Sociology Of The Breakfast Club Essay - 1148 Words

Analytical Models Sociologists use many different theoretical perspectives to study the behavior of people in society. According to Macionis, sociology uses both a micro-level and macro-levels to look at both the big picture and the smallest details (p.17). There are three major analytical models in sociology that include functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interaction. Both functionalism and conflict theory are macro-level and symbolic interaction is micro-level (Macionis, P.19). Each one looks at society in a different way and can in this paper I will analyze the movie â€Å"The Breakfast Club† using these perspectives. Functionalism looks at society in aspects of how it contributes to the steadiness/cohesion of the whole society (Anderson, Taylor, Logio, P. 18). There are many institutions that are looked at that include the economic system, government, education, religion, health care, and family. All of which have different roles and perform different functions to ensure that society operates in a well-ordered manner. An example of this would be how family reproduces, takes care of children, exposes children to culture and heritage, supports other family members, and shares life experiences. Shared values and social stability are keys to this perspective. When this system breaks down it is because people’s needs are not being covered and shared values are deteriorating. When this occurs, it affects all parts of functionalism and the society must achieveShow MoreRelatedThe Breakfast Club Essay1071 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"The Breakfast Club† is a film that is well-know to be a movie that explains stereotypes and societal standards. This classic movie exemplifies group dynamic in society. It does this by portraying distinct stereotypes, varying from the so-called â€Å"princess† all the way to the so-called â€Å"criminal.† At the start of the film, each member in the group is completely different and separate. They were definitely considered an out-group, which is a group of people that don’t identify with one another. ThroughoutRead MoreCross-Disciplinary Team Research Analysis Of A Community1177 Words   |  5 Pagescapacity-building project supported by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 1 5Educating Illinois Progress Report New graduate programs at the Stevenson Center Collaborating with the School of Kinesiology and Recreation and the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, the Stevenson Center added two new degree programs to its Fellows programs. Applied Community and Economic Development Fellows and Peace Corps Fellows can now pursue master’s degrees in anthropology or kinesiology and recreationRead MoreIs Pop Culture Really Mean?979 Words   |  4 Pagesand several others. Although, if you ask an older generation, you will get different responses from Michael Jackson and leg warmers to The Breakfast Club and all the trends that made up the 1980s. It brings up a valid question, what does pop culture really mean? Pop culture can mean many different things depending on who is defining it. According to sociology professor Tim Delaney (n.d.), â€Å"It is generally recognized as the vernacular or people’s culture that predominates in a society at a point inRead MoreSample Resume : Cardiothoracic Surgery1556 Words   |  7 PagesImportant Subjects Math and science is critically important for medical doctors in general. Highly recommended classes may include: Anatomy, Geometry, Algebra 1 2, Calculus, Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Psychology, Physics, and Sociology (What Is the Most Important Subjects for Medical Student? Student Doctor Network. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2017.). Cardiothoracic surgeons are nearly one hundred percent science. They must know the functions and reactions of the heart, the lungsRead MoreInfluences Of Cultural Capital On Schooling And Learning Essay3925 Words   |  16 Pagesfrom the government in order to learn English and U.S. culture and develop his competency. Then, he brought his family along. His daughters in grades 6 and 3. His wife is a housewife (both in the U.S. and Korea). Tiger obtained a doctoral degree in Sociology in Korean university. He mentioned that he was the prior scholar able to use SPSS (A statistic program) in South Korea. Subsequently, he was appealed by many institutes in job markets. I did not have a change to ask about his parent education butRead MoreSociology Essay20437 Words   |  82 PagesAS Sociology Sociology Nik Jorgensen Text  © Nelson Thornes Distance Learning 2010 Illustrations  © Nelson Thornes Distance Learning 2010 All rights reserved. The copyright holders authorise ONLY users of NTDL AS Sociology to make photocopies for their own or their students’ immediate use within the teaching context. No other rights are granted without permission in writing from the publisher or under licence from the Copyright Licensing Agency Limited, of Saffron House, 6–10 Kirby StreetRead MoreA Study On Child Poverty Essay2778 Words   |  12 PagesBN508000 Sociology for Nurses Course Coordinator: Jude Roddick Essay topic: Child poverty in New Zealand â€Å"High rates of child poverty are a cause for concern, as low family income has been associated with a range of negative health, education, justice, labour market and social outcomes. Negative health outcomes include low birth weight, infant mortality, poorer mental health and cognitive development, and hospital admissions from a variety of causes† (Craig, Reddington, Wicken, Oben Simpson,Read MoreOld Age Homes: A Lucrative Business Opportunity10484 Words   |  42 Pagescommutation to the different places, as these facilities would be available in disparate, scattered places. For eg, travel a distance to meet your friends, travel to the doctor - if the person is not suffering from a serious ailment, travel to the club, and so on. It is a fast growing idea with a huge market. Although poor old destitutes do need shelter and should have separate, and very differently managed, old age homes for them at no or low cost, an old age home should no more be looked at asRead MoreThe Censorship of Art Essay example14698 Words   |  59 PagesAlso around the same time, Pam Howar, wife of a wealthy construction executive, noticed the lyrical contents of the songs she was dancing to during her aerobics classes, and discovered that her daughter was listening to the same kind of music over breakfast. In April of 1985 the concerned parents, together with Sally Nevius, wife of former Washington D.C. council chairman John Nevius, and Ethelynn Stuckley, wife of former Congressman Williamson Stuckley, joined forces: on May 13, 1985, they formed theRead MorePropaganda by Edward L Bernays34079 Words   |  137 PagesAmerican Antiquarian Society; League for American Citizenship; American Federation of Labor; Amorc (Rosicrucian Ord er); Andiron Club; American-Irish Historical Association; Anti-Cigarette League; Anti-Profanity League; Archeological Association of America; National Archery Association; Arion Singing Society; American Astronomical Association; Ayrshire Breeders Association; Aztec Club of 1847. There are many more under the A section of this very limited list. The American Newspaper Annual and Directory

Swot Analysis Whole Foods Essay - 2042 Words

Whole foods has become such a known household name in being the go to for organic products, but times have changed and the competition has grown. I will be analyzing Whole food methods and reasoning to how they became the giant they are today and how they plan on staying ahead of the game. Using the SWOT analysis I first reviewed all of their strengths as a company. The advantages that Whole foods has is that they carry such a large variety of organic food and also their own independent brands. They also have exclusive products that only Whole foods can carry. â€Å"Cultivating new brands and exclusive products has become even more important to Whole Foods as mainstream retailers have expanded natural-food offerings† (Gasparro and Josephs 2015). Whole Foods has positioned itself to be the key place to get your organic products, not only food but also beauty, cleaning and other products. They are also a great place to get your foot in the door, â€Å"Whole Foods may not domin ate specialty-foods retailing the way it once did, but for startups targeting Americans growing hunger for natural and organic fare, it remains the ultimate gatekeeper† (Gasparro and Josephs 2015). Others see Whole Foods as the go to for a healthy lifestyle, it has the appeal to the new generation of living a cleaner life. They also always have the latest and greatest when it comes to organic everything. There are also many weaknesses that have come about but the main one is their prices. Having a badShow MoreRelatedWhole Foods Swot Analysis1365 Words   |  6 Pagesretailing of organic foods and the impact of these trends on Whole Foods Market. Existing trends in the retailing of organic foods are healthier eating habits, concern over purity of foods, health-consciousness and the idea that eating organic foods have a positive effect on the environment (Thompson, 2010). The craze of purchasing only organic foods has an effect on not only Whole Foods but on many supermarket chains. Although organic foods are marked up in comparison to processed foods there is muchRead MoreSwot Analysis on Whole Foods Market2356 Words   |  10 PagesCOMPANY PROFILE Whole Foods Market, Inc. REFERENCE CODE: BD72666B-7DBD-4CB9-A94F-4FDC7997ECA7 PUBLICATION DATE: 30 Mar 2013 www.marketline.com COPYRIGHT MARKETLINE. THIS CONTENT IS A LICENSED PRODUCT AND IS NOT TO BE PHOTOCOPIED OR DISTRIBUTED. Whole Foods Market, Inc. TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS Company Overview..............................................................................................3 Key Facts.........................................................Read MoreSwot Analysis : Whole Foods Market1618 Words   |  7 Pagesopportunities and treats (SWOT) related to Whole Foods Market, Inc. Much of the research and information originates from the company’s 2014 annual report. The Form10-K, reputable internet sources and the Whole Foods Market company website provided the data and information to establish a complete SWOT analysis. The research and SWOT analysis has been used to recommend a strategy for growth and sustainability of Whole Foods Market. Company Background Whole Foods Market is a leading retailerRead MoreWhole Foods Market Swot Analysis2788 Words   |  12 PagesRunning Head: WHOLE FOODS MARKET SWOT ANALYSIS [pic] DeVry University Tracy Morgan Principals of Management 303 Instructor’s Name: Michelle Dawes Birt Assignment Issue Date: January 2, 2011 Assignment Due Date: January 23, 2011 Originally, Whole Foods Market (WFM) was founded in Austin, Texas, in 1980 with a staff of 19 people. As soon as the store opened, it was an immediate success and there were less than half a dozen natural food supermarkets in the United States. From 1980Read MoreSwot Analysis : Whole Foods Market1420 Words   |  6 Pagesuse complied information from several financial statements to compare the relative weaknesses and strengths of organizations. The use of ratios assist in linking the balance sheet, cash flow statement, and income statement to perform quantitative analysis. The ratios used by an organization differ dependent on the type of products or services offered. Choosing the correct ratio is essential in planning because certain ratios will assist in achieving the organization’s mission while others have noRead MoreWhole Foods Pestle1012 Words   |  5 PagesPESTLE Analysis Political Factors â€Å"A Healthier You† Government Strategy Reporting of organic prices. Safety Inspections Services. Evaluation: POSITIVE impact Economic Factors GDP: ↑ 3.9% in the 3rd qtr Real Personal Consumption expenditures ↑3.0% in 3rd qtr Disposable Personal Income ↑ 6.1 % in the 3rd qtr US Business Cycle: At â€Å"slump†/ Wages/Labour European Markets: Weak dollar against Euro, Surging Energy Prices, Increasing Interest Rates Evaluation: MODERATE impact PESTLERead MoreThe Value of Market Auditing Essay1211 Words   |  5 Pagesbe undertaken as part of the planning cycle, on an annual basis rather than a desperate response to an immediate crisis. Abel and Cole is a small private limited company, operating in the niche organic food market. Abel amp; Cole, the organic box delivery service, strictly directly organic food and drink to customers, buying their produce from mostly British farmers but also from European, and International farmers in between UK harvests but their â€Å"first choice is always British† . Market AuditingRead MoreThe Product Distribution Ideal For Whole Foods Market1701 Words   |  7 Pages Win-Win-Win Distribution The product distribution ideal for Whole Foods Market in Namibia will be two. First, the win-win-win distribution will be used when the company is entering the new country for the first place. This distribution channel aims at having all distributors in the supply chain to benefit from the products being distributed. Even though American companies always aim at reducing the links in the supply chain, this happens in the developed countries while this company is openingRead MoreWhole Foods Market Case Analysis1687 Words   |  7 PagesWhole Foods Market Case Analysis Whole Foods Market has received recognition as recent as January 27th 2011 when CNBC aired Supermarkets Inc: Inside a 500 Billion Money Machine. â€Å"Whole Foods is arguably the most influential, and by some measures, the most successful supermarket chain in the world. The specialty gourmet store has grown into a Fortune-300 company offering specialty foods and locally grown organic produce.1† CNBC goes on to state that even â€Å"Established brands like Safeway, Giant EagleRead MoreMarketing Research Mkt.4211054 Words   |  5 Pagesimportant to try to reach them all. In this essay Kudler Fine Foods will be discussed, their marketing strategy and tactics, identifying the area where additional market research is needed, analyze the importance of competitive intelligence and analysis in regards to the development of Kudler’s marketing strategy and tactics. Kudler Fine Foods was founded in 1998 by Kathy Kudler (owner), the store carters to local specialty foods. The first store is located in San Diego metropolitan are and

