Love Triangles and Betrayal in Carmen Essay

The creation of operas from pre-existing literary texts is a complex process implicating the original author, the librettists, the opera directors, the publishers, and the composer. In the process of transformation, the involved parties consider prevailing cultural values as well as their own artistic ideals. These considerations weigh all the more heavily on the process when the literary text involves complex romantic relationships. Georges Bizet’s Carmen (1875), Giuseppe Verdi’s Otello (1887), and Claude Debussy’s Pelleas et Melisande (1902) provide examples of this transformation process. In all three of these works, love triangles figure prominently. These love triangles, though they share some superficial similarities, are extraordinarily different in terms of their composition and the ultimate fate of the characters. Carmen When the directors of the Opera-Comique, a venue with repertoire typically geared towards an extremely conservative, family-oriented, bourgeois audience (McClary, 1992, p. 15-16), commissioned Bizet to write an opera in 1872, Bizet suggested Prosper Merimee’s novel Carmen as a possible subject (Macdonald, 2010). The directors of the Opera-Comique were divided in their support of this work as a subject for an opera. De Leuven, in particular, was against this choice, citing the scandalous nature of the story and the conservative nature of the venue’s target audience as reasons behind his disapproval: â€Å"Carmen! The Carmen of Merimee? Wasn’t she murdered by her lover?†¦ At the Opera-Comique, the theatre of families, of wedding parties? You would put the public to flight. No, no, impossible. † (as cited in Jenkins, 2003). Indeed, it appears that the on-stage death was of particular consternation for the director: â€Å"Death on the stage of the Opera-Comique! Such a thing has never been seen! Never! † (as cited in Nowinski, 1970, p. 895). The choice of Carmen ultimately played a role in de Leuven’s resignation from his post in 1874 (McClary, 1992, p. 23). The source text for Carmen is a novella by Prosper Merimee. The author originally published this work in 1845 in the Revue des deux mondes, a non-fiction journal. The author had previously published travelogues in the same journal, and this work contained no indication that it was a work of fiction (Boynton, 2003). Instead, the work reads as a â€Å"true† story of Merimee’s voyage to Spain in 1830. In the midst of his travels, the author-narrator encounters Don Jose, the man who, after succumbing to Carmen’s seductive powers, kills her in a jealous rage following her confession of a love affair with Lucas. The librettists for Carmen, Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halevy, at the time that they were commissioned to write this work for the Opera-Comique had already successfully worked together as a team on a number of works (including Offenbach’s La Belle Helene and La Vie parisienne) for the Parisian boulevard theatres (McClary, 1992, p. 18). In their previous librettos, the team had split the work: Meilhac wrote the prose dialogue, and Halevy supplied the verse (McClary, 1992, p. 18). In operatic settings, the prose would typically be left as spoken dialogue (for the Opera-Comique) or set as recitative. In transforming Merimee’s novella into a libretto, Meilhac and Halevy made numerous changes. Unfortunately, there is a lack of primary source evidence detailing the minutiae of the collaborative process which would shed further light upon the reasons behind these changes (Jenkins, 2003). These changes include minimizing Carmen’s criminal activities, adding the character of Micaela, and eliminating Merimee’s framing device. The removal of Merimee’s framing device (accomplished by not including a narrator) and the introduction of Don Jose before his downfall make Carmen, and not Don Jose, the focus of the story (Jenkins, 2003). Indeed, the Carmen of the libretto, with her voice not being interrupted by the narrator’s commentary, speaks directly to the audience (McClary, 1992, p. 21). Carmen was composed as a four-act opera comique, originally with spoken dialogue (as opposed to recitative). The dialogue was transformed into recitative by Guiraud for a production in Vienna, and it was performed this way for many years before producers reverted to Bizet’s original spoken text (Macdonald, 2010). Further changes to Merimee’s original resulted from Guiraud’s involvement. Meilhac’s original dialogues at times quoted directly from Merimee’s Carmen, and these instances of direct quotation were largely eliminated in Guiraud’s version (McClary, 1992, p. 45). With the addition of Micaela, the librettists created a moralizing character, the polar opposite of Carmen, with whom the Opera-Comique audiences could readily identify (McClary, 1992, p. 21). The addition of Micaela complicates the love triangle. In Merimee’s original, the love triangle included the characters of Carmen, Don Jose, and Lucas. In the operatic version, both Don Jose and Escamillo are in love with Carmen, and both Carmen and Micaela are in love with Don Jose. The librettists also substantially changed Carmen’s character. Though they downplayed Carmen’s involvement in criminal activities (she is no longer the leader of the smugglers as Merimee portrayed her) arguably in order to make her more sympathetic, they focus almost exclusively on her sexuality (to the exclusion of her healing powers and intelligence as presented in the original) (McClary, 1992, p. 22). Bizet’s music underlines the differences in characters and underlines the complex nature of the interlocking love triangles in the opera. Micaela is presented as a sweet, pure, innocent woman. Her entrance is conventional, and her music is marked by neither intense chromaticism nor indications of exoticism (McClary, 1997, p. 120). Carmen’s entrance, in contrast, disrupts the formal procedures Bizet set up from the beginning of the opera, and her music is largely chromatic and marked with features typically associated with the exotic (McClary, 1997, p. 120). Her music, like her body and personality, is irresistible to any man she sets her sights on. Don Jose’s music is different from that of both of his female admirers. His melodic lines are long, irregularly phrased, and lacking in regular cadences (McClary, 1997, p. 124). Additionally, he, unlike Escamillo, lacks a signature melodic line (McClary, 1997, p. 127). McClary points to the incompatibility of Carmen’s and Don Jose’s musical styles as evidence of the ultimate failure of their relationship. In contrast, Carmen’s brief duet with Escamillo in act four seems sincere because their musical styles are compatible (McClary, 1997, p. 125). Ultimately, Don Jose kills Carmen in a fit of jealousy over her relationship with Escamillo, and Micaela is deprived of her true love as he gives himself up to the police following his murder of Carmen. Otello Though the two Shakespeare aficionados Giuseppe Verdi and Arrigo Boito met as early as 1862, it was not until 1879 that the events leading to the composition of Otello were set in motion (Aycock, 1972, p. 594). The four-act Otello received its premiere on February 5, 1887 in Milan. In transforming the play into opera libretto, Boito eliminated six of the fourteen characters and cut the entire first act (Aycock, 1972, p. 595). Boito also cut Othello’s statement of self-defence following his murder of Desdemona from the end of the play (Aycock, 1972, p. 596). This last cut serves to keep the opera’s focus on the tragic love story. This love story principally revolves around the actions of Othello, Desdemona, and Iago. When the opera opens, Desdemona and Othello are newly married. However, Roderigo (Iago’s friend) still loves Desdemona. Iago, upset with Cassio who has been promoted over him, fabricates proof of Desdemona’s infidelity with Cassio in order to play on Othello’s jealous nature. The proof of this infidelity, in both the play and the opera, is a handkerchief. Othello murders Desdemona, and when he learns that his belief in his wife’s infidelity was mistaken, he kills himself. In this story, both Roderigo and Othello are in love with Desdemona. Given Roderigo’s minimal role in the opera, however, Iago takes his place in the dramatic situation of the love triangle. It is his betrayal and deception that leads to the demise of the two main characters. The end of the first act contains a conventional love duet between Othello and Desdemona. As Aycock (1972, p. 595) remarks, the love between these two principal characters is mature and predicated on confidence in each other’s fidelity. The climax of this love duet, on the words â€Å"un bacio†¦Otello!†¦ un bacio,† features a new melody in the orchestra. This melody reappears only in the last act, most notably when Othello commits suicide (Lawton, 1978, p. 211). The character of Iago in the opera is much more the creation of Verdi and Boito than of Shakespeare. Iago’s Credo, where he proclaims his devotion to a cruel God and admits that he is unquestionably evil, was entirely the invention of Boito (Aycock, 1972, p. 600). For Verdi, the emphasis on this character allowed him to confirm to Italian operatic tradition, which called for a baritone villain role (Aycock, 1972, p. 601). Pelleas et Melisande Maurice Maeterlinck’s play Pelleas et Melisande received its Parisian premiere at the Theatre des Bouffes-Parisiens on May 17, 1893, and Claude Debussy was in attendance (Grayson, 1985, p. 35, 37). By the fall of the same year, he had already begun composing what would later become Act IV scene 4 (Grayson, 1985, p. 37). In the case of this operatic transformation, there was no librettist acting as a middle-man. Instead, Debussy constructed the libretto himself, from Maeterlinck’s original text. The composer remained true to the original play, changing nary a word. He did, however, cut some scenes, and these cuts were made with the Maeterlinck’s authorization. In November 1893, the composer travelled to Ghent to meet with the author, and the two men discussed several possible cuts. Debussy reported to Ernest Chausson that Maeterlinck had given him â€Å"complete authorization to make cuts and even indicated some which were very important, even very useful† (as cited in Grayson, 1985, p. 37). From Maeterlinck’s original