Importance Of Adequate Prenatal Care Health And Social Care Essay

Critical analysis of research surveies is one of the most of import stairss towards incorporation of grounds into pattern ( Burns & A ; Grove, 2007 ) . This paper is an effort towards accomplishing this end. The paper critically analyzes the article â€Å" Group prenatal attention and preterm birth weight: Consequences from a matched cohort survey at public clinics † by Ickovics et al. ( 2003 ) . This purpose will be achieved by consecutive reviewing the research job, the literature reappraisal, rules of research moralss employed in the survey, the underlying theoretical model, the research hypothesis, the sampling technique, the research design, informations aggregation methods, the analysis, and the recommendation proposed by the writers. Finally, the paper will stop with an overall assessment of the strength and restrictions of the survey.Rationale:This peculiar research paper was analyzed as the construct of group prenatal attention has non been investigated in item yet. W hile reexamining the literature on the stated subject the limited supporting groundss for group prenatal attention was found. Merely 01 RCT ( Ickovics et al.2007 ) , 01 matched cohort survey ( Ickovics et al.2003 ) , and 03 pilot surveies with descriptive analysis were found ( Baldwin, 2006 ; Grady and Bloom, 1998 ; Rising, 1998 ) . The comparative analysis of all 05 surveies is shown in appendix 1. Chosen survey is the lone one which examined the impact of group versus single prenatal attention on birth weight and gestational age.DiscussionThe job:The job studied by Ickovics et Al. ( 2003 ) is that, whether group prenatal attention has a important impact on the perinatal result like birth weight, and gestational age. This job is highly important to nursing, for a figure of grounds. The first ground as described by Ickovics EL Al. ( 2003 ) , is the important relationship of these perinatal results with â€Å" neonatal morbidity and mortality † ( p. 1052 ) . Neonatal mortality is one of the countries of concern for nursing due to high mortality rates around the universe and particularly in developing states ( Straughn et al.,2003 ) .Purpose:The intent for carry oning the survey has been explicitly stated by Ickovics et Al. ( 2003 ) . The declared intent can be accomplished really good because both the results that are birth weight and gestational age, are measureable and therefore the research job is testable ( Haber & A ; Cameon, 2005 ) . A quantitative attack is suited for this survey as the variables are quantifiable and can be described objectively in Numberss. Ickovics et Al. ( 2003 ) have introduced the job statement after giving a brief background of the importance of the equal prenatal attention, and the factors that determine the equal prenatal attention. They so introduce the topic of group antenatal attention as a â€Å" structural invention † in the sphere of antenatal attention ( Ickovicd et al. , 2003, p. 1052 ) , and so portion the job statement that this advanced method of proviso of prenatal attention has non been tested yet. The writers have stated the implicit in premises of the survey. Ickovics et Al. ( 2003 ) believe that more clip the pregnant adult females spent together, the better will be their apprehension of the wellness behaviours, and they will have more societal support from each other. This will cut down their hazard behaviours for case smoke taking to low birth weight. The restrictions of the survey have besides been discussed explicitly in the article Ickovics et Al. ( 2003 ) admit that their survey is limited because of non-random choice of the adult females for group antenatal attention. The restriction is realistic because the pattern was already in topographic point and research workers wanted to detect the results in relation to the two different attacks to care. Furthermore, this is an built-in characteristic of the cohort design that the groups are selected on the footing of their exposure or non-exposure to a peculiar phenomenon which is non controlled by the research worker, inste ad the pick is made by the topic themselves. This characteristic of the cohort design makes it prone to â€Å" choice prejudice. â€Å" ( Rochon et al. , 2005 ) .Reappraisal of LiteratureThe reappraisal of the literature presented by Ickovics et al. , ( 2003 ) is comprehensive. It starts by stressing the importance of equal prenatal attention in footings of perinatal results. It so focuses on the factors that make the prenatal attention adequate. The writers so depict the group antenatal attention as a construction invention designed to do the prenatal attention adequate, and they appreciate that this new attack has non been tested yet for its efficaciousness in bettering antenatal results. The reappraisal so proceeds with a brief description of Centering Pregnancy Program and its constituents, which eventually leads to the statement of intent of the survey. The reappraisal ends with a principle for the choice of survey population that is black and Latinas adult females who are vu lnerable for inauspicious perinatal outcomes. There is an apparent relationship of the reappraisal with the intent of survey in that the writers have presented merely those surveies that are pertinent to perinatal attention and that have established the efficaciousness of group attention in other population. The reappraisal includes a mix of recent and old surveies. As this survey was accepted for publication in 2003, most of the surveies cited in the reappraisal were non current, that is those surveies were non published in the last five old ages of the day of the month when this survey was accepted for publication ( Burns & A ; Groove, 2007 ) ; and there are merely 10 out of 26 surveies, that were current and were published in the last five old ages of the day of the month of credence of the survey under consideration, for publication. The reappraisal clearly indicates that the other intercessions that have been planned to augment antenatal attention were non found to be effectual in bettering the adult females ‘s perinatal result.Ethical Consideration:The survey has been designed in a mode that there are minimal hazards to the topics. Since this is a non experimental survey and merely intends to detect the impact of an intercession that is already in advancement without pull stringsing any of the variables, hence there are minimum hazards associated with it ( Rochon et al, 2005 ) . However, the research workers have non made any excess attempt to maximise the benefits for the topics. There is no reference of how and when informed consent was attained from the topics, but this may hold non been reported as it was an experimental survey and most likely was related to quality betterment and do non necessitate consent. The research workers have obtained the blessing of research from institutional reappraisal boards at these clinics. Besides, at one point, the writers have described their attempts to keep namelessness of the topics. The writers explained t hat while choosing matched cohort for the survey they entered all the information needed to choose the cohort, except for the patient designation information.Theoretical/Conceptual Model:The survey is based on an implicit in model that is the focus oning gestation theoretical account. The implicit in premises of the survey are derived from the theoretical account that includes the belief that larning in groups promote shared support, alteration in behaviour, and job resolution accomplishments and it has important impact on the birth result ( Rising, 1998 ) . The principle for the usage of the model is apparent from the fact that the full construct of group prenatal attention is based on this theoretical account and implicit in premises. In fact, the research job and the intent are besides derived from the same theoretical account, because the intent of the survey is to analyze the impact of group antenatal attention.Hypothesis:The hypothesis to be tested by the survey is officially stated in the article. The hypothesis is derived from the research job and hence predicts that â€Å" babies of adult females in group prenatal attention would hold significantly higher birth weight and be less likely to be delivered preterm compared with those who received single prenatal attention † ( Ickovics et Al, 2003, p. 1052 ) . This is a complex hypothesis as it predicts the relationship between one independent variable ( proviso of group antenatal attention ) , and two independent variables ( birth weight and gestational age ) . The hypothesis can besides be categorized as directional hypothesis, as it predicts the expected way of the relationship between proviso of group prenatal attention, birth weight, and gestational age. Harmonizing to Polit & A ; Beck ( 2008 ) â€Å" a directional hypothesis indicates that the research worker has rational committedness to the hypothesized result, which might ensue in prejudice. † ( p.99 ) . Haber & A ; Cameron ( 2005 ) hence suggest that directional hypothesis should merely be formed on the footing of sound literature groundss and theoretical footing. In this instance, Ickovics et Al ( 2003 ) have got sound literature support, and since group prenatal attention is one of the ways to augment the content of antenatal attention ; hence, the writers have hypothesized that group prenatal attention will take to improved birth weight and gestational age. Besides, there is sound theoretical base to this hypothesis, as it is based on the focus gestation theoretical account. The hypothesis is spelled out clearly and it objectively describes the result variables ( Polit & A ; Back, 2008 ) , that is perinatal results have been quantified and objectively described as birth weight and gestational age.Sampling:Ickovics et Al ( 2003 ) clearly described the population as â€Å" Black and Hispanic pregnant adult females of low socioeconomic position, come ining antenatal attention at 24 or less hebdomads of gestation. † ( p.1051 ) .The writers have besides described in item the features of the sample such as race, age, para, and metropolis of abode. The elaborate and comprehensive description of the sample gives an in deepness apprehension of the sample ‘s features and determines the generalisation of the findings to a specific population based on these features ( Haber & A ; Singh, 2005 ) . In this instance, looking at the features of the sample, the findings can be generalized to black and Latino pregnant adult females of low socioeconomic group, aged 25 or younger, as more than 85 % of the sample consisted of black adult females who were 25 old ages old or younger. Sample ‘s features help in determine heterogeneousness or homogeneousness of the sample ( Haber & A ; Singh, 2005 ) . In this instance, some of the sample ‘s features that had the possible to move as cofounders, for case age, race, para, history of preterm labour and entire fi gure of visits were matched in both the groups. This resulted in homogeneousness among the two groups in footings of the above mentioned features. The matching of the two groups on the footing of these features besides reduced the possible sampling prejudice that could hold resulted if the groups would ‘ve been different in footings of these features and the ensuing wellness behaviours. If the groups were non matched, these differences in groups could hold accounted for the differences in results, instead than intercession itself. Ickovics et Al ( 2003 ) have described the sample choice procedure in item. They have besides indicated the possible sampling prejudice due to miss of randomisation while