Is Iago The Perfect Villain? Essay

Few Shakespearian villains radiate evilness and jealously quite as much as Iago, the unbeknown nemesis of the play’s title character, Othello. In other plays written by the bard of Avon the villains can come across as one-dimensional- weak, personified by a flaw in their genetic make-up or unattainable ambition yet Iago is a far more complex and compelling character. True, he has the power to both betray and murder those he once worked alongside, but Iago isn’t the complete cold-blooded murderer in the same sense of Macbeth or King Claudius from Hamlet. True, he meticulously plans the death of Cassio but he plans it to be by hands of Rodrigo, his puppet. In the end opportunity presents itself to Iago and he seizes the moment to stab Cassio in the back but the blow fails to kill him. Iago also reveals a moral conscience through his three soliloquy’s which I will explore in more detail later. In short Iago is like no other of Shakespeare’s villains which makes him an utterly compelling and absorbing character. And like the other characters in the play, Iago delights in absorbing us, the viewer†¦ The tragedy of Othello was believed to have been first performed in the early 1600’s and is one of Shakespeare’s more famous plays. The play is also rich in historical context and features the Moorish race heavily, leading many to believe it was influenced by a visit to the capital of the Empire by the Moorish ambassador, who is said to have met with the ruling monarch. In the play, only Iago voiced an explicitly stereotypical view on Othello and his race and, the fact that Iago is the main villain of the play, means most scholars view the play as Shakespeare’s statement on society, notably that people are the same, regardless of skin colour- a message many would do well to remember in this current day and age. The fact that Iago is the only character to mention Othello’s skin colour is also signs of one of his weakness- the fact that he is blinded by stereotypes. This character trait is explored further by Shakespeare in Iago’s soliloquies. The play Othello is one of Shakespeare’s tragedy’s, ending in a dramatic, breathtaking climax. The proud, noble and trustworthy character of Othello promotes his young solder Cassio ahead of his more experienced ally Iago, setting off a chain of events which eventually ends with the demise of Othello, his young wife Desdemona and Iago himself. Twisted with jealously and rage Iago sets out to manipulate and exploit Othello’s trustworthy nature, instead revealing him to be slightly naà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ve and gullible. After a series of Iago-inspired mis-understandings, Othello believes his wife to be sleeping with his new lieutenant, Cassio and thus commences to kill his wife. However not long after he fatally wounds his wife, he learns the truth from Iago’s wife and, after apologising to Cassio, kills himself. Othello is one of Shakespeare’s only plays where the villain of the piece speaks more lines then the title character or protagonist. This fact reflects Iago’s incredible contribution to the play and also sets the tone for the story- for the most part we see things from Iago’s perspective as, after the audience, Iago has the most knowledge on what is going on in the play. You could even argue that, at times, Iago knows even more than the audience, which is a trait of a true, compelling villain. We never know what face Iago is going to show next, never know what move he is going to make, partly helped by the fact that for long stretches of the play Iago is in â€Å"good† mode. He is seemingly kind, loyal and truthful to Othello, all signs of a true friend. It is only through the intimate soliloquies that the real Iago comes to the fore. Othello’s race is particularly important in the play, despite the fact that only one character slurs his race in the play: Iago. Othello is frequently called â€Å"The Moor† in the play, implying he is either of African descent or simply just a Muslim. The fact that Shakespeare does not allot Othello a specific race could be due to the fact that he wanted his audience to see that race isn’t crucial in understanding a person or character and only the narrow minded (or evil, like Iago) would see race as a barrier. The fact that Othello is not native to Italy is especially important to the play and it’s affect on it’s audience: it makes Othello’s demise more saddening and guilt tinged as Iago has manipulated a man of a different culture and robbed the only person who he felt a real, strong connection with and, who in turn, respected him back- Desdemona. In many of Shakespeare’s other plays, the phrase: â€Å"actions speak louder then words†, could be applied to the villain of the play. Many of the villain’s true characters are revealed when they are committing their piece of true evil however with Iago, it is the opposite way around. He keeps up a false face when around Othello; â€Å"pouring pestilence into his ear† with his â€Å"heavenly shows† and this is arguably the greatest of Iago’s many evil deeds. He is manipulating Othello, influencing him. This is one of the many factors that could be seen as making Iago into the â€Å"perfect villain†. Unlike other villains of plays from the same age, Iago isn’t a butcherer, a thug. He is cold, calculative- a sadist. Yet he is also intelligent, which would have frightened the Elizabethan audience watching. His intelligence and sadism are revealed in his three soliloquies, which I will explore in this essay. â€Å"Thus do I ever make my fool my purse:† Iago’s first soliloquy, included in Act one Scene 3 opens on a sinister, malicious note. This is the first line he speaks to the audience and the audience alone and Shakespeare has made it as twisted and warped as possible. Shakespeare knows that in the soliloquies he will try to gain Iago some empathy but, he is still the villain, and with a line like this opening his first soliloquy, Shakespeare doesn’t let us, the audience, forget it. Iago is commenting on how he is able to make money from fools, from manipulating them. He shows instantly that he exploits people and revels in it. He is boasting to the audience, proud of his achievements. The words â€Å"my fool† also imply that he is in complete control of the people he decides to manipulate, suggesting that he is in a â€Å"Godly† sort of position. He is also inferring that the latest fool that is â€Å"making his purse† is Othello, a man revered by others for his honest and noble nature. Shakespeare is contrasting Othello’s just nature with Iago’s snide, evil nature, juxtaposing their characters and personalities. Iago could also be referring to his accomplice Rodrigo. Despite working closely with him, Iago is only using Rodrigo as a puppet. In an ironic twist, Iago is doing to Rodrigo what made him so angry in the first place. He is overlooking Rodrigo and instead totally committed to the demise of Othello. Similarly, Othello overlooked Iago and instead lavished his praise, and a promotion, on Michael Cassio. The line: â€Å"I hate the Moor, And it is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets† is the first real example of Iago’s moral conscience struggling to break through in the soliloquy. On first glance, the line seems as malevolent as ever, Iago calls Othello not by his name, but by his race: Moor. Iago is also commenting on how some â€Å"abroad† (possibly referring to when he was away fighting with Othello) suspect that Othello has slept with Emilia, Iago’s wife. Indeed, it seems on first glance that the line is meant to make Iago even more evil, as it sounds like he has a solid motive for wanting to ruin the life of Othello. But when one reads between the lines one can begin to see Iago’s inner moral dilemma. After all the lines dedicated to describing how fair and just Othello is, it is highly unlikely that Shakespeare wrote this line as truth. Indeed, he is more likely to be hinting at Iago’s more sensitive nature. Iago was once a great friend of Othello’s and popular with the rest of the men. Many former solders comment on the bond shared between men on the battlefield, a love and commitment so strong that many would willingly lay down their lives for their comrades, fully aware of the possible consequences. Iago and Othello would have most likely have shared this connection, and it would have been impossible for Iago to lose it overnight. Iago is simply trying to justify his actions, in a perverse way he is almost pleading with them to accept why he is angry, and to not see him as a villain. This shows Iago’s morality and makes his character progression in the play all the more startling. Throughout the play, we see the small amount of morality Iago possesses diminish whereas in some of Shakespeare’s other plays, the villains are evil from the start, leaving them more detached from the audience and making it incredibly hard for the audience to direct any empathy towards them. The final two lines of Iago’s first soliloquy: â€Å"I have’t. It is engendered. Hell and night, Must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light,† show once more that Iago knows what he is doing is wrong, but also hint at the fact that he has forgave any chance of redemption, and knows that his future will end in the death of his former friend, and the loss of his soul to evil. Whether this pains him, however, is never fully explored or revealed by Shakespeare. The quotation also compares Iago to the Devil, which would have shocked the Jacobean audience. People of this time would have been devoutly religious and the devil would have frightened them, as he was seen as the ultimate evil. The phrase â€Å"hell and night† implies that evil often materialises during the night, during the darkness, which juxtaposes the image of heaven and light, which could be associated to Othello. This is slightly ironic as the character of Othello is black, yet he is the â€Å"light† character being manipulated by the â€Å"black† Iago. The adjective â€Å"monstrous† proves that Iago is aware of his wrongdoing. Yet when used in his soliloquy, used after he passionately describes his plan, the word sounds very