play, there were only four scenes that Debussy did not set: Act I scene 1, Act II scene 4, Act III scene 1, and Act V scene 1 (Grayson, 1985, p. 38). These scenes appear to have been cut because they are unrelated to the central narrative, leading to the demise of both Pelleas and Melisande. While Debussy used Maeterlinck’s original text, he did, in some instances, cut some of the text to make the libretto more concise. Act III scene 3, for example, was cut so heavily so that only one third of the original text remained (Grayson, 1985, p. 40). Two further cuts came in 1902. During Pelleas et Melisande’s first season at the Opera-Comique, Debussy was forced to cut one scene from the performances: Act IV scene 3 (Grayson, 1985, p. 39). This almost purely symbolic scene features Yniold (Golaud’s son from a previous marriage). At the end of the scene, Yniold, wishing to share his experiences with Melisande, unwittingly reveals to Golaud that she is not in her room (Grayson, 2003, p. 76) – in essence, he signals her disloyalty to her husband. The scene was reinserted in its second season. Also, at the dress rehearsal, the Director of Fine Arts, censored the work, calling for the suppression of Act III scene 4, a scene where Yniold is forced, by his violent father, to spy on the suspected lovers (Grayson, 2003, p. 80). Pelleas et Melisande begins with Golaud discovering Melisande by a fountain in a forest. She seems to be lost and confused, and she follows Golaud on his wanderings. The two get married in secret and return to the castle of Golaud’s father. There, Melisande meets Golaud’s brother Pelleas, and these two fall in love. In one scene, Golaud happens upon Pelleas caressing Melisande’s hair streaming out from a tower window, and he realizes that his brother has betrayed him. Golaud, blind with jealousy, kills his brother in Act III. At the end of the opera, Melisande also dies, but not before giving birth to a daughter. The plot, then, revolves around the love triangle of Melisande, Golaud, and Pelleas. The unquestioning inclusion of on-stage deaths demonstrates how much the Opera-Comique had changed since the 1875 premiere of Carmen. From the time of Debussy’s first draft of Act IV scene 4 in the fall of 1893, it took almost a decade for the opera to reach the stage of the Opera-Comique. Debussy worked intensely on the opera in 1895 and completed a short score of the opera in August of that year (Grayson, 2003, p. 78). Though he had a completed opera, he had major difficulties finding a suitable venue for the performance of the work. Albert Carre, the director of the Opera-Comique, accepted Pelleas â€Å"in principal† in 1898, but he did not give Debussy written confirmation of the deal until 1901 (Grayson, 2003, p. 79). Though Debussy was ambivalent about Wagnerian leitmotive techniques, he does employ leitmotivs in Pelleas. While most of these leitmotivs are connected to ideas, each major character has his or her own leitmotiv (Nichols and Smith, 1989, p. 81). Melisande’s motive, for example, is comparatively lyrical, wandering, and typically played by oboes or flutes while Golaud’s motive consists of two notes in alteration with a more pronounced rhythmic emphasis. These motives are typically associated with different harmonic fields. Melisande’s melody is pentatonic but is typically harmonized with a half diminished seventh chord (Nichold and Smith, 1989, p. 91). Golaud’s motive, because of its sparse melodic line consisting of only two notes, is more harmonically flexible. Debussy uses it in a variety of harmonic contexts including whole-tone, dorian, and minor. Comparison of Works These three works present a widely diverse picture of operatic life in late nineteenth century France and Italy. In terms of source texts, there is a novella (Carmen), a play in verse (Otello), and a play in prose (Pelleas et Melisande). In two of the cases (Carmen and Otello), neither the composer nor the librettist knew the author of the original literary work. In the case of Pelleas, the composer had direct contact with the original author and constructed the libretto himself. These three operas were then composed in different forms: an opera comique in versions with both spoken dialogue and sung recitative (Carmen), a hybrid of continuous action with set pieces (Otello), and a largely through-composed work with one aria (Pelleas). In each instance, the transformation process reveals that it was not only the librettist and composer who were involved in the opera’s ultimate form: opera directors, publishers, and censors also had some hand in the final product. One shared trait amongst these three works was the need for the librettist to cut considerable amounts of literary material from the original text. This phenomenon is understandable given that it takes a considerably longer period of time to sing a text rather than say it. In choosing sections of texts to cut, the librettists were faced with the challenge of leaving enough of the narrative design so that it would remain comprehensible to the audience. The composer could then use musical devices to fill in some of the gaps that this missing text created. For example, Bizet could use different musical styles to highlight differences in race and class (McClary, 1997). Similarly, Debussy could use different harmonic languages (whole tone, pentatonic, modal) to indicate subtly differences in the quality of light (Nichols and Smith, 1989). A second shared trait is that two of the composers appear to have made decisions based on operatic convention in their composition of the opera. Bizet’s concession to operatic convention takes the form of the introduction of the character of Micaela, a character absent from Merimee’s original but whose presence, as mentioned above, was deemed necessary to make the work suitable for the conservative Opera-Comique audience. Verdi’s concessions are evident in the finale to Act 3, where he asked Boito to alter the libretto to make room for a traditional grand concertato finale (Parker, 2010) as well as in the changes to Iago’s character mentioned above. A third shared trait is that these three works focus on love triangles, with an act of betrayal or jealousy leading to the deaths of one or more of the principal characters. In Carmen, the primary love triangle revolves around Carmen, Don Jose, and Escamillo. In the end, Carmen dies. In Otello, the love triangle of Othello, Desdemona, and Roderigo has a tragic ending with the death of both Othello and Desdemona. Similarly, the Pelleas-Melisande-Golaud triangle results in the death of two of the characters: Pelleas and Melisande. In each case, the composer highlights one of the romantic relationships as being more viable or more sincere than the others. Bizet, as noted, employs different musical styles for each of the characters, with only Escamillo’s language being compatible with Carmen’s. Verdi wrote a traditional love duet for Othello and Desdemona, the sincerity of which is highlighted with its aforementioned reappearance in the final act. Debussy employs a technique similar to that of Bizet: he has Pelleas and Melisande sing together in octaves in Act IV scene 4). The similarities between the presentations of the love triangles stops with this characteristic, for the relationship dynamics within the central triangles are quite different in these works. In Carmen, the title character is both the primary female love interest and the character responsible for the betrayal. She betrays Don Jose’s love for her, however ill-founded it may be, by confessing her love for Escamillo. In contrast to the other operatic heroines studied here, Carmen is a femme-fatale. In Verdi’s Otello, the love between Othello and Desdemona is sincere, and neither one carries on an affair with someone else. The primary reason behind their deaths is Iago’s treachery. However, Othello does, in a sense, betray Desdemona by believing Iago’s lies. His acknowledgment of this betrayal can be seen in his committing suicide. In Debussy’s Pelleas, the guilty party is less clearly identified. Melisande, though she betrays her marriage by falling in love with Pelleas, is not depicted as a femme fatale. Instead, she is presented as an innocent, idealized woman (Smith, 1981, p. 105). Pelleas betrays his brother by having an affair with his wife. Though Debussy, as mentioned above, sympathizes with their love and highlights the love Pelleas and Melisande have for each other by having them sing together in octaves. It appears that these characters are not to be held accountable for their actions because their love was inevitable, foretold in advance by fate. ? References Aycock, R. E. (1972). Shakespeare, Boito, and Verdi. The Musical Quarterly, 58 (4), 588-604. Boynton, S. (2003) Prosper Merimee’s novella Carmen. New York City Opera Project: Carmen. Retrieved from http://www. columbia. edu/itc/music/NYCO/carmen/merimee. html Grayson, D. (1985). The Libretto of Debussy’s Pelleas et Melisande. Music and Letters, 66 (1), 35-50. Grayson, D. (2003). Debussy on stage. In The Cambridge Companion to Debussy. Ed. Simon Trezise. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 61-83. Jenkins, C. (2003). Carmen: The Librettists. New York City Opera Project: Carmen. Retrieved from http://www. columbia. edu/itc/music/NYCO/carmen/librettists. html Lawton, D. (1978). On the ‘Bacio’ theme in Otello. 19th-Century Music, 1 (3), 211-220. Macdonald, H. (2010). Carmen (ii). Grove Online. Retrieved from http://www. oxfordmusiconline. com/subscriber/article/grove/music/O008315? q=carmen&search=quick&pos=22&_start=1#firsthit McClary, S. (1992). Georges Bizet, Carmen. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. McClary, S. (1997). Structures of identity and difference in Bizet’s Carmen. In The Work of Opera: Genre, Nationhood, and Sexual Difference. Ed. Richard Dellamora and Daniel Fischlin. New York: Columbia University Press, pp. 115-130. Nichols, R. & Smith, R. L. (1989). Claude Debussy, Pelleas et Melisande. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Nowinski, J. (1970). Sense and sound in George Bizet’s Carmen. The French Review, 43 (6), 891-900. Parker, R. (2010). Otello (ii). Grove Music Online. Retrieved from http://www. oxfordmusiconline. com/subscriber/article/grove/music/O003882>. Smith, R. L. (1981).