Guided Debate Speech Template free essay sample

Debate Speech Templates Motion: Speaker) Introduction (First Good morning/afternoon honorable adjudicator, dear opponents and members of the audience. Today, we are Indeed honored and privileged to stand before you to present our views on the motion of the house: . (write down the motion) As 1st speaker of the affirmative team, I will start by defining the key terms of todays motion and will introduce you our teams first points; namely: and . Following on, my second speaker will strengthen our arguments and rather elaborate our case by talking about . My last speaker will summaries our teams arguments and will leave you without a doubt that (restate the motion) . (rephrase the motion In your own words) Let me now define the key terms of the motion. . (write down the key terms of the motion) The word ; refers to The word What about the word proposition that according to in the case of the motion means according to (source) ?It means (source) and I cant speak strongly enough for the (motion in your own words) because main reasons). We will write a custom essay sample on Guided Debate Speech Template or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Thank you. Arguments (Pros/Cons: Second Speakers) With the key terms explained, let us examine our motion once again. (state motion) In the light of our definitions, is this a valid proposition? Let us consider some arguments in favor of this proposition.Argument #1 (State your argument) (Support your argument with (I) example from your own/others experience, common sense that everyone should now, (iii) statistics, or (v) expert opinion) Argument #2 know, (iii) statistics, or (v) expert opinion) Argument #3 Conclusion: (Third Speaker) Dear honorable Judge, fellow debaters and members of the floor, I have presented my arguments for and against the topic. However, I would like to conclude my speech by firmly stating my stand about the motion. I believe that (state your motion). However, This, therefore, is my stand that Thank you.

Your Not Fat, Just Big Boned. Essays - Obesity, Discrimination

Your Not Fat, Just Big Boned. Your Not Fat, Just Big Boned. Many people have heard the terms your not fat, just big boned, well nurished, or perhaps husky. Well, as sombody of my generation might say WHATEVER. Face it America were fat. I am talking about fat, the spare tire syndrom, or however you would like phrase it, but were still fat. We are all looking for a good get thin quike sceam, you know the one that takes no effert, and possible enjoyable. Then, again I'm afraid to disapoint you, there is not, nor will there ever be, but perhaps it's simpler than most realize. We Americans are fat for several different reasons and they have little or nothing to do with our diets or what we eat. Our obeasity begins when were young. You might have had parents like mine, the parents who said your not excused untill you eat everything on you plate, or perhaps they commited a double phopa and said no desert untill your plate is cleared. What ever the case may be, many of us are fat because of it. These phrases become stuck in our heads, and from then on every time we sit down at the table weather it be a lot or a little we will uncontiously eat it untill our plate is clean, or we are physically full. A simple solution to a simple problem, and goes like, this put less on your plate. A few ways to atempt this are spread out your food on your plate, add few veggies and garnishes make it appear to be more than what it realy is. Another would be to drink a large glass of water before you begin to eat, and perhaps just eat slower. The whole idea behind this concept is to fool the mind. Our mind tells us when we're hungry not because our stomach is empty, but because it needs something or it thinks it does, and nine times out of ten being the later. The mind is like any machine in being that we can program and train it for any funtion, all pending knowing how. So in this first method we are simple reprogram it. As we grow older other facters begin to play a roll, and the biggest is our social life. Our mind can not think of eating so easly if we have it on something else. In the teen years is when this becomes most evident. If you recall, the students that were involved in the majority of funtions were not the fat children. The fat children were not involved nearly as much, sure they were probably timid, and no doubt there were other factors involved, but it is all mental one way or another, and again it's all amatter of programing. Later on in life, we become contiously aware of our over weight problems, and this is great, but this is were the biggest problem begins. Not only does this problem affect our weight but our life span, and our life in general. The problem goes by the well known name of stress. I ask you to look at how many live well into their 80's. then ask them if any of them weried about eating healthy. Not that eating healthy is bad mind you. The problem lies with the stress of eating healthy. When most break open that choclate bar they begin to enjoy a pleasure of life, but they'er soon thinking thatb they will regret it, because some where a long the line we began to assotiate pleasuer with the idea of gread, or that for some reason we do not deserve this pleasure, but I digress. The real tie between stress and food are the cemical reactions the cause in our minds. Choclate seams to be the devals treat for women. Women have such a problem with choclate, because it releases the same chemical in the brain that comes when they fall in love, and they basicly fall in love with chochlate. men tend to have the same effect with read meat. Food is not the problem at all but in fact the reaction it has on our emotions. In any situation it all boils

Free Essays on Leavin’ On A Jet Plane

Recently I was on an air plane traveling to San Diego and I began to look around and notice the people in the cramped confines of the Boeing 707. I found out that the seats behind the over wing exits have less leg room than seats forward of the over wing exit. There are also great differences between the people from Amarillo to Albuquerque and the people from Albuquerque to San Diego. The staff on every flight was different than the last. What I’m trying to show is that people from different areas are as different as the areas they come from, and their true colors tend to show better while in mass transit. On the flight from Amarillo, which from this point will be referred to as AMA, to Albuquerque, which from this point on will be known as ABQ, I found that the people were generally pretty friendly and considerate. And by considerate I mean most of them didn’t lean their seat back so that you couldn’t use your try table, â€Å"which needs to remain in the full upright and locked position during take off and landing†, and the people behind you were not shoving things into the seat back pocket in front of you, constantly jabbing you in the ribs. On the other hand other people from ABQ to San Diego are rude and obnoxious. They tended to do all of the things that I mentioned above that the people from ABQ did not do. These in considerate thing just bug me and if you Want a tip if someone leans their seat back you take the air vent and direct over their head that will usually do it. I used it on the way back. The flight staff on the flight from AMA to ABQ was subdued partially because it was an afternoon flight and they were probably tired but usually they are professional and attentive. On the flight from ABQ to San Diego, that’s another story. They weren’t loud and obnoxious but they left a little bit of professionalism and tended to have a little more fun with the 137 some odd passengers that made up that over crowded flig... Free Essays on Leavin’ On A Jet Plane Free Essays on Leavin’ On A Jet Plane Recently I was on an air plane traveling to San Diego and I began to look around and notice the people in the cramped confines of the Boeing 707. I found out that the seats behind the over wing exits have less leg room than seats forward of the over wing exit. There are also great differences between the people from Amarillo to Albuquerque and the people from Albuquerque to San Diego. The staff on every flight was different than the last. What I’m trying to show is that people from different areas are as different as the areas they come from, and their true colors tend to show better while in mass transit. On the flight from Amarillo, which from this point will be referred to as AMA, to Albuquerque, which from this point on will be known as ABQ, I found that the people were generally pretty friendly and considerate. And by considerate I mean most of them didn’t lean their seat back so that you couldn’t use your try table, â€Å"which needs to remain in the full upright and locked position during take off and landing†, and the people behind you were not shoving things into the seat back pocket in front of you, constantly jabbing you in the ribs. On the other hand other people from ABQ to San Diego are rude and obnoxious. They tended to do all of the things that I mentioned above that the people from ABQ did not do. These in considerate thing just bug me and if you Want a tip if someone leans their seat back you take the air vent and direct over their head that will usually do it. I used it on the way back. The flight staff on the flight from AMA to ABQ was subdued partially because it was an afternoon flight and they were probably tired but usually they are professional and attentive. On the flight from ABQ to San Diego, that’s another story. They weren’t loud and obnoxious but they left a little bit of professionalism and tended to have a little more fun with the 137 some odd passengers that made up that over crowded flig...

