Thursday, June 25, 2020
Analysis of the American Reality, Possibility, and Dream found in Nickel and Dimed and The Outsiders - Literature Essay Samples
Every American is familiar with the concept of the American Dream. It is the social myth at the very core of the nationââ¬â¢s identity. Unlike other countries, the United States is not rooted in a shared ancestry, history, or language. Instead, Americans find their unity in a common aspirationââ¬âthe hope of a better future for themselves and their children in the Land of Opportunity. This is the vision that drove the Puritans to brave the sea, inspired the founding fathers to sign the Declaration of Independence, and continues to bring immigrants teeming into the country. The American Dream is deeply rooted in the culture and psyche of the United States and its citizens. It is a common theme in literature as American authors struggle to interpret the social myth in light of reality. One of the most beloved discussions and deconstructions of the American Dream is a novel written by Susan Eloise Hinton when she was only sixteen. The Outsiders chronicles the story of seven boys and their struggle to overcome the stereotypes forced on them by their community. Through the eyes of adolescence, Hinton analyzes the American Dream by addressing the gulfs that separate the Dream from reality, and the reality from the possibility of achieving the Dream. Another book with a similar purpose is Barbara Ehrenreichââ¬â¢s Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America. Unlike The Outsiders, Nickel and Dimed is a nonfictional account of Ehrenreichââ¬â¢s experiences as she attempts to support herself by working various blue collar jobs. Ehrenreich accuses America of abandoning the working poor who, she argues, are unable to support themselves on current minimum wage salaries. Furthermore, her exposà © shows an economic system that encourages the abuse and dehumanization of its low-income workers. Even while she stresses the importance of financial stability to the fulfillment of the American Dream, Ehrenreich spends a large portion of the book illustrating how a lack of humanity, in the system and between the classes, is the root cause of the large gap between rich and poor. While Hinton and Ehrenreich approach the American Dream from two very different perspectives, both conclude that a mutual respect and understanding between all people, regardless of class, is essential to fully restore the Dream for all Americans. The United States of America was founded on the notion that ââ¬Å"life, liberty and the pursuit of happinessâ⬠should be available to every citizen. The belief that these rights are available to every citizen is a great American myth. In his book The American Dream: The Short History of an Idea that Shaped a Nation, Jim Cullen calls this ââ¬Å"idea that individuals have control over the course of their livesâ⬠¦ the very core of the American Dream, the bedrock premise upon which all else dependsâ⬠(10). Hinton and Ehrenreich both attack the validity of the myth that equal opportunity is a reality in America and identify it as a source of prejudice and misunderstanding between the classes. à à à à à à à à à à à Ehrenreichââ¬â¢s opinions about poverty, before she began her undercover journalism research, correspond strongly with the way average middle and upper class Americans think. She describes how she ââ¬Å"grew up hearing over and over, to the point of tedium, that ââ¬Ëhard workââ¬â¢ was the secret of successâ⬠(Ehrenreich 220). When she attempts to support herself as a blue collar worker, however, she finds that ââ¬Å"you [can] work hardââ¬âharder even than you ever thought possibleââ¬âand still find yourself sinking ever deeper into poverty and debtâ⬠(Ehrenreich 220). In his book, Beyond the American Dream, Charles Hayes describes how the disconnection between the myth and reality stigmatizes the poor: The higher the level of social position reachedâ⬠¦ the more the people on that level seem blinded by the relative advantage of their position. For example, the middle class expects the bottom level to simply go out and get a job, failing to see the dist inct advantage they themselves maintain through quality education and social connections. The typical middle-class businessmanâ⬠¦ sees himself as deserving while he sees those at lower economic levels as being lazy and undeserving. (18-19) During her experience as a temporary member of working class America, Ehrenreich found the work exhausting, both physically and emotionally. Working as a maid, she describes the ââ¬Å"exerciseâ⬠as ââ¬Å"totally asymmetrical, brutally repetitive, and as likely to destroy the musculoskeletal structure as to strengthen itâ⬠(Ehrenreich 90). Many of her coworkers work through pain, malnutrition, or pregnancy in order to keep their jobs and because they canââ¬â¢t afford to take unpaid days off. Several of the maids have injuries, treated and untreated, due to their work. Despite the prevalent idea that the poor can break free from poverty simply by working hard, Ehrenreichââ¬â¢s coworkers endure body-breaking work without having the opportunity to save enough to change their situation or seek out a different job. à à à à à à à à à à à à Like Ehrenreich, Hinton also argues that equal opportunity is a myth that contributes to prejudice. In The Outsiders, Ponyboy, the narrator, lives in a world divided by social class. The poor kids living on the East side, labeled ââ¬Å"greasersâ⬠by the rest of the community, endure a multitude of stereotypes and stigmas. Ponyboy, and the other boys who make up his adopted family, or gang, know the labels well. On their way to a fight, they ââ¬Å"embrace the stereotypesâ⬠(Inderbitzen 360), chanting: ââ¬Å"ââ¬ËI am a greaserâ⬠¦, I am a JD and a hood. I blacken the name of our fair city. I beat up people. I rob gas stations. I am a menace to society. Man, do I have fun O victim of environment, underprivileged, rotten, no-count hood!ââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬ (Hinton 144). Despite their willingness to unite under these stereotypes, however, Ponyboyââ¬â¢s account of events brings the reader to a different understanding of the greasers. One member of the gang, in particular, allows the reader a fresh perspective on these dehumanizing stereotypes. Dally, who has ââ¬Å"spent three years on the wild side of New York and had been arrested at the age of ten,â⬠is the hardest kid of the group: ââ¬Å"tougher, colder, meanerâ⬠(Hinton 19). Even Ponyboy, though he respects Dally, doesnââ¬â¢t like him. The tough faà §ade rapidly crumbles, however, when Johnny, Dallyââ¬â¢s friend, dies from injuries sustained while rescuing children from a burning building. ââ¬Å"ââ¬ËThatââ¬â¢s what you get for tryinââ¬â¢ to help people, you little punk,ââ¬â¢ Dally blurts at Johnnyââ¬â¢s body, ââ¬Ëthatââ¬â¢s what you getâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬â¢Ã¢â¬ (Hinton 157). Dallyââ¬â¢s own life circumstances have taught him that selflessness, such as Johnnyââ¬â¢s heroic efforts, results only in personal disaster and pain. Since his childhood, Dally has learned to meet the world with a cold detachment in order to survive the harsh, inner-city streets. When he loses the only person who had slipped past his defenses and grown close to him, the pain overwhelms Dally. He pulls an unloaded gun on the police, forcing them to shoot him. Though Dally embodied many of the stereotypes forced onto all greasers, ultimately he was just a child trying to protect himself in a world where no parent had ever cared for him. The great tragedy of his death is that Dally still had the potential to be an extraordinary person. In him, Johnny saw a strong, ââ¬Å"gallantâ⬠hero (Hinton 84), someone to look up to. Dallyââ¬â¢s efforts to save Johnny from the fire at the risk of his own life provide a glimpse into the person he might have become had the circumstances been different. Unlike the labels suggest, Dally was not ruined beyond repair or redemption by his environment. He was still a human being, and, as such, he still had the ability to choose who he might have become. The myth, therefore, perpetuates stereotypes that prevent empathy and g uidance from being given to kids because they are viewed as already beyond help.à à à à à à à à à à à à à à Despite the myth of equal opportunity, the American Dream is still carried in the hearts of poor and rich Americans alike. Ehrenreich and Hinton each comment on what the Dream looks like through the eyes of the poor and compare it to the Dream as interpreted by the middle and upper classes. After examining the Dream of each class, both authors conclude that the Dreams are complimentary, not antagonistic. In Nickel and Dimed, the viewpoints of those struggling with poverty come in the form of interviews with Ehrenreichââ¬â¢s coworkers. Near the end of her job as a maid, Ehrenreich asks the women who she was working with how they felt about the owners of the houses they clean, ââ¬Å"who have so much while others, like themselves, barely get byâ⬠(118). Answers two of the women give shed light on a commonality in the Dream held by each person struggling with poverty. Lori responds, ââ¬Å"All I can think of is like, wow, Iââ¬â¢d like to have this stuff someday. It motivates me and I donââ¬â¢t feel the slightest resentment because, you know, itââ¬â¢s my goal to get to where they areâ⬠(Ehrenreich 118). Colleenââ¬â¢s answer is somewhat different: ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t mind, really, because I guess Iââ¬â¢m a simple person, and I donââ¬â¢t want what they have. I mean, itââ¬â¢s nothing to me. But what I would like is to be able to take a day off now and thenâ⬠¦ if I had toâ⬠¦ and still be able to buy groceries the next dayâ⬠(Ehrenreich 119). Though Lori and Colleen have different Dreams, the need for economic security is common to both. Without enough income to begin saving, the poor are trapped in their current situation without hope of escape. Even the ability to find a higher paying job is severely limited by lack of time, energy, and transportation. The smallest disaster could push their delicately balanced lives over the edge and leave them without either a job or money. à à à à à à à à à à à The Dream of the rich, as expressed in Nickel and Dimed, comes from the authorââ¬â¢s own perspective. Both Ehrenreichââ¬â¢s desire to research and write the book, as well as comments she makes about her own state of mind, reveal her own, middle-class Dream. Reflecting upon her ââ¬Å"savior complex,â⬠Ehrenreich admits, ââ¬Å"Even my motives seem murky at the moment. Yes, I want to help Holly and everyone else in need, on a worldwide basis if possible. I am a ââ¬Ëgood person,ââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬ ¦, but maybe Iââ¬â¢m also just sick of my suddenly acquired insignificance. Maybe I want to ââ¬Ëbe somebody,ââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬ ¦, somebody generous, competent, brave, and perhaps, above all, noticeableâ⬠(Ehrenreich 99). The need to matter is one she constantly wrestles with while preforming the menial tasks required of her from the various blue collar jobs she works. In order to cope with each of her jobs, Ehrenreich either finds meaning in it or creates meaning from pure fanta sy. In what she calls a ââ¬Å"psychic flotation deviceâ⬠(108), Ehrenreich pretends, ââ¬Å"I am not working for a maid service; rather, I have joined a mystic order dedicated to performing the most despised of tasks, cheerfully and virtually for freeââ¬âgrateful, in fact, for this chance to earn grace through submission and toilâ⬠(108). Unlike those who risk going hungry day by day, with no foreseeable route of escape, Ehrenreich is not really in any danger of starvation. Her basic needs are met and her current situation is only a charade. Her Dream focuses much more heavily on the upper levels of Maslowââ¬â¢s hierarchy: belonging, esteem, and self-actualization (ââ¬Å"Need-Hierarchy Theoryâ⬠). It is, in fact, these needs that have driven her to spend time living as one of Americaââ¬â¢s working poor. By temporarily giving up her privileged position, Ehrenreich is fulfilling her own Dream of doing meaningful work and being somebody who matters. à à à à à à à à à à à In The Outsiders, the Dream of the lower class is expressed through the narrator. Like Ehrenreich, Ponyboy also shares with the reader his own fantasy: I loved the country. I wanted to be out of towns and away from excitement. I only wanted to lie on my back under a tree and read a book or draw a picture, and not worry about being jumped or carrying a blade The gang could come out on weekends, and maybe Dallas would see that there was some good in the world after all, and Mom would talk to him and make him grin in spite of himselfâ⬠¦ She could talk to Dallas and keep him from getting into a lot of trouble. (Hinton 56) Like Colleen and Lori, Ponyboy also desires a certain amount of economic stability and freedom, but his Dream goes much deeper than that; he also wants peace. In his neighborhood, torn apart by social class, the greasers cannot even walk alone without fear of being jumped by the socs, kids from wealthy families who ââ¬Å"had so much spare time and money that they jumped [greasers] and each other for kicks, had beer blasts and river-bottom parties because they didnââ¬â¢t know what else to doâ⬠(Hinton 51). Ponyboyââ¬â¢s idyllic version of the country represents his Dream for the world: a place where nobody has so little money that they are ââ¬Å"hardened beyond caringâ⬠(Hinton 67) like Dally or so much money that they have nothing left to work for, like the socs. In his Dream, he is once again cared for by his parents. He is allowed to enjoy his childhood rather than wrestling with adult problems in an adult-less world. à à à à à à à à à à à à The Dream of the upper class is related by the soc Cherry Valence who confides in Ponyboy, telling him that being rich isnââ¬â¢t all itââ¬â¢s made out to be: ââ¬ËWeââ¬â¢re sophisticatedââ¬âcool to the point of not feeling anything. Nothing is for real with us. You know, sometimes Iââ¬â¢ll catch myself talking to a girl-friend, and realize I donââ¬â¢t mean half of what Iââ¬â¢m sayingâ⬠¦ Rat race is a perfect name for it,ââ¬â¢ she said. ââ¬ËWeââ¬â¢re always going and going and going, and never asking where. Did you ever hear of having more than you wanted? So that you couldnââ¬â¢t want anything else and then started looking for something else to want? It seems like weââ¬â¢re always searching for something to satisfy us, and never finding it. Maybe if we could lose our cool we could.