ominous and sinister. One gets the impression that Shakespeare wanted the actor portraying Iago to spit the word to the audience. The word â€Å"birth† also suggests that Iago is comparing the manifestation of his evil plan to a newborn baby. This links in with the idea of Iago hating women as he has a rather shallow relationship with Emilia and mentions in the play how he thinks women are good only for sex. In the soliloquy, by describing his plan has having a â€Å"birth† he is slurring females, as his plan is one of evil and vindictiveness. Iago’s second soliloquy continues where the first left off and provides us with a number of reasons for why Iago is so hell-bent on Othello’s destruction. Throughout this second soliloquy the possible motives of Iago progress from the rumour that Othello slept with Emilia, to the more disturbing and disconcerting motive of Iago desiring Othello’s love before destroying him, the idea of Iago being thrust into a â€Å"Godly† position. The first possible motive Iago mentions for wanting to destroy Othello is jealously. â€Å"I do suspect the lustful Moor hath leaped into my seat†¦like a poisonous mineral doth gnaw my inwards,† is evidence of this possible motive. All other evidence in the play categorically proves that it is incredibly unlikely that Othello would have slept with Emilia and it is possible that Iago too understands that Othello wound never cheat on Desdemona. However Iago finds that he has to lie to himself to keep strong and to help justify his actions to the audience, proving that he must feel some guilt. Iago is also comparing the jealously he feels to an animal or a monster â€Å"gnawing away at his inwards†. This comparison links with another line Iago speaks, however this time it is directed to Othello, not the audience. In Act 3 Scene 3 Iago tells Othello to: â€Å"Beware†¦the green eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on.† In this case Shakespeare is b eing extremely ironic, as it is Iago who has succumbed to jealously and let it change his character forever, not Othello who loses his better judgement momentarily and then repents in the final scene. Iago shows in his second soliloquy that he sees people as tools, ready to be manipulated, hinting at the sense of detachment he feels. The lines: â€Å"Which thing to do, If this poor trash of Venice, whom I trash,† show this aptly. After becoming so consumed with jealously, greed or whatever is driving him on, Iago now feels no real emotional connection with ordinary people. In fact the only true relationship he has with another person is the perverse relationship he shares with Othello. Despite hating Othello, he still desires his love and praise. Iago is extremely confused and, after recoiling away from Emilia’s love the only person he feels any connection with is Othello. This makes him an extremely perverse and sadistic character, which could go some way to making him the â€Å"perfect villain†. Unlike other evil characters, who want their foes dead so they can achieve power or peace Iago has despised Othello so much that his hatred has gone full circle, and he has ended up now desiring Othello’s love again, as proved by the line: â€Å"Make the Moor thank me, love me and reward me†. This kind of relationship makes Iago seem slightly unstable thus making putting the audience one step behind Iago. Iago could commit nearly any possible action after this statement and it would still seem believable to the audience, as they recognise him as slightly un-hinged. Whereas other villains, such as Macbeth, are limited in what they can do before the story becomes too unbelievable, Iago can do just about anything as he harbours a wide range of emotions for Othello- love, respect and, ultimately, hatred. This ultimately contributes to him being the perfect villain, he is unrestricted, Shakespeare can take his character anywhere and the audience will never be able to second- guess him. This is proved in perfect fashion in the last scene of the play, where Othello and the guards confront Iago. When pushed for a reason for destroying the lives of so many people, Iago simply says: â€Å"Demand me nothing. What you know, you know. From this time forth I will never speak word.† This epitomises the character of Iago. Throughout the play, Iago evidences his love of talking and communicating and, when presented with no other characters to interact with, he instead communicates with the audience in his soliloquies. Therefore many would be forgiven for thinking Iago’s final stand involves a hail of angry metaphors and lies, as he finally lays into Othello. Yet instead he remains cool and hideously restrained. He doesn’t fulfil what people think he will do, making him unpredictable, compelling and, ultimately, the perfect villain. Iago’s third and final soliloquy reveals just how evil Iago can be. He loses most, if not all, of the empathy the audience have gained from him in the space of nearly 30 lines, in preparation for the plays finale where Shakespeare presumably wanted all of the initial, spontaneous empathy to be directed towards Desdemona, Emilia and Othello. Iago slightly sarcastically plays on the title â€Å"Honest Iago† in his third soliloquy, after many of the characters start addressing him by this title. â€Å"And what’s he then that says I play the villain, When this advice is free I give, and honest,† are the two lines that open his final soliloquy. Whilst some people feel that Iago us trying to gain some empathy by implying he is not totally in the wrong I personally don’t believe Shakespeare wanted these two lines to be spoken seriously by the actor portraying Iago. I get the impression that Shakespeare wanted these two lines to be spoken slightly sarcastically, as Iago is boasting in this sequence. By having Iago boast so close to the dramatic and disastrous finale, I believe that Shakespeare is showing that, despite being extremely clever and in many cases the perfect villain, Iago is still only human. He is mistaken here, as Othello and the guards eventually find him out and it is Emilia who revea ls his deceit, which is very ironic as Iago isn’t quiet in his contempt of women and believes all women to be stupid. Iago carefully maintains a veneer of â€Å"honesty and trust† but like many people, his outward appearance belies a inner deception. Iago is commonly referred to as Machiavellian, a term coined for Prince Machiavelli. Machiavelli is famous for his political treatise, â€Å"The Prince† which espouses, among other things, that the ends to power always justify the means. Machiavelli was a well known villain in the Jacobean era but, importantly, he was also renowned for his intelligence. By comparing the two men, Shakespeare is making an important statement: Iago is no fool. In many of Shakespeare’s other plays, the villain of the piece is foolish and slow, but in this play, the villain is arguably the smartest of all the characters. This keeps the audience on the edge of their seats, making Othello one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays. The lines: â€Å"Divinity of Hell† When Devils do their blackest sins put on, They do suggest at first with heavenly shows,† show how Shakespeare compares Iago to the Devil, implying that Iago is the physical manifestation of evil. Contrary to popular belief, the Devil, or Lucifer, is or was not a fire-spitting, all-powerful behemoth. He was instead a fallen angel, once a trusted servant of God who eventually fell to Earth after letting ambition and greed cloud his judgement. The Devil also influences others by tempting them, in a similar fashion to Iago. Whilst prone to fits of rage, such as when he kills Emilia and wounds Cassio, Iago does the majority of his work through the spoken word. He is a master of language in a similar way that the Devil is the master of temptation. Shakespeare also uses an oxymoron, â€Å"Divinity of Hell!† to represent Iago’s conflicting personality. The phrase also somewhat represents Iago, as he is the slick, controlled face of evil, able to deceive and manipulate others, making him such an affective villain. Iago ends his final soliloquy with the two lines: â€Å"And out of her own goodness make the net, That shall enmesh them all.† Here, Iago is fantasizing about putting his plan into action. He is also once again revealing the sense of detachment he feels, he is planning on manipulating Desdemona’s innocence and purity into a weapon, thus highlighting the ruthless nature of his character. The fact that Iago sees these qualities as factors to be exploited sum up his nature in perfect fashion. Iago is an opportunist, a speculator. He is extremely apt in finding a gap in someone’s character and using it to fulfil his own needs. Whilst most would see this as a weakness, Iago sees it as strength and it serves him well until he is caught. The fact that Shakespeare compares Iago manipulating everyone around him to â€Å"enmeshing people† suggests that Iago is in a higher position than everybody else. He is rounding up the other characters, and delighting in the fact that it is Desdemona’s innocence that is luring people in. He is doing the dirty work whilst using another character o take the blame. In conclusion, I do see Iago as the perfect villain. He is opportunistic, ruthless and compelling, a perfect villain in so many ways. An Elizabethan audience would most likely have at first reacted very negatively to Iago, but such is the strength of his character that his motives for destroying Othello begin to be understood long after the play has been performed. Whilst at first he seems purely evil, upon further reflection you begin to see Iago as a victim, a victim of what ambition can do to a man. The soliloquies also help Iago gain, and lose empathy. Shakespeare uses them as a tool, an instrument in engaging the audience. First the audience feel sorry for Iago, before Shakespeare turns the story on it’s head and makes Iago utterly evil once more. This all contributes to making Iago the perfect villain; he is unreadable and unpredictable, unlike other Shakespearean characters that remain the same character throughout. Iago is constantly changing, evolving and developing.

