Vietnams Confucian Heritage and Its Impact on Governance Dissertation

Vietnams Confucian Heritage and Its Impact on Governance - Dissertation Example It is clear to anyone who has observed the evolution of the world over the years that communism is a failure that still blinds people in some places around the world and that all cronies of communism have not amounted to much anywhere in the world. In stark contrast to this, those governed by the Western Capitalists or those who have been defeated in war by the previously mentioned have fared much better. The stark contrasts between North and South Koreas, former East and West Germany and the future rise of Japan after the Second World War are a clear testimony to the fact that pure communism was an evil that needed checking and restraining. Although in the present post-Vietnam era the misguided Islamists around the world remain vocal and critical of the West, blaming it for all of their self – induced abject failures they have no answers to provide about why their own religious civilization has never amounted to anything anywhere around the world. Surely, a people who were th e followers of the last guidance from the Creator of the Universe should have been able to demonstrate something to the world instead of espousing loathing, revulsion and an utter backwardness. After all, the proof of the pudding is in the eating and no people can dump the reason for their failures on to others. Thus, it is likely that something broke down in Vietnam for it to have become a playground for superpowers, just as something distinctly rotten is apparent in Islamic societies. Economics and the distribution of resources have always profoundly influenced human societies and the world. Clearly, despite all attempts to blame the West for the paucity of Vietnam, it is the people of Vietnam and its leaders who must assume responsibility for its destruction when Vietnamese leadership sought to side with communism or capitalism instead of working for the good of the nation.

Dostoevsky’s Notes from Underground Essay Example for Free

Dostoevsky’s Notes from Underground Essay Fyodor Dostoevsky is one of the most influential authors in world literature. This Russian author had written several remarkable novels including Crime and Punishment, The Idiot and Brothers Karamazov. However, before the aforementioned novels were published, Dostoevsky had already gained critical acclaim and recognition for his work entitled Notes from Underground. This novel explores how the freedom of man is undermined by the atmosphere of rationality that dominated the 17th and 18th centuries. Through the novel’s protagonist, the Underground Man, Dostoevsky illustrates how real freedom is manifested in the defiance of reason. The period called the Enlightenment occurred throughout the 17th and 18th centuries (Marder, Meyer, Wyshak, n. d. ). During this time, reason governed over every endeavor, and was valued above everything else. The period left no room for superstition or foolishness; rationality reigned supreme (Marder, Meyer, Wyshak, n. d. ). Reason was the means in which man and society can develop for the better. European thought was dominated by materialism, liberalism and more importantly, utopianism (Marder, Meyer, Wyshak, n. d. ). All of these movements were established on the belief that reasonable and natural-law theories could establish a perfect society (Emerson, 1992). Perfection was only attainable through the application of reason and the manifestation of â€Å"enlightened self-interest† (Marder, Meyer, Wyshak, n. d. ). The prevalence of reason strongly influenced and inspired Dostoevsky to write Notes from Underground (Marder, Meyer, Wyshak, n. d. ). However, the novel did not convey a message agreeable to the intellectual milieu; instead, it served to criticize its very existence. Notes from Underground is actually a response to another text, entitled What Is to be Done? (Marder, Meyer, Wyshak, n. d. ; Madden, n. d. ). It was written by N. G. Chernyshevsky and was published in 1863. Chernyshevsky was an advocate of â€Å"rational egoism,† a movement which fervently believed that perfection of life could be achieved through rationality and enlightenment (Madden, n. d. ). The â€Å"rational egoists† also upheld principles of natural law (Madden, n. d. ). Dostoevsky disagreed with the belief that rationality and enlightenment were the keys to perfection. He strongly believed that the nature of man was beyond those two elements. He acknowledged man’s capacity for both the rational and the foolish; he even upheld that the irrationality of man was more definite, while the rationality was merely added (Marder, Meyer, Wyshak, n. d. ). Moreover, Dostoevsky was convinced that laws of nature or the principles of reason were not capable of recognizing human individuality, personality, and more importantly, free will (Madden, n. d. ). These beliefs are embedded in the novel, a text which Rozanov considers a critique of reason as a means to perfection (as cited in Marder, Meyer, Wyshak, n. d. ). The novel, in the words of Wasiolek, showed how