Analysis Of The Story Of An Hour By Kate Chopin - 811 Words

Dakota Lunsford Prof. Nathan Gower English 112-07 5 May 2015 What’s in a Protagonist: An Analysis of The Story of an Hour In Kate Chopin’s short story, The Story of an Hour, the reader is introduced to three characters and an event that has occurred prior to the beginning of the story. The three characters that the reader is introduced to are: Mrs. Mallard, who is the protagonist of the story, Josphine, who is her sister, and Mr. Richards, who does not play a major role in the story. Throughout the plot of the story, the reader can gain a sense of sympathy for Mrs. Mallard as they read of her personal conflict with a gender-rolled society. From the beginning of the short story, Chopin creates a character that the reader can and should be sympathetic of. To begin with, the author tells the reader straight-forward that Mrs. Mallard is â€Å"ill†. Chopin writes, â€Å"Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband’s death † (Chopin 438). Through this the reader can understand that due to Mrs. Mallard’s illness, which is one reason to feel sympathetic for her. Another reason that the reader has for feeling sympathy for Mrs. Mallard is the fact that at the beginning of the short story Chopin gives us the piece of information that her husband has died. Throughout the short story two specific conflicts occur in the life of the protagonist that correlate to on another are presented to theShow MoreRelatedThe Story Of An Hour By Kate Chopin Literary Analysis1432 Words   |  6 PagesMaking a literary analysis involves writing an argumentative analysis about a particular literature. The analyst is supposed to carefully read the literature and better understand the contents so as to come up with legal analysis. It requires some summary, but it is not a report about the book or the story. It is important in making the reader to understand the message in the book as well as the improvements necess ary the literature. It is also important in understanding how a particular author articulatesRead MoreAnalysis Of Kate Chopin s The Story Of An Hour955 Words   |  4 PagesLiterally analysis of Naturalism and the Short Story Form: Kate Chopin’s ‘The Story of an Hour† While Scott D. Emmert in Naturalism and the Short Story Form: Kate Chopin’s ‘The Story of an Hour’ points out the short stories cannot form a narrative because of their length and others would disagree. Admittedly, even though according to Scott short stories cannot form a narrative they are perfect for naturalist writers because short stories and poems tend to focus more on natural surroundings and theRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of The Story Of An Hour By Kate Chopin856 Words   |  4 PagesEnglish 1302 11 November 2017 Literary Analysis of â€Å"The Story of an Hour† by Kate Chopin The Story of an Hour is a short story written by Kate Chopin which was published in 1894 as â€Å"The Dream of an Hour† in Vogue. When the word marriage hits our mind, we think it as a lasting relationship. Marriage is a commitment between two individuals bonded by holy ceremony. The story of an hour presents the side of marriage which is usually unheard. The main character of the story is Mrs. Louise Mallard. She cameRead MoreAnalysis of â€Å"the Story of an Hour† Written by Kate Chopin1697 Words   |  7 PagesAnalysis of â€Å"The Story of an Hour† written by Kate Chopin The story under analysis is written by Kate Chopin. Kate Chopin was an American author of short stories and novels. She wrote for both children and adults. She is considered as a forerunner of feminist author. Unlike many of the feminist writers of her time who were mainly interested in improving the social conditions of women, she looked for an understanding of personal freedom. She put much concentration on women’s lives and their continualRead MoreAnalysis Of The Story The Story Of An Hour By Kate Chopin751 Words   |  4 PagesHardi Patel Mr. Ogle ENGL 1020 10 July 2015 The Joy of Independence In the short story â€Å"The Story of an Hour†, by Kate Chopin, the episode begins with the exposition. It is the story about a dynamic character, Mrs. Mallard, who is given the horrible news of her husband’s death in a railroad disaster. Overwhelmed by her husband’s immediate death, she suddenly rushes in her bedroom. Here we see a different side of Mrs. Mallard’s attitude. Mrs. Mallard portrays herself as a coin. Mrs. Mallard, theRead MoreAnalysis Of The Story Of An Hour By Kate Chopin895 Words   |  4 PagesIrony and Foreshadowing in Story of an Hour In the short story, Story of an Hour, Kate Chopin chronicles the short journey of a woman who has recently learned of the death of her husband from a railroad accident. Kate Chopin is known for her stories which revolve around women and the world from their perspective, and Story of an Hour is no exception. As a writer, Chopin utilizes and employs many rhetorical devices to add emotion and depth to her world. Though Story of an Hour is riddled with rhetoricalRead MoreKate Chopin The Story Of An Hour Analysis1137 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"The Story of an Hour† by Kate Chopin is a wonderful short story bursting with many peculiar twists and turns. Written in 1894, the author tells a tale of a woman who learns of her husband’s death but comes to find pleasure in it. The elements Kate Chopin uses in this story symbolize something more than just the surface meaning. In less than one thousand one hundred words, Kate Chopin illustrates a deeper meaning of Mrs. Mallardâ€⠄¢s marriage through many different forms of symbolism such as the openRead MoreAnalysis Of The Story The Story Of An Hour By Kate Chopin903 Words   |  4 PagesEddly Noel English Literature and Writing Professor Johnson 27 October 2014 Oppression In Kate Chopin’s short story â€Å"The Story of an Hour† oppression is epitomized as the state of being subject to control or distress. At the beginning of the story, Louise Mallard’s family gently informs her of her husband’s death in a train accident. Knowing that Mrs. Mallard suffered from heart trouble, they had to carefully convey the sad message. At this moment, Mrs. Mallard is feeling heavily burdened andRead MoreAnalysis Of The Story The Story Of An Hour By Kate Chopin1219 Words   |  5 Pageshave to embark, sooner or later. Death can be the beginning of the end to many people, an event which can bring everlasting happiness, but also a shattering sadness. The short story â€Å"The Story of an Hour,† by Kate Chopin, which was published in 1894, presents a not so common viewpoint of death. One could say that this story has brought about a brief renewing love for life with one of the main characters. On the other hand, â€Å"The Moth s† by Helena Maria Viramontes shows a painful reaction to deathRead MoreAnalysis Of Kate Chopin s Story Of An Hour993 Words   |  4 PagesIrony in â€Å"Story of an Hour† In Kate Chopin’s short story â€Å"Story of an Hour†, Irony, or the expression of meaning that traditionally indicates the contrary of what is expected, plays a huge role in deciphering the theme and underlying motifs of the story that takes the reader through the hour of Mrs. Mallard’s life after her husband supposedly dies. Through Irony, Kate Chopin effectively portrays the forbidden joy of independence (SparkNotes Editors). The theme is portrayed by the author’s emphasis

Review Of Regarding Henry - 1392 Words

â€Å"Regarding Henry† was a fantastic film starring Harrison Ford playing the main character Henry. The story told is about a lawyer who is very rich and an arrogant man, who was shot twice, once in the chest and then in the head during a grocery store robbery that he walked in on. After the gunshot accident Henry goes into a coma, when he awakens he is aphasic with several psychological and physical disabilities which also put him into a child like state of mind. Henry is unable to speak, move his arms or legs and suffers from major memory loss. He his sent to a rehabilitation hospital where his family hopes he will relearn what he has lost. During his rehabilitation process, Henry is able to restore his relationships with his family and friends, and he really rediscovers himself while he leaves behind the arrogant version. The communication disorder that is portrayed in this film was aphasia in adults. According to our book, Aphasia is a loss of language due to a stroke, he ad trauma or another type of brain damage. (Tanner, 2003). As a result, from Henry’s gunshot accident to his brain, he was put into a childlike state of mind due to is receptive and expressive abilities. Henry becomes fully aphasic, specifically Broca’s Aphasic, which a person with Broca’s Aphasia has choppy and non-fluent speech with pauses, fillers, and struggled attempts to speak (Tanner, 2003). The area of the brain that is called the Broca is in the frontal lobe and is responsible for combiningShow MoreRelatedUSI As A Biofeedback Tool For Training Of AHE Training1063 Words   |  5 PagesDiscussion This review assessed the quality of six studies to examine the effectiveness of using USI as a biofeedback tool for training of the abdominal muscles. All six reviews are of moderate to good methodological quality as shown using the MDB checklist, however, caution still needs to be applied in the interpretation of results. The results show that there is some evidence for the use of USI in increasing effectiveness of AHE training, however, there are still many varying factors in the studiesRead MoreHuman Resource Management Functions Of The Company1635 Words   |  7 PagesResource Processes The use of forms, systems, and practices go hand-in-hand with reorganizing the human resource management functions listed above. An individual employed in-house should audit current human resource functions and processes. Such a review will determine what improvements will be needed for improved functionality. 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Bloodlines Chapter Seven Free Essays