The Importance of Marriage in Pride and Prejudice

Set in late 18th Century England, Pride and Prejudice depicts the search of women for the ‘inevitable' husband and of a male dominant society, within which no woman can be considered truly successful without the assistance of a man of ‘good fortune'. Austen addresses the common ideals of society throughout Pride and Prejudice, such as the monetary values of marriage and the need of a woman to find security for herself and her future children. The opening line of the novel reads ‘It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. Austen not only uses this line to introduce a key theme of the novel, but also hints at the underlining themes of the novel and at the irony and satire due to follow. This is also a use of proleptic irony, Elizabeth is considered as a woman who seeks true love, rather than a marriage based on the fortune of the male; however, upon seeing Pemberley Austen presents Elizabeth as considering money for the first time, the sheer size of the house impresses her and thus she cannot disregard its appeal. During both the 18th and 19th centuries marriage was regarded both a social and biological destiny for woman across all the classes. Austen portrays this belief through Charlotte Lucas whom after gaining some composure considers â€Å"Without thinking highly either of men or of matrimony, marriage had always been her object; it was the only honourable provision for a well-educated young woman of small fortune, and however uncertain of giving happiness, must be their pleasantest preservative from want† (Austen,J. 1853: 22). This amplifies the importance of the rejection of marriage by Elizabeth to Mr Collins, whom by the opinions of society at the time, the natural reaction for a woman in her situation would have been to accept. For she cannot afford to be overly choosy when it comes to marriage – earlier on in the novel Austen describes Mr Bennett cautiously going through the accounts of the estate, in which we are indirectly informed that the accounts are not looking positive. This marriage rejection is also relevant to the life of Austen, who we have learnt rejected a marriage proposal after overnight mentation. Marriage during the 18th and 19th centuries would be a whole family affair, and thus the effects of a marriage proposal or rejection would be felt throughout the generations. Families would look to ally themselves with other families of similar rank, hence marriage between cousins was common practice. This would ensure that both wealth and property would remain within the same family for generations via entailment, thus explaining the disappointment of Mrs Bennett upon finding out of the rejection of marriage between Elizabeth and Mr Collins. Moving to their husbands' establishment would often be the only possible freedom available to girls, though not to be confused in any way with independence, which girls at the time would be lacking. This was another reason that leading families would ally with one another, or often marry within – a family would never wish for their daughter(s) to be associated with a family of lower social value, and thus a smaller estate, or require any future financial support from them – this dependence would grow increasingly expensive and as Austen presents the Bennetts as a family with some financial troubles there is no question as to why she identifies the need for the daughters to be married off. With marriage being the ultimate goal for any young girl within Pride and Prejudice, events leading up to any such event are considered significant. For example, any balls or dances and the partnerships which develop within these; any ‘chance' encounters, such as meetings within town. Marriage would be a key theme of conversation within social circles of girls beyond puberty, the legal age for marriage was 16 (or the age of ‘coming out'), it was much desired by the age of 18 and would threaten to be beyond availability for girls of 20 or older. Girls would worry about being considered an ‘old maid' beyond the age of 20 which explains the desire that Austen presents Charlotte to have in ‘catching' Mr Collins and the warning that Mr Collins gives Elizabeth, who upon rejection of Mr Collins' proposal is already 21. Though the legal age of marriage in England was 16, due to the Marriage Act of 1853, it is assumed that Lydia and Wickham elope to Gretna Green in order to complete their marriage, rather than be living in sin and thus have society look down on them as an unlawfully acquainted couple – in Scotland was not necessary to live in each others' company for a minimum of 3 weeks prior to marriage like it was in England, thus allowing for an instant marriage. Much like the partnership between Darcy and Elizabeth we are made to wait for them to be partners in dance, it is a recurring theme throughout the novel that the longer the time period before the first dance between a couple the longer the time period will also be before they are romantically interested in one another. â€Å"To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love† (Austen, J. 1853: 6), thus the reluctance of Darcy to participate in dancing earlier on in the novel marks his limited social availability. However he becomes more available to Elizabeth later on in the novel as Austen presents him as someone whom is interested in being acquainted with Elizabeth and thus he asks her to dance, though even the act of doing this is portrayed as being difficult for him to achieve. The partnership between Elizabeth and Darcy is a stark contrast to that of Jane and Bingley, which Austen develops from the introduction of the two parties – they dance at the first meeting of one another and are thus romantically involved with one another from this point. Mr Bennett is presented by Austen as a man who is interested in the happiness of his daughters, though namely Lizzy, he is rarely phased by the actions of Lydia, Jane or Mrs Bennett however upon learning of Mr Collins' proposal states â€Å"Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins†¦ And I will never see you again if you do. † (Austen, J. 853: 64) Austen uses this conversation as a means of demonstrating the understanding and respect that exists between both Lizzy and her father, with Mrs Bennett already having come to the conclusion that Mr Bennett would insist on Lizzy marrying Mr Collins, however in this scene Austen also manages to portray a subtle humour – we read earlier on in the novel of Mrs Bennett's ‘nerves' and this is just another example of Mr Bennett knowing how to vex her, with the reader remembering earlier on in the book when Mr Bennett states â€Å"You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these last twenty years at least. † (Austen, J. 1853: 4). With Lizzy being truly her father's daughter she knows that she will have the support of the parent who means the most to her, or at least the parent whom she is more interested in pleasing. Mr Bennett plays a pivotal role in the marriage of Lizzy, he has the final say on whether or not she marries Darcy, throughout the novel Austen doesn't portray any form of interaction between Mr Bennett and any of his other daughters or their respective partners regarding the issue of marriage. Though this may be due to Elizabeth's importance to the novel, we assume that this is also due to the value of her partnership with Darcy and how this is used to show her romantic development throughout the novel. Austen presents Elizabeth as a character who goes through the typically romantic process of falling in love with someone – both Elizabeth and Darcy must overcome a variety of obstacles in order for their love to Blossom, their story starts with bad first impressions of one another, with Lizzy assuming Darcy to be a pompous, arrogant man and Darcy being blinded by Lizzy's social inferiority. Austen wrote this novel based in an era within which girls being forced in to marriages for financial reasons was coming to an end and though monetary reasons were still considered a valid reason for marriage, or at least one for which marriage would be considered acceptable by one's family, people were also marrying due to love for one another. Lizzy represents the new era within which love is the main reason for marriage or courtship, we recognise this as Lizzy is aware of Darcy's fortune from an early stage of the novel, however she dismisses him due to his arrogant behaviour – if Lizzy was only interested in his wealth, or if this were the reason of her interest in Darcy then Austen would have ensured that she, like her other sisters, flaunted herself in front of a male of such high social value. Austen represents marriage for the ‘wrong' reasons with the marriage between Mr and Mrs Bennett. With Mr Bennett having previously married Mrs Bennett for her youth and good looks, with Mrs Bennett declaring â€Å"I certainly have had my share of beauty, but I do not pretend to be anything extraordinary now. â€Å", he now finds his only happiness through private study or mocking his wife, referring to her ‘nerves' as his ‘old friends', with his witty humour being too complex for her to understand and thus not being able to tell when he is using sarcasm. This sarcasm is a trait which Lizzy shares, for example in Chapter 28 when describing Miss De Bourgh, Lizzy states â€Å"She looks sickly and cross. Yes, she will do for him very well. She will make him a very proper wife. † This use of juxtaposition is rife in Austen's work and is often used for comic effect. Austen uses the juxtaposed relationship between Lizzy and Darcy to present us with an example of marrying for love, rather than superficial reasons which are evident throughout the novel. Examples such as Mr Collins and Charlotte Lucas, or Lydia and Wickham are doomed to fail, or at least to result in the severe unhappiness of the parties involved due to the basis of the relationships being built on financial security or social status. Lizzy and Darcy represent a marriage which ignores the superficial values and focuses on true love, Austen shows us as the reader that this is the only way to have a truly successful and happy marriage to one another and she manages to gain our agreement by portraying the other possible choices throughout the novel.

Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn Essays - English-language Films

Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn Research paper on Mark Twains Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn Mark Twains Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a novel about a young boys coming of age in the Missouri of the mid-1800^s. It is the story of Hucks struggle to win freedom for himself and Jim, a Negro slave. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was Mark Twain^s greatest book, and a delighted world named it his masterpiece. To nations knowing it well - Huck riding his raft in every language men could print - it was Americas masterpiece (Allen 259). It is considered one of the greatest novels because it conceals so well Twains opinions within what is seemingly a childs book. Though initially condemned as inappropriate material for young readers, it soon became prized for its recreation of the Antebellum South, its insights into slavery, and its depiction of adolescent life. The novel resumes Hucks tale from the Adventures of Tom Sawyer, which ended with Huck^s adoption by Widow Douglas. But it is so much more. Into this book the world called his masterpiece, Mark Twain put his prime purpose, one that branched in all his writing: a plea for humanity, for the end of caste, and of its cruelties (Allen 260). Twain, whose real name is Samuel Langhorne Clemens, was born in Florida, Missouri, in 1835. During his childhood he lived in Hannibal, Missouri, a Mississippi river port that was to become a large influence on his future writing. It was Twains nature to write about where he lived, and his nature to criticize it if he felt it necessary. As far his structure, Kaplan said, In plotting a book his structural sense was weak; intoxicated by a hunch, he seldom saw far ahead, and too many of his stories peter out from the authors fatigue or surfeit. His wayward techniques came close to free association. This method served him best after he had conjured up characters from long ago, who on coming to life wrote the narrative for him, passing from incident to incident with a grace their creator could never achieve in manipulating an artificial plot (Kaplan 16). His best friend of forty years William D. Howells, has this to say about Twains writing. So far as I know, Mr. Clemens is the first writer to use in extended writing the fashion we all use in thinking, and to set down the thing that comes into his mind without fear or favor of the thing that went before or the thing that may be about to follow (Howells 186). The main character, Huckleberry Finn, spends much time in the novel floating down the Mississippi River on a raft with a runaway slave named Jim. Before he does so, however, Huck spends some time in the fictional town of St. Petersburg where a number of people attempt to influence him. Huck^s feelings grow through the novel. Especially in his feelings toward his friends, family, blacks, and society. Throughout the book, Huck usually looks into his own heart for guidance. Moral intuition is the basis on which his character rests. Before the novel begins, Huck Finn has led a life of absolute freedom. His drunken and often missing father has never paid much attention to him; his mother is dead and so, when the novel begins, Huck is not used to following any rules. In the beginning of the book Huck is living with the Widow Douglas and her sister, Miss Watson. Both women are fairly old and are incapable of raising a rebellious boy like Huck Finn. However, they attempt to make Huck into what the y believe will be a better boy. The Widow Douglas she took me for her son, and allowed she would sivilize me; but it rough living in the house all the time considering how dismal regular and decent the widow was in all her ways^ (Twain 11). This process includes making Huck go to school, teaching him various religious facts, and making him act in a way that the women find socially acceptable. In this first chapter, Twain gives us the first direct example of communicating his feelings through Huck Finn: ^After supper, the Widow Douglas got out her book

Assignment on Current Information Technology Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

On Current Information Technology - Assignment Example This essay seeks to examine the use of research and development program in enhancing the operations of the firm in line with the firm’s strategy (Jacques & Fabrizio, 2014). As a point of departure, management of technology consists of management of research, products and development of processes. In essence, research development aims at expanding the company’s grasp of science and engineering skills and its relevant applications. Effective technological management needs integration of the process development and manufacturing engineering (Jacques & Fabrizio, 2014). This aspect of integration is common in the Japanese industries and it is immensely attributed to high-level manufacturability, with cost and quality effectiveness. Managing an R&D program in an efficient manner, a company must have a coherent product and market strategy. It is realizable that, the level of strategic attentiveness in one or more product- market. For instance, the strategic focus of the R&D program in managing the technological processes of the firm is to increased improvements in value, performance, quality and cost (Jacques & Fabrizio, 2014). This brings the difference between manual or physical firms’ strategy sustenance and the technologically sustained. The technologically based strategy management contributes immensely to the achieving of the firm’s objectives and helping in sustaining the market share and profit margins and this leads to high cash flows thus creating a competitive edge in the market niche. On the same note, the R&D program plays a fundamental role in replacing an existing product with a new one in the market. The role entails immense depths of improving functionality and lowering cost. In comparison with the manual replacement and managing of a replacement process, the technologically based management system oversees a smooth transition and ensures that, the rest of processes in the firm are not disrupted (Mario, Margherita &Massimo, 2013).

Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 8

Case Study - Essay Example about Vioxx’s lack of significant side effects. FDA is also legally liable for not requesting and analysing Vioxx’s safety from Merck’s clinical trials. Merck is ethically and moral responsible for ensuring that health care practitioners are aware of Vioxx’s use. According to Lawrence, Weber and Post (263), Merck’s failure to divulge the drug’s potential to increase blood pressure was motivated by the need to gain a competitive advantage over the manufacturers of VIGOR. This was due to fact that VIGOR had less potential for aggravating high blood pressure in its users. Lawrence, Weber and Post (162) cite the need for FDA to appear as a functional agency despite the United States’ increasingly lacklustre performance in producing noticeable and economically drugs over the last decade in pharmacology. This makes the FDA a significant stakeholder in Merck’s success with Vioxx, which made it susceptible to errors of omission and collusion. FDA’s mandate to authorize and approve new drugs into the US market makes it a legally responsible for any damages that might have been caused by Vioxx. Merck is also legally liable as the originator and supplier of drug with questionable side effects. Not only does Merck and FDA took part in actions that serve to break the set out laws in the constitution, but they also go against societal morals and ethics. The fact that Vioxx’s sale and distribution was halted only in the US, and continued in other countries is ethically

Islamic Art history Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Islamic Art history - Essay Example history would necessitate understanding the various dynasties and the time when various classes of artwork were presented as it signifies the intent of the artists and the nature of the social structure at the time the art was developed (Lapidus & Grabar, 2010). The early Islamic artwork was majorly used for the legitimization of themes in Islam especially those of religion and the need to have faith in one God. The Islamic calligraphy entailing sections of the Quran or inscriptions of the holy books in the Islamic religion are examples with which the use of artwork was employed in the legitimization of the theme of religion in the society. However, during the nineteenth century and the wake of colonialism, the artwork of Islam was used for opposite purposes. The artwork was developed to sensitize people against the evils of colonialism and violence among the Islamic communities. Islamic painting in the 19th century often portrayed colonialism as an evil act in the community thus calling upon people of the Islamic world to rise against the colonizers as a liberation effort for the Muslims. The shift in the nature Islamic artwork was used in the representation of themes in the society emanated from the change in the mood of the society following colonialism and the perceived erosion of the Islamic culture. Historically, the changes in the representation of the themes by the Islamic artwork was equally influenced by the interactions and influence the form of artwork acquired from other regions and civilizations of the world like the Chinese who at that period were advocating for the disbandment of dynasty rules, thus this forms of movements influenced the Islamic artwork (Schimmel & Rivolta, 2012). In a way that can be seen to be a reinforcement of the theme of religion, the Islamic art in the dynasty of Umayyad represents some of the outstanding pieces of artwork. During this dynasty (661-750), new concepts and new plans were put in place to reform the nature of

International Arbitration Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

International Arbitration Law - Essay Example In normal circumstances, arbitration arises when the parties to a contract have agreed to arbitrate. Either the parties have included arbitration in the agreement as an arbitration clause or decide to adjudicate after the dispute has arisen. In both the cases, arbitration will be available to the parties to the contract to resolve a dispute. However, there are some clauses which give rise to arbitration as an alternative dispute resolution method to the parties without the fact that they have agreed to arbitrate or not. In an international arbitration clause, the primary element is international and the secondary elements form the basis of arbitration. In international contracts, it is of utmost importance that there are provisions in the contract that determine the forum, selection of law, arbitrators, seat and place of arbitration, and etcetera. According to Born (2005)2 these provisions can assume the form of arbitration agreement or forum selection agreement (p.2). These agreemen ts are followed by the choice-of-law clause which determines the choice of the parties for the substantive law that will be applied during adjudication (Ibid, 2005). The law stipulates that the arbitration agreement should give due reference to the mandatory clauses without which the matter will become uncertain and requires intervention by the civil courts having jurisdiction3. At the same time, there are non-mandatory clauses which are left at the discretion of the parties to decide. Therefore, the arbitration agreement that comprises of mandatory clauses are enforceable in law without further evaluation or decision making by the courts. The non-mandatory clauses can be adopted (1) by the parties to the contract per se or (2) they can follow their own terms and conditions or (3) adopt the rules of their respective association like UNCITRAL, International Chamber of Commerce and London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA). The mandatory clauses include the following checklist which is not exhaustive in nature: seat and place of the arbitration tribunal, providing the general means of fulfilling the non-mandatory clauses, ensuring separability of the arbitration agreement, post-death of party situation, time of initiation of the arbitration proceedings, number of arbitrators and details about arbitration tribunal, procedure of arbitrators’ appointment, chairman or umpire, revocation of authority, jurisdiction, consolidation, representation, general powers, powers of civil courts, preliminary point of law, awards, remedies, interest, time periods and appeal. These clauses as mentioned in the Arbitration Act 1996 cannot be overridden by the contrary agreement agreed by the parties. However, the non-mandatory clauses of the Arbitration Act 1996 are allowed to be changed by the parties with mutual consent and in the absence of such agreement, the clauses will become applicable automatically4. In practice, there are two types of arbitration clauses whic h are commonly used by parties, namely: (1) Informal Clause and (2) Sample Clause. The informal clause is one which does not use the formal language of the law. For instance, the clause â€Å"arbitration in London - English law to apply† is an informal arbitration clause as it does not use the standard legal language5. Nevertheless, the

Are the united nations peace operations an appropriate tool for Essay

Are the united nations peace operations an appropriate tool for preventing the abuse of human rights during violent internal conflicts - Essay Example What is the meaning of people who are not combatants? which kind of protection is available in times of civil wars?. To answer these questions, it is wise if one understood why United Nations Peace Operations were put into place. The first step towards this is to understand the term peace operations. As such, it is a broad term in regard to its scope. It covers operations associated with peacekeeping as well as operations designed purposely to enforce peace. Such operations are usually conducted such that they support the efforts of the diplomats aimed towards peace maintenance. To be precise, the term is constituted of; peace building, peacemaking and peace enforcement (Solis 2010). The following discussion thereby, will critical evaluate the role that the law plays in situations of armed conflicts and further, it will illustrate how law gives guidelines on the conducts associated with hostility as well how it mitigates the fatal ends following the armed conflicts. Moreover, it will demonstrate how the law provide protection to civilians not only in international conflicts but also to non-international conflicts. In most cases, the main organization mandated to establish and implement peace operations is the United Nations. In regards to the last six years, the UN peace operations has gone through evolvement and thus lately integrated to the most important and main tool by which the international community uses to manage those crises that can be said to be complex and which pose as a threat to global security as well as peace (Solis 2010). The beginning of the new millennium saw the number of police, military and the civilian recruited in the peace keeping operation of the United Nations across the world adding up to the existing ones to exceptional levels. United Nations is a vital and efficient organization in dealing with the contemporary issues. It deals with issues such as; cease-fires, where they are called upon to monitor; Political

Market segmenatation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Market segmenatation - Essay Example Consumers from similar market segments also respond in the same manner to market fluctuations. Basis on which market segmentation is done includes gender, income, age group, marital status, and occupation (Yankelovich, 2004: p86). Based on gender, the marketer will divide the consumer market into smaller sub-sets with regards to gender. Women and men possess different preferences and interests, which necessitates segmentation (Yankelovich, 2004: p87). Businesses and organizations should carry out different strategies in marketing when selling products to male consumers, which would not be as effective with female consumers. Men will normally not buy products that the business markets to men while females would not buy male-marketed products. Gender-based market segmentation is vital in various industries such as apparel, footwear, cosmetics, and footwear. Age-group segmentation, on the other hand, is division of the market based on the target audience’s age bracket. Obviously, the manner in which a business markets products to teenagers will be different to how they market them to young children or adults. Examples of age-based segmentation include toys and sweet foods to those under ten years, apparel and music to those between ten and twenty years, and anti-aging products, magazines, and cosmetics to those over the age of twenty (Yankelovich, 2004: p87). ... For example, Shopper’s Stop, Carrefour, and Pantaloon market their products to high-income groups while Big Bazaar, Reliance Retail, and Vishal Retail market products to individuals in the lower age bracket. Market segmentation can also be done according to marital status of the people within the market population. For example, tour operators and travel agencies have holiday packages for married couples and different packages for unmarried women and bachelors. Finally, market segmentation is also done according to the occupation of the target consumers. People working in offices have needs that are different to those who go to college or high school, as well as people who are retired. One example of occupation-based market segmentation is the fact that T-shirts with witty and raunchy messages would not have a market among retirees, whereas it would be, when among college students (Beane & Ennis, 2007: p24). Summary Businesses are able to attain a competitive edge through focus on specific market segments in their marketing efforts. The concept of market segmentation has to do with the use of market research in the identification of the ideal client and market for the business (Boote, 2011: p31). Using market segmentation, a business can develop different profiles for its customer base. The first profile is geographic profiles where customer segmentation is done according to their geographic location. Small enterprises like pizza shops have a target market that lives within a ten-kilometer radius of its location. Business owners, therefore, can target customers using door hangers on all businesses and houses in the area advertising a special offer. The second one is demographic profiles, which refers to

