Prohibition Era Timeline

The Prohibition era was a period in the United States, lasting from 1920 to 1933, when the production, transportation, and sale of alcohol was outlawed. This period began with the passage of the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and was the culmination of decades of temperance movements. However, the era of Prohibition was not to last very long, for the 18th Amendment was repealed 13 years later with the passage of the 21st Amendment. Fast Facts: Prohibition Description: Prohibition was an era in American history when the production and sale of alcoholic beverages were outlawed by the U.S. Constitution.Key Participants: Prohibition Party, Womans Christian Temperance Union, Anti-Saloon LeagueStart Date: January 17, 1920End Date: December 5, 1933Location: United States Timeline of the Prohibition Era Although Prohibition itself lasted only 13 years, its origins can be traced all the way back to the temperance movements of the early 1800s. Many early advocates of temperance were Protestants who believed alcohol was destroying public health and morality. 1830s The first temperance movements begin advocating abstinence from alcohol. One of the most influential dry groups is the American Temperance Society. 1847 Members of Maines Total Abstinence Society convince the state government to pass the Fifteen Gallon Law, the first prohibition law. The legislation banned the sale of alcohol in amounts smaller than 15 gallons, effectively limiting access to alcohol to the wealthy. 1851 Maine passes the Maine law, banning the production and sale of alcohol. The law includes an exception for medicinal uses. 1855 By 1855, 12 other states have joined Maine in banning the production and sale of alcoholic beverages. Political tensions began to grow between the dry and wet states. 1869 The National Prohibition Party is founded. In addition to temperance, the group promotes a variety of social reforms popular with progressives of the 19th century. Topical Press Agency  / Getty Images 1873 The Womans Christian Temperance Union is founded. The group argues that banning alcohol will help reduce spousal abuse and other domestic problems. Later, the WCTU will focus on other social issues, including public health and prostitution, and will work to promote womens suffrage. 1881 Kansas becomes the first U.S. state to make prohibition part of its state Constitution. Activists try to enforce the law using a number of different techniques. The most peaceful demonstrate outside saloons; others attempt to interfere with business and destroy bottles of liquor. 1893 The Anti-Saloon League is formed in Oberlin, Ohio. Within two years, the group becomes an influential national organization lobbying for prohibition. Today, the group survives as the American Council on Alcohol Problems. 1917 December 18: The U.S. Senate passes the Volstead Act, one of the first significant steps toward the passage of the 18th Amendment. The law—also known as the National Prohibition Act—prohibits intoxicating beverages (any drink containing more than 0.5 percent alcohol). 1919 January 16: The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is ratified by 36 states. Although the amendment bans the production, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages, it does not actually outlaw their consumption. October 28: The U.S. Congress passes the Volstead Act and establishes guidelines for the enforcement of prohibition. The law goes into effect on January 17, 1920. New York Times Co.  / Getty Images 1920s With the passage of Prohibition, a large black market develops around the country. The darker side includes gangs of bootleggers led by figures such as Al Capone, the boss of an organized crime syndicate in Chicago. 1929 Prohibition agent Elliot Ness begins in earnest to tackle violators of Prohibition, including Al Capones gang in Chicago. It is a difficult task; Capone will ultimately be arrested and prosecuted for tax evasion in 1931. 1932 August 11: Herbert Hoover gives an acceptance speech for the Republican presidential nomination in which he discusses the ills of Prohibition and the need for its end. PhotoQuest  / Getty Images 1933 March 23: Newly elected President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Cullen-Harrison Act, which legalizes the manufacture and sale of certain alcoholic products. Support for Prohibition continues to wane, and many call for its removal. 1933 February 20: The U.S. Congress proposes an amendment to the Constitution that would end Prohibition. December 5: Prohibition is officially repealed by the passage of the 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Whiteness as a Field of Study - 2712 Words

Captain Ahab’s eulogy of whiteness shows that the word â€Å"white† implies more than a chromatic description. â€Å"White† is an untenable perfection that has haunted the American psyche since colonial times. The idea of â€Å"white spiritual superiority† can only be enforced by a terrorist politico-legal system, based on brutalizing the non-whites and creating a national fantasy. A national fantasy defined by Lauren Berlant as the means â€Å"to designate how national culture becomes local through the images, narratives, monuments, and sites that circulate through personal/collective consciousness.† As Captain Ahab disregards all his craft’s safety rules on his mad search of the white whale, the American politico-legal system disregarded its basic†¦show more content†¦It is a very new field with no journals, professional association, or annual conference. Whiteness itself is a historically constructed expression of the full-fledge d member of society or citizen. The parallel and evolving concepts of whiteness and citizenship are analyzed by the first scholars on the field, such as Richard Dyer, Vron Ware, David Roediger, and Ruth Frankenberg. Benefits of Whiteness One of the most important themes on whiteness studies is the benefits of being white, such as the privilege and power associated with being identified as white. In immigration and legal history the main benefit is citizenship. In order to assert ones right to citizenship, it meant proving that one was white. For the Irish, Italians, Jews, and others, becoming white was something that had to be earned. Citizenship gave full political rights, and it was proof of whiteness. Under a strong influence of the main arguments of The Rise and Fall of the White Republic, Roegiger’s book The Wages of Whiteness reveals that whiteness has never benefited all whites equally, but some latter scholars dispute that many whites had no benefits at all. The author’s aim in this text is to explain the role of race in the development of organized labor, and to give whiteness its rightful place in that story. The white workers got a reward for their â€Å"race† loyalty with both finan cial and broader benefits. Their freedomShow MoreRelatedWhiteness and Citizenship971 Words   |  4 PagesCaptain Ahab’s eulogy of whiteness shows that the word â€Å"white† implies more than a chromatic description. â€Å"White† is an untenable perfection that has haunted the American psyche since colonial times. The idea of â€Å"white spiritual superiority† can only be enforce by a terrorist politico-legal system, based on brutalizing the non-whites and creating a national fantasy. A national fantasy defined by Lauren Berlant as the means â€Å"to designate how national culture becomes local through the images, narrativesRead MoreWhiteness Of A Different Color1363 Words   |  6 PagesMatthew Frye Jacobson’s Whiteness of a Different Color offers innovative insight into the concept of â€Å"race† and the evolution of â€Å"whiteness† throughout American history. Jacobson focuses his analysis on the instability of racial identifi cation over time and how race has been created and perceived throughout different stages of history. He states in his introduction that â€Å"one of the tasks before the historian is to discover which racial categories are useful to whom at a given moment, and why† (pRead MoreBeauty Standards For Black Women839 Words   |  4 Pagesviewed as closer to whiteness, and may have actually been closer to whiteness due to enslaved women being raped by White slave owners, and as a result may have been given special privileges such as house duties instead of field duties (Wallace, Townsend, Glasgow, Ojie, 2011). Slaves who worked in the home were not only figuratively closer to whiteness, but physically closer to the White family and had access to books and other items that were off limits to field slaves. A study done a few years agoRead More Toni Morrisons Sula - Black on White