Essay on Sexism in Language - 2512 Words

Language refers to the method that humans use to communicate either through speech or written. It consists of the use of the word in a structured and conventional way. Language has been referred to as ‘our means of classifying and ordering the world; our means of manipulating reality. In structure and in its use we bring out the world into realisation and if it is inherently inaccurate, then we are misled. (Dale Spender, 1980).Language has power that allows us to make sense out of the reality we live in. Sexism is discrimination of a person based on their gender, especially on women. Sexism in language is the use of language which devalues members on one sex, almost always women, showing gender inequality. In the 1960/70’s there was a†¦show more content†¦This is seen in two ways; the first is interpersonal interactions, and the second is representations of men and women in that are embedded in form and content of language. For example Cameron (1992) found that women are referred to by their first name as well as terms of endearment such as ‘love’ and ‘dear’. It shows that language and representations are closely linked and that language holds representation of ideas in clichà ©s, epithets etc. It has also been represented that a women’s experience is systematically devalued in comparison to that of the male norm. Weitz (2003) has highlighted that throughout history women’s bodies have centrally affected the structures within which women live. Females are described as passive, for example Mother Nature. Objects such as cars and boats are mostly deemed female and temperamental and are also dominated by males. English language reflects the power that men have historically held in many areas of life. The sexist language against women shows them in lower social and economic status. An example of this is nouns ending in ‘ess’ e.g. waitress, stewardess, these are then seen as less significa nt than their male equivalents. This also applies to the suffix ‘ette’ this is giving feminine status to objects such as cigarette, this shows inferiority. Some studies have shown that individuals who do not believe in traditional sex stereotypical roles are less likely to write an educational essay using sexist language (McMinn, Lindsay,Show MoreRelatedSexism, Language, And Language Essay843 Words   |  4 PagesSexism in Language Whether it’s in verbal or written expression, language is our everyday means of interaction. For years, there’s been an ongoing debate about the use of male-based generics and whether or not they promote sexism. Sexist language, as defined by yourdictionary.com, is language that excludes either men or women when discussing a topic that may be applicable to both sexes. Hence, sexist language describes the bias towards a certain sex in language. Importance lies in discussing issuesRead More Sexism in Language Essay1969 Words   |  8 PagesSexism in Language We all know that men and women are different. They look different, act different, walk, talk, and even smell different. In part, the simple fact that we are different explains why we sometimes have trouble communicating with and understanding the opposite sex. However, a close look at our language may show that there is more to the communication barrier between the sexes than meets the eye. I believe that the English language is very biased towards women. We live in a patriarchalRead MoreThe Value Of Chinese Language1322 Words   |  6 PagesThe value of Chinese Language The knowledge of Chinese language opens many new perspectives for the people who have good command of this language. First of all, Chinese language opens the way to different important fields. These include: Chinese politics, economy, history or archaeology. The knowledge of Chinese language can help to study the unique culture of the ancient civilization. At the heart of Chinese civilization is its rich heritage of novels, short stories, poetry, drama, and other piecesRead MoreI Consider Myself A Feminist Essay764 Words   |  4 Pagesthe importance of language, a feminist is a person, regardless of gender, who believes in the equality and importance of all women in society. I am a feminist because I continue to educate myself to become more self-aware of the danger of sexism and inequality that thre atens women’s rights. 2. Sexism is wrong because it discriminates against people because of their gender. Women are the main group who suffers against sexism. It is safe to say that all women have confronted sexism. According to theRead MoreMovies Control: Sex and Violence1436 Words   |  6 Pagespublic believes and accepts. Research shows that the amount and realism of violence and sex in movies has skyrocketed, influencing the views of our generation. However, little to no attention is placed on the effects of movies on our views of racism, sexism, classism, and heteronormativity. Before watching a movie, you can get a general idea of how much sex and violence it will contain, in order to decide if it is appropriate for you. However, how can one tell if a movie is too racist, sexist, classistRead MoreThemes of Sexism in Cleopatra and Plutarchs The Life of Antony967 Words   |  4 PagesSimilar to the 1963 film Cleopatra, in Plutarchs The Life of Antony, sexism is maintained in the passage and compati ble with its message. Through the authors portrayal of Cleopatra and Antony, he spreads the message that obsession with power is bad and the idea that manipulation and attempts at domination are signs of a bad ruler. Sexism is compatible with such messages because as indicated by Plutarch, Cleopatra utilizes sexist expectations of women in order to manipulate Antony through her aspirationsRead MoreFeminism is simply a sociological theory, which states that men and women are equal. Feminism is900 Words   |  4 Pagessuccessful people. Feminism opposes sexism in literature and aims to increase the awareness of sexual politics of language and style. Feminism also shoots to view female writers and their works in a feminine point of view. Thus people will interpret the symbolism in female’s writings and it will be no longer ignored by the manly point of view. Feminist Literature Feminist literature is basically any literal work that concentrates on the women’s daily struggle against sexism and discrimination. It emergedRead MoreSince the beginning of time, sexism has been a prominent barrier between the genders. Women may800 Words   |  4 PagesSince the beginning of time, sexism has been a prominent barrier between the genders. Women may have the same political rights, however they are still degraded and seen as inferior to men. So, women in politics are now trying to prove that they are just as capable as men are. However, their attempts are being suppressed due to the inappropriate comments against them. Sexist remarks in the media against female political candidates is the reason why there is a smaller amount of women in governmentRead MoreRacism And Racism732 Words   |  3 Pages Sexism, racism and heterosexism are happening in contemporary America till this day. The media reflects everyday struggles that Americans face based primarily on their gender, race and sexual preferences. Many innocent Americans are getting killed in protests and rallies while they defend their rights. Everyday millions of Americans are faced with backlash from their community, state and even their own country for who they are! Heterosexism is the prejudice against homosexuals.Read MoreComparison of One is Not Born a Woman by Wittig and The Second Sex Simone De Beauvoir867 Words   |  4 Pagesimpossible ontologically speaking; because the humans are not divided, thus gender is merely an imaginary realm. It only exist in the language exercises, and the way that cultural products are conceived in them. This essay is a preliminary attempt to offer an analysis of ‘One Is Not Born a Woman’ by Wittig and ‘The Second Sex’ by Simone De Beauvoir holds on the language usage contribution to the creation of genders and the imagined femininity. Through the society imaginations of genders, the society

