Thursday, December 26, 2019

Insider in Fahrenheit 451 and Extra, a Thousand Years of...

Page 1 of 6 The meaning of ‘outsider’ is the person in part of the society. They obey and converge in the social value which set up by the government. In both Fahrenheit 451 and A thousand years of good prayers, we see that there is several of characters absorb the knowledge and social value. These characters are under controlled and they find it is a right way in obeying the structure of the society. ‘Outsider’ in Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury represents to the main character Montag and other characters such as Clarisse, Faber, the woman burnt and Captain Beatty. They are healthy on themselves. But there is something goes on a wrong way in the society. Besides, the ‘outsiders’ in the story Extra from the book A thousand years of good†¦show more content†¦Everyone (neighbourhood) is looking for the ‘show’ of burning the house. House-door opened all down the street and lights flicked to wait for watching the carnival to set up (p. 121) . Irony of the carnival tells that everyone possesses a mind that being the spectator to look forward how Montag’s house is going to be burnt down. No one willing to help him as they don t want to be burnt. In a contrast, Montag has a happy ending for himself at the end of the story. He finally found a group of people stood at the same line with him. He is still the one abandoned by the society. But he is not abandoned by the group of people. The society showed that you would be abandoned if you were the one who disobey the idea of the society. For Granny Lin, it is obvious that she is an abandon since the title of the story has pointed her characteristic in the story, an extra. She is being abandoned at the beginning, the middle part and the end of the story. All of the turning points in the story bring her to ‘being abandoned’ again. She has no capable in the society. She lost her job at the beginning of the story. After she has married to Old Tang, his dead ma kes her being abandoned by ‘hers family’, the sons of Old Tang. In addition, she can t catch up with the life after she has dismissed from the school. She wonders since when she is not longer being one of them (p. 22). Page 4 of 6 Although they are someoneShow MoreRelatedDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 PagesDirty Dozen 444 The Meaning of Empowerment 445 Historical Roots of Empowerment 446 Dimensions of Empowerment 447 Self-Efficacy 447 Self-Determination 448 Personal Consequence 449 Meaning 449 Trust 450 Review of Empowerment Dimensions 451 How to Develop Empowerment 451 Articulating a Clear Vision and Goals 452 Fostering Personal Mastery Experiences 453 Modeling 454 Providing Support 454 Emotional Arousal 455 Providing Information 456 Providing Resources 457 Connecting to Outcomes 457 Creating Confidence

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

The Great Schism Of The Church - 1454 Words

Grace Communion International logoGrace Communion International Login Search Home God Media Publications Our Story Our Churches Church Development Education Participate Online Giving The Great Schism of the Church 2005, 2015 July 6, 1054 was rapidly approaching, and the Christian world was about to experience a major event on the road to a schism that continues to our day — the divide between the Western and Eastern Christian churches. The central actors in the looming conflict were Michael Cerularius, the patriarch of Constantinople,1 and Leo IX, the bishop or pope in Rome. In the months leading up to July 6, 1054, Cerularius had strongly condemned the Western church for some of its religious practices and beliefs.2 As part of his attack, Cerularius excommunicated the bishops of Constantinople who followed certain rites of the Western church, and he closed down their churches. In April, Leo sent a legation to Cerularius, headed by Cardinal Humbert, with his own set of demands and accusations against the patriarch. As it turned out, Leo died in the midst of the mission, but the group continued its task. The meetings between Cardinal Humbert and Patriarch Cerularius were angry and bitter. Mistrust and a desire to maintain ecclesiastical power ruled the day. No useful dialogue could occur in such a poisoned atmosphere. Mutual excommunication Finally, relations between Cerularius and Humbert were strained to the breaking point. The Roman legates marched intoShow MoreRelatedThe Great Schism of 1054 that occurred in the Catholic Church has left a once united people600 Words   |  3 PagesThe Great Schism of 1054 that occurred in the Catholic Church has left a once united people separated because of conflict. These issues that tore them apart are still true today and the relations between Catholics and Orthodox Christians has yet to be repaired. The Eastern Schism was a result of many problems but it was largely a struggle between two main churches; the Western Church located in Rome, and the Eastern Church that was centered in Constantinople. Barbarian invaders, who were on a missionRead MoreEssay on The Great Schism694 Words   |  3 PagesThe Great Schism During the late 14th century and the early 15th century there was a great division in the Catholic Church. The Papacy was becoming blurred. The center of the Roman Catholic Church had been moved from Rome to the city of Avignon during the reign of Pope Clement V; and there was now a movement to return the center of power back to Rome. This movement was first truly seen under Pope Gregory XI and his successor Pope Urban VI. Earlier Pope Urban V had moved the center to RomeRead MoreReasons Why The Roman Catholics And The Eastern Orthodox Split1327 Words   |  6 Pagesbelieved to head the Church as the state. The Eastern areas of the Church used Greek in the church while the West used Latin, automatically this lead divergence in thought. The difference fueled confusion. The Eastern Church did not accept the claims of supremacy made by the pope. The remaining Churches were, despite several temporary periods of schism united until 1054. The schism of 1054 was the decisive split be tween the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholics. The great schism is widely believedRead MoreRoman Catholic Church vs Eastern Orthodox Church Essay924 Words   |  4 Pagesthe split of 1054, the Roman Catholic Church or Western church and the Eastern Orthodox Church or Byzantine church were almost one with each other. The two churches held the same ideals and got along with one another the majority of the time. They had previous splits in the past but they were never a permanent situation because they usually found a solution to their issues and differences. The split between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church in 1054 seemed to have no resolutionRead MoreThe Great Schism, also Known as the East-West Division1017 Words   |  5 Pagessplit of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church. Some of these factors are such as the different understanding of Christianity, the different point of views toward the authority of the Pope and the different ide as of governing the Church. All the different thoughts created the disagreement between the two branches of Church. In other words, the conflict came up, and eventually led to the Great Schism. The differences between these two branches of church were significant because theyRead MoreCatholic Church During The Protestant Reformation1464 Words   |  6 PagesThe three areas of concern that Catholics had about the Catholic Church before the Protestant Reformation were The Plague, Abuse of the Indulgences and The Great Schism. The Plague also known as the Black Death was a disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis that circulated among wild rodents. The disease took place in the fourteenth century. Symptoms include aching of limbs, high fever, vomiting of blood, and swelling of the lymph nodes. After the lymph nodes swelled they would then burstRead MoreThe Schism Between The East And West1414 Words   |  6 Pages1054, the Great Schism occurred between the Roman Catholics and the Orthodox Christians, when the Pope first excommunicated the Patriarch of Constantinople. Not long after that, the Patriarch excommunicated the Pope, causing the split. There were many issues prior that created the Great Schism between the east and west both before and after 1054. It would appear from the documentation that the east had more issues with how the west conducted the church. The issues that caused the Schism between theRead MoreThe Schism Between The East And The West1557 Words   |  7 PagesThe Great Schism There were many issues that created the Great Schism between the East and the West, both before 1054 CE and after. However, it would appear from the documentation that the East had more issues with how the West conducted religion and ran their church. The issues that occurred with how the West conducted religion and ran their church happened prior to 1054 CE. Furthermore, the ambassadors from the Pope excommunicated the Patriarch of Constantinople around 1054 C E. The following dayRead MoreThe Schism Between The East And The West1539 Words   |  7 Pages The Great Schism There were many issues that created the Great Schism between the East and the West, both before 1054 CE and after. However it would appear from the documentation that the East had more issues with how the West conducted religion and ran their church. The issues that occurred with how the West conducted religion and ran their church happened prior to 1054 CE. Furthermore the ambassadors from the Pope excommunicated the Patriarch of Constantinople around 1054 CE. The followingRead MoreWhat Caused The Great Schism Of 1054960 Words   |  4 PagesTo understand what caused The Great Schism of 1054, it is important to first have a background knowledge of who was involved. The divide occurred among the land, with a west side and an east side. The western side was inhabited by Romans and spanned from current Portugal over to Hungary, also including the more northern countries from Ireland to Sweden. These borders were frequently changed throughout history, although their principal area was always that of the German states. This area was referred