Violence Advocated in Sula1059 Words   |  5 Pagesin that coach yonder?...We dont low no mistakes o n this train. Now git your butt on in there. As Nel and her mother progress further south, even the public toilets marked COLORED WOMEN disappear: the women are forced to relieve themselves in a field of high grass on the far side of the track, and Nel eventually learns how to fold leaves expertly. Later in the novel, Sula and Nel are tormented by four white boys in their early teens, sons of some newly arrived Irish people, who occasionallyRead MoreAs I Reflect On The Process Of Writing This Rhetoric Analytic1610 Words   |  7 Pagesthings like changing policies to benefit students or to help teacher development. The two educational research articles Dressed and Groomed for Success in Elementary School Student Appearance and Academic Adjustment, and Critical Race Theory and The Whiteness of Teacher Education are two articles that will be rhetorically analyzed and thoroughly compared throughout this paper. Although these two articles are scholarly and educational, they do differ in conditions like the articles’ context, the overallRead MoreBereavement As A Woman Of Color Strength Essay1550 Words   |  7 Pages Tummala-Narra’s (2007) case study of Lisa I decided to consider bereavement as one of my DSM-5 diagnosis. In consideration to the information provided in Lisa’s case. It is known that bereavement is intense grief and longing for the deceased. This pain is expressed in mental, physical, emotional and social reactions. In particular to Lisa s case she exhibits mental, emotional and social reaction as a result of her parent’s death. In comparison to separation anxiety disorder is the fear of losingRead MoreThe Human Body And The Functions Of It1310 Words   |  6 Pagesof a being that is more acceptable in society. Studying the human body and the functions of it is the study of human anatomy and physiology. Anatomy and physiology are typically important to the study of medicine. But to study medicine, all types of sciences it is a requirement to study multiple types of sciences. On the contrary, to study the different types of sciences does not require the study of anatomy and physiology. Victor Frankenstein was not originally interested in the human frame. InsteadRead MoreThe Black Of Black Is Ugly1529 Words   |  7 Pagesprevalent notion of white or light-skinned superiority. As recorded by Thompson, â€Å"Conceived of a legal or cultural property, whiteness can be seen to provide material and symbolic privilege to whites, those passing as white, and sometimes honorary whites† (Thompson, 2001). By symbolic privilege of whiteness, one means notion of beauty and intelligence identified with whiteness, which in the same time in an implicit way exclude blackness and darkness. Extensive research in the United States has documentedRead MoreWhat Other Variables Contribute And The Composition Of Racist Ideology? Essay1173 Words   |  5 Pagesevery case study, every possible intersectional variable should be integrated to the assessment. Although, my childhood is situated in a completely different country to that of chosen case study, there is a substantial commonality between each environment: spatially isolated, white-dominated, with higher prevalence of racism. Hence, there is a likelihood of the measurements – geographical location, educational attainment, age, and gender -- of the South to be applied to the social field of Mill BayRead MoreHaiku Poem1723 Words   |  7 Pagesmeaning of the world into a simple pattern of poetry, showing an independence of objects and hidden disclosures in small things. Below is a poem of Basho’s economical depiction of a scene the poet saw on his travels, in which a boy was in a field. The situation draws the reader’s attention because the boy does not look at what he is doing, but looks at the moon. Basho notes the boy’s feeling of reluctance in doing his task, which is grinding work, while looking at the moon. a farmer’s child

Technology and Social Media Free-Samples-Myassignment

Questions: 1.Analyse the website of Hobbiton tourism Operator.2.Consider Hobbition website and makw at least two recommendations of what could be better on there website and how would it make it more appealing? Answers: 1.Overall look and fee The overall look of the site is marries very well with the theme or the movie. It sets you in mood of seeing magic with its grayish laced with brownish color background. The scenic pictures rolling in the site emphasizes what experiences awaits the potential client will should he/she books for the tour at the site. The prices are favorable considering the value the client will get from the tour. Hobbiton charges $79.00 for adults of 17+ years, $39.50 for the youths of age between 9-16 years and free charge for children of age between 0-8 years but with at least one full paying adult. Experience the magic of Hobbiton. (2017). Hobbitontours.com. Retrieved 1 May 2017, from https://www.hobbitontours.com/ Ease of navigation The site is very easy to navigate. All the major parts are located at the top page from where you can click your way to the piece of information you are looking for. You can also roll down to the bottom part of the site easily as it is relatively short distance where you can find more pieces of information that guides you on what the tour is all about. Experience the magic of Hobbiton. (2017). Hobbitontours.com. Retrieved 1 May 2017, from https://www.hobbitontours.com/ Accessibility of information All the necessary information is easily accessible, from the description of what the tours for the new visitors to the booking icons where you can get the pricings. The social media links are top most, a very important feature where you can easily keep tabs with tours on many aspects such as Promotions available. Experience the magic of Hobbiton. (2017). Hobbitontours.com. Retrieved 1 May 2017, from https://www.hobbitontours.com/ Depth of the website The website has quite sufficient depth with major information captured on top part of the home page. It contains the pricing tabs indicated book now where you can easily find information on how you can book for your tour and the pricings in adult, youth and children indicated. The tab also encourages the client to do early bookings to avoid disappointments because the Hobbiton Tours sometimes experiences full bookings and clients visiting the place for the tour without pre-booking may not have a chance to experience the movie at that time due to full booking. The site also has tab for events and functions from where you can get information regarding all the events lined up by the Tours and you can plan yourself accordingly and even do a pre-booking of the event you like from the schedule posted on the website. It has pictures rolling sideway that give you a glimpse of the experience to expect in the actual tour/movie, a very important piece of information that helps the client to mak e quick and easy decision whether he/she likes the place or not. The site has gone ahead to explain various aspects of the tour, what is it all about especially for the visitors who come from different parts of the world except England and New Zealand, who might not be conversant with the movie but would like it if an explanation is done to them about what the tour entails. Experience the magic of Hobbiton. (2017). Hobbitontours.com. Retrieved 1 May 2017, from https://www.hobbitontours.com/ 2.Enlarge social media icons I think the social media icons at the top of the homepage could be made a little bit bigger, this where the Tour engage with the clients long after they have left the place. So it needs to be conspicuous and larger to make them more visible and more clients will likely follow or like their social media pages for further engagement and repeat clients. (Tolkien, Anderson, Hammond, Scull, Tolkien, 2004) Short online movie preview Different clients have different tastes. There are those who will prefer to have a preview of the actual tour first as a short movie and there are those who would prefer to have all the experiences as new. The site can provide short preview movies for the former client at a fee. (Tolkien, Anderson, n.d.) References Experience the magic of Hobbiton. (2017). Hobbitontours.com. Retrieved 1 May 2017, from https://www.hobbitontours.com/ Tolkien, J., Anderson, D. The Hobbit and the lord of the rings. Tolkien, J., Tolkien, C. (2010). The war of the ring. London: HarperCollins. Tolkien, J., Anderson, D., Hammond, W., Scull, C., Tolkien, J. (2004). The lord of the rings. Boston, Mass.: Houghton Mifflin. Tolkien, J. The two towers.