Challenges And Challenges Of Global Market As Indonesia

INTRODUCTION Business Spectator (2014) maintains Indonesia is possibly becoming the world s fourth largest economy by 2035-40. Numerous factors committing business opportunities in Indonesia such as high consumer market, remarkable consumer growth, and abundant natural resources (Global Indonesian Voices 2013). From managers perspective, marketing information and deep customer insights are remarkably crucial for building customer value and relationship (Kotler et al. 2013, p. 150). Marketing research in emerging market as Indonesia indeed poses several challenges to researchers and therefore negatively impact the efficiency of business decisions. This paper would analyse these challenges in term of infrastructure, socio-culture,†¦show more content†¦It restricts the usage of data collection methods such as email survey and internet survey. These methods have numerous advantages such as geographic flexibility, accurate real-time data capture, and cost-effectiveness (Zikmund et al. 2012, p. 164 - 167). Accordingly, associated risks influencing decision-maker are outdated data, expensive data collection cost and less integration of data between various markets (Cooper Schindler 2008, p. 6). On the other hand, limited accessibility of infrastructure condition also adversely impact geographic coverage of the research (Greenland Kwansah-Aidoo 2012, p. 19). For instant roads are dominant transportation in Indonesia but many road networks are in poor condition and plugging gaps (States News Service 2011). It is, therefore, difficult for researchers to access particular consumer groups while the heterogeneity of emerging market population is extreme (Burgess Steenkamp 2006, p. 345). Such non-probability sampling could lead to the representation bias from decision-makers in which managers draw similarity and see identical situations where they do not exist (Robbins et al. 2015, p. 216). †¢ Solutions The alternative data source could be a valuable solution for decision-maker to collect extensive data in limited infrastructure condition. Three alternative data sources

Maintain The Sustainability Of The Locality †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Maintain The Sustainability Of The Locality. Answer: Throughout the project cycle, the major concern will be on how to maintain the sustainability of the locality and ensure that the economic activity of the city does not decline. In fact, one of the sustainability issues that feature prominently is the aspect of environmental sustainability. Admittedly, construction projects often involve a lot of earth removals which may include contaminated soils and other hazardous materials such as heavy metal being exposed (Metro Tunnel, 2018). This is done to level the landscape and provide stable foundations for pier sinking. Therefore, although the contractor will have to follow due diligence in developing the project risk mitigation plan as the project rolls out, it is imperative to note that there will be other inescapable opportunities for the destruction of vegetation, localised dust emissions and foul odour due to contaminated soils (Metro Tunnel, 2018). Therefore, it would be necessary to pursue a long-term sustainability approach (Uow.e du.au, 2018). This will include initiating community-led projects thereafter to restore the vegetation that was destroyed and ensure the natural ecosystem is re-integrated with the city infrastructure. References Metro Tunnel. (2018). Managing air quality: Managing construction impacts. Retrieved 24 March 2018, from https://metrotunnel.vic.gov.au/construction/construction-impacts/air-quality Uow.edu.au. (2018). Equity - Intergenerational Equity. Retrieved 24 March 2018, from https://www.uow.edu.au/~sharonb/STS300/equity/meaning/integen.html Uow.edu.au.. (2018). Equity - Intragenerational Equity. Retrieved 24 March 2018, from https://www.uow.edu.au/~sharonb/STS300/equity/meaning/intragen.html

Poem Indirect Conflict Between Scarecrow and Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz Essay Example

Poem Indirect Conflict Between Scarecrow and Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz Paper â€Å"‘All the same’ said the Scarecrow, ‘I shall ask for brains instead of a heart; for a fool would not know what to do with a heart if he had one. ’ ‘I shall take the heart’ returned the Tin Woodman; ‘for brains do not make one happy, and happiness is the best thing in the world. ’† – Excerpt from â€Å"The Wonderful Wizard of Oz† by L. Frank Baum A Woodman of tin, a man stuffed with straw Each with a human-like question and flaw Where’s the importance, in the head or the heart? Subtle opinions, but the question still sparks Small one caught in the middle of things But she has both, so the questions don’t ring Thoughts or feelings†¦ Does one overcome? Is one ever, and always over the other one With one is there balance, and strengths? Yes and no But with only one, those weaknesses show. Though the man of straw he thinks without Walking, and talking; solving problems all about The woodman of tin, subtly feels, doesn’t realize Sorrow regret from the tears which he cries As for Dorothy, Seemingly glad that she has both, But feels stuck between her friends’ opinions the most I don’t think that either is right, Heart or a brain I say we need to both, to be balanced and sane Without emotions to balance out or actions, and vice versa too I don’t know where we’d go, or what all we’d do Insanity, and lifeless nice, like living dead men All doing whatever, ‘cause there’s nothing to win Though the story is fiction, the questions are real And only with both does life seem surreal It seems like a dream, Like going to Oz With both of them inside of you, All mind and heart We will write a custom essay sample on Poem Indirect Conflict Between Scarecrow and Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Poem Indirect Conflict Between Scarecrow and Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Poem Indirect Conflict Between Scarecrow and Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer

Make an Easy and Fun Glow in the Dark Lava Lamp