Maru: Love and Yellow Daisies Essay

Introduction Maru is a book that reflects on the life of an orphaned young girl of Basarwa tribe who gets an opportunity of teaching and she is sent to teach in a remote village in Botswana where her own people are kept as slaves. Her existence separates a community which does not recognise Basarwa people as human beings thus condemn her to the lonely life of an outcast. This Book Maru in a way reflects on the life of its writer Bessie Head who is recognised as one of the best African writers, she also went through traumatising life experiences of racial prejudice in the late South-African government. She fled South Africa seeking refuge in Botswana where she settled in a small village which was filled with tribalism and people of her tribe were in slaved Part One That year the rains were so late, though the atmosphere was mysterious and threatening with menacing dark clouds, the summer season climatically was hot and dry. The clouds brought confusion in people’s minds as each evening roaring sounds of thunders and lightning would be heard only to live people with empty promises of rain. The man was fully equipped with necessary tools planning for the seasonal ploughing ground breaking was done for easy sowing two brand new tanks were installed on the nearby houses waiting for the rains to fall so they catch and contain the storm water. He wanted to plough something that will signify his wife’s beauty and resemble his true love for her and for that he prepared a flower garden of yellow daisies. The man’s desire was to fulfil his destinies no matter how many he had; though he knew life was short he was a born leader with an affection of pleasing and archiving his goals no matter the consequences, even if attain his goals th reatened his position as a leader he will still go for the execution as planned. â€Å"I’ll be going now (Head, 1971)† quietly said Maru to a group of three working man who were building vegetable beds. He took his time as he was nervous to speak. The three men were not ordinary farm boys but close friends of Maru who shielded and have always been there for him through his entire life, he said some harsh words to them which annoyed them but because he was their leader they said â€Å"Maru is always impossible!† they spoke in a low voice out of respect behind him, fearing being heard. â€Å"Ranko† said Maru in a deep sharp voice of annoyance. ‘Didn’t I tell you not to break the up the clods? They are for conserving moisture in the soil’. (Head, 1971) Ranko stirred up the skies like he wished God will see his sorrows or he could see answers in the skies of what exactly his leader wants him to do, he wiped his nose with one arm out of confusion. In Setswana Ranko meant a person with a big nose, since when had people not had their vegetable garden raked in a decorated fancy way. Each and every new idea no matter how impossible it looked it had to be put into practise, making no allowance for preju dice. This to him was too much and painful like his big nose, the three men knew no other life but the one of serving and pleasing their leader Maru. Without him they were lost souls wuthering around with nowhere to go and this on its own inflicted fear into their lives. Maru was their king whom loathed the kingship like a husband who hated his annoying, most demanding ever complaining wife from the deep bottom of his heart, they knew he wanted to give up his leadership seat and it was a scary shocking secret to them which brought confusion and fear which they couldn’t be at peace with. The secret was kept among him and them, they knew it has to circulate around them only though they didn’t know the verdict none the less had answers to the outcome of events when the time comes only their leader who was planning to abandon them knew what he was doing. They knew when time comes they will just pretend as if their leader passed away. Maru paused for some time and looked up the skies, where the storm looked mysterious and threatening with dark clouds. The shrubs always looked and turned black in the evening when darkness was falling and sudden breeze swerved the very dry white grass. He was in his zone where he could communicate freely with his thoughts with less or total absence of distraction and interruption from his people. The place was filled with cemetery silence. His mind, body, soul and heart communicated freely with beautifully much appreciated desired feedback. He knew that people hated him though they thought they hid it so well behind their fake smiles towards him, he could tell of their evil deeds planned for him he could feel it in their blood running up and down their veins, only if they knew what he knew wouldn’t they have ripped, torn him to pieces a long time ago, just to keep their secrets and their evil safe where bad and darkness is the ruler and possesses all things? It was an anticip ated vision that slowly accepted or permitted one dream to rule and dominate his life. The small little brown, filled with dust walk path, turned a blind eye on the noisy fast highways of life. Alongside the dusty footpath grew the yellow daisies which always danced in the sun and wind, the sight and the beautiful rhythm of dancing movements of the yellow daisies will eventually dominate his fantasies, an overwhelming feeling, filled with joyful moments. So much it made his heart beat pound with everlasting joy. He promised himself that as soon as the first rain fell he will sow those yellow daisies alongside the walking path that leads to his house as he was reflecting and joyfully feasting on his dreams on which he brought to life for that peaceful moment, at least the present and the on-going moment was simple to interpret, though he kept a deep secret of things to happen which only him was holding like those black clouds which knew what they kept beneath them which no man could interpret but hope for the best out of them, he had that cloud coiled in him, waiting to be unleashed like clouds filled with plenty of water that will cause a storm so strong and heavy it will cleanse and wash away all those ugly undesirable bad things that he forever despised and bring forth happiness which was hindered by all those things he hated. As he walked on tortoise pace walking on a path that will land him at his house he was doing so with his eyes leaned towards the sky on which a clear display of beautiful fantastic vision of things to come were set resembling a beautiful tale. As he silently entered the house his wife fearfully gazed at him from the dinner table she was preparing. He sometimes had an angry and hurtful mood whereas every word he said was verbally abusive and repeatedly hurt one’s feelings. Most certainly she never kept into her heart all past experiences of pain and suffering. Most often she felt full of joy and hallucinated by happiness it was not an everyday thing for her to parade around the whole day with a very excited smile drown on her face, because the days of being deliberately been hurt and pain inflicted on her were few thus were over shadowed by the days of deeply showered and expressed love. The darkest days may have been there as to balance the situation. Maybe Maru had to face an d experience reality to know how bad man can be to one. He moved with confidence. He never took a second thought over his Godly conscious. The major threat in his life was Moleka. He was afraid that one day his anger will get the best of him and drive him to kill Moleka one way or the other. His wife’s heart had two rooms filled with love for both men Moleka and Maru. Maru feared and dreamt that his room of love in his wife’s heart would eventually be over taken on by Moleka. This fearful dream continuously occurred. He dreamt Moleka with a broken leg and bleeding from a wound that was from his mouth and heart. His wife always cried with pain whenever Maru had these dreadful dreams. He usually woke up to his wife’s tears pouring on him as her eyes were closed. ‘Why are you crying?’ asked Maru, in pretence that he did not know. She would see the tears but feared to account to them as to what they were for when she woke up as she was not aware of them when she was sleeping, except the tears she cried for Maru. He had no power over destroying the love his wife had for Moleka. He seemed to have no control over his wife’s affair as much as the raging jealousy he had that drove him crazy as much as it did on Moleka. No one else was. Maru allowed Maleka to do and as he pleased to avoid any further fights. He did not care about other people’s judgments. He allowed Moleka to have his most desired and best woman, his wife. She had all the good attributes of a real lady, intelligent, eye catching and caught everyone’s attention. These entire things seemed to have caught Moleka interests, as he also caught people’s eye. What did he want with a woman who did not suit people’s interest? In fact, after he married her she had turned into an infidelity woman of the village, well enticing men of her interest. Moleka did not want to live his life as a joke and anger and could have avoided exposing her wrong doings. The community was always around. A well-known man tried to please the people. When he decided to take charge he thought twice on what he thought would suit both him and Moleka. He thought hard about this. Perhaps he had under estimated Moleka’s power, That Moleka beard more quality than him who he had no control over .Was he loved the most? Or did he just have more power? He believed in love but not the power as power can change into anything. He would cry too, over that Moleka could have stronger love than him. His heart interpreted that Moleka had more power than him, and he felt no guilt over what he had done to his wife as Moleka beard feelings for her to. The intense thoughts and confusion made him have so much anger and hatred. Maybe his heart had forsaken him and one day he would end up giving up his wife to Moleka, as he had concluded that Moleka’s love was stronger than his. If this feeling was within him, he would go up to his wife and tell her that ‘I only married you because you were the only woman in the world who did not want to be important. But you are not at all important to me, as I sometimes say you are’. This could destroy the world. The worlds turned to darkness as his words were all coming to action. That night he was so jolly. The yellow daisies. As he walked through the door and said, softly ‘My sweetheart.’ Those were very beautiful words, if only one had the knowledge of what damage could the human heart. ; Horrible danger that seemed very dangerous because the main causers of it were so tender. Children adopted this behaviour from their parents. Parents spat on the ground to show belittlement and disgust, Low nation passed by. Children took over from the ir parents. They disrespected one. They hurt you. They danced very hard. Introduction Maru is a book that reflects on the life of an orphaned young girl of Basarwa tribe who gets an opportunity of teaching and she is sent to teach in a remote village in Botswana where her own people are kept as slaves. Her existence separates a community which does not recognise Basarwa people as human beings thus condemn her to the lonely life of an outcast. This Book Maru in a way reflects on the life of its writer Bessie Head who is recognised as one of the best African writers, she also went through traumatising life experiences of racial prejudice in the late South-African government. She fled South Africa seeking refuge in Botswana where she settled in a small village which was filled with tribalism and people of her tribe were in slaved Part One That year the rains were so late, though the atmosphere was mysterious and threatening with menacing dark clouds, the summer season climatically was hot and dry. The clouds brought confusion in people’s minds as each evening roaring sounds of thunders and lightning would be heard only to live people with empty promises of rain. The man was fully equipped with necessary tools planning for the seasonal ploughing ground breaking was done for easy sowing two brand new tanks were installed on the nearby houses waiting for the rains to fall so they catch and contain the storm water. He wanted to plough something that will signify his wife’s beauty and resemble his true love for her and for that he prepared a flower garden of yellow daisies. The man’s desire was to fulfil his destinies no matter how many he had; though he knew life was short he was a born leader with an affection of pleasing and archiving his goals no matter the consequences, even if attain his goals th reatened his position as a leader he will still go for the execution as planned. â€Å"I’ll be going now (Head, 1971)† quietly said Maru to a group of three working man who were building vegetable beds. He took his time as he was nervous to speak. The three men were not ordinary farm boys but close friends of Maru who shielded and have always been there for him through his entire life, he said some harsh words to them which annoyed them but because he was their leader they said â€Å"Maru is always impossible!† they spoke in a low voice out of respect behind him, fearing being heard. â€Å"Ranko† said Maru in a deep sharp voice of annoyance. ‘Didn’t I tell you not to break the up the clods? They are for conserving moisture in the soil’. (Head, 1971) Ranko stirred up the skies like he wished God will see his sorrows or he could see answers in the skies of what exactly his leader wants him to do, he wiped his nose with one arm out of confusion. In Setswana Ranko meant a person with a big nose, since when had people not had their vegetable garden raked in a decorated fancy way. Each and every new idea no matter how impossible it looked it had to be put into practise, making no allowance for prejudice. This to him was too much and painful like his big nose, the three men knew no other life but the one of serving and pleasing their leader Maru. Without him they were lost souls wuthering around with nowhere to go and this on its own inflicted fear into their lives. Maru was their king whom loathed the kingship like a husband who hated his annoying, most demanding ever complaining wife from the deep bottom of his heart, they knew he wanted to give up his leadership seat and it was a scary shocking secret to them which brought confusion and fear which they couldn’t be at peace with. The secret was kept among him and them, they knew it has to circulate around them only though they didn’t know the verdict none the less had answers to the outcome of events when the time comes only their leader who was planning to abandon them knew what he was doing. They knew when time comes they will just pretend as if their leader passed away. Maru paused for some time and looked up the skies, where the storm looked mysterious and threatening with dark clouds. The shrubs always looked and turned black in the evening when darkness was falling and sudden breeze swerved the very dry white grass. He was in his zone where he could communicate freely with his thoughts with less or total absence of distraction and interruption from his people. The place was filled with cemetery silence. His mind, body, soul and heart communicated freely with beautifully much appreciated desired feedback. He knew that people hated him though they thought they hid it so well behind their fake smiles towards him, he could tell of their evil deeds planned for him he could feel it in their blood running up and down their veins, only if they knew what he knew wouldn’t they have ripped, torn him to pieces a long time ago, just to keep their secrets and their evil safe where bad and darkness is the ruler and possesses all things? It was an anticipated vision that slowly accepted or permitted one dream to rule and dominate his life. The small little brown, filled with dust walk path, turned a blind eye on the noisy fast highways of life. Alongside the dusty footpath grew the yellow daisies which always danced in the sun and wind, the sight and the beautiful rhythm of dancing movements of the yellow daisies will eventually dominate his fantasies, an overwhelming feeling, filled with jo yful moments. So much it made his heart beat pound with everlasting joy. He promised himself that as soon as the first rain fell he will sow those yellow daisies alongside the walking path that leads to his house as he was reflecting and joyfully feasting on his dreams on which he brought to life for that peaceful moment, at least the present and the on-going moment was simple to interpret, though he kept a deep secret of things to happen which only him was holding like those black clouds which knew what they kept beneath them which no man could interpret but hope for the best out of them, he had that cloud coiled in him, waiting to be unleashed like clouds filled with plenty of water that will cause a storm so strong and heavy it will cleanse and wash away all those ugly undesirable bad things that he forever despised and bring forth happiness which was hindered by all those things he hated. As he walked on tortoise pace walking on a path that will land him at his house he was doing so with his eyes leaned towards the sky on which a clear display of beau tiful fantastic vision of things to come were set resembling a beautiful tale. As he silently entered the house his wife fearfully gazed at him from the dinner table she was preparing. He sometimes had an angry and hurtful mood whereas every word he said was verbally abusive and repeatedly hurt one’s feelings. Most certainly she never kept into her heart all past experiences of pain and suffering. Most often she felt full of joy and hallucinated by happiness it was not an everyday thing for her to parade around the whole day with a very excited smile drown on her face, because the days of being deliberately been hurt and pain inflicted on her were few thus were over shadowed by the days of deeply showered and expressed love. The darkest days may have been there as to balance the situation. Maybe Maru had to face and experience reality to know how bad man can be to one. He moved with confidence. He never took a second thought over his Godly conscious. The major threat in his life was Moleka. He was afraid that one day his anger will get the best of him an d drive him to kill Moleka one way or the other. His wife’s heart had two rooms filled with love for both men Moleka and Maru. Maru feared and dreamt that his room of love in his wife’s heart would eventually be over taken on by Moleka. This fearful dream continuously occurred. He dreamt Moleka with a broken leg and bleeding from a wound that was from his mouth and heart. His wife always cried with pain whenever Maru had these dreadful dreams. He usually woke up to his wife’s tears pouring on him as her eyes were closed. ‘Why are you crying?’ asked Maru, in pretence that he did not know. She would see the tears but feared to account to them as to what they were for when she woke up as she was not aware of them when she was sleeping, except the tears she cried for Maru. He had no power over destroying the love his wife had for Moleka. He seemed to have no control over his wife’s affair as much as the raging jealousy he had that drove him crazy as much as it did on Moleka. No one else was. Maru allowed Maleka to do and as he pleased to avoid any further fights. He did not care about other people’s judgments. He allowed Moleka to have his most desired and best woman, his wife. She had all the good attributes of a real lady, intelligent, eye catching and caught everyone’s attention. These entire things seemed to have caught Moleka interests, as he also caught people’s eye. What did he want with a woman who did not suit people’s interest? In fact, after he married her she had turned into an infidelity woman of the village, well enticing men of her interest. Moleka did not want to live his life as a joke and anger and could have avoided exposing her wrong doings. The community was always around. A well-known man tried to please the people. When he decided to take charge he thought twice on what he thought would suit both him and Moleka. He thought hard about this. Perhaps he had under estimated Moleka’s power, That Moleka beard more quality than him who he had no control over .Was he loved the most? Or did he just have more power? He believed in love but not the power as power can change into anything. He would cry too, over that Moleka could have stronger love than him. His heart interpreted that Moleka had more power than him, and he felt no guilt over what he had done to his wife as Moleka beard feelings for her to. The intense thoughts and confusion made him have so much anger and hatred. Maybe his heart had forsaken him and one day he would end up giving up his wife to Moleka, as he had concluded that Moleka’s love was stronger than his. If this feeling was within him, he would go up to his wife and tell her that ‘I only married you because you were the only woman in the world who did not want to be important. But you are not at all important to me, as I sometimes say you are’. This could destroy the world. The worlds turned to darkness as his words were all coming to action. That night he was so jolly. The yellow daisies. As he walked through the door and said, softly ‘My sweetheart.’ Those were very beautiful words, if only one had the knowledge of what damage could the human heart. ; Horrible danger that seemed very dangerous because the main causers of it were so tender. Children adopted this behaviour from their parents. Parents spat on the ground to show belittlement and disgust, Low nation passed by. Children took over from their parents. They disrespected one. They hurt you. They danced very hard.