inscribing topics in group prenatal attention. Women, who voluntarily enrolled themselves in the group antenatal attention programme at the clinics, were recruited as participants in the group that received group prenatal attention. Ickovics et Al ( 2003 ) have besides comprehensively described the controls that they have utilized to minimise trying mistake or trying prejudice, that is, they have indiscriminately selected the comparing group through a computing machine programme on the footing of first available patient with closest bringing day of the month, by fiting some of the features of the intervention group. The clinics from where the topics were recruited were besides selected by non chance trying method, choosing merely those clinics that served minority adult females from low socio economic background. The non chance trying method employed in the survey fits good with the degree of enquiry and design of the survey as Haber & A ; Singh ( 2005 ) supported â€Å" non experimental surveies normally use non chance, purposive sampling method. † ( p. 53 ) The sample size taken by Ickovics et Al ( 2003 ) , that is N=458 is sufficiently big. Each group had 229 research topics. The sufficiency of the sample size was assured by carry oning a power analysis that â€Å" 229 braces had a power of 0.80 to observe a little effectaˆÂ ¦reflecting the ability to observe a difference between the two intervention groups of 155 g. † ( p. 1053 ) . Harmonizing to Burns & A ; Groove ( 2007 ) the power of 0.8 is the minimal acceptable degree of power for any survey.Research Design:Ickovics et Al ( 2003 ) have used cohort design, which is besides known as longitudinal prospective design. The cohort design, which is a non experimental design, is appropriate for the degree of enquiry of the survey. In this the research workers intended to analyze the difference between the results of the adult females who received group perinatal attention versus who received single attention. LoBiondo-Wood, Haber & A ; Singh ( 2005 ) supported that longitudina l design is rather appropriate for proving the difference between the two groups in footings of results variables. However, Ickovics et Al ( 2003 ) could hold used an experimental design for this survey, if they wanted to find the cause and consequence relationship between the group prenatal attention and perinatal results. This would besides hold assured randomisation of topics into intercession and control group and would hold given a higher degree of grounds. However, they may hold chosen non experimental survey design instead than experimental design to analyze the impact of group prenatal attention in a natural scene, and non in a control survey puting. As discussed in the sampling subdivision, possible effects of unwanted variables like race, age, para, metropolis of abode, history of preterm labour, and entire figure of antenatal visits have been controlled by Ickovics et Al ( 2003 ) by fiting the cohorts on the footing of these features, in order to guarantee important inter nal cogency of the survey ( Polit & A ; Beck, 2008 ) . Besides, Ickovics et Al ( 2003 ) have recruited a big sample to guarantee a power of 0.8 for the survey, which is besides one of the ways to maximise the internal cogency of the survey ( Polit & A ; Beck, 2008 ) .Data Collection:Before informations aggregation the research workers have to operationalize the variables of involvement ( Sullivan-Bolyani, et al 2005 ) . Ickovics et Al ( 2003 ) have operationalized gestational age as term or preterm based on the hebdomads of gestation as measured by the last catamenial period and ultrasound. Subjects ‘ demographics information and the figure of antenatal visits were obtained from the medical records of the clinic. It has non been mentioned that who determined gestational age through ultrasound, who measured the newborn ‘s weight, and who retrieved informations from medical records. It is truly of import to cognize who collected informations in order to set up its truth, as the expertness and preparation of the information aggregator has important impact on the rightness and preciseness of informations ( Sullivan-Bolyai et Al, 2005 ) .Quantitative Analysis:Ickovics et Al ( 2003 ) have used both descriptive and illative statistics to analyze the information. Since the intent of the survey was to analyze the differences between the two groups, therefore the illative statistics was used that is McNemar trial, which is appropriate to the degree of enquiry due to fit groups. It is besides appropriate to the cohort design as this design besides intends to mensurate differences between the two groups, in footings of result variables ( Polit & A ; Beck, 2008 ) . The other illative statistical trial used is paired t-test which is besides appropriate for the survey as it is used to prove differences between the agencies of two groups that are matched or paired with each other on the footing of certain features ( Polit & A ; Beck, 2008 ) . Another statistic used in the survey is the F statistic. It appears as if the writers have used F statistic when using multiple additive arrested development because F statistic has been used while bespeaking the interaction consequence between birth weight and preterm bringing ( p. 1054 ) . Linear arrested development is used to explicate how much variableness in result variable is attributable to the independent variable ( Burns & A ; Groove, 2007 ) . The writers have used descriptive statistic to depict the distribution of demographic variables among the topics like age, race and para. They besides have used descriptive analysis to depict the distribution of demographic variables among the distribution of results variables ( birth weight and gestational age ) among the sample. Ickovics et Al ( 2003 ) have used parametric every bit good as non parametric statistics, for case t-test for matched braces is a parametric trial while McNemar trial is a non parametric trial. As few variables have been measured on the ratio degree of measuring, for case figure of antenatal visits, hence Ickovics et Al ( 2003 ) had the autonomy to use parametric statistic. Ickovics et Al ( 2003 ) had measured the result variables of birth weight and gestational age on nominal degree. The birth weight was categorized as low birth weight ( less than 2500 g ) , and really low birth weight ( less than 1500 g ) and the gestational age was categorized as term or preterm ( less than 37 hebdomads of gestation ) . Therefore, research workers were besides able to use non parametric statistic that is McNemar trial ( Polit & A ; Beck, 2008 ) . The consistence in the consequences of descriptive and illative statistics confirms the rightness of the findings ( Polit & A ; Beck, 2008 ) . There is a logical nexus between the statistical analysis and the findings of the survey. Besides, there is consistence in the consequences presented in Numberss and consequence presented in text, for case in the above illustration, the statistical consequence shows p & lt ; 0.01 which is statistically important, and this is good supported by the account that is birth weight was greater in babies of adult females who received group prenatal attention versus single prenatal attention. However, Ickovics et Al ( 2003 ) have non explicitly stated whether they have taken unvarying degree of significance for all the statistical trials performed or are different for each trial, and if so so what is the degree of significance for each trial. The graphical and tabular presentations are accurate and appropriate and lucifers with the findings presented in text ( Sullivan-Bolyayi, et Al, 2005 ) . The statistics presented in these tabular arraies and the graphs are harmonizing to their appropriate degree of measuring. For case in table 2, mean and standard divergences have merely been calculated for the birth weight which is the lone ratio degree informations in that tabular array, the other variables that are at nominal degree of measuring were calculated in per centums ( Sullivan-Bolyayi, et Al, 2005 ) . The writers have non merely established the significance of findings, but they have besides described the clinical significance of the consequences.Decision and Recommendations:The consequences derived from informations analysis are clearly stated and explained with mention to the research inquiry and hypothesis. The findings are stated compactly and the writers have related their findings with the research intent and its i mplicit in premises. Ickovics et Al ( 2003 ) have discussed that the findings can be generalized among adult females who are vulnerable for preterm births. This seems to be an overgeneralization beyond the survey population, because the survey sample and the mark population was black and Latino adult females who were high hazard for preterm birth and were of low socioeconomic position. These findings may non be applicable to all the adult females who are at hazard of preterm births without stipulating their ethnicity and socioeconomic position. Ickovics et Al ( 2003 ) have besides discussed the possible benefits of implementing the findings. The writers have besides recommended that farther research needs to be done for finding the exact mechanisms involved in group prenatal attention that consequences in improved perinatal result. Another recommendation is to widely use group antenatal attention in future, nevertheless, the writers besides appreciate that it is non easy to present such large structural alterations.Strengths and restrictions of the survey:Overall, the survey is a good attempt in analyzing the impact of group antenatal attention on perinatal results. A good formulated hypothesis, relevant and comprehensive literature reappraisal, an in deepness history of sample ‘s features, good thought research design and statistical analysis are strengths of the survey. However, randomisation of topics at the clip of enlisting, employment of research moralss such as voluntary engagement and realistic generalisation of the findings would hold added more strength to it.Appendix 1Pregnancy results: Group vs single prenatal attentionSurveyStudy DesignResults: Group Vs Individual Prenatal CareOR ( 95 % CI )NNTIckovics JR et Al ( 2007 ) . RCT N=1047 Preterm births 0.67 ( 0.44-0.98 ) 25 Preterm births in African American adult females 0.59 ( 0.38-0.92 ) 17 Breastfeeding induction 1.73 ( 1.28-2.35 ) 8 Less-than-adequate prenatal care* 0.68 ( 0.50-0.91 ) 16ARESULTS ( P VALUE )AIckovics JR et Al ( 2003 ) . Matched cohort N=458 Birth weight ( g ) 3228 V 3159 ( P & lt ; .01 )–Preterm birth weight ( g ) 2398 V 1990 ( P & lt ; .05 )–Grady MA et Al ( 2004 ) . Cohort survey with clinic comparing N=124 ( intercession ) Preterm births & lt ; 37 wk ( % ) 10.5 V 25.7 ( P & lt ; .02 ) 7 Low birth weight & lt ; 2500 g ( % ) 8.8 V 22.9 ( P & lt ; .02 ) 7 Breastfeeding at infirmary discharge ( % ) 46 V 28 ( P & lt ; .02 ) 6 Rising ( 1998 ) Descriptive analysis N=111 3rd trimester exigency room visits ( % ) 26 V 74 ( P=.001 ) 2 Baldwin ( 2006 ) 2-group pre-/post-test design N=98 Change in antenatal cognition scoresaˆ 0.98 V 0.4 ( P=.03 )–CI, assurance interval ; NN T, figure needed to handle ; OR, odds ratio. *Kotelchuck Adequacy of Prenatal Care Utilization Index, a validated marking graduated table embracing timing of induction of attention, figure of visits, and quality and content of antenatal attention. Kotelchuck M. An rating of the Kessner Adequacy of Prenatal Care Index and the proposed Adequacy of Prenatal Care Utilization Index. Am J Public Health. 1994 ; 84:1414-1420. Referee: Williams, K.J andA Kaufmann, L ( 2009 ) The diary of household pattern, 58, ( 7 )