ââ¬â¢ (Hinton 46) Cherryââ¬â¢s Dream, ironically, is to have a Dreamââ¬âsomething to strive for. Like Ponyboy, she lives in a world consumed by money, only, rather than having too little, she has too much. The class culture she grew up in demands she meet social expectations, never letting her true self shine through. In talking to Ponyboy, she is able to make a genuine connection with another human being because she does not have to worry about keeping up appearances or fitting into cultural stereotypes. Just as Ehrenreich was able to fulfill her Dream of bettering the world and doing something meaningful by entering into the world of the working class poor, Cherry also found her Dream fulfilled when she stepped outside of her own social class and befriended a greaser. For both Hinton and Ehrenreich, the only way to restore equal opportunity to America and allow each individual the possibility of living the American Dream is through mutual friendship and respect between social classes. Works Cited Cullen, Jim. The American Dream: A Short History of an Idea That Shaped a Nation. New York: Oxford, 2003. Print. Ehrenreich, Barbara. Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America. New York: Henry Holt, 2002. Print. Hayes, Charles, D. Beyond the American Dream: Lifelong Learning and the Search for Meaning in a Postmodern World. Wasilla, AK: Autodidactic Press, 1998. Print. à Hinton, S. E. The Outsiders. New York: The Viking Press, 1967. Print. Inderbitzin, Michelle. ââ¬Å"Outsiders and Justice Consciousness.â⬠Contemporary Justice Review. 6.4 (2003): 357-352. Web. 29 Dec. 2011. à à Need-Hierarchy Theory.à à A Dictionary of Psychology. Oxford Reference Online. Web. 25 Jan. 2012.
Sunday, May 24, 2020
The Relationship Between Critical Thinking and Decision...
Critical thinking and decision-making are related in more ways than people think. This paper will define critical thinking and decision-making according to the book Whatever It Takes. It will also present a personal definition of critical thinking and decision-making from the author of this paper. The relationship between the two will be explained as well as the benefits of being a critical thinker. The author of this paper will also show how critical thinking is present in his organization and how he implements critical thinking techniques on a daily basis. The relationship between critical thinking and decision-making is much closer than what most people think. Once you look at the meanings of critical thinking andâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Critical thinking is examining assumptions - not simply accepting arguments and conclusions at face value. Critical thinking is looking for hidden values, evaluating evidence and assessing multiple conclusions. I feel decision-making is an action. It is the destination of logical and analytical problem solving which is based in fact. Once the destination is reached, action in taken according to the resolution reached. Decision-making is the product of critical thinking. I believe that critical thinking and decision-making are inter-twined because you cant have one without the other. When you are trying to decide on something, you begin a critical thinking process. During this process, one evaluates information on a given problem. The process of reaching logical conclusions, solving problems, analyzing factual information, and taking appropriate actions based on the conclusions are called decision-making. While critical thinking and decision-making are interrelated and rely on one another, they are also independent. Critical thinking does not guarantee that a decision will be made and decisions can be made without processing information logically. There are benefits to being a critical thinker. It allows you to process problems or information in a systematical and logical fashion. It also allows you to come to the bestShow MoreRelatedCritical Thinking and Decision Making Essay example733 Words à |à 3 PagesCritical Thinking 1 CRITICAL THINKING AND DECISION MAKING Critical Thinking and Decision-Making Paper Critical Thinking 2 Abstract Critical thinking and decision-making are related in more ways than people think. This paper will define critical thinking and decision-making according to the book Whatever It Takes. It will also present a personal definition of critical thinking and decision-making from the author of this paper. The relationship between the two will be explained asRead MoreThe Direct Relationship Between Critical Thinking And Ethics1268 Words à |à 6 PagesThe Direct Relationship between Critically Thinking and Ethics Manuel Ortuno Jr. Foundations for University Success/GEN 201 21 September 2014 Ms. Alisa Hewitt The Direct Relationship between Critical Thinking and Ethics Critical thinking and ethics are two topics that every person should be educated on starting from childhood in order to be functional members of any society. To better understand the issue, one must first know what critical thinking and ethics are; ââ¬Å"Critical thinking is the pathRead MorePersonal Motives For Corporate Social Responsibility933 Words à |à 4 PagesAnnotations and Critical Analysis Motives for Corporate Social Responsibility (Graafland, J. Mazereeuw-Van der Duijn Schouten, C. 2012) analyze the motivations of directors to take responsibility for the labor, environmental and social aspects in business. It distinguishes the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by conducting a survey consisting of a sample of 473 executives. What is more, the motives are classified as three types: ââ¬Å"financial motivesâ⬠, which is external, ââ¬Å"ethical and altruisticâ⬠Read More Critical Thinking and Decision Making Essay588 Words à |à 3 PagesCritical Thinking and Decision Making In the corporate environment critical decisions must be made, sometimes quickly, whether because of changes in market conditions, corporate profits, or corporate performances. The decision-making process is vital to good management in todayââ¬â¢s work environment. This paper will examine the relationship between critical thinking and the decision making process, explain what the textbook authors believe, and relate how both apply to