â€Å"ADRIAN?† I SAID IN SURPRISE. â€Å"What’s he have to do with any of this?† Jill simply shook her head and looked at me beseechingly. â€Å"Please. We will write a custom essay sample on Bloodlines Chapter Seven or any similar topic only for you Order Now Just take me to him.† â€Å"But we’ll be back there in a couple days for your feeding.† â€Å"I know,† said Jill. â€Å"But I need to see him now. He’s the only one who will understand.† I found that hard to believe. â€Å"You’re saying I wouldn’t? Or that even Eddie wouldn’t?† She groaned. â€Å"No. You can’t tell Eddie. He’ll flip out.† I tried not to frown as I mulled everything over. Why would Jill need to see Adrian after this mishap at school? Adrian couldn’t do anything to help that I couldn’t. As an Alchemist, I was in the best position to file a complaint. Did Jill just want moral support? I remembered how Jill had hugged Adrian goodbye and suddenly wondered if she had a crush on him. Because surely, if Jill needed to feel protected by someone, Eddie would be a better source to turn to. Or would he? Eddie was likely to go throwing office desks around in his outrage. Keeping this from him might not be a bad idea. â€Å"Okay,† I said at last. â€Å"Let’s go.† I signed us out for off-campus travel, which took a little finagling. Mrs. Weathers was quick to point out that Jill had been banished to her dorm for the rest of the school day. I was equally quick to point out that classes were almost done, technically meaning the school day was almost finished. Mrs. Weathers couldn’t fault the logic but still made us wait the full ten minutes until the last bell rang. Jill sat there, tapping her foot anxiously against the chair. We drove the half hour to Clarence’s estate in the hills, saying little. I didn’t really know what kind of small talk to make. â€Å"How was your first day of school?† was hardly an appropriate topic. And anyway, each time I thought about it, I just grew angrier. I couldn’t believe any teacher would have the audacity to accuse Jill of drinking and having a hangover. There was really no way to prove something like that, and besides, you could tell after spending five minutes with her that it was impossible. A middle-aged human woman greeted us at the door. Her name was Dorothy, and she was Clarence’s housekeeper and feeder. Dorothy was pleasant enough, if a little distracted, and wore a stiff gray dress with a high collar to hide the bite marks on her neck. I smiled back at her and maintained my professional mode but couldn’t help a shudder when I thought about what she was. How could anyone do that? How could anyone offer their blood up willingly like that? My stomach lurched, and I found myself keeping my distance from her. I didn’t even want to accidentally brush her arm when I walked past. Dorothy escorted us back to the room we’d all been sitting in the day before. There was no sign of Clarence, but Adrian was lying on a plush green couch, watching a TV that had been cleverly concealed inside an ornate wooden cabinet last time. When he saw us, he turned the TV off with a remote control and sat up. Dorothy excused herself and shut the French doors behind her. â€Å"Well, this is a nice surprise,† he said. He looked us over. Jill had changed into her normal clothes during her isolation today, but I still had on the Amberwood blouse and skirt. â€Å"Sage, aren’t you guys supposed to have uniforms? This looks like what you usually wear.† â€Å"Cute,† I said, suppressing an eye roll. Adrian gave me a mock bow. â€Å"Careful. You almost smiled.† He reached for a bottle of brandy sitting on a nearby table. Small glasses were arranged around it, and he poured himself a generous amount. â€Å"You guys want one?† â€Å"It’s the middle of the afternoon,† I said incredulously. Not that it’d really matter for me what time of day it was. â€Å"I’ve got a wicked hangover,† he declared, giving us a mock toast. â€Å"This is just the thing to cure it.† â€Å"Adrian, I need to talk to you,† said Jill earnestly. He looked over at her, the smirk fading from his face. â€Å"What’s up, Jailbait?† Jill glanced uneasily at me. â€Å"Would you mind†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I took the hint and tried not to let on how irritated I was by all the secrets. â€Å"Sure. I’ll just†¦ I’ll just go outside again.† I didn’t like the idea of being exiled, but no way was I going to wander the halls of the old house. I’d face the heat. I hadn’t gotten very far down the hall when someone stepped out in front of me. I let out a small scream and nearly jumped three feet in the air. A heartbeat later, I realized it was Lee – not that it reassured me much. No matter how ostensibly friendly I was with this group, old defenses inside me kicked up at being alone with a new vampire. Running into him didn’t help matters either because my brain processed it as an attack! Lee just stood there, staring at me. From the expression on his face, he was just as startled to find me in his house – though perhaps not quite as alarmed about it as I was. â€Å"Sydney?† asked Lee. â€Å"What are you doing here?† Within moments, my fear became embarrassment, like I’d been caught prowling. â€Å"Oh†¦ I’m here with Jill. She had kind of a rough day and needed to talk to Adrian. I wanted to give them some privacy and was going to just†¦ uh, go outside.† Lee’s confusion transformed into a smile. â€Å"You don’t have to do that. No need for exile. Come on, I was going to get a snack in the kitchen.† My face must have shown abject horror because he laughed. â€Å"Not the human kind.† I blushed and followed along with him. â€Å"Sorry,† I said. â€Å"It’s instinct.† â€Å"No problem. You Alchemists are kind of jumpy, you know.† â€Å"Yeah.† I laughed uncomfortably. â€Å"I know.† â€Å"I’ve always wanted to meet one of you, but you guys certainly aren’t what I expected.† He opened the door to a spacious kitchen. The rest of the house might be antique and gloomy, but inside here, everything was bright and modern. â€Å"If it makes you feel any better, you’re not as bad as Keith. He was here earlier today and was so nervous, he literally kept looking over his shoulder.† Lee paused thoughtfully. â€Å"I think it might have been because Adrian kept laughing like a mad scientist at those old black-and-white movies he was watching.† I came to an abrupt stop. â€Å"Keith was here – today? What for?† â€Å"You’d have to ask Dad. That’s who he talked to the most.† Lee opened the refrigerator and produced a can of Coke. â€Å"Want one?† â€Å"I – uh, no. Too much sugar.† He grabbed another can. â€Å"Diet?† I hesitated only a moment before taking it. â€Å"Sure. Thanks.† I hadn’t intended to eat or drink anything in this house, but the can seemed safe enough. It was sealed and looked like it had come straight from a human grocery store, not some vampiric cauldron. I opened it and took a sip as my mind spun. â€Å"You have no idea at all what it was about?† â€Å"Huh?† Lee had added an apple to his menu and hoisted himself up so he sat on the counter. â€Å"Oh, Keith? No. But if I had to guess, it was about me. Like he was trying to figure out if I’m staying here or not.† He took a giant bite into the apple, and I wondered if having fangs made that harder at all. â€Å"He just likes his facts straight,† I said neutrally. As much as I disliked Keith, I still wanted a unified human front. I wasn’t entirely inaccurate, though. I was pretty sure Keith felt undermined at learning there was one extra Moroi in â€Å"his territory† and was now making sure he was in on everything. Part of it was good Alchemist business, sure, but most was probably Keith’s wounded pride. Lee didn’t seem to think much of it and kept chewing his apple, though I could feel his eyes studying me. â€Å"You said Jill had a bad day? Is everything okay?† â€Å"Yeah, I think so. I mean, I don’t know. I’m not even sure how things got messed up. She wanted to see Adrian for some reason. Maybe he can help.† â€Å"He’s Moroi,† said Lee pragmatically. â€Å"Maybe it’s just something only he could understand – something you and Eddie couldn’t. No offense.† â€Å"None taken,† I said. It was only natural that Jill and I would have distinct differences – I was a human, and she was a vampire, after all. We couldn’t be more different if we tried, and in fact, I kind of preferred it that way. â€Å"You go to college†¦ in Los Angeles? A human school?† It wasn’t that weird a behavior for Moroi. Sometimes they stuck together in their own communities; sometimes they tried to blend into large human cities. Lee nodded. â€Å"Yup. And it was hard for me at first too. I mean, even without others obviously knowing you’re a vampire†¦ well, there’s just a sense of otherness you’re always aware of. I eventually adjusted†¦ but I know what she’s going through.† â€Å"Poor Jill,† I said, suddenly realizing I’d come at this situation all wrong. Most of my energy had been fixed on the school believing Jill’s illness was a hangover. I should’ve focused on why she was sick in the first place. Anxiety over this new life change had to be taking its toll. I’d battled my own uneasiness, trying to figure out friendships and social cues – but at least I was still dealing with my own race. â€Å"I didn’t really think about what she’s going through.† â€Å"Do you want me to talk to her?† asked Lee. He set the apple core aside. â€Å"Not that I’m sure I have that much wisdom to share.† â€Å"Anything might help,† I said honestly. A silence fell between us, and I began to feel uneasy. Lee seemed very friendly, but my old fears were too ingrained. Part of me felt like he didn’t so much want to get to know me as study me. Alchemists were clearly a novelty to him. â€Å"Do you mind me asking†¦ the tattoo. It gives you special powers, right?† It was nearly a repeat of the conversation at school, except Lee actually knew the truth behind it. I absentmindedly touched my cheek. â€Å"Not powers, exactly. There’s compulsion in it to keep us from talking about what we do. And I get a good immune system out of it. But the rest? I’m nothing special.† â€Å"Fascinating,† he murmured. I looked away uneasily and tried to casually brush my hair back into my face. Adrian stuck his head in just then. All his earlier humor was gone. â€Å"Ah, there you are. Can I talk to you in private for a sec?† The question was directed to me, and Lee jumped off the counter. â€Å"I’ll take the cue. Is Jill still in the den?† Adrian nodded, and Lee glanced at me questioningly. â€Å"Do you want me to†¦ ?† I nodded. â€Å"That’d be great. Thank you.† Lee left, and Adrian glanced back at me curiously. â€Å"What was that about?† â€Å"Oh, we thought Lee might be able to help Jill with her problems,† I explained. â€Å"Since he can relate.† â€Å"Problems?† â€Å"Yeah, you know. Adjusting to living with humans.† â€Å"Oh,† said Adrian. He produced a pack of cigarettes and, to my complete astonishment, lit up right in front of me. â€Å"That. Yeah, I guess that’s good. But that’s not what I wanted to talk to you about. I need you to get me out of this place.† I was startled. This wasn’t about Jill? â€Å"Out of Palm Springs?† I asked. â€Å"No! Out of this place.† He gestured around him. â€Å"It’s like living in a retirement home! Clarence is taking a nap right now, and he eats at five. It’s so boring.† â€Å"You’ve only been here for two days.† â€Å"And that’s more than enough. The only thing keeping me alive is that he keeps a hefty supply of liquor on hand. But at the rate I’m going, that’ll be gone by the weekend. Jesus Christ, I’m climbing the walls.† His eyes fell on the cross at my neck. â€Å"Oh. Sorry. No offense to Jesus.† I was still too baffled by the unexpected topic to feel much offense. â€Å"What about Lee? He’s here, right?† â€Å"Yes,† agreed Adrian. â€Å"Sometimes. But he’s busy with†¦ hell, I don’t know. School stuff. He’s going back to Los Angeles tomorrow, and that’ll be another boring night for me. Besides†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He looked around conspiratorially. â€Å"Lee’s nice enough, but he’s not†¦ well, he’s not really into having fun. Not the way I am.† â€Å"That might be a good thing,† I pointed out. â€Å"No morality lectures, Sage. And hey, like I said, I like him okay, but he’s not here enough. When he is, he keeps to himself. He’s always checking himself out in the mirror, even more than I do. I heard him worrying about gray hair the other day.† I didn’t care about Lee’s eccentricities. â€Å"Where would you even want to go? You don’t want†¦Ã¢â‚¬  A very unpleasant thought came to me. â€Å"You don’t want to enroll at Amberwood, do you?† â€Å"What, and play 21 Jump Street with the rest of you? No, thank you.† â€Å"Twenty-one what?† â€Å"Never mind. Look.† He put out the cigarette – on the counter – which I thought was kind of ridiculous since he’d hardly smoked any of it. Why bother with such a filthy habit if you weren’t going to use it all? â€Å"I need my own place, okay? You guys make things happen. Can’t you get me some swank bachelor’s pad like Keith has downtown so I can party with all the rich vacationers? Drinking alone is sad and pathetic. I need people. Even human people.† â€Å"No,† I said. â€Å"I’m not authorized to do that. You aren’t†¦ well, you aren’t really my responsibility. We’re just taking care of Jill – and Eddie, since he’s her bodyguard.† Adrian scowled. â€Å"What about a car? Can you do that?† I shook my head. â€Å"What about your car? What if I drop you guys back off at the school and then borrow it for a while?† â€Å"No,† I said swiftly. That was probably the craziest suggestion he could’ve made. Latte was my baby. I certainly wasn’t about to lend it out to a heavy drinker – especially to one who also happened to be a vampire. If there was ever a vampire who seemed particularly irresponsible, it was Adrian Ivashkov. â€Å"You’re killing me here, Sage!† â€Å"I’m not doing anything.† â€Å"Exactly my point.† â€Å"Look,† I said, growing irritated. â€Å"I told you. You’re not my responsibility. Talk to Abe if you want things changed. Isn’t he the reason you’re here?† Adrian’s annoyance and self-pity shifted to wariness. â€Å"What do you know about that?† Right. He didn’t know I’d overheard their conversation. â€Å"I mean, he’s the one who brought you guys here and made the arrangements with Clarence, right?† I hoped that would be convincing enough – and maybe yield me a little information on what Abe’s master plan was. â€Å"Yes,† Adrian said, after several seconds of intense scrutiny. â€Å"But Abe wants me to stay in this tomb. If I got my own place, we’d have to keep it secret from him.† I scoffed. â€Å"Then I’m definitely not helping, even if I could. You couldn’t pay me to cross Abe.† I could see Adrian bracing for another argument and decided to make my exit. Turning my back on him and any further protests, I headed out of the kitchen and back to the living room. There, I found Jill and Lee talking, and she wore the first genuine smile I’d seen in a while. She laughed at some comment he made and then looked up at my entrance. â€Å"Hey, Sydney,† she said. â€Å"Hey,† I said. â€Å"Are you about ready to go?† â€Å"Is it time?† she asked. Both she and Lee looked disappointed, but then she answered her own question. â€Å"I guess it is. You probably have homework, and Eddie’s probably worried already.† Adrian entered the room behind me, looking pouty. Jill glanced at him, and for a moment, her gaze turned inward, like her mind had gone somewhere else. Then she turned back to me. â€Å"Yeah,† she said. â€Å"We should go. I hope we can talk later, Lee.† â€Å"Me too,† he said, standing up. â€Å"I’ll be around here, off and on.† Jill hugged Adrian goodbye, clearly reluctant to be leaving him too. With Lee, she’d looked mostly like she was sad to leave something that had just gotten interesting. With Adrian, there was more of a sense like she wasn’t sure how she was going to get by. Her next scheduled feeding was in two days, and Adrian was encouraging, telling her she was strong enough to get through the next school day. Despite how much he kept annoying me, I was moved by his compassion for the younger girl. Anyone who was that nice to Jill couldn’t be that bad. He was starting to surprise me. â€Å"You look better,† I told her as we drove toward Vista Azul. â€Å"Talking to Adrian†¦ to both of them†¦ it was helpful.† â€Å"Do you think you’ll be okay tomorrow?† â€Å"Yeah.† Jill sighed and leaned back against the seat. â€Å"It was just nerves. That, and I didn’t eat much breakfast.† â€Å"Jill†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I bit my lip, hesitant to plunge forward. Confrontation wasn’t my strong suit, particularly with awkward personal topics. â€Å"You and Adrian†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Jill gave me a wary look. â€Å"What about us?† â€Å"Is there anything†¦ I mean, are you guys†¦ ?† â€Å"No!† Out of the corner of her eye, I saw Jill turn bright pink. It was the most color I had ever seen in a vampire’s face. â€Å"Why would you say that?† â€Å"Well. You were sick this morning. And then really adamant about seeing Adrian. You’re always sad to leave him too†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Jill gaped. â€Å"Do you think I’m pregnant?† â€Å"Not exactly,† I said, realizing it was kind of a nonsensical answer. â€Å"I mean, maybe. I don’t know. I’m just considering all the possibilities†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Well, don’t consider that one! There’s nothing going on between us. Nothing. We’re friends. He’d never be interested in me.† She said it with a dismal certainty – and maybe even a little wistfully. â€Å"That’s not true,† I said, fumbling to undo the damage. â€Å"I mean, you’re younger, yeah, but you’re cute†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Yes, this was a terrible conversation. I was just babbling now. â€Å"Don’t,† said Jill. â€Å"Don’t tell me I’m nice and pretty and have a lot to offer. Or whatever. None of that matters. Not when he’s still hung up on her.† â€Å"Her? Oh. Rose.† I’d nearly forgotten. The trip to Court had been the first time I’d seen Adrian in person, but I’d actually seen him once before on security camera footage when he’d been at a casino with Rose. The two of them had dated, though I wasn’t entirely sure how serious the relationship had been. When I’d helped Rose and Dimitri escape, the chemistry between those two had been off the charts, even if they’d both been in denial of it. Even I’d been able to spot it a mile away, and I knew next to nothing about romance. Seeing as Rose and Dimitri were officially a couple now, I had to assume things with Adrian hadn’t ended well. â€Å"Yeah. Rose.† Jill sighed and stared vacantly ahead. â€Å"She’s all he sees when he closes his eyes. Flashing dark eyes and a body full of fire and energy. No matter how much he tries to forget her, no matter how much he drinks†¦ she’s always there. He can’t escape her.† Jill’s voice dripped with astonishing bitterness. I might have written it off as jealousy, except that she talked as though she’d been personally been wronged by Rose too. â€Å"Jill? Are you okay?† â€Å"Huh? Oh.† Jill shook her head, like she was shaking off the cobwebs of a dream. â€Å"Yeah, fine. Sorry. It’s been a weird day. I’m a little out of it. Didn’t you say we could pick up some things?† A sign for the next exit advertised a shopping center. I rolled with the change in subject, glad to be away from personal matters, though I was still pretty confused. â€Å"Uh, yeah. We need sunscreen. And maybe we can get a little TV for the room.† â€Å"That’d be great,† said Jill. I left it at that and took the next exit. Neither of us spoke about Adrian for the rest of the night. How to cite Bloodlines Chapter Seven, Essay examples