Limousine Service Company

This is a performance management framework of a Limousine service company which has just been started in Austin, TX. The company’s workforce comprises of 25 employees who are expected to steer it in achieving the targeted scales in the market. The company expects a 5% revenue growth for a couple of years to come.Advertising We will write a custom coursework sample on Limousine Service Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More An annual employee turnover rate of 10% is also another significant target which the company expects to achieve in the near future. Our business strategy alone will not enable us reach our targets, and therefore, there is need for more action to be applied through performance management. The company will have to incorporate a few management approaches that are essential for business success in its operations. Following is an overview of some of the key approaches that are appropriate for the business an d a summary of how each of them will be developed to give the desired results. Performance Management Framework This refers to a set of business practices that would tend to play a key role in helping organizations achieve their business goals in the market. These practices are crucial for business success, since they help to improve the management strategies applied by business organizations, thus enabling them to execute their roles better and more effectively (Ferreira Otley, 2009). As the foundational element of business success, performance management has become a common tool of success in modern-day business environment. Performance Management Framework refers to a comprehensive platform which is designed by an organization to serve as its guideline towards a successful execution of the performance management process. The development of a performance management framework is necessary for any business that needs to be successful in its operations. Through this platform, everyo ne who is part of the organizational structure of any company is empowered with everything that is needed to make a positive contribution towards the overall performance of the business. In order to be successful in our operations as a Car Service Company, we shall have to come up with a strong performance management framework that matches our organizational business strategy. Our main goal is to ensure that the targets we have set for the business are achieved within the shortest period possible.Advertising Looking for coursework on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For instance, we expect $50,000 annual net revenue in the first year of our existence in the market and a 5% revenue growth for a couple of years, among other things. These targets may be difficulty to achieve within the projected timeframe, especially for a company such as ours which has just ventured the market. However, this obstacle can be e liminated through the development of a viable performance management framework that will enable effective management of operations across all sectors in the company. Our performance management framework will mainly constitute of management approaches that are likely to bring a significant impact in the contemporary business world. The model will feature both basic and integrated processes that fully define our business objectives and goals. More importantly, the model will be used to measure performance, analyze performance, review performance, and report performance, among other key aspects. The figure below is a simple illustration of how basic performance management processes can be used to improve business operations within the company. In order to achieve maximum benefits, the company will do everything possible to ensure that there is a perfect alignment and integration of key business processes with the performance management framework. Some of these processes include, but are not limited to, performance reporting, programme management, financial planning, staff or employee management, benefits or rewards, and risk management.Advertising We will write a custom coursework sample on Limousine Service Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Integration of technological aspects in business has been a key aspect of success for many organizations nowadays. In this regard, we shall embrace the power of technology and apply it in our performance management practices to improve the overall corporate performance. This process would entail the use of modern technologies and state-of-the-art applications to enhance our performance management practices. By aligning these performance management practices to our organizational business strategies, we shall be able to analyze our progress and make good decisions that would eventually lead to improved business performance. The figure below illustrates some advanc ed performance management approaches that would be aligned to the business strategy in ensuring that projected business goals are successfully achieved. Organization Performance Philosophy Performance philosophy refers to a set of specific and attainable goals or objectives developed by organizations to serve as a basis for the business strategy. In order to register outstanding business results, we shall have to clarify our business strategy and try to align workable practices and systems to that specific strategy. There are certain things which matter a lot in business, and these are the things that come first when it comes to business performance management. These things are the fundamental principles of the business that should be followed by each and every person in the organization, ranging from the high-profile employees to the lowest-ranking people at the company (Giacalone Jurkiewicz, 2003). Following is a set of principles that define our performance philosophy.Advertisi ng Looking for coursework on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The strategy of the organization is clear and understandable to every person who is a contributing factor to our business goals such as employees, shareholders, and customers. Employees are viewed as the greatest asset of the organization. In this regard, they should always be engaged in activities or practices aimed at improving their performance in business such as training, benefits or rewards, and recognition in work. With these rewarding engagements, the employees can play a key role in the running of our business, thus contributing towards its success in a significant manner. People should focus not only on what is important to accomplish, but what adds value to our business. The management task is constantly changed from supervising people in work and solving rising issues to defining the business strategy, offering useful resources, and establishing suitable working and business environments where people would feel satisfied. People, especially the workers govern themselves by being adherence to the spirit of commitment and existing principles instead of strict working policies. People within the organization are well organized into working teams that would be responsible for handling reasonable segments of work in the workplace. Work processes and systems are tailored to support the business strategy. Performance appraisals are better enough to achieve their main goal of improving individual and organizational performance as well as effectiveness in work. The business consistently registers better outcomes for itself and for the customers or clients. Job Analysis Process Job analysis or performance analysis is the process of observing certain aspects in an organization to determine in detail the type of interventions that are needed to make appropriate improvements in those areas. In this regard, information about certain aspects such as employee responsibilities and duties, skills, performance, conditions of work, and working environment will be ga thered on a regular basis to determine the most appropriate interventions that are needed for business improvement. More importantly, this analysis will also play a key role in preparing job specifications that would in turn help the organization absorb the right people in its workforce. Following is a job analysis process that would be used to identify the skills needed by the employees. Information Collection This is the initial stage of job analysis or employee analysis whereby relevant information is collected and analyzed to identify their strengths and weaknesses in business (Brown, 2002). Here, key information about the targeted persons is gathered using various methods such as questionnaires, observation, and interviews, among other approaches. Some of the common observation elements here will include things such as performance, customer or client satisfaction on services offered to them, employee enthusiasm in work, and turnover, among other aspects. Reviewing Background In formation Once all the information about employees has been collected, it is compared with previous information whereby the differences are noted down along with their possible determinants. Skills Assessment Once the collection of information and review of past performance has been done, it is time for the assessment process. Here, the targeted employees will be taken through a self-assessment to determine their skill levels in various performance areas. Developing Skills Description This is the final step of job or employee analysis whereby a final draft showing the employees and their skill levels is prepared based on the information gathered in the above steps. The personal qualities, knowledge, and skills needed by each employee to perform better in their work are summarized. Methods