Make an Easy and Fun Glow in the Dark Lava Lamp Use common household ingredients to make a safe lava lamp that glows in the dark. This is a variation on the popular oil and water lava lamp, except instead of coloring water with food coloring, you use a water-based liquid that glows. Glowing Lava Lamp Materials clear plastic bottle (a 20-ounce or 2-liter bottle works great)vegetable oilglowing water (or another glowing liquid)Alka-Seltzer tabletsblack light (may be optional, but even glowing liquids are brighter with one) Whether the lava glows on its own or glows under a black light depends on the materials you choose. If you use glowing paint, expose the lava lamp to bright light, turn out the lights,  and it will truly glow in the dark. However, the easiest and brightest liquid to use is glowing highlighter ink. If you arent sure how to get the ink out of the highlighter, I have instructions. This ink (and your lava lamp) will glow when exposed to black or ultraviolet light. What To Do Fill the bottle most of the way full with vegetable oil.Add a big spoonful of glowing water (or your glowing liquid of choice).Turn on the black light and dim the lights in the room.When you are ready for the lava to flow, break a seltzer tablet into pieces and  add the pieces to the bottle.Cap the bottle and enjoy the magic.You can recharge the lava lamp by adding more seltzer tablet chunks. The Science Behind How It Works The globules form because oil and water (or a water-based liquid) are immiscible. The oil has a nonpolar nature, while water is a polar molecule. No matter how much you shake the bottle, the two components will always separate. The movement of the lava is caused by the reaction between the seltzer tablets and water. Carbon dioxide gas forms bubbles, which rise to the top of the liquid and cause it to circulate. The glow of the lava comes from either phosphorescence or fluorescence, depending on the chemical you used. Fluorescence occurs when a material absorbs energy and almost immediately releases light. A black light is used to make fluorescent materials to keep glowing.  Phosphorescence is a slower process in which energy is absorbed and released as light, so once a phosphorescent material is charged with light, it may continue to glow for several seconds, minutes, or even hours, depending on the specific chemicals.

Most Important Themes in The Crucible, Analyzed

Most Important Themes in The Crucible, Analyzed SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The Crucible remains a staple of high school English because it is rich in themes that are consistently relevant to human beings regardless of time period. But these themes aren't always easy to explain or dissect in the context of the play, and they can be even harder to develop into essays. Read on for an overview of what a theme is, a list of important themes in The Crucible with specific act-by-act details, and a summary of how to use this information in your essays and other assignments. What’s a Theme? Why Are Themes Important? Before I get into the nitty-gritty of howThe Cruciblethemes are expressed, let's do a quick overview of what themes are and why they matter. A theme is a central topic that is addressed by a work of literature. Themes can be expressed in many different ways. In the case of a play like The Crucible, themes are revealed mainly through the dialogue of the characters. They're also revealed though events in the plot. Themes tell us what the purpose of the work is. What is the writer attempting to convey to the viewer? The Crucible's themes have lent the play artistic longevity because they're more or less universal to the human experience across time.If you hope to write an awesome essay onThe Crucible, you should have extensive knowledge of its themes. If you can show that you understand the themes of a work of literature, you've clearly mastered the material on a deeper level.In the next few sections,I'll take a look at a group of broad themes inThe Crucible, including irony, hysteria, reputation, and power. Theme 1: Irony First off, what is irony? Many people are under the impression that irony is just when something happens that you don't expect (or that you really hoped wouldn't happen). In reality, true irony only happens when a situation is the exact opposite of what you would expect.The classic example of an incorrect use of irony is in Alanis Morisette's song "Ironic" when she says that "rain on your wedding day" is an example of irony. Well, it's not. Sure, you don't expect or want rain, but it's not the polar opposite of getting married. A real example of irony would be if two married guests got into a fight about going to your wedding that ended in their divorce. Irony abounds throughout The Crucibleascharacters who believe they are combating the Devil’s handiwork actually perform it themselves.The ruthlessness with which the suspected witches are treated is aimed at purifying Salem, but it achieves the opposite outcome. The town slips further and further into chaos and paranoia until it reaches a point of total devastation.As Reverend Hale says to Danforth, â€Å"Excellency, there are orphans wandering from house to house; abandoned cattle bellow on the highroads, the stink of rotting crops hangs everywhere, and no man knows when the harlots’ cry will end his life - and you wonder yet if rebellion’s spoke?† (Act 4, pg. 121). The court's attempts to preserve Puritan morality by arresting and executing accused witches ironically lead to the removal of the most virtuous people from society. These people are the only ones who refuse to throw out false accusations or lie about involvement in witchcraft, so they find themselves condemned (this is the fate of Rebecca Nurse). This means that much of the population that remains is comprised of the power-hungry, the selfish, and the cowardly. Act 1 There are several ironies in Act 1 that center around Abigail Williams. In her conversation with John, Abigail claims that he helped her realize all the lies she was told by two-faced people in Salem who only publicly adhere to the conventions of respectable society (pg. 22).The irony is that, in the face of John’s rejection, Abigail turns around and creates her own lies soon after that give her increased control over the society she resents.She puts on a fake front to get what she wants, ultimately creating a persona that’s even worse than that of the hypocrites she criticizes.Abigail’s many deceptions are sometimes laughably ironic as she chastises others for lying even as she is spinning falsehoods.In this act, she yells â€Å"Don’t lie!† at Tituba immediately before she tells some of the most damning lies of the play accusing Tituba of witchcraft (â€Å"She comes to me while I sleep; she’s always making me dream corruptions!† pg. 4 1). Hale also makes some unintentionally ironic statements in Act 1 when he begins his investigation.He claims that they must not jump to conclusions based on superstition in their investigation of Betty’s affliction.Hale is convinced that a scientific inquiry based only on facts and reality can be conducted to detect a supernatural presence. This is ironic becausesearching for "the Devil's marks" as the potential cause of an ailment is inherently superstitious. Once the accusations begin, Parris initiates an ironic thought process that persists throughout The Crucible: â€Å"You will confess yourself or I will take you out and whip you to your death, Tituba!