How would you like a five hundred

How would you like a five hundred-dollar software Essay program or a Sony Playstation game without having to spend any money on it? Sounds too good to be true doesnt it. Well its not. In fact, it is almost easier than going to the store and buying them. Every year software companies spend millions of dollars on CD-Keys, Lock-Out Codes, and Serial Numbering, Only to have them cracked by hackers shortly after the release of the program. Why do they waste their time? Copyright protection just doesnt work. When it comes to free software programs, the Internet is your best resource. Many sites called warez-sites offer everything from application software to the latest 3D games. Theses sites are mostly run by hackers, and for the price clicking your mouse on the right link, you can save thousands of dollars. I remember the first time I visited a warez site. I felt somewhat like a kid in a candy store. I couldnt believe all that stuff was free. I remember saying to myself dont the software manufactures know this is going on? How can they be allowed to post this stuff without getting in trouble? Well its very simple really. The sites list a disclaimer which you must agree too before you can view any files, which by the way are only supposed to be used for educational purposes. How many people do you suppose follow this advice?After youve downloaded your free program and want to install it on your computer, Youll need to get by the CD-Key or serial number protection. That is if it hasnt al ready been done for you. If it hasnt, no problem. Many sites offer CD-Key and serial archives for you to choose from. There are even programs that will generate CD-key numbers for you. My favorite all time CD-key glitch is brought to you by Microsoft themselves. Simply enter all ones when installing Microsoft Money or Golf and sit back and laugh. Who are these guys kidding?If I had to give an award for the best attempt at copyrighting, it would go to Sony for their Playstation game system. Although their software is a little harder to pirate, it still gets the inevitable thumbs down in the end. Copying Playstation games is just as easy as copying computer software, the secret lies in the disks themselves. Sony found a way to create bad tracks on their CDs and then programmed the game console to only recognize CDs with bad tracks. Pretty slick I thought, however this problem was fixed with a twelve-dollar chip I purchased from the Internet, and soldered to the Playstation motherboard. Now instead of buying games for sixty to seventy dollars, I rent them at Blockbuster video for five dollars, make a copy, and sit back and enjoy. Nice try Sony!All in all people are sick and tired of paying outrageous prices for software, and the higher the pric e of the software the more likely your chances will be of finding it free somewhere. If the software companies spent less money trying to keep us out, they could sell their products at a much lower cost to the consumer. Maybe people would actually buy it instead of pirating it. But I guess they will never learn