Plastic Pollution

Plastic has been the common materials that is being used on a daily basis. Many objects that made from plastic that can be seen from everyday such as food containers, plastic bag, storage and so many things that even a human being cannot think of it. Plastic’s existence has only just for over a century but because of the versatility of the materials plastics has a significantly increase in their use into all varieties of everyday life. Furthermore, the physical characteristic of plastic itself that are high resistance, durable, cheap and lightweight makes it suitable for production of a wide range of products category (Derraik, 2002).Basically plastics are synthetic organic polymers that are made from various chemical elements that mostly come from natural resources such as crude oil, gas and coal(Derraik, 2002). The raw materials of plastics were formed from ancient plants and animals hundreds of millions years ago. Therefore those raw materials are non-renewable resources th at explained when those resources would not be replaced for a short period of time. As many people use plastic everyday, it will take a more time to break down and as a result the plastic debris litter everywhere and become plastic pollution.As plastic is buoyant, it easily blows from garbage dumps or even flows through river that eventually moves through the sea. According to Australian Marine Conservation Society (2013b), when plastics are in the ocean, it will slowly breaks down in to smaller pieces and being eaten by animals that live at the bottom or even to the birds that flies and eat the floating plastic debris. Causes: Plastic pollution is the environmental problem that has been the issue that discussed by many people because of many causes occurred because of this problem.First, many people or even businesses gain profit from using plastics because of its characteristics that is hard to be substituted with other materials. As mentioned before plastic is non-renewable resou rce and need a long period of time to break down, however people use plastic for mostly everything surrounds them. So it will make availability of the natural resources for raw materials of the plastics decreases significantly and can be resulted a scarcity of resources. Other causes that happened because of plastic pollution is the marine life being threaten of the big amount of plastic that dumps in the ocean.In fact in Australia, AMCS found that 90% of marine debris on Sydney’s beaches is plastic, mostly bottles and straws. And also it emphasizes that Australians approximately buy 600 millions litres of bottled water a year and uses 10 million of plastic bags a day (2013b). Hence, large amounts of plastic are being produced each day and when it becomes litter, plastic can endanger the health of animals and sea life. Once the plastic debris are eaten, plastics are not provide proportionate nutrition through the ingestion of the plastic inside the animals’ body and wi ll result irritation of stomach that lead to death (Moore, 2008).High concentration of floating debris in the ocean brings potential threat to the marine life particularly to sea mammals and seabirds. As seabirds seek food from the ocean, when appears floating debris they might eat mistakenly or starvation that lead them to choke plastic and for certain period of time can endanger to the health of the birds (Edyvane K. S, 2004). According to AMCS, there are around one million seabirds and one hundred thousands marine mammals are killed every year because of plastics throughout the world.They analysed it by checking what inside the animal’s body and found out that, numerous of plastic debris cannot be ingested that killed those unfortunate animals. Furthermore plastic debris such as medical waste, plastic diapers and sanitary waste sometimes also can be seen on the beach that might impact to a public health hazard (Moore, 2008). The reason that plastic debris all over the beac hes is because lack of responsibility of visitor to appropriately throw the rubbish to the bin. Many of people think that plastic is easy to be carried but they are not aware about the impact of using plastic too much.Solutions: There are many potential solutions for the plastic pollution. As plastic is non-renewable resources and damage to the environment during its production and disposal process as well, so the only best way to recover it is reduce the use and the production of plastics. Even though plastics cannot be replaced with any other substitute, however, it is possible to change the raw materials that can be recycled and break down. For instance, many plastic bags for supermarket already change to degradable plastic, which is more environmental friendly.Another solution that are still being developed for reducing plastic pollution for marine life is Container Deposit Scheme that tackle and help take plastic off the plate for marine life (2013a). As can be seen actually th ere are a lot of bins provided in every corner of the street in Australia, but it still will not work because sometimes people do not care about to separate their rubbish into recycle or non-recycle. Therefore Container Deposit Scheme will be a non-profit and work independently of the beverage companies.As many Australian buy innumerable bottles each day, it will increase the price of the drinks by 10 cent and whenever the container is returned to the convenient recycling depot, that amount of money will be refunded. However, if it is not returned, this deposit scheme will continue to recycle and help to clean up the litter including the marine pollution. Stakeholders: Basically, the key stakeholders for this problem to start reducing plastic use, as a human being we should do things differently first. Our attitude to litter rubbish everywhere is should be changed in order to save the environment.So we should be aware of the impact of plastic use for a long time that can damage anim als and also the environment. Australian government has already involved in solving this plastic pollution problem. Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism are the level of government that takes care of this specific problem(2013c). However they also need the involvement of citizen as well because the role of this department is help to give information to the citizen. In Australia, plastic products and packaging are required to marked with plastic identification code that place at the bottom to identify specifically what type of plastic is made from.So from the code itself, the government purposely encourages people to sort out the plastics materials type accordance to the recycle or non-recycle. In addition to the plastic debris in the ocean, Australian Marine Conservatory Society as the organization that influence by educate the public and equipping groups with suitable knowledge and skills to rescue sick and tangled marine animals because of plastic. They are responsible and have interest on marine life that endangered. Conclusion: As conclusion, plastic is spread all over the place because its physical characteristics that makes everybody tend to use for daily products.However, plastic is non-renewable resources that harm environment for long period of time. It happens that on the beach, there is incalculable debris that spread all over the location. Hence, this problem can be solved, when people have initiative to change their attitudes towards plastic. They should be able to separate which are recyclable and non-recyclable. So it will reduce the amount of plastic debris and help to maintain the ecosystem in the ocean as well as keep the population of animals that are endangered because of plastic debris.