† (pg. 42).This â€Å"confess or die† mindset is one of the central ironies of the play.The whole purpose of a trial is to hear both sides of the story before a verdict is reached.In telling people they must confess to their crimes or be hanged, the officials show that they have already decided the person is guilty no matter what evidence is provided in their defense. Act 2 In Act 2, John Proctor’s guilt over his affair with Abigail is demonstrated through an ironic exchange with Reverend Hale. When Hale asks him to recite his commandments, the only one he forgets is adultery.This is also the commandment that he has violated most explicitly, so you’d think it would be the first one to spring to mind.The fact that he forgets only this commandment shows that he is trying extremely hard to repress his guilt. This act also sees the irony of Hale discussing the â€Å"powers of the dark† that are attacking Salem (pg. 61).This is irony of the same type that I discussed in the overview of this theme.Hale doesn’t realize that his own fears and suspicions are the real powers of the dark.Salem is under attack from the hysteria that is encouraged by the same people who seek to keep imaginary supernatural demons at bay. Act 3 In Act 3, Hale continues to make ironic statements about the existence of concrete proof for the accusations of witchcraft.While touting his holy credentials, he claims that he â€Å"dare not take a life without there be a proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of my conscience may doubt it† (pg. 91).This â€Å"immaculate proof† that has led him to sign numerous death warrants is nothing but the fabrications of teenage girls and other townspeople seeking petty revenge.These types of statements made by Hale earlier in the play become even more ironic in Act 4 when he realizes he made a horrible mistake by trusting the â€Å"evidence† that was presented to him. Abigail’s presence is always rife with irony in The Crucible, as she constantly chastises others for sins she herself has committed.When she is brought in for questioning and claims to see Mary’s familiar spirit, she says â€Å"Envy is a deadly sin, Mary.†Abigail herself has acted out of envy for the entire play.Her jealousy of Elizabeth Proctor’s position as John’s wife has led her to attempted murder, first by the charm in the woods and now by accusing Elizabeth of witchcraft. Elizabeth is a victim of cruel irony in this Act when she is summoned to testify on the reasons why she dismissed Abigail from her household.John has already confessed that the affair was the reason for Abigail’s dismissal.John tells the judge to summon Elizabeth to back him up because he knows she always tells the truth.Ironically, though she is normally honest to a fault, in this situation Elizabeth decides to lie to preserve John’s reputation, not knowing he has already confessed.This well-intentioned mistake seals both of their fates. Act 4 Act 4 is Danforth’s turn to shine in the irony department.He is appalled by Elizabeth’s lack of emotion when he asks her to help the court get a confession out of her husband (pg. 123).This attitude comes from a man who has shown no remorse for condemning people to death throughout the play.He refers to John’s refusal to confess as â€Å"a calamity,† looking past his own involvement in the larger calamity of the conviction that led John to this point. Later in Act 4, Danforth becomes angry at the implication that John’s confession may not be the truth. He insists,â€Å"I am not empowered to trade your life for a lie† (pg. 130).Of course, we know that Danforth has been trading people’s lives for lies this whole time.He has sentenced people to death based on lies about their dealings in black magic, and he has accepted other false confessions from those who would rather lie than be executed.To Danforth, anything that doesn’t confirm that he was right all along is a lie. Discussion Questions Here are a few questions related to this theme that you can use to test your grasp of irony and its significance as a theme in The Crucible: How is Parris’ fate in act 4 ironic when considering his role in the events of the play? Why do certain characters seem to be blind to the irony of their actions (Abigail, Danforth)? Why is hypocrisy so common in repressive communities like Salem? Explain the irony of Hale’s position at the end of the play as compared to his actions at the beginning. Hale wrongly assumes that his academic mindset will save him from jumping to the wrong conclusions in the witchcraft investigation. Ironically, he is the first to demand a confession from Tituba based on Abigail's dramatic but false testimony. Theme 2: Hysteria The thematic significance of hysteria builds quickly as accusations of witchcraft proliferate throughout Salem.The power of collective hysteria ultimately becomes insurmountable because it grows larger than the influence of the few rational voices in the community. The seeds are planted in Act 1, when Abigail is questioned about her activities in the woods and ends up accusing Tituba of witchcraft to avoid punishment.The town, already primed with rumors of black magic, is quickly willing to accept that the first few women who are accused are involved in black magic because they’re beggars and slaves.No one considers that the accusers are lying, partially because they’re seen as innocent children and partially because many â€Å"witches† confess to avoid the death penalty. Armed with the false proof of these coerced confessions, the court officials aggressively persecute anyone who is accused.Hysteria blinds the people of Salem to reason as they become convinced that there is a grand Satanic plot brewing in town, and they must not hesitate to condemn anyone who could be involved.This is a lesson in how fear can twist perceptions of reality even for those who consider themselves reasonable under normal circumstances. Act 1 Even before Abigail makes accusations, rumors of witchcraft have morphed into accepted truths in the minds of the more superstitious members of the community.Ann Putnam jumps at any opportunity to blame supernatural forces for the deaths of her children.Ann’s extreme conclusions are gradually accepted because rational people are too afraid to challenge the consensus and risk bringing accusations upon themselves.Hale’s involvement is taken to mean that there must be a supernatural element to Betty’s illness.Rational explanations are ground up by the drama of the rumor mill, and people see only what they want to see (whatever keeps them in the good graces of society andmakes them feel the best about themselves) in situations that don't appear to have easy explanations. The madness begins in earnest with Abigail’s claim that Tituba and Ruth were conjuring spirits in the woods.Parris is extremely dismayed by this revelation because of the damage it will do to his reputation.Thomas Putnam tells him to â€Å"Wait for no one to charge you - declare it yourself.†Parris must rush to be the first accuser so he can place himself beyond reproach. It's atoxic strategy that causes panic to spread quickly and fear for one’s life to take the place of rationality.Tituba is pressured to confess and name the names of other â€Å"witches† to avoid execution, which leads to Abigail and Betty’s accusations, now validated by a coerced confession.This vicious cycle continues to claim the lives of more and more people as the play progresses. Act 2 By Act 2, there are nearly 40 people in jail accused of witchcraft.Many people confess when threatened with execution, and this only heightens the paranoid atmosphere.The authorities ignore any inconvenient logical objections to the proceedings because they, too, are swept up in the madness. The hysterical atmosphere and the dramatic performances of some of the accusers cause people to believe they have seen genuine proof of witchcraft.Each new false confession is thrown onto the pile of â€Å"evidence† of a grand Satanic plot, and as the pile grows larger, the hysteria surrounding it is fed generously. This hysteria-based â€Å"evidence† of witchcraft includes the discovery of the poppet in the Proctor household with a needle in it.Elizabeth's side of the story is disregarded because Abigail’s testimony is far more dramatic."She sat to dinner in Reverend Parris's house tonight, and without word nor warnin' she falls to the floor. Like a struck beast, he says, and screamed a scream that a bull would weep to hear. And he goes to save her, and, stuck two inches in the flesh of her belly, he draw a needle out." (Cheever pg. 71). The idea that a witch's familiar spirit is capable of stabbing people is too scary for the superstitious and now hysterical people of Salem to give Elizabeth the benefit of the doubt. No one even considers Mary's statement about sticking the needle in herself. In this environment, whoever yells the loudest seems to get the most credibility. Act 3 The depths of the hysteria that has gripped Salem are revealed in Act 3 when John finally confronts the court. Danforth makes a shocking argument defending the way the trials have been conducted, insisting that only the victim’s testimony can serve as reliable evidence in this type of trial.He is completely oblivious to the fact that the â€Å"victims† might be lying.The court refuses to challenge anyone who claims to have been afflicted. When the petition testifying to the good character of the accused women is presented, the reaction from Danforth, Hathorne, and Parris is to arrest the people who signed it rather than considering that this might indicate that the women are innocent.Danforth is convinced that â€Å"there is a moving plot to topple Christ in the country!† and anyone who doubts the decisions of the court is potentially involved.They so fear the devilish consequences of challenging the accusers that they’re willing to take them at their word and ignore any defenses the accused have to offer.Nowhere is there any consideration of ulterior motives. The power of mass hysteria is further revealed when Mary is unable to faint outside of a charged courtroom environment.She believed she had seen spirits earlier because she was caught up in the delusions of those around her.Abigail distracts the judges from any rational investigation in this act by playing into this hysteria.Danforth, who has the most authority, is also the most sold on her act, and it only takes a few screams to persuade him that he’s in the presence of witchcraft.This leads to Mary’s hysterical accusation of Proctor after she finds herself targeted by the other girls and about to be consumed by the hysteria herself if she doesn’t contribute to it. Act 4 Danforth continues to demonstrate the effects of hysteria in act 4 even after things have died down a bit in Salem and there have been rumblings of discontent about the court’s actions.As John gives his confession, Danforth says to Rebecca Nurse â€Å"Now, woman, you surely see it profit nothin’ to keep this conspiracy any further. Will you confess yourself with him?† (pg. 129)He is still convinced that all the prisoners are guilty and is determined to force them to admit their guilt. Danforth also becomes frustrated with Proctor when he won’t name names in his confession: â€Å"Mr. Proctor, a score of people have already testified they saw [Rebecca Nurse] with the Devil† (pg. 130).Danforth insists that John must know more about the Devil's dealings than he has revealed.Though Rebecca Nurse's involvement has already been corroborated by other confessors, Danforth demands to hear it from John to confirm that John is fully committed to renouncing his supposed ties to Satan. Discussion Questions Here are a few questions about hysteria to consider now that you've read a summary of how this theme was expressed throughout the plot of the play: How does the hysteria in the play get started? What are some of the factors that feed the panic and suspicion in Salem, and why are officials (like Danforth) unable or unwilling to listen to reason? Is there any character besides John Proctor that represents the voice of common sense amidst the madness? Why is Cheever both astonished and afraid when he finds the poppet with the needle in it? Why is everyone so quick to believe Abigail’s story? Danforth explains that witchcraft is an invisible crime and that only the victims are reliable. How does this philosophy perpetuate hysteria? Even though there is significant reason to believe Abigail is lying about Elizabeth's familiar spirit stabbing her, the frenzied investigators ignore testimony that challenges their chosen witchy narrative. Theme 3: Reputation Concern for reputation is a theme that looms large over most of the events in The Crucible.Though actions are often motivated by fear and desires for power and revenge, they are also propped up by underlying worries about how a loss of reputation will negatively affect characters' lives.John’s concern for his reputation is strong throughout the play, and his hesitation to reveal Abigail’s true nature is a product of his own fears of being labeled an adulterer. Once there have been enough convictions, the reputations of the judges also become factors. They are extremely biased towards believing they have made the correct sentencing decisions in court thus far, so they are reluctant to accept new evidence that may prove them wrong.The importance placed on reputation helps perpetuate hysteria because it leads to inaction, inflexibility, and, in many cases, active sabotage of the reputations of others for selfish purposes. The overall message is that when a person's actions are driven by desires to preserve favorable public opinion rather than do the morally right thing, there can be extremely dire consequences. Act 1 Reverend Parris' concerns about his reputation are immediately evident in Act 1. Parris initially insists that there are â€Å"no unnatural causes† for Betty’s illness because he fears that he will lose favor with the townspeople if witchcraft is discovered under his roof.He questions Abigail aggressively because he’s worried his enemies will learn the full story of what happened in the woods first and use it to discredit him.Parris is very quick to position himself on the side of the accusers as soon as Abigail throws the first punch, and he immediately threatens violence on Tituba if she doesn't confess (pg. 42).He appears to have no governing system of morality. His only goal is to get on the good side of the community as a whole, even in the midst of this bout of collective hysteria. Abigail also shows concern for her reputation.She is enraged when Parris questions her suspicious dismissal from the Proctor household.Abigail insists that she did nothing to deserve it and tries to put all the blame on Elizabeth Proctor.She says, "My name is good in the village! I will not have it said my name is soiled! Goody Proctor is a gossiping liar!" (pg. 12) The first act of The Crucibleclearly establishes the fact that a bad reputation can damage a person’s position in this society severely and irreparably. Act 2 In this act, we learn more details about the accused that paint a clearer picture of the influence of reputation and social standing on the patterns of accusations.Goody Good, an old beggar woman, is one of the first to be named a witch. It’s easy for more respectable citizens to accept that she’s in league with the Devil because she is an "other" in Salem, just like Tituba.When Abigail accuses Elizabeth, a respected farmer’s wife, it shows that she is willing to take big risks to remove Elizabeth from the picture.She’s not a traditionally accepted target like the others (except in her susceptibility as a woman to the misogyny that runs rampant in the play). In Act 2, the value of reputation in Salem starts to butt heads with the power of hysteria and fear to sway people’s opinions (and vengeance to dictate their actions).Rebecca Nurse, a woman whose character was previously thought to be unimpeachable, is accused and arrested.This is taken as evidence that things are really getting out of control ("if Rebecca Nurse be tainted, then nothing's left to stop the whole green world from burning." Hale pg. 67).People in power continue to believe the accusers out of fear for their own safety, taking the hysteria to a point where no one is above condemnation. At the end this act, John Proctor delivers a short monologue anticipating the imminent loss of the disguises of propriety worn by himself and other members of the Salem community.The faces that people present to the public are designed to garner respect in the community, but the witch trials have thrown this system into disarray.Proctor’s good reputation is almost a burden for him at this point because he knows that he doesn’t deserve it. In a way,John welcomes the loss of his reputation because he feels so guilty about the disconnect between howhe is perceived by others and the sins he has committed. Act 3 John Proctor sabotages his own reputation in Act 3 after realizing it's the only way he can discredit Abigail.This is a decision with dire consequences in a town where reputation is so important, a fact that contributes to the misunderstanding that follows.Elizabeth doesn’t realize that John is willing to sacrifice his reputation to save her life.She continues to act under the assumption that his reputation is of the utmost importance to him, and she does not reveal the affair. This lie essentially condemns both of them. Danforth also acts out of concern for his reputations here. Hereferences the many sentencing decisions he has already made in the trials of the accused. If Danforth accepts Mary’s testimony, it would mean that he wrongly convicted numerous people already. This fact could destroy his credibility, so he is biased towards continuing to trust Abigail.Danforth has extensive pride in his intelligence and perceptiveness. This makes him particularly averse to accepting that he's been fooled by a teenage girl. Act 4 Though hysteria overpowered the reputations of the accused in the past two acts, in act 4 the sticking power of their original reputations becomes apparent.John and Rebecca’s solid reputations lead to pushback against their executions even though people were too scared to stand up for them in the midst of the trials.Parris begs Danforth to postpone their hangings because he fears for his life if the executions proceed as planned.He says, â€Å"I would to God it were not so, Excellency, but these people have great weight yet in the town† (pg. 118). However, this runs up against Danforth’s desire to preserve his reputation as a strong judge.He believes that â€Å"Postponement now speaks a floundering on my part; reprieve or pardon must cast doubt upon the guilt of them that died till now. While I speak God’s law, I will not crack its voice with whimpering† (pg. 119).Danforth’s image is extremely valuable to him, and he refuses to allow Parris’ concerns to disrupt his belief in the validity of his decisions. In the final events of Act 4, John Proctor has a tough choice to make between losing his dignity and losing his life. The price he has to pay in reputation to save his own life is ultimately too high.He chooses to die instead of providing a false confession because he doesn’t think life will be worth living after he is so disgraced. As he says,â€Å"How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!† (pg. 133) Discussion Questions Here are a few discussion questions to consider after you've read my summary of how the theme of reputation motivates characters and plot developments in The Crucible: How are characters’ behaviors affected by concern for their reputations? Is reputation more important than truth? Why doesn’t John immediately tell the court that he knows Abigail is faking? How does Parris’ pride prevent him from doing anything to stop the progression of events in the play? Why does Mary Warren warn John about testifying against Abigail? Why does he decide to do so anyways? Why does John decide to ruin his reputation in Act 3 by confessing to the affair? How is the arrest of Rebecca Nurse a sign that the hysteria in Salem has gotten out of control? How does reputation influence who is first accused of witchcraft? If you're an old beggar woman who sometimes takes shelter in this creepy shack, you better believe these jerks are gonna turn on you as soon as anyone says the word "witch." Theme #4: Power and Authority The desire to preserve and gain power pervadesThe Crucible as the witch trials lead to dramatic changes in which characters hold the greatest control over the course of events.Abigail’s power skyrockets as the hysteria grows more severe.Where before she was just an orphaned teenager, now, in the midst of the trials, she becomes the main witness to the inner workings of a Satanic plot.She has the power to utterly destroy people’s lives with a single accusation because she is seen as a victim and a savior. The main pillars of traditional power are represented by the law and the church.These two institutions fuse together in The Crucible to actively encourage accusers and discourage rational explanations of events. The girls are essentially given permission by authority figures to continue their act because they are made to feel special and important for their participation.The people in charge are so eager to hold onto their power that if anyone disagrees with them in the way the trials are conducted, it is taken as a personal affront and challenge to their authority. Danforth, Hathorne, and Parris become even more rigid in their views when they feel they are under attack. Act 1 As mentioned in the overview, religion holds significant power over the people of Salem.Reverend Parris is in a position of power as the town's spiritual leader, but he is insecure about his authority.He believes there is a group of people in town determined to remove him from this position, and he will say and do whatever it takes to retain control.This causes problems down the line as Parris allows his paranoia about losing his position to translate into enthusiasm for the witch hunt. Abigail, on the other hand, faces an uphill battle towards more power over her situation.She is clearly outspoken and dominant, but her initial position in society is one of very little influence and authority.One path to higher standing and greater control would be in becoming John Proctor’s wife.When she can’t get John to abandon Elizabeth for her, she decides to take matters into her own hands and gain control through manipulating the fears of others. Abigail accuses Tituba first because Tituba is the one person below her