Make Prostitution Legal Essays - Feminism, Human Sexuality

Make Prostitution Legal Prostitution Theory 101 by Yvonne Abraham with Sarah McNaught Few things have divided feminists as much as the sex industry. Theorists who agree on a vast swath of issues -- economic equality, affirmative action, even sexual liberation -- often find themselves bitterly opposed over pornography and prostitution. Most 19th-century feminists opposed prostitution and considered prostitutes to be victims of male exploitation. But just as the suffragette and temperance movements were bound together at the turn of the century, so too were feminist and contemporary moral objections to prostitution. Women, the argument went, were repositories of moral virtue, and prostitution tainted their purity: the sale of sex was, like alcohol, both cause and symptom of the decadence into which society had sunk. By the 1960s and '70s, when Betty Friedan and Germaine Greer asserted that sexual liberation was integral to women's liberation, feminists were reluctant to oppose prostitution on moral grounds. Traditional morality, Greer argued, had helped to repress women sexually, had made their needs secondary to men's. That sexual subordination compounded women's economic and political subordination. Today, some feminists see hooking as a form of sexual slavery; others, as a route to sexual self-determination. And in between are those who see prostitution as a form of work that, like it or not, is here to stay. Radical feminists such as lawyer Catharine MacKinnon and antipornography theorist Andrea Dworkin oppose sex work in any form. They argue that it exploits women and reinforces their status as sexual objects, undoing many of the gains women have made over the past century. Others detect in this attitude a strain of neo-Victorianism, a condescending belief that prostitutes don't know what they're doing and need somebody with more education to protect them. Some women, these dissenters point out, actually choose the profession. Feminists who question the antiprostitution radicals also point out that Dworkin and MacKinnon sometimes sound eerily like their nemeses on the religious right. Phyllis Schlafly, a rabid family-values crusader, has even cited Dworkin in her antipornography promotional materials. This kind of thing has not improved the radicals' image among feminists. At the other extreme from Dworkin and MacKinnon are sex-radical feminists like Susie Bright and Pat Califia. They argue that sex work can be a good thing: a bold form of liberation for women, a way for some to take control of their lives. The problem there, though, is that the life of a prostitute is often more Leaving Las Vegas than Pretty Woman (see Pop Tarts). Many feminists fall somewhere in between the rad-fem and sex-radical poles. Wendy Chapkis, professor of sociology and women's studies at the University of Southern Maine and the author of the Live Sex Acts: Women Performing Erotic Labor (Routledge, 1997), is one of them. For nine years, Chapkis studied prostitution in California and the Netherlands, as well as in Britain and Finland, and conducted interviews with 50 sex workers. Chapkis says she sees the profession as it is: many of her interviews confirmed much of the ugliness that radical feminists abhor, as well as the empowerment that sex radicals perceive. I don't think prostitution is the ultimate in women's liberation, she says. But I think it's better understood as work than as inevitably a form of sexual violence. What prostitutes need, she argues, is not a bunch of goody-goodies looking down on them, but decent working conditions. Chapkis believes prostitution should be decriminalized. Just because it can be lousy work doesn't mean it should be stamped out, she argues. After all, she says, there are lots of jobs in which women are underpaid, underappreciated, and exploited. Criminalizing the profession just exacerbates prostitutes' problems by isolating them from the law and leaving them vulnerable to abusive pimps and johns. In a profession where women traditionally are not treated well, aren't empowered, and should be able to go to the police for protection and assistance, she says, we make the police an extra obstacle, another threat. In the Netherlands, by contrast, where prostitution is decriminalized, police and prostitutes are on the same side: hookers speak at police academies to educate the officers about their work, and Chapkis says the communication pays off in safer working conditions for the women. But what of the radical feminists' claim that prostitution is too patriarchal to be tolerated? Chapkis points out that many things in modern life began as patriarchal institutions -- marriage, for example. Problems within marriage, she says, can be addressed without resorting to abolition: these days, marital property is distributed more fairly, and abused wives have places to go for help. Even Catharine MacKinnon

Biography of Atlanta Mass Murderer Mark Orrin Barton

Biography of Atlanta Mass Murderer Mark Orrin Barton Known as being one the largest mass murderers in Atlantas history, day-trader Mark Barton, 44, went on a killing spree on July 29, 1999, at two Atlanta-based trading firms: All-Tech Investment Group and Momentum Securities. Upset over seven weeks of big losses in day trading, which had brought him to financial ruin, Bartons killing spree resulted in 12 people killed and 13 injured at the two companies. After a daylong manhunt and surrounded by police, Barton committed suicide by shooting himself at an Acworth, Georgia, gas station when his capture became imminent. The Killing Spree At around 2:30 p.m. on July 29, 1999, Barton entered Momentum Securities. He was a familiar face around there and just like any other day, he began chatting with the other day traders about the stock market. Dow Jones was showing a dramatic drop of about 200 points adding to a week of disappointing numbers. Smiling, Barton turned to the group and said, Its a bad trading day, and its about to get worse. He then took out two handguns, a 9mm Glock and a .45 caliber Colt, and began firing. He fatally shot four people and injured several others. He then went across the street to All-Tec and began shooting, leaving five dead. According to reports, Barton had lost an estimated $105,000 in about seven weeks. More Murders After the shooting, investigators went to Bartons home and discovered the bodies of his second wife, Leigh Ann Vandiver Barton, and Bartons two children, Matthew David Barton, 12, and Mychelle Elizabeth Barton, 10. According to one of the four letters left by Barton, Leigh Ann was murdered the night of July 27, and the children were murdered on July 28, the night before the shooting spree at the trading firms. In one of the letters, he wrote that he did not want his children to suffer without having a mother or father and that his son was already showing signs of the fears that he had suffered with throughout his life. Barton also wrote that he killed Leigh Ann because she was partly to blame for his demise. He then went on to describe the method he used to kill his family. There was little pain. All of them were dead in less than five minutes. I hit them with the hammer in their sleep and then put them face-down in the bathtub to make sure they did not wake up in pain, to make sure they were dead. The body of his wife was found under a blanket in a closet and the childrens bodies were found in their bed. Prime Suspect in Another Murder As the investigation into Barton continued, it was revealed that he had been the prime suspect in the 1993 murders of his first wife and her mother. Debra Spivey Barton, 36, and her mother, Eloise, 59, both of Lithia Springs, Georgia, went camping on Labor Day weekend. Their bodies were found inside their camper van. They had been bludgeoned to death with a sharp object. There was no sign of forced entry and although some jewelry was missing, other valuables and money had been left behind, leading investigators to put Barton on top of the list of suspects. A Lifetime of Trouble Mark Barton seemed to make bad decisions most of his life. In high school, he showed great academic potential in math and science, but started using drugs and ended up in hospitals and rehabilitation centers after overdosing several times. Despite his drug background, he got into Clemson University and, in his first year, he was arrested and charged with burglary. He was placed on probation, but that did not deter his drug use and he ended up leaving Clemson after suffering a breakdown. Barton then managed to get into the University of South Carolina, where he earned a degree in chemistry in 1979. His life seemed to level out some after college, although his drug use continued. He married Debra Spivey and in 1998 their first child, Matthew, was born. Bartons next brush with the law happened in Arkansas, where the family had relocated to due to his employment. There he began to show signs of severe paranoia and often accused Debra of infidelity. As time went on, he became increasingly controlling over Debras activities and exhibited strange behavior at work. In 1990 he was fired. Furious by the firing, Barton retaliated by breaking into the company and downloading sensitive files and secret chemical formulas. He was arrested and charged with felony burglary but got out of it after agreeing to a settlement with the company. The family moved back to Georgia where Barton got a new job in sales at a chemical company. His relationship with Debra continued to deteriorate and he began having an affair with Leigh Ann (later to become his second wife), who he had met through his work. In 1991, Mychelle was born. Despite the birth of a new child, Barton continued seeing Leigh Ann. The affair was no secret to Debra, who, for unknown reasons, decided not to confront Barton. Eighteen months later, Debra and her mother were found dead. Murder Investigation From the start, Barton was the prime suspect in the murders of his wife and mother-in-law. The police learned of his affair with Leigh Ann and that he had taken out a $600,000 life insurance policy on Debra. However, Leigh Ann told the police that Barton was with her over Labor Day weekend, which left investigators without evidence and a lot of speculation. Unable to charge Barton with the murders, the case was left unsolved, but the investigation was never closed. Due to the murders being unsolved, the insurance company refused to pay Barton, but later lost a lawsuit Barton filed and he ended up getting the $600,000. New Beginnings, Old Habits It was not long after the murders that Leigh Ann and Barton moved in together and in 1995 the couple married. However, just like what happened with Debra, Barton soon began showing signs of paranoia and distrust towards Leigh Ann. He also began losing money as a day-trader, big money. The financial pressures and Bartons paranoia took a toll on the marriage and Leigh Ann, along with the two children, left and moved into an apartment. Later the two reconciled and Barton rejoined the family. Within months of the reconciliation, Leigh Ann and the children would be dead. Warning Signs From interviews with those who knew Barton, there were no obvious signs that he was going to flip out, murder his family, and go on a shooting spree. However, he had earned the nickname Rocket at work because of his explosive behavior while day trading. This type of behavior was not all that unusual among this group of traders. It is a fast, high-risk game, where gains and losses can happen quickly. Barton did not talk much about his personal life with his fellow day traders, but many of them were aware of his financial loses. All-Tech had stopped allowing him to trade until he put money in his account to cover his losses. Unable to come up with the money, he turned to other day-traders for loans. But still, none of them had any idea that Barton was harboring resentment and about to explode. Witnesses later told police that Barton seemed to purposely seek out and shoot some of the people who had loaned him money. In one of the four letters he left in his home, he wrote about hating this life and having no hope and being terrified each time he woke up. He said that he did not expect to live much longer, just long enough to kill as many of the people that greedily sought my destruction. He also denied killing his first wife and her mother, although he admitted that there were similarities between how they were killed and how he killed his current wife and children. He ended the letter with, You should kill me if you can. As it turned out, he took care of that himself, but not before ending the lives of many others.