Used For Measuring Employee Skills Employee skills in business are measured and determined using a variety of methods as follows:- Productivity Tests Productivity tests are applied on a regular bas is to determine whether the workers do possess the skills needed to successfully meet certain business expectations. The primary test here is to determine how better employees can handle different assignments allocated to them in the workplace. In this case, workers’ strengths and weaknesses are identified using qualitative approaches, thus enabling the management to take the most appropriate interventions. Job rating checklist This is a method of performance appraisal whereby the evaluators are supplied with templates bearing statements or questions about specific aspects of skills or ability. In this case, the workers are needed to respond with either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to answers that apply to their skills or abilities in work. Questionnaires The use of questionnaires is a common approach when it comes to employee skill testing. In this approach, questionnaires targeting the skills one possess in handling some aspects of performance in the workplace ar e prepared for the evaluators to give their feedback on a rating scale. The feedback acquired is then analyzed to determine the skill of the workers in those areas. Interviews These are one-on-one experiences between supervisors and their workers where the latter are interviewed about their skills and what needs to be done to make them more talented in their work (Tansky Cohen, 2001). In this case, both closed-ended questions and open-ended questions are used to evaluate the employees’ expertise or skills on various areas of performance. Multi-racer assessments This is an assessment method where people who may include managers, colleagues, and in some cases, clients are asked to respond to brief questionnaires about a particular worker, particularly regarding their skills and abilities in work. The worker also completes a similar questionnaire and the final results are tabulated for comparison. Process for Addressing Skill Gaps Skill gaps refer to differences between a compa ny’s current capability situation and the skills it requires in order to achieve its business goals. After identifying the skill gaps through the interventions discussed above, the training professionals in the company work along with the managers to create a plan that will address the matter appropriately. Skill gaps can seriously impact the overall performance of businesses, and therefore, it is necessary for any company to deal with the issue in a proper manner to avoid losing its competitive advantage in the market (Keep, Mayhew Payne, 2006). Following is the process that would be used to address skill gaps in our company. Setting Strategic Direction The first action is to plan about the things that need to be checked and applied. This involves understanding where the business is headed. In this case, the business management body will review the strategic plan and identify the practices that are necessary in helping the business meet its objectives. Skills Analysis Analy sis of the current employees’ skills and abilities for every job carried out in the company. This way, it would be easy to identify the existing skill gaps and the desired action plans. Using the information gathered from the evaluation, it will be easy for the managers and supervisors to come up with an educational program that would effectively address these gaps. Generating an Action Plan Once the gaps have been identified, it is now time for the process of closing the gaps to begin. Here, decisions about key interventions such as training and restructuring are made. Plan Implementation This is the most significant part of the process where the plans generated are applied using the most appropriate actions to enable the company achieve its goals. Approach for Delivering Effective Performance Feed back According to Aguinis, Gottfredson and Joo (2012), effective performance feedback can be achieved by ensuring that the principles of performance management are well aligned to the business strategy. This process begins with the establishment of attainable business goals and linking them to the aspects of higher level of management. Following is a four-point approach that can be used to deliver effective feedback performance in the company. Aim for Self-evaluation Managers should try to establish constant dialogue platforms throughout the year to relieve employees from tensions that tend to accompany unexpected evaluations. In this regard, employees would be aware of their performance weaknesses in time, thus raising them themselves to their managers or supervisors. This helps to reduce the perception that supervisors are being overly critical. Putting the Individual First It is important to establish a safe working environment where people can feel relaxed to express themselves in a free manner. On this note, managers and supervisors should be careful with the way they express themselves to their subordinates. While the use of wrong tone can distort the message being passed, a smart tone will make them more understandable to their subjects. Developing objectives, making accountability explicit, and reinforcing The reviews made should be based on the future and not the past. Managers should try to figure out what is moving on the right direction and what is not and apply the necessary interventions to make improvements. Employees should be well informed of the changes expected from them and how they should go about their tasks. Good communication will also help to establish key objectives in business. Tolerating discord, but being specific Even though it is not easy to avoid conflict, it should not be allowed to get personal. Disagreement makes people turn against each other, thus bearing undesirable outcomes to business. In this regard, it is always good to point out such behaviors and the consequences associated with them. The main aim of performance-oriented communication is to bring people together, not to separate them. Referen ces Aguinis, H., Gottfredson, R., Joo, H. (2012). Delivering effective performance feedback: The strengths-based approach. Business Horizons, 55(2), 105-111. Brown, J. (2002). Training needs assessment: A must for developing an effective training program. Public Personnel Management, 31(4), 569-578. Ferreira, A., Otley, D. (2009). The design and use of performance management systems: An extended framework for analysis. Management Accounting  Research, 20(4), 263-282. Giacalone, R. A., Jurkiewicz, C. L. (2003). Handbook of workplace spirituality and  organizational performance. New York: Me Sharpe. Keep, E., Mayhew, K., Payne, J. (2006). From skills revolution to productivity Miracle – not as easy as it sounds? Oxford Review of Economic Policy, 22(4), 539-559. Tansky, J. W., Cohen, D. J. (2001). The relationship between organizational support, employee development, and organizational commitment: An empirical study.  Human Resource Development Quarterly, 12(3), 285-3 00. This coursework on Limousine Service Company was written and submitted by user Jimena H. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Importance of continual self

Importance of continual self Continual self-development is important in achieving organisational objectives. Individuals must develop their behavioural principles in relation to understanding of the organisational goals.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Importance of continual self-development in achieving organisational objectives specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Therefore, in order to ensure validity of ones knowledge and organisational objectives, people must always engage in continual self-development in order to understand organisational objectives and principles the organisation upholds (Whetten and Kim, 2011). Past studies have demonstrated that skilful management of people in competent areas is the main determinant of organisational success. These studies confirm the fact that any organisation that wants to succeed must have competent and skilful managers. Continual self-development makes individuals aware of their current level of skill competency and motivated to seek improvement in order to increase achievement of organisational objectives. Continual self-development enables individuals to receive feedback about their level of skills and competency. Some organisations do not provide feedback to the employees. Thus, continual self-development is the best method for individuals to get feedback. Organisations may also give assessments with limited scope and may also leave out most critical skill areas. Continual self-development helps individuals know what skills to improve so as to achieve an organisations objectives. It also gives people opportunities to embrace changes in developing and implementing new behaviours. Self-development also highlights ones strength and weaknesses in relationship to organisations objectives. Consequently, knowing where to improve becomes easy in enhancing self-development. Continual self-development enables individuals to apply their wealth of knowledge from trainings to real world s ituations where defined organisational objectives are the key indicators of achievements. Therefore, such experiences and knowledge enable people offer adjustments with regard to organisational objectives and changing times.