Critically review literature relating to leadership styles for your Essay

Critically review literature relating to leadership styles for your own nation and two other nations of your choice, considering - Essay Example This is due to the fact that such differences influence how employees view their leaders, the kind of attitude they have towards work, their expectations, as well as other significant issues. Leadership across cultures therefore calls for cultural adaptability on the part of managers, since managerial work gets more complex across cultures. According to Deal and Prince, â€Å"cultural adaptability is the willingness and ability to recognise, understand, and work effectively across cultures† (2011, n.p.). Cultural adaptability therefore supports that despite the fact that management across cultures is a complex task, success can be attained through satisfaction of the diverse employees, achievement of goals, and completion of tasks. Managers who want to be successful in a global environment are therefore called to embrace cultural adaptability as a value. This paper reviews leadership across Thailand, the United Kingdom (UK), and Germany focussing on how managers from Thailand may need to change their leadership style, when working in subsidiaries in the United Kingdom and Germany. ... rs, Nardon, and Sanchez-Runde point out that the challenges faced by managers leading in a multicultural environment include lack of clarity on which culture to follow and maintain, the challenge of coming across many cultures within a short time making it difficult to learn about them due to time constraints, and the event of multicultural encounters taking place virtually through video conferencing and computers rather than through physical interactions (2013). Lack of clarity on which culture to embrace mostly takes place if an international project team, comprises of individuals from different cultures. Melkman and Trotman also support that â€Å"in large multi-national companies, young managers will often find themselves working in virtual teams with colleagues from all over the world, sometimes without ever meeting face to face† (2005, p. 4). This makes it difficult for these managers to discuss what each one of them believes are the roles of a leader and come to an agre eable conclusion, as well as how to measure success and a range of other essential factors. In addition, Melkman and Trotman point out communication is also a challenge (2005). According to Biech, â€Å"communication in a multicultural setting is much more complex and can result in inefficiencies† (2011, n.p.). Complexity in communication increases greatly when a team and customers are dispersed within different geographical regions. Deal and Prince assert that despite the fact that it is impossible for managers to exactly know how different people in different places behave, they should possess cultural adaptability skills (2011). Bhattacharyya supports this point when he asserts that at any time that managers of a certain company are need to travel and work in a culturally different country â€Å"it

The Purpose Criminal Justice Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 6

The Purpose Criminal Justice - Assignment Example Without criminal law, people will be unsafe with powerful exploiting the less powerful. Without laws of the constitution, citizens may not exercise their basic rights. Therefore, the community requires laws in order to maintain fairness as well as avoid the victimization of innocent persons. Criminal law or penal law: A body of rules which describe the type of and punishments for public nature offenses or wrongs that are done to the community or the state.Civil law governs the correlations among and between businesses, individuals, and state agencies, as well as other organizations. This means that it governs the relationships between parties. Administrative law: Body of regulations which the state uses to control the individuals, industry, and business activities. Case law comprises of the accumulated trial wisdom and appellate courts in civil, criminal, and administrative laws over the years. While the substantive criminal laws define crimes and prescribe punishments, the procedura l law describes the techniques to be utilized in enforcing the law. Four broad categories of defenses: Alibi: Is a statement by a person charged with a crime that she or he was far when the crime occurred or was involved in other activities thus his or her participation in the crime is not possible. Justification is a legal defense where the defendant confesses to carrying out the act in question yet he or she argues that it was necessary to prevent some greater damage.  The excuse is where the defendant posits that a certain personal condition at the time of the act is what made him or she commit the offense and needs to be held responsible under the criminal law.  

Critical Evaluation and Analysis of Employability Skills Essay - 1

Critical Evaluation and Analysis of Employability Skills - Essay Example The researcher’s main focus was to improve his skills in report writing because as a spinal research coordinator, he is required to write various projects and business cases. In addition, the author’s skills in budgeting, assertiveness, leadership, team working and knowing how to deal with difficult situations in line with HR policies are all important skills. Evaluation is an important stage in the self-reflection as it helps me to focus on my career goals and those of the organization. In researcher’s role as a spinal research coordinator he is required to liaise and coordinate with different levels of staff - medical and non-medical - within the spinal deformity unit and across the hospital. The coordination of various research projects, managing elements of operational delivery of the spinal deformity unit, and resource planning and assessment, are all requirements of researcher’s role. These requirements are in line with researcher’s plan to be come more conversant with HR policies. Thus, the researcher has developed team building skills since this role involved familiarizing himself with HR policies and regulations would enable him to work with human resource activities which require management. This plan has helped to improve researcher’s service delivery in the field of human resources and use his time more effectively to fulfill his potential and further career. The researcher’s personal development plan was to improve his report-writing skills which seem to meet the requirements of researcher’s organization. The role of a spinal research coordinator in his organization requires someone with knowledge of writing various reports and working on business cases. Since at the moment the author has little skills in regard to report writing, developing these skills shall be of paramount importance in attaining his organization’s requirements in this area. Other requirements of researcher’s o rganization, such as assisting the human resources department in recruitment and resource planning, are tasks that a resource manager should be accountable for.

The relationship between science and nature in Frankenstein Essay

The relationship between science and nature in Frankenstein - Essay Example Written in the middle of the 1960s, Pynchon was reflecting a culture gone crazy in which meaning was lost in the chaotic shuffle of Civil Rights, women’s rights, the Vietnam War and numerous other world-shaking events. While names such as Oedipa Maas, Mucho Maas and Pierce Inverarity do convey meaning of a sort regarding the personalities of these characters, they do not help in identifying a ‘constellation’ within the novel. Oedipa Maas is the protagonist of the story who is shaken out of her humdrum relatively normal California suburbia lifestyle with the news that her ex-boyfriend, Pierce Inverarity, has named her the executor of his will. There is an undeniable connection between her name and the name of a legendary king of Thebes from a play by Socrates. In Socrates’ play, the main character, Oedipus, learns that there is a great mystery that no one has yet been able to solve and sets out to answer the question of who killed the old king only to learn to his own ruin that it was Oedipus himself. In much the same way, Oedipa learns of a mystery that no one else has yet been able to solve – the mystery of the Trystero. In attempting to solve the mystery, which may actually be no mystery at all, Oedipa loses connection with her own life thus finding nothing but her own ruin at the end of the hunt. Her almost hallucinatory night spent wandering the streets of the city seems to suggest the type of blind wandering that Oedipus embarked upon at the end of his story. â€Å"She stood between the public booth and the rented car, in the night, her isolation complete, and tried to face toward the sea. But she’d lost her bearings. She turned, pivoting on one stacked heel, could find no mountains either† (177). Having lost touch with the people in her life, she could no longer even find herself within the landscape. Her last name, Maas, has several possible connotations including its synonym, mass which is traditionally difficult to get

Date Rape and Date Rape Drugs Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Date Rape and Date Rape Drugs - Assignment Example The UCR was introducedin 1929. This Part I or Crime Index offenses include vicious murder, non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault. Included in the index crime offenses are property crimes, which include burglary, arson and motor theft. Part II offences include sexual offenses (excluding rape), vandalism and offenses against the family. The UCR statistic on rape collects information on the number of female victims involved in forcible rape incidences ((Doerner & Lab, 2012). The NCVS, an abbreviation for National Crime Victimization Survey, is a surveywhich interviews victims of crime about their experiences. The NCVS was introduced in the 1960s to complement the UCR. NVCS surveys gather crime specific information such as when and where the crime happened, the weapon used and victim-offender relationship. NVCS covers 7 counts of crime in two categories namely personal crimes and household crimes. Personal crimes include rape, sexual assault, robbery and aggravated assault.The NVCS statistics on rape covers both male and female victims (Doerner & Lab, 2012). The UCR greatest strength is that it is easily available as it is a primary source of crime estimates. The UCR statistics report is a summary of all reported cases of crimeto law enforcement agencies. The UCR captures a lot of information on index crimes, both in terms of arrest and reports. Secondly, the UCR introduces a common metric for measuring crime in the US states. The FBI division of crime as personal and property offenses does not apply to states statutes and codes. The UCR offers a uniform measure for the 50 US states. Lastly, the UCR is continuous as new crimes are collected all the time through law enforcement offices, unlike the NVCS which requires support systems. However, the UCR has serious shortcomings. First of all, it only accounts for police reported crimes. This is a major setback as there