SHORT ANSWER ONLY Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

SHORT ANSWER ONLY - Assignment Example Hence, he deducted the interconnection between villages, states and societies and proposed that there is a broader civilization, a â€Å"great tradition†, that is being upheld by people of various backgrounds. It is the tradition â€Å"which is consciously cultivated, refined and handed down in a formal learning situation† (Musicmall Productions Pte Ltd, 2004). One may say that this is the living culture, one which evolves depending on the environment, present conditions and needs of the society. The concept of â€Å"little tradition† was first developed by Milton Singer and Robert Redfield as a twin to the idea of the â€Å"great tradition†. It is the ways in which a culture â€Å"keeps itself going, is taken for granted and is not put under much scrutiny or deliberate refinement and improvement† (Musicmall Productions Pte Ltd, 2004). The little tradition are the manifestations of the great tradition, they can be found in the folk music, the pattern of clothing, the choice of food, children’s stories etc. The little tradition are often handed down from one generation to another and are often unquestioned because their details are so minute they are almost unrecognizable. It is the little traditions which creates distinctions between the Sephardim from the Hasidic, the European from the America, the Asian from the Chinese. Sephardim is defined by the Jewish Encyclopedia (1906) as the â€Å"descendants of the Jews who were expelled from Spain and Portugal and who settled in southern France, Italy, North Africa, Turkey, Asia Minor, Holland, England, North and South America, Germany, Denmark, Austria and Hungary. Unlike other Jews, the Sephardi practice traditions which are tinged with Spanish and Portuguese influences. For example, one of their most popular children’s play is called â€Å"El Castillo†, and they have dishes originating from Iberia such as pastel, pan de Espana, and pan de leon. During festivals, they give our dulces or dolces, a kind of

Toyota and its USA target market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Toyota and its USA target market - Essay Example The guiding policy of the company has been production of best quality vehicles at the lowest possible cost and in the safest environment. The company has expanded to other countries including the USA where it has created a firm base in vehicle production. Over the last decade, they have experienced rapid growth and diversification in the USA market in an attempt to increase their scope and quality. In the USA, the automotive sector is very competitive with companies like Toyota, Ford, Chrysler, Chevrolet, Dodge, Jeep and Hummer all competing against each other. With such companies in the industry, Toyota has had to employ superb marketing strategies in order to maintain and increase its customers. They have also consistently improved the quality of vehicles they produce with major improvements in the body shape, speed and luxury. Their improvements in quality of vehicles have earned them customer loyalty that has ensured that the companies’ sales continually increase. The management of the Toyota Company has employed different marketing strategies in order to overcome the stiff competition in the USA. Toyota has designed implementation and control programs that are aimed at increasing the acceptability of its products in the USA market. Its competitors have produced vehicles of similar quality like theirs but social marketing has done a great deal in ensuring they maintain their customers. The company has involved itself in community work, which has made the public appreciate the company and thus purchase their products while in need. Toyota has been in the forefront in environmental management and has organized cleanings exercises in cities such as New York and Michigan an act that publicizes them more and makes the pubic accept them more. Increasing the social acceptability has helped them gain competitive advantage over their competitors and thus thrives in the USA market. Toyota has also implemented augmented marketing by providing additional

Team Reflection Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Team Reflection Paper - Essay Example During the ACC 544, Internal Control System, I was a member of team C. The purpose of this paper is to describe the interaction and learning experience that occurred during this course through the team learning mechanism. I have taken over 15 courses at the University of Phoenix online at the graduate level. Each of these courses had team assignments to be performed by a small group of students of 3-6 members. I believe that the university is doing a great job in their teaching methods because it is preparing us for the workplace of the future. Virtual teams are a hot trend in the managerial field due to the globalization movement and the fact that there are thousands of global corporations worldwide. â€Å"Managing a virtual team means managing the whole spectrum of communication strategies and project management techniques as well as human and social processes in ways that support the team. During the last six weeks I had the privilege to work with an outstanding team. It was a pl easurable experience working with a great group of professionals. Starting in week 1 team C always had great communication among the members. Communication in the workplace is an important variable that must be managed well by the leaders of an organization. Communication problems can lead to misunderstanding and conflict. Team C did not experience any of these symptoms. Whenever anyone was called upon to deliver data or information everyone responded promptly. As I mentioned earlier I have been a part of several work teams at the University of Phoenix. I believe that this team has been the most functional and productive team I have ever been in. The academic results prove my premise. Team C received a perfect grade of 25/25 on five projects the team completed. I’m a good student, but I do not have a 4.0 G.PA. Team C achieved perfection due to its hard work, commitment to excellence, cooperation, outstanding communication, and concise writing. I wished I would have had these teammates with me in all my previous courses. One of the best things about Team C was the lack of an ego. In other team I have worked on somebody always wants to be the team leader without getting approval from the other members. Team C did not have that problem. I believe that the leadership responsibilities were shared equally among the members. I loved the fact that the team member willingly divided the work parts without having anyone tell them to do things they did not want to do. Another great aspect about the team was the punctuality of the deliverables. At the University of Phoenix online the members of study teams depend on each other. If one member fails to deliver their work on time it creates a chain reaction that affects the quality of the work of the team. Team C cared about each other and respected the academic well being of the other members. The perfect grade the team was able to achieve in the five assignments will increase the chances of all the team members obtai ning a passing grade at the end of the course. I enjoyed working with this team because there was mutual respect among all the players on the team. The team was very organized throughout the entire course. This help the communication process because everyone always knew what they were supposed to do. I took initiative prior to week four and week five projects of creating an outline a few weeks before of how to separate the work in the team. This strategy worked well as everyone knew