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

How does Shakespeare make Romeo and Juliet dramatically interesting for the audience Example For Students

How does Shakespeare make Romeo and Juliet dramatically interesting for the audience? Romeo and Juliet is a play which can be described and perceived in many ways but the plot and the core of the story has the ingredients of a tragedy. A tragedy in the sense that even though the play revolves around love, in the end, hate prevails. Shakespeare manages to create drama throughout the play with many other factors such as, anger, romance, excitement, comedy and tension. Of course, I am only analysing the scenes in Act 1, but even so, there is drama in abundance for the audience to be enthralled. The prologue sets the story up perfectly summarising what the play is about and even how long it is, whilst the scenes which follow, all have different focal points such as the drama of scene one, the comedy of scene three and the love and romance of scene five. All of these scenes are dramatically interesting for the audience, through use of language, emphasis on the ancient grudge and many other aspects. The prologue is at the beginning of the play and gives the audience the details of the plot, and reveals that there is going to be a tragic ending. The prologue is a sonnet. A sonnet is used for various reasons. It may set the scene for a film as it can usually help people to understand the storyline better. It also rhymes which gives a poetic aspect. The prologue lets us know that not only will the play be a story of love but it will also feature an essence of hate. At the beginning of the prologue, it sets the scene, it tells us In fair Verona where we lay our scene. It then briefly describes the two families the Capulets and the Montagues. It lets us know that the families are enemies by saying Two households both alike in dignity .. From ancient grudge break to new mutiny. This is telling the audience that both of the families are similar in a way, in the sense that they are well respected with high standards, but yet, an old grudge between them causes bad feelings. An old disagreement between the families will soon turn to a new conflict. The prologue then goes on to say Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean, from forth the fatal loins of these two foes, a pair of star-crossed lovers take their life. By saying this, it is telling the audience that from two civil families, who are enemies to one another; two children were born. These two children were lovers that were destined to be together but were led to take their lives. So already, the audience knows that there is going to be a death in the play. The death of these lovers forces the families to end the feud. It informs the audience of the general outline of the play foreshadowing future events and tells of a fearful passage, which shows the dangerous journey Romeo and Juliet travel on throughout the play. Summarising the entire play is useful as many members of the audience may be poorly educated and this would enable them to understand the storyline better. There are also many oxymorons used such as death-marked love, fatal loins, and star-crossed lovers, w hich intertwine the contrasting themes. This intertwining helps to build up tension and express how the pivotal themes contrast. The oxymoron also helps to tell the audience that the storyline will not be predictable. Conclusively, the prologue helps in getting the audience to understand the background story of the play and prepares them for the tragedy to come. Act 1 Scene 1 begins with two servents of the Capulet household, Sampson and Gregory. The two men are discussing work. Shakespeare adds comedy to the conversation by using puns. By doing so, the topics of discussion quickly change and soon they are talking about the feuding between the Capulet and the Montague households. Even though the two men are talking about violence they are still joking and playing with words. This shows that they do not take the fighting seriously as it has become a part of their everyday lives. Of course, when Tybalt, a figure of violence and hatred appears, the other characters become fearful and fail to find the situation humorous. In the conversation between the two men, Shakespeare makes referances to rape and murder. Again, this shows it is a common feature of everyday life. Tis all one, I will show myself a tyrant: when I have fought with the men I will be civil with the maids; I will cut off their heads The heads of the maids? Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads, take it in what sense thou wilt. Here Sampson is telling Gregory that the fighting is not just between their masters it involves the whole of the Capulet household, including them. He says that he will kill all the Montague men and cut off the heads of their women. He then plays with the words and implies that he will sexually abuse them. There is an oxymoron (love versus hate) at the beginning of the first scene when Benvolio and Tybalt are together and a fight is about to break out. Benvolio who symbolises peace and love, is trying to convince Tybalt, who symbolises hate and anger, that the fighting is wrong and it should be left to be dealt with by the two Lords, Old Capulet and Old Montague. I do but keep the peace. Put up thy sword or manage it to part these men with me. Benvolio is asking Tybalt to help him stop their men from fighting to which Tybalt replies, What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word, as I hate Hell, all Montagues and thee. Tybalt is comparing Benvolio and his family to Hell this, an implication that they are all equally as bad. Lords Montague and Capulet then enter the scene and they are just as bad as each other. As soon as Old Capulet sees the fighting he demands his sword is given to him. To which his wife replies A crutch, a crutch! Why call you for a sword?, she is telling him he is too old to be fighting and that he should be asking for a walking stick instead of his sword. Neither of the wives will let their husbands fight, they too see the stupidity and how far it has gone. The prince then enters, a large crowd of attendants alongside him which shows that he is a powerful man. Prince Escales is the ruler of all Verona people fear him but they love him as well because he is their protector however, it takes him a long time to get their attention. The prince makes a long speech about what has happened to Verona because of the fighting. He calls his subjects enemies to peace meaning that they arent fighting each other, but peace. The prince will not lay the blame on either Capulet or Montague, he is aware that the fighting is caused by both families. In his speech Prince Escales uses animalistic metaphors as does Tybalt in the first few pages of the play found on line fifty six. What art thou drawn among these hartless hinds? not only is this a phrase but a metaphor, it is also a pun. Tybalt is punning on the words heart and hinds, a hart being a male deer and a hind being a young female deer. By doing this Tybalt insults Benvolio and is mocking him for apparently fighting with servants. The other animalistic metaphor used is found in the princes speech as he tries to grab the attention of his subjects. What ho, you men, you beasts!- the prince is saying that they are no better than animals, and that they are acting like animals with all this constant fighting. He blames both families but the speech is not only aimed at the quarrelling. He also speaks of how the feuding is tearing apart their city. In Act 1, Scene 2, Romeo enters the scene, he is sad and can only think of a mystery woman who he believes to be in love with. Benvolio asks why Romeo is sad, his answers are clumsy and confusing. What sadness lengthens Romeos hours? Not having that which having makes them short. His answer shows he is confused about his own feelings. What he is trying to say is that he is sad because Roseline, the mystery woman, doesnt return his affection. His love for Roseline is of course not real, he is merely infatuated with her, but he believes that he is in love with her. When Romeo sees that another fight has happened he is not surprised. His next few lines are full of oxymorons and juxtaposition which highlight the point being made, that the fightings is pointless, but also his feelings of confusion. From lines 170-176 he makes a short speech. To begin with, it is about the feuding but it gradually moves back to his so called love for Roseline. One of the first oxymorons used is loving hate when Romeo says the fighting has a lot to do with hate but more to do with love possibly a love of fighting. Through this single quotation we understand why Romeo is confused. He is sad because his love is unrequited. Love is all about happiness and joy but Romeo feels none of this, so