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Assessment of current skills and competences against defined role requirements and organisational objectives Current skills and competence Defined roles and organisational objectives Verbal communication and listening Increase both customer and subordinates services and experiences through effective communication, and listening Managing time and stress Meet tasks deadlines and avoid backlog and related stress Recognizing, defining, and solving problems Identify problems, gather information and offer immediate solution Managing conflict Use different approaches in conflict management to resolve persona l conflicts and group conflicts Team building Enhance team work through participations Delegating Give power and tasks to subordinates Motivating and influencing others Increase job performance, influence, and motivate the subordinates Identification of development opportunities to current and future defined needs The current and future development opportunities are mainly skills a manager needs to move up in management opportunities available in an organisation. These skills include working well with others and presenting good image of the firm. At the same time, knowledge and technical competence the job may require, and promoting team works, conflict management and resolution. Development opportunities may also include knowledge of the firm’s business, reporting and knowledge of accounting for non-accountant managers (Tichy, 1999). Construction of personal development plan A manager personal development consists of career aspirations, financial achievements, socia l growth, and personal growth. These ideals should also reflect the values and beliefs, and aspirations of an individual. These plans must also be measurable with both short-term and long-term goals. A simple template will look like this (American Management Association, 2000). Goals Year One Year Two Year 4 Career and professional growth Attend seminars and trainings for professional growth Advance education qualification Seek for high management position/promotion Social achievements Create a circle of friends at the workplace and outside Enhance social involvements with the top management Personal Always take interest in family affairs Dedicate times for leisure and family, and spiritual and emotional growth Planning for resources required for personal professional development Identification of resources required to support the personal development plan Resources which an individual may need to support his or her personal development may include financial resources, training and training materials and realistic, time schedules. Likewise, there should also be adequate provision of information. Organisations must empower people by providing the resources needed in order to enhance individuals’ development plans. Development in others will enable them accomplish their tasks and meet both the personal and organisational objectives (Allan and Waclawski, 1999). Organisations attempting to enhance other people’s empowerment by providing them with needed resources will ensure that they receive adequate and ongoing training, and development experiences. Organisations must also provide sufficient technical and administrative support to ensure success. Organisations will give their people space, time, or equipment that may not be readily available otherwise.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Importance of continual self-development in achieving organisational objectives specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/pag e Learn More They will ensure that these people have access to communication or interpersonal networks that will make their jobs easier. Individuals can also be given discretion to spend money or commit resources to activities that they consider necessary (Berscheid and Walster, 1978). Development of a business case to secure the resources to support the personal development plan Organisational Information Resources Management (OIRM): The OIRM is a business-based IT business case developed to address some of the business needs, such as support working of the managers, support strategic business objectives of organisation departments, and provide a common vision of the planning, staffing, acquisition, management and shared use of IT throughout the organisation. This business case requires â€Å"organisation’s resources such as time, knowledge, financial resources, training and implementation† into the organisational IT system to support personal developm ent plan (Huselid, 1995). Implementation and evaluation of personal development plan Discussion of the processes required to implement a personal development plan Implementing a personal development plan requires concrete experience. This process involves listening, feelings, and weighing options. It enables a person to feel connected to his or her personal development goals and grade them in terms of importance (Cameron and Quinn, 2006). Implementation of personal development plan also involves a process of reflective observation. In this process, the individual thoroughly thinks about the content of his or her personal development plan. At this stage, the person may change or remove some of the unrealistic objectives in the plan. Implementation of personal development plan also involves abstract conceptualisation of ideas. At this level, a person forms concepts and generalise them in order to create concrete ideas (Goleman, 1998). Once an individual has evaluated the above process , he or she starts an active experimentation of the development plan. This involves putting new concepts into practice in order to determine their suitability, success and consequences on ones development plan (Boyatzis, 1982).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Evaluation of the personal development plan on the achievement of defined role requirements and organisational objectives According to Kolb (1984), evaluation is an essential process in the implementation of one’s personal development plan (Kolb, 1984). This is because it enables an individual determines the level of achievement with regard to personal objectives and determine their overall consequences in personal growth and knowledge of the job. Personal growth is an ongoing process. Thus, the person must increase in all areas regardless of excellence achievement. On verbal communication and listening, a person may have a high rating towards achieving excellence customers’ experience and services, but these activities are continuous and customers are different. Therefore, an individual must constantly improve on new ways of meeting new challenges (Rogers, 1962). Managing time and stress can sometimes be among the most difficult aspects of personal development and org anisational objectives to achieve. This is because time is scarce and may result into a backlog of work. Consequently, a person may experience stress as a result of time. Therefore, keeping constant track of available time and work is the best method to manage time and work related stress (Harris, 1981). Recognizing, defining, and solving problems are areas of fundamental concerns to individuals and organisation. Therefore, personal evaluation must pay close attention to issues, which a person may perceive and recognise as problems and then offer immediate solutions. However, this is usually difficult because some problems take time to mature. Therefore, immediate solutions may not be possible in such circumstances (Moore, 1987). Managing conflict is mandatory for any person and organisation. Evaluation reveals that conflict present itself in many forms. In this regard, the person must be able to apply their theoretical knowledge in determining the best approach in handling emergent forms conflicts (Sternberg, 1996). Team building process involves other members of the organisation. Organisations which succeed rely on team work of its members. Therefore, any manager who wants to increase his or her chances of promotion in the organisational ladder must embrace team work among the organisation’s workforce (Watson, 2000). Review and update of personal development plan A personal should strive to improve in all areas of personal development plan particularly in serious cases of major weaknesses. An individual has noted his or her weakness in areas of managing time and stress, conflict management and some aspects of communication. The person should study hard in order to and pay attention to details in order to grow such knowledge within a short-term period (Bell, 1998). During learning processes, an individual is likely to improve in knowledge-based theoretical models of handling organisational conflicts, challenges, and gain a high qualification needed for achieving personal goals and organisational objectives. If the person faces problems in cases where solutions are hardly available, then in he or she must engage in a wide consultation in order to formulate a solution to such problems (Cox and Beal, 1997). Supporting and promoting staff welfare Discussion of relationship between staff welfare and organisational objectives Barney and Griffin note organizational goals have four main functions (Barney and Griffin, 1992). They offer guidance and direction, enhance planning, motivate and encourage employees, and help organizations evaluate and monitor performance. Organizational defined objectives direct staff of the organisational goals and staff welfare and how it intends to achieve them. When employees require making difficult choices regarding their welfare, they may refer to the organizations defined objectives for direction. Objectives enhance planning to determine how organisation can achieve in staff welfare issues. Workers ofte n set goals so as to determine their needs; thus, organisational defined