Case study Bacterium Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Bacterium - Case Study Example Her immediate history of visiting to the wilds and then generating a circular rash with a dim center in the form of a bulls eye is an indication of Lyme disease (Mayo Clinic, 2012). Answer - Symptoms in Lyme disease are common to many other conditions such as joint disorders, viral infections, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome. The ticks are responsible of spreading not only Lyme disease but can spread other diseases as well. Usually, it is identified with a characteristic rash on the body. Past medical history is used to correlate with likely possibility of Lyme disease. In order to confirm the diagnosis of this disease, physician prescribes lab tests so that antibodies to the bacteria may ascertain the disease. Body takes time to develop antibodies hence lab tests are suitable only after a few weeks of an infection (Monroe, 2001). The Elisa test is used to detect Lyme disease. The test identifies antibodies to B. burgdorferi; however, it may provide false positive results too so it is not a sole basis for diagnosis (Maryland Medical Center 2011). Answer - A bulls eye rash is the most discerning sign of Lyme disease infection. The rash usually takes time of 2 weeks to develop after the tick bite. Fever, joint pains, fatigue and chills accompany the rash. There are other diseases with matching symptoms. Ruling out other Tick-Borne infections is necessary to diagnose Lyme disease. Other infections cause similar symptoms such as fever, fatigue, muscle ache and some neurologic features similar to symptoms found in Lyme disease. The most salient feature in the Lyme disease is a rash typically known as Bulls eye rash. Other tick-borne infection known as human monocyte ehrlichiosis (HME) develops similar rash as found in Lyme disease but that has been identified mostly in southern parts of US (Maryland Medical Center 2011). Answer - Lyme disease during all phases is treated by antibiotics. According to the

Factors Affecting Academic Performance Essay Example for Free

Factors Affecting Academic Performance Essay Like many Americans caught up in the economic downturn, college students are worried about money. Now research indicates that financial worries may affect their academic performance. This years National Survey of Student Engagement, released on Thursday, reveals that more than a third of seniors and more than a quarter of freshmen did not purchase required academic materials because of the cost. Roughly equal shares, around 60 percent, said they worried about having enough money for day-to-day expenses. And 36 percent of freshmen and 32 percent of seniors reported that financial concerns had interfered with their academic performance. Since 2000, Nessie, as the survey is known, has collected wide-ranging data to help colleges develop effective educational practices and promote engagement. Students are asked, for instance, how much time they spend studying, whether they get involved with campus organizations, and how they interact with their professors and peers. This year the researchers, based at Indiana University at Bloomington, also assessed how the economy was affecting students at a subset of the 546 American colleges that participated. The survey examined students employment, finding that among freshmen, nearly 20 percent worked on campuses, and about 30 percent worked elsewhere. For seniors, those proportions were about a quarter on campuses and more than half elsewhere. Students working off campuses logged more hours: More than half of seniors working on campuses worked less than 15 hours a week, but 40 percent of full-time seniors in off-campus jobs worked more than 16 hours a week; 20 percent logged 30 or more hours. Other research has found that working up to 20 hours a week can increase students engagement and improve their academic performance, but that a greater time commitment can be detrimental. In this years survey, more than half of full-time seniors who worked 21 or more hours a week said their work schedule interfered with their studies. Yet 60 percent of those students said they had investigated working even more hours to help cover the cost of college. Related Content Grades and Tests May Miss What Matters Most in Learning Charts: How Financial Worries Are Affecting Students Alexander C. McCormick, director of the survey, says institutions should consider such findings an opportunity to get a better sense of the financial stressors that shape students academic experiences. Most colleges, he points out, know which students have on-campus jobs. But administrators could do more to figure out how much time students spend working off-campus, and whether those commitments threaten their academic success. You can never do enough to understand who your students are, Mr. McCormick says. But collecting data is the easy part. The really hard work is up to the colleges and universities, to figure out what the data mean and what they want to do in response.

Achieving Competitive Advantage Essay Example for Free

Achieving Competitive Advantage Essay What roles do traditional process management duties of planning, organizing, and controlling play in project management, if any? Answer: The traditional managerial duties of planning, organizing, and controlling all apply to project management. Project managers must be technically well versed, proficient at administrative functions, willing and able to assume leadership roles, and above-all, goal oriented. The project manager is the person most responsible for keeping track of the big picture Diff: 2 Section: 1. 1 What Is a Project? Skill: Conceptual AACSB Tag. Reflective 4) Why is project management challenging? Answer: Projects present challenges for a number of reasons; by their nature they are often dramatic departures from the routine process-oriented work that employees are accustomed to. Projects face budget, time, and resource constraints and these resources must often be marshaled from across the organization. Diff: 2 Section: 1. 1 What Is a Project? Skill: Conceptual AACSB Tag: Reflective 5) Why are projects important? Answer: Todays businesses face a set of pressures that make projects crucial in helping an organization achieve its strategic goals. These pressures include shortened product life cycles, narrow product launch windows, increasingly complex and technical products, the emergence of global markets, and an economic period marked by low inflation. Diff: 1 Section: 1. 2 Why Are Projects Important? Skill: Definition AACSB Tag: Reflective 6) What changes in the business environment have necessitated a greater use of project management skills? Answer: Todays businesses face a set of pressures that make projects crucial in helping an organization achieve its strategic goals. These pressures include shortened product life cycles, narrow product launch windows, increasingly complex and technical products, the emergence of global markets, and an economic period marked by low inflation. Diff: 2 Section: 1. 2 Why Are Projects Important? Skill: Factual AACSB Tag: Reflective 7) Why is project management considered an excellent training ground for future senior executives in many organizations? Answer: One of the unique aspects of projects is their unique blend of technical and behavioral challenges. The technical side of project management requires managers to become skilled in project selection, budgeting and resource management, planning and scheduling, and tracking their projects. The behavioral side of project management requires project managers to bring together individuals from across the organization, mold them into a team, manage conflict, provide leadership, and engage in negotiation and appropriate political behavior. Diff: 2 Section: 1. 2 Why Are Projects Important? Skill: Conceptual AACSB Tag: Reflective 8) Describe the activities that occur at each stage of a project. Answer: Stages in a projects development are referred to as the project life cycle, which consists of conceptualization, planning, execution, and termination. In the conceptualization stage the scope of the work is determined, necessary resources are identified, and important organizational stakeholders signed on. In the planning stage all detailed specifications, schematics, schedules, and other plans are developed. Individual pieces of the project are broken down, individual assignments are made, and the process for completion is delineated. During the execution phase the system is developed or the product is created and fabricated. Termination occurs when the completed project is transferred to the customer, the projects resources are reassigned, and the project is formally closed out. Diff: 1 Section: 1. 3 Project Life Cycles Skill: Definition AACSB Tag: Reflective 9) Where in the project life cycle are the intensity level of resources and client interest at their highest? Why is this the case? Answer: The intensity level of resources peaks during the execution phase of the project life cycle. The actual work is performed during this phase, so the commitment of financial, human, and technical resources peaks at this time. The level of enthusiasm or concern expressed by the projects intended customer peaks in both the conceptualization and termination phases. The client is initially very interested because they provide input on the goal and specifications of the project. Project work moves out of the conceptual phase to a more internal mode and the clients interest wanes until the project nears delivery. At this point the clients interest peaks again as they prepare to receive the completed project and all the associated benefits. Diff: 2 Section: 1. 3 Project Life Cycles Skill: Conceptual AACSB Tag: Reflective 10) Rank the determinants of project success from most important to least important and justify your rankings. Answer: Answers with regard to ranking may vary since, for example, circumstances may dictate that time is an overriding concern at the expense of quality and cost. The determinants of project success are: conformance to budget, schedule, performance specifications, and client acceptance. Time – Projects are constrained by a specified timeframe during which they must be completed; they are not supposed to continue indefinitely. Cost – Projects must meet budgeted allowances in order to use resources as efficiently as possible. Performance – Projects are developed in order to adhere to some initially determined technical specifications. Performance measurement means determining whether the finished product operates according to specifications. Client acceptance – Projects are developed with customers in mind; their purpose is to satisfy customers needs. If the completed project meets all internal criteria but does not satisfy the customer, then the project has not been a complete success. Diff: 3 Section: 1. 4 Determinants of Project Success Skill: Conceptual AACSB Tag: Reflective 11) Discuss the internal and external measures of project success. Answer: The determinants of project success are the internal measures of time, cost, and performance and the external measure of client acceptance. Time – Projects are constrained by a specified timeframe during which they must be completed; they are not supposed to continue indefinitely. Cost – Projects must meet budgeted allowances in order to use resources as efficiently as possible. Performance – Projects are developed in order to adhere to some initially determined technical specifications. Performance measurement means determining whether the finished product operates according to specifications. Client acceptance – Projects are developed with customers in mind; their purpose is to satisfy customers needs. If the completed project meets all internal criteria but does not satisfy the customer, then the project has not been a complete success. Diff: 1 Section: 1. 4 Determinants of Project Success Skill: Factual AACSB Tag: Reflective 12) Describe the elements of the Atkinson model of project success. Answer: The Atkinson model incorporates the input of all stakeholders in assessing project success. Stakeholders are all groups that are affected by a project, for example, employees, customers, end users, the community, suppliers, etc. The Atkinson model begins with the traditional iron triangle of time, cost, and performance and adds considerations of the benefits accrued by organizational end external stakeholders. Diff: 2 Section: 1. 4 Determinants of Project Success Skill: Factual AACSB Tag: Reflective 13) One model of project success offered in the chapter looks beyond the current project into the future. Comment on the elements of this model and their impact along the timeline from project completion to well beyond this point in time. Answer: This framework was proposed by Shenhar, Levy, and Dvir and contains in chronological order, the elements of project efficiency, impact on the customer, business success, and preparing for the future. The immediate measure of success is efficiency, that is, have the project budget and schedule been achieved? More important, have the customer needs, technical specifications been met? Next, has the project achieved the commercial success that was hoped for? Finally, has the project opened new markets or new product lines, helped develop new technologies, or developed new skills for the organization? Diff: 2 Section: 1. 4 Determinants of Project Success Skill: Factual AACSB Tag: Reflective 14) What are project management maturity models used for? Answer: Project management maturity models are used to allow organizations to benchmark the best practices of successful project management firms. Project maturity models recognize that different organizations are currently at different levels of sophistication in their best practices for managing projects. Diff: 2 Section: 1. 5 Developing Project Management Maturity Skill: Conceptual AACSB Tag: Reflective 15) Describe the spider-web methodology for displaying project management maturity and present any five components of project management practice that can be displayed using this technique. Answer: A spider-web diagram (or radar chart) derives its name from its visual similarity to a spider-web, consisting of some number of spokes connected by concentric rings. The spokes represent the components of project management practice that the organization chooses to measure. The rings represent levels of achievement for each of the components. Diff: 2 Section: 1. 5 Developing Project Management Maturity Skill: Conceptual AACSB Tag: Reflective 16) Describe the project management characteristics of firms that reside at the lowest levels of the ESI, SEI, Center for Business Practice, and Kerzner maturity models and characteristics of firms that reside at the highest levels of these models. Answer: The lowest level of each model is occupied by companies that have no clear sense of project management. There is no common project management language within these companies and management processes, if any exist, are ad hoc. Firms occupying the highest level of project management maturity are project savvy; having progressed beyond simply applying project management to processes. These firms actively explore ways to continuously improve project management techniques and procedures. Diff: 3 Section: 1. 5 Developing Project Management Maturity Skill: Conceptual AACSB Tag: Reflective 17) What are the three levels of the generic project management maturity model and what are the characteristics of a company at each level? Provide examples of organizations at each of these levels and support your choices. Answer: The lowest maturity level of the generic model is reserved for companies that have an ad hoc approach to project management. There is no common language for project management and little support for project workers and the projects. At the moderate maturity level, the organization has defined practices, some training programs for project management and organizational support dedicated to these efforts. At the high maturity level, the process of project management is institutionalized and there are continuous improvement efforts underway from one project to the next. Example organizations will vary. Diff: 3