naturally he knows it isnt right. However Romeos pain shows that with the joys and pleasures of love come pain and sadness. We see that pleasure and pain are linked with love and hate. Why is Act I Scene V of Romeo and Juliet an effective piece of drama? How is this an important scene in the drama as a whole? EssayAlready from this scene, the audience are aware of the rising tension being created between the characters. They are aware that there is going to be more tension created between the two families and the consequences will end severe, as their children are falling in love. Dramatic irony is created because the audience are aware that Romeo is a Montague and Juliet is a Capulet which the two star crossed lovers do not. The audience are still interested in the story developing even though they know whats coming. Also, the audience know that Romeo has a bad feeling and is very nervous about Tybalt who is almost inflamed by his presence, Fetch me my rapier, boy. The scene begins with the serving men preparing for the party. It starts the party atmosphere with hustling and bustling and the serving men getting very busy. This scene sets up an obvious change of mood and then it contrasts with the later mood development in the party. There is contrast with the atmosphere as it is loud, bright, extravagant and happy. There is no threat in the beginning of this scene as it is quite welcoming because of the jubilant atmosphere and the jolly mood of Lord Capulet as he jest to the guests, More light, you knaves, and turn the tables up; Every-one is invited into the party atmosphere. The significance of the party being a masked ball is that the Montagues can get into the party without their identities being revealed or exposed. This is linked to when Romeo and Juliet meet. They do not seem to know that they are enemies and can just show how much they love each other. When Romeo spots Juliet the soliloquy contrasts with the previous lines. This is because the previous lines show the Capulets welcoming people, Welcome gentlemen. There is a jolly atmosphere, but then when Romeo starts to speak to Juliet, everything goes silent and becomes very serious. This creates a lot of tension as the audience would want to know what is happening at this precise moment. Whilst saying the soliloquy, Romeo does not know Juliets name, so he compares her to something precious, As a rich jewel in an Ethiops ear. He talks to her about her beauty and tells her that she stands out like black and white, So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows. Shakespeare uses metaphors and similes to describe her standing out against the, Cheek of night. From the previous lines, Romeo has completely forgotten about his first love, Rosaline, and concentrates on Juliet but then when it comes towards the end of the soliloquy he asks himself a question Did my heart love till now? Forswear it sight! This shows that he made a mistake in thinking he was in love with Rosaline. Whilst Romeo is saying this romantic soliloquy, one of the Capulets, Tybalt catches a glimpse of him. This does have an impact on the audience. It raises the tension in the audiences as the mood goes from love to hate and conflict. It makes the audience think that there is going to be a fight between Tybalt and Romeo and that the consequences are going to be bad. Tybalt says, Fetch me my rapier boy, because he is inflamed by Romeos presence and his authority to enter the Capulets house. When Lord Capulet says, Take no note of him it lowers the tension for the audience as he says to Tybalt to leave Romeo alone, Do him disparagement. He tells Tybalt that he is duty bound to make sure Romeo is not insulted in his house. He does not want any violence going on as he is the host of the party. Shakespeare uses language such as, Tis he, that villain Romeo, to emphasise what Tybalt thinks of Romeo. Capulets words have an effect on Tybalt as he is told to leave Romeo alone. It changes the mood as Tybalt becomes stubborn and disloyal to Lord Capulet. Capulet then gives Tybalt an order, He shall be endured. Tybalt has challenged Capulets authority so then he has to reassert it. This creates conflict between the characters. The two Capulets continue to argue with tension mounting, Lord Capulet insults Tybalt, Goodman boy which asserts his authority. The mood for Lord Capulet changes as he tries to quite down Tybalt and continue with the party. The relationship between Romeo and Juliet now seems possible because Lord Capulet refuses to listen to Tybalt and Romeo stays at the party. When the two lovers meet they use religious imagery to show how much they love each other, This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this. This is associated with the sonnet as this also shows how much Romeo is in love with Juliet. They are also together when the sonnet is heard which also makes it holy as they use religious wording. When they meet, they feel so in love with each other but they dont have a clue as in the later consequences. This rises the tension in the characters as the audience know about this and want to know when they discover the situation they are in. Juliet feels much stronger about Romeo as she is already in love with him, If he be married, my grave is like to be my wedding bed. From this scene there are strong and romantic emotions displayed by the characters. There is sadness at the end of the scene as the two star cross lovers find out that they are both from families with a grudge against each other. Hate is displayed by Tybalt too towards Romeo as they are each others Foes. These emotions that are displayed in the scene become a big impact on the audience as this makes the scene more interesting. The historic content in this scene affects the audience too. This is because in those times, you would have to know your lover well before you would be able to kiss them. In this case, Romeo and Juliet kiss each other the first time they meet. However, Romeo and Juliets meeting and falling in love is not all perfect as it is rooted in irony. Both Juliet and Romeo were reluctant to attend the ball but went along anyway; Romeo to see Rosaline and Juliet to see Paris. Their meeting sets the story moving and is the initial incident of the tragedy. Shakespeare uses Juliets Nurse to bring Romeo and Juliet out of their fantasy world and back to reality. Romeo is the first to find out that he and his love are part of rival families. Juliet is forced to go and see her mother; it is then that he finds out that she is a Capulet as the Nurse tells him that Her mother is the lady of the house. He was stunned and startled to find out that the girl he loves was the daughter of his fathers enemy, Is she a Capulet? My life is my foes debt. Shakespeare uses dramatic irony when Juliet finds out who her love is as she asks her Nurse about three separate men at the party, saving Romeo for last so she did not cause suspicion. Juliet, like Romeo, is surprised when she learns of her loves identity. The Nurse informs her that he is Romeo, the only son of the Montague family. Juliet is heart-broken that she loves a loathed enemy. They are left in despair as they both realise the danger of their situation being from two enemy households, my only love sprung from my only hate. Juliet says my grave is like to be my wedding bed and the final rhyming couplet of the second sonnet ends with bitterest gall, both of these ominously link to their fate. This scene does make the audience tense because of the changes in mood and the tragic consequence at the end. In conclusion as well as the themes the language and styles used by Shakespeare that have an effect on the way that the audience thinks about the play, the depth of character that is created by Shakespeare is also very effective. That is when all of these things are put together they make Romeo and Juliet such a complex plot and have the desired effect on the audience. Throughout Act 1 and probably the rest of the play, Shakespeare shows that love and hate are inextricably linked; where there is one, there is always the other. Consequently, love is presented in a negative way showing it as vicious and dangerous and even true love can result in something destructive as it is constantly mixed amid hatred. The amount of tension William Shakespeare can manipulate an audience into feeling is quite extraordinary, and proves once more why he is still being studied and performed four hundred years after his death. He was absolutely exceptional in the way he perfected the use of each technique. His most effective method, in my opinion, was that of dramatic irony followed closely by the use of oxymorons. All in all, I think Shakespeare builds up tension exceptionally well which makes the first act of the play emotional, exciting, funny, and ultimately a dramatically interesting story for the audience.