man can be both rational and irrational, as his actions are the result of the exercise of his own freedom (as cited in Marder, Meyer, Wyshak, n. d. ). Hence, the theme of freedom in the novel is the utmost disregard for reason and natural laws. The protagonist of the novel is the Underground Man, a forty year old man who used to work in civil service (Dostoevsky, 1992). For a protagonist, he is considered an â€Å"anti-hero† (Madden, n. d. ). He is also the antithesis of the time in which he lived; he disagreed with utilitarianism, which prevailed during the 19th century. Utilitarianism was characterized by utilizing â€Å"mathematical formulas and logical proofs† to equate one’s wants with his best interests (Madden, n. d. ). The Underground Man disagrees with this; he attests that man wants to exercise his freedom and could do so regardless if it agrees with his best interests or not. If it is man’s desire to act irrational, he could. Of course, acting irrational is not in anyone’s best interest. However, by being irrational, he was truly able to exercise his freedom. Actions based on desires, instead of reason, enable man to be free. Freedom is thus associated with acting without reason. So in an era where reason dominated, the Underground Man was rather unreasonable. By being unreasonable, he was able to be truly free. In the novel, the Underground Man asserts that science deprives one of freedom. Dostoevsky (1992) writes, â€Å"Science has managed by now to anatomize man to such a degree that we already know that all your wishing, your so-called free will is nothing†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (p. 29). The Underground Man then begins his attack on utilitarianism: If someday they should really discover the formula for all our whims and wishes—I mean, what causes them, what laws they’re governed by, how they develop and where they lead in one case or another†¦in other words, an actual mathematical formula—why, then man will perhaps immediately stop wishing†¦Who wants to wish according to graphs (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 29)? â€Å"Whims and wishes† in this quotation refers to the desires of man. The principles of utilitarianism are marked by analysis of people’s desires. These desires undergo scrutiny, as to determine if these desires agree with what is best for the people. However, the act of wishing does not involve analysis or scrutiny. One can desire something for no apparent reason. One may wish for something that may prove harmful in the long run. The exercise of freedom is spontaneous and non-regulated. If one has to base his or her desires from the graphs or formulas of science and math, they would no longer fall under the exercise of freedom. If one is to desire based on the graphs or formulas, it would not be an act of freedom any more. This is because there is imposition involved; the desires are imposed upon by the requirements of science or math. In this situation, the desires of man are dictated by the principles of reason. Thus, freedom disappears upon the use of reason. In the words of the Underground Man, â€Å"For if desires are one day brought into complete accord with reason, then we shall reason instead of wishing† (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 30). The Underground Man continues his argument against utilitarianism by differentiating reason and desires. He states: You see, gentlemen, reason is unquestionably a fine thing, but reason is no more than reason, and it gives fulfillment only to a man’s reasoning capacity, while desires are a manifestation of the whole of life—I mean the whole of human life, both with its reason and with all its itches and scratches (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 31). In this quotation, the Underground Man affirms that while reason is important, it is not the most important thing. The desires of man, through which freedom can be exercised, have a much wider scope than reason. Therefore, the desires of man cannot be reduced to graphs and tables because it transcends them. The Underground Man uses the piano key as a symbol of how reason curbs man’s freedom: He will insist on clinging precisely to his own fantastic dreams, his most vulgar folly, solely in order to confirm himself that men are still men, and not piano keys, which may be played by the hands of natural laws themselves, but which are threatened by this very playing to be brought to a state where it will no longer be possible to wish a thing outside of graphs and schedules (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 34). Piano keys are pressed to make a sound in the process of playing the piano. These keys cannot produce sound on their own; they need to be touched and pressed. The analogy between the man and the piano key is what Dostoevsky used to illustrate his point. By measuring man’s desires with the graphs and formulas to determine whether or not it is in their best interests, man becomes a piano key. This is because man comes under the mercy of reason which plays him. To be manipulated by reason is to be bound by its