Importance Of Internet In E Commerce

Importance Of Internet In E Commerce Chapter 1 It is difficult to define tourism. Tourism is not an industry that is grouped into a single heading within the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) (Bardgett, 2000). The definition of tourism mostly come from the purchaser, tourist, not the product itself (Bargett, 2000). Thereupon, World Tourism Organization (WTO) (1993) had defined tourism consists of activities of persons travelling to and staying places outside their usual environment for not more than one continually one year for leisure, or business purposes. In Malaysia, tourism industry has been recognizes as second largest foreign exchange earning sector (Mohd Hanafiah Mohd Harun, 2010). According to United Nations World Trade Organization (UNWTO) World Tourism Barometer (2009), in 2008, tourist arrivals in Malaysia are substantially higher than its neighbors. The table below (Table 1.1) provides a good picture on comparison of number of visitors among Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. On the other hand, as the society has driven into Internet Era, tourism is extensively transformed by the by e-commerce phenomenon (Lee Letho, 2012). Hensdill (1998) described the web as a perfect medium for selling travel. While, with the popularization of computers through the Internet, travel product suppliers such as airlines, car rental companies, and hotels have grasped the opportunity to change their traditional distribution methods by launching their products directly on the Internet (Kasavana, 1997; Montgomery, 1999; Morrison, Taylor, Morrison Morrison 1999). Similarly, travel information is also available on the Internet from regional and national tourism boards in a large amount (Weeks Crouch, 1999). Nowadays, Internet has now become a promotional and advertising tool (Countryman, 1999). According to Martin (2004), the Internet suits the marketing principles for travel and tourism because it: (a) allows travel suppliers to set up a direct link with customers; (b) gets rid of the unfair barriers for customers and suppliers; (c) relieve equal competition; and (d) decreases price discrimination opportunities. Consequently, the Internet not only serves to deliver information (Walle, 1996) but also act as a public relations tool (Connolly, Sigala, 2001). Hence, it is important for travel agents to know which factors can affect travelers intention to use travel website. By knowing this, travel agents not only can formulate the marketing strategies but also can design a website which the features are different from the competitors in order to gain competitive advantages. Problem Statement Due to the rapid growing of tourism industry in Malaysia and the importance of internet in e-commerce, many of the travel agencies have created their own website. The rivalry among the travel website itself has increase rapidly. Hence, to be an outstanding website among the others, and to gain the competitive advantage, the travel agency need to know which factor has the most significant influence the user to use travel website. The result is not necessary only for strategic marketing formulation, but also for the design of the web site features that are superior from competitors (Aziz et al., 2010). The main problem that influences the users to adopt the websites will be the multi stage process for the travel decision making process (Aziz et al., 2010). The consumers need to look careful each step before until final steps to successful purchases the travel packages. For instance, users may need to login the membership before to process to purchase the package. This continue with the double confirm before the purchased package is correct. Until the payment step, users also need to check the all information is correct and submit to pay. Besides that, the security, privacy and trust concerns are other minor problems that influence the users to adopt the websites. The informations quality, security, privacy, trust and the companys reputation have strongly influence on online consumers trust in the websites (Kim, Ferrin, Raghav Rao, 2007) According to the past study of Aziz et al. (2010), social influence is the superiority in encouraging people to use travel websites. While, in the study of Ahmad and Juhdi (2008), they found out that internet self-efficacy had affected Malaysian travelers to use travel website. In the study of Chen (2006), trustworthy has a significant influence in an online travel websites. There have been various studies conducted in different country such as, a study on web site quality for online travel agency in United States (Park, Gretzel, Sirakaya-Turk, 2007); the factor affecting consumers attitude towards online reservation by Vathianathan and Roy (2009) in India; and examine e-travel site, an empirical study in Taiwan (Lin, 2010). Yet, only a few studies have been carried out in Malaysia. In the study of Aziz et al. (2010), the influence of predictors on travel website, the study is only conducted in Klang Valley, which is just a portion of Malaysia. The result cannot represent as a whole. While, in the study of Ahmad and Juhdi (2008), the number of respondents is small and mainly specific in e-group subscribers who were basically active users of internet. Thus, the generalization of the findings is questionable. Research Questions and Objectives Research Questions General Objectives To identify and examine factors that affect Malaysian travelers intention to use travel website. General Question What are the factors that affect Malaysian travelers intention to use travel website? Specific Objectives To examine the relationship between Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU) and Malaysian travelers intention to use travel website. To examine the relationship between perceived usefulness (PU) and Malaysian travelers intention to use travel website. To examine the relationship between social influences and Malaysian travelers intention to use travel website. To examine the relationship between self efficacy and Malaysian travelers intention to use travel website. To examine the relationship between travel motivation and Malaysian travelers intention to use travel website. Specific Questions Is there any relationship between Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU) and Malaysian travelers intention to use travel website? Is there any relationship between perceived usefulness (PU) and Malaysian travelers intention to use travel website? Is there any relationship between social influences and Malaysian travelers intention to use travel website? Is there any relationship between self efficacy and Malaysian travelers intention to use travel website? Is there any relationship between travel motivation and Malaysian travelers intention to use travel website? Source: Developed for the research Significance of the Study Generally, the acceptance of the internet among users is normally examined with technology acceptance model (TAM) (Aziz et al. 2010). However, the two variable of TAM (Perceived Ease of Use and Perceived Usefulness) are still insufficient to test on the factors affecting Malaysian travelers intention to use travel website. Therefore, the proposed model of this study is an extension of Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as theoretical foundation. The model will be adding other variables such as, social influence, self efficacy and travel motivation to test on the dependent variable. Travel agency would be among the first to benefit from the study. The finding of this study may help the travel agency to understand several affected factors that influence Malaysian travelers to use travel website. It is important to understand the consumers acceptance of the online concept and the product and services provided are more suitable to be selling online. Hence, travel agency will have more relevant information or idea when creating the website. Besides, its also helping those agencies that have an intention to invest in online store, so, they have a better idea of the trends in the market and thus they can increase their portion of the market place. Last but not least, travel agency can save more cost and time. For instance, small tourism enterprises wont be facing any risk in spending on costly web-based solutions and time with the help of this study by providing them useful information about the preference of the internet users. 1.5 Chapter Layout 1.5.1 Chapter One: Research Overview This research report comprises a total of five chapters. In chapter one, researcher furnish an overview of the study and describing the research situation. It has covered background of this study, a brief introduction of our research, statement of the problem, objectives of the study, hypothesis of the study and significance of the study. 1.5.2 Chapter Two: Literature Review In chapter two, it includes the review of the literature, review of relevant theoretical models. Furthermore, it also consists of proposed theoretical framework and the hypotheses development. 1.5.3 Chapter Three: Methodology For chapter three, it is an overview of the studys research methodology. This chapter includes our research design, data collection methods, sampling design, research instrument, measurement construction, data processing, as well as data analysis. 1.5.4 Chapter Four: Data Analysis In chapter four, it presents the research results and the analysis of the results which are relevant to the research questions and hypotheses. This chapter includes descriptive analysis, scale measurement and inferential analyses. 1.5.5 Chapter Five: Discussion, Conclusion and Implications In chapter five, it is the summarizing chapter that discusses the overall findings followed by the conclusion. Thus, this chapter finds out the implication and limitation of the study. Finally, this chapter outlines the recommendations for future researches.

Robert Maynard Pirsig Bibliography :: Author, Pirsig, Biography

Robert Maynard Pirsig Bibliography Robert Maynard Pirsig was born in Minneapolis on September 6, 1928. After high school Pirsig decided to join the army and from the ages of 18 to 22 served the United States. Once discharged, he decided to study at the University of Minnesota. Here he obtained degrees in philosophy and journalism.(1) Once finished, Pirsig decided to travel to India. He talks about this trip in his book, stating it as a trip that expanded his experience but not his understanding. When he returns, he marries his first wife, Nancy Ann James, an administrator, on May 10, 1954. (2) Working many jobs, including an instructor for English composition at Montana State College and instructor of rhetoric at the University of Illinois, he receives a break and then becomes a technical writer for a variety of technical institutions. Though the time period could not be found (puzzling?), I believe his transition from teacher to writer was when he suffered his â€Å"mental breakdown†. During this event he received electric shock treatment, which coincides with Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. He divorced on August, 1978 and remarried to Wendy L. Kimbell on December 28, 1978. His first child, Christopher, from the first marriage dies shortly after on November 17, 1979.(1) He is now living in New Hampshire with his wife and 2 kids, Theodore and Nell. He tries to remain reclusive explaining â€Å"The Buddhist monk has a precept against indulging in idle conversation, and I think the basis of that precept is what motivates me.† (Letter from Robert Pirsig to Boduar Skutuik, August 17th, 1997) While residing here he released his newest book, Lila: An Inquiry into moral, released in 1991.

Epic of Beowulf :: Epic of Beowulf Essays

As the welcoming celebration for Beowulf goes on, Unferth begins to ridicule Beowulf about his swimming competition with Breca. Unferth is jealous and feels threatened by Beowulf " for he would not allow that any other man of middle-earth should ever achieve more glory under the heavens than himself." (Norton p. 33) Unferth is a very peculiar character. Although he has committed the horrific crime of killing his brother(s), he is privileged enough to sit at the feet of the king, a very respected position. His sin,an enormous violation of the comitatus, suggests that there is something wrong in Hrothgar's kingdom and perhaps helps to foreshadow its destruction. Ultimately, it will be destroyed, as the text says, by a fire after " sword-hate between son-in-law and father-in-law to awaken after murderous rage." (Norton p. 28). Unferth tries to put Beowulf down by saying that Beowulf once risked his life for pride and foolish boast. He also points out that Breca has beaten Beowulf in the swimming and that he therefore expects him to lose the fight with Grendel as well. Unferth is arrogant, obnoxious and the only one who challenges Beowulf. However, later when Beowulf fights with Grendel's mother, Unferth lends him his sword. This can be seen as a noble gesture, and a redemption of Unferth for the way he has behaved. However, it can also provide further proof of Unferth's incompetence as a warrior. Because he is scared to fight himself, he passes on his sword to Beowulf. Beowulf answers Unferth's words of envy with his side of the story. He says that Unferth is drunk and obviously knows nothing about the competition. Continuing, Beowulf explains that he won the contest despite the heavy attack by sea-monsters. From this story, we see further proof of Beowulf's supernatural powers. The competition occurs during the winter in the freezing water, yet Beowulf is able to swim for five nights armed with a heavy sword, in full armor and mail . When the battle is over, Beowulf finds himself on the shore lying next to nine sea monsters that he killed with his sword and modestly attributes his victory to both courage and fate. His comment that, " Fate often saves an undoomed man when his courage is good" (Norton p. 34) shows his belief that 'Fate' will forever govern him and aid him as long as he is courageous.

World View and Citizenship Essay -- Citizenship

The Preamble to the United States Constitution states: â€Å"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution for the United States of America† (U.S. Const. pmbl.). While the United States Constitution was created in order to form a more perfect union, it is up to us, as citizens of the United States, to uphold all that has been established within this union. In order to do that, we all must fulfill our responsibilities as citizens. For me, citizenship is an entitlement that everyone is obliged to uphold; therefore, I try to follow through on my responsibilities as a citizen of my community, country, and world. Being a citizen of the United States has many responsibilities, and it is my duty to follow through with these responsibilities. In order to do this, I must employ my rights and act dutifully. To fulfill my responsibilities as a citizen, there are many things that I do. First, I exercise my right to vote. This right to vote is one that requires me to pay attention to my government, for a citizen’s time and attention to the government is necessary in order for a democracy to function properly. Furthermore, I make sure to obey the laws that the government has created. These laws play an important role in upholding the ideals that were stated in the Preamble of the United States Constitution. Finally, another important responsibility that I oblige to as a United States citizen is paying my taxes. Taxes allow this country to function successfully; therefore, it is important for me to fulf... ... a good citizen, to do more than your share under it is noble† (â€Å"Betterworld.net†). In order for me to enjoy the privileges that I have been given through citizenship, I must honor my contract with society by putting citizenship first. If I continue to take part in community service and to treat others in the same manner that I desire to be treated, I can continue to honor my contract with society while remaining a good citizen of my community, country, and world. Works Cited "Better World Quotes - Citizenship." BetterWorld.net - The BetterWorld Factory. Web. 17 Jan. 2011. . Franklin, Benjamin. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. New York: Dover Publications, 1996. Print. Palmer, Parker J. Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2000. Print.

Face Recognition Technology for Entrance Control Essay

Facial recognition technology refers to a computer driven application that automatically identifies an individual from his or her digital image by a comparison of particular facial features in a facial database and in a live image (Vacca, 2007, p. 95).   The technology creates a template of people’s facial configurations, such as the lengths of their noses and the angles of their jaws.   It thereby functions like other biometric technologies (e.g. iris scanning) that use biological features for the purposes of recognition. According to Visionics, a manufacturer of face recognition technology, the technology is capable of finding human faces â€Å"anywhere in the field of view and at any distance, and it can continuously track them and crop them out of the scene, matching the face against a watch list† (Kautzer, 2002).   What is more, facial recognition technology is nowadays used for entrance management.   Systems are being designed to automatically open doors to only those individuals whose facial features are recognizable because they have been fed into those systems (â€Å"Face Recognition Entrance Control System,† 2009). But, is there more to face recognition technology than meets the eye?   In other words, is it reasonable to rely on the effectiveness of face recognition technology for entrance control? Description and Uses of Facial Recognition Technology It is natural brain technology that allows humans to recognize fellow human beings.   According to Bruce & Young (1986), there are â€Å"face recognition units† in the brains of human beings (p. 361).   Face recognition involves matching â€Å"the products of structural encoding,† that is, facial features that are spotted by the eye with â€Å"previously stored structural codes† (Bruce & Young, p. 361). Vacca writes that there are three areas of the face that are â€Å"primary targets† in face recognition because they do not typically change (p. 95).   These parts of the face include upper sections of a person’s eye sockets, the part of the face surrounding one’s cheekbones, and the sides of the human mouth. Regardless of whether the human brain also considers these parts of the face most crucial to facial recognition, Vacca explains three different techniques used in man-made face recognition technology, namely, eigenface systems, eigenfeature systems, and thermal imaging.   Eigenface image systems capture facial images and change them to â€Å"light and dark areas† (Vacca, p. 95).   In eigenfeature systems, certain features of the face, for example, the eyes and the mouth, are picked out and distances are measured between these features.   Thermal imaging systems, on the other hand, take thermal images of the human face, focusing on the pattern of blood vessels (Vacca). Even though iris scanning and other kinds of biometric technologies are known to be far more accurate than face recognition technology, it is believed that the latter would be more widely accepted because it is least intrusive.   This technology does not require users to push, click, or insert anything into the system, despite the fact that it takes many experts to create eigenface, eigenfeature or thermal imaging systems. Moreover, organizations using the face recognition technology do not require the installation of anything except a new software application.   The cameras already in place as well as pictures of individuals on file are enough for organizations that use this technology. Hence, face recognition technology is cheaper than iris scanning, for instance, which requires reading setups (Rutherford, 2001).   According to Frances Zelazney, who works as the director of corporate communication at Visionics – a leading developer of biometrics – yet another advantage of facial recognition technology as compared to other biometric technologies is that â€Å"facial recognition provides for inherent human backup because we naturally recognize one another†¦Ã‚   If the system goes down, someone can pull out an ID with a picture as backup, something you can’t do with fingerprint devices† (Rutherford). Unsurprisingly, facial recognition technology is known as the fastest growing biometric technology in our day.   Law enforcement agencies and the military have been successfully using the technology for many years without the public being aware of it.   In the year 1988, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Lakewood Division, began using composite sketches of suspects, as well as video images, in order to conduct searches on a database of digital facial shots. The department also has a photo database of sex offenders and plans to find suspects on this database.   Then there is the Gang Reporting Evaluation Tracking system that can be searched with the use of photos of suspects in order for law enforcement to circumvent false identification cards as well as information that has been presented by gang members (Jarvis). Other applications of face recognition technology in the area of criminal investigation include the Integrated Law Enforcement Face-Identification System which incorporates a unique three dimensional composite technology to identify angled-view face shots more easily.   The system is meant to be very helpful in the correct identification of uncooperative suspects in addition to subjects that have been caught from a distance using video surveillance cameras. Britain is known to use at least two hundred thousand video cameras for surveillance.   Many of these cameras are being installed with the facial recognition technology today.   Typically these systems use computers to monitor cameras that are looking for recognized criminals.   As soon as the system is seen to identify a known criminal, the police are called (Jarvis). There are numerous United States embassies around the world that are using the face recognition technology to keep criminals from entering the country.   The Israel-Palestine border control is similarly using the technology to reduce crime (Jarvis).   IQ Biometrix, established in 2001, was a company providing help to thousands of law enforcement agencies around the world with the FACES â„ ¢, a groundbreaking software tool allowing users to create and recreate billions of face shots, as well as encode, catalogue and transmit them. The technology incorporated a facial composite tool that the FBI and the CIA also used.   The United States Department of Defense, the U.S. Navy, and various local as well as state police agencies had similarly opted for this groundbreaking system of facial recognition (â€Å"IQ Biometrix†). Given the importance of putting a name to a face in law enforcement, whether it is to solve crimes, protect the public, or to ensure security in jails, face recognition technology is proving itself to be of tremendous value.   Sheriff Everett Rice with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office in Florida employs the Viisage face recognition technology to â€Å"positively identify and verify individuals† (â€Å"Facial Recognition in Action,† 2007).   Some of these individuals have been recently arrested while others are about to be released.   So far, application of the technology has been successful, and users of the technology believe that it would have a greater impact on crime control in the years to come (â€Å"Facial Recognition in Action†).   The following is a detailed account of the case being considered:   Application of face recognition technology by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is a model for other agencies involved in criminal investigation.   The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office has applied the new technology in other ways as well.   As an example, the Sheriff’s Office has expanded use of the technology to its patrol cars to allow street deputies to identify those individuals that have been stopped and are unable to produce identification. There are workstations in the Pinellas Country where investigators may use face recognition technology to compare images that have been acquired in investigations.   This system allows for search of at least two million images within ten seconds.   What is more, this browser based system is available in the cars of deputies that patrol the streets of the Pinellas County (â€Å"Facial Recognition in Action†).   Report on the use of face recognition technology for law enforcement in the Pinellas County continues thus