todayââ¬â¢s workplace. CriticalRead MoreDecision-Making Innovation782 Words à |à 3 Pagessomething new (Dictionary) while the term, ââ¬Ëdecision makingââ¬â¢ can be referred to as a ââ¬Ëdeliberation about the decision situation in order to make a choiceââ¬â¢ (Oââ¬â¢Sullivan, T. 1988). This paper intends to explore the relatedness between ââ¬ËDecision Making in Social Workââ¬â¢ and the research on innovation, ââ¬Å"Investigating Innovation Using a Context: Community Based Child Care Servicesâ⬠. Social work aims to promote ââ¬Ësocial change, problem solving in human relationships and empowerment and liberation of peopleRead MoreThe Importance of Critical Thinking to the Decision Making Process914 Words à |à 4 PagesThe decision-making process in business is an important part of a companyââ¬â¢s success. Making the right decision relies on using the attributes of critical thinking. The following will show the relationship between decision making and critical thinking and how one company uses critical thinking in its decision making everyday to maintain the companyââ¬â¢s health and customer satisfaction. Critical Thinking ââ¬Å"Critical thinking is the disciplined art of ensuring that you use the best thinking you areRead MoreRelationship Between Listening And Critical Thinking1068 Words à |à 5 PagesThe Relationship Between Listening and Critical Thinking My fiancà © and I have been together for two years and I know him very well. I know his likes, I know his dislikes, I know his fears, I know what he loves, but most important I know when he is not listening to me. When we first started dating I never really picked up on it and I was just so happy to have him with me that when he gave a ââ¬Å"yeaâ⬠or a ââ¬Å"mhmâ⬠that I figured he was listening carefully and attentively to every little thing I said. Read MoreEssay on Critical Thinking and Decision Making582 Words à |à 3 Pages The process of critical thinking requires you to ask more questions of both others and of yourself before a decision or determination is made. In order to successfully evaluate data in a critical manner, you must have a system in place to assess information as it is presented. In any situation whether you are having a conversation, observing others, or material you have read, you must be ready to probe deeper and ask the right question at the right time. Browne, Keely, McCall and Kaplan, refersRead More Thinking and Decision Making Essay1480 Words à |à 6 PagesThinking and Decision Making When it comes to the reasoning and problem solving of any issue there are various ways to come to a decision; thinking is the mental process that allows the people in the world to deal with it effectively, according to set goals, plans, ideas, and desires. Thinking involves the gathering of information that forms concepts and engages in problem solving, reasoning, and making precise decisions for the benefit of whom is concerned. Thinking according to Kirby andRead MoreCritical Thinking And Decision Making1198 Words à |à 5 PagesCritical thinking is the process of actively conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information gathered from the observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication. Critical thinking is a guide to belief and action (Scriven Paul 1987). In its exemplary form, it is based on universal intellectual values that transcend subject matter divisions: clarity, accuracy, precision, consistency, relevance, sound evide nce, good reasons, depth, breadth, and fairness
Monday, May 18, 2020
How Does The Author Use Language From Present Scrooge s...
How does the author use language to present Scrooge s unpleasant personality? Charles dickens uses insults to portray Scrooge s unpleasant personality. This can be alluded from Stave 1 in the novel where Scrooge can be seen snubbing the charity workers who came seeking for a donation. If they would rather die, [...] they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population., such insult allows the reader to comprehend that Scrooge is nothing more than a greedy man who solely believes that the peasants are just money scammers and that they should all be locked up in a prison. Today s audience will see Scrooge this way and agree that he is a misery, bitter old man, who doesn t like giving away however back in the 19th century the audience would not be shocked to see a wealthy man as selfish as Scrooge. It was common in London at the time to see factory workers exploiting children who worked in hard conditions by hurting them with the most dangerous work and the cruelest words which is why I can only but say that Scrooge is an unpleasant, old wretch. Further to this Dickens use of metaphors paints a picture of Scrooge as a covetous old sinner!, in Stave 1 the narrator describes Scrooge to be a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone. A grindstone is a thick disc of stone used for grinding and it was extremely hard to hold onto however the narrator uses the adjective tight-fisted to imply Scrooge as adamant and as one who is able to hold onto the grindstone or in
Thursday, May 14, 2020
Alienation within Beloved Essay - 1209 Words
Alienation within ââ¬Å"Belovedâ⬠ââ¬Å"Cultural trauma refers to a dramatic loss of identity and meaning, a tear in the social fabric, affecting a group of people that has achieved some degree of cohesionâ⬠(Day 2). This quote by Ron Eyerman in ââ¬Å"Cultural Traumaâ⬠references a large theme within the novel ââ¬Å"Belovedâ⬠; Alienation of the self with its own identity. As the cultural trauma of slavery took its toll on the populations of each and every state where it persisted, it culminated in the same outcome in every instance. Put quite simply, the institution of slavery forms concrete and seemingly immovable walls between slave and master. Within this practice, members of these societies became locked into their respective roles. Erikson definesâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦The definers took it upon themselves to destroy all that is human within those that they controlled. Sethe, has only one motivation in life by the the time schoolteacher arrives at Sweet Home, her motherhood. And through the ââ¬Å"theftâ⬠of her breast milk, her humanity is depleted. Her milk, is the only thing that still belongs to her, she has been stripped of all else. Her masters have defined her as a beast. They rip away her worth as a woman and as a mother and label her as an animal. Schoolteacher himself leads the ââ¬Å"educationâ⬠effort where he classifies his slaves animal characteristics. Even Mr. Garner, who seems a much more gentle man than his predecessor, still fulfills the role of the definer. As he proudly proclaims that he treats his slaves like ââ¬Å"menâ⬠he still accepts that it is within his rights to label them as he pleases. They are men because he gives that to them, thus challenging if their manhood is anything more than a title. This causes the slaves to look to