laws; therefore, it is not freedom. The Underground Man believes that humankind values freedom over reason and best interests (Madden, n. d. ). Freedom means acting out of one’s desires or wishes whether or not the act spoken of is irrational or foolish. In the book, the Underground Man manifests his freedom through several examples. He had committed acts contrary to reason, making him a truly free individual. Hence, the Underground Man was successful in escaping the realm of reason he despises. The book starts with the Underground Man’s admission of a pain. He says, â€Å"I think that my liver hurts† (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 1). Anyone who experiences pain will surely resort to measures to eliminate that pain. This is because pain is suffering, and nobody wants to suffer. In the instance that pain is felt, it is only reasonable that one seeks medical assistance by visiting a doctor. On the contrary, the Underground Man says, â€Å"No, sir, I refuse to see a doctor out of spite† (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 1). This decision is obviously irrational, because he does not want to see a doctor to deal with the pain. In addition, he does not have a valid reason not to go to the doctor. One would presume that he simply takes pleasure in his own pain. A rational man would find this decision as preposterous, as no one ever enjoyed suffering from pain (Madden, n. d. ). However, what appears to be a manifestation of masochistic tendencies is actually the Underground Man’s exercise of freedom. Reason dictates that when one feels pain, that person should visit the doctor. As was earlier discussed, the Underground Man believes that reason limits freedom, because it only acknowledges the desires that would be in one’s best interests. The tolerance of pain and the derivation of pleasure from it is the Underground Man’s way of breaking free from reason. Surely, it is a foolish thing to do, but he does not want to conform to the dictates of reason. He values his freedom, so he refuses to act according to reason. He is a free man; he could do as he pleased. Even if it is contrary to his best interests in prolonging such agony, he still does it because he wished to do so. By tolerating pain and deriving pleasure from it, he successful avoids the system of reason. According to the Underground Man, â€Å"I know better than anyone else that I will only harm myself by this, and no one else. And yet, if I don’t seek a cure, it is out of spite. My liver hurts? Good, let it hurt still more† (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 2)! The Underground Man proceeds with his painful endeavor, this time with a toothache. The fourth chapter of the book opens with his laughter: â€Å"Ha-ha-ha! You will find pleasure in a toothache next! And why not? There is pleasure in a toothache ache too† (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 14). Just like with the liver ache, the Underground Man allows himself to feel the pain of his tooth instead of seeing a dentist. He welcomes the pain, and refuses to seek treatment. A critic of the novel, Mikhaylovsky declares that the Underground Man â€Å"tortures because he wants to, he likes torture. There is neither reason nor purpose here, and, in the opinion of Dostoevksy, they are not at all necessary, for absolute cruelty is interesting† (as cited in Marder, Meyer, Wyshak, n. d. ). Indeed, this is true. The Underground Man does not subject himself to pain for a reason. In fact, he does so to do away with reason. He refrains from seeking medical treatment because he wants to. By indulging in his desire, he exercises complete freedom. Aside from the aforementioned tolerance of pains, the Underground Man had exercised his freedom through irrationality in other ways. He states: I would feel a certain hidden, morbid, nasty little pleasure in the acute awareness that I had once again committed something vile that day, that what had been done could no longer be undone; and I would gnaw and gnaw at myself in silence†¦until the bitterness would finally begin to turn into a kind of shameful, damnable sweetness (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 7). In this excerpt, the Underground Man expresses how he had realized his evil ways by contemplating what he had done. However, instead of wallowing in guilt, the realization ends up being a source of pleasure. How did the Underground Man manifest his freedom through this? The purveyors of rationality would insist that those who know what is in their best interests would not resort to baseness or frivolity. The Underground Man was aware of vileness of his actions; in a way, he was aware it was not in his best interests. However, he did not feel a sense of guilt. The realization of his action that started with bitterness eventually became that of sweetness. He knew what he had done was bad, but this does not change the fact that he derived pleasure from it. His reaction to such vile deeds set him apart from what reason dictates as proper. Because he did not follow the dictates of reason, he had exercised his own freedom