Monday, December 2, 2019

John Steinbeck of Mice and Men free essay sample

John Steinbeck called his novel about migratory farmhands during The Great Depression. The title Of Mice and Men is Steinbeck alluding to Robert Burns’ poem â€Å"To a Mouse â€Å". Burn states â€Å"the best laid plains of mice and mean oft go awry â€Å". Therefore there are many reasons why this quote can relate to the relationship of George and Lennie and also others of this book. Here are my three main reasons why this quote is the main idea of the story and why Steinbeck’s message is true about the real world. First of all, the simplest reason is that George and Lennie’s best laid plans went awry. Lennie and George want to work on the ranch in the hopes of making enough money to buy their own farm, where they can be independent and in charge of their own destiny and rabbits. With the certainty of payment, it seems the pair will get what they’ve hoped for all along. We will write a custom essay sample on John Steinbeck of Mice and Men or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page While this is something we can call the plan stage, it has a bit of a twist, hinted at by the way George tells Lennie and us as the reader of their dream. The story of the little farm, with the rabbits and vegetable patch and so on, is less like a plan and more like a fairy tale. The dream-like unreal quality of their dream doesn’t assure well for the hope that it will ever come true. Lennie and George learn that Candy would like to live on the farm, too; he can even offer three hundred dollars toward its purchase which is his life support money. Everyone is very excited at the possibility of the dream actually coming true. With the entrance of Candy’s money into the story, it seems like the dream could come true after all. Candy has three hundred dollars to contribute, and George even knows the couple he’d buy the land from. As Lennie smiles to himself about the possibility of the ranch, Curley is on the prowl for his wife and a fight. He thinks Lennie is laughing at him or wants to fight him and begins to punch the big guy. Lennie is horrified and does nothing until George urges him to fight back. Lennie promptly reduces Curley to a crying little man with a mangled hand. Slim makes sure Lennie and George are protected from getting in trouble, but it’s clear that working on the ranch will be a lot more complicated from now on. Lennie accidentally kills his own puppy, and then accidentally kills Curley’s wife. If Curley was waiting for Lennie to slip-up, he needs to wait no longer. Though Lennie doesn’t at all mean to kill Curley’s wife, this act pretty much decides his fate. Any promise of safety or happiness he had on the dream farm is over. Now we’re certain Lennie will have to pay for what he’s done, one way or another. George realizes that if Lennie is to go with any dignity or comfort, it’s up to George to take his friend out himself. Although this means the literal destruction of Lennie, in killing his friend, George gives Lennie the happiest ending he could have. George has to face the sarcastic loneliness of the open road. George describes to Candy the life he’ll have without Lennie: it’s a future made of whorehouses and pool halls – places where lonely men stay lonely. Worse than just losing a friend by accident, George’s act seems to kill any last hope that the loneliness of the open road could ever be beaten. Without Lennie, George has nothing that makes him different from the other sad wanderers. He’s lost his best friend, and along with losing Lennie, George has also lost his dreams. The plan become very awry obviously. Secondly, Steinbecks characters are often powerless, due to intellectual, economic, and social circumstances. Lennie possesses the greatest physical strength of any character, which therefore establishes a sense of respect as he is employed as a ranch hand. However, his intellectual handicap undercuts this and results in his powerlessness. Economic powerlessness is established as many of the ranch hands are victims of the Great Depression. As George, Candy and Crooks are positive, action- oriented characters, they wish to purchase a homestead, but because of the Depression, they are unable to generate enough money. Lennie is the only one who is basically unable to take care of him, but the other characters would do this in the improved circumstances they seek. Since they can not do so, the real danger of Lennies mental handicap comes to the fore. Lastly, Most of all Steinbeck clearly believes The American Dream cannot always be considered as happiness, love, peace, etc. This is his message to the true real world. In my opinion Steinbeck is saying that sometimes the things you plan don’t succeed and what you think is truly your life longing it turns out to be your worst nightmare or not the real destiny of your life. It’s the thinking man, who can look backwards and forwards, that suffers the most from the awful things he’s done. The last verse is a nice way to think of Lennie and George’s respective fate. Whatever happens to Lennie is done, but George is left to spend the rest of his future thinking of his past deeds. OF Mice and Men Essay By:

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher in World War II

Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher in World War II Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher was an American naval officer who played a key role in the early battles of World War II in the Pacific. An Iowa native, he received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the occupation of Veracruz. Though he had little experience with carriers, Fletcher directed Allied forces at the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942 and at the Battle of Midway a month later. That August, he oversaw the invasion of Guadalcanal and was criticized for withdrawing his ships leaving the Marines ashore unprotected and under-supplied. Fletcher later commanded Allied forces in the northern Pacific in the final years of the conflict. Early Life and Career A native of Marshalltown, IA, Frank Jack Fletcher was born April 29, 1885. The nephew of a naval officer, Fletcher elected to pursue a similar career. Appointed to the US Naval Academy in 1902, his classmates included Raymond Spruance, John McCain, Sr., and Henry Kent Hewitt. Completing his class work on February 12, 1906, he proved an above average student and ranked 26th in a class of 116. Departing Annapolis, Fletcher began serving the two years at sea that were then required prior to commissioning. Initially reporting to USS Rhode Island (BB-17), he later served aboard USS Ohio (BB-12). In September 1907, Fletcher moved to the armed yacht USS Eagle. While on board, he received his commission as a ensign in February 1908. Later assigned to USS Franklin, the receiving ship at Norfolk, Fletcher oversaw drafting men for service with the Pacific Fleet. Traveling with this contingent aboard USS Tennessee (ACR-10), he arrived in at Cavite, Philippines during the fall of 1909. That November, Fletcher was assigned to the destroyer USS Chauncey. Veracruz Serving with the Asiatic Torpedo Flotilla, Fletcher received his first command in April 1910 when ordered to the destroyer USS Dale. As the ships commander, he led to a top ranking among the US Navys destroyers at that springs battle practice as well as claimed the gunnery trophy. Remaining in the Far East, he later captained Chauncey in 1912. That December, Fletcher returned to the United States and reported aboard the new battleship USS Florida (BB-30). While with the ship, he took part in the Occupation of Veracruz which began in April 1914. Part of the naval forces led by his uncle, Rear Admiral Frank Friday Fletcher, he was placed in command of the chartered mail steamer Esperanza and successfully rescued 350 refugees while under fire. Later in the campaign, Fletcher brought a number of foreign nationals out of the interior by train after a complex series of negotiations with the local Mexican authorities. Earning a formal commendation for his efforts, this was later upgraded to the Medal of Honor in 1915. Leaving Florida that July, Fletcher reported for duty as Aide and Flag Lieutenant for his uncle who was assuming command of the Atlantic Fleet. Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher Rank: AdmiralService: United States NavyNickname(s): Black JackBorn: April 29, 1885 in Marshalltown, IADied: April 25, 1973 in Bethesda, MDParents: Thomas J. and Alice FletcherSpouse: Martha RichardsConflicts: World War I, World War IIKnown For: Battle of the Coral Sea, Battle of Midway, Invasion of Guadalcanal, Battle of the Eastern Solomons World War I Remaining with his uncle until September 1915, Fletcher then departed to take an assignment at Annapolis. With the American entry into World War I in April 1917, he became the gunnery officer aboard USS Kearsarge (BB-5) Transferred that September, Fletcher, now a lieutenant commander, briefly commanded USS Margaret before sailing for Europe. Arriving in February 1918, he took command of the destroyer USS Allen before moving to USS Benham that May. Commanding Benham for most of the year, Fletcher received the Navy Cross for his actions during convoy duty in the North Atlantic. Departing that fall, he traveled to San Francisco where he oversaw the construction of vessels for the US Navy at Union Iron Works. Interwar Years Following a staff posting in Washington, Fletcher returned to sea in 1922 with a series of assignments on the Asiatic Station. These included command of the destroyer USS Whipple followed by the gunboat USS Sacramento and submarine tender USS Rainbow. In this final vessel, Fletcher also oversaw the submarine base at Cavite, Philippines. Ordered home in 1925, he saw duty at the Washington Naval Yard before joining USS Colorado (BB-45) as executive officer in 1927. After two years of duty aboard the battleship, Fletcher was selected to attend the US Naval War College at Newport, RI. Graduating, he sought additional education at the US Army War College before accepting an appointment as Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief, US Asiatic Fleet in August 1931. Serving as chief of staff to Admiral Montgomery M. Taylor for two years with the rank of captain, Fletcher gained early insight into Japanese naval operations following their invasion of Manchuria. Ordered back to Washington after two years, he next held a post in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. This was followed by duty as Aide to Secretary of the Navy Claude A. Swanson. In June 1936, Fletcher assumed command of the battleship USS New Mexico (BB-40). Sailing as flagship of Battleship Division Three, he furthered the vessels reputation as an elite warship. He was aided in this by the future father of the nuclear navy, Lieutenant Hyman G. Rickover, who was New Mexicos assistant engineering officer. Fletcher remained with the vessel until December 1937 when he departed for duty in the Navy Department. Made Assistant Chief of the Bureau of Navigation in June 1938, Fletcher was promoted to rear admiral the following year. Ordered to the US Pacific Fleet in late 1939, he first commanded Cruiser Division Three and later Cruiser Division Six. While Fletcher was in the latter post, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. World War II With the US entry into World War II, Fletcher received orders to take Task Force 11, centered on the carrier USS Saratoga (CV-3) to relieve Wake Island which was under attack from the Japanese. Moving towards the island, Fletcher was recalled on December 22 when leaders received reports of two Japanese carriers operating in the area. Though a surface commander, Fletcher took command of Task Force 17 on January 1, 1942. Commanding from the carrier USS Yorktown (CV-5) he learned air operations at sea while cooperating with Vice Admiral William Bull Halseys Task Force 8 in mounting raids against the Marshall and Gilbert Islands that February. A month later, Fletcher served as second in command to Vice Admiral Wilson Brown during operations against Salamaua and Lae on New Guinea. Battle of the Coral Sea With Japanese forces threatening Port Moresby, New Guinea in early May, Fletcher received orders from the Commander in Chief, US Pacific Fleet, Admiral Chester Nimitz, to intercept the enemy. Joined by aviation expert Rear Admiral Aubrey Fitch and USS Lexington (CV-2) he moved his forces into the Coral Sea. After mounting air strikes against Japanese forces on Tulagi on May 4, Fletcher received word that the Japanese invasion fleet was approaching. Though air searches failed to find the enemy the next day, efforts on May 7 proved more successful. Opening the Battle of the Coral Sea, Fletcher, with Fitchs assistance, mounted strikes which succeeded in sinking the carrier Shoho. The next day, American aircraft badly damaged the carrier Shokaku, but Japanese forces succeeded in sinking Lexington and damaging Yorktown. Battered, the Japanese elected to withdraw after the battle giving the Allies a key strategic victory. Battle of Midway Forced to return to Pearl Harbor to make repairs on Yorktown, Fletcher was in port only briefly before being dispatched by Nimitz to oversee the defense of Midway. Sailing, he joined with Spruances Task Force 16 which possessed the carriers USS Enterprise (CV-6) and USS Hornet (CV-8). Serving as the senior commander at the Battle of Midway, Fletcher mounted strikes against the Japanese fleet on June 4. Vice Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher, September 1942. US Naval History and Heritage Command The initial attacks sunk the carriers Akagi, Soryu, and Kaga. Responding, the Japanese carrier Hiryu launched two raids against Yorktown that afternoon before being sunk by American aircraft. The Japanese attacks succeeded in crippling the carrier and forced Fletcher to shift his flag to the heavy cruiser USS Astoria. Though Yorktown was later lost to a submarine attack, the battle proved a key victory for the Allies and was the turning point of the war in the Pacific. Fighting in the Solomons On July 15, Fletcher received a promotion to vice admiral. Nimitz had tried to obtain this promotion in May and June but had been blocked by Washington as some perceived Fletchers actions at the Coral Sea and Midway as being overly-cautious. Fletchers rebuttal to these claims was that he was attempting to preserve the US Navys scarce resources in the Pacific in the wake of Pearl Harbor. Given command of Task Force 61, Nimitz directed Fletcher to oversee the invasion of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. Landing the 1st Marine Division on August 7, his carrier aircraft provided cover from Japanese land-based fighters and bombers. Concerned about fuel and aircraft losses, Fletcher elected to withdraw his carriers from the area on August 8. This move proved controversial it compelled the amphibious forces transports to withdraw before landing much of the 1st Marine Divisions supplies and artillery. Fletcher justified his decision based on the need to protect the carriers for use against their Japanese counterparts. Left exposed, the Marines ashore were subjected to nightly shelling from Japanese naval forces and were short on supplies. While the Marines consolidated their position, the Japanese began planning a counter-offensive to reclaim the island. Overseen by Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, the Imperial Japanese Navy commenced Operation Ka in late August. This called for Japanese three carriers, led by Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo, to eliminate Fletchers ships which would permit surface forces to clear the area around Guadalcanal. This done, a large troop convoy would proceed to the island. Clashing at the Battle of the Eastern Solomons on August 24-25, Fletcher succeeded in sinking the light carrier Ryujo but had Enterprise badly damaged. Though largely inconclusive, the battle forced the Japanese convoy to turn around and compelled them to deliver supplies to Guadalcanal by destroyer or submarine. Later War Following Eastern Solomons, the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Ernest J. King, severely criticized Fletcher for not pursuing Japanese forces after the battle. A week after the engagement, Fletchers flagship, Saratoga, was torpedoed by I-26. The damage sustained forced the carrier to return to Pearl Harbor. Arriving, an exhausted Fletcher was given leave. On November 18, he assumed command of the 13th Naval District and Northwestern Sea Frontier with his headquarters at Seattle. In this post for the remainder of the war, Fletcher also became commander of the Alaskan Sea Frontier in April 1944. Pushing ships across the North Pacific, he mounted attacks on the Kurile Islands. With the end of the war in September 1945, Fletchers forces occupied northern Japan. Returning to the United States later that year, Fletcher joined the General Board of the Navy Department on December 17. Later chairing the board, he retired from active duty on May 1, 1947. Elevated to the rank of admiral upon leaving the service, Fletcher retired to Maryland. He later died on April 25, 1973, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Battle of Talas River - Background

Battle of Talas River - Background Few people today have even heard of the Battle of Talas River.  Yet this little-known skirmish between the army of Imperial Tang China and the Abbasid Arabs had important consequences, not just for China and Central Asia, but for the entire world. Eighth century Asia was an ever-shifting mosaic of different tribal and regional powers, fighting for trade rights, political power and/or religious hegemony. The era was characterized by a dizzying array of battles, alliances, double-crosses and betrayals. At the time, nobody could have known that one particular battle, which took place on the banks of the Talas River in present-day Kyrgyzstan, would halt the Arab and Chinese advances in Central Asia and fix the boundary between Buddhist/Confucianist Asia and Muslim Asia. None of the combatants could have predicted that this battle would be instrumental in transmitting a key invention from China to the western world: the art of paper-making, a technology that would alter world history forever. Background to the Battle For some time, the powerful Tang Empire (618-906) and its predecessors had been expanding Chinese influence in Central Asia. China used soft power for the most part, relying upon a series of trade agreements and nominal protectorates rather than military conquest to control Central Asia. The most troublesome foe faced by the Tang from 640 forward was the powerful Tibetan Empire, established by Songtsan Gampo. Control of what is now Xinjiang, Western China, and neighboring provinces went back and forth between China and Tibet throughout the seventh and eighth centuries. China also faced challenges from the Turkic Uighurs in the northwest, the Indo-European Turfans, and the Lao/Thai tribes on Chinas southern borders. The Rise of the Arabs While the Tang were occupied with all these adversaries, a new superpower rose in the Middle East. The Prophet Muhammad died in 632, and the Muslim faithful under the Umayyad Dynasty (661-750) soon brought vast areas under their sway. From Spain and Portugal in the west, across North Africa and the Middle East, and on to the oasis cities of Merv, Tashkent, and Samarkand in the east, the Arab conquest spread with astonishing speed. Chinas interests in Central Asia went back at least to 97 B.C., when the Han Dynasty general Ban Chao led an army of 70,000 as far as Merv (in what is now Turkmenistan), in pursuit of bandit tribes that preyed on early Silk Road caravans. China also had long courted trade relations with the Sassanid Empire in Persia, as well as their predecessors the Parthians. The Persians and Chinese had collaborated to quell rising Turkic powers, playing different tribal leaders off of one another. In addition, the Chinese had a long history of contacts with the Sogdian Empire, centered in modern-day Uzbekistan. Early Chinese/Arab Conflicts Inevitably, the lightning-quick expansion by the Arabs would clash with Chinas established interests in Central Asia. In 651, the Umayyads captured the Sassanian capital at Merv and executed the king, Yazdegerd III. From this base, they would go on to conquer Bukhara, the Ferghana Valley, and as far east as Kashgar (on the Chinese/Kyrgyz border today). News of Yazdegards fate was carried to the Chinese capital of Changan (Xian) by his son Firuz, who fled to China after the fall of Merv. Firuz later became a general of one of Chinas armies, and then governor of a region centered at modern-day Zaranj, Afghanistan. In 715, the first armed clash between the two powers occurred in the Ferghana Valley of Afghanistan. The Arabs and Tibetans deposed King Ikhshid and installed a man named Alutar in his place. Ikhshid asked China to intervene on his behalf, and the Tang sent an army of 10,000 to overthrow Alutar and reinstate Ikhshid. Two years later, an Arab/Tibetan army besieged two cities in the Aksu region of what is now Xinjiang, western China. The Chinese sent an army of Qarluq mercenaries, who defeated the Arabs and Tibetans and lifted the siege. In 750 the Umayyad Caliphate fell, overthrown by the more aggressive Abbasid Dynasty. The Abbasids From their first capital at Harran, Turkey, the Abbasid Caliphate set out to consolidate power over the sprawling Arab Empire built by the Umayyads. One area of concern was the eastern borderlands - the Ferghana Valley and beyond. The Arab forces in eastern Central Asia with their Tibetan and Uighur allies were led by the brilliant tactician, General Ziyad ibn Salih. Chinas western army was headed by Governor-General Kao Hsien-chih (Go Seong-ji), an ethnic-Korean commander. It was not unusual at that time for foreign or minority officers to command Chinese armies because the military was considered an undesirable career path for ethnic Chinese noblemen. Appropriately enough, the decisive clash at Talas River was precipitated by another dispute in Ferghana. In 750, the king of Ferghana had a border dispute with the ruler of neighboring Chach. He appealed to the Chinese, who sent General Kao to assist Ferghanas troops. Kao besieged Chach, offered the Chachan king safe passage out of his capital, then reneged and beheaded him. In a mirror-image parallel to what had happened during the Arab conquest of Merv in 651, the Chachan kings son escaped and reported the incident to Abbasid Arab governor Abu Muslim at Khorasan. Abu Muslim rallied his troops at Merv and marched to join Ziyad ibn Salihs army further east.  