Definition of Wilmot Proviso

Definition of Wilmot Proviso The Wilmot Proviso was a brief amendment to a piece of legislation introduced by an obscure member of Congress that set off a firestorm of controversy over the issue of slavery in the late 1840s. The wording inserted into a finance bill in the House of Representatives would have repercussions that helped bring about the Compromise of 1850, the emergence of the short-lived Free Soil Party, and the eventual founding of the Republican Party. The language in the amendment only amounted to a sentence. Yet it would have had profound implications if approved, as it would have prohibited slavery in territories acquired from Mexico following the Mexican War. The amendment was not successful, as it was never approved by the U.S. Senate. However, the debate over the Wilmot Proviso kept the issue of whether slavery could exist in new territories in front of the public for years. It hardened sectional animosities between North and South, and ultimately helped put the country on the road to the Civil War. Origin of the Wilmot Proviso A clash of army patrols along the border in Texas sparked the Mexican War in the spring of 1846. That summer the U.S. Congress was debating a bill which would provide $30,000 to begin negotiations with Mexico, and an additional $2 million for the president to use at his discretion to try to find a peaceful solution to the crisis. It was assumed President James K. Polk might be able to use the money to avert the war by simply buying land from Mexico. On August 8, 1846, a freshman congressman from Pennsylvania, David Wilmot, after consulting with other northern congressmen, proposed an amendment to the appropriations bill that would ensure slavery could not exist in any territory which might be acquired from Mexico. The text of the Wilmot Proviso was one sentence of less than 75 words: Provided, That as an express and fundamental condition to the acquisition of any territory from the Republic of Mexico by the United States, by virtue of any treaty which may be negotiated between them, and to the use by the Executive of the moneys herein appropriated, neither Slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist in any part of said Territory, except for crime, whereof the party shall be first duly convicted. The House of Representatives debated the language in the Wilmot Proviso. The amendment passed and was added to the bill. The bill would have gone on to the Senate, but the Senate adjourned before it could be considered. When a new Congress convened, the House again approved the bill. Among those voting for it was Abraham Lincoln, who was serving his one term in Congress. This time Wilmots amendment, added to a spending bill, moved on to the Senate, where a firestorm broke out. Battles Over the Wilmot Proviso Southerners were deeply offended by the House of Representatives adopting the Wilmot Proviso, and newspapers in the South wrote editorials denouncing it. Some state legislatures passed resolutions denouncing it. Southerners considered it an insult to their way of life. It also raised Constitutional questions. Did the federal government possess the power to restrict slavery in new territories? The powerful senator from South Carolina, John C. Calhoun, who had challenged federal power years earlier in the Nullification Crisis, made forceful arguments on behalf of the slave states. Calhoun’s legal reasoning was that slavery was legal under the Constitution, and slaves were property, and the Constitution protected property rights. Therefore settlers from the South, if they moved to the West, should be able to bring their own property, even if the property happened to be slaves. In the North, the Wilmot Proviso became a rallying cry. Newspapers printed editorials praising it, and speeches were given in support of it. Continuing Effects of the Wilmot Proviso The increasingly bitter debate over whether slavery would be allowed to exist in the West continued through the late 1840s. For several years the Wilmot Proviso would be added to bills passed by the House of Representatives, but the Senate always refused to pass any legislation containing the language about slavery. The stubborn revivals of Wilmots amendment served a purpose as it kept the issue of slavery alive in Congress and thus before the American people. The issue of slavery in the territories acquired during the Mexican War was finally addressed early in 1850 in a series of Senate debates, which featured the legendary figures Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, and Daniel Webster. A set of new bills, which would become known as the Compromise of 1850, was thought to have provided a solution. The issue, however, did not die completely. One response to the Wilmot Proviso was the concept of â€Å"popular sovereignty,† which was first proposed by a Michigan senator, Lewis Cass, in 1848. The idea that settlers in the state would decide the issue became a constant theme for Senator Stephen Douglas in the 1850s. In the 1848 president the Free Soil party formed, and embraced the Wilmot Proviso. The new party nominated a former president, Martin Van Buren, as its candidate. Van Buren lost the election, but it demonstrated that debates about restricting slavery would not fade away. The language introduced by Wilmot continued to influence anti-slavery sentiment which developed in the 1850s and helped lead to the creation of the Republican Party. And ultimately the debate over slavery could not be solved in the halls of Congress, and was only settled by the Civil War.

Case Study on Wal Mart Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

On Wal Mart - Case Study Example There is the Executive Wing, that is headed by Rob Walton (representing the family interest of the founder) who works as the Chairman of the Board. The Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer slot presents a hybrid governance role which combines operational leadership and executive leadership. There is also the President & CEO position which embodies the management unit of the company meant for the day-to-day running of the company. The history of leadership in Walmart can be attributed to the initiative taken by Sam Walton (924). The risks and entrepreneurial decisions taken by Sam Walton to invest in the discount retailing concept and grow such idea. Sam Waltons leadership philosophy has been instituted and deeply rooted in the relationship between members of the company. The concept encourages leaders to treat employees as partners, build for the future, learn from failures and involve all stakeholders in decision making processes (923). These soft leadership ideas became the foundation for the building of the organizational culture in Walmart. Other ideas from Sam Walton like the careful use of resources, collective systems of attainment of results, innovation, motivation, involvement of associates (Management by Walking Around) and good communication skills form the crux of the atmosphere of Walmart. Disciplined expansion: This is one of the most remarkable strategic decisions that the management of Walmart took. The backward expansion concept utilized very disciplined techniques and systems to ensure that they opened up stores in the suburbs and out smaller areas of each state. As the demand in these stores grew, they expanded into the city center and this ensured that they survived and remain profitable. Strong Marketing structures: Also, the management of Walmart must be credited with their ability to put together a great marketing strategy and structures to ensure that consumers remained interested in Walmart. Expansion of the

Double Standards in the Workplace Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Double Standards in the Workplace - Essay Example It will also address disingenuous attempts to cover-up or explain away this double standard.   As an initial matter, â€Å"existing national statistics support a view that Corporate America is not a gender-balanced playing field† (Murphy, 2001). Women today constitute more than half of the workforce, but they don’t even account for five percent of all business executives. In terms of compensation, women managers, on average, earn only 68% of what similarly qualified and employed male managers earn. In addition to these huge disparities in terms of upward mobility and compensation, women are also quite commonly the victims of sexual harassment; in fact, statistics indicate that nearly 75% of women claim to have been sexually harassed at the workplace. There is also a qualitative double standard in operation. Women managers, for instance, are more often burdened with non-management administrative tasks than are their male counterparts. In short, there is plenty of statistical evidence to support the proposition that a double standard based on gender is real and substantial.   Some have argued, however, that these statistics are misleading. The National Organization for Men, to cite a well-known example, has argued that women have used this double standard notion as a political tool to gain the upper hand in workplace negotiations involving matters such as compensation and promotion (2005). They cite a recent censure of Harvard President, Larry Summers, who was justifiably attacked for suggesting that men are superior to women in science as his rationale for preferring men to women in the field of science. Strangely enough, the issue isn’t free speech. President Summers is free to offer his opinion.

Pre-Destination V.S Free

Pre-Destination V.S Free Will Essay For years Christians have argued about what role God has in humans attaining salvation. The most popular belief in American culture is the concept of free will. Free will is the belief that coming to Christ and being saved is a freewill choice of the person. Most churches believe this concept to be true at least to some degree. The other belief is the concept of Predestination. Predestination is the belief that God chooses who to save and who to damn. The biggest denomination in the United States that believes this is the Calvinists or more commonly known as the Reformed denomination. The debate will probably continue for many years to come. By reading Romans 9:1-29 we can tell clearly which concept Paul believes to be true. While I read Romans 9:1-29 I kept clearly in my mind the two beliefs of freewill and predestination. After reading it was apparent to me that Paul believes strongly in predestination. This, in my opinion, goes against human nature. I, at least, find it very hard to believe that if God chooses not to extend grace to a person that person cannot attain salvation no matter what they believe or what they do. Paul uses an example about Jacob and Esau. In Romans 9: 10-13 Paul uses Malachi 1:2-3 that says that â€Å" I have loved Jacob, but I have loved Jacob† Paul then says that God had decided that before they were even born so as it says in verse 11-12 â€Å" that Gods purpose of election might continue, not by works, but by his call. † If Paul is right about this and you interpret the Bible literally than predestination has to be true. It is completely possible that Paul is biased though when writing about predestination. Paul believes strongly in salvation by faith not works. In Romans 3: 27- 28 Paul says â€Å"Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. † This is just one of many examples of how much Paul hates the idea of faith by works. There are many other examples of this in books written by Paul outside of Romans that convey the same message. Since Paul believes strongly in salvation by faith this would, in theory, make him lean towards predestination. Freewill means that we as humans make a choice to believe in God and be saved. Paul would see this as an example of justification by works and he clearly states in Ephesians 2:8-9 â€Å"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast. † Paul believes that nothing we can do nothing to save ourselves which is the main idea of freewill. This makes Paul potentially biased toward predestination. I believe that this passage isnt trying to address personal salvation as a main point, but I think we infer Pauls view on personal salvation through the verse. I believe that Paul was more trying to point out that we can do nothing to save ourselves. It is completely up to God. Paul was trying to stress that firstly, but then through that seems to make a case, as far as personal salvation goes, for predestination. He specifically mentions how he picked Jacob over Esau. If God chooses individually like that then I, at least, deduce from this passage according to Paul that God must choose who to save on a personal level. My rational human side tells me that predestination cannot be right, but then I read Romans and Paul says that predestination is right and freewill is wrong. The question then is if I believe Paul just because that is his opinion, even though it is most likely biased, or do I believe what seems right to me? Im still torn between the two because what I want to believe is contradicted by Paul. Maybe well never know for sure because the concept of God is impossible for our minds to completely understand in the first place.

Computer Crimes of Today :: essays research papers fc

Computer Crimes on the Internet Thesis: Emerging with the Internet, a group of elite cyber-surfers have turned into todayà ­s computer hackers. Software piracy is a major crime on the Net. $7.5 billion of American Software is stolen each year. Industrial Espionage is gaining access to remote sites illegally. Stealing of information from corporate sites is extremely illegal. Password Sniffers are used to get someoneà ­s password. IP spoofers changes your identity. Many things can be stolen from companies. III. Email hacking is common. Mail bombs are thousands of messages send to a single address. Email forgery can cause people reputations to get ruined. Anonymous Email is illegal. Fraud is very common. Pyramid schemes are nothing but a scam. Credit card fraud is a half billion dollar a year scam. Computer viruses are destructive to computers. Computer viruses can be attached to Email messages. 99% of all computer viruses are detectable. Computer Crimes on the Internet Its the 90à ­s, the dawn of the computer age. With technology changing and evolving everyday, it may seem hard not to slip behind in this ever changing world. The Information Super-Highway has been following computers throughout the past few years. Along with the Internet, an emerging group of elite cyber-surfers have turned into todayà ­s computer hackers. Most people donà ­t know about them, most people donà ­t know they exist, but they are out there, lurking in the shadows, waiting for there next victim. It can be a scary world out there (Welcome to the Internet). In reality it is not nearly as bad as it sounds, and chances are it wonà ­t happen to you.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are many fields of hacking on the Internet. The most popular type of hacking is software piracy. à ¬According to estimates by the US Software Piracy Association, as much as $7.5 billion of American software may be illegally copied and distributed annually worldwideà ®(Ferrell13). Hackers à ¬pirateà ® software merely by uploading software bought in a store to the Internet. Uploading is send information from point A(client) to point B(host); downloading is the opposite. Once it is uploaded to the Internet, people all over the world have access to it. From there, hackers trade and distribute the software, which in hacker jargon is warez.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Industrial Espionage is another main concern on the Internet. Most recently, the FBIà ­s World Wide Web page hacked and turned into a racial hate page. Anyone can access files from a WWW page, but changing them is very hard. That is why most hackers donà ­t even bother with it. CNET stated à ¬This Web site should have been among the safest and most secure in the world, yet late in 1996, it got hacked.