through defiance. Reason makes one feel burdened when one commits a nasty or vile action. It supposes that rational ways should be observed, and a nasty or vile action is never rational. He sights an example when one is forced to apologize for a nasty deed. The Underground Man says: Generally, I could never endure saying, â€Å"Forgive me, Papa, I won’t do it again†Ã¢â‚¬â€and not because I was incapable of saying it, but, on the contrary, perhaps precisely because I was all too capable of it. And how I did it (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 16)! In this passage, the Underground Man expressed disagreement with repentance. He believes that one should not apologize for doing something. He finds apologies as deceiving; the claim to never do an act considered vile again seems insincere. In our freedom, we are all capable of doing these acts. Regardless if they are rational or irrational, we all have the capacity to act according to our own free will. The claim â€Å"I won’t do it again† is quite fraudulent, as it is quite understood that anyone can do anything, according to their free will. Thus, it is possible for one to exercise freedom and desire something which is not in one’s best interest. According to the Underground Man: And what if his advantage on a given occasion not only may, but must, lie exactly in choosing for himself the harmful rather than the advantageous? And if this is so, if there can be such an occasion, then the entire rule is shattered to smithereens (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 22). The rule spoken of here is the belief that man would choose what is in his best interests. Again, the exercise of freedom lies in choosing or desiring something regardless of their nature. In the above quotation, the Underground Man affirms that there will be instances wherein man will choose what is harmful, instead of what is useful, to him. The moment such situation arises, the principle of reason will be disproved. The Underground Man does not believe in the principle that man will act according to what is in his best interests. Neither does he believe that man’s desires can be reduced to graphs of science nor formulas of mathematics. The concept of freedom for the Underground Man is that which is contrary to the dictates of reason. He does not acknowledge that man will commit acts that are in tune with his best interests. This would be a violation of his freedom, as the freedom presupposes one’s capacity for both the rational and the irrational. If one chooses to commit an irrational act, he is merely exercising his freedom. Did the Underground Man succeed in escaping the realm of reason he so despised? The answer is yes. His tolerance of pain and derivation of pleasure from suffering were direct defiance to reason. He had rendered himself completely liberated from the atmosphere of rationality. He did and thought as he pleased, whether or not it was in his best interests. Indeed, he had escaped, and is completely free. REFERENCES Dostoevsky, F. (1992). Notes from Underground (M. Ginsburg, Trans. ). New York: Bantam. (Original work published in 1864). Madden, C. (n. d. ). SparkNote on Notes from Underground. Retrieved March 29, 2008, from http://www. sparknotes. com/lit/underground/ Marder, J. , Meyer, M. , Wyshak, F. (n. d. ). Dostoevsky’s Notes from Underground Study Guide. Retrieved March 29, 2008, from http://community. middlebury. edu/~beyer/courses/previous/ru351/novels/UGMan/ugman. html

The Development Of Tourism In Malaysia Tourism Essay

The Development Of Tourism In Malaysia Tourism Essay Tourism is defined as the travel for recreational, leisure or business (Wikipedia).These people who travel are known as tourists, back in 1936 the League Of Nations (LON) defined Tourist as someone traveling abroad for at least twenty-four hours. However, the  United Nations rectified this definition in 1945, by adding a maximum stay of six months on the former definition. Tourism is one of the worlds largest industries and one of its fastest growing economic sectors. It has battalion of effects, both positive and negative, on peoples lives and on the environment. For the past few decades, tourism has been growing very fast and according to the forecasts its going to be even faster in Asia and the pacific being the main continents which are promising to be the most important tourism destination of the world by 2020 because of its cultural heritage meaning that Pacific- Asia is the birth place of all the religions. The question would be, what does the religion have to do with tourism? Well one of the main significants of tourism industry is to see and learn other peoples culture from different parts of the world, which therefore gives an extra credit to Pacific- Asia. Domestically cultural heritage stimulates national pride in ones history whilst internationally it stimulates respect and understanding of other cultures. Tourism is made up of different forms; these forms are classified by typical features of spending time in the destination. Domestic tourism- is the traveling of people within the country