their master in order to understand themselves the way their master sees them. This act of looking upwards for identity only further increases the slaves alienation, for instead of creating commu nity and identifying within each other, the slaves look to their master for how to define themselves. The relationship of slave to master becomes the only one that the slave knows or understands. Sethe had been deprived of any sort of familialShow MoreRelated Existentialism, Beloved, and The Bluest Eye Essay3346 Words à |à 14 PagesExistentialism, Beloved, and The Bluest Eyeà à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à Toni Morrison has written several novels, many of which show the influence of existentialist thinking; however, Beloved and The Bluest Eye both strongly illustrate all of the major existential themes. Beloved is a novel about a woman, Sethe, who escapes from slavery with her children. She is haunted both physically and psychologically by her experience, as evidenced by the scars she carries on her back from a severe beatingRead MoreToni Morrisons Beloved Essay1412 Words à |à 6 PagesBeloved analyzes the materialistic, emotional, and spiritual devastation constructed by slavery, a havoc that continues to taunt many; even those who were set ââ¬Å"freeâ⬠. This negative impact that slavery has left on former slaves stripped them of their sense of self and identity, marking them for the rest of their lives. The novel Beloved by Toni Morrison explores multiple examples, of self-isolation and the haunting of one s past. To further elabor ate such examples, the story of Margaret Garner, toldRead MorePoem Analysis : Somewhere I Have Never Travelled 1056 Words à |à 5 Pagespoem America was in the Great Depression, an economic collapse, which affected the whole country. Unlike the Romantic worldview, which drew on growth, nature and progress, the Modernist writer wrote about decay and the ever-growing isolation and alienation of the individual. War and economic disaster certainly held tremendous influence on these modern ways of observing the world, and the rapid advancement in modern technology was perceived as capitalist, impersonal and hostile to the creative, artisticRead MoreIsolation in Dr. Frankenstein1463 Words à |à 6 PagesIsolation Isolation is one the roots of the problems and calamities endured by many characters depicted in the beloved and Dr Frankenstein. We see individuals like Sethe forced into slavery, she was abandoned by her mother, who was killed after a failed attempt to run away. She experienced hard times before being sold to sweet home at a tender age. Fast forward down years later, she started her own family with Halle. We see Sethe turn out to be someone who is obsessed with taking care of herRead MoreThe Need to Belong Essay957 Words à |à 4 Pagesdestructive cycle of isolation and self-alienation. Peter Skrzyneckiââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"Immigrant Chroniclesâ⬠serves to highlight the basic fundamental desire to belong and the importance it holds on each individual. This notion is further explored with Skrzyneckiââ¬â¢s poems ââ¬Å"St Patrickââ¬â¢s Collegeâ⬠, ââ¬Å"Feliks Skrzyneckiâ⬠and Gabrielle Muccinoââ¬â¢s 21st century film ââ¬Å"Pursuit of Happynessâ⬠. The notion of belonging being an inherent part of human nature is extensively explored within St Patrickââ¬â¢s College. This poem is n oticedRead MoreThe Catcher in the Rye Essay1442 Words à |à 6 Pagesdimensions attached to the ââ¬Ëincapacitation and debilitationââ¬â¢ Holden is often accused of and address Salingerââ¬â¢s vision behind etching Caulfield precisely the way he is. The paper also wishes to foreground the socio-political implications that reverberate within the rubric of the novel, Holdenââ¬â¢s characterization and his abhorrence at the ââ¬Ëphoninessââ¬â¢ that surrounds him- an aspect of the novel that has oft been overlooked by critics, reviewers and commentators alike in their attempt to mete out an avalancheRead MoreAnalysis Of Edgar Allen Poe s The Raven984 Words à |à 4 Pagesof experiencing love is loss because at that point your loneliness creates a veil of uncertainty in everything you do. Through imagery, repetition, and allegory, Poe conveys to the reader that the loss of a loved one results in lonesomeness and alienation not just from oneââ¬â¢s self-but from the worl d. Imagery is what places you in the setting of the poem. Imagery in a poem is essential because you need to vicariously see through the writerââ¬â¢s eyes to get an idea on what they feel emotionally or whatRead MoreThe Epic Of Gilgamesh, By Herbert Mason880 Words à |à 4 PagesGilgamesh is an ancient text which still exists today, it dates back to approximately 3,000 B.C. Despite the fact that it is old, people can still relate to its themes today. A few themes portrayed within the story include, love, friendship, the meaning of life, and death. A book that well represents a humanââ¬â¢s existence in this world. At some point every individual experiences those issues in their life. Gilgamesh represents existentialism; a philosophy that emphasizes individual existence, freedomRead MoreDivorce And Its Effect On Children901 Words à |à 4 Pages Many Americans have developed a new definition of family due to the rapidly changing culture of our times. These culture and value chang es have drastically brought a change to the traditional ideas of the past resulting in many different changes within the nuclear family of the past. Divorce has become rampant amongst the American population, which is causing many Sociological problems to those that have to go through the depressing and saddening stages of stress, especially to the children of whoseRead MorePauls View On The Church1480 Words à |à 6 PagesPresented to Dr. Presley Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary __________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for NTS 3213 __________________ by Jin Hyun July 27, 2015 PAULS VIEW ON THE CHURCH Apostle Paul is one of the most beloved follower and author of 14 books in the New Testament. One of the most prominent teachings of Paul is regarding on the subject of the church. Not only did he write letters to church but in many occasion talked about what the church is. But the question
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Information System Used by Wal - Mart Term Paper
Essays on Information System Used by Wal - Mart Term Paper The paper "Information System Used by Wal - Mart" is a good example of a term paper on e-commerce.à The Wal - Mart stores were the organization was selected owing to the curiosity of knowing more about the business strategy and information system used by the no 1 rated company in fortune 500 lists, which would be quite a rewarding experience as always success is never achieved in a single step.à Organizationââ¬â¢s overall business strategyWal - Mart store inc. is one of the worldââ¬â¢s largest retailers, rated as the number one company by the fortune 500. It has a revenue of $351,139.0 million that has increased by 11.2% in the current year. This year it has shown a profit of $11,284.0 million, with the stock holderââ¬â¢s equity rising up to 61,573.0. Its annual growth rate through the year of 1996 was a woofing rate of 15.1%. Sam Walton when open his first store in Arkansas 1962, had 3 basic beliefs on which he built the entire empire, which has now 1.3 million associat es worldwide with 3200 stores in the United States with 100 million customers visiting per week worldwide. The belief which on the technical terms was later transformed as a strategy was respecting individuals offering the best service to the customer and always striving for excellence. This belief with 10 factors ranging from motivating the partners to controlling the expenses better than the competitors became their underline principle. Sam Walton, with an innovative vision, used unusual business practices that let the company straight forward, with the organization still facing a significant amount of controversy over several different issues, but none of them was altering the gigantic operation. Future of Wal - Mart is also looking comfortable with the proper balance between increasing its profit and recognizing its social and ethical responsibilities. (Wal ââ¬â Mart annual report, 2003)It is undeniable fact that Wal - Mart huge success is due to its sound strategic manageme nt decision couple with innovative implementation. The business strategy features 3 key points in its background, customer value, and service; partnership with its associates and community involvement. Thus the key feature of implementing this strategy by Wal - Mart is putting a strong emphasis on a solid working relationship with suppliers and employees, taking into notice many integrate details in-store layouts and merchandising techniques, capitalizing on every cost-saving opportunities and create a high-performance spirit. The strategic formula of company is very simple, in that to provide access to quality goods for customers together with making the goods available when and where the customer wants, on the sides developing a cost structure that would be given an inch up in competitive pricing summing up in building and maintaining the reputation for absolute trustworthiness. (Biesada, Alex,2006)
Sigmund Freuds Oedipal Complex - 731 Words
Time period is everything, people in the two thousands are more reserved in thoughts than people were in eighteen and nineteen hundreds. This exemplifies why Sigmund Freuds making of the Oedipal Complex is outrageous. Freudââ¬â¢s ideas of a childââ¬â¢s development is very graphic and disturbing to our modern day intellect, but fit the norm of early 1900ââ¬â¢s society Oedipus the King, written is 440 B.C., by Sophacles has fascinated audiences for many years. However, Sigmund Freud came up with the ââ¬ËOedipal Complexââ¬â¢ based off of this play that has caused plenty of controversy. He believed that, based of Oedipus the King and the attraction Oedipus had to his mother, that all children share the same desire towards the opposite sex parent. From that one instance, he created an entire complex that graphically lays out a childââ¬â¢s development. It is possible for a child to be attracted to their opposite sex parent at some point in time. But, taking it as far as Freud did in stating that the child wants to diminish the other parent is absurd. Clearly, he misinterpreted the text because that is not at all what happened in Oedipus the King. Oedipus did not intentionally kill his father nor marry his mother. These events occurred due to the fate of Oedipus, which he could not alter. He was separated from his parents at birth and did not find out till the end of the play who they were. Oedipus the King, became the King after he solved the riddle of the Sphinx. He was then asked to save the cityShow MoreRelatedIs Freudian Theory A Science?900 Words à |à 4 PagesIs Freudian Theory a Science? There has been much debate and controversy over the work of Sigmund Freud for many reasons such as his ideas about human sexuality, his seemingly outrageous theories for his time period, and the success of his psychoanalytic method of therapy, but perhaps the most interesting issue with Freudââ¬â¢s work is the claim that it may not be scientific. This would first depend on your definition of the word science. According to sciencecouncil.org, ââ¬Å"Science is the pursuit andRead MoreMaster of the Mind: Sigmund Freud923 Words à |à 4 PagesMaster of the Mind Austrian neurologist, Sigmund Freud has become known as the ââ¬Å"founding father of psychoanalysisâ⬠, master of the unknown mind. Freud explored the human mind more that any other psychologist and developed theories that many scientists and individuals rely on till this day because none of his theories have been falsified. He has led the path of psychology for new research and mapping out the unconscious mind. Freud developed theories that focused on the subconscious mind motives ofRead MoreA Freudian View of Hamlet1014 Words à |à 5 Pagesï » ¿Kenneth Thomson Acting Out May 2, 2012 Freudââ¬â¢s View of Hamlet My paper will use Dr. Sigmund Freudââ¬â¢s psychological outlooks to analyze possibly the most famous characters in English literature. William Shakespeareââ¬â¢s very own Hamlet. Psychology has been studied since the eighteen hundreds and, after reading through many of Freudââ¬â¢s studies on psychoanalytic culture I feel as though Hamlet is the most deserving of further analysis for this paper. I will analyze the two Freudian concepts thatRead MoreThe Oedipal Relationship between Hamlet and Gertrude Essay851 Words à |à 4 Pages Throughout William Shakespeares Hamlet, Shakespeare portrays Hamlet with the same types of behaviors and frustrations in humans that Sigmund Freud saw at a much later date. When the relationship between Hamlet and his mother is analyzed Freuds oedipal complex theory comes to mind. The oedipal complex is a theory created by Freud that states that The child takes both of its parents, and more particularly one of them, as the object of its erotic wishes.(51) Because of this desire to be withRead MoreOedipus Relationship Between Hamlet and Gertrude1224 Words à |à 5 PagesThe Oedipal Relationship between Hamlet and Gertrude Throughout William Shakespeares Hamlet, Shakespeare portrays Hamlet with the same types of behaviors and frustrations in humans that Sigmund Freud saw at a much later date. When the relationship between Hamlet and his mother is analyzed Freuds oedipal complex theory comes to mind. Sigmund Freud first wrote about his theory in his book An Interpretation of Dreams in 1899. Simply put, Freud states that it is normal for children to have sexualRead MoreEssay about Hamlets Relationship with His Mother782 Words à |à 4 PagesHamletââ¬â¢s Relationship with his Mother Throughout William Shakespeares Hamlet, Hamlet portrays what Sigmund Freud calls the Oedipal Complex. When the relationship between Hamlet and his mother is analyzed, Freuds Oedipal complex theory comes to mind. The Oedipal complex is a theory created by Freud that states that the child takes both of its parents, and more particularly one of them, as the object of its erotic wishes. Because of this desire to be with the parent of the opposite sex, a rivalryRead MoreTheories of Psychology in Fairy Tales Essay example1521 Words à |à 7 Pagesthan a happy ending. Fairy tales such as The Goose Girl, The Three Little Pigs, Cinderella, and Snow White one can find theories of psychology. Erik Eriksons theories of social development as well as Sigmund Freuds theory of the map of the mind and his controversial Oedipal complex can be found in many fairy tales. Within every fairy tale there lies a hidden lesson in psychology. In 1963, psychoanalyst Erik Erikson developed one of the most comprehensive theories of social developmentRead MoreEssay on Inside the Head of Sigmund Freud1568 Words à |à 7 Pageswell in providing useful and technical information that will advance us in the future. Amongst these men lie Karl Marx, Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin, and Marie Curie. One name who is highly debated and criticized for his theories is neurologist Sigmund Freud. Arguments take place in order to prove Sigmundââ¬â¢s authenticity and the level of influence that he contributed. Sigismund Schlomo Freud was born May 6, 1856 in Moravia. Freud is highly known for his theories of the unconscious mind and forRead MoreLacan once said, in an unpublished seminar, ââ¬Å"the Oedipus Complex is a dream of Freudâ⬠(Felman,1600 Words à |à 7 Pages Lacan once said, in an unpublished seminar, ââ¬Å"the Oedipus Complex is a dream of Freudâ⬠(Felman, 1034). It is a questionable theory and a so-called ââ¬Ëdreamââ¬â¢ because Sigmund Freud developed the Oedipus complex in such a way that allowed him to stand as an example of his own theory. It begins with what Freud would call ââ¬Ëintrospectionââ¬â¢; the analysis of oneââ¬â¢s self. He developed terms to use in his psychoanalysis; terms that divide the self and attempt to explain aspects of the human personality. AddingRead MoreWhy Did Godse Killed Mahatma Gandhi720 Words à |à 3 Pageshad a significant impact on his personality. Sigmund Freudââ¬â¢s psychosexual stages of development can be utilized to at partly explain Godseââ¬â¢s personality and later behaviors. Godseââ¬â¢s personality development was probably most affected during the phallic stage of Freudââ¬â¢s psychosexual stages. The phallic stage occurs between when a child is between the ag es of 3 and 6 and children in this stage deal with masturbation and Oedipal complexes. Oedipal complex is the term Freud used to indicate the childââ¬â¢s
A Case of Tesco
Question: Prepare a report on Tesco. Answer: Evaluation of different leadership styles within Tesco Tesco, the major retail supermarket chain of UK is majorly a customer oriented organization. The company generally adopts the democratic leadership style within the internal organization so that the employees get a chance to voice their opinions. On the contrary autocratic leadership style is seen among the store managers of Tesco. In cases of departmental managers having long experience within Tesco the organization shows a laissez faire leadership style. Hence the use of different leadership styles within Tesco depends upon the task, the team and the type of outcome expected from the task (Hariri, Monypenny Prideaux, 2014). Identification and comparison of three different styles The store managers at Tesco adopts the democratic or the participative leadership style in cases when the manager has to take decisions in relation to device better approaches for stock reduction program, introduction of new product line, enhancing of the visual merchandising etc. The creative idea and plans of different team members are useful in this context (Pietersen, 2014). In emergency cases like product launch, cost reduction, budget preparation the managers at Tesco adopt the authoritarian style. Lambert (2012) opined the authoritarian style is favorable in meeting deadlines of any project however excess use of the same may create a non congenial working environment. Laissez Faire approach is adopted by the managers with the experienced and old members of the company. They are given the freedom of preparing a project without any prior guidelines since they have the adequate knowledge. This increases the employee loyalty of the old employees and also reduces the pressure of the company (Pietersen, 2014). Leadership approaches used by Tescos competitors Tesco considered being the largest retail chain of UK adopts three different types of leadership strategies in order to formulate the working environment within the company. However the same is not observed in case of its competitors namely Sainsbury, ASDA, Wal-mart and Morrison. ASDA adopts the coaching leadership style within the organization especially for the retail employees. The retail company focuses on building a developmental relationship, generates a feedback process and formal programs and also encourages various kinds of self developmental activities (Samad Abdullah, 2012). On the contrary both Sainsbury and Morrison adopt the autocratic leadership style in order to dominate the retail employees and give them orders in terms of project completion, customer handling etc. The adoption of these leadership strategies have contributed to the development of the employees but not development of the organization. Evaluation of developments in management support underpinning Tesco management today Saeed et al. (2014) opined that in the present scenario the management system within the organizations have been developed. The major changes have been brought about by the change in the employee development program. As per the reports of Forbes around 80% of the organizations are focused on the promotions of employee training in order to increase the efficiency of the organizational objectives. However Tesco is operated by majorly experienced employees hence the company is not striving to take any options of training and development within the organization. Thiel, Connelly Griffith (2012) suggested that lack of training leads to lack of new idea generation. Comparison of different motivation skills in Tesco Motivation is a prime factor to develop the productivity of the employees in an organization. Tesco pay prime focus on the monetary needs of the employees. However Xenikou Furnham (2013) opined that as per Maslows hierarchy of needs theory the basic physiological needs of an individual should be of primary focus for the organizations. Tesco adopts the following strategies namely Appreciation of work (Tesco.com, 2015) Responsibility and empowerment Offering work place challenges and development Opportunity for advancement Tesco supports work life balance of employees by providing them with flexible working hours, shifting duties for the retail employees, health benefits, Green club card for discounted shopping purposes, staff discounts, shareholder options etc (Hatzakis, 2009). Tesco designs the Employee reward program in the following ways namely Offering free shares after one year of service Provide contract free phones with O2 connection Pay slip vouchers in Christmas Holiday discounts and Gym membership (Kirby, 2009) Comparison of four motivation techniques According to Forsyth (2013) the following techniques may be used for motivating the employees within an organization namely employee benefits, congenial working environment, professional enrichment and performance appraisal. The employee benefits concerns motivating the employees with monetary and non monetary benefits. On the contrary the congenial working environment helps to motivate the employees psychologically (Hatzakis, 2009). The performance appraisal technique helps in generating a sense of responsibility and accountability within the employees. Finally the professional enrichment helps in creating a job satisfaction within the employees which in turn motivates them to work more effectively. Group behaviors and dynamics According to Connors (2012) group dynamics is a system of behavior by the individuals within the group. The group dynamics is useful for understanding decision making pattern of the individuals within the group. Group dynamics describes the way the groups and individuals act and react to changing circumstances. The group dynamics also helps in identifying the productivity of the group members. The group dynamics will be able to help the individuals within the group to understand the behavior of the group members. The decision of group members depends upon the dynamics of the group (Ben-Zur, 2009). Strategies to be used for group development The following strategies should be adopted in order to form a cohesive group namely Selection of appropriate team members Identification of the objective of the group Use open communication techniques (Cameron, 2012) Promotion of trust within the group members Encouragement of feedback system However some of the problems which are faced in terms of group formation are as follows: Problems of co coordinating with the cross functional team members Communication barriers in terms of language and other factors Implement of appropriate leadership styles Lack of motivational techniques within the team members (Bell Morse, 2013) Presence of cross cultural teams hampering in team productivity Lack of co ordination in terms of decision making Role confusion between the different team members Group dynamics and team conflict Non congenial working environment Use of technology to meet needs of diverse geographical workforce Virtual teams are the groups within the organizations which are geographically distributed throughout the different parts of the world. The major communication processes between these teams are the technological sources like Video conferencing, Skypes, mail chats, webinars and discussion boards. However Allwood Salo (2012) opined that several challenges may arise in case of managing the virtual teams namely lack of communication, misinterpretation, lack of co ordination and indistinct group roles and responsibilities. As per the records of the Tele work Research Network around 2.9 million full time virtual workers are found in UK and USA. The virtual teams consist of people who work from home and also people who take part in mobile works. With help of collaboration tools namely Redbooth, Blackboard collaborate, Podio and Campfire and project management tools like Microsoft project, Apollo, Teamwork, Primavera etc and Document storage or file sharing tools and meeting tools the virtual communication process has been improved in the present scenario. However Armstrong, Cools Sadler-Smith (2011) opined that the problems like relations ship building, rising of issues and communication problems have made the virtual teams difficult to make the operations. References list Allwood, C., Salo, I. (2012). Decision-making styles and stress. International Journal Of Stress Management, 19(1), 34-47. doi:10.1037/a0027420 Armstrong, S., Cools, E., Sadler-Smith, E. (2011). Role of Cognitive Styles in Business and Management: Reviewing 40 Years of Research. International Journal Of Management Reviews, 14(3), 238-262. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2370.2011.00315.x Bell, S., Morse, S. (2013). An approach to comparing external and internal methods for analyzing group dynamic. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, And Practice, 17(4), 281-298. doi:10.1037/a0034623 Ben-Zur, H. (2009). Coping styles and affect. International Journal Of Stress Management, 16(2), 87-101. doi:10.1037/a0015731 Cameron, K. (2012). Positive Leadership. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers. Connors, T. (2012). The volunteer management handbook. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley. Forsyth, D. (2013). Group dynamics. Belmont, Calif.: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Hariri, H., Monypenny, R., Prideaux, M. (2014). Leadership styles and decision-making styles in an Indonesian school context. School Leadership Management, 34(3), 284-298. doi:10.1080/13632434.2013.849678 Hatzakis, T. (2009). Towards a Framework of Trust Attribution Styles. British Journal Of Management, 20(4), 448-460. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8551.2008.00596.x Kirby, A. (2009). Management styles. BMJ, 339(sep29 2), a2528-a2528. doi:10.1136/bmj.a2528 Lambert, S. (2012). The perception and implementation of sustainable Leadership strategies in further education colleges. Journal Of Leadership Education, 11(2), 102-120. doi:10.12806/v11/i2/rf6 Pietersen, C. (2014). Interpersonal Conflict Management Styles and Emotion Self-Management Competencies of Public Accountants. Mediterranean Journal Of Social Sciences. doi:10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n7p273 Saeed, T., Almas, S., Anis-ul-Haq, M., Niazi, G. (2014). Leadership styles: relationship with conflict management styles. International Journal Of Conflict Management, 25(3), 214-225. doi:10.1108/ijcma-12-2012-0091 Samad, S., Abdullah, Z. (2012). The Influence of Leadership Styles on Organizational Performance of Logistics Companies. International Business Management, 6(3), 374-383. doi:10.3923/ibm.2012.374.383 Tesco.com,. (2015). Tesco direct : Choose from hundreds of products now on clearance - Tesco.com. Thiel, C., Connelly, S., Griffith, J. (2012). Leadership and emotion management for complex tasks: Different emotions, different strategies. The Leadership Quarterly, 23(3), 517-533. doi:10.1016/j.leaqua.2011.12.005 Xenikou, A., Furnham, A. (2013). Group dynamics and organizational culture. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)