Is Shylock a Victim or a Villain? Essay

Shylock: Victim or Villain? With close reference to at least three scenes examine Shakespeare’s presentation of Shylock. Is a villain someone who lends money to help others but then charges interest? Intending to receive a pound of human flesh resulting in certain death if a promise is broken, surely this is somebody who is viewed as a villain. The same man who has experienced prejudice and discrimination all his life only because of his religion, which would be unimaginable in modern day, has this man now turned into a victim? Shakespeare a play writer of the 16th century, so much more creative, sophisticated and knowledgeable then the Elizabethan audience he wrote this play for whom would have perceived Shylock as a Jew a villain, presents Shylock in a more complex way. Jews were thought of by Christians as stubborn non-believers and were accused of poisoning wells and spreading the plague. Shylock was shown to be treated as all these things were true, yet he had a complexity about him as an audience today, against discrimination and accepting other religion and cultures, would feel pity, sympathy and put him towards the victim category. However trying to murder someone for revenge, this is clear villainy to anybody now or thousands of years ago. Throughout the play we ask ourselves, is Shylock a villain or a victim? Shakespeare intends this as he gives Shylock emotive speeches about inequality, which contradicts Shylock as being a villain. Shylock as a character represents the Old Testament, Judaism, which is the belief of justice, retribution and following the law by the letter. Shakespeare gives a clear message about Justice against Antonio for all that he has done towards Shylock; he wants to get his revenge within the law hence the bond. Shylock talks about the Old Testament with Bassanio and Antonio in Act 1: Scene 3, â€Å"This Jacob from our Holy Abram.† Christianity, the New Testament, follows mercy and forgiveness. The Duke and Antonio both show mercy towards Shylock when he has shown none. Shakespeare first introduces Shylock in Act1: Scene3. With no stage directions we have to decipher what a character is like only through what they say. â€Å"Three thousand Ducats-well.† His first line is about money. Shakespeare instantly gives us the impression that his only interest is money. This is also the case when he is at home with Jessica, his daughter and away from work. He explains how he dreamed of money bags yet does not acknowledge his daughter or show her any affection. However we later find out that money is not the only thing on his mind but his longing hatred for Antonio. Shylock hates him for he is a Christian but more because he lends money with no interest. â€Å"I hate him for he is a Christian. But more, for that low in simplicity he lends out money gratis.† Antonio’s hate is reciprocated as he compares Shylock with the Devil and other animals like dogs. In the ring plot involving Portia and the caskets the first Prince is from Morocco, who was black, chose the gold casket but it was not the correct one. The complexion of a Devil in the eyes of An Elizabethan audience was black. Furthermore he has been associated with the devil by his own daughter and also Salerio and Salanio referred to him as the devil in Act 3: Scene 1. This hatred between them is introduced only to grow throughout the play. Shakespeare is very clever and drops hints about Shylock’s character and the actions he will take at the start of the play. Shylock mutters â€Å"Cursed be my tribe, if I ever forgive him.† He will show no mercy towards Antonio and he does not in the trial scene in Act 4: Scene 1. It hard to decide whether Shylock is a victim or villain when he is first introduced as we learn about what he has had to put up with, being called a â€Å"misbeliever†, â€Å"cut throat dog† and others spitting on his beard for the reason that he is a Jew. We feel pity and sympathy for the things he has had to endure which means we cannot cling to a unique view of Shylock as a villain. He wants people to respect him and like him yet he cannot show any affection or respect towards his own daughter. He shows the same hatred back towards Antonio and if he catches him out, â€Å"If I catch him once upon the hip, I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.† he will take his revenge. Coiling up all the hatred he has inherited has caused him to pass on the mistrust and hatred to others without being totally aware he is doing so. Moments later he talks about being Antonio’s friend and charging him no interest. This sudden change of feeling and thought gives the audience a suspicion that he is planning something. We no longer think of him as a victim alone, he has shown us through his speech and actions that he has a villainies way about him. He hates him for he is a Christian just as the way Antonio hates Shylock for he is a Jew. Should we now feel sympathy for Antonio? We don’t and I think Shakespeare has decided to portray Shylock as more as a Victim in this scene is to capture the Elizabethan audience alone. A victim is the opposite of what they would have thought of him yet Shakespeare is trying to send a message. They would have though of him to be a stereotypical villain yet he is not Shakespeare has added complexity to his character. A relationship between father and daughter is surely the most precious, the relationship between Shylock and Jessica. However we soon learn a totally different story about the hostile environment when they are together and the deeply buried hatred of Shylock from his only Daughter. Act 2: Scene 3 is where we first meet Jessica, we learn how unhappy she is willing to leave her home town and convert to Christian in order to be with Lorenzo and away from her father, â€Å"I have a Father, you a Daughter lost.† Jessica is also ashamed to be her Fathers child. Again we hear comparisons between Shylock and the Devil: ‘Our house is hell, and thou, a merry Devil’. Shylock has not noticed Jessica’s odd behaviour, too caught up with his own problems and obsession with money. This shows us that although he may love Jessica he does not show it, he is not perceptive and can’t read his own daughter’s unhappiness. Act 2: Scene 3 when we first learn about her willingness to escape to Act 2: Scene 6 when she leaves with Lorenzo for Belmont. The inevitable happens but was this, the turning point for Shylock. Was his daughter running away the point were Shylock would go as far as attempting to kill a man for his revenge? At least before he had someone who looked up to him, loved him and looked after him, or so he thought. The shame would have overwhelmed him, his own flesh and blood turning into a Christian. I think he feared the most what others would say; they would mock him even more once this news had spread. Shylock, his only child that he has bought up single-handed has fled, leaving him totally alone as he has already been widowed. He is evidently controlling over Jessica, â€Å"Do as I bid you, shut doors after you. Fast bind, fast find.† This controlling manner could also be attributed to the over protective nature of a loving single parent. Shakespeare has intended for us to think of Shylock as the victim and we sympathise with him but at the same time we sympathise with Jessica. In Act 2: Scene 5 we see Shylock and Jessica alone. At the start Shylock speaks about money indirectly once again, he is preoccupied and cares more about material things than his only daughter. Shakespeare also portrays the relationship as an awkward one with Jessica not saying a great deal but when she does it is a lie: â€Å"His words were ‘Farewell Mistress’ and nothing else.† When, in fact, they had been talking about Lancelot. A Christian. She is reluctant at first: â€Å"Call you? What is you will?† but by the end she is letting her emotions and true feelings out: â€Å"Farewell and if my fortune be not crossed, I have a Father, you a daughter lost.† Shylock does not know his own daughter yet holds something over her, which makes her scared and a little ashamed to betray him. Through Jessica we see Shylock as an old, cruel man. Devil, hell, blood, ashamed and tediousness are all words that Jessica related to her father. In the 16th century daughters should have respected their fathers, even to this day they still seem a little extreme. These words don’t show respect, only hate. In Act 2: Scene 8, Shakespeare has decided to play this scene so we hear the information second hand. Salerio and Salanio are gossiping about how they have seen Lorenzo and Jessica on a Gondola escaping. The two characters could play this scene in a laughing manner full of jokes. I think this is how Shakespeare intended it to be played. Doing it like this would mean as an audience we would also be influenced by the joking atmosphere and therefore feel less sympathetic towards Shylock. The Elizabethan audience would have loved this, as they would be in the shoes of Salerio and Salanio, mocking Shylock about his loss. We would feel dramatically more sympathetic if Shylock had spoken this speech by himself. However in this scene Shakespeare portrays Shylock as a villain in the way he talks about the flight of his Daughter. A single parent loosing their only daughter should have been the worst possible outcome imaginable. Turmoil, distress, depression and anger should have been the things that were felt. They were but not for his daughter Jessica, but Shylocks money, jewels and wealth. Our sympathy grows as Shylock is portrayed as a victim but is stripped away when we learn he is more interested in his precious stones and jewels that have been taken: â€Å"My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter! †¦ And jewels, two stones, two rich and precious stones. Stolen by my daughter. Justice! Find the girl!† these are definitely not the words of a warm hearted, doting father. Did he really love his daughter? Or did he only use her to take his aggression out on that he had built up from all the discrimination he had received. He also loses our sympathy in Act 3: Scene 1 when he finds out that Jessica has run away with a Christian. He treats Jessica merely as another possession and when he learns of her flight he is more anxious of the whereabouts of his treasures and precious ducats: â€Å"I would my daughter were dead at my foot†¦and the ducats in her coffin.† These are not the words of a loving Father, it proves that Shylock would not mourn Jessica’s death or disappearance and the only thing he is interested in his wealth and status. This backs up the points said on Act 2: Scene 8 but this time we read and listen to Shylocks words from his mouth. Salerio and Salanio are here once again but this time mock him directly. They claim Jessica is a better person for converting and that they are not nearly related: â€Å"There is more difference between thy flesh and hers, than between jet and ivory; more between your bloods, than there is between red wine and rhenish.† Shylock has been discriminated on and betrayed by others all his life but when his own daughter does the same, is this the point when he decides to take his revenge and relieve is anger? Shylock claims that Salerio and Salanio knew about his daughter going to flee, he blamed them but how can this be when he lives with his daughter yet did not notice or acknowledge her unhappiness and disconnection with him. Shakespeare is taking us on a roller coaster of emotions towards shylock. We feel sympathetic for him in this scene because he is being mocked for his loss but we then feel hostile towards him only minutes later when he proves he is no better than the Christians who mistreat him. This is the scene when he decides to take a stand and follow through with his unimaginable bond. Well its unimaginable to everyone else but necessary for him, to him he is only giving back what he has taken in the past. â€Å"†¦He hath disgraced me, and hindered me half a million; laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies; and what’s his reason? I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions?†¦ the villany you teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction.† This is one of Shakespeare’s most famous speeches but why does he give it too Shylock, the villain of the play in the Elizabethan audience’s eyes? It gives him a different dimension and makes him seem more human. He stands up for himself and is not as in control or as noble as he was previously. He lets his emotions out many of the ideas used have been taken straight from the teachings of the Christian church. He is using the Christian’s own arguments against them. Shakespeare illustrates Shylock as being intelligent and is no longer a stereotypical villain; he has true, strong feelings that cannot be argued against by anyone. In this scene we also learn the scale of Jessica’s betrayal when she gambled his ring that he had given to Leah when he was a Bachelor for a monkey: † One of them showed me a ring that he had of your daughter for a monkey.† A pit in his stomach is what he would have felt yet it was quickly filled with the thought of Antonio’s misfortune and finally having a chance to take revenge against Antonio within the law. When talking to Tubal about Antonio’s sunken ships he uses a lot of repetition that could mean he has other things on his mind such as how and when he is going to take this inevitable revenge: â€Å"I thank God, I thank God†¦Is it true? Is it true?† Act 3: Scene 1 is one of the most important in the play but also has the most unusual layout. The scene follows the layout of the whole play and also Shylocks emotions. It starts calm, Bassanio trying to take Portia’s hand in marriage, Shylock is doing his job and Salerio and Salanio are just gossiping. It then advances to irritation ad revenge. Shylock decides to take his revenge and in the ring plot Portia and her maid trick both their husbands. Furthermore it reveals all the relationships that Shylock is involved in, his relationship with his daughter, Christians and Tubal who is a Jew. The last time we meet Shylock and the scene that the whole play has been moving towards, the Trial scene. Wanting to go as far as killing a man for revenge is what Shylock wants to do. He is the only being in the court room that believes what he is doing is what he deserves.. He wanted to get his revenge within the law, which is exactly what he is about to do. The duke of Venice greets Antonio and expresses pity for him, calling Shylock an inhuman monster who can summon neither pity nor mercy. The duke of Venice greets Antonio and expresses pity for him, calling Shylock an inhuman monster who can summon neither pity nor mercy. This shows just how biased on others religion people were in the 16th century. The duke, a man of the law has already taken Antonio’s side. However at the same time we get a sense that the Duke is also frightened that Shylock might well go through with his promise inevitably killing Antonio. With words such as inhuman wretch, incapable of pity and stony adversary the Duke turns the audience against Shylock from the start. In addition he says: â€Å"Call the Jew into the room.† They are reminded that he is only a Jew not a human being worthy of credit. Although Shylock is portrayed in a poor light by the other characters, Shakespeare give him intelligence in what he says. â€Å"You have among you many a purchased slave Which, like your asses and your dogs and mules, You use in abject and in slavish parts Because you bought them. Shall I say to you ‘Let them be free, marry them to your heirs. Why sweat they under burdens?. . . You will answer ‘The slaves are ours.’ So do I answer you. The pound of flesh which I demand of him Is dearly bought. ‘Tis mine, and I will have it.† Shylock is not attacking the Venetian law just wants to be treated the same and to be allowed to share in it. This is not something a stereotypical villain would say and we can take this view and relate to it yet for us is does not excuse the killing of another human being. Again, in this passage, we find Shylock cleverly using Venice’s own laws to support his very own revenge. He abides by the law by the letter as his religion of Judaism teaches. Furthermore Shylock asks many questions making people think if they were in his shoes would they not do the same: â€Å"What wouds’t thou have a serpant sting thee twice?† every time he makes a point he justifies it and compares it to the Christians around him. Throughout the play Shylock is reffered to as animals such as dogs, wolves and the Devil. This has been from Antonio because he has been higher in society and power than Shylock but not in this scene. Shylock compares Antonio cats, pigs and rats. Just as some Christians hate cats, pigs, and rats, Shylock hates Antonio. The tables have turned and he is so near to his revenge and Antonio is now so helpless under Shylocks new power. Just as some Christians own slaves with their power, Shylock owns a pound of Antonio’s flesh. Shakespeare shows Shylock to be a new, triumphant man that can show no mercy towards Antonio. In the trial scene, we can see the conflict of idea of judgment of two religions. According to Judaism (Jews religion), justice means punishing the bad people. So, Shylock feels that he has suffered and he must get an eye for an eye. On the other hand Christianity believe in mercy and forgiveness. Mercy is an apparent theme in this scene. It is first mentioned by the Duke, then by Portia who delivers another one of Shakespeare’s speeches. â€Å"The quality of mercy is not strain’d, it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest: It blesseth him that gives and him that takes†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Portia states first that the gift of forgiving the bond would benefit Shylock, and second, that it would take Shylock to an improved status. Lastly, Portia warns Shylock that his quest for justice and revenge without mercy may result badly and to his own diadvantage. Rather than a trial scene this scene is more like an interlectual argument between Judaism and Christianity. Once again the two religions are against each other. Shylock decides to unwisely ignore Portia’s speech. Shakespeare creates tension here as it is almost inevitable that he will be allowd to take Antonio’s life and Shylocks greed and blindness has alone portrayed him as a villain. Furthermore he is offered twice the amount in money but he replies: â€Å"If every ducat in six thousand duats were in six parts, and every part a ducat, I would not draw them, I would have my bond.† He explains clearly that he only wants his bond. All his l ife it has been about his money, stones and wealth. It had driven away his daughter and his job involving money was one of the reasons he had been mistreated all these years. Shylock always put money first, if he had only done this once more he could have saved himself and his religion. Yet he was so intent on getting his revenge and this clouded his judgment. Shylock is still relishing his revenge just before the final moment: â€Å"O noble judge, O excellent young man.† He is thanking Portia but little does he know he is about to have his life and religion taken from under his feet. We feel resentful towards Shylock for the actions that he is going to take but when Portia reveals he can no longer do so we feel reeif. This does not last for long though as when we hear the punishments and consequences we cannot empathise. In a society today it would be unimaginable for someone to be forced to be taken from their religion. in the 21st centruy we respect others and the religions that they follow, we judge a pearson by their actions. Not their religion. which is what Shylock experienced. As a modern audience we feel sickened when we think and watch this happening yet to the Elizabethan audience this would have only greatly added to the humour of the play. The tables have trned and now after Shylock showed no mercy he is now made to plead for it. as Christians they show it to him. We have to remember that this play is a comedy. A comedy in which the baddy, Shylock the Jew, is punished and the goody, Antonio the Christian, is saved. In this case Portia was the one who restored the humour for the Elizabethan audience by restoring justice against Shylock. There are many themes in this play that link all characters. Bonds that exist between people, revenge, the sea and law versus justice. The bond of hatred that existed between Shylock and Antonio was a central element of the play. It leads to the actual bond of the pound of flesh being signed. They are bound together with Antonio’s life being in Shylock hands but then at the end Shylocks life in Antonio’s hands. Futhermore in the casket plot when Portia marrys Basanio she makes him vow never to give his ring away. This is a tight bond but is broken when Bassanio gives it away in appretiation, in the same way as when Antonio broke his promise in having 3000 ducats available to pay back Shylock back in the given time. Another is the sea. Had Antonio’s ships sailed to saftey Shylock would not have been able to demand revenge. The Elizabethan audience would have also enjoyed this familiar sea lore. The link between the law and justice is one that came up often and is explored in depth by Shakespeare. Through the behavior of Shylock towards Antonio, Portia when punishing Shylock and showing no mercy after she asks Shylock to show it, Antonio when insisting Shylock converts to Christianity and the Duke letting events follow the law. We learn the law in Venice is not capable of providing fairness and justice. Finally, the theme of revenge, which appears in two plots in the play. Firstly when Portia and Nerissa trick their husbands then watch them suffer and try to redeem themselves. Secondly Shylock attempts to kill Antonio for all he has done, then Antonio shows mercy but then takes his revenge by making Shylock convert to Christianity. To Shylock this may have been a worse punishment, did he want to live an empty life with no meaning or direction, betraying his own God? This play, Merchant of Venice, was written for an audience and Shakespeare creates suspense extremely well. He does this by switching between plots and locations at vital points in the play. He never spends too much time on one that we forget about the others. For example, in Act 1: Scene 2 we learn that Portia must marry whichever man chooses the right casket. At the end of the scene the arrival of Prince Morroco is announced, but we have to wait whilst Shylock and Antonio agree a bond before we are taken back to learn the outcome. Switching between plots this way is even used today particularly in soap operas. For audience advantage, Shakespeare makes them ahead of the characters, such as in the episode with the rings. On anther occasion the audience do not know something untill the characters themselves see it, as in the choice of the caskets. By varying these techniques, Shakespeare is able to develop dramatic tension and ultimately humour. â€Å"The quality of mercy is not strained.† Or is it? Shylock found it impossible to show mercy but can we blame him? His only daughter deserted him then sold his preciouse ring. The very same one that he had given to the love of his life when he was a bachelor. She left with all his wealth, money and stones to be with a christian. Shylock had lost the closest person to him but also the most important thing to him, his money. He has been spat upon and called names such as â€Å"cut throat dog† all his life, mocked at and laughed at by every other. He should not then be expected to show mercy to the very same people who had caused him all this pain and misery. Afterall mercy was not an aspect of his religion, Judaism, but justice. However in the end his own religion is what let him down. If he had turned, only for a second, from his religion and showed a llittle mercy he would have been able to hold onto his religion and wealth rather than having it stolen away. He was portrayed as a victim from the start and we sympathised with him when we hear the discrimmination he had to put up with. â€Å"†¦ lest the devil cross my prayer, for here he comes in the likness of a Jew.† To an Elizabethan audience Shylock would have only been viewed in the light of a villain and a Jew going through misery would have just added to the humour for the Christians watching. Shakespeare plays to this when he gives Shylock a menacing turn. He tells us how Shylock hates Antonio: â€Å"I hate him for he is a Christian.† But then, in contrast, Shakespeare shows us that in fact, Shylock wants to be Antonio’s friend: â€Å"I would be friends with you and have you love.† Has this been done on purpose? Or has Shakespeare done this too confuse the audience and portray him as a vitim with potential to become a villain? There are no rules to whether Shylock is a victim or a villain, only interpretations. Shakespeare has given Shylock a complex character with mixed emotions that many producers and directors have interpreted for their purposes. In the film version, with Albaccino, Shylock was portrayed as a vulnerable victim who was easily sympathised with. With such an intelligant, crafty play writer who included deeper meanings, no-one will ever truly know if Shakespeare intended Shylock to be a victim or a villian. Maybe this was his intention, you decide whether you sympathise with him because all he has been through or you may think he is a man that has crossed a line with bad intentions. People to this day have acted because of the way they have been treated or how they have been bought up. Remember, Is a villain someone who lends money to help others but then charges interest? Intending to receive a pound of human flesh resulting in certain death if a promise is broken, surely this is somebody who is viewed as a villain. The same man who has experienced prejudice and discrimination all his life only because of his religion, which would be unimaginable in modern day, has this man now turned into a victim? Shakespeare fills your mind with suspicions, theories and questions but only your emotions and thoughts can decide whether Shylock was a victim or a villain. Or maybe he was neither.

Commentaire †Jude the Obscure, Thomas Hardy Essay

Thomas Hardy described the novel in his preface as dramatizing â€Å"a deadly war between flesh and spirit†. This quasi reference to St Paul’s conception of human dualism goes far towards explaining the nature of Jude’s tragedy. This dualism appears also in the book. Jude The Obscure is the last of Thomas Hardy’s novels published in 1895: its critical reception was so negative that Hardy resolved never to write another novel. The passage under analysis is situated towards the beginning of the novel, at the arrival of Jude at Christminster (the fictional name of Oxford). He found a job at a stonesman’s to make a living while studying by himself to try and achieve his dream. Indeed, Jude’s first concern is a job, though his working is to be done only as a way of supporting himself until he can enter the university. Our commentary will fall into two parts. First we will study the isolation of Jude, and the opposition between Jude’s world and the world of his enthusiasm that is to say the world of Oxford students. Then, we will study the omnipresence of spirituality that contrasts with the materiality in the text. As we have said before, this novel is the last novel of Thomas Hardy. This novel recounts the painful process of his disillusionment and his final destruction at the hands of an oppressive society, which refuses to acknowledge his desire. Even if this extract does not seem so sombre, and presents a real hope, we can notice that the theme of the contrast or the opposition exists all the text long. Thus it is interesting to underline that play of opposition which appears quite characteristic of the novel as it is implied by the sentence of Thomas Hardy that we have quoted in the introduction where he describes his book as â€Å"a deadly war between flesh and spirit†. In a strikingly similar vein, Hardy tells also that the † ‘grimy’ features of the story go to show the contrast between the ideal life a man wished to lead, and the squalid real life he was fated to lead.† There is a play of opposition and parallelism that exists in this extract that presents contrast also. The first opposition that can be noted is the opposition between Jude and the others. Indeed, there is a real separation  between Jude and what he calls â€Å"his inmates† on line 11 or his â€Å"happy young contemporaries†. That is also obvious with the use of the pronoun. All the text long, and mostly in the first part of the text – when the narrator describes Christminster and the students – we can see appearing two different groups as clearly underlined on line 25: â€Å"Whatever they were to him, he to them was not on the spot at all; and yet he had fancied he would be close to their lives by coming there†. This sentence permits really distinguish the opposition between those to entity. This idea of separation exists in all the text, with different symbol of separation. Thus we can say that even if the â€Å"Christminster ‘sentiment’ (†¦) ate further and further into him†, Jude is clearly not in the Christminster ‘way of life’. This situation of exclusion is described implicitly, by the narrator, as quite unfair, when he underlines for instance that â€Å"he probably knew more about those buildings materially, artistically and historically, than any one of their inmates. We could perceive this remark and all the text as an implicit criticism of the fixed class boundaries that exist in the Victorian society. Indeed, we know that Jude has a real willpower of being â€Å"someone†. He left his life in the country town to come into the big city in the hope of succeeding in life. But that society seems quite close as described by Hardy. That is probably why the narrator and Hardy himself insist on the separation of Jude, his isolation and even a sort of imprisonment. He is all alone, in a big city, living apar t and a lot of elements in the text can induce this idea. Firstly let’s notice the â€Å"echoes of his own footsteps†. Echoe occurs most of the time in big and empty spaces, thus using the world ‘echoe’ the narrator wanted to show the isolation of Jude. The adjectives â€Å"impish† and the comparison with â€Å"blows of mallet† are also relevant is that respect. The character appears then, at first sight, isolated, alone with some kind of harsh condition. The evocation of the â€Å"wall† is stronger in that respect. The wall is the symbol of separation, division and exclusion; and here this symbol is used several time as on line 10 â€Å"Only a wall divided him from those happy young contemporaries† or on line 14 â€Å"Only a wall – but what a wall!† showing us the real feeling of exclusion of Jude. This image is reinforced by the metaphor of the â€Å"gates† saying that: â€Å"For the present he was outside the gates of everything, colleges included†. Otherwise the gates can refer to heaven, as we will see later. This division appears also in the  room itself, showing that it exists two worlds: â€Å"rigged up a curtains on a rope across the middle, to make a double chamber out of one†. As we have said, there is a gap between Jude and the rest of Christminster; it is also suggested with the world ‘antipodes’ used on line 21. Nevertheless, it seems that Jude look like ‘their inmates’. The narrator on line 11 underlines it when he says ‘he shared a common mental life’ or on line 20 â€Å"they seemed oftentimes (†¦) to be particularly akin to his own thoughts†. The difference is then more a difference of wages, and not of cleverness or aspirations, we can thus see an implicit criticism of the system by Hardy: they are equal but separate, and they don’t have the same chance to succeed in life, and this opposition drawn by Hardy permits to understand that. The picture painted of the education system is very bleak for the common man, who can study day and night, but will never walk through those great doors of learning. There is a dichotomy between manual work and intellectual work: the young workman in a white blouse vs. the young students. Jude seems to want to realize a synthesis of those two worlds as underlined on line 38: â€Å"He was young and strong, or he never could have executed with such zest the undertakings to which he now applied himself, since they involved reading most of the time after working all the day†. Indeed this text not only presents this division between two worlds but also sort of hope concerning the future. The way of writing of Hardy permits us to understand Jude’s enthusiasm and his faith in future, and permits then to comprehend the mind of Jude: the landscapes of this extract is both Christminster and Jude’s mind: Christminster changes and evolves in Jude eye’s. . Even if Jude The obscure is Hardy’s most sombre novel, here, it is the beginning of the novel and faith and hope are still allowed. This hope appears on line 28 â€Å"But the future lay ahead after all (†¦)†. Desire and enthusiasm are perceptible in the text and particularly in the last paragraph. However the last sentence permits to understand that the future will be more difficult than he probably thinks: â€Å"His desire absorbed him and left no part of him to weigh its practicability†. And Christminster will not be probably the city he was expected. Indeed, this text is situated toward the beginning of the novel when Jude has just arrived at Christminster. In  that respect, he is still full of hope, and enthusiasm even if we can see that he realises â€Å"how far from the object of that enthusiasm he really was†. But it is more a dream than anything else: indeed, Christminster’s phantasmal allure, glimpsed by Jude from the top of his ladder, becomes after his arrival in the city the sinister phantasm of feeling himself disembodied and different. This idea could be illustrated by the description of the Cathedral in the text with the insistence of the size (grandeur ) of it on line 59 : â€Å"Tall tower, tall belfry windows and tall pinnacles†. The anaphora permits to show the discrepancy between Jude, alone and the big city, bigger than his country town where everything is closed for the moment. But as we have said, there is still hope, and the reference to the Cathedral permits to underline another aspect of this extract, which is faith and spirituality as implied by the use of the word â€Å"faith† on line 61. In Hardy’s book, Bible is omnipresent. The text is full of biblical allusion, so much that The Ecclesiasts are a privileged intertext. We can say that God is everywhere, and this extract presents us a lot of references to spirituality that contrasts with materiality of his life conditions. The use of Biblical analogy separates it from all the others novels of Hardy. In it Hardy traces the odyssey of Jude, showing that at important turning points in his life Biblical references serve as guideposts marking his direction. Christminster is tinted with spirituality and so does the extract under study. Firstly, we can point out the name of the city because even if Hardy refers to Oxford, he gives to the city a fictional name that is â€Å"Christminster†, mixing Christ, which is the title, also treated as a name, given to Jesus of Nazareth and â€Å"minster† which is a large or important church, typically one of cathedral status in the north of England that was built as part of a monastery. So, it is a double reference to religion and spirituality. Then there are a lot of references in the text itself, and the place of Christminster seems impregnate with religion and spirituality, which are two notions not exactly similar. Indeed, religion is the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, spirit; and spirituality is relating to or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or  physical things. In those definitions, we can then clearly see that spirituality is opposed to materiality, which seems also the case on that extract. Spirituality or religion appears first throughout the abundant lexical field: â€Å"haunted† on line 1, â€Å"cloisters† (l.1), â€Å"God†, â€Å"Cathedral†, â€Å"Belfry†, etc. More of that, Hardy plays with the meaning of some words; firstly, with the meaning of the world enthusiasm. As we have said before, Jude’s enthusiasm is one of the major stakes of the extract. It could be understand as the intense and eager enjoyment or interest, which is probably the case. But not only, enthusiasm has also an archaic and religious meaning: indeed, enthusiasm is a religious fervour supposedly resulting directly from divine inspiration, typically involving speaking in tongues and wild, uncoordinated movements of the body. This religious could also cast a different light of the expression â€Å"Christminster ‘sentiment’†. This sentiment could also be a religious feeling, a spiritual fervour that pervades Jude. God is thus present in the text, and Jude is not an atheist as underlined on line 30: â€Å"So he thanked God for his health and strength, and took courage†. The world courage is also relevant in that respect. Courage is the ability to confront fear, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. But In both Catholicism and Anglicanism, courage is also one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. With the gift of fortitude/courage, we overcome our fear and are willing to take risks as a follower of Jesus Christ. A person with courage is willing to stand up for what is right in the sight of God, even if it means accepting rejection, verbal abuse, or physical harm. The gift of courage allows people the firmness of mind that is required both in doing good and in enduring evil. The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are thus wisdom, understanding, wonder and awe, right judgement, knowledge, courage, and reverence. And it seems that Jude possesses some of them, just like â€Å"knowledge, wisdom or understanding† as implied in the text, or at least that is what let us hear Thomas Hardy in some sentences as on line 29 â€Å"If he could only be so fortunate as to get into employment he would put with the inevitable† which shows the â€Å"understanding† of Jude for instance. It is also obvious on the end of the extract with the quotation of The Ecclesiasts â€Å"For wisdom is a defence and money is a defence; but the Excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it†. We can see that God, spirituality and religion are everywhere in Jude’s life  and in this extract. But this quotation of the Ecclesiast permits also to cast a light on a major opposition in the text between that spirituality and the materiality. Indeed, Jude seems in a state of imprisonment also because of his lack of money. He is met with obstacles time after time, mainly due to his social station as a common stonemason. This lack of money is thus a real obstacle as underlined one line 49 â€Å"Having been deeply encumbered by marrying, getting a cottage and buying the furniture†. That sentence permits to see that those things of life are limited the freedom and the development of his mind. That is why there is real opposition between spirituality and materiality. In the same way poverty seems contradictory to wealth of mind: â€Å"After buying a book or two he could not even afford himself a fire†. Thomas Hardy gives details about the price of the lamp, in order to insist on this problem of money. Money problem seems to be an obstacle to think well as implied on the beginning of the text when the narrator says â€Å"men who had nothing to do from morning till night but to read, mark, learn and inwardly diges t†. The real difference between Jude and his inmates is that, they don’t have to preoccupy about money, they are totally free of materialist preoccupations and thus, they only have to think, learn and understand. Their mind is not hobbled by money questions. Throughout this opposition, we can maybe perceive the denunciation of the author. Jude’s cousin Sue Bridehead describes his situation very succinctly few chapters later: â€Å"You are one of the very men Christminster was intended for when the colleges were founded; a man with a passion for learning, but no money, or opportunities, or friends. But you were elbowed off the pavement by the millionaires’ sons.† The image of the ogee dome can also be relevant in that respect. Indeed, the ogee dome is the dome of Tom Tower in Christ Church, and it was at one time the signal for all the Oxford College to lock their gates. We find back the image of the gates that could also by a symbol of the Gates of Heaven. But here again, they are closes, and locked showing how vain and difficult it is to try to penetrate in it. Thomas Hardy touches on several socially relevant and subversive themes in Jude The Obscure: education, social ranks, and religion. Those themes appear  in the extract under analysis. This one is particularly interesting because of Hardy’s craftsmanship. He uses a subtle play of opposition and parallelism that convey a peculiar atmosphere and permits to understand Jude’s feelings and situation. He seems thus alone torn between his desire of knowledge and his social condition, but also between spirituality and some kind of materiality inherent to his condition.

Caligua Roman Empire Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Caligua Roman Empire - Research Paper Example By that time Caligula’s father was dead and his mother and two brothers were in disgrace. At Capri, Caligula was appointed as heir together with Tiberius Gemellus, son of Drusus the younger. According to the Roman law, Caligula did not have a right to be the emperor, but nevertheless it happened. After the death of Tiberius, with the help of Macro, Caligula was proclaimed â€Å"princeps† (first citizen) by the Senate. Tiberius’s will was invalidated and Caligula was proclaimed emperor with the official name of Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus in AD 37. The people of the empire were happy with the news, because Caligula’s parents were very popular in Rome and loved and respected by people. The first actions of the new emperor were directed at gaining popularity. When he entered Rome, he put Tiberius body into Augustus’ mausoleum, and made a funeral speech, in which he promised to rule Roman Empire together with the Senate and under its supervision. C aligula dropped a request for the deification of Tiberius, who was very unpopular in Rome, and announced amnesty. He put the taxes down and paid all the debts made by previous emperor. The new emperor won over the masses by resuming gladiator fights, bringing back actors from exile, and renewing of theatrical performances. Of course, such politics was very popular among the people. At this festive background, amplification of the monarchical principle and exaltation of power and personality of the emperor occurred. Caligula made a visit to Pandateriya and Pontius, and moved the ashes of his mother Agrippina and his brother Nero to Rome. There were yearly sacrifices yielded in honor of Germanicus and Agrippina, and circus games were arranged in honor of his mother. There were a lot of coins depicting the princeps’ brothers and parents. In six months Caligula got seriously sick. After his recovery he was no longer the same person. Some of the historians say that he had epilepsy from his childhood. †This, or some other cause, violently affected his mental state, and he became totally irrational, with delusions not only of grandeur but also of divinity.† (http://www.roman-empire.net/emperors/caligula.html, para.15). Caligula’s policy has changed so much that there was a firmly established belief in the society about his madness. It could be seen through his actions (for example, he was going to make his horse a consul) and in his appearance. The issue of mental normality of Gaius Caligula has occupied many researchers’ minds, both historians and psychologists. The opinions were divided. Some scholars have regarded him as mentally ill, while others believed that he was mentally normal. The range of definitions of his disease varies from schizophrenia to psychopathy. The latter version is the most recognized by modern scholars and seems the most convincing. In AD 38 Caligula put to death without trial his principal supporter, the pra etorian prefect Macro. Gemellus was also killed by his order. Marcus Junius Silanus, the father of the first of Caligula's wives was compelled to commit suicide. A new feature was that the process did not occur in the Senate: princeps alone decided the fate of the eminent dignitaries of the empire. In a short period of one year Caligula wasted all of the reserves of the state treasury accumulated by the Tiberius. New taxes were introduced to

Summary and reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Summary and reflection - Essay Example rt posting as it is emphasized that the success of this company was due to their decision to hire a professional consultant to learn how to achieve their objectives most efficiently. Success is measured by the company’s ability to achieve retail distribution of their products as a direct result of the mommy bloggers who had reviewed them. The article then begins to provide the benefits of working directly with blogging. To begin with, customers are able to test the products and help define the target market. By distributing sample products among the bloggers, companies are able to take advantage of impromptu focus groups and promotional opportunities while also giving the bloggers something to talk about rather than simply trying to insert an advertisement. This leads the author to write about some of the things to avoid when marketing to bloggers. Although it may seem second nature to hide one’s true intentions, the author suggests it is best to be up front and honest with them and the bloggers will help you form online relationships. Another important point is to avoid sending out mass emails that are inappropriately targeted or lie regarding your activity, which can be easily traced. One strong way of getting your news out to bloggers is to host a blogging event with giveaways that provide women with a mean s of meeting each other as well as giving them a reason to talk about your products or services. The information in the article really makes it clear how the internet is forcing us to return to a more honest means of dealing with each other. It recommends working with the so-called Mommy blogs as a means of gaining instant access to the consumers most likely making the purchasing decisions, which seems like a great idea. However, once you’ve lied to them or made them angry with you in some way, you risk losing as much or more of the targeted audience. It’s also important to remember that it’s very easy for these bloggers to check your

Valuation Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Valuation - Research Paper Example Coca-Cola Corporation has introduced more than 500 brands and some of the renowned brands are Coke, Diet Coke, Caffeine Free Coca-Cola and Coca-Cola Zero. The company has its presence in more than 200 countries of the world and is more renowned as Coke. More than 1.7 billion people are served every day with the products of Coca-Cola.1 PepsiCo, Inc. (or â€Å"PEP)† is another American based multinational enterprise that operates in the food and beverage industry. Headquarter of PEP is in Purchase, New York. The company was formed in 1965 and since that time it has expanded its brands to more than 200 countries. PEP is the fifth largest food and beverage company in the world in terms of total revenue however in the North American region it is the largest company. There are more than 285 thousand employees working for PepsiCo around the world.2 Food and beverage industry includes food production, distribution, retailing and catering of food and beverages. The total value of this industry in the year 2008 was $5.7 trillion. The growth rate of the industry is expected to increase at a CAGR of 3.5% and it is estimated that the total value of this industry would reach up to $7 trillion by the end of 2014.3 As other industry suffered because of financial crisis, food and beverage industry was also one of the victims of recession. The industry was affected and companies in the industry had to face different problems like increase in food prices, increase in transportation cost and a reduction in consumer spending thus, reducing the profitability of the companies in the industry. PepsiCo is the fifth most important company in this industry with offering different products like snacks, carbonated and non-carbonated drinks. The total revenue of PepsiCo is $43.3 billion USD with a net profit of $5.1 billion. Coca-Cola Corporation is considered to be the seventh most important company in the industry with

Limited Liabilty Partnership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Limited Liabilty Partnership - Essay Example These businesses are the most common and simplest ones since they just have one owner who runs the business by himself and is self employed. These types of businesses are east to start since they do not require much, if not any, legal obligations, and paperwork. It is important to note that the sole trader assumes the â€Å"all† the responsibility of the business. This includes looking after all the operations, issues, debts, loans and others. The problem with this business is that the sole trader has unlimited liability for the business and in case of bankruptcy, the sole trader would have to pay off the debts and claims from his pocket or by selling off the company’s assets and the sole trader’s assets as well (Hicks & Goo, pp. 13-18). Important here to note that the law does not provide the sole trader’s company, the status of a â€Å"separate legal entity† which other forms of business enjoy having. These businesses do not have the option of equity financing or in simple words issuing bonds and stocks for raising capital. Moreover, if the sole trader goes for debt financing, even then, the loan would be on his name and not on the company’s name and he, not the company, would be liable for paying off the loan (Mancuso, pp. 65-69). The second type of business would be of partnerships where two or more partners jointly start their business and share the responsibilities and ownership of the business. Unlike sole proprietor where only one person is responsible for everything, in partnerships, all the partners share the responsibility of running the business. However, their liability remains unlimited. This is because of the fact that partners are liable for any decision whether taken by him or any other partner. Moreover, if one partner runs away than the rest would have to pay his or her debts liabilities from their pockets (Martin, pp. 41-49). These types of businesses are easy to form and easy to dissolve as

The Principles of Beneficence and Nonmaleficence Assignment

The Principles of Beneficence and Nonmaleficence - Assignment Example The treatment that could be offered to her is radiation and chemotherapy, which are not the solutions or cures for the disease but only extending the life cycle of the patient. Therefore, the goals of the treatment are not concerned with the reversal of the health conditions, but for the preservation of life to the maximum extent possible. In totality, the patient cannot really escape the fact that her life is going to end shortly, maybe within the next few years. Medication is a method of prolonging her life, to a certain extent and not complete restoration, in her case. The patient is evidently, well informed and capable in terms of mobility and mental conditions. She is completely competent, because of the facts that she had worked in the medical field previously and also since she had noticed the mass and the severe pain and had taken the initiative to approach a professional, rather than perhaps subsiding it. The patient confesses that she suspects she is a victim of cancer and therefore, asks the medical student to tell her the truth. She is also aware of the fact that the doctors might, after all, not inform her about the disease and diagnosis, in case it is cancer. The patient has not yet been informed about the disease and she is yet to receive the confirmation of her apprehension that she has cancer. The very fact that the patient quite willingly and readily agreed to undergo the surgery, without posing a problem conveys that the patient was cooperative and trusted her doctors. However, on the whole, we see that the patient's desire to be informed and share the knowledge of the doctors, regarding her condition is in all probability not met with. Therefore, one can draw the conclusion that the ethics and laws governing medicine have not been met with. Had the patient been an ignorant and non-cooperative person, the best alternative could be giving treatment and keeping the patient in the dark. But since the patient is from a medical background herself and is well aware of the situation, it is most ethical to inform her about it and give treatment with mutual cooperation.

Analysis of Medical Errors Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Analysis of Medical Errors - Research Paper Example   The issue is heavily laden with the emotional and fiscal burden as patients must be aware of their treatment progress and any mistakes that have been made while hospitals and doctors have a very real need to protect themselves from lawsuits and protect their credibility. At the same time, it is difficult for many doctors to have to face the fact that in the course of attempting to improve health, they may have inadvertently made it worse and then to try to communicate this failing to the patients who have trusted them. While it seems the greatest opinion among medical workers is that patients should be informed whenever mistakes have been made, the reality is that the medical profession has a large tendency to hide mistakes when possible so as to avoid unpleasantness.  Ã‚   In â€Å"Disclosing Medical Errors to Patients, †1 the authors point out the prevalence of avoidable error or ‘adverse events’ within the medical profession as being relatively high – 37 percent of the discovered cases in a Canadian study preventable. In response to this, â€Å"leaders in the patient-safety movement have called for the system defects that underlie most errors to be corrected, as well as improvement in the recognition and reporting of errors and the disclosure of harmful errors to patients and their families.†2 Benefits of full disclosure are outlined, such as patients having greater knowledge about their own treatment  and thus able to make more informed decisions and patients’ ability to participate in problem-solving techniques to prevent future errors from occurring again.  Ã‚  However, the article also points out the difficulty doctors have had in providing full disclosure.  Ã‚  

Definition of Dismissal Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Definition of Dismissal - Literature review Example This method, however, is not included in the contract laws but it is a discovery of the judges, it is based on the principle that employees are paid wages for the work that they do therefore if they do not work they should not be paid. When the employee accepts not to work for the employer even though he has the will and potential to work, it is deemed that he has accepted the repudiation, otherwise he would have stayed at home and sued the employer for payment of wages since the contract would still be valid (Akin, 2004, p569). The provisions in the dismissal of an individual explain that an employee should only be dismissed without notice under three situations, the first one is if the employee has not completed one month since he started to work for the employer. Second is if the terms of the contract have the provisions for dismissal without notice, and the third is when an employee act in a manner that acts to betray the confidence and trust that the employer had placed in him. The notice period before a dismissal is usually written down in the contract should be a minimum of a week and in case the contract does not state the notice period the common law is applied. Common law requires that the employer should give the employee a notice of at least one week for employment period lasting from one month to two years and then one extra week for an additional year above 2 years that the employee works up to a maximum of 12weeks. However, common law can give an employee up to 12 months depending on the seniority, expertise and the length that the employee has been working for the employer. The remedies available for wrongful dismissal in of an employee include compensation in a tribunal and damages in a court of law, the employees will, however, be required to apply for the compensation within three months after they have been dismissed (Geare, 2007, p276). The employer is liable to pay the dismissed employee the loses that include his notice period including a ny benefits or pay rises that he was entitled, otherwise in the case of wrongful dismissal the employee can only sue for lost earnings and damages due to the spoiling of his reputation. For an employment relationship to be considered to exist there must be objective conditions, this means that the features that are existing in regard to the way the worker performs his duties and how he is remunerated by the employer must be put into consideration (Bird, and Charters, 2004 p212). The rights of employers and employees depend on the duration of contract where the employee performs the assigned duties by the employer in return for her wages, if the employee fails to perform the assigned duties, then he breaches the contract for employment and is therefore liable for dismissal. In Jordan, the workers are protected by the labor act that stipulates that a worker be employed either indefinitely or for a specific period, in the agreement for a specific period, the contract is deemed to have been terminated at the end of the period. However, if the employee continues to work after that period the law considers the contract to have been renewed and is considered to have been an indefinite contract from the beginning.  Ã‚  