inbound tourism this is when non- resident traveling within the country outbound tourism involves residents visiting another country internal tourism basically a combination of inbound and outbound tourism national tourism involves the combination of domestic and outbound tourism Malaysia in brief Ever since independence in 1957, Malaysia has been a country of a progressive multi racial society. The political system is based on parliamentary constitutional monarchy with a Federal Government structure, comprising 14 states. The constitution and parliamentary system is almost similar to the British Westminster model, except the members of Local Governments are appointed by the ruling parties at Federal and State levels. The location of both Peninsular Malaysia, and Sabah and Sarawak (in Borneo) lies entirely in the equatorial zone. The climate is governed by the regime of the north-east and south-west monsoons which blow alternately during the course of the year. The average temperature throughout the year is 26 °C with diurnal temperature range is about 7 °C. Annual rainfall is about 2500 mm with high humidity (80%) due to the high temperature and rate of evaporation. In the year 2000 the population was around 22 million. Under the Malaysia constitution, travel and tourism are concurrent matters in which both the Federal and State Government have responsibilities. However under the Ministry there is an agency which is directly in charge of promoting tourism in Malaysia. The agency is known as the Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board (MTPB), which was formerly known as the Tourist Development Cooperation of Malaysia (TDC) which will be touched on later in this article. Tourism development in Malaysia Lying just north of the equator, with more than one thousand islands found there, not forgetting the marine parks and rainforests all filled with beautiful birds and wildlife. It is in this country again where people talk about golden beaches, ever green vegetation, mountains and unforgettable shopping malls. All these can only be found in Malaysia; in general this country is a fascinating place to be. According to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks Malaysia, before 1970 tourism was just an idle, it was not regarded as an important economic activity. It all then started in the 70s when the old Tourism Department of 1959 was developed or redefined to Tourism Development Corporation (TDC). It was officially formed in 1972 under the Ministry of Trade Industry (MITI) and was given a responsibility of acting as an authority development but with very low precedence therefore tourism sector did not really develop in Malaysia comparing it with other countries like Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand. It was during this same year when Malaysian Airlines was formed too, this took the countrys economy by surprise a combination of MA and TDC led to the world tourism map. However, in the 80s the industry started increasing rapidly because of certain changes that took place in Malaysia, the increase of personal income, leisure time, and improvement in international transportation system s and finally the greater public awareness of other parts of the world due to the improvement in communications. The above mentioned developments gave a clear view to the Malaysian government that Tourism can play a big role in its economy and social development so as a result; it decided to promise to accomplish a series of positive initiatives to stimulate the development of the tourism sector. These include the following: (a) The government established the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (which became the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism in 1990). This provided an institutional framework for the planning, coordination, and regulation of tourism and for the first time tourism was accounted for within the framework of recognized economic activities; (b) By virtue of the Tourism Industry Act of 1992 and the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board Act of 1992, the new Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism took over from TOC the function of formulation and implementation of policies, licensing and enforcement aspects of the tourism industry. TOC thereafter became known as the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (or Tourism Malaysia for short), with a role concentrated on marketing and promotion; (c) The Investment Incentives Act was revised in 1986 to include the tourism sector, thereby giving additional stimulus to tourism investment, such as the Pioneer Status Investment Tax Allowance, Industrial Building Allowances, and tax exemption for large foreign group tours; (d)The Investment Incentives Act was revised in 1986 to include the tourism sector, thereby giving additional stimulus to tourism investment, such as the Pioneer Status Investment Tax Allowance, Industrial Building Allowances, and tax exemption for large foreign group tours; In 1990, the federal government set up a Ringgit Malaysia (RM) 120 million special fund for tