explore a particular phenomenon - or to solve a problem, perhaps at work or in our local community. Various research methods: Research methods are conventionally divided into quantitative, qualitative and participatory research methods, each with differing underlying approaches, tools and techniques, faced with the glowing claims of proponents and often strident critiques and counter - claims of opponents, one would be forgiven for thinking that they belong to different words traditional disciplinary divides are, however, becoming increasingly breached. More over new tools and new solutions to short comings of old tools are continually being developed. The different methods can be integrated into a coherent research process, which builds on the relative strengths and weakness of each. Underlying the discussion are assumption about the main criteria for choosing between methods: the relevance of the information to the questions being asked and to the context; the reliability and credibility of the information and analysis; the ethical considerations in both means and ends of researc h; the manageability in relation to skills, resources and time available.Quantitative method: Quantitative, Qualitative and Participatory approaches have different disciplinary origins, and have developed distinctive tools and each and each has developed its critique of the other approaches (Hulme, 2000; Kanbur, 2003). In development research, quantitative methods have typically been the main focus, with qualitative and participatory methods often relegated to desirable frills. This is partly because of the overwhelming

Modify the proposal Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Modify the - Research Proposal Example This will be achieved through determining the perception of the customers towards the new form of marketing being used by Emirates Airlines. With the increasing levels of globalization resulting from liberalization of markets, efficient flow of information, and integration of economies, the level of competition in the market has increased immensely. This has resulted from the entry of multinational companies in the local market. These global firms have the adequate funds to segment the market, position the products strategically in the market and attract customer loyalty towards their products or services. The aviation industry has been the most affected. For instance, in the past one decade, Emirates Airline has faced immense competition from new entrants (Edelman,  2007. This aspect has necessitated the need to form a strong marketing department and use of efficient advertising channels in order to reach the customers. However, the media has increased the cost of advertising in order to benefit from the demand for their services. Therefore, Emirates airlines decided to seek cheaper channels that will help the firm re duce the cost of advertising (Mangold, & Faulds, 2009). The airline decided to use social media which continue to gain popularity among the young generation which forms the largest part of the target market. In addition, the media is also being used as a platform for conducting research. This is because the users are able to give their feedback, an aspect that enables the businesses to adjust their operations in order to meet the customer requirements (Fenwick & Wertime, 2013). Various researches have been conducted on the importance of social media. However, Emirates Airline is yet to conduct a study on how the new marketing strategy has affected the overall performance of the business. Currently, the technological sector is growing tremendously. People are able to get access

Introduction to Microeconomics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Introduction to Microeconomics - Essay Example One of the vital factors that have caused such a situation to happen is the lower level of harvest in Mexico. Mexico has been one of the major exporters of coffee beans to Brazil. Thus, fall in the amount of harvest of coffee in Mexico resulted in a shortage of supply of coffee for the domestic consumption in Brazil. Another important factor behind the shortage of coffee supply was the sudden call out for a strike by the truck drivers of Columbia. This strike lasted for about two weeks thus affecting the supply, in consequence, the export of coffee to a large extent. Increased amount of exports of coffee beans abroad is another factor behind the shortage of domestic supply. There have been huge sales of coffee at abroad in this month of February; while on the other hand, the level of demand of coffee domestically is expected to increase further, and thus, will aggravate the problem of rising prices further. As the economy experiences a boom in the market, Brazil has toped to break al l records as the export of coffee amounts to 2.7 millions of bags, equivalent to which, the consumption level of coffee rates to more than one millions of bags. The consumption of green and soluble coffee in Brazil is set to reach a limit of 6% in comparison to a record of 20.27 millions bags weighing sixty kilograms each.

Sustainable Green Buildings Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Sustainable Green Buildings - Research Proposal Example Additionally, congestion of buildings is a major phenomenon in the modern construction industry, as well as inefficient use of land especially in the urban areas. Completed modern structures are responsible for increased energy consumption, loss of productive agricultural land and soil erosion as a result of runoff. Communities living in these areas are exposed to increased stress resulting from congestion and polluted sewer systems. Indeed, little can be fancied about the modern buildings. The increased negativity in the building industry has prompted leaders in the business to seek measures to curb the problem. Buildings which are environmentally friendly that efficiently and sustainably use natural resources have been researched on. This new concept is referred to as green building, which seeks to solve the problems encountered by the construction business. Structures constructed in this manner are referred to as Sustainable Green Buildings RATIONALE FOR THE RESEARCH This paper lo oks at the concept of Sustainable Green Buildings, their advantages over the modern form of buildings, products used in construction of sustainable green buildings and how sustainable they are. It will seek to find how people perceive the idea and understand how many people are willing to invest in them. LITERATURE REVIEW Definition of Sustainable Green Buildings Sinha (93) defines green building as the effective and efficient use of materials and products which is directed at reducing the overall environmental impact of the building. Sustainable green buildings refer to housing and architectural structures that are constructed using environmental friendly and resources that ensure efficiency throughout the lifecycle of the building. Successful buildings should be durable, economical, offer comfort and fit for the intended use. The life cycle of a building begins at the sitting design, construction, operation and maintenance of the building, renovation and demolition of a structure. In sustainable buildings, the undertaking of all these processes is expected to be an environmental friendly exercise (Bauer et al. 7). To successfully achieve this, the various teams involved in all stages of the lifecycle of a building should be engaged. Different teams involved in the various stages in the construction of a building include the architectural team, structural designers, contractors, engineers and the client. Designers of green buildings built the concept on minimum disturbance of the topology and the landscape, use of non-toxic materials that are recycled and equally environmental friendly and those that use renewable energy sources. The efficiency use of water is emphasized, while natural sources of green energy such as solar and wind power are being exploited (Furr 56). Materials used in Construction of Sustainable Green Buildings Green products used in the construction industry necessarily do not have to be 100% green. Wood that has been treated with different toxic chemicals to make it durable cannot be referred to as a green product since it has health hazards among the people (Robeznieks 10). Different considerations are made when a product is classified as either green or not. Products that have been salvaged or recycled, such as the agricultural products are regarded as green products as it is economical to recycle products than producing new ones. Products which

Discussion post Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Discussion post - Essay Example Common symptoms of acute bronchitis include; persistent cough which lasts for about 10 to 20 days which creates clear mucus. While for pneumonia includes; high fever, chest pains, and shortness of breath. The acute bronchitis affects the lower respiratory tract while pneumonia affects the upper respiratory tract (US Department of Health & Human Services, 2011). I agree with Christopher Johnson on the need for the patient to find someone to guide her through some positive lifestyle changes. The signs and symptoms by the patient indicate she is suffering from chronic bronchitis. The recommendations made after diagnosis will help the patient to get well soon and manage the sickness. I also agree the patient needs to be given lessons on antibiotics intake. The patient needs to be encouraged to take the flu and pneumonia vaccines (Cunha, 2014). I agree with Peng Anderson from the patient’s symptoms she has emphysema which is manifested by her history of tobacco use and physical examination (WebMD, 2014). The patient needs to know the severity of the condition and make changes. She needs to control her tobacco use in order to slow the progression of emphysema. I also agree a social worker would be of great help to the patient in locating and utilizing community

Write a report assessing the feasibility of different techniques for Essay - 4

Write a report assessing the feasibility of different techniques for providing fresh water to arid regions of the world - Essay Example Arid regions of the world, found mainly in Africa and Middle-East Asia, typically lack physically accessible, hygienic, and adequate water supply, necessary for multiple aspects such as domestic use, industry and agriculture. Due to this shortage, these regions face difficulties in not only economic development but also human resources development, with people living there facing numerous struggles. Thus focusing on the current tough situation in arid regions, and the resultant difficulties, this report will discuss about two different water provision techniques of desalination and water transfer, and how they can provide fresh water to those regions. Although, 70 percent of the Earth’s surface consists of water, only around 2.5 percent is fresh water, with the rest being salt water contained in the oceans. (â€Å"And not a drop to drink?†, n. d). Among the already minimal proportion of fresh water, just about 1 percent is easily accessible for the people to ‘tap’ and utilize, and that 1 percent is found mainly in rivers, lakes as well as some underground sources. â€Å"Only this amount is renewed regularly by rain and snowfall, and therefore available on a sustainable basis.† (â€Å"And not a drop to drink?†, n. d). However, the key issue here, this 1 percent is not evenly distributed throughout the world, with arid regions bereft of those natural fresh water sources. â€Å"The Amazon carries 16 percent of global river flow (or run-off). But arid zones, which cover 40 percent of the worlds landmass, have only 2 percent of run-off.† (â€Å"And not a drop to drink?†, n. d). Co nsidering these shortfalls, people living in these regions face drinking water shortage, deterioration of agricultural production as well as industrial activity. There are a variety of estimates concerning the amount of water humans need on a daily basis. Clarke

Discussion post Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Discussion post - Essay Example Common symptoms of acute bronchitis include; persistent cough which lasts for about 10 to 20 days which creates clear mucus. While for pneumonia includes; high fever, chest pains, and shortness of breath. The acute bronchitis affects the lower respiratory tract while pneumonia affects the upper respiratory tract (US Department of Health & Human Services, 2011). I agree with Christopher Johnson on the need for the patient to find someone to guide her through some positive lifestyle changes. The signs and symptoms by the patient indicate she is suffering from chronic bronchitis. The recommendations made after diagnosis will help the patient to get well soon and manage the sickness. I also agree the patient needs to be given lessons on antibiotics intake. The patient needs to be encouraged to take the flu and pneumonia vaccines (Cunha, 2014). I agree with Peng Anderson from the patient’s symptoms she has emphysema which is manifested by her history of tobacco use and physical examination (WebMD, 2014). The patient needs to know the severity of the condition and make changes. She needs to control her tobacco use in order to slow the progression of emphysema. I also agree a social worker would be of great help to the patient in locating and utilizing community

Commercial Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Commercial Management - Essay Example Peace Gardens were the first to open in 1998. The Millennium Galleries showcases cultural themes involving visual arts, craft and design. The Peace gardens and illuminated fountains put on a spectacular show during the night. Unique architecture in the form of stylish arches, winding pathways, glasshouses and tropical plants blend in to produce a spectacular sight. The Peace Gardens, Millennium Square and Winter Gardens are part of the Gold Network of attractive public spaces. They form a powerful hub and are the point at which the major route to the city centre from the station and the pedestrian link between the two universities intersect. The grant awarded to this project amounted to ?22,700,279 and the total cost incurred in this project has been ?45,221,155. Aims and Objectives: The primary objective of the project was to help the city of Sheffield regain its status as one of the top localities in Europe by making it more attractive to residents, outside investors and visitors. The aim was to do this by creating a lively, high quality, safe and sustainable city centre lively city centre for living, leisure, learning and retail. This was a key site which had been under-utilized in terms of commercial and public usage. The project was also aimed at expanding the Economy of the City in order to create new jobs and allow growth. High quality offices were to be designed in the city centre from where high profile functions of companies could be performed. A bustling hub of financial and professional services would also promote an investor-friendly image necessary to boost the local economy. Eventually all the economic growth would have allowed employment opportunities for the local community. In order to support the projected commercial and tourist activity, infrastructure was required. Projects like ‘Station Gateway’ and ‘New Retail Quarter’ were designed to improve accessibility, movement and linkages in the city. How successful has t he project been? One of the questions the OGC 5 Gateway asks is whether the project is a success or not. Apart from a few shortfalls the project has largely been a success. The futuristic design of the City Centre has largely been successful in attracting local and foreign businesses. Tourists and students have also been drawn to the city giving a boost to the local economy. The Gateway is also interested in knowing in weather the business case in which investment is made is even valid. The business case for this venture still holds great value as it a profitable venture. City buildings and infrastructure were old and an improvement was required. A significant amount of the revenue was generated from this part of the city so it was necessary to develop this prime location. After the opening of the Millennium Galleries, ninety percent of Sheffield Museums and Galleries Trust income was generated by it alone, prior to the re-opening of the Weston Park Museum. Two-thirds of apartments were already sold even though a brick had not been laid, though 40% have passed to institutional investors. Economic activity has increased and more commercial outlets have set up their offices at St. Paul’

Money Is the Root of Evil Essay Example for Free

Money Is the Root of Evil Essay Money is the root of evil It could be said that money is one of the greatest inventions of mankind, which affects and changes wide and deep whole human society. It occurred when people had demand to exchange merchandise. Together with the process of development of society, money changed from too simple to complex and sophisticated forms to meet people’s needs in settlement. In its dawn, money was very simple things such as shells, fur and salt etc. When metal was discovered; iron, bronze, silver and gold were used in turn as the role of money. And now, we can use coins, note, card, and check and letter of credit etc. to buy goods in supermarket, pay water, electricity bills or even to settle imports. Money – even of its forms – this is a general parity object, does the role as means in settlement of merchandise and services. Doing the role of intermediary instrument in settlement, money contributes to the development of human society quickly in two aspects: economy and culture. As we know, money made exchange of goods more quickly and conveniently than any direct exchange way; since then trading industry came out into society and developed. In cultural aspect, the most typical features of an ethnic group or a nation will be chosen to make signs on money so by regarding money; we can see the basic features of an ethnic group or a nation. Specially, in our global time, money can be moved very easily between almost nations, it makes cultural exchange more advantageous. How do people think about money? There is a truth that many people value money too high, they think money is all and believe that â€Å"money is a passport to anything†. So they can do anything, even immoral and illegal things in order to have money. Robbers are ready to kill others cruelly for some tens of thousands of dong. Traders are ready to cheat in commerce to appropriate more money. Officials, who have large power and influence on society, themselves trample on their honor, others’ interests, their nation’s future etc. to take dirty money. With those evil acts, they make people believe that money is a cause of evil. Although there are many bad acts related to money; I always think that money couldn’t be the root of evil, money is just a victim of some people’s greed. Some people, with cruel and greedy character, did anything to have money; but is it true that their purpose is only about money? No, I don’t think so. I believe that their last aim is about things money can bring to them. So the deep reason of evil in society is cruelty and greed. It means people must bear full responsibility for their evil and they can’t blame anyone or anything. Until now, money is just a means in settlement.

Frank J. Horgan Filtration Plant :: essays research papers

Frank J. Horgan Filtration Plant Introduction The Frank J. Horgan Filtration Plant is located Southeast of Toronto on the shores of Lake Ontario (See map). Its purpose is to provide safe drinking water to our taps by filtering the water. The water is gathered from Lake Ontario. This plant has a production capacity of 455 million litres per day to supply the residents of Toronto with drinking water. Its average production of drinking water is 355 million litres per day. It is also the newest filtration plant in Toronto. History The Frank J. horgan Filtration Plant was built from 1974 to 1979 on property acquired from the city of Scarborough, It opened on May 22,1980. When it opened, it was not named Frank J. Horgan Filtration Plant but was names Easterly Filtration Plant. This was because the plant was on the eastern side of Toronto. The name seemed appropriate at the time. The name was changed to Frank J. Horgan Filtration Plant at 1990 by the commissioner of works for Metro Toronto. This plant cost about 57 million dollars to construct. About nineteen major contractors worked on this plant and were supervised by the Engineering firm of James F. Macharen Limited. Although it is the newest plant, it had it’s disasters. Their intake value exploded twice between 1980 and 1995 because of the extreme pressure and Wight of the water. these incidents cause a shutdown of the plant until they could repair it. Production The Frank J. Horgan Filtration Plant needs only one row materials to operate, which is water. The plant is right next to lake Ontario, collecting water to purify. The water enters the plant by means of two 114 and four 182 million litres per day pumps, sum 18 meters below sea level and 2960 meters off the shore. Since the pressure of the water at that depth is so strong, there is no need for any mechanical pumps. They just let pressure and suction to do the job. The water is now treated with chemicals which are aluminium sulphate (alum), lime and chlorine. Alum is used to stick dirt particles together, to make large clumps of dirty called "floc". A lot of chlorine is added to the water to kill the bacteria. If we were to drink it, you would die from chlorine poisoning. The Chlorine, by the end of the filtration, drops to a safe level. This is where the alum does its work. Coagulation is basically mixing the alum with the water. This is a achieved by high speed in-line mechanical blenders. Flocculation occurs right afterwards.

Andrea Dworkin :: essays research papers fc

Andrea Dworkin   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Andrea Dworkin has been an influential write, speaker, and activist for over two decades. She claims to be a feminist, and that her ideas are beneficial to women. This paper will show that many of her most popular beliefs are not only detrimental to society, but also not in the best interests of women.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In letters from a war zone, Andrea Dworkin presents a collection of speeches and short articles she has composed during her career as a writer and activist. Many of her articles deal with censorship and pornography. One claim is central to all of these, pornography is an act and not an idea, thus censorship is not relevant to it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In response to a New York Time Review of her 1981 book, Pornography: Men Possessing Women, Dworkin writes, â€Å"Pornography says the women want to be hurt, forced, and abused; pornography says women want to be raped, battered, kidnapped, maimed; pornography says women want to be humiliated, shamed, defamed, pornography says that women say no but mean yes - Yes to violence, yes to pain.† (Dworkin p 203)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In response to Dworkin's fiery rhetoric, Wendy Mcelroy writes that Dworkin has scientific backing and even cites evidence to the contrary. â€Å"In Japan, where pornography depicting violence is widely available, rape is much lower per capita than in the United States, where violence in porn is restricted.† Mcelroy attacks the belief that pornography cause violence, stating that even if a correlation is present, is does not necessarily mean there is a causal relationship. (McElroy 102)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lynne Segal sees in inherent harm in trying to link the two together. She believes that feminists who try to do so are wasting valuable time that could be spent on other important issues. â€Å"In the end, anti-pornography campaigns, feminist or not, can only enlist today, as they have invariously enlisted before, guilt and anxiety around sex, as well as lifetimes of confusion in our personal experiences of sexual arousal and activity.† â€Å"In contrast, campaigns which get to the heart of men's violence and sadism towards women must enlist the widest possible resources to empower socially.† (Gibson 19)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another argument of Dworkin's is that pornography should not be protected as free speech under the first amendment. It is her contention that protecting what pornographers say, is protecting what pornography does. Pornography is more than words. They are acts against women. â€Å"Pornography happens to women.† As a result, bans on such material are warranted, not only because it is harmfully and discriminatory to women, but also because there are no civil liberties that are violated in preventing an act.

Crystal Pepsi: A Giant’s Failure Essay

Introduction We all have heard and seen it over and over again in commercials, movies, documentaries, stories, about Pepsi and its huge line of products. But very few of us (nationally and internationally) know about the company and its history. PepsiCo, Inc. was established through the merger of Pepsi-Cola and Frito-Lay. Pepsi-Cola was created in the late 1890s by Caleb Bradham while Frito-Lay Inc. was formed by the 1961 merger of the Frito Company, founded by Elmer Doolin in 1932. Throughout its history, PepsiCo has introduced number of products for its consumers from cola to water, to teas and dark chocolate mocha. It went through number of transformation and acquired several other companies along its way. Today, Pepsi is one of the largest food and beverage companies in the world operating nationally and internationally1. However, it has seen many failures on its way to success. One of its failures is Crystal Pepsi, introduced in April 1992 as a colorless drink with a market slogan â€Å"You ’ve never seen a taste like this†2. The main strategy was to introduce its colorless drink with fewer sweeteners to its health conscious consumers. The marketing began in 1990s and was tested in Denver, Sacramento, Dallas and Providence that resulted positive3. The paper discusses about its making, marketing mix, target market, competition and failure in detail. Product Every big business whether it is retail, manufacture or service depends on some kind of a product or product line it’s introduced. A proper strategy is required to sustain in market especially when competition is tough and rival is continuously coming up with some strategy to get the first movers advantage. Products that lack continuous innovation often suffers up to the extent that the internal or external forces ultimately drive them out of business. Crystal Pepsi is such product that gained the attention of consumers by its fancy name but lost the market in no time due to its lack of innovation. Although, PepsiCo tried hard to sustain its beloved product by introducing it in diet and different flavors but all strategies failed miserably.4 The making Crystal Pepsi by Pepsi was first introduced in 1992 and remained a mystery not only for its consumers but also to its manufacturers in terms of sales, strategy and market share. It was one of the most fascinated drinks when introduced as it was a colorless cola that provides relief from thirst and has health benefits simultaneously. The idea, however, was captured from the remake of Ivory Soap from its classic milky solution. There were two reasons behind the launch of Crystal Pepsi; Competition and a shift of consumer taste towards healthier beverages5. Crystal Pepsi targeted the market right but failed in both as the drink was nothing but a combination sugar and water with little flavor in it. Taste It was first marketed as the caffeine free, naturally flavored with preservatives drink that is different from other colas in many ways as it uses fewer sweeteners, equating as clearness with purity and health. The drink also claimed to be lighter than other drinks and Pepsi itself. Moreover, the drink was then introduced in lime flavor as well which was a part of limited edition and sales promotion. PepsiCo tried to save its product by adding citrus flavor to it. The company also shorten its name to Crystal and added â€Å"from the makers of Pepsi† on the packaging to give it a new brand image and changed formula but failed again. As the sales went down drastically all major projects related to Crystal Pepsi were put to halt that resulted in its disappearance from the shelves and discontinued supplies6. Packaging After receiving the positive response from its test market, PepsiCo decided to launch the product in United States and Canada to gain the maximum market share. A large campaign was launched and it was the first time in the company’s history a first photo-realistic, computer generated bus wrap was invented to advertise the product. The bottles were designed in the most sophisticated packing with a combination of blue, red, and silver prominent colors giving it a refreshing looks. It was also available in different sizes from 2 liters bottles to 250 ml cans7. Promotion The promotion strategy is one of the most significant parts of business. One  of the best quotes about the importance of advertising is by Stuart Henderson Britt and goes like this: â€Å"Doing business without advertising is like winking at a girl in the dark. You know what you are doing but nobody else does.† Obviously, like any other strategy promotion strategy consist of introduction, growth, maturity and decline but Crystal Pepsi is among those products that came in the market with a bang but suffered terribly since after. Advertising Crystal Pepsi started it full marketing campaign in 1992 nationally including media campaign featuring Van Halen’ music, â€Å"Right Now†. This gave boost to sales in the market for a short period of time but went down again due to its competition with its rival Coca Cola. The Advertisement also appeared in on network TV during Super Bowl XXVII on January 31st, 1993. PepsiCo has always been famous for its promotion and the time and money company spend on its every product line. PepsiCo was doing all it could to sustain the product in the market by using different electronic media resources available at that time. Promoting Crystal Pepsi through advertisements on buses and on merchandizes like pool float, glass and wall clock were few of its marketing strategies to improve the sales. Like many other companies, Pepsi also arranged promotions with major retailers like Walmart but it didn’t ended well. The other promoting methods that used were radio commercials and major newspapers including USA Today. The major factor that Pepsi was unable to recognize at the time of promotion was the differentiation. It stressed on the importance of product attributes like fewer sweeteners, less calories, flavored drink etc. when the time was to segregate itself from regular carbonate drink to more of an energy drink. Changing names, color of the packaging and commercial medium wasted time and money of the company that ultimately result in the failure of the product8. Price The pricing strategy is crucial in any decision making process. Often times products that are new in market are either priced too high or too low. For any company that has vast experience in customer relationship and dealing, pricing strategy is of greatest importance. The price of its product should reflect the quality of the product as well as the reaction of consumers. If  the price is set too low then the customers would reject the product and vice versa. In any case the strategy for Crystal Pepsi was the same; to penetrate. Pricing Strategy According to various sources, Crystal Pepsi was sold at regular cola prices which means no major efforts were put forth to enforce the selling of the product at higher prices. Crystal Pepsi at first gained a lot of attention from the other soda drinkers and they lined up to try this new refreshed cola that promotes healthy drink and fewer sweetener. The sales were skyrocketed and company made more than expected profits. However, the customers found no difference between sprite and 7up and eventually gave up on Crystal Pepsi. The price never went down but instead changes were made on its appearance to gain attention through attraction9. Consumer’s Reaction The pricing was not the issue in the case of the cola. Crystal Pepsi was selling good at the asking price varying from 89 cents to a dollar in 90s. When the cola was disappeared from the market it was due to its taste and by the end of its time period, the cola lost major part of its target market. Today, Crystal Pepsi is still available on websites such as eBay and Amazon where the ask prices vary from $50 to $10010. Lately, few videos were made by students at several universities on YouTube asking Pepsi to bring back Crystal Pepsi again. The future of Crystal Pepsi, however, is still unknown. Pepsi has tried many times to bring back Crystal Pepsi in National and International markets but was unable to fully penetrate because of severe competition posed by its either competitors or the companies that already have significant market share. Place The placing of the product plays a vital role in increasing sales revenue and gaining the maximum profit from the market. But like promotion, placing depending on emphasis. Crystal Pepsi has emphasized and stressed on promoting its formula and stretched to convince people that how different this cola is and what health benefits would they get after drinking it11. The mistake that was done by PepsiCo was in differentiation and positioning of its product. The product was different than regular Pepsi-Cola and Coca-Cola but had the same appearance and taste as of 7up and Sprite. That  is why it became hard for Crystal Pepsi to differentiate itself in the market and form a new image in its consumer’s minds. Distribution Crystal Pepsi was first taste tested by participants from different target markets and then was released to test market in April 1992. The launch was limited to test the reaction of its target consumers. The test markets were conducted in Denver, Dallas, and Providence, Rhode Island for nine months straight bringing all the possible changes to the formula according to the preferences of the consumers. It was then launched nationally during December 1992. Crystal Pepsi was among the favorite drinks of its consumers at that time and gained a good market share in matter of weeks. People tried it partially due to curiosity just to see what’s new in there12. It was available at all the major retailers like Walmart and did very well in sales. After its launch in the United States it was launched in Canada, Europe and Australia for limited time. The time span for Europe was the highest among all the markets but ultimately pulled off the shelves due to poor sales13. The Canadian and A ustralian Markets responded the same as United States but since Crystal Pepsi held different grounds in terms of taste and appearance, it lasted longer than United States. Pepsi later introduced Pepsi Max in Australia replacing Crystal Pepsi during the summer of 1993. Mexico A newer version of Crystal Pepsi under the name of Pepsi Clear was introduced in 2005 in Mexico. However, it was available for a limited time and in quantity in the market. It was another attempt to revive the product in an international market where diet colas are among the most favorite drinks. The product was not a failure but discontinued after the limited time14. Target Market One of the sensitive and time consuming decisions for any company to make is to get proper knowledge of its target market. Many companies have failed to properly evaluate the preference and taste of its target markets and vanished completely or at least their product lines were disappeared from the market. Crystal Pepsi focused on two types of consumers; 1. Health conscious individuals 2. People who prefer white soft drinks over colas Health Conscious Individuals The first target market was quite easy to capture because at the time of its launch people in most of the developed countries were getting health conscious. They made exercise their part of life. It was the start of an era where people begun to think of their fitness and gave workout and fitness priority15. PepsiCo targeted those individuals and presented them an innovative drink with fewer sweeteners and lower calories to help them in achieving their fitness goals. By removing the brown color from the regular cola, Crystal Pepsi easily made an impression of pure drink by presenting an image of â€Å"good health, purity and icy cold-water† to its drinkers. Soft-drinkers The other category was hard to tackle as many colorless soft-drinkers were already committed to their existed products and were brand loyal. However, the marketing strategy done by PepsiCo paid off during its launch and people tried the new product for the change. However, this market wasn’t captured at all and people went back to their original drinks completely ignoring Crystal Pepsi16. PepsiCo put all of their focus and attentions toward this group by changing formulas, packaging and differentiation, putting their health conscious group at stake. They lost both markets in matter of months17. Competitors PepsiCo has always been and still is in direct competition with Coca-Cola, another food and beverage giant. The competition is so severe that they spend millions of dollars to protect their secrets from one another just like many major companies in Silicon Valley. Although the rivalry between Pepsi and Coca-Cola is always severe, the other rivals were tough too. First Movers Advantage Crystal Pepsi was one of its kind products that was first introduced to a limited target market, made a huge impact in its test market, launched with a refined formula, failed and disappeared in 15 weeks. It is one of the most  anticipated products by PepsiCo still demanded by many consumers to date. Crystal Pepsi has enjoyed its top spot for few months and has gained the first mover advantage. They spell bound the market with its fewer sweeteners, low calories and new formula with amazing prices in the market. Consumers liked the taste initially as it was a 90s reason to drink cola without color, caffeine or preservatives1819. Competition Crystal Pepsi was introduced to directly compete with already existed products in the market such as Clearly Canadian. This and similar products were already held the major market share and stayed strong in its demand vs supply. They addressed the need and want of its consumers more strongly as compared to its competitors. Crystal Pepsi when came in targeted its competition in a unique way. Although the cola was colorless, it was a direct threat to Clearly Canadian and Quibell. Clearly Canadian and Quibell both offered non-carbonate drinks that were the market segment of soft-drinkers. Their products still exists in the market in many flavors. Coca-Cola, on the other hand, tried to come up with same product but with different strategy and named it as Tab Clear which also failed in market miserably. Although Coca-Cola also pushed its product like Pepsi, the results were the same for both the companies. Reason for failure As mentioned earlier in the discussion, the major contributor for failure of product was lack of differentiation. PepsiCo stressed over its new formula but failed to meet the expectation of consumers. It was hard for customers to tell the difference between Crystal Pepsi and 7up or Sprite. Crystal Pepsi failed to target its market accurately. The cola was launched for health conscious individual and soft-drinkers20 but lost its way to form a brand image in the minds of consumers. One other factor for failure was poor name execution. Crystal Pepsi was named crystal to give it an image of pure drink that was more attracted to older generation as compared to the younger ones. The younger generation was still drinking regular colas that had the same cost as of Crystal Pepsi. Evaluation/Critique The product was made with an intention to target the consumers that are health conscious and working their way out towards healthy lifestyle. The lack in differentiation and positioning of product made things worse for Crystal Pepsi that was in competition since its launch. Emphasizing on new formulas over and over again, cost the company enormous sum of money and time. Overall, the product was never seen as a failure, rather, an opportunity to study the market accurately for future products. References 1. Miller, Cyndee. (1993, February). Ebsco Host Database. Trendy marketers want consumers to see right through their products. http://gsuproxy.govst.edu:3963/ehost/detail?vid=3&sid=95159dfc-8f54-472c-98c0-0c533cb0e06b%40sessionmgr115&hid=117&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=buh&AN=17599561 2. Lavinsky, David. (1993, March). Ebsco Host Database. â€Å"When Novelty wears off, soft drinks clearly will fail†. http://gsuproxy.govst.edu:3963/ehost/detail?vid=10&sid=95159dfc-8f54-472c-98c0-0c533cb0e06b%40sessionmgr115&hid=117&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=buh&AN=17598728 3. Triplett Tim. (1994, May). Ebsco Host Database. â€Å"Consumers show little taste for clear beverages†. http://gsuproxy.govst.edu:3963/ehost/detail?vid=13&sid=95159dfc-8f54-472c-98c0-0c533cb0e06b%40sessionmgr115&hid=117&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=bsh&AN=9410311353 4. Laura Zinn. â€Å"Pepsi’s future becomes clearer†. Bloomberg Business week. January 31st, 1993 < http:// www.businessweek.com/stories/1993-01-31/pepsis-future-becomes-clearer 5. Eben Shapiro. â€Å"It’s a transparent attempt to revive Pepsi’s Cola sales†. The New York Times. April 13th, 1992. < http://www.nytimes.com/1992/04/13/business/it-s-a-transparent-attempt-to-revive-pepsi-s-cola-sales.html?action=click&module=Search ®ion=searchResults&mabReward=relbias%3Ar&url=http%3A%2F%2Fquery.nytimes.com%2Fsearch%2Fsitesearch%2F%3Faction%3Dclick%26region%3DMasthead%26pgtype%3DHomepage%26module%3DSearchSubmit%26contentCollection%3DHomepage%26t%3Dqry51%23%2Fcrystal%2Bpepsi%2F 6. Editorial review. â€Å"New Pepsi drinks offer clear choice†. Dayton Daily News. December 13th, 1992. < http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=0F5052CF4CD4FA55&p_docnum=7 7. Del Jones, USA Today. â€Å"Even good CEOs pick the wrong direction†. ABC News. November 7th, 2007. < http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=3830073 8. Jeff Hirsch and Tom

Authentic Italian dishes.

After gaining enough experience and capital from my previous restaurant employment, I have decided to start my own restaurant offering Authentic Italian dishes. Stated below are the highlights of my idyllic Italian restaurant. My restaurant shall have six large tables complete with basic table amenities such as pepper, salt and a variety of well-picked sauces.   Tables will be large due to the prominence of Italian food and culture for entertaining families or large groups. Another four small tables however will be added for small companies or pairs. In compliment to this, the interior shall be well-ventilated and equally lighted for maximum space utilization. For my restaurant’s menu, I shall adapt the menu of the Via Carducci because they give special importance to pasta dishes, which are the marker s of Italian food.   Their menu, including wine choices are offered at very affordable yet reasonable prices, but not sacrificing the quality and the over-all effect of the products. Their specific cuisine is the Rustic Southern Italian which originated from the owner’s home town, Calabria. Their type of cuisine specializes in organic and fresh ingredients perfect for medium to heavy diets. My Kitchen shall adapt the open G-shaped layout. This consists of four walls, two pair of walls opposite each other; the, the sink, the refrigerator and the cooktop are located at one of the pairs such that creating an imaginary work triangle with the three as points.   This layout enhances the use of the three basic elements of the kitchen mentioned above. It also gives ample space for other cooking equipments to be located at the other pair of walls. The cleverness of the layout allows for even-trafficking in the work triangle. The said layout also makes room for one or two additional cooks for more efficient service.   The kitchen shall be open for the customers to view the brilliance of the cook(s). To add, a large over head mirror shall be ingeniously placed also for maximized viewing. I have only three specific kitchen equipments to mention (1) the World Cuisine’sLillo pasta machine: able to produce different kinds of pasta from any type of flour, with or without the use of eggs. The product comes with four durable pasta attachments for Spaghetti, Tagliatelle, Penne, and Macaroni. The item is ideal for fast-paced kitchens with just enough working space. The lillo pasta machine is also recommended for Italian kitchens serving quality pasta. (2) The Silex line of Knives. Qualities include; purity of metal achieved through the secondary melting process it underwent, unique hardness provided by the strength of the material used, the fineness and precision comparable to a surgical scalpel, special resistance to corrosion, easy to sharpen blades given by the hardness and purity, and the extraordinary length of time it remains sharp. Its handle is designed for comfort in working for long periods of time. It also has a polymer-based handle which is anti-bacterial. This line of cutlery provides proficiency in the work place due to its efficiency, durability and cleanliness in the workplace. This is ideal for busy restaurant kitchens which specialize in salads and fresh sauces. The next item (3) would be the World Cuisine’s Large oval cast-iron grill. This product is ideal for indoor-grilling. The heavy ridged cast iron surface preserves heat which equally and quickly grills. The item is suggested for class gourmet meals. Other kitchen equipments which were not mentioned will also be hand-picked with care. Costs shall also be given much attention. The above mentioned factors and elements were cautiously selected taking into consideration the availability, efficiency, monetary cost, and over-all quality. This, for me, is the ideal kitchen layout together with the visualization of the ideal Italian restaurant. References: Atlanta Home improvement, Kitchen Layouts, August 8 2007 From: http://www.homeimprovementmag.com/Articles/2004/04Dec_k&b_layouts.html      

Glass Menagerie Essay

An Escape from Confinement The Wingfield family in Tennessee Williams â€Å"The Glass Menagerie† is one that is held together by the bonds of illusion, dysfunction, and entrapment. Amanda Wingfield lives in a lower middle-class apartment that Williams tells us is â€Å"symptomatic of the impulse of this largest and fundamentally enslaved section of American society to avoid fluidity and differentiation and to function as one interfused mass of automatism† (Williams, 1945, 400). Amanda and her two children, Laura and Tom, are enslaved in different ways. Amanda is a slave to a past when the bloom was not off the rose, so-to-speak. Tom is enslaved by pity for his mother and sister that keeps him working in a warehouse job he hates as he is a poet. Laura is enslaved by her illusions. There is a constant struggle between reality and illusion in this play, something ironic in light of the fact that Williams attempted to avoid realism. As Downer (1960) notes: â€Å"As a writer he is basically a poet, and he has done much to develop the possibilities of poetic expression in a theater that was created as a home for relentless realism† (222). Laura’s development through the play influences the evolution of the idea, that one must escape enslavement to have the chance for a fulfilling existence. The truly dysfunctional family of the play didn’t manage to escape their confined existence. At first it could seem as if their lives are anything but normal, but Amanda’s â€Å"impulse to preserve her single-parent family seems as familiar as the morning newspaper† (Presley 53). The Wingfields are a typical family just struggling to get by. Their problems, however, stem from their inability to effectively communicate with each other. Instead of talking out their differences, they resort to desperate acts. The desperation that the Wingfields embrace has led them to create illusions in their minds and in turn become deceptive. Amanda, Tom, and Laura are caught up in a web of desperation, denial, and deception, and it is this entrapment that prevents them, as it would any family, from living productive and  emotionally fulfilled life. All of the play’s characters make attempts at escape. The father is the ultimate symbol of escape because of his desertion. Laura continually escapes into a world of fantasy through the glass menagerie and the old phonograph records. Amanda tries to escape her current life by retelling stories of when she was young and life had limitless possibilities. Tom escapes his life and his mind-numbing job by going to the movies and sometimes getting drunk. Even the apartment where they live is something from which they would like to escape. â€Å"The Wingfield apartment is in the rear of the building, one of those vast hive-like conglomerations of cellular living-units that flower as warty growths in overcrowded urban centers of lower middle-class populations and are symptomatic of the impulse of this largest and fundamentally enslaved section of American society to avoid fluidity and differentiation and to exist and function as one interfused mass of automatism† (stage directions, 1.1, Williams 1175). Williams uses a description of the setting to establish the prison-like feel .The play takes an ambiguous attitude toward the moral implications and even the effectiveness of Tom’s escape. As far as he might wander from home, something still pursues him. Like a jailbreak, Tom’s escape leads him not to freedom but to the life of a fugitive. In their attempts to escape reality, all of the characters retreat into some kind of fantasy, whether it is films or glass animals. They find a source of comfort and contentment in these fantasy realms that they do not seem to find in reality. Each member of the Wingfield family is unable to overcome this difficulty, and each, as a result, withdraws into a private world of illusion where he or she finds the comfort and meaning that the real world does not seem to offer. Of the three Wingfields, reality has by far the weakest grasp on Laura. The private world in which she lives is populated by glass animals that, like Laura’s inner life, are incredibly delicate. Unlike his sister, Tom is capable of functioning in the real world. But, in the end, he has no more motivation than Laura does to pursue professional success, romantic relationships, and he prefers to retreat into the fantasies. Amanda’s relationship to reality is the most complicated in the play. Unlike her children, she is partial to real-world values and longs for social and financial success. Living in the past is Amanda’s way of escaping her pitiful present reality (Knorr). She never forgets to tell Laura and Tom  about her receiving seventeen gentlemen callers in Blue Mountain when she was young: â€Å"One Sunday afternoon-your mother received-seventeen!-gentlemen callers! Why, sometimes there weren’t enough chairs enough to accommodate them all† (Williams 26). Amanda’s retreat into illusion is in many ways more pathetic than her children’s, because it is a distortion of reality. In The Glass Menagerie, memory plays an important part, both thematically and in terms of the play’s presentation. Thematically, a reader sees the detrimental effects of memory in the form of Amanda’s living in the past. As far as the play’s presentation is concerned, the entire story is told from the memory of Tom, the narrator .When he begins to speak in Scene 1 of The Glass Menagerie, one of the first things he tells the audience is, â€Å"The play is memory. Being a memory play, it is dimly lighted, it is sentimental, it is not realistic.† The influence and power of memory is an important theme in the play and influences all the characters, which are trapped by memory. Tom is haunted by the memory of deserting his sister. Amanda can’t move past the memory of living a better life in Blue Mountain. â€Å"A blown-up photograph of the father hangs on the wall of the living room, to the left of the archway. It is the face of a very handsome young man in a doughboy’s First World War cap. He is gallantly smiling, ineluctably smiling, as if to say â€Å"I will be smiling forever.† (Stage directions, scene One, Williams 1178). Just as the portrait of Amanda’s husband hangs in the house, so does the past hover over the present of the play. Laura allows herself to become lost in phonograph records left by their father, the records themselves holding memories of the past. Even Jim is entangled by the memories of his days as a high school hero instead of just another guy working at a factory. The play examines the conflict between one’s obligations and one’s real desires, suggesting that being true to one may necessitate abandonment of the other. In the â€Å"Glass Menagerie† the characters have failed to escape enslavement, thus, losing the chance for a fulfilling existence. The quotation from Thoreau, â€Å"The mass of men lead lives of the quiet desperation,† applies directly to the characters, as they were all unhappy, but took no action to improve their situation in any significant way. Breaking down the chain of a vicious circle is an ongoing issue that can be found in a work life, personal relationships, and even in relationships with oneself resulting in addictions. â€Å"The Glass Menagerie† gives a reader an incentive to act up on  the stigmas, bias, and prejudices that one might have. It’s impossible to become a fulfilled and harmoniously accomplished individual without facing the dichotomy of one’s character. One has to get out of the world of fragile illusions and face the reality in order to be a happy person, as illusions create nothing but desperation.?