Effect Of Western Culture On Indian Youth Essay

How there is head and tail for a coin, there is both positive and negative impact of western culture on India and especially on Indian youth, In past in India men were our traditional dresses, but now it is entirely changed, now the Indian youth moving with jeans, t-shirts, minis, micros, etc., here we can proud of that western culture, it bringing us with the fast moving world. But when we consider the pubs, it is the thing to be strictly punished. In pubs both men and women are in drastic stage, by taking drugs, it should be punished. And we need to felt sorry for that. And there r many things to be taken from the western culture. Well World is changing, because of lot of developments in various sectors like IT, MANUFACTURING, Revolution of E COMMERCE and many more †¦ have brought the ties between various nations/ people and their cultures to get mixed with each other. WELL I WOULD TAKE A BIASED OPINION IN THIS. Lets take example of USA. Well Indians are crazy of adopting Western Culture LIKE DRESS CODE, MUSIC, HABITS, IMPORTING FOREIGN GOODS. What not we feel so attracted to all those. But by adopting we dint loose our traditions and culture; we tend to blend both of them. It all depends on person likes and dislikes, how he /she will behave according to situations. As our friend PAVANI has mentioned like PUBS are to be strictly banned. Well that cant is possible realistically. If an individual decides what is good/bad for them every person can be in control †¦rite I finally stress points like No matter people adopt what ever the culture †¦ They shud be in the limits and act rationally according to the situations. We jus cant stop/Ban things by considering it to be western /eastern. We need to analyze what benefits we get and try to choose.options. Since what all we want is PROGRESS/DEVELOPMENT ultimately to our nation. So IT’S EVERY PERSONS RESPONSIBILY TO CONTRIBUTE HIS/HER PART TO IT. I guess always the other†¦

Billy Elliot Family

Describe at least ONE idea that was worth learning about in the text(s). Explain why the idea was worth learning about in the text(s) as a whole, using examples of visual and/or oral language features to support your ideas. The film Billy Elliot directed by Stephen Daldry, is set in the miners town of Durham in the north east of Engand in the 1980’s. The film focuses on Billy Elliot, a 12 year old boy who is pressured and abused by his violent family as he tries to pursue his love of dancing in a predominantly miners town where ballet is for girls.An idea I felt was worth learning about tin the film was the idea of family relations. I believe this idea was worth learning about because it showed me why Jackie and Billy held such disdain for Billy’s ballet, Billy’s feelings as a result of his families pressure and that family bonds can overcome great adversity. Throughout the film, Daldry uses a range of film techniques to portray this idea of family relations. The first reason why the idea of family relations was worth learning about was because it showed me why Billy and Jackie held such disdain for Billy’s ballet.Throughout the film, Billy and Jackie represent the major obstacle Billy has to overcome to pursue his love of ballet. Following the recent death of Tony and Billy’ mother (Jackie’s wife) everyone in the family is wrought with grief. Adding to this is the intensity of the miner’s strike going on in the town which Jackie and Tony are involved in. In this tense home environment, the last thing they wanted was their son to be doing ballet, especially in the highly stereotypical society they lived in where ballet dancers are labeled as ‘poofs’. The main reason Tony and Jackie hated ballet so much, was because it reflects badly on the family.Tony and Jackie are great fans of boxing and push Billy towards it, even though he is blatantly useless at boxing. With the high pressure of the time they a re in, Billy’s doing ballet is the last straw and Jackie and tony are furious. An example from the film to show Jackie and Tony’s opposition to ballet is the dialogue when Jackie says to Billy: â€Å"Ballet is for girls Billy. Boys do things like boxing or wrestling, not friggin’ ballet! † The patronizing tone Jackie uses and the incredulousness in his voice shows his obvious disdain for Billy. Another example from the film to show Jackie’s hate of ballet is hen he sees Billy in the ballet class for the first time. The background sound of the piano playing cuts out, creating a suspenseful environment, and the close up shot of Jackie’s red, manic face shows his rage at Billy doing ballet. The curt dialogue, â€Å"You! Out! ,† seals the deal showing there is no hope in Jackie’s eyes for Billy to continue participating in ballet classes. The idea of family relations showed me that Jackie and Tony held such disdain for Billyâ€℠¢s ballet under the high pressure circumstances they were in, and they didn’t want their families reputation to be tarnished by having a ‘poof’ in the family.The second reason why the idea of family relations was worth learning about was because it showed me Billy’s feelings as a result of his family’s pressure. Ever since he first see’s Miss Wilkinson’s ballet class dancing in the boxing gym, he is hooked on ballet as it is a way for him to express his natural love of dancing. He secretly trains with the class by telling his family he is attending the boxing classes. However, when Jackie sees him, his ballet classes are in jeopardy as his family is strongly against him training.But Billy continues to train secretly with private lessons with Miss Wilkinson. The first feeling I was shown as a result of his families pressure Billy’s love of ballet and dancing. Billy’s perseverance under his family’s pressure to conti nue with ballet throughout the film showed me Billy loved ballet so much he was willing to stand up to his violent family. An example of Billy’s love of ballet is the close up shot of his face after he nails his first pirouette. His face shows a wide grinning smile, showing his happiness at succeeding at ballet.While scene is going on, there is a crosscut to a montage of Billy In his bathroom practicing pirouettes. This showed his commitment to ballet. Throughout the film, there are also many symbols to show Billy is ‘caged in’ by his family and he wants to break free from their traditions and do what he loves. An example of this is when Billy’s father first sees him doing ballet. Jackie is on the outside of the cage and Billy on the inside, symbolizing that Billy is trapped by his family’s traditions.Another example is that the scenes of the mining village were shot in a tight-knit claustrophobic way to show that Billy was again trapped by the trad itions of the town and was claustrophobic, when Billy is dancing however, the shot widens up to show that when Billy is dancing he is free from his families pressure and expectations. The idea of family relations showed me that through his family’s pressure and traditions, Billy’s love of dancing was very great by the way he continued on with it despite his violent family, and that he felt caged in and claustrophobic by the miners town.The final reason why the idea of family relations was worth learning about was that it showed me that family bonds can overcome great obstacles. Early on in the film, Jacke and Tony are strongly against Billy continuing with ballet. This is symbolized by dialogue such as: â€Å"Ballet is for girls Billy,† and close up shots are used showing Tony and Jackie’s faces showing anger and frustration when the conversation concerns ballet. This changes when Jackie sees Billy dance for the first time.He is moved by Billy’s pa ssion and talent for dancing. In this scene, defiant music is played while Billy dances for Jackie showing he is finally standing up to Jackie. From here on in the film, Jackie starts to support Billy in his dancing by attempting to go back to the mines and selling his wife’s jewellery, which is very special to him. This change was very significant to me, as it showed that family bonds and the love in families could overcome obstacles, financial and social, as great ad the ones the Elliot family overcome.An example of the change in the Elliot family is that at the beginning of the film, Tony and Jackie are often portrayed by low angle shots when their behavior is threatening to Billy showing they are dominant, but towards the end of the film they are portrayed in mid-shots when talking to Billy to show equality between the family members. An example of this is when Jackie is talking to Billy in the meadow. This idea of family relations showed me that family bonds could overco me great obstacles and that family love is unconditional, despite the harsh circumstances.In conclusion, the film Billy Elliot by Stephen Daldry focuses on Billy as he tries to pursue his love of ballet despite the pressure of his family and their traditions. The idea of family relations in the film helped me to understand why Billys family was so against ballet, what Billy’s feelings were throughout the film and how family bonds can overcome great obstacles. Throughout the film, Daldry uses a range of film techniques to portray Tony and Jackie’s obvious disdain for ballet, Billy’s love of ballet and the tumultuous time the Elliot family is going throughout following the death of Jackie’s wife and the miners strikes.

The History of the Taj Mahal

The History of the Taj Mahal The Taj Mahal is a beautiful white marble mausoleum in the city of Agra, India. It is widely considered to be one of the greatest architectural masterpieces in the world  and is listed as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Every year, the Taj Mahal receives visits from between four and six million tourists from all over the world.   Interestingly, less than 500,000 of those visitors are from overseas; the vast majority are from India itself. UNESCO has designated the building and its grounds as an official World Heritage Site, and there is much concern that the sheer volume of foot traffic may have a negative impact on this wonder of the world. Still, it is hard to blame people in India for wanting to see the Taj, since the growing middle class there finally has the time and leisure to visit their countrys great treasure. Why the Taj Mahal Was Built The Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan  (r. 1628 - 1658) in honor of the Persian princess Mumtaz Mahal, his beloved third wife. She died in 1632 while bearing their fourteenth child, and Shah Jahan never really recovered from the loss. He poured his energy into designing and building the most beautiful tomb ever known for her, on the southern banks of the Yamuna River. It took some 20,000 artisans more than a decade to build the Taj Mahal complex. The white marble stone is inlaid with floral details carved from precious gems. In places, the stone is carved into delicate vined screens called pierce work so that visitors can see into the next chamber. All of the floors are inlaid with patterned stone, and incised painting in abstract designs adorns the walls. The artisans who did this incredible work were supervised by an entire committee of architects, headed by Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. The cost in modern values was about 53 billion rupees ($827 million US).  Construction of the mausoleum was completed around 1648. The Taj Mahal Today The Taj Mahal is one of the loveliest buildings in the world, combining architectural elements from across the Muslim lands. Among the other works that inspired its design are the Gur-e Amir, or the Tomb of Timur, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan; Humayuns Tomb in Delhi; and the Tomb of Itmad-Ud-Daulah in Agra. However, the Taj outshines all of these earlier mausoleums in its beauty and grace. Its name literally translates as Crown of Palaces. Shah Jahan was a member of the Mughal Dynasty, descended from Timur (Tamerlane) and from Genghis Khan.  His family ruled India from 1526 to 1857.  Unfortunately for Shah Jahan, and for India, the loss of Mumtaz Mahal and the construction of her amazing tomb utterly distracted Shah Jahan from the business of governing India.  He ended up being deposed and imprisoned by his own third son, the ruthless and intolerant Emperor Aurangzeb.  Shah Jahan ended his days under house arrest, lying in bed, gazing out at the white dome of the Taj Mahal.  His body was interred in the glorious building he had made, beside that of his beloved Mumtaz.

Introduction to the German Sausage

Introduction to the German Sausage When it comes to clichà ©s about the German way of living, just after Autobahn, punctuality, and beer, there will sooner or later be mentioned, Wurst. The Germans love of sausage is widely known, yet often misunderstood. Is it just a mean prejudice that Teutons just like to put chopped meat inside a long skin and boil, grill, fry them or–even worse–eat them raw? Prepare for a journey into the wonderful world of German Wurst. Just make things clear from the beginning of this text: It is true; Germany is the land of the Wurst. But not only one sausage is shining over the wide country inside the heart of Europe. Over 1,500 different styles of sausage are known, made and eaten in the country, and many of them have a very long tradition. Each Region Has a Specialty  Sausage Furthermore, every region has its very special type of sausage or even more than one. Especially in the south, mainly in Bavaria, you can find not only the best-known sausage-styles but also the strangest ones. Every part of the Republik has its very own Wurst. So dont you ever dare to visit Berlin without trying a Currywurst! Lets start with some basic information about this dish. First, there is a difference between sausages that are eaten in the form they are made in, such as hot dogs, and the other type, which is known as Aufschnitt in Germany. The Aufschnitt is a big, fat sausage that is cut into thin slices that are put on bread (mostly, of course, on a slice of good old German Graubrot). The so-called Wurstbrot is one of the basic dishes of Germany and is the kind of meal your mother would put in your lunchbox for school. The Aufschnitt, furthermore, is something many Germans link with their childhood memories: Every time you went to the butcher with your mother, the butcher gave you a slice of Gelbwurst (one of the mentioned 1.500 styles). Different Kinds of Sausage Most German sausages, no matter the style, contain pork. Of course, there are also some made of beef, lamb, or even deer. Vegetarian and vegan sausages are available, but thats another story. One of the most popular sausages in Germany might be the famous Bratwurst. It can not only be seen at any barbecue in the summertime but also occurs as one of the Germans most favorite street snacks (besides Dà ¶ner). Especially in the south, you can enjoy a Bratwurst in most of the city centers. It can also be widely found at football games and fairs. The most common way to eat this snack is inside a bread roll with some mustard. More Than Bratwursts Of course, there is not only that Bratwurst: There are many different regional styles. One of the best known is the Thà ¼ringer bratwurst which is rather long and spicy. The specialty of Nuremberg is the Nà ¼rnberger Bratwurst. It is just about five centimeters long and mainly comes as Drei im Weggla, which means you will get three of them inside a bread roll. What is called Frankfurter in America has many names in Germany. A Bockwurst is just a bit thicker, and a Wiener is long and thin. A Ksekrainer contains cheese and real Frankfurter beef. A delicacy of Bavaria is the Weißwurst, which must be traditionally eaten before noon. It is white and boiled and comes with Weißbier (wheat beer), sweet Bavarian mustard, and a pretzel as Weißwurstfrà ¼hstà ¼ck, a very satisfying breakfast. Unlike the well-known and tasty styles, you can also witness some very stubborn Wà ¼rste such as Blutwurst, which is just made of pigs blood and spices or Leberwurst made of liver- not to mix up with Leberks, which doesnt contain liver or cheese but is also a very delightful dish put onto a bread roll. Leave all your prejudices behind and let the German Wurst convince you. There is a lot of sausages to try!

Michael Baxandall's painting and experience in 15th century Italy Essay

Michael Baxandall's painting and experience in 15th century Italy - Essay Example The essay "Michael Baxandall's painting and experience in 15th century Italy" discovers the Painting and Experience in Fifteenth Century Italy By Michael Baxandall. The contracts were usually flexible, and there was regular contact between the artist and client during the production phase. The details of color were often specified, since the ingredients of some colors, like gold, silver, and blue, were either expensive or available in different qualities. Though the importance of gold diminished as the 15th century wore on, partly as a result of a general cultural movement away from ostentatious displays of wealth as well as a general shortage of gold and the Christian asceticism that was beginning to make its influence felt. However, as the use of blue and gold faded, something had to replace the gilding traditionally found behind the figures in the foreground. Thus, landscapes, angels, and other things were employed to fill the space, and the skill of the artist became more conspic uous and more important, as did the distinction between rates for the work of the â€Å"master† artist as opposed to his apprentices. Little reason existed to critique such works, and few written examples of such opinions have survived; those that have are somewhat unhelpful – what is meant by virile as opposed to sweet or angelic air? Changes in the visual skills of the members of the culture as well as their experience of everyday life were reflected in the paintings of the time much more quickly than under.

Public policy administration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Public policy administration - Essay Example The opponents of the bill are the republicans who state that the passage of the bill would add to the budget deficit of the US government. The Democrats counter this by stating that the overall budget gap would be lesser by $100 Billion if the bill is passed and hence they are asking for support in pushing the bill through. Both sides of the debate on reforming healthcare as well as continuing the status quo are vocal and vehement in their stance. The PBS (2009) website gives further evidence of this, while the proponents of Health Care reform call for the state to play a more proactive role and the insurers to cover pre-existing conditions and make the process of claims easier, the opponents are adamant that this would erode the competitiveness of the service providers. This is akin to the debate on patents for new drugs that is on similar lines with one side insisting that drug costs be lowered and the other side touting the benefits of research and development essential for the discovery of new drugs. (Pbs.org, 2009) After considering the various options, it is my personal opinion that the Health Care reform bill must be passed. In order to stem the rising tide of medical expense related bankruptcies and the increase in the number of people not covered under the existing system, the proposed legislation must be passed. As a US Citizen, I want to ensure that I am taken care of when ill and would also like the same for others as well. If we consider the issue from an ethical perspective, it makes it clear that we should not deny medical care to the needy for whatever reason that the health care system currently does. The Huffington Post (2009) states that 1 in every 5 bankruptcies in the US are because of reasons to do with medical expenses being too much for the families to take (Huffington Post, 2009). Further, the data from the OECD website (2009) also talks about how a million people are pushed into the ranks of the uninsured every year as

Compare and contrast any two theories of social disorder in Essay

Compare and contrast any two theories of social disorder in contemporary UK society - Essay Example ve been advanced by social scientists such as Buchanan and Monderman to explain social order and they include; the modernist approach and flexible approach (Taylor et al. 2009). Social disorder is the direct opposite of social order. In other words, it is, as noted earlier, a situation such as an act or a process that the society considers disruptive of its normal way of life. Social disorder is usually in contravention of the normal beliefs in a society and it usually attracts attention and calls of actions to counter it. Taylor et al. (2009) gives an example of the Dangerous Dog Act of 1991 that was passed by the United Kingdom’s parliament in reaction to several incidents of severe injuries inflicted by aggressive dogs mostly on children. The social order, which is the normal way life in the United Kingdom is that dogs live with people in that society in a friendly way without biting. But when the same dogs turn against their masters, then the normal way of life is disrupted and this is the social disorder. This prompts the government to act by passing a law that aims at preventing such future acts that amount to social disorder. From the above example, social disorder is an undesirable situation. This is a direct opposite of social order. For these reasons, the latter is acceptable by the society as compared to the former. Contemporary United Kingdom considers various behaviours as disorderly and they include drunkenness, violence, littering, sale and use of illegal drugs, use of threatening behaviour, crimes, shouting in public, hooting in a quiet residential area at night, just to mention but a few. These disorderly behaviours are indicative of social disorder and a clear indication that social disorder is not necessarily what other people do not entertain. To explain social disorder, various social scientists have come up with various theories such as moral panic, policing the crisis and media effects research approaches. The foregoing discussion

Theories of the self in a social world

Theories of the self in a social world What shapes your self-concept of who you are? Discuss in relation to theories of the self in a social world. The question of what actually shapes the self-concept of a person is one of the most complex topics in Psychology. The self and the development of the self-concept can be broken down in a series of explanations, which also depend on a number of characteristics such as social norms, gender roles, culture and many more. The essay will comprehend a number of explanations of how theories try to analyze the driving force or reasons behind the formation of the self-concept. According to Murphy (1947) the self is the individual known to the individual. The perceptions and attitudes one holds towards oneself is what would define the self-concept. Psychologists have proposed various explanations of what the self-concept in fact is and what forms it. Higgins (1987) put forward the self-discrepancy theory which states that the difference between the actual, ideal and ought self forms the self. The actual self is the current self we are at present, whereas the ideal self strives to achieve the goals we think of as ideal and the ought self represents the self of how others would like us to be. The aim is to make ourselves feel good about us by erasing the differences between the actual self and our ideal/ought self (Dunning and Hayes, 1996). Higgins (1998) also suggested that the ought self also acts as a prevention of what not to do, therefore not expected by others. Mertons self-fulfilling prophecy (1984) showed that others expectations can indeed change our behaviour, supporting the idea of the ought self. It is also supported by research out by Steele and Aronson (1995) who found that African-American students actually reduce effort and did not perform as well as they could have, because of less academic expectations put into them. Stainton Rogers (2003) presented a similar theory to Higgins (1987) but suggested that the self can be divided into three parts which mainly are: the personal self (an individuals own conscious of oneself), the social self (classified by the social background the individual is in) and the relation self which relates to the relationships others have with the individual. On the other hand, the explanation of possible selves by Markus and Nurius (1986) state that self consists of 2 parts: the vision of the self you dream of becoming i.e. the rich, successful etc. and the one you fear of i.e. the unemployed, the poor etc. This helps in having a specific goal to motivate us and to work towards to in order to achieve it. Lockwood and Kunda (1999) carried the idea further and found that models can inspire us to choose who we would like to be but also one should make sure that the model representing is indeed achievable. The image of a future model can also motivate us to make changes to one self e.g. quit smoking. However, Baumeister (1991) feared that not succeeding in who we want to be can have a negative effect on oneself, such as high levels of alcohol consumption. Introspection is also put forward as an explanation to learn about oneself in which one privately thinks of who they are. Nisbett and Nilson (1977) emphasized on the fact that in reality we do not know why we act in a particular way in a specific situation but after the deed, we create logical theories explaining why we acted that way. It is misleading as Wilson and Kraft (1993) found that by creating reasons for their actions changed their behaviour, to match their stated reasons. As when introspecting we do not focus on the main driving force for the actions so it is likely to mislead our predictions about our actions in future. Another distinctive theory put forward by Festinger (1954) relates the formation of the self-concept to something more complex rather than the theories explained so far. The social comparison theory proposes that in order to form ones self-concept, individuals self-evaluate their behaviour by comparing their own behaviour to either a similar or dissimilar individual or to ones own behaviour in the past, which in turn helps feeling affirmative about their own behaviour therefore reinforcing it. The temporal comparison describes the comparison of ones present condition to the past. In social comparison, on the other hand, the individual compares their behaviour to others, referred to as the reference group. People mostly compare themselves to similar people to get approval for their own behaviour and to protect and boost ones self esteem (Leary, 2001). It consists of two parts: downwards comparison and upwards comparisons (Bunk and Oldersma, 2001). Downwards comparison happens when one compares oneself to someone who is not doing as well as the individual, which as a result makes the individual feel better oneself. Upwards comparisons though occurs when the reference group is someone who is doing better, but also making the individual feel better, in a way to try and improve their own situation. However, Taylor and Lobel (1989) goes against this as they said that the individual will feel depressed and anxious if the reference group will always have someone more successful, rich, clever etc. in it. Social identification theory (Tajfel and Turner, 1979) proposing that the membership of social groups affects our behaviour and relates to who we are contradicts the social comparison theory as it states that we are mainly representing our social group of how we interact and identify ourselves rather than relating each other to individuals on a one-to-one basis. Furthermore, Tajfel et al. (1979) state that identifying oneself with a social group gives one positive self-esteem. Self-esteem also plays an important part in forming the self-concept, discussed in following research. Higgins (1987) found that people with low self-esteem often give up quickly and are more likely to be depressed if they fall short of their hopes. Also, people are more likely to be anxious if they feel they fell short of what they ought to be. Similarly, low and high self esteem can be linked to low and high self-efficiency, respectively. The self-efficiency theory (Bandura, 1989) states that it is not only determined by past interactions of what we are able to accomplish but also current interactions to the environment and people. This idea is supported by Collins (1982) as he looked at children with varying mathematical skills and either were low or high self efficient. He asked them to do a mathematical task and found that those who had a high level of self-efficiency performed better and did not give up if stuck, whereas this was less true for the children with low self-efficiency levels as they gave up quickly and were slower in solving the problem regarding their skills they h ad. Furthermore, Weinberg et al. (1979) carried out a study in which they raised or lowered participants self-efficiency beliefs by giving them fake feedback on how well they performed on competitive tasks. They found that in following physical endurance tasks, those with a higher feedback did clearly better and tried to succeed even if problems aroused, whereas in the other group participants gave up much quicker and were not so enthusiastic about succeeding. This supports the self-efficiency theory and also supporting the belief that the levels of self-efficiency we have can give us a mental image of what we are and how we will act or perform. Nevertheless, the self-perception theory (Bem, 1972) suggests that we learn about ourselves by observing how we act and that self-concept is developed through social impact behaviour. If there is no force to choose a particular behaviour and one does it with their own consent, one draws conclusions that this is what we are like and therefore the behaviour reflects us. However, Markus (1977) said that it is the reflection of past experiences, which form through the self-schema model, that are useful in processing information relevant to the self. It also proposed that information learned from the treatment of people towards us, makes us perceive specific behaviour about ourselves, e.g. being funny because people laughed wherever I go. This process is called reflected appraisal. Cooley (1902) put forward the looking glass theory suggesting for developing oneself it is crucial to get feedback from others. Also, Mead (1934) called this process the reflexive self, as one observes, reacts to and plans subsequent behaviour. An important part of how we perceive ourselves also relates to gender differences, which none of the theories above mentioned. Guimond et al. (2007) stated that gender is not only important for differentiating between genders but gender also plays an important part in determining for we respond, interact and most importantly perceive ourselves. In addition, Cross and Madson (1977) noted that one of the most basic gender differences relating to self-concept is that women are more likely to develop as being interdependent, whereas men are more likely to develop independence. However, a weakness of this model is that it does not state a specific reason to why men and women differ in self-construal. Last but not least, one could argue that behaviour vary mostly among cultures so theories or explanations for the self described so far are not taking culture into account so it cannot represent everyone. As Marsella et al. (1994) argues that despite much the psychological research into the self, it is still irrelevant to a large part of the world. G.H. Mead (1934) expressed the importance of social interaction in developing the self as he belies that social interaction does form the self-concept, however, it is not only the interaction that helps, but also the social norms, personal beliefs and cultural patterns. Moreover, research carried out by Simpsons (2000) found that 85% of people believe that it is possible to be whoever one wants to be in American culture. American culture which is an individualistic society gives more value to independence and freedom, which gives it more freedom to choose how you want to see yourself. But this is less true for a collectivist society as in Korea, people rate tradition and shared practices as being more important in contrast to developing a unique self-concept (Choi and Choi, 2002), supporting the belief of how cultural differences can affect the formation of ones self-concept. Likewise, Markus (2001) supported the idea as well, as Korean ads are more likely to feature people together rather than giving importance on a personal choice or uniqueness of oneself. Also emphasizing the differences, Boneva and Frieze (2001) found that people from individualistic culture value work and achievement more, thereby giving more importance to forming a self-identity and uniqueness, when resettling in a new country rather than being interested for relationships and family. In addition, self-esteem, which leads to the formation of ones self-concept, does also vary among different cultures. Gray-Little and Hafdahl (2000) carried out comparisons of 261 studies of more than half a million of people and found that black people had higher self-esteem scores than for people. However, high levels of self-esteem can also cause problems. Baumeister, Campbell, Krueger and Vohs (2003) emphasized on the fact that low self-esteem can lead to aggression and negativity towards others wh ereas, however high self esteem can lead to bullying, narcissism etc. (Baumeister, Campbell, Krueger and Vohs (2005). Such behaviour triggered by the levels of self-esteem can result in what we are and how we perceive ourselves, thus forming our self-concept.

Animal Farm Retold Essay example -- Creative Writing Essays

Animal Farm Retold Night had fallen on the animal farm, though no animal was sleeping peacefully. Sleep was impossible that evening, for in the morning it would be known who was destroying the farm and who killed the old leader. Once before the farm was in shambles, and the animals looked to their new leader, Freud, to save them again as he had once before. Freud was a beautiful pig, a prize-winning pig with snow-white skin and a large round belly. One day a Raven flew to where Freud was napping on the MacKenzie farm and whispered atrocities to him, whispered that he would kill his father and have piglets with his mother...and Freud was afraid. So Freud left home to make his mark on the world. Upon his travels, he heard of a farm where the farmer spent too much money trying to raise prize-winning pigs, neglecting all the other animals. Animal Farm, it was called. Freud traveled to Animal Farm with a purpose to set things right, and set things right he did. He made a deal with the farmer (Farmer Brown, as he was called); Farmer Brown would use Freud as his prize-winning pig, but take care of the other animals as well. Well, soon Animal Farm was saved, and Freud became their new leader, since the old leader, a large boar named Capità ¡n, had been slaughtered one day in the slaughterhouse (or so the sheep gossiped). Freud met a pretty lit tle pig on Animal Farm named Amalie, Capità ¡n's "widow", and had two little piglets with her. So Freud, Amalie, and Amalie's brother Jakob all ran Animal Farm together. And so the entire farm waited and watched for dawn. All the animals knew in their hearts that once more Freud would make Animal Farm prosperous, turn barren fields plentiful, turn dry soil moist, and turn low spirits sky-hig... ...r color is symbolic of the tragic element to â€Å"Animal Farm Retold,† just as in Oedipus. "Animal Farm Retold† was written to try and reveal the many complex mysteries hidden within the text of Oedipus and Freud's theories. These mysteries are endless, and countless numbers can be found between the two that have not been discussed. The main point, however, is the main principle behind both Oedipus, Freud, and Animal Farm; Man, although he may think himself good, is not good at all. He is tragically flawed. In Oedipus, Man tries to escape Fate, and brings Fate upon himself. In Animal Farm, Snowball was tragically idealistic and naà ¯ve, leading to his downfall. And in Freud's theories? Well, maybe Freud's theories don't have an obvious tragic flaw, other than the idea of wanting to fornicate with one's mother; but that's just a psychological theory....isn't it?