Case The Coffee Shop Market Starbucks Marketing Essay

Case The Coffee Shop Market Starbucks Marketing Essay Starbucks Corporation is an international coffeehouse chain, founded in 1971 in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks serves a variety of beverages including brewed coffee, tea, hot chocolate, espresso and a selection of bottled drinks. Starbucks also sells whole bean coffee and a variety of ready-to-eat snacks. The first Starbucks location to open outside of North America was in Tokyo in 1996; and from then on Starbucks became an international brand, expanding both nationally and globally. This report will attempt to examine the situation of Starbucks in Japan. It will bring out the marketing strategy to be adopted for a rise in profitability of Starbucks Japan in the next two years. In addition, it will attempt to explain the use of marketing mix to aid the chosen strategy. SWOT ANALYSIS: 1.1 STRENGTHS: 1.1.1 Strong brand image: Starbucks brand name, quality customer service and store ambience are its key strengths. It has maintained its international operations to ensure consumer recognition. Starbucks is renowned for its high quality products and has maintained a consistently positive consumer experience that has helped Starbucks build a strong brand image. Starbucks spends less than 1% of revenue on advertising and promotion each year which indicates they rely on an established company image (P. Ghauri, International marketing case study: Starbucks-Going Global Fast). Starbucks key competitor in Japan-Doutor coffee, had taken advantage of Starbucks brand image and copied its logo, while replicating the experience rendered to customers in its retail outlets. (Ono, 2003). This shows that the Starbucks image is a strength worth mimicking. With a well-established brand image in America, it was sure to expect recognition in the Japanese market, because the consumers there have a fondness for everything western . (http://azjatycka.wordpress.com/2009/11/05/international-marketing-strategy-of-starbucks-in-japan-success-or-a-failure/) 1.1.2 Commitment to community: Starbucks contributes a considerable amount of its resources to corporate social responsibility programs (Kotabe Helsen, 2004). According to Butler (2006)-CSR programs influence 70% of all consumer purchasing decisions, with many investors and employees also being swayed in their choice of companies. As a result, Starbucks involvement in the CSR programs helps its competitiveness in the business world. 1.1.3 Widespread Presence in International Markets: Starbucks has ventured into foreign markets with astonishing pace opening its outlets in 40 countries with 2068 stores worldwide. This widespread expansion has allowed its presence to be felt across the globe. 1.1.4 Retail outlets present at convenient and accessible locations: Starbucks has opened a number of coffee shops at convenient locations like shopping malls, libraries, university campuses, office buildings etc. They are typically located in high traffic, high visibility locations.(Starbucks annual report, 2008) 1.1.5 Presence of a variety of food items Beverages in addition to Coffee: Starbucks stores offer a choice of regular and decaffeinated coffee beverages, a broad selection of Italian-style espresso beverages, cold blended beverages, iced shaken refreshment beverages and a selection of premium teas. Starbucks stores also offer a variety of fresh food items, including healthier choice selections focussing on high-quality ingredients, nutritional value and great flavour. 1.1.6 Well Developed Corporate Strategy and Good Marketing skills. Weaknesses: 1.2.1 Lack of internal focus: Starbucks focuses too much on over-expansion, at times tending to ignore the problems arising withinconsistent employer dissatisfaction. The number of competitors: There are an ever increasing number of competitors that either mimic the Starbucks concept or try to get on par with its growth by providing the same line of products at a lesser price. Examples: Dotour Coffee, Tullys Japan, Mac Donalds. Self- cannibalisation: The strategy of over expansion has resulted in stores opened very close to each other, thus eating into the others sales. Product Pricing: Starbucks perceives itself as a premium gourmet coffee brand and bases its price on the quality of its beverages and in-store customer experience. Unfortunately, many competitors while offering a similar type of environment and lesser priced beverages are eating into Starbucks market share. 1.3 Opportunities: Flexible Tastes: Japanese consumers are influenced by western brands and have a fondness for them. They are open to new products and tastes and hence Japan is a viable market to test new products. New concepts can be concocted and brought out in the market at a faster pace, when compared to US or Europe. Thus those products that turn out to be popular and gain acceptance in the Japanese market can be introduced in the US market with positive expectations. For example, the Green Tea Frappuccino which was first introduced in Japan turned out to be a sensation and was thus launched in the United States too. (http://www.qsrmagazine.com/articles/news/story.phtml?id=4589). Thus, the flexible tastes of Japanese consumers give Starbucks an opportunity to develop new products and gain profits. Instant products: Starbucks recently launched its first premium soluble coffee stick product in Japan. About 60% of the total coffee sold in Japan is soluble. Hence Starbucks can capitalise on this aspect of Japans coffee market to enhance its sales through a variety of soluble ready to make coffee products. (http://news.starbucks.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=416) Diversifying its beverages: Starbucks is looking to sell regional wine and beer at its outlets in Seattle. It could introduce this concept in some of the Japanese stores as consuming western alcoholic brands is a trend among the Japanese clientele. (http://www.thestreet.com/story/10891284/starbucks-tests-alcohol-cheese-offerings.html . Growth opportunities: Though the overall market in Japan is nearing saturation, and Starbucks overexpansion in big cities has given it a lesser change at a steep growth, it could still expand to the less-saturated regions allowing it to exceed its growth potential. 1.4 Threats: 1.4.1 Cannibalisation: Starbucks extravagant growth and over expansion involves a risk of customer fatigue. Starbucks has introduced an array of new products and an increased product innovation lowers the sale of current products. Also with many stores opened close to one other, there is a risk of some stores facing loss. Thus, cannibalisation is a major threat as the coffee chain is reaching saturation in most of the big cities. 1.4.2 Dependency on raw materials The fluctuations in coffee and dairy prices are a potential threat for Starbucks. Starbucks is reliant on dairy and a rise in prices of the raw material could affect its profit margins. (Wikinvest, 2008). 1.4.3 Cultural differences: In USA, about 80% of Starbucks sales are takeout orders. In Japan 80% of consumers prefer to drink in the store outlets. Thus consumers preference to use the store atmosphere might turn out to be a threat to Starbucks plans of building a number of drive through outlets in Japan. (Chozick,2006). 1.4.4 Shrinking Disposable incomes. 1.4.5 Competition: Immediate competition from fast-food restaurants catching on the specialty coffee wave and developing products that competes with Starbucks. Tim Hortons -Nestle Dunkin Donuts McDonalds PESTLE ANALYSIS: Political Factors: Despite being far apart geographically, Japan USA have similar political structures. The Emperor is the head of the state, but the real power resides in the parliament and is mainly held by the Prime Minister.( House of Councillors, 2008). In USA, different states have the power to regulate businesses; whereas in Japan, regulations are laid down by the Diet and enforced throughout the country. This indicates that there are less complicated and less conflicting regulations to be concerned about when International businesses seek entry into the Japanese market. ( House of councillors, The constitution of Japan, as promulgated on November 3, 1946). (http://www.sangiin.go.jp/eng/law/index.htm) Economic Factors: Measured on a purchasing power parity basis, Japan is the 3rd largest economy in the world. But going by the official exchange rates, Japan would emerge as the 2nd largest economy, behind USA. Japan had a spectacular economical growth in the 1980s, however, growth slowed down considerably in the 1990s. Japan entered into recession in 2008, with 2009 marking a return to near 0% interest rates( CIA, as accessed on 24th oct,2010) with its GDP rising to 5.3%, when compared to 1.2% in 2008. Socio-cultural: Individuals from varied backgrounds are exposed to different traditions, rituals, customs and religions. All these factors provide human beings with various learning environments, which cause significant variations in standards, behaviour, attitudes and beliefs (David,1998). A comparison of the subsidiary parent countries is important for the success of a business seeking to expand in the foreign market, as this would lead to a better understanding of the local market. The Japanese as opposed to the Americans act more collectively and tend to be loyal to their respective groups. The Japanese often sacrifice their personal goals and ambitions to promote group interests. A low context society in USA shows that Americans are more direct in their communications and their messages are explicit. Whereas the Japanese use indirect ways to communicate and their voice intonation, timing and expressions play important roles in conveying information. (David, 1998) Technological: Technological factors greatly influence business strategies as they provide an opportunity to exploit innovations and inventions. Japan is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world and ranks 18th on the list.(http://gpmgroup.info/2007/04/27/the-most-technologically-advanced-countries). Thus it is more convenient to introduce technologically driven customer service into the Japanese market. There is scope for incorporating the American system of internet ordering in to Japan with the intension of faster service. Starbucks is continuously searching for ways to better a customers experience. With the introduction of the Starbucks Card for example, the Company has created the opportunity to improve customer service, shorten lines and make a customers visit at Starbucks quicker and more convenient. Also, most stores are equipped with WI-FI. Legal: There are no significant legal factors to consider while entering the Japanese market. Though, Starbucks has chosen to enter through a joint venture with SAZABY Inc., a Japanese retailer and restaurateur, because of the peculiarities of the local market. By doing so, Starbucks has given itself a better chance of exploiting the market as SAZABY would have a better understanding of how the Japanese consumers viewed food and coffee.(http://www.docshare.com/doc/155323/Starbucks-global-expansion-strategy2) Porters Five Forces Competition Tullys Coffee, Gloria Jeans, Caribou Coffee etc. Competitors selling similar products, incl. specialty coffees high quality food. Competition nowhere in terms of volume of operations. Threat of new entrants Controlled access of distribution channels Innovation product differentiation Bargaining power of buyers More options due to no. of competitors. Large variety of products. Bargaining power of suppliers Overcrowding of market. Rise in prices of coffee beans. Choose suppliers based on quality, social, environmental economic issues Threat from substitutes Tea Soft drinks Juices Marketing Strategy to Enhance Profitability in the next 2 years: Segmentation: Segmentation is dividing the consumer market into distinct groups based on each individual groups wants, needs, preferences and behaviour. Starbucks is a company that embraces diversity, not limiting themselves to one specific demographic, behavioral, or geographic segment. Individuals appreciate how, regardless of any little difference, at Starbucks they are always treated as equals. (starbucks.com) Taking the demographic factor as the desired basis for segmentation: Gender: Sixty percent of Starbucks Japan market are woman customers in their 20s and 30s. (http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20020819slug=starbucks19). Hence Starbucks should further penetrate the market by retaining the woman customer base and increasing its appeal amongst them by providing incentives in terms of products, ambience and experience. Age: Most of Starbucks customers are educated, working personnel who can afford the high prices of the products offered. Starbucks has a limited consumer base with females in the age group of 25-39 forming their major share of consumers.(http://www.euromonitor.com/Japan_a_nation_of_coffee_lovers). It should reach out to the younger and much older groups by introducing a line of nutritional beverages. Education Income: Starbucks genius was to redefine the meaning of affordability regarding coffee. Target consumers were identified with regards to their living environment, level of income and education. They were convinced to pay premium prices for the experience, service and quality they were getting. The company was able to capture the changing consumer behaviour since the 1980s: more out-of-home entertainment, more self- gratification from consumers towards a good movie, a good glass of wine and a good cup of coffee. By raising the perceived value of the product for the consumer, Starbucks was able to raise its prices while keeping the product affordable. Creating brand loyalty through quality and innovation was also an important factor in decreasing the price elasticity of this commodity product. Thus, Starbucks should maintain this strategy and look less towards price reduction and more towards quality enhancement, a characteristic that has helped it build its brand. Targeting: Starbucks should practice differentiated targeting as it should try and capture a more wider section of the society. As it has identified the female gender to be its major consumers, Starbucks should retain this market and further expand it by targeting the woman clientele and coming out with more products that appeal to them. Also in order that it recieves a larger share of the male consumers, it should try and blend with the Japanese culture and accept their preference for smoking in some stores. Starbucks has already established its image amongst the educated and high income society. But, it should go one step further by seperately targeting the younger generation who are bound to follow in the footsteps of their peers and elders. In order that it recieves more number of teenagers, it should try and develop an atmosphere within its stores in terms of products and store experience that would appeal to the teens. Product Positioning: Starbucks is listening to the needs of the educated by devoting its business and research to developing ways to cater to this groups wants and needs. In addition to further building on its product quality and in-store customer experience, Starbucks should make itself more accessible to a wide variety of people by opening several quick stop services that would cater to the new generation of coffee drinkers because college-age students and the general population are always in a rush with little time to spare. The quick stop services and kiosks will make the process of buying coffee easier by eliminating long lines and creating alternative ways to buy coffee faster and will avoid the prospect of impatient customers. Starbucks should position itself as a brand not reserved only for the premium, high income society, but as a quality store that reflects on the needs and wants of all. As most Japanese are health conscious, it should try and build an image which does not discourage the teens and older people from visiting its stores. By bringing out more food items that match the Japanese palate, it should position its brand image as An American taste induced with Japanese flavors. Using the Marketing Mix to assist the chosen growth strategy: 1. Product: Diversify the product line: The tradition of tea drinking in Japan has been prevalent from the early beginning. There are many varieties of tea, and some of them, especially Green tea can be bought anywhere. Tea has proved to be a popular drink for most Japanese because of its wide variety of tastes. Thus, by introducing a few select varieties of tea in its store outlets, it would touch at the roots of the consumers. It would directly be percieved as a renowned American brand that cares to accomodate the Japanese tastes. (http://azjatycka.wordpress.com/2009/11/05/international-marketing-strategy-of-starbucks-in-japan-success-or-a-failure/). The presence of soybean in Japanese dishes is indispensable. Its not only widely accepted as the staple ingredient in Japanese dishes,be it rice, curd or soup, but also has great nutritional value. It finds its place in Japanese breakfast, lunch and dinner. It contains a chemical, soy isoflavones, which when accumulated in the body, functions like the female sex hormone(estrogen), which in turn promotes bone formation. Hence it is considered useful for post-menopausal women whose estrogen levels are low. Also soy isoflavones has been found to reduce the risk of breast cancer by 40%.( http://www.mindfully.org/GE/2003/Kikkoman-Non-GM-Soy22jun03.htm). Since Starbucks has found its presence to be more popular among woman, it will only increase its appeal to them by introducing a variety of beverages and food items that contain soybean in its diet. It should also bring about innovations in its product line, making them more nutritious to consume, thus forwarding its appeal to the health c onscious society. Introduce a line of health drinks, fruit juices that would attract teenagers who percieve Starbucks as a high end store selling speciality coffee. The presence of flavored non-caffeine drinks would help capture the teen market. 2. Place: Diversify its stores: Many critics had expected Starbucks to fail because of its strict no-smoking policy within its stores. The general Japanese customer prefers to smoke with food and drinks. But this strategy attracted many young health concious women who then accounted for Starbucks majority sales.(http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20020819slug=starbucks19). Although starbucks has so far managed to sustain its growth, competitors with a tolerance to smoking are providing good reason for its drop in sales in recent years. Hence,in order to attract a more varied clientele and improve profitability, Starbucks should make an exception in the case of Japan and introduce some stores that accept smoking; adapt to its culture. They could still stick to their rationality behind no-smoking environment to preserve the aromas flavors of the coffee beans(Starbucks website) by not allowing in-store smoking. Certain stores with a wider space facility could bring in open-air seating arrangemen ts. This way, those who wish to smoke can take a seat outside and enjoy a starbuck coffee. Another way would be to introduce balconies in some stores that have 2 or 3 storeys. Build on its in-store experience: Starbucks should build more in its store atmosphere rather focus on building drive-through outlets. In Japan 80% of the coffee consumers like to drink inside the store, while relishing the ambience.(chozick,2006). Although starbucks has an untarnished brand image, it should further build on its superior quality of store atmosphere in order to remain competitive and keep up sales. The hygiene of the stores, book readings, baby changing stations, sleek furniture and posh interiors are the key to its ability to provide a quality customer experience. Given that the majority of its customers are women and the Japanese love for the English language, it should transform certain sections of the store to accomodate a reading section that would comprise more of women oriented magazines and books that teach english. Choose a larger number of distribution units: Starbucks should improvise on its plan to introduce its instant coffee-starbucks VIA across convenience stores in Japan. It had announced the launch of its instant products in 11000 convenience and grocery stores in september. (http://www.finchannel.com/Main_News/Business/70201_Starbucks_VIA_Ready_Brew_Hits_Grocery_Aisles_Around_the_World/). By doing so, it has exposed its brand to the worlds largest instant coffee market. (http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63C1NG20100413). Now the availabity of starbucks instant products is not limited only to its retail outlets. However, the presence of its competitors( Nestle and Kraft) in the instant coffee segment is more widespread and well established. Thus, it should try to capitalise on Japans $5 billion instant coffee market by providing its instant products to more number of distribution units and seal its presence. 3. Price: Prices of instant products: Starbucks should consider reducing the price of its instant products to enable higher sales. Starbucks is to sell a box of 3 VIA instant soluble sticks for 300 yen, which amounts to 100 yen per cup, and a box of 12 sticks for 1000 yen. When compared, its competitor Nescafe has a rival offering of 15 sticks for 300 yen. (http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63C1NG20100413?pageNumber=2). Thus, there exists a wide price gap for its instant products and since Starbucks VIA will be occupying the same shelf space as Nescafe, Kraft etc., it would find it difficult to gain acceptance in the market. A customer would go up to the racks and find the rival offerings more viable. Hence, Starbucks should look to cut down its prices on instant products. It can afford to do so without the risk of diluting the brand image built on high end coffee, as the instant coffee would come without the experience of physically being in the store. Prices of in-store products: Starbucks prices of in-store products are higher when compared to its competitors. It is looking to further raise the prices of some 20 beverages and 5 coffee bean products. (http://www.japantoday.com/category/business/view/starbucks-japan-to-raise-coffee-prices). It should retain this pricing strategy as it differentiates itself from its competitors by providing an excellent quality customer experience. Also most of its outlets are located on expensive pieces of real estate in centralized, busy areas of Japan. 4. Promotion: Cultural Entertainment campaigns: Starbucks should come out with various cultural and entertainment campaigns to attract the Japanese youth, a segment of the society it has still not managed to woo successfully. Conclusion Starbucks is ahead of the rest in the Japanese coffee market, but there is still room for improvement. A decentralised structure accompanied with a mixed global strategy has helped the company to find a balance between reaching economies of scales and responding to the local market. By establishing a joint venture with local retail chain Sazaby Inc., it has reduced their risks of being unfamiliar with the market; and Starbucks has successfully gained the knowledge and channels of distribution from its partner. Starbucks strong brand image and customer loyalty has contributed to their maintaining a leading position in this market. By diversifying its target consumers and innovating its product line, it should be able to further strengthen its market share.