objectives can motivate and enhance performance of workers, and by extension staff welfare. Evaluations and monitors of staff welfare give an organisation a chance to compare its actual performance to its goals and staff welfare and then it improves in poor areas. Explanation of the process for assessing staff welfare An individual may assess the staff welfare using factors such as health, safety and general conditions of working environment. There are also other social issues that we can use to assess staff welfare. These include age discrimination and retirement age, pregnancy in the workplace, childcare and careers, bullying and harassment, violence against workers, domestic abuse, diabetes, obesity, alcohol and drug use, smoking, counselling, volunteers and volunteering, and improving working lives of staff. Identification of action taken by the manager in dealing with a staff welfare issue In cases of hand ling a staff welfare issue especially a problem with behaviour, we can use different approaches. We can monitor and record an individuals unusual behaviour that is disturbing. This focuses on cases of defensive staff. Then, ask the staff if he or she has an issue of importance that he or she wants to discuss. Listen to what the employee has to say (Lawler, 1992). Once we call the staff, we must inform him or her about the meeting issue. An employee that is defensive should provide additional information regarding the unusual behaviour. Conversely, if employee admits challenging behaviour, then we can ask employee what he or she can do about the problem. In this process, we must help such staff come up with their own suitable solutions (Bass, 1990). Regardless of the results of the meeting, a follow up of the case is necessary. This enable us understand the issue and see clarity. We should let the employees solve their own issues. However, an employee should always acknowledge a prob lem. As managers, we must demonstrate to the employees that we support to them. Description of how to communicate responsibilities for staff welfare to the team Communicating staff welfare to team is necessary. However, we must have effective communication methods in order to impact the team. Occasionally, issues of staff welfare are controversial as they contain both positive and negative issues. We must show responsibility for staff welfare through informing them about the positive aspects of the welfare. This may relate to safety, health, and working environment issues. On the other hand, we should also not ignore issues touching on abnormal behaviours and poor performance. We should always encourage suggestions and feedbacks from the employees. Discussion of records that may be maintained to demonstrate support of staff welfare There are certain staff records which organisation must keep for staff welfare issues. Organisation must keep records concerning employees pay rates and pay roll. These records show that the organisation complies with the statutory requirements with regard to staff welfare in terms of minimum wage and welfare deductions. The organisation should also keep records related to staff health and safety requirements, injuries, and accidents. Working hours and overtime records are also necessary for management. Organisations can use these records to identify workers who are working overtime; thus putting their work-life balances, or health at risks. Therefore, such records are useful in limiting the working hours a given employee can work each day. Organisations must also keep every worker records. These records include training and appraisal. Managers can determine training needs of an individual by using his or her training and appraisal scores. Such scores identify areas of weaknesses and strengths. Staff welfare records should also show employment history including job titles and subsequent promotions. Staff welfare should also cover ge neral terms and conditions of an employee’s status. Other staff details which organisations should include in staff, welfare records include sickness, absenteeism, lateness, and any other non-permitted absence. Personal details are also mandatory parts of welfare of every employee. In general circumstances, organisation should also keep records related to meetings with employees’ representatives about their welfare and grievances, disciplinary action against any employee, negotiations of staff demands, and any other collective or individual agreements with the employees. The law also requires organisations to keep such data. However, staff welfare details and related information can benefit any organisation in many ways. First, management can link human resources with the output, services, and production needs. Second, it is easy to defend any claims in case of a dispute between the organisation and employees. Third, records related to performance of every employee mak e it easy to evaluate performance and output of every worker. Records also provide ground for fair treatment of potential job seekers and employees. Staff welfare also takes into account the number of staff available for a given job. Therefore, management relies on such records in assessing the needs for recruitment and replacement of redundant workers (Rigby, 1998). Reflective Statement This course has satisfied my expectations and provided me with valuable knowledge in conducting management practices to address the various challenges of the global workplaces. International issues and applications of various theories and practices to support different behaviour of diverse workers help students to understand the behaviour of employees and working environment toward certain policies and practises at workplace. At the same time, the fundamental lessons the course objectives has provided regarding personal and professional development in line with the defined organisational objectives form a basis for understanding cross-cultural markets in the global context. Self-assessment gives every employee a chance for self-development and career focus. The course theoretical background provides valuable knowledge in how to apply such theories in a real organisational setting in a practical manner. Likewise, the research expertise the students gain will enable students to apply it in a real world where such knowledge is useful in solving future emerging trends in personal and human resources management. Group dynamics in a form of discussions about the course facilitated the group collaboration during the learning of this course. The students were able to interact freely and share their prior knowledge regarding the course. It enhanced a positive learning environment among learners of a different social and cultural background. It also increased individuals’ participation in group works. The group discussions helped students address some of the practical challenges in the course materials. It is the best model that facilitated learner and learner interaction. Students were able to develop and critique different texts on human resources, career growth and personal development and come up with conclusive results. The course also presented valuable opportunities for peer interactions, evaluation and intercultural learning. Peer interactions improved students motivation, course and intellectual development and communication skills. Most principles of learning identify interaction as among the most essential in undergraduate studies. This resulted into development of cooperation, active learning, and instant course feedback from the faculty. Reference List Allan, H and Waclawski, J 1999, ‘Influence behaviors and managerial effectiveness in lateral relations’, Human Resource Development Quarterly, vol. 10, pp.3–34. American Management Association 2000, ‘Managerial skills and competence’, National survey by AMA, March –April 2000, vol.1 no. 1, pp. 1-50. Barney, J and Griffin, R1992, The management of organizations: Strategy, structure, behavior, Houghton Mifflin, Boston. Bass, B 1990, Handbook of leadership: Theory, research, and managerial applications, 3rd ed, Macmillan, New York. Bell, C 1998, Managers as mentors, Barrett-Koehler, San Francisco. Berscheid, E and Walster, H 1978, Interpersonal attraction, Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA. Boyatzis, R 1982, The competent manager: A model for effective performance, Wiley, New York. Cameron, K and Quinn, R 2006, Diagnosing and changing organizational culture, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco. Cox, T and Beal, R 1997, Developing competency to manage diversity, Barrett-Koehler, San Francisco. Goleman, D 1998, ‘What makes a leader?’, Harvard Business Review, vol. 76, pp. 92–102. Harris, S 1981, Know yourself? It’s a paradox, Associated Press, New York. Huselid, M 1995, ‘The impact of human resource management practices on turnover, productivity, and corporate financial performance’, Academy of Management Journal, vol. 38, pp. 647-659. Kolb, D 1984, Experiential Learning: Experience As The Source Of Learning And Development, Prentice Hall, New Jersey. Lawler, E 1992, Employee involvement and total quality management, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco. Moore, T 1987, ‘Personality tests are back’, Fortune, vol. 1, pp. 74–82. Rigby, D 1998, Management tools and techniques, Bain and Company, Boston. Rogers, C 1962, On becoming a person, Houghton Mifflin, Boston. Sternberg, R 1996, Successful intelligence, Simon Schuster. New York. Tichy, N 1999, The leadership engine, Harper Business. New York. Watson, D 2000, Mood and temperament, Guilford. New York. Whetten, D and Kim C 2011, Developing management skills, 8th ed. Pearson Education, Inc, New Jersey.