Lack of Mother and Reunion in Victorian Times

LACK OF MOTHER AND METAPHORS OF REUNION IN OLIVER TWIST AND JANE EYRE The aim of this paper is to discuss the psychological effects of being motherless and orphanhood and metaphors of reunion under social class distinction observation on the characters of two well known Victorian novels; Jane Eyre and Oliver Twist. Orphanhood means having no parents but in Victorian society this term also refers to â€Å"one who has deprived of only one parent† as Laura Peters states. As a result of this, motherlessness and orphanhood were considered the same in the Victorian Era. To write a life, in the Victorian period , is to write the story of the loss of mother† says Caroline Dever. In other words, Victorian fiction mostly tells us the piteous stories of little motherless,orphan children who are vulnerable and disadvantaged. The importance of family and blood relations are significant aspects of Victorian Era. So these little orphans should have defend themselves against disadvantag es of being alone in this material world, also they had to get over their psychological traumas mostly by themselves. According to Dever, mother is the symbol of the unity,safety and order in a child's life. Within the death of mother, the hero/heroine finds himself in a very dangerous , chaotic situation. In addition to that, the female protagonist has to face with erotic danger. Mostly in Victorian novels, maternal lossis used a path to set the young protoganist free to construct selfhood independently of parental constraint. The lack of parents leads the protagonist to start his quest in a disadvantaged position and he finds his inner strength to assert his personality. Orphans are in search of identity in social, psychological and personal dimensions. Lacan's â€Å"mirror phase† is the very first step of being a person. When a baby first sees himself on the mirror, at first he tries to control and play it. When the baby understands that this is a reflection,he realizes that he is not a part ofmother, on the contrary, he has another personality. Until now,the baby thinks himself like a body part of his mother. With the mirror stage, he sees himself as a whole being and this realizationis very important for his identification. On the other hand,this realization creates alienation. Understanding her mother is a seperate object makes him realise that this object is not under his control. Starting from now,he searches identificatory images to fill this lack,such as representations,doubles and other. In order to understand and achieve the main goals of Jane Eyre and Oliver Twist, we should have a glance at Charles Dicken's and Charlotte Bronte's early lives. Charlotte Bronte was born in 1816, the third daughter of the Rev. Patrick Bronte and his wife Maria. Her brother Patrick Branwell was born in 1817, and her sisters Emily and Anne in 1818 and 1820. In 1820, too, the Bronte family moved to Haworth, Mrs. Bronte dying the following year. In 1824 the four eldest Bronte daughters were enrolled as pupils at the Clergy Daughter's School at Cowan Bridge. The following year Maria and Elizabeth, the two eldest daughters, became ill, left the school and died: Charlotte and Emily, understandably, were brought home. In 1826 Mr. Bronte brought home a box of wooden soldiers for Branwell to play with. Charlotte, Emily, Branwell, and Ann, playing with the soldiers, conceived of and began to write in great detail about an imaginary world which they called Angria. In 1831 Charlotte became a pupil at the school at Roe Head, but she left school the following year to teach her sisters at home. She returned returns to Roe Head School in 1835 as a governess: for a time her sister Emily attended the same school as a pupil, but became homesick and returned to Haworth. Charles Dickens was born on February 7, 1812, the son of John and Elizabeth Dickens. John Dickens was a clerk in the Naval Pay Office. He had a poor head for finances, and in 1824 found himself imprisoned for debt. His wife and children, with the exception of Charles, who was put to work at Warren's Blacking factory, joined him in the Marshalsea Prison. When the family finances were put at least partly to rights and his father was released, the twelve-year-old Dickens, already scarred psychologically by the experience, was further wounded by his mother's insistence that he continue to work at the factory. His father, however, rescued him from that fate, and between 1824 and 1827 Dickens was a day pupil at a school in London. At fifteen, he found employment as an office boy at an attorney's, while he studied shorthand at night. His brief stint at the Blacking Factory haunted him all of his life — he spoke of it only to his wife and to his closest friend, John Foster— but the dark secret became a source both of creative energy and of the preoccupation with the themes of alienation and betrayal which would emerge, most notably, in David Copperfield and in Great Expectations. Jane Eyre and Oliver Twist both grew up as orphans. They both struggled with poverty. Growing up in misery, because they were lower class, both Jane and Oliver did what they needed to do to survive. Oliver joined the pick-pocketers to earn money to live. Jane went through school and applied herself, so she would not end up unhappy and in poverty. Jane and Oliver had similar obstacles while trying to basically survive. Both Jane and Oliver, as children, were lower class. The plot of Jane Eyre follows the form of a Bildungsroman, which tells the story of a child’s maturation and focuses on the emotions and experiences that accompany and incite his or her growth to adulthood. In Jane Eyre, there are five distinct stages of development, each linked to a particular place: Jane’s childhood at Gateshead, her education at the Lowood School, her time as Adele’s governess at Thornfield, her time with the Rivers family at Morton and at Moor House, and her reunion with and marriage to Rochester at Ferndean. From these experiences, Jane becomes the mature woman who narrates the novel retrospectively Jane has no real parents and family, but only her dead uncle's wife and her cousins. Jane's childhood focuses on who she is and where she belongs to. She always looks for someone to identify herself because she faces the world with the â€Å"primal â€Å"lack† The psychologist Carl Jung was interested in the â€Å"collective unconscious† or the primordial images and ideas that reside in every human being's psyche. often appearing in the forms of dreams,visions and fantasies , these images provoke strong emotions that are beyond the explanation of reason. In Jane Eyre, the bounds of reality continually expand, so that dreams and visions have as much validity as a reason,providing access to the inner recesses of Jane's and Rochester's psyches. Their relationship also has a supernatural component. Throughout the novel, Jane is described as a â€Å"fairy†. Sitting in the red-room, she labels herself a â€Å"tiny phantom,half fairy,half imp†. As a fairy, Jane identifies herself as a special,magical creature. Her dreams have a prophetic character, suggesting their almost supernatural ability to predict future. In a dream foreshadowing the direction of her relationship with Rochester, she is â€Å"tossed on a buoyant but unquiet sea†. Jane's dream warns her that their relationship will be rocky, bringing chaos and passion to her life. Not only Jane is a mythical creature, but the narrative she creates also has a mythic element, mixing realism and fantasy. We see the first instance of this as Jane sits nervously in the red-room and imagines a gleam of light shining on the wall; for her,this indicates a vision â€Å"from another world† As Jane's departure from Gateshead was marked by her pseudo-supernatural experience in the red-room, her movement away from Lowood also has a paranormal component. Meditatingupon the best means for discovering anew job, Jane is visited by a â€Å"kind fairy† who offers her a solution. This psychic counsellor gives her very spesific advice: Place an advertisement in the local newspaper, with answers addressed to J. E. , and do it immediately. The fairy's plan works, and Jane soon discovers the job at Thornfield. As a gypsy woman, Rochester aligned himself with mystical knowledge. During his telling of her fortune, Rochester seems to have peered directly into Jane's heart, leaning her deep into a dram-state she likens to â€Å"a web of mystification†. He magically weaves a web around Jane with words, and appears to have watched every movement of her heart, like an â€Å"unseen spirit†. During this scene, he wears a red cloak, showing that he has taken over the position of Red Riding Hood that Jane held earlier. The position he gives Mason also has mystical powers, giving Mason the strength he lacks for an hour or so, hinting at Rochester's mysterious possibly supernatural powers. In emphasizing the uniqueness of Jane and Rocester's love, Bronte gives their meetings a mythical feel, so that they are depicted as archetypes of true lovers. Her association of Rochesters's horde and dog with the Gytrash places their initial meeting in an almost fairytale-like setting. Later, Rochesters reveals that at this initial meeting, he thought Jane was a fairy who had bewitched his horse. The lovers' reunion at the end of the novel also has a psychic component. As she is about to accept St. John's wishes, Jane experiences a sensation as â€Å" sharp, as strange , as shocking† as an electric shock. Then she heards Rochester's voice calling her name. The voice comes from nowhere,speaking â€Å"in pain and woe,wildly,urgently†. So powerful is this voice that Jane cries, â€Å"I am coming† and runs out of the door into the garden, but she discovers no sign of Rochester. She rejects the notion that this is the evilish voice of the witchcraft, but feels that it comes from benevolent nature, not a miracle , but nature's best effort to help her, as if the forces of nature are assisting this very special relationship. She introduces the ideal of a telepathic bond between the lovers. This psychic sympathy leads Jane to hear Rochester's frantic call for her,and for Rochester to pick her response out of the wind. In fact, he even correctly intuits that her response came fromsome mountainous place. Through the novel's supernatural elements, Jane and Rochester become archetypes of ideal lovers, supporting Jane's exorbitant claim that noone â€Å"was ever nearer to her mate than I am†. These mythic elements transforms their relationship from ordinary to extraordinary. The ending of Jane Eyre is perhaps the most obvious â€Å"happy† ending of the books in Victorian Era. The ending, which is like a beginning when Rochester and Jane are reunited at the house at Ferndean , details the manifold ways in which Jane and Mr. Rochester's lives and souls evolve and change after their reunion, through their own work and by the hand of God. They mature as individuals, but also grow exceptionally close as a couple, coming to work together with â€Å"perfect concord† (Bronte, 384. ) As the novel concludes, miracles are worked, love and sight are restored, a child is born and a new haven of domestic bliss is established in Jane and Rochester's home. Emerging as an ideal Victorian companion, wife and mother, Jane stands as the perfect woman that Bertha, the mad woman in the attic and Mr. Rochester's first wife, could never be. She and Rochester establish the domestic bliss that could not found with Bertha, and come to prize it above all else but God. The end of Jane Eyre starts with a beginning: Jane, who calls Rochester â€Å"master,† and Rochester, who calls Jane â€Å"darling,† come together once more, and this time for good. Seeing him for the first time in years, Jane is in â€Å"rapture† (367), although she initially keeps her presence concealed from Rochester. When she finally presents herself to Rochester, the couple is together once more, It is an ideal reunion. With her return, Rochester's life is instantly changed: Rochester's heart renewed, the couple goes on to define themselves a new as companions, and then lovers. Jane Eyre is critical of Victorian England’s strict social hierarchy. Bronte’s exploration of the complicated social position of governesses is perhaps the novel’s most important treatment of this theme. Like Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights, Jane is a figure of ambiguous class standing and, consequently, a source of extreme tension for the characters around her. Jane’s manners, sophistication, and education are those of an aristocrat, because Victorian governesses, who tutored children in etiquette as well as academics, were expected to possess the â€Å"culture† of the aristocracy. Yet, as paid employees, they were more or less treated as servants; thus, Jane remains penniless and powerless while at Thornfield. Jane’s understanding of the double standard crystallizes when she becomes aware of her feelings for Rochester; she is his intellectual, but not his social, equal. Even before the crisis surrounding Bertha Mason, Jane is hesitant to marry Rochester because she senses that she would feel indebted to him for â€Å"condescending† to marry her. Jane’s distress, which appears most strongly in Chapter 17, seems to be Bronte’s critique of Victorian class attitudes. Jane herself speaks out against class prejudice at certain moments in the book. For example, in Chapter 23 she asks Rochester: â€Å"Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! —I have as much soul as you—and full as much heart! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you. † However, it is also important to note that nowhere in Jane Eyre are society’s boundaries bent. Ultimately, Jane is only able to marry Rochester as his equal because she has almost magically come into her own inheritance from her uncle. Jane struggles continually to achieve equality and to overcome oppression. In addition to class hierarchy, she must fight against patriarchal domination—against those who believe women to be inferior to men and try to treat them as such. Three central male figures threaten her desire for equality and dignity: Mr. Brocklehurst, Edward Rochester, and St. John Rivers. All three are misogynistic on some level. Each tries to keep Jane in a submissive position, where she is unable to express her own thoughts and feelings. In her quest for independence and self-knowledge, Jane must escape Brocklehurst, reject St. John, and come to Rochester only after ensuring that they may marry as equals. This last condition is met once Jane proves herself able to function, through the time she spends at Moor House, in a community and in a family. She will not depend solely on Rochester for love and she can be financially independent. Furthermore, Rochester is blind at the novel’s end and thus dependent upon Jane to be his â€Å"prop and guide. In Chapter 12, Jane articulates what was for her time a radically feminist philosophy: Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel; they need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts as much as their brothers do; they suffer from too rigid a restraint, too absolute a stagnation, precisely as men would suffe r; 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. Dickens sets Oliver Twist in early 19th-century England, a time when long-held ideas and beliefs came under serious scrutiny. Profound changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution, religious uncertainty, scientific advancement, and political and social upheaval caused many Victorians to reexamine many aspects of their society and culture. Industrialization drove many farmworkers into the cities, where poor labor conditions and inadequate housing condemned most of them to poverty. The unprecedented increase in urban population fostered new and overwhelming problems of sanitation, overcrowding, poverty, disease, and crime in the huge slums occupied by impoverished workers, the unemployed, and the unfortunate. London slums bred the sort of crime Dickens portrays in Oliver Twist. The novel is set against the background of the New Poor Law of 1834, which established a system of workhouses for those who, because of poverty, sickness, mental disorder, or age, could not provide for themselves. Young Oliver Twist, an orphan, spends his first nine years in a â€Å"baby farm,† a workhouse for children in which only the hardiest survive. When Oliver goes to London, he innocently falls in with a gang of youthful thieves and pickpockets headed by a vile criminal named Fagin. Dickens renders a powerful and generally realistic portrait of this criminal underworld, with all its sordidness and sin. He later contrasts the squalor and cruelty of the workhouse and the city slums with the peace and love Oliver finds in the country at the Maylies’ home. Oliver Twist The novel’s protagonist is an orphan born in a workhouse, and Dickens uses his situation to criticize public policy toward the poor in 1830s England. Oliver is between nine and twelve years old when the main action of the novel occurs. Though treated with cruelty and surrounded by coarseness for most of his life, he is a pious, innocent child, and his charms draw the attention of several wealthy benefactors. His true identity is the central mystery of the novel As the child hero of a melodramatic novel of social protest, Oliver Twist is meant to appeal more to our sentiments than to our literary sensibilities. On many levels, Oliver is not a believable character, because although he is raised in corrupt surroundings, his purity and virtue are absolute. Throughout the novel, Dickens uses Oliver’s character to challenge the Victorian idea that paupers and criminals are already evil at birth, arguing instead that a corrupt environment is the source of vice. At the same time, Oliver’s incorruptibility undermines some of Dickens’s assertions. Oliver is shocked and horrified when he sees the Artful Dodger and Charley Bates pick a stranger’s pocket and again when he is forced to participate in a burglary. Oliver’s moral scruples about the sanctity of property seem inborn in him, just as Dickens’s opponents thought that corruption is inborn in poor people. Furthermore, other pauper children use rough Cockney slang, but Oliver, oddly enough, speaks in proper King’s English. His grammatical fastidiousness is also inexplicable, as Oliver presumably is not well-educated. Even when he is abused and manipulated, Oliver does not become angry or indignant. When Sikes and Crackit force him to assist in a robbery, Oliver merely begs to be allowed to â€Å"run away and die in the fields. Oliver does not present a complex picture of a person torn between good and evil—instead, he is goodness incarnate. [pic] Even if we might feel that Dickens’s social criticism would have been more effective if he had focused on a more complex poor character, like the Artful Dodger or Nancy, the audience for whom Dickens was writing might not have been receptive to such a portra yal. Dickens’s Victorian middle-class readers were likely to hold opinions on the poor that were only a little less extreme than those expressed by Mr. Bumble, the beadle who treats paupers with great cruelty. In fact, Oliver Twist was criticized for portraying thieves and prostitutes at all. Given the strict morals of Dickens’s audience, it may have seemed necessary for him to make Oliver a saintlike figure. Because Oliver appealed to Victorian readers’ sentiments, his story may have stood a better chance of effectively challenging their prejudices Throughout Oliver Twist, Dickens criticizes the Victorian stereotype of the poor as criminals from birth. However, after a strident critique of the representation of the poor as hereditary criminals, he portrays Monks as a criminal whose nature has been determined since birth. Brownlow tells Monks, â€Å"You . . . from your cradle were gall and bitterness to your own father’s heart, and . . . all evil passions, vice, and profligacy, festered [in you]. † Monks’s evil character seems less the product of his own decisions than of his birth. Oliver Twist is full of mistaken, assumed, and changed identities. Oliver joins his final domestic scene by assuming yet another identity. Once the mystery of his real identity is revealed, he quickly exchanges it for another, becoming Brownlow’s adopted son. After all the fuss and the labyrinthine conspiracies to conceal Oliver’s identity, it is ironic that he gives it up almost as soon as he discovers it. The final chapters quickly deliver the justice that has been delayed throughout the novel. Fagin dies on the gallows. Sikes hangs himself by accident—it is as though the hand of fate or a higher authority reaches out to execute him. Mr. and Mrs. Bumble are deprived of the right to ever hold public office again. They descend into poverty and suffer the same privations they had forced on paupers in the past. Monks never reforms, nor does life show him any mercy. True to Brownlow’s characterization of him as bad from birth, he continues his idle, evil ways and dies in an American prison. For him, there is no redemption. Like Noah, he serves as a foil—a character whose attributes contrast with, and thereby accentuate, those of another—to Oliver’s character. He is as evil, twisted, and mean while Oliver is good, virtuous, and kind. Oliver and all of his friends, of course, enjoy a blissful, fairy-tale ending. Everyone takes up residence in the same neighborhood and lives together like one big, happy family. Perhaps the strangest part of the concluding section of Oliver Twist is Leeford’s condition for Oliver’s inheritance. Leeford states in his will that, if his child were a son, he would inherit his estate â€Å"only on the stipulation that in his minority he should never have stained his name with any public act of dishonor, meanness, cowardice, or wrong. † It seems strange that a father would consign his child to lifelong poverty as well as the stigma of illegitimacy if the son ever committed a single wrong in childhood. In the same way that the court is willing to punish Oliver for crimes committed by another, Leeford is ready to punish Oliver for any small misdeed merely because he hated his first son, Monks, so much. One contradiction that critics of Oliver Twist have pointed out is that although Dickens spends much of the novel openly attacking retributive justice, the conclusion of the novel is quick to deliver such justice. At the story’s end, crimes are punished harshly, and devilish characters are still hereditary devils to the very end. The only real change is that Oliver is now acknowledged as a hereditary angel rather than a hereditary devil. No one, it seems, can escape the identity dealt to him or her at birth. The real crime of characters like Mr. Bumble and Fagin may not have been mistreating a defenseless child—it may have been mistreating a child who was born for a better life. Yet Dickens’s crusade for forgiveness and tolerance is upheld by his treatment of more minor characters, like Nancy, whose memory is sanctified, and Charley Bates, who redeems himself and enters honest society. These characters’ fates demonstrate that the individual can indeed rise above his or her circumstances, and that an unfortunate birth does not have to guarantee an unfortunate life and legacy. Oliver Twist is a story about the battles of good versus evil, with the evil continually trying to corrupt and exploit the good. It portrays the power of Love, Hate, Greed, and Revenge and how each can affect the people involved. The love between Rose and Harry in the end conquers all the obstacles between them. The hate that Monks feels for Oliver and the greed he feels towards his inheritance eventually destroys him. The revenge that Sikes inflicts on Nancy drives him almost insane and eventually to accidental suicide. Dickens' wide array of touching characters emphasizes the virtues of sacrifice, compromise, charity, and loyalty. Most importantly, though the system for the poor is not changed, the good in Dickens' novel outweighs the evil, and the main characters that are part of this good live happily ever after Poverty is a prominent concern in Oliver Twist. Throughout the novel, Dickens enlarges on this theme, describing slums so decrepit that whole rows of houses are on the point of ruin. In an early chapter, Oliver attends a pauper's funeral with Mr. Sowerberry and sees a whole family crowded together in one miserable room. This ubiquitous misery makes Oliver's few encounters with charity and love more poignant. Oliver owes his life several times over to kindness both large and small. The apparent plague of poverty that Dickens describes also conveyed to his middle-class readers how much of the London population was stricken with poverty and disease. Nonetheless, in Oliver Twist he delivers a somewhat mixed message about social caste and social injustice. Oliver's illegitimate workhouse origins place him at the nadir of society; as an orphan without friends, he is routinely despised. His â€Å"sturdy spirit† keeps him alive despite the torment he must endure. Most of his associates, however, deserve their place among society's dregs and seem very much at home in the depths. Noah Claypole, a charity boy like Oliver, is idle, stupid, and cowardly; Sikes is a thug; Fagin lives by corrupting children; and the Artful Dodger seems born for a life of crime. Many of the middle-class people Oliver encounters—Mrs. Sowerberry, Mr. Bumble, and the savagely hypocritical â€Å"gentlemen† of the workhouse board, for example; are, if anything, worse. Oliver, on the other hand, who has an air of refinement remarkable for a workhouse boy, proves to be of gentle birth. Although he has been abused and neglected all his life, he recoils, aghast, at the idea of victimizing anyone else. This apparently hereditary gentlemanliness makes Oliver Twist something of a challenging tale, not just an indictment of social injustice. Oliver, born for better things, struggles to survive in the savage world of the underclass before finally being rescued by his family and returned to his proper place—a commodious country house. In both novels,the protagonists managed to survive in spite of their lack of disadvantages. Jane,who never saw her parents,finds herself positive role-models and with the inspirationof these models she manages to reach her happy ending even there is a strict class distinction. Some critics say, Jane's success comes from her motherlessness. Marianne Hirsch explains this and says â€Å"The heroine attemping to cut herself off from a constraining past, to invent a new story, her own story, and eager to avoid the typically devastatingfate of her mother (Hirsch 44) Oliver, who suffered a lot and managed to stay pure and clean, got the divine judgement and possesses a family now and he is away happy with his family ———————– Throughout the novel, Jane is described as a â€Å"fairy. † Read more: http://www. cliffsnotes. com/study_guide/literature/Jane-Eyre-Critical-Essays-A-Jungian-Approach-to-Jane-Eyre. id-23,pageNum-725. html#ixzz0ogTEssy5