journeyhod A Journey into the Heart of Darkness :: Heart Darkness essays

A Journey into the Heart of Darkness   The white man is evil, or so says Joseph Conrad in his novel Heart of Darkness, which describes the colonial transformation of the symbolically angelic African wilderness into an evil haven for the white man.   The novel presents a psychological journey into the core of evil or "heart of darkness" in one's own mind, as he or she progresses through the jungle. The reader follows Marlow, the novel's narrator, along such a journey.   His psychological changes as he approaches the heart of darkness are evident, as the reader observes, in his views of the African natives, lying and Kurtz.     Marlow is an honest man.   He sets out on a genuine search for answers to his questions of exploration of the unknown "when (he) was a little chap" (Conrad 64).   Marlow was drawn to a certain place on the world map, called the Congo "the biggest, the most blank, so to speak---that (he) had a hankering after" (Conrad 64). Upon first entering the mouth of the Congo River, Marlow declares his stance on lies and those who lie.   [He believes that lying in the worst thing for a person.] He vows never to lie in his life.   After reading Kurtz's report about his progress down the Congo, Marlow finds that Kurtz lied, and in part loses all the respect he ever had for Kurtz.   However, Marlow still continues to pursue him.   Marlow continues his journey up the Congo River, penetrating further and further into the heart of darkness.   In the process, Marlow reverts back to his innate state to survive, whether or not that means going against his principles.   Finally, 200 mi les later, Marlow meets Kurtz, who is the object of his psychological desire, only to find him very ill.   After Kurtz's death, Marlow finds himself transformed into a person he thought he would never become, a liar.   Marlow lies to Kurtz's intended about Kurtz's last words when he returns to Europe. After being consumed by the heart of darkness, Marlow throws away his previous values as he reverts into a savaged, almost evil state of mind.     Though honest, Marlow is a prejudiced man; he is the epitome of colonialism.   Going into the Congo, Marlow views the natives as prehistoric evils in desperate need of white influence and civilization. Throughout the physical journey, Marlow is confronted with the natives time and time again, seeing them chained as slaves, living in a village and attacking his own steam boat.

Madness

Maddness and sanity are seen to be universally known opposites. They are as different as two things can get. They are generally seen to be balancing forces such as light vs. Dark, yin vs. Yang, and so on. In the Baccae, Pentheus represents sanity, while Dionysus represents maddness. However, Euriprides portrays the struggle between maddness and sanity as one sided, rather than an even battle. Through out The Baccae, Euriprides hints at maddness being the ultimately dominant force in the battle between the two.Various events in the Baccae show that Euriprides believes hat the battle between sanity and maddness is always in favor of the side of maddness, showing that maddness will always win in the end. In the Baccae, the seer Tiresias chastises Pentheus for not honoring Dionysus. Pentheus has been arguing that all the new god's rituals are crazy, and he does not want them allowed in his city, to which Tiresias responds; â€Å"There is no cure for madness when the cure itself is mad. † (22). Tiresias is trying to tell Pentheus that him that denying the madness that Dionysus brings is itself a crazy idea.Pentheus epresents sanity and order, and he is trying to keep his city from falling into the hands of the maddness that follows Dionysus. But no matter how hard he tries, the struggle is between a god and a mortal. There is no way for Pentheus to win. This is Euripides showing that it is basically futile to fght maddness, and that ultimately, we have no choice in the matter. Maddness is so dominant over sanity, that we it is a waste of effort, and things would be much easier if we simply succumbed to maddness.Speculating on the effect that Dionysus has brought with his presence, Pentheus ays; â€Å"So, like a wildfire it already hurries here, outrageously, this mass hysteria, disgracing us before the whole of Thebes. † (121) No matter how much Pentheus did to prevent madness from enveloping his city and his entire life, the power of madness is Just t oo strong. This quote shows the overwhelming power that madness has. No where in the Baccae does euripides show the awesome power that Pentheus, or sanity holds.Euripedes is again showing that madness is far more powerful than sanity. Although madness can be held off for a while, like the simile to the wildfire, ltimately, the wildfire that is madness will envelope that which it inhabits. The chorus sings; â€Å"Slowly but surely divine power moves to annul the brutally minded man who in his wild delusions refuses to reverence the gods. † (173)This is the Chorus alluding that to deny the gods is madness. This is an example that isn't an event of the story, but comes from the chorus, who arent involved at all with what takes place. his is evidence which shows us that Euripides really is trying to show how maddness is dominant, not Just through the events that take place in the Baccae. Euripes is really trying to show the overwhelming power that maddness wields. The very fact t hat the people telling us this worship a god who induces madness as a hobby is Euripedes reinforcing the idea that no matter what you do in the world of The Bacchae, or in life, maddness ultimately dominates.The messenger comes back to recount on what ne nas was toaming at the mouth Her eyes dilated rolled. Her mind was gone–possessed by Bacchus–she could not hear her son. (225) The natural instinct of a mother is to protect and care for her offspring. That is what her natural, maternal instincts consist of. The wellbeing of her offspring is any mother's natural, sane goal. So the fact that the maddness that Dionysus brings could make Agave rip her own son to shreds shows that maddness prevails over the sanity that Agave had. Agave was not known to be a particularly unstable character, so the fact that dionysius could drive her to commit such a terrible act to her own offspring leaves little hope for sanity prevail in the fght.Euripedes uses such a terrible and gruesom e example to show that madness is a terrible and owerful force. Euripedes is showing us a metaphore, where sanity is represented by Pentheus, and he is torn apart by the maddness that has taken his own mother. This is a terrifying way for Euripedes to show the imbalance between the two forces. After Pentheus tries to chain and torture Dionysus, The god tries to persuade Pentheus to change his mind. However Pentheus resists the persuasive power of the god. â€Å"l don't think so. You're setting me up for your tricks again. (984) This shows that maddness can be fought. Pentheus is remaining strong, and fghts bending to the will of Dionysus. There is power in sanity, and it can be used to battle madness. But this is Just Euripedes showing that sanity is not completely defenseless. It is not him showing that sanity can defeat madness in the end. Maddness can be battled, but it can never be defeated. This is showing that no matter how drawn out the battle with madness can be, the end re sult will always be madness dominating. Euripedes's outlook on the battle between sanity and madness is a bleak one.Tragedies are not supposed to be happy ending type of stories. Although Euripedes is saying that maddness will ultimately triumph over sanity, not everyone is confronted with that battle. Madness is not present in the lives of all living things. Euripides is saying that if madness presents itself, it will ultimately consume that which is puts itself upon. This is still a very bleak outlook on things, however it is only what Euripides is conveying through the Baccae. He may not even believe this, and if he does, there is no reason to believe he is correct. Madness Maddness and sanity are seen to be universally known opposites. They are as different as two things can get. They are generally seen to be balancing forces such as light vs. Dark, yin vs. Yang, and so on. In the Baccae, Pentheus represents sanity, while Dionysus represents maddness. However, Euriprides portrays the struggle between maddness and sanity as one sided, rather than an even battle. Through out The Baccae, Euriprides hints at maddness being the ultimately dominant force in the battle between the two.Various events in the Baccae show that Euriprides believes hat the battle between sanity and maddness is always in favor of the side of maddness, showing that maddness will always win in the end. In the Baccae, the seer Tiresias chastises Pentheus for not honoring Dionysus. Pentheus has been arguing that all the new god's rituals are crazy, and he does not want them allowed in his city, to which Tiresias responds; â€Å"There is no cure for madness when the cure itself is mad. † (22). Tiresias is trying to tell Pentheus that him that denying the madness that Dionysus brings is itself a crazy idea.Pentheus epresents sanity and order, and he is trying to keep his city from falling into the hands of the maddness that follows Dionysus. But no matter how hard he tries, the struggle is between a god and a mortal. There is no way for Pentheus to win. This is Euripides showing that it is basically futile to fght maddness, and that ultimately, we have no choice in the matter. Maddness is so dominant over sanity, that we it is a waste of effort, and things would be much easier if we simply succumbed to maddness.Speculating on the effect that Dionysus has brought with his presence, Pentheus ays; â€Å"So, like a wildfire it already hurries here, outrageously, this mass hysteria, disgracing us before the whole of Thebes. † (121) No matter how much Pentheus did to prevent madness from enveloping his city and his entire life, the power of madness is Just t oo strong. This quote shows the overwhelming power that madness has. No where in the Baccae does euripides show the awesome power that Pentheus, or sanity holds.Euripedes is again showing that madness is far more powerful than sanity. Although madness can be held off for a while, like the simile to the wildfire, ltimately, the wildfire that is madness will envelope that which it inhabits. The chorus sings; â€Å"Slowly but surely divine power moves to annul the brutally minded man who in his wild delusions refuses to reverence the gods. † (173)This is the Chorus alluding that to deny the gods is madness. This is an example that isn't an event of the story, but comes from the chorus, who arent involved at all with what takes place. his is evidence which shows us that Euripides really is trying to show how maddness is dominant, not Just through the events that take place in the Baccae. Euripes is really trying to show the overwhelming power that maddness wields. The very fact t hat the people telling us this worship a god who induces madness as a hobby is Euripedes reinforcing the idea that no matter what you do in the world of The Bacchae, or in life, maddness ultimately dominates.The messenger comes back to recount on what ne nas was toaming at the mouth Her eyes dilated rolled. Her mind was gone–possessed by Bacchus–she could not hear her son. (225) The natural instinct of a mother is to protect and care for her offspring. That is what her natural, maternal instincts consist of. The wellbeing of her offspring is any mother's natural, sane goal. So the fact that the maddness that Dionysus brings could make Agave rip her own son to shreds shows that maddness prevails over the sanity that Agave had. Agave was not known to be a particularly unstable character, so the fact that dionysius could drive her to commit such a terrible act to her own offspring leaves little hope for sanity prevail in the fght.Euripedes uses such a terrible and gruesom e example to show that madness is a terrible and owerful force. Euripedes is showing us a metaphore, where sanity is represented by Pentheus, and he is torn apart by the maddness that has taken his own mother. This is a terrifying way for Euripedes to show the imbalance between the two forces. After Pentheus tries to chain and torture Dionysus, The god tries to persuade Pentheus to change his mind. However Pentheus resists the persuasive power of the god. â€Å"l don't think so. You're setting me up for your tricks again. (984) This shows that maddness can be fought. Pentheus is remaining strong, and fghts bending to the will of Dionysus. There is power in sanity, and it can be used to battle madness. But this is Just Euripedes showing that sanity is not completely defenseless. It is not him showing that sanity can defeat madness in the end. Maddness can be battled, but it can never be defeated. This is showing that no matter how drawn out the battle with madness can be, the end re sult will always be madness dominating. Euripedes's outlook on the battle between sanity and madness is a bleak one.Tragedies are not supposed to be happy ending type of stories. Although Euripedes is saying that maddness will ultimately triumph over sanity, not everyone is confronted with that battle. Madness is not present in the lives of all living things. Euripides is saying that if madness presents itself, it will ultimately consume that which is puts itself upon. This is still a very bleak outlook on things, however it is only what Euripides is conveying through the Baccae. He may not even believe this, and if he does, there is no reason to believe he is correct.

Sharon Olds And William Shakespeare Essays - Sonnet 116, Sonnet 1

Sharon Olds And William Shakespeare Essays - Sonnet 116, Sonnet 1 Sharon Olds And William Shakespeare From the Present to the Future through the Eyes of Love Plato once said, At the touch of love everyone becomes a poet. What is Love? Love is an attraction based on sexual desires: affection and tenderness felt by lovers. (Merriam Websters Dictionary) We see a lot of love, marriage, broken-hearts, lust, and sex in today society but also in poetry we read by great authors. A poem such as Sharon Olds, Sex Without Love. Also from the past that knew the meaning of love through his plays, poems, and especially from his sonnets, William Shakespeare, Sonnet 116 Let me not the marriage of true minds. I will analyze each poem and sonnet and show my own point of view and show the similarities and differences. In Sharon Olds, Sex Without Love, she passionately describes the authors disgust for casual sex. She vividly animates the immortality of lustful sex through her language variety. Olds clever use of imagery makes this poem come to life. Her frequently uses of similes to make the audience imagine actual events. For example, Olds describes making love as Beautiful as dancers. (Sharon Olds, Line #2) In this line, she questions how one can do such a beautiful act with a person whom one is not in love with. Olds also describes sex as gliding over each other like ice skaters over the ice.(Sharon Olds, Line #3,4) She is referring to sex as a performance. Imagine an ice-skating performance, each ice skater is performing for judges and an audience to win an award. Olds uses this simile to relate people performing for one another. When two people truly are in love, there is no need for any special show or performance. Another simile the author uses is As wet as the children at birth whose mothe rs are going to give them away, (Sharon Olds, Line #6,7,8) to simulate a sweaty lovemaking scene. The simile light rising slowly as steam off their joined skin (Sharon Olds, Line #11,12,13) can also be used to perceive the same image of a hot, sweaty, and passionate love making scene. The author repeatedly questions how two people who are not in love can perform such a spiritual act. The simile As wet as the children at birth whose mothers are going to give them away, can also be used to represent the outcome of lustful copulation. When two people engage in sexual activities, a large percent of the mothers choose to ignore the outcome and either abort or give their children up for adoption. Olds compares the lovers with great runners. (Sharon Olds, Line #18) In this simile, she implies that lovers are alone with their own pleasures. Olds questions this selfishness throughout the poem. How can two people be alone in pleasure, when sex is supposed to be both physically and emotionally shared between lovers? Olds uses hyperbole to describe her belief that sex and God are entwined. These are the true religions, the priest, the pros, the one who will not accept a false Messiah, love the priest instead of the God. (Sharon Olds, Lines #13-17) In these lines she says that sex is more than pleasure, and if one is merely using sex for pleasure they are accepting a false God. She describes people as hypocrites who claim to love the lord, yet engage in immoral sex. In the lines, How do they come to the / come to the / come to the / God / come to the / still waters, and not love / the one who came there with them, (Sharon Olds, Lines #8-11) Olds describes two people climaxing. The choice of words wet, come, still waters, and came add to the suggestion of this climax. Olds uses the sexual imagery to address her subject as well as to convey a sense of intimacy. Olds perceives sex as spiritual, and wonders how people can bring a person with whom they are not in love with befo re God. Olds uses hyperbole to share her disgust of casual sex with her audience. Sharon Olds clearly despises people who engage in sex without being in love. She is able to emphasize her view in a tasteful