Logistics and Supply Chain Essay Example for Free

Logistics and Supply Chain Essay Supply Chain Management Review introduces a new series called â€Å"Back to Basics. † It’s a look into how excellence in the core logistics and supply chain activities leads to overall business success. The articles in this seven-part series are written by educators from the University of Tennessee. Pictured: Wendy L. Tate, Assistant Professor of Logistics, Department of Marketing and Logistics, University of Tennessee. By Wendy L. Tate, Assistant Professor of Logistics, Department of Marketing and Logistics, University of Tennessee October 21, 2010  Globalization, increased competition, fluctuating availability of raw materials and pricing conditions have increased the need for better management of the suppliers who provide goods and services to the organization. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, the cost of purchased materials is approximately 54% of the value of shipments for manufacturers. Also, the cost of services that organizations purchase is continuing to increase as firms try to focus on what they do best. More emphasis is being placed on spend management and on those that are responsible for locating and managing the suppliers that provide the materials and services needed to meet customer expectations. Sourcing and procurement are generally responsible for this task. A focus on spend management is not new to the purchasing area. But the increasing magnitude of requested reductions is driving purchasing departments to think creatively about ways to more strategically manage the supply base and continue to drive unnecessary costs from everyday purchases. The task of sourcing and procurement professionals is to find an effective means to balance the demands of both internal and external customers with economic considerations while taking into account the potential for supply disruption and technological change. The challenge is to establish both the philosophy and practice of an integrated supply system as part of the firm’s strategic positioning. Strategic purchasing involves finding ways to use supplier capabilities to drive sales, leverage the purchasing spend to achieve and/or maintain competitive advantage, and use the supply market to strengthen the company’s strategic position. Historically, purchasing has been overlooked as a strategic contributor and instead viewed as more of a tactical function with a largely internal focus. The tendency of even the most seasoned buyers has been to react to problems rather than proactively incorporate the strategic focus needed to support the current operating environment. The primary focus of procurement is to support the firm’s operational requirements by ensuring uninterrupted flow of the appropriate quality materials, products, and services. However, purchasers must do so in the most efficient and effective manner, in light of limited resources. The key for sourcing managers is to minimize risk to the organization. To minimize vulnerabilities in supply and make the most of the organization’s buying power, purchasers should assess and segment purchased materials, services, and components in terms of importance to the organization and difficulty in accessing the materials. This segmentation process allows purchasers to take a more strategic perspective on the management of the supplies and the supply base while applying more appropriate cost management tools and negotiation strategies. Using the segmentation system developed by Kraljic (1983) as a foundation, four major categories emerge (see Figure 1). Noncritical (low importance, low supply risk), leverage (high importance, low supply risk), strategic (high importance, high supply risk), and bottleneck (low importance, high supply risk). Each of the categories requires a distinctive and strategic purchasing approach. Each of these classifications will be described in the paragraphs below. In the case of non-critical, or generic purchases, the focus is on finding the lowest possible purchase price from a field of many suppliers. For these types of items, there are low switching costs allowing for easy â€Å"supplier hopping†. Typical procurement approaches to these types of purchases include the use of purchasing cards (p-cards) and short-term contracts. Relationships with the suppliers of these types of products are often arms-length and transactional. Office supplies and paper purchases typically fall into this category. Buyers use competitive bidding, price indices, price lists and catalogs to facilitate the buying process. The suppliers of these types of materials and services understand that low price and ease of purchase are key to retaining buyers. Staples, for example, introduced the â€Å"Easy Button†. Buyers that are in the market for office supplies can download software directly to their computer, shop from on-line catalogs, and use their p-cards to streamline the purchases of these generic items. Many suppliers are capable of providing the products and services that fall into the leverage category; these are the more â€Å"commodity-type† items. These types of products and services have a great importance to the organization in terms of volume purchased, percentage of total purchase cost, or impact on product quality or business growth. The purchasing decision for these items is generally based on consolidation, leveraging volumes is key to success. Some approaches used to leverage volume include supply base reduction and reverse auctions. The idea is to combine the requirements of different operating units and capitalize on supplier fixed cost allocation and improved productivity. The following example makes the point. A technology company had multiple business units all with individuals responsible for the purchase of customer contact center services. Through informal discussions about the performance of the suppliers of these services, the heads of the business units discovered that some were using the same suppliers, but being charged different rates and there were multiple suppliers providing almost identical services across the organization. The purchasing area was called in to help better manage the purchase of these services. They followed a typical sourcing process (see Figure 2) and put these services out for bid to both existing and new suppliers. The final pool of suppliers included fewer suppliers, volumes were leveraged, the price that was being paid ultimately fell, and the relationship with the suppliers improved. The company instituted a single point of contact for the suppliers and an end-to-end procure to pay management process (Ellram and Tate, 2004). The strategic items have more complexity and risk involved in the purchase often because of limited availability or fewer suppliers with the technical capabilities to provide the goods or services. These are the items that are the most critical for the organization to obtain to ensure success and meet the demand for products. There is much more collaboration and integration between the buying and supplying firm with a focus on continuous improvement. Buying firms often enter into long term, cost-based contracts with the suppliers of these items and may in fact engage the suppliers early in the process of new product development. Buyers look to these suppliers for innovation and cost reduction ideas. Ford and Mobil for example entered into a broad based trategic alliance to speed the development and integration of break-through fuel and vehicle technologies (Dieselnet, 1998). The intent of these strategic alliances is to help strengthen collaboration, and develop a sustainable business model. Bottleneck items, or items that are more project oriented or unique, have a high level of supply market complexity. These types of purchases often consume a disproportionate amount of time, relative to the item’s value. The focus for purchasing is to simplify the procurement of these items, or if possible get it out of this quadrant and into the leverage or strategic quadrants. Companies buying products or services that fall in the category could participate in buying consortiums to better leverage the spend and minimize the associated risk. For example, a utility company was paying a significant amount of money to audit their suppliers. A number of their competitors were using the same suppliers and spending the same money for the audits. These companies agreed to hire a third party to perform the audits, thus consolidating the spend and simplifying the purchase. Another company was procuring project-based environmental services. Each project required the buyer to closely manage the supplier to ensure that each step in the process was completed in a timely and accurate fashion and that payments were made as promised. There were many of these projects occurring simultaneously with different suppliers. One supplier became an â€Å"expert† in this area allowing the buying firm to assign the supplier more projects, thus increasing the level of importance and moving it to the strategic category. Successful managers today require a broad view of the procurement and sourcing areas and the strategic role that this function can play in an integrated supply chain. Organizations need to take a long-term perspective, avoiding the low price sourcing temptation without considering the total cost and the total value provided by the function and its relationship to the supply base. Purchasing needs to strategically manage its supplies and its supply base. The first step in doing this is to understand what is being purchased, the importance of the purchase to the organization, and the complexity of the supply market. The goal is to ensure that the supplies that are purchased add value to the customer’s that ultimately buy our goods and services.

Allegory of the Cave and Narrator Essay Example for Free

Allegory of the Cave and Narrator Essay As the philospoher Seneca once said, â€Å"It is the power of the mind to be unconquerable. † Raymond Carver’s Cathedral is a story about a man who started out as a closed-minded man but, throughout the story his character changes as he begins to bond with his wife’s friend, Robert, a man who is blind. Plato’s Allegory of the cave is a story about a prisoner who is freed from being locked in chains living all of his life underground and finding out a different perspective about a lie he’s been living his whole life, being told as a conversation between Socrates and Glaucon. In the stories, â€Å" Cathedral† by Raymond Carver, and â€Å" Allegory of the Cave† by Plato, both authors argue that a person’s reality is not always what is seems to be. In â€Å" Cathedral,† Raymond Carver uses irony between the narrator and Robert when they talk about the cathedral. The narrator tries to explain how a cathedral looks like with words when he says â€Å" To begin with, they’re very tall. I was looking around the room for clues. They reach way up. Up and up. Toward the sky. They’re so big, some of them, they have to have these supports. To help hold them up, so to speak† to Robert who is blind and can’t really apprehend what is being said. (Carver, page 24, lines 448-451). Until Robert asks to be drawn a cathedral when he says â€Å" Hey, listen to me. Will you do me a favor? I got an idea. Why don’t you find us a pen and some heavy paper. Go on, bub, get the stuff† the narrator realizes that Robert sees by touching around the paper. (Carver, page 25, lines 492-495). What the narrator doesn’t understand is that the blind man can’t see what he sees even though he thinks that by describing with words about how a cathedral looks, helps. The irony Carver is trying to show is that the narrator is the one who is blind, not Robert, because he perceives his reality to be similar to Roberts but instead really isn’t. In â€Å" Allegory of the cave† Plato uses metaphor about the message that is being compared to an imaginary prisoner’s life. Socrates explains to Glaucon â€Å" Behold! Human beings living in a underground cave, which has a mouth open towards the light and reaching all along the cave; here they have been from their childhood, and have their legs and neck chained so that they cannot move, and can only see before them, being prevented by the chains from turing round their heads. Above and behind them a fire is blazing at a distance, and between the fire and the prisoners there is a raised way; and you will see, if you look, a low wall built along the way, like the screen which marionette players have in front of them, over which they show the puppets† to imagine a person who is living a certain kind of way for a long period of time. (Plato, page 8, lines 5-14). Then they are told that what they are living is a lie when Socrates says â€Å" And now look again, and see what will naturally follow if the prisoners are released and disabused of their error. At first, when any of them is liberated and compelled suddenly to stand up and turn his neck round and wlak and look towards the light, he will suffer sharp pains; the glare will distrees him, and he will be unable to see the realities of which in his former state he had seen the shadows; and then conceive some one saying to him, that what he saw before was an illusion, but that now, when he is approaching nearer to being and his eye is turned towards more real existence, he has a clearer vision, -what will be his reply? † (Plato, pages 8-9. Lines 42-51). Socrates then says â€Å" And if he is compelled to look straight at the light, will he not have a pain in his eyes which will make him turn away and take in the objects of vision which he can see, and which he will conceive to be in reality clearer than the things which are now being shown to him† to explain that the prisoner will want to believe what he is already accustomed not to what has just been told to him. (Plato, page, lines 57-61). The metaphor that the story compares to is a prisoners life and perspective of reality, once you are told that the way you have been living for your whole life is wrong, you are most likely to be scared of the truth that has just been told to you since the reality that you have been living isn’t what it seems to be. In both stories, â€Å" Cathedral† by Raymond Carver and â€Å" Allegory of the cave† by Plato, both authors use imagery to descibe how the characters in the story are lead to a new reality that has been bestow upon them. In â€Å" Cathedral† the narrator learns the way Robert sees things when he says â€Å" He ran his fingers over the paper. He went up and down the sides of the paper. The edges, even the edges. He fingered the corners. All right, he said. All right, let’s do her. He found my hand with the pen. He closed his hand over my hand. Go ahead, bub, draw, he said. Draw. You’ll see. I’ll follow along with you. It’ll be okay. Just begin now like I’m telling you. You’ll see. Draw, the blind man said. † (Carver, page 26, lines 508-514). Carver reveals that by being very desciptive using imagery, the reader can understand how the narrator is getting really tense in a good way when he is shown that his perspective of reality of blind people just being blind and nothing else is about to change. In â€Å" Allegory of the cave† the prisoner is being taken to see a new perspective of the way he used to think when Socrates says â€Å" And suppose once more, that he is reluctantly dragged up a steep and rugged ascent, and held fast until he’s forced into the presence of the sun himslef, is he not likely to be pained and irritated? When he approaches the light his eyes will be dazzled, and he will not be able to see anything at all of what are now called realities. † (Plato, page 9, lines 63-68). Plato shows that by using imagery in his story, people can notice that the prisoner is in a lot of pain when he is being shown that his perspective of reality of the shadows being his reality is about to change for the rest of his life. In both stories â€Å" Cathedral† and â€Å" Allegory of the cave† both charcters of the story are being shown a different way of thinking. This new way of thinking evolved them into a better self being. Both charcters, the narrator and the prisoner were challeneged into a new way of thinking, both stuck to it till the end, and both became more of a fulfilled person.