The Arabs were determined to teach General Kao a lesson... and incidentally, to assert Abbasid power in the region. The Battle of Talas River In July of 751, the armies of these two great empires met at Talas, near the modern-day Kyrgyz/Kazakh border. Chinese records state that the Tang army was 30,000 strong, while Arab accounts put the number of Chinese at 100,000. The total number of Arab, Tibetan and Uighur warriors is not recorded, but theirs was the larger of the two forces. For five days, the mighty armies clashed. When the Qarluq Turks came in on the Arab side several days into the fighting, the Tang armys doom was sealed. Chinese sources imply that the Qarluqs had been fighting for them, but treacherously switched sides midway through the battle. Arab records, on the other hand, indicate that the Qarluqs were already allied with the Abbasids prior to the conflict. The Arab account seems more likely since the Qarluqs suddenly mounted a surprise attack on the Tang formation from the rear. (If the Chinese accounts are correct, wouldnt the Qarluqs have been in the middle of the action, rather than riding up from behind? And would the surprise have been as complete, if the Qarluqs had been fighting there all along?) Some modern Chinese writings about the battle still exhibit a sense of outrage at this perceived betrayal by one of the Tang Empires minority peoples. Whatever the case, the Qarluq attack signaled the beginning of the end for Kao Hsien-chihs army. Of the tens of thousands the Tang sent into battle, only a small percentage survived. Kao Hsien-chih himself was one of the few who escaped the slaughter; he would live just five years more, before being put on trial and executed for corruption. In addition to the tens of thousands of Chinese killed, a number were captured and taken back to Samarkand (in modern-day Uzbekistan) as prisoners of war. The Abbassids could have pressed their advantage, marching into China proper. However, their supply lines were already stretched to the breaking point, and sending such a huge force over the eastern Hindu Kush mountains and into the deserts of western China was beyond their capacity. Despite the crushing defeat of Kaos Tang forces, the Battle of Talas was a tactical draw. The Arabs eastward advance was halted, and the troubled Tang Empire turned its attention from Central Asia to rebellions on its northern and southern borders. Consequences of the Battle of Talas At the time of the Battle of Talas, its significance was not clear. Chinese accounts mention the battle as part of the beginning of the end for the Tang Dynasty. That same year, the Khitan tribe in Manchuria (northern China) defeated the imperial forces in that region, and Thai/Lao peoples in what is now Yunnan province in the south revolted as well. The An Shi Revolt of 755-763, which was more of a civil war than a simple revolt, further weakened the empire. By 763, the Tibetans were able to seize the Chinese capital at Changan (now Xian). With so much turmoil at home, the Chinese had neither the will nor the power to exert much influence past the Tarim Basin after 751. For the Arabs, too, this battle marked an unnoticed turning point. The victors are supposed to write history, but in this case, (despite the totality of their victory), they did not have much to say for some time after the event. Barry Hoberman points out that the ninth-century Muslim historian al-Tabari (839-923) never even mentions the Battle of Talas River. Its not until half a millennium after the skirmish that Arab historians take note of Talas, in the writings of Ibn al-Athir (1160-1233) and al-Dhahabi (1274-1348). Nevertheless, the Battle of Talas had important consequences. The weakened Chinese Empire was no longer in any position to interfere in Central Asia, so the influence of the Abbassid Arabs grew. Some scholars quibble that too much emphasis is placed on the role of Talas in the Islamification of Central Asia. It is certainly true that the Turkic and Persian tribes of Central Asia did not all immediately convert to Islam in August of 751. Such a feat of mass communication across the deserts, mountains, and steppes would have been utterly impossible before modern mass communications, even if the Central Asian peoples were uniformly receptive to Islam. Nonetheless, the absence of any counterweight to the Arab presence allowed Abbassid influence to spread gradually throughout the region. Within the next 250 years, most of the formerly Buddhist, Hindu, Zoroastrian, and Nestorian Christian tribes of Central Asia had become Muslim. Most significant of all, among the prisoners of war captured by the Abbassids after the Battle of Talas River, were a number of skilled Chinese artisans, including Tou Houan. Through them, first the Arab world and then the rest of Europe learned the art of paper-making. (At that time, the Arabs controlled Spain and Portugal, as well as North Africa, the Middle East, and large swaths of Central Asia.) Soon, paper-making factories sprang up in Samarkand, Baghdad, Damascus, Cairo, Delhi... and in 1120 the first European paper mill was established in Xativa, Spain (now called Valencia). From these Arab-dominated cities, the technology spread to Italy, Germany, and across Europe. The advent of paper technology, along with woodcut printing and later movable-type printing, fueled the advances in science, theology, and history of Europes High Middle Ages, which ended only with the coming of the Black Death in the 1340s. Sources: The Battle of Talas, Barry Hoberman. Saudi Aramco World, pp. 26-31 (Sept/Oct 1982). A Chinese Expedition across the Pamirs and Hindukush, A.D. 747, Aurel Stein. The Geographic Journal, 59:2, pp. 112-131 (Feb. 1922). Gernet, Jacque, J. R. Foster (trans.), Charles Hartman (trans.). A History of Chinese Civilization, (1996). Oresman, Matthew. Beyond the Battle of Talas: Chinas Re-emergence in Central Asia. Ch. 19 of In the tracks of Tamerlane: Central Asias path to the 21st Century, Daniel L. Burghart and Theresa Sabonis-Helf, eds. (2004). Titchett, Dennis C. (ed.). The Cambridge History of China: Volume 3, Sui and Tang China, 589-906 AD, Part One, (1979).

Thursday, November 21, 2019

The Process of Successful Selling Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Process of Successful Selling - Essay Example Knowing about a product means knowing the strength of the product as well as flaws of the product. There are different types of customer who would come to a seller. Some of the customers will be aware of the product completely while others may be new and very cynical. It is the acquired skill of a seller to sell the product to the older customer in a complete newer way that they stay attracted towards the product for longer periods (Schiffman). For the purpose of selling a product to a new and cynical customer, it is recommended that the seller use the metaphors to compare product with other products of the market and highlight the significance of product. A seller needs to be very clever in this regard. Being a clever seller means, being informed about the marketing strategies and newer intervention in the product range (Schiffman). A successful seller can also be regarded as a squirrel who knows which nut is worth saving and which one to discard. A successful seller exactly knows which customer is a potential buyer. If a seller learns the art to weed out customers who are not worth enough for the product sell, then a seller will automatically turn into a successful seller. Need of a product would simultaneously gets increased with the effective marketing and campaigns that would be used for the sale of products and goods. The marketing campaigns such as APPLE’s strategic marketing campaigns are considered to be one of the world’s brilliant marketing campaigns. It is due to the active selling and marketing techniques that add value to a consumer good or product (Schiffman). A successful seller is supposed to be loaded with the tool kit of effective selling of his or her products for sale. The tool kit or in other words, the components that are required for the preparation of effective selling of products include prospects, techniques, conditions and final transit. By prospects of product, it simply means that a