Macroeconomic Data Analysis and Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Macroeconomic Data Analysis and Report - Essay Example It is important to note that the population growth rate is an important factor in gauging the economic performance of a state and by taking the case of these two countries it will be easy to establish their economic trends. If this is presented in a table form or graphically the trend will give an insight into the economic characteristics of the two countries. Exchange rate is vital in comparing the strength of the currency between the countries and this is an index of measuring level of economic growth holding other factors constant. Purchasing power parity is important in measuring the inflation rate between the two states under case study. The ratio of gross national product to gross domestic product is important in providing a ground for estimating the amount of income that is repatriated to other countries. Bigger ratio means unfavorable productivity of the country and overdependence on foreign capital and skilled manpower. To explain the economic growth and development parity b etween these two states needs to be presented in graphs. The figure one above shows that the exchange rates between the two states have a wide gap and this is consistent across the three years. It is important to note that UK is more developed and economically stable as reflected by its comparatively lower exchange rate than Saudi Arabia. Considering the figures of exchange rate across the years shows some changes for United Kingdom while Saudi Arabia has a constant exchange rate which hints stable currency and consistent economic growth than in UK (Sarno & Taylor, 2005, 98). United Kingdom has a high population which presents a strain on the existing resources but considering the geographical size of the state. The point of concern in this case is the trend in population growth. The rate of population increase is high for Saudi Arabia than UK and this present expansionary threat to Saudi Arabia as the population will put steady

Lesson Plan Essay Example for Free

Lesson Plan Essay In modern times there are opposing views about the practice of education. There is no general agreement about what the young should learn either in relation to virtue or in relation to the best life; nor is it clear whether their education ought to be directed more towards the intellect than towards the character of the soul. And it is not certain whether training should be directed at things useful in life, or at those conducive to virtue, or at non-essentials. And there is no agreement as to what in fact does tend towards virtue. Men do not all prize most highly the same virtue, so naturally they differ also about the proper training for it. Aristotle wrote that passage more than 2,300 years ago, and today educators are still debating the issues he raised. Different approaches to resolving these and other fundamental issues have given rise to different schools of thought in the philosophy of education. We will examine five such schools of thought: Essentialism, Progressivism, Perennialism, Existentialism, and Behaviorism. Each has many supporters in American education today. Taken together, these five schools of thought do not exhaust the list of possible educational philosophies you may adopt, but they certainly present strong frameworks from which you can create your own educational philosophy. Essentialism Gripping and enduring interests frequently grow out of initial learning efforts that are not appealing or attractive. William Bagley Essentialism refers to the traditional or Back to the Basics approach to education. It is so named because it strives to instill students with the essentials of academic knowledge and character development. The term essentialism as an educational philosophy was originally popularized in the 1930s by the American educator William Bagley (1874A1946). The philosophy itself, however, had been the dominant approach to education in America from the beginnings of American history. Early in the twentieth century, essentialism was criticized as being too rigid to prepare students adequately for adult life. But with the launching of Sputnik in 1957, interest in essentialism revived. Among modern supporters of this position are members of the Presidents Commission on Excellence in Education. Their 1983 report, A Nation at Risk, mirrors essentialist concerns today. Underlying Philosophical Basis (American) essentialism is grounded in a conservative philosophy that accepts the social, political, and economic structure of American society. It contends that schools should not try to radically reshape society. Rather, essentialists argue, American schools should transmit the traditional moral values and intellectual knowledge that students need to become model citizens. Essentialists believe that teachers should instill such traditional American virtues as respect for authority, perseverance, fidelity to duty, consideration for others, and practicality. Reflecting its conservative philosophy, essentialism ten(tends to accept the philosophical views associated with the traditional, conservative elements of American society. For example, American culture traditionally has l)placed tremendous emphasis on the central importance of tile physical world and of understanding the world through scientific experimentation. As a result, to convey important knowledge about our world, essentialist educators emphasize instruction in natural science rather than non-scientific disciplines such as philosophy or comparative religion. The Essentialist Classroom Essentialists urge that the most essential or basic academic skills and knowledge be taught to all students. Traditional disciplines such as math, natural science, history, foreign language, and literature form the foundation of the essentialist curriculum. Essentialists frown upon vocational, lift-adjustment, or other courses with watered down academic content. Elementary students receive instruction in skills such as writing, reading, measurement, and computers. Even while learning art and music, subjects most often associated with the development of creativity, the students are required to master a body of information and basic techniques, gradually moving from less to more complex skills and detailed knowledge. Only by mastering the required material for their grade level are students promote(l to the next higher grade. Essentialist programs are academically rigorous, for both slow and fast learners. The report A Nation at Risk reflects the essentialist emphasis on rigor. It calls for more core requirements, a longer school day, a longer academic year, and more challenging textbooks. Moreover, essentialists maintain that classrooms should be oriented around the teacher, who ideally serves as an intellectual and moral role model for the students. The teachers or administrators decide what is most important for the students to learn and place little emphasis on student interests, particularly when they divert time and attention from the academic curriculum. Essentialist teachers focus heavily on achievement test scores as a means of evaluating progress. In an essentialist classroom, students are taught to be culturally literate, that is, to possess a working knowledge about the people, events, ideas, and institutions that have shaped American society. Reflecting the essentialist emphasis on technological literacy, A Nation at Risk recommends that all high school students complete at least one semester of computer science. Essentialists hope that when students leave school, they will possess not only basic skills and an extensive body of knowledge, but also disciplined, practical minds, capable of applying schoolhouse lessons in the real world. Progressivism We may, I think, discover certain common principles amid the variety of progressive schools now existing. To imposition from above is opposed expression and cultivation of individuality; to external discipline is opposed free activity; to learning from texts and teachers, learning through experience; to acquisition of isolated skills and techniques by drill is opposed acquisition of them as means of attaining ends which make direct vital appeal; to preparation for a more or less remote future is opposed making the most of the opportunities of present life; to statistics and materials is opposed acquaintance with a changing world. John Dewey Progressivisms respect for individuality, its high regard for science, and its receptivity to change harmonized well with the American environment in which it was created. The person most responsible for the success of progressivism was John Dewey (1859-1952). Dewey entered the field of education as a liberal social reformer with a background in philosophy and psychology. In 1896, while a professor at the University of Chicago, Dewey ounded the famous Laboratory School as a testing ground for his educational ideas. Deweys writings and his work with the Laboratory School set the stage for the progressive education movement, which, beginning in the 1920s, has produced major lasting innovations in American education. The progressivist movement stimulated schools to broaden their curricula, making education more relevant to the needs and interests of students. Its influence waned during the 1950s, particularly after the 1957 launching of Sputnik by the Soviets prompted schools to emphasize traditional instruction in math, science, foreign languages, and other defense-related subjects. In the late 1960s and 1970s, under the guise of citizenship education and educational relevance, many of Deweys ideas enjoyed a renewed popularity that decreased again during the education reform movement of the 1980s.

Understanding The Objectives Of Trade Unions

Understanding The Objectives Of Trade Unions Trade unions represent individual workers when they have a problem at work. If an employee feels he is being unfairly treated, he can ask the union representative to help sort out the difficulty with the manager or employer. Unions also offer their members legal representation. Normally this is to help people get financial compensation for work-related injuries or to assist people who have to take their employer to court. Negotiation is where union representatives, discuss with management, the issues which affect people working in an organization. There may be a difference of opinion between management and union members. Trade unions negotiate with the employers to find out a solution to these differences. Pay, working hours, holidays and changes to working practices are the sorts of issues that are negotiated. In many workplaces there is a formal agreement between the union and the company which states that the union has the right to negotiate with the employer. In these organizations, unions are said to be recognized for collective bargaining purposes. Voice in decisions affecting workers The economic security of employees is determined not only by the level of wages and duration of their employment, but also by the managements personal policies which include selection of employees for lay offs, retrenchment, promotion and transfer. These policies directly affect workers. The evaluation criteria for such decisions may not be fair. So, the intervention of unions in such decision making is a way through which workers can have their say in the decision making to safeguard their interests. Member services During the last few years, trade unions have increased the range of services they offer their members. These include: Education and training Most unions run training courses for their members on employment rights, health and safety and other issues. Some unions also help members who have left school with little education by offering courses on basic skills and courses leading to professional qualifications. Legal assistance As well as offering legal advice on employment issues, some unions give help with personal matters, like housing, wills and debt. Financial discounts People can get discounts on mortgages, insurance and loans from unions. Welfare benefits One of the earliest functions of trade unions was to look after members who hit hard times. Some of the older unions offer financial help to their members when they are sick or unemployed. 3.2 Functions of Trade Unions Trade unions perform a number of functions in order to achieve the objectives. These functions can be broadly classified into three categories: (i) Â  Militant functions, (ii) Fraternal functions 3.2.1 Militant Functions One set of activities performed by trade unions leads to the betterment of the position of their members in relation to their employment. The aim of such activities is to ensure adequate wages secure better conditions of work and employment and get better treatment from employers, etc. When the unions fail to accomplish these aims by the method of collective bargaining and negotiations, they adopt an approach and put up a fight with the management in the form of go-slow tactics, strike, boycott, gherao, etc. Hence, these functions of the trade unions are known as militant or fighting functions. Thus, the militant functions of trade unions can be summed up as: To achieve higher wages and better working conditions To raise the status of workers as a part of industry To protect labors against victimization and injustice 3.2.2 Fraternal Functions another set of activities performed by trade unions aims at rendering help to its members in times of need, and improving their efficiency. Trade unions try to foster a spirit of cooperation and promote friendly relations and diffuse education and culture among their members. They take up welfare measures for improving the morale of workers and generate self confidence among them. They also arrange for legal assistance to its members, if necessary. Besides, these, they undertake many welfare measures for their members, e.g., school for the education of children, library, reading-rooms, in-door and out-door games, and other recreational facilities. Some trade unions even undertake publication of some magazine or journal. These activities, which may be called fraternal functions, depend on the availability of funds, which the unions raise by subscription from members and donations from outsiders, and also on their competent and enlightened leadership. Thus, the fraternal functions of t rade unions can be summed up as: To take up welfare measures for improving the morale of workers To generate self confidence among workers To encourage sincerity and discipline among workers To provide opportunities for promotion and growth To protect women workers against discrimination 3.3 Importance of Trade Unions The existence of a strong and recognized trade union is a pre-requisite to industrial peace. Decisions taken through the process of collective bargaining and negotiations between employer and unions are more influential. Trade unions play an important role and are helpful in effective communication between the workers and the management. They provide the advice and support to ensure that the differences of opinion do not turn into major conflicts. The central function of a trade union is to represent people at work. But they also have a wider role in protecting their interests. They also play an important educational role, organizing courses for their members on a wide range of matters. Seeking a healthy and safe working environment is also prominent feature of union activity. Trade unions help in accelerated pace of economic development in many ways as follows: By helping in the recruitment and selection of workers. By inculcating discipline among the workforce. By enabling settlement of industrial disputes in a rational manner. By helping social adjustments. Workers have to adjust themselves to the new working conditions, the new rules and policies. Workers coming from different backgrounds may become disorganized, unsatisfied and frustrated. Unions help them in such adjustment. Trade unions are a part of society and as such, have to take into consideration the national integration as well. Some important social responsibilities of trade unions include: promoting and maintaining national integration by reducing the number of industrial disputes incorporating a sense of corporate social responsibility in workers achieving industrial peace 3.4 Reasons for Joining Trade Unions The important forces that make the employees join a union are as follows: 1. Greater Bargaining Power The individual employee possesses very little bargaining power as compared to that of his employer. If he is not satisfied with the wage and other conditions of employment, he can leave the job. It is not practicable to continually resign from one job after another when he is dissatisfied. This imposes a great financial and emotional burden upon the worker. The better course for him is to join a union that can take concerted action against the employer. The threat or actuality of a strike by a union is a powerful tool that often causes the employer to accept the demands of the workers for better conditions of employment. 2. Minimize Discrimination the decisions regarding pay, work, transfer, promotion, etc. are highly subjective in nature. The personal relationships existing between the supervisor and each of his subordinates may influence the management. Thus, there are chances of favoritisms and discriminations. A trade union can compel the management to formulate personnel policies that press for equality of treatment to the workers. All the labor decisions of the management are under close scrutiny of the labor union. This has the effect of minimizing favoritism and discrimination. 3. Sense of Security The employees may join the unions because of their belief that it is an effective way to secure adequate protection from various types of hazards and income insecurity such as accident, injury, illness, unemployment, etc. The trade union secure retirement benefits of the workers and compel the management to invest in welfare services for the benefit of the workers. 4. Sense of Participation the employees can participate in management of matters affecting their interests only if they join trade unions. They can influence the decisions that are taken as a result of collective bargaining between the union and the management. 5. Sense of Belongingness Many employees join a union because their co-workers are the members of the union. At times, an employee joins a union under group pressure; if he does not, he often has a very difficult time at work. On the other hand, those who are members of a union feel that they gain respect in the eyes of their fellow workers. They can also discuss their problem with the trade union leaders. 6. Platform for self expression the desire for self-expression is a fundamental human drive for most people. All of us wish to share our feelings, ideas and opinions with others. Similarly the workers also want the management to listen to them. A trade union provides such a forum where the feelings, ideas and opinions of the workers could be discussed. It can also transmit the feelings, ideas, opinions and complaints of the workers to the management. The collective voice of the workers is heard by the management and give due consideration while taking policy decisions by the management. 7. Betterment of relationships another reason for employees joining unions is that employees feel that unions can fulfill the important need for adequate machinery for proper maintenance of employer-employee relations. Unions help in betterment of relations among management and workers by solving the problems peacefully. 3.5 Trade Unionism in India The trade unionism in India developed quite slowly as compared to the western nations. Indian trade union movement can be divided into three phases. The first phase (1850 to1900) During this phase the inception of trade unions took place. During this period, the working and living conditions of the labor were poor and their working hours were long. Capitalists were only interested in their productivity and profitability. In addition, the wages were also low and general economic conditions were poor in industries. In order to regulate the working hours and other service conditions of the Indian textile laborers, the Indian Factories Act was enacted in 1881. As a result, employment of child labor was prohibited. The growth of trade union movement was slow in this phase and later on the Indian Factory Act of 1881 was amended in 1891. Many strikes took place in the two decades following 1880 in all industrial cities. These strikes taught workers to understand the power of united action even though there was no union in real terms. Small associations like Bombay Mill-Hands Association came up by this time. The second phase (1900 to 1946) This phase was characterized by the development of organized trade unions and political movements of the working class. Between 1918 and 1923, many unions came into existence in the country. At Ahmedabad, under the guidance of Mahatma Gandhi, occupational unions like spinners unions and weavers unions were formed. A strike was launched by these unions under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi who turned it into a satyagrah. These unions federated into industrial union known as Textile Labor Association in 1920.In 1920, the First National Trade union organization (The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC)) was established. Many of the leaders of this organization were leaders of the national Movement. In 1926, Trade union law came up with the efforts of Mr. N N Joshi that became operative from 1927. During 1928, All India Trade Union Federation (AITUF) was formed. The third phase began with the emergence of independent India (in 1947). The partition of country affected the trade union movement particularly Bengal and Punjab. By 1949, four central trade union organizations were functioning in the country: The All India Trade Union Congress, The Indian National Trade Union Congress, The Hindu Mazdoor Sangh, and The United Trade Union Congress The working class movement was also politicized along the lines of political parties. For instance Indian national trade Union Congress (INTUC) is the trade union arm of the Congress Party. The AITUC is the trade union arm of the Communist Party of India. Besides workers, white-collar employees, supervisors and managers are also organized by the trade unions, as for example in the Banking, Insurance and Petroleum industries. 3.6 Trade unions in India the Indian workforce consists of 430 million workers, growing 2% annually. The Indian labor markets consist of three sectors: The rural workers, who constitute about 60 per cent of the workforce. Organized sector, which employs 8 per cent of workforce, and The urban informal sector (which includes the growing software industry and other services, not included in the formal sector) which constitutes the rest 32 per cent of the workforce. At present there are twelve Central Trade Union Organizations in India: All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) Hind Mazdoor Kisan Panchayat (HMKP) Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) Indian Federation of Free Trade Unions (IFFTU) Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) National Front of Indian Trade Unions (NFITU) National Labor Organization (NLO) Trade Unions Co-ordination Centre (TUCC) United Trade Union Congress (UTUC) and United Trade Union Congress Lenin Sarani (UTUC LS) FIGURES REGARDING TRADE UNIONS Table Showing Growth of Trade Unions and Membership is following below Growth of trade unions and membership 3.7 Industrial Relation Policy Prior to 1991, the industrial relations system in India sought to control conflicts and disputes through excessive labor legislations. These labor laws were protective in nature and covered a wide range of aspects of workplace industrial relations like laws on health and safety of labors, layoffs and retrenchment policies, industrial disputes and the like. The basic purpose of these laws was to protect labors. However, these protectionist policies created an atmosphere that led to increased inefficiency in firms, over employment and inability to introduce efficacy. With the coming of globalization, the 40 year old policy of protectionism proved inadequate for Indian industry to remain competitive as the lack of flexibility posed a serious threat to manufacturers because they had to compete in the international market. With the advent of liberalization in1992, the industrial relations policy began to change. Now, the policy was tilted towards employers. Employers opted for workforce reduction, introduced policies of voluntary retirement schemes and flexibility in workplace also increased. Thus, globalization brought major changes in industrial relations policy in India. The changes can be summarized as follows: Collective bargaining in India has mostly been decentralized, but now in sectors where it was not so, are also facing pressures to follow decentralization. Some industries are cutting employment to a significant extent to cope with the domestic and foreign competition e.g. pharmaceuticals. On the other hand, in other industries where the demand for employment is increasing are experiencing employment growths. In the expansionary economy there is a clear shortage of managers and skilled labor. The number of local and enterprise level unions has increased and there is a significant reduction in the influence of the unions. Under pressure some unions and federations are putting up a united front e.g. banking. Another trend is that the employers have started to push for internal unions i.e. no outside affiliation. HR policies and forms of work are emerging that include, especially in multi-national companies, multi-skills, variable compensation, job rotation etc. These new policies are difficult to implement in place of old practices as the institutional set up still needs to be changed. HRM is seen as a key component of business strategy. Training and skill development is also receiving attention in a number of industries, especially banking and information technology.

Features in Igloo Construction

Features in Igloo Construction Introduction Due to the freezing temperature in winter seasons, some people would prefer to take shelter inside houses where fireplace can warm the body. These houses are commonly built made of either wood or concrete. But not for the Inuit people. The Inuit people constructed homes and villages using snow. Yes, thats right, snow. Why would anyone create a shelter in the tundra region using snow? Because a snow shelter is surprisingly warm inside. The most popular ice shelter is the igloo. However, there are other types of ice shelters such as the quinzhee and snow caves. Igloo The igloo (fig. 1) is the customary haven of Inuit living in the far northern districts. Most people would picture an igloo as a dome shaped structure made entirely out of snow blocks. However, an igloo doesnt have to be made out of snow blocks.   The word igloo (or iglu) traditionally means a house made of any type of materials [cite]. The popular type of igloo is constructed using snow blocks in a round frame in which the walls bend into the center tow °rd thà Ã‚ µ toÑâ‚ ¬ to ц¢h °Ãƒâ€˜Ã¢â€š ¬Ãƒ Ã‚ µ  ° ц¢now v °ult in which the angled roof can support itself. Usually, the entrance of an igloo is shaped like a tunnel and located at the bottom of the structure. The igloo usually has a small hole on the top that serves as ventilation. A warm shelter made of ice An igloo, even though made completely out of snow blocks, are surprisingly warm inside. But how is it possible? The secret behind an igloos warmth lies behind the materials used to construct it. Igloos are typically constructed using packed snow molded into rectangular blocks. These blocks are then stacked around a cavity. After the blocks have been placed, the cavity would then be uncovered. Usually, igloos do not have a flat surface, rather it is structured into different levels (fig. 2). The reason for the unlevel surface is because air becomes denser the colder it is [cite]. Due to the difference in density, the cold air inside the igloo would clump together in the lower level of the igloo forming a cold trap. In other words, the igloo is built based on the principles of physics. While outside temperatures may range to -49.0  °F, the insides of the igloo may be as warm 61  °F [cite]. Construction The igloo is a dome shaped structure that can be built using blocks of snow inclining toward each other. The snow blocks are usually polished to completely seal the walls and the finished structure doesnt need any additional supports. If the igloo is built correctly, it should be able to withstand the weight of an average adult male standing on the top of the igloo [cite]. For a bigger igloo, the snow blocks are first lined up to shape a vertical wall rather than an arc. The structure is built by stacking the snow blocks in a spiral form as shown in figure 3. After the first row, more blocks are stacked on top of them forming an upward spiral, creating an arc that results in a self-supporting dome [cite]. It is not recommended to use fresh snow to build an igloo. To build an igloo, the snow used must have enough density so it can be stacked appropriately. When in use, the inside the igloo is typically warm enough to cause the inner walls to melt slightly. When the igloo is not in use , the melted snow will refreeze and develop a layer of ice that adds to the strength of the igloo. Given enough time, the igloo becomes a house of ice rather than snow. The igloo is commonly built in three different sizes for different purposes [cite]. A smaller igloo is typically built as a temporary shelter when hunters are out on the land or sea. The medium sized igloo is semi-permanent, and usually houses one or two family. There are often a number of medium sized igloo in an area which forms a small village. The larger igloos are usually two igloos connected through a tunnel, with one building used for events and the other to live in. Quinzhee A quinzhee (fig. 4) is a snow shelter made by digging out a pile of snow, creating a hollow area. Usually, a quinzhee is constructed only for temporary use, unlike an igloo which is semi-permanent and made using snow blocks. The word quinzhee is of à Ã‚ th °b °Ãƒâ€˜Ã¢â‚¬ ¢k °n origin [cite]. Since the quinzhees are not typically built as a permanent shelter, the snow used to construct a quinzhee doesnt need to be as dense as the snow used to construct an igloo. It is easier to construct a quinzhee compared to an igloo. However, a finished quinzhee would be not as durable as an igloo and is more prone to collapsing in harsher conditions. It is easier to build a quinzhee compared to an igloo. However, a finished quinzhee would not be as durable as an igloo. Due to the quality of the snow used, the quinzhee is very likely to collapse in harsh weather conditions. Because the quinzhee is usually only constructed in times of need, its aesthetics and quality are traded for time and materials [cite]. Snow Cave A snow cave (fig. 5) is a type of ice shelter built by digging through snow. Using the same principles as an igloo, the entrance of the snow cave is built lower than the main area to trap warm air in the main area, and like a quinzhee, is only for temporary use. Even though outside temperatures may be as low as -40 °F, the inside of a properly made snow cave can be as warn as 32 °F [cite]. Glacier Cave A glacier cave (fig. 6) is a special kind of ice shelter as it is not made by human hands. Most glacier caves are created by water running through or under the glacier [cite]. The running water usually comes from the melting surface of the glacier, entering the ice at cracks which enlarge after some time, both by erosion and melting. Due to global warming, many large glacier caves have disappeared as glaciers around the world melt [cite]. Dangers Ice structures, unfortunately, also comes with risks and dangers. The risks of these dome shaped ice structures include the dangers in ventilation, and structural integrity. When an igloo is made with a diameter of 10 feet or bigger, it has to be built in a perfectly shaped dome otherwise it will collapse. The quinzhee is more prone to collapsing than an igloo. Because of the warmth inside the quinzhee, the inner walls of the quinzhee would melt. Since a quinzhee isnt built from sturdy snow blocks like an igloo, it is very likely to collapse which may cause death.

Essay on the Roles of Trinculo and Stephano in The Tempest

The Roles of Trinculo and Stephano in The Tempest      Ã‚  Ã‚   Trinculo and Stephano have two major roles in The Tempest - comic relief and the theme of exploration. Because of this double nature to their characters, they are more important than they initially appear.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Tempest is a comedy. The play may not seem to fit into the category of comedy as it exists today; but in the 17th century comedy was very different. Certainly, The Tempest would never be confused with a modern television comedy - the art of comedy has evolved too far.   The main plot of the play - the plot involving Prospero regaining his rightful position as the Duke of Milan - seem to be overly serious for a comedy. The scenes containing Trinculo and Stephano, however are the exceptions here - their scenes are much closer to the modern interpretation of comedy than the majority of the rest of the play.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Trinculo and Stephano are introduced in act II, scene II. This scene is almost pure farce - the events are totally unrealistic but are, however, quite funny: A good description of modern comedy, in fact. While the previous scenes in the play have been mostly serious, detailing the back-story, this scene is blatantly visual comedy - in the hands of a good director and good actors, it could turn into a hilarious scene.   This scene shows Trinculo and Stephano's main purpose in the play - to provide comic relief. As a direct contrast to the heavy plotting and comparatively serious themes being explored in the other scenes, the scenes involving these two men lighten the play's mood considerably. Without their impact on events, The Tempest would be a lot darker in tone.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   If Trinculo and Stephano had been le... ...use of this double nature to their characters, they are more important than they initially appear. It is for both these reasons that they are important to the play as a whole; without them the play would be missing some important aspects which help make it the success it is.       Works Cited and Consulted: Primary Texts William Shakespeare, The Tempest, ed. Frank Kermode, with an introduction by Frank Kermode, (Arden, 1964) Montaigne, Selected Essays of Montaigne, trans. John Florio (1603) ed.Walter Kaiser, with an introduction by Walter Kaiser, (Riverside, 1964) Secondary Texts Curt Breight, " 'Treason doth never prosper': The Tempest and the discourse of treason, Shakespeare Quarterly, 41, no.1, (1990) Eric Cheyfitz, The Poetics of Imperialism: Translation and Colonization from The Tempest to Tarzan, (Oxford University Press, 1991)

Travelling Around the World Essay -- Literary Analysis, Jules Verne

In the nineteenth century, it seemed impossible to circumnavigate the world in only eighty days. That, however, was exactly what Phileas Fogg did in Jules Verne’s Around the World in Eighty Days. This novel follows the journey of the eccentric Englishman, Phileas Fogg, after he bet he could race around the world in eighty days. Accompanied by his faithful servant, Passepartout, and a scheming detective, Fix, he encountered many challenges he had to overcome in order to return in time to win the bet. In Around the World in Eighty Days, Jules Verne demonstrated how increased industrialization made a profound impact in travel, technology, and business. In addition, Verne shows how industrialization contributed to an increase of nationalism and European imperialism. Industrialization was an important movement of the nineteenth century. Industrialization was the process of turning an agricultural society into an industrialized one, based on the manufacturing of goods and services. This meant new technological innovation and economical development. Industrialization was important because it led to the development of new technologies and inventions that vastly improved life, such as the steam engine. It also helped to grow businesses by letting them expand their networks and reach consumers in more distant areas. Industrialization also made an impact on Fogg’s journey. Phileas Fogg’s journey was made possible by the growing industrialization of the time. One example of industrialization was the extensive use of trains in the novel. During the nineteenth century, nations all over the world built rail lines. For example, when Phileas Fogg reached India, the change from old forms of transportation to new industrialized ... ...rned with learning of the natives’ cultures. Like many European governments, he only cares that his country has obtained the land, but does not care about the people in it. Ultimately, imperialism had an extended reach throughout the world in the nineteenth century. In Around the World in Eighty Days, Jules Verne demonstrated how increased industrialization made a profound impact in travel, technology, and business. In addition, Verne shows how industrialization contributed to an increase of nationalism and European imperialism. Verne’s novel shows how industrialization, nationalism, and imperialism affected individuals. It also demonstrates how these themes interacted with each other, and how they influenced each other. Ultimately, Around the World in Eighty Days exhibits the important movements in the nineteenth century and their significance in history.