on the ladder of power, so she makes an easy scapegoat. If Tituba was permitted to explain what really happened, the ensuing tragedy might have been prevented.No one will listen to Tituba until she agrees to confirm the version of events that the people in traditional positions of authority have already decided is true, a pattern which continues throughout the play.Tituba is forced to accept her role as a pawn for those with greater authority and a stepping stone for Abigail’s ascent to power. Act 2 By Act 2, there have been notable changes in the power structure in Salem as a result of the ongoing trials.Mary Warren’s sense of self-importance has increased as a result of the perceived value of her participation in court.Elizabeth notes that Mary's demeanor is now like that of â€Å"the daughter of a prince† (pg. 50).This new power is exciting and very dangerous because it encourages the girls to make additional accusations in order to preserve their value in the eyes of the court. Abigail, in particular, has quickly risen from a nobody to one of the most influential people in Salem.Abigail’s low status and perceived innocence under normal circumstances allow her to claim even greater power in her current situation.No one thinks a teenage orphan girl is capable of such extensive deception (or delusion), so she is consistently trusted.In one of the most well-known quotes in the play, John Proctor angrily insists that â€Å"the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom† (pg. 73), meaning the girls are testing out the extent of the chaos they can create with their newfound power. Act 3 In Act 3, Abigail’s power in the courthouse is on display.She openly threatens Danforth for even entertaining Mary and John's accusations of fraud against her. Though Danforth is the most powerful official figure in court, Abigail manipulates him easily with her performance as a victim of witchcraft. He's already accepted her testimony as evidence, so he is happy for any excuse to believe her over John and Mary.John finally comes to the realization that Mary's truthful testimony cannot compete with the hysteria that has taken hold of the court.The petition he presents to Danforth is used as a weapon against the signers rather than a proof of the innocence of Elizabeth, Martha, and Rebecca. Abigail's version of events is held to be true even after John confesses to their affair in a final effort to discredit her.Logic has no power to combat paranoia and superstition even when the claims of the girls are clearly fraudulent.John Proctor surrenders his agency at the end of Act 3 i n despair at the determination of the court to pursue the accusations of witchcraft and ignore all evidence of their falsehood. Act 4 By Act 4, many of the power structures that were firmly in place earlier in the play have disintegrated.Reverend Parris has fallen from his position of authority as a result of the outcomes of the trials.He is weak and vulnerable after Abigail's theft of his life's savings, and he’s even facing death threats from the townspeople as a result of John and Rebecca's imminent executions.In Act 1 he jumped on board with the hysteria to preserve his power, but he ended up losing what little authority he had in the first place (and, according to Miller's afterward, was voted out of office soon after the end of the play). The prisoners have lost all faith in earthly authority figures and look towards the judgment of God.The only power they have left is in refusing to confess and preserving their integrity. In steadfastly refusing to confess, Rebecca Nurse holds onto a great deal of power.The judges cannot force her to commit herself to a lie, and her martyrdom severely damages their legitimacy and favor amongst the townspeople. Discussion Questions Here are some discussion questions to consider after reading about the thematic role of the concepts of power and authority in the events of the play: How do the witch trials empower individuals who were previously powerless? How does Reverend Hale make Tituba feel important? Compare and contrast three authority figures in this drama: Hale, Danforth, and Parris. What motivates their attitudes and responses toward the witch trials? What makes Danforth so unwilling to consider that the girls could be pretending? Why does Mary Warren behave differently when she becomes involved in the trials? How do the actions of authority figures encourage the girls to continue their accusations and even genuinely believe the lies they’re telling? Mary Warren when she comes back from Salem in Act 2 A Quick Look at Some Other The CrucibleThemes These are themes that could be considered subsets of the topics detailed in the previous sections, but there's also room to discuss them as topics in their own right. I'll give a short summary of how each plays a role in the events of The Crucible. Guilt The theme of guilt is one that is deeply relevant to John Proctor's character development throughout the play. John feels incredibly ashamed of his affair with Abigail, so he tries to bury it and pretend it never happened. His guilt leads to great tension in interactions with Elizabeth because he projects his feelings onto her, accusing her of being judgmental and dwelling on his mistakes. In reality, he is constantly judging himself, and this leads to outbursts of anger against others who remind him of what he did (he already feels guilty enough!). Hale also contends with his guilt in act 4 for his role in condemning the accused witches, who he now believes are innocent. There's a message here about the choices we have in dealing with guilt. John attempts to crush his guilt instead of facing it, which only ends up making it an even more destructive factor in his life. Hale tries to combat his guilt by persuading the prisoners to confess, refusing to accept that the damage has already been done. Both Hale and Proctor don't want to live with the consequences of their mistakes, so they try to ignore or undo their past actions. Misogyny and Portrayal of Women Miller's portrayal of women in The Crucible is a much-discussed topic. The attitudes towards women in the 1950s, when the play was written, are evident in the roles they're given. The most substantial female character is Abigail, who is portrayed as a devious and highly sexualized young woman. She is cast as a villain. Then, on the other end of the spectrum, we have Rebecca Nurse. She is a sensible, saintly old woman who chooses to martyr herself rather than lie and confess to witchcraft. The other two main female characters, Elizabeth and Mary Warren, are somewhat bland. Elizabeth is defined by her relationship to John, and Mary is pushed around by other characters (mostly men) throughout the play. The Crucible presents a view of women that essentially reduces them to caricatures of human beings that are defined by their roles as mothers, wives, and servants to men. Abigail, the one character who breaks from this mold slightly, is portrayed extremely unsympathetically despite the fa ct that the power dynamic between her and John makes him far more culpable in their illicit relationship. Deception Deception is a major driving force inThe Crucible. This includes not only accusatory lies about the involvement of others in witchcraft but also the lies that people consistently tell about their own virtuousness and purity in such a repressive society. The turmoil in Salem is propelled forward by desires for revenge and power that have been simmering beneath the town's placid exterior. There is a culture of keeping up appearances already in place, which makes it natural for people to lie about witnessing their neighbors partaking in Satanic rituals when the opportunity arises (especially if it means insulating themselves from similar accusations and even achieving personal gain). The Crucible provides an example of how convenient lies can build on one another to create a universally accepted truth even in the absence of any real evidence. Even before the witch trials, the people of Salem are doing lots of little magic tricks to make all their unholy thoughts and actions disappear. AbracaDENIAL! How to Write AboutThe CrucibleThemes It's one thing to understand the major themes in The Crucible, and it's another thing completely to write about them yourself. Essay prompts will ask about these themes in a variety of different ways. Some will be very direct. An example would be something like: "How are themes like hysteria, hunger for power, reputation, or any of a number of others functional in the drama? Choose a single character and discuss how this person embodies one of the themes. How is Miller’s underlying message revealed in one of these themes and through the character?" In a case like this, you'd be writing directly about a specific theme in connection to one of the characters. Essay questions that ask about themes in this straightforward way can be tricky because there's a temptation to speak in vague terms about the theme's significance. Always include specific details, including direct quotes, to support your argument about how the theme is expressed in the play. Other essay questions may not ask you directly about the themes listed in this article, but that doesn't mean that the themes are irrelevant to your writing. Here's another example of a potential essay question for The Crucible that's less explicit in its request for you to discuss themes of the play: "Most of the main characters in the play have personal flaws and either contribute to or end up in tragedy. Explain who you believe is the central tragic character in the play. What are their strengths and personal flaws? How does the central tragic character change throughout the play, and how does this relate to the play's title? How do outside forces contribute to the character's flaws and eventual downfall?" In this case, you're asked to discuss the concept of a tragic character, explaining who fits that mold in The Crucible and why. There are numerous connections between the flaws of individual characters and the overarching themes of the play that could be brought into this discussion. This is especially true with the reputation and hysteria themes. If you argued that John Proctor was the central tragic character, you could say that his flaws were an excessive concern for his reputation and overconfidence in the power of reason to overcome hysteria. Both flaws led him to delay telling the truth about Abigail's fraudulent claims and their previous relationship, thus dooming himself and many others to death or imprisonment. Even with prompts that ask you to discuss a specific character or plot point, you can find ways to connect your answer to major themes. These connections will bolster your responses by positioning them in relation to the most important concepts discussed throughout th e play. What's Next? Now that you've read about the most important themes in The Crucible, check out ourlist of every single character in the play, including brief analyses of their relationships and motivations. You can also read my full summary of The Crucible here for a review of exactly what happens in the plot in each act. The Crucible is commonly viewed as an allegorical representation of the communist "witch hunts" conducted in the 1950s. Take a look at this article for details on the history and thematic parallels behind this connection. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Strategic management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Strategic management - Essay Example It is the hope of this author that such an analysis will help to engage the reader with a clear and definitive understanding of how the associated business strategies in question impact upon the day-to-day decision-making structure, mission, and a general understanding of how the firm sees itself within its competitive environment (Singh, 2011). In short, the general perception that must be attained is with regards to the fact that a business strategy in and of itself is capable of differentiating a firm in almost the same degree and extent that different products or services differentiate one firm from another. In so much, even though Walmart and Microsoft are mega-corporations that garner a massive degree of profits each and every quarter, the products and services that they sell are nearly as diverse as the business strategy by which they operate (Mithas et al, 2013). Naturally, with respect to Walmart, the business strategy that is engaged with is that of a low-cost provider stra tegy. With this ultimately entails is a situation in which the key targets that Walmart seeks to leverage our with regards to price sensitivity, extreme price competition, segmentation within markets, the optimization of economies of scale, emphasis upon bargaining power, focusing upon low costs of input, offering incentives, reducing material, personnel, and shipping costs, vertical integration, and a variety of other tools to accomplish such an end (Rong et al, 2013). In such a way, a nearly continual emphasis is made upon seeking to cut each and every available cost corner to provide the minimum price to the consumer; due to the fact that without such a continual war on prices, the ultimate appeal that the firm is able to generate would necessarily be non-existent. Comparatively, Microsoft - although one of the most profitable firms within his United States - pursues quite a different business strategy entirely. Accordingly, Microsoft pursues what is known as a broad differentiat ion strategy (Rumelt, 2011). Such a type of strategy is often employed by firms that seek to target a diverse range of need and preference, value conscious consumers, premium price products, and buyers who might be loyal to a particular brand. As a function of such a complex and interwoven level of needs and targets such an approach must take, it should be the understanding of the reader that this broad differentiation strategy is effective for many types of firms (Bharadwaj et al, 2013). In such a way, the strategic inputs that are available to a firm or business that seeks to engage with a broad differentiation strategy are as follows: special water availability, customer service, marketing intensity, defensive strategies, continuous improvement an organization, constant value signaling, uninterrupted product availability, as well as unique tangible and intangible benefits. Due to the fact that this is something of a â€Å"catch all† strategy, it can be understood that a ve ry high number of firms, both small and large, integrate with this very approach (Bradley et al, 2011). Although it may be tempting to believe that the likes of Microsoft or Walmart have achieved their degree of success based upon the fact that they had leveraged