Le Corbusier

â€Å"The house is a machine for living in. †-Le Corbusier House 14 at Weissenhof: http://mpdrolet. tumblr. com/pos/34901891099/weissenhof-estate-le-corbusier-peter-gossel. As with many other architects of his time, Le Corbusier was fascinated with the Industrial Age. The Industrial Age brought a multitude of new materials for architects to work with, as well as new processes to utilize these revolutionary materials. Le Corbusier sought to coalesce these new ideas into his 5 points towards a new architecture. The five essential points set out above represent a fundamentally new aesthetic. Nothing is left to us of the architecture of past epochs†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Conrads, 1970, p. 100) By combining the newly readily available materials of steel and concrete with the process of mass production Le Corbusier invents a house that embodies a machine. No longer is the house simply a decorative container to live in. The house that utilizes Le Corbusier’s 5 points actively works to improve the lives of its inhabitants just as any successful machine of the Industrial Age.As seen in House 14, all attention is focused on satisfying the 5 points and consequentially superfluous ornament is disregarded. Rather the building as a whole could be described a monument to the Industrial age. The clean-cut corners and lines evoke a sense of the ordered factory and sharp contrasts remind viewers of the positive and negative results of Industrialism. â€Å"Industry, overwhelming us like a flood which rolls on towards its destined ends, has furnished us with new tools adapted to this new epoch, animated by the new spirit. (Conrads, 1970, p. 61) Corbusier’s idea of the â€Å"new spirit† is evident in his 5 points. The new â€Å"machine† house improves people’s lives by helping them adapt to and live in the boisterous times of the Industrial Age. The roof of the house is covered in a roof garden to give its inhabitants a place to relax from the inc essant clamor of the new age. The house is set off the ground on pilotes to separate the inhabitant from the dirty byproducts of Industrialism.This sense of cleanliness is also emphasized in the whitewashed walls giving a sense of purity and sanitation. â€Å"Economic law inevitably governs our acts and our thoughts. † (Conrads, 1970, p. 61) As with any mass produced machine, cost is an issue. Corbusier had to settle for using the relatively cheap materials of stucco over brick to allow his house to be mass-produced. Le Corbusier revolutionized the house into an efficient machine with his 5 points. â€Å"Economic law inevitably governs our acts and our thoughts. † (Conrads, 1970, p. 61)

Codes and Convention

Codes and conventions: In the short story what’s a Bum Mom, Kathleen Rockwell uses several convincing techniques to carry out the guiding question on civility. One accurate is metaphors, in the short story the author Kathleen Rockwell describes the scene in the story were they see a homeless women out the bus window. â€Å"She stopped at a wastebasket and retrieved a large discarded sketch book. She flipped through it until she found a blank page. Standing on the corner of sixth and 14th, she reached into one of her bags and found a marker.She made on a deft stroke, and then another, on the page another artist left her. My bus moved on. This can be carried out as a metaphor for society and how we view moreover treat homelessness people. Nevertheless we don’t acknowledge it, as a result of ignorance. We are use to pressing on as well as assume we never saw them or they didn’t exist. Hence moving on with our uncivil behavior. Kathleen Rockwell sees a person that h as something with I them. A talented women however she is homeless so society will ignore her and continue on with there daily lives.Another technique is she uses first person to relate with the short story. She asks questions moreover show that their scared, a feeling that many people have. They had to do it, anyone would have done it, but did they cry while they were doing it? † The photo essay state street family by Glenn H. Austin analyze the argument of homelessness and how society looks down on, preferentially ignores the reality of living on the streets. These pictures show how everyone has approximately the same feelings; therefore society doesn’t show the same character to the homeless.The couple in the photo their attitude shows carelessness as is seen no eye-contact with each other, and perhaps the desire to avoid any connection to homelessness. Another example is the first picture a homeless man holds a sign reading, â€Å"Talk to me†, how the homeles s, like anybody else, need some interaction, outside of their, â€Å"State Street Family. † The title is a technique putting all the images together showing the fact those living on the street are connected together as a family. 1st paragraph The short story what’s a bum mom by Kathleen Rockwell and the photo essay State Street Family by Glenn H.Austin answer the guiding question, who is responsible for civility? The text I have chosen to better answer the guiding question is what a bum mom. In this short story it shows you a better understanding of the vertices, moreover what can happen. The short story what’s a bum mom Deals with the terms of ignorance in society towards the homelessness and civility. Later we ask ourselves the question do we really know how to be civil to more than just our family, friends and people who are not homeless.We are fortunate and don’t know how to act when we are put into a situation like this. At the begging of the short s tory the homeless women ask for a quarter, nevertheless the women mad up an excuse like (†¦. Put one in about ballet and getting her hopes up). It showed she was nervous and didn’t know how to act in this given situation. She gave the homeless women excuses making her feel like she’s not worth paying any attention to. The author is trying to show according to society, she is below everyone else. Society is also enduring incivility towards younger human.Like Isabelle she is 5 years old and she has already taken into a count how to label society especially homeless people, drug addicts, bum, alcoholics, ECT. The author is saying we don’t only see the vertices we do our best to ignore them. This story is trying to show us that the incivility of ignoring homelessness is recurring again and again. Its not going to stop we arguing to keep on pretending their not their and move on with our lives. The only time they catch everyone’s attention is when violenc e occurs. The author says (the arm scene).The purpose of the photo essay is to show the fact that everyone wants someone to talk to, socially interact with, Moreover deserve the same civility as others that can be shown with social interaction. Like with the first text a homeless man wrote talk to me. The photo essay brings up the question on who’s responsible for civility. The author is showing the emotions within them, also showing how we just ignore it and move on. We don’t think of them as homeless or even consider them as, we call the bums. We ignore them and that’s not an excuse for incivility 2nd -Last paragraphAdmitting both texts deal with the guiding question the short story gave a better understanding of the guiding question. The author made it easy to describe and point moreover her struggle with her own responsibility with civility in terms of the homeless. Therefore it’s easier for us to connect to as present day society does the same thing as the picture essay and the short story. The movie bum fights this movie is about fighting and attempting amateur stunts in exchange for money, alcohol, and other incentives. In this movie men are hurting each other and people for money.Like in the, short story what’s a bum mom. When the woman was attacked by a man saying he mugged her 5 bucks (add the scene). Its also similar to the drawing homeless people be harassed by police officers moreover families on the street. Like in the photo essay it shows families struggling on the street or when the police officers harassed a homeless man for sleeping in the park. It all comes down to society thinks their superior than homeless people, like they don’t matter and they shouldn’t. The only thing the matters in society and to the government is the amount of money you have. Last paragraphThe author Kathleen Rockwell, the short story what’s a bum mom shows a better understanding on the guiding question. Who is r esponsible for civility? By giving us a text we can easily find a connection to moreover answer and think about the question she asked in the text. Aside from reading this story we start questioning our own civility therefore start asking are we civil to only the ones we love and know won’t hurt us. Or just the one we think we could trust. Although the photo essay comes to a conclusion on who’s responsible for civility, it catches our attention to the problem of civility but not as well as the short story did.