Idealised love in the Portuguese and The Great Gatsby

Idealised love in the Portuguese and The Great Gatsby Free Online Research Papers Elizabeth Barret-Browning’s ‘Sonnets from the Portuguese’ and F. Scott. Fitzgerald’s ‘The Great Gatsby’ both reflect, in abstract style and varying contexts and elements, the experience of idealised love, hope and mortality. The elements employed by Barret-Browning and Fitzgerald, differ in their depictions of these themes through various literary devices, two of which are ‘points of view’ and ‘motifs/symbols’. Barret-Browning’s sonnet sequence illustrates a complex evolution of emotions as the poet moves through sorrow, self doubt, passion, fear, and ultimately profound exhilaration and joy, even in spite of the restlessly lingering thoughts of her own death, whereas, ‘The Great Gatsby’ follows the tale of young Nick Carraway, a seemingly pure man from the West, who decides to journey to New York to make his money in the stocks and bonds market. In New York, he is met with a story of love, lust, ad ultery and murder; it is a telling of the death of the American Dream, and the downfall of those who attempt to reach its illusory goals. ‘The Great Gatsby’ is a novel that takes place during the roaring twenties, or an era otherwise known as the Jazz Age. A time of prohibition and experimentation, the novel portrays both the chaos and loss of morals that many during that time experienced. In ‘The Great Gatsby’ Fitzgerald opted for a complex structure and a controlled narrative point of view, thus giving the novel a greater air of realism, written in a limited first person perspective, with Nick Carraway serving as the narrator and the only true voice. This deliberate inclusion forces the reader to experience the events in the novel, first hand, in addition to this, Nick is careful not to tell the reader things he himself does not know, this is one of the reasons that the novel is so convincing, Nick seems to be the only rational person, and he is the one relaying the events to us. Although Nick makes a connection with all the major characters throughout the novel, there is no better connectio n than with that of Gatsby, he becomes Gatsby’s’ confidant and with this is the change in Nick’s emotions, as well as the way he narrates the novel. Nick is fundamentally a listener to and observer of Gatsby and his world before he is a narrator. Before he can tell Gatsbys story, Nick suspends and enters Gatsbys world, accepting his terms of discourse. It is precisely by articulating both his faith and his doubt about Gatsby that Nick becomes a model for the reader in addition to being a writer and storyteller. As Gatsbys mood and character changes throughout the novel so does Nicks view of him, thus affecting the readers perspective. Gatsbys radiant and understanding smile is the sole characteristic about him that allows Nick to fade in and out of his loyalty and love for Gatsby â€Å"There was something gorgeous about him†. Having Nick as the narrator gives a different perspective on what he gathered from the situation. Where Gatsbys story lacks in sto rytelling quality Gatsbys very phrases were worn so threadbare that they evoked no image† an opportunity is presented to Nick to fill in Gatsbys emptiness with lyrical prose, his absence with perfect metaphors, and his silence with words for the feelings that Nick imagines his hero must have felt. With Nick as the narrator we are able to weave through the intricate lives of the characters. The notion of idealised love is presented through the relationship of Gatsby and Daisy, or rather, Gatsby and the idea of Daisy. Gatsby builds an image of Daisy representing happiness and love. The time between his conscription and return perpetuates this mental image. Though Daisy does not measure up to the idealistic image Gatsby has established, he cannot see past the beautiful illusion. This represents the falsehoods of a supposed single dream to suit all people, and bring happiness to all who pursue it. Gatsby believes he is seeking happiness and love, but his journey is corrupted by the materialism and amoral lifestyle present in Fitzgeralds time. Just as the Dutch sailors first set eyes on the fresh green breast of the new world, Gatsby sees this spiritual optimism in the green light- a motif in the novel. The death of Myrtle and the concept of mortality is represented through Nickâ⠂¬â„¢s use of expressive language, he states â€Å"where Myrtle Wilson, her life violently extinguished, knelt in the road and mingled her thick dark blood with the dust†, this expression of life’s tragic end here is complemented by Nicks use of imagery, we are left with the raw image of Myrtle lying on the floor in displaced agony stark message to readers that life is not perpetual and everlasting. Hope is depicted through Gatsby’s chase of the American Dream, he does not rest until this is finally fulfilled, it never becomes truly realized and he ends up paying the ultimate price of his life for it. Gatsby is blinded by the illusions that stand between him and happiness. Gatsby perceives Daisy to be his happiness, but Daisy is not. Fitzgerald examines the American Dream by autopsy, through the reflective narrator. Though the principles of the idealistic dream still exist, highlighted by Gatsbys ambition and drive to improve himself, the morality behind the d ream has been substituted by money, resulting in decadence, corruption and distinct class divisions between people. Fitzgerald represents the corruption and the demise of the original, idealistic American Dream with the death of both Gatsby and Wilson- two men who make a living, and strive to better themselves with new money. Gatsby however was disillusioned by his belief that money could buy him happiness. They both possess the gift of hope, but the established order crushes them, he had a romantic readinesssome heightened sensitivity to the promises of lifeit was an extraordinary gift of hope The Victorians followed the Romantics in believing in the connection with the sequence of regeneration, renewal and recycle. Barret-Browning’s sonnets offer Victorian ideals of marriage being the ‘proper’ way to reaffirm love. Whilst Barret-Browning’s newfound love provides the impetus behind the Sonnet sequence it also, for the Victorian reader, epitomises the appropriate poetry for women to write, because, it showed a woman in her best role loving and expressing sentiments of love. The poet speaker is the subject (subjecting) and the result is an intellectual exploration of love and the examination of the illusion of a love connection, which is not permanent, eternal and unconditional. The poet attempts to look past all that and essentially generates universal themes about humanity through the use of language and symbology. Barret-Browning successfully revived the form of the Italian sonnet developed by Petrarch in the 14th century and also expands tradi tional conventions of such a form to include feminine variation that was yet unseen. Barret-Browning’s precise application of this rigid long established masculine structure allows her innovative feminine deviations to emerge. Usually the speaker of the sonnet is a male, praising a silent, or absent female object of worship, here, however, the female object is in fact the speaker of the poem and a participator rather than an observer. She is not ‘golden’ or ‘lovely’ but instead dark, ill, and close to death. Throughout the sonnet sequence love is portrayed as continually changing the person or people experiencing it, almost as if it were a kind of remedy and therapy. â€Å"I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.† Sonnet LXIII. The language of this abstract image portrays love to be unconfinable. This is emphasized by â€Å"when feeling out of sight† as the image of the love is portrayed as being further that can actually be seen which accentuates the boundless image of love. The poetic voices’ â€Å"soul† adds to the this image as a soul is not an object which can be contained within the body as it knows no bounds, and so the portrayal of love can be viewed as eternal. This image also depicts the magnitude of love as the language of â€Å"depth and breadth and height† shows how vast the love the poetic voice feels. The structure is a vital tool to the poet when portraying love and relationships in the poem. The poem itself is written in iambic pentameter and it is this structural point that enforces â€Å"depth† a nd â€Å"breadth† and â€Å"height† to be verbally stressed. This enforces the idea of the endless boundaries and the magnitude of love and relationships within this poem. The accentuation of these words highlights them within the line making them key words and stand apart from it. Another structural point is the use enjambment; this can highlight many aspects of love and relationships, which are trying to be conveyed. The enjambments of the lines add to the portrayal of love knowing no limits at both enjambments. The lack of punctuation also serves a structural purpose â€Å" I love thee to the depth and breadth and height† and reiterates the boundless image of love, as the punctuation cannot disrupt the line and so is elongated. Sonnet XIII puts forward the question of â€Å"can language represent the experience or is it just an echo of experience?† The sonnet begins with an indignant refusal to put into words the value of love, then changes into an ina bility, in being able to comprehend the human experience of love. The poem uses traditional feminine stereotypes to express the value of love. Her ‘woman love’ being a symbol of the soft feminine curve Victorian women were expected to fit into. Complementing the author’s element of point of view, both authors use symbology and motifs to express the ideas of idealised love, hope and mortality. There are three main motifs and symbols used in ‘The Great Gatsby’, they are, the Green Light at the end of Daisys dock, the Valley of ashes, and the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg. The Valley of Ashes is a physical desert one that is a direct representation of the notion of futility or no hope, it symbolises the spiritual desolation, that a society based on money creates. The Valley of Ashes exists as the illustration of the lower-class society as well as the loss of morals and disgrace of humanity; it represents the modern world a grotesque hell created by modernity. Terrible place, isnt it, said Tom, exchanging a frown with Doctor Eckleburg. The eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg serve as an omniscient God in the dying society Fitzgerald seeks to depict. His huge and unblinking celestial eyes add the presence of something higher that constantly watches and looks down upon the valley. The icon of Dr T. J. Eckleburg, being a figure of American success, conveys commercial values and the loss of spirituality as he represents an inverted God who â€Å"sees all†. Amidst the materialistic values of the wealthy, Gatsby is isolated, ironically outcast from the upper classes, as suggested by Nick’s dejected tone at Gatsby’s funeral, â€Å"but it was no use – nobody came†, revealing the shallowness of the affluent in the 1920’s and emphasising the delusion of honest relationships and despondency that surrounds Gatsby. The only sign of hope to resist such structures of capitalism is T.J. Eckleburg, the eyes that watch over the Valley of Ashes. These God-like eyes watch over the land, showing that even though the working class may not have the same comforts that the elite enjoy, they will always have the comfort of ‘God’. However the eyes are described as â€Å"huge, flat, empty eyes†, â€Å"they look out of no faceas they brood on over the solemn dumping ground.† they symbolise a dead God staring blindly out at the moral decay of humanity and the meaningless garbage that societies lives had become. Each character evades the consequences of his/her actions and hides from moral values which religion demands, but the eyes are immune to social class or beauty and focus entirely on the harsh reality of one’s actions. Eckleburg is also used as a symbol of mortality, throughout the novel Fitzgerald suggests that symbols only have meaning because characters fill them with meaning. The connection between the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg and God exists only in George Wilsons grief-stricken mind; Wilson later points to this saying, God sees everything before going on his murderous rampage. The lack of solid meaning contributes to the disturbing nature of the image. And so, the eyes also come to represent the meaninglessness of the world and the uncertainty of people. The green light, being the most apparent physical metaphor represents hope, it is a multi-faceted symbol that represents Gatsbys hope and longing for Daisy and the extent he was willing to go to in order to recreate the past. As Nick comments at the conclusion of the text, Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but thats no matter tomorrow we will run faster, stretch our arms out farther Here Fitzgerald extends the symbol of the green light to the audience and invites them to continue to hope and dream against the odds. Barret-Browning’s use of motifs and metaphors throughout the sonnet sequence demonstrate the notions of mortality and hope by invoking stark and verdant imagery. Sonnet I depicts a despondent speaker, lying in darkness, grieving for the past, when suddenly a mysterious shape enters the room overtaking her. By now, well prepared to meet her end, she receives an unusual surprise. Barret-Browning has here personified death. The imagery of seizure, power and conflict invoke a sense of mortality and fragility. The poem is a stepping stone for the progression of emotion. It expresses depression and sadness felt most of her life, as well as illness and isolation. Sonnet XXII expresses mortality in terms of the more physical end of the spectrum. Here the poet suggests that love need not be bound on earth, that love is associated with stillness rather than activeness. The poem asks why strive for heaven when it can be achieved here on earth. Darkness and death appear to always be a part of her life giving into death/darkness is giving into the unknown. Sonnet XXXII states that a heart which is quick to love must also be quick to hate. When the poet looks upon herself in this poem she wonders if she is worthy of love? The poet casts herself as a musical instrument and relays that she is no more than an out of tune worn viol and that a good singer (the male entity) would be wroth to try and play. The symbol of the viol is used to illustrate the idea of hope. That perhaps the instrument might be restored. The male is cast as the musician with his ‘master hands’ while the woman is cast as the ‘instrument defaced’ deferri ng back to traditional Victorian values. The very last word, doat once again presents an element of doubt â€Å"maybe this is too quick and foolish?† Sonnet LXIII includes geometrical symbolism, the first couplet is used to convey ever expanding love ‘as far as the soul can reach’ when in the spiritual realm. The poet now understands that there isn’t anything special or glamorous about the business of love, it is unheroic and unromantic. Love has this everyday existence that reaches for the sun and stars but also ‘everyday’s most quiet need’. The reader is now of the understanding that grief and melancholy is of the past, yet she will put the same emotional intensity into love that she had previously put into her old griefs, thus ending the sonnet sequence. In the end ‘The Great Gatsby’ and ‘Sonnets from the Portuguese’ both great love stories one of consequence and another of timelessness written in different times in which literary/societal norms were defied by the authors, they serve as calamitous admonitions and manifestations of our own desires for idealised love, hope and mortality. The portrayal of these themes by Barret-Browning and Fitzgerald are both embodied through symbolism/motifs and the point of view of the speaker, which in turn create tantamount ideas of idealised love, hope and mortality. 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The Nature of Truth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Nature of Truth - Essay Example Charles Darwin suggested the theory of evolution, by natural selection. He collected multiple pieces of evidence to support his idea so that he can make the idea realistic to the people. After looking at all the evidence, he came up with the conclusion that the theory of evolution was the beat explanation that he could come up to support the discoveries that he found during his research (Scott, 2008). The history of all living things is usually documented in the multiple lines of evidence, which form a convergence and tell the story of life as time passes. The first piece of evidence of evolution is found in fossil remains that have been discovered in time. These fossils serve as snapshots of history, and they are used to illustrate the evolutionally changes that have taken place over time. Fossil remains started being discovered as early as in the seventeenth century. Each new fossil that is discovered brings new clues as to the understanding of human history (Scott, 2008). Other evidence ids brought about by the study of embryology and the observation of similarity between species. Embryos of early vertebrates look similar. These species differs in their genetic structures due to the genetic changes that every organism undergoes so as to adapt to the environment, evolution was also brought about by natural selection where nature choose the beat species that are best adapted to the environment (Scott, 2008). The theory of evolution is supported by many pieces of evidence; Biogeography is the study of a number of species in an area over a given period. This study gives the idea that if the evolution theory is true, then species that are related should be found in the same geographical area this is in the exemption of the animals that have a high mobility rate like birds (Scott, 2008). There are other theories that are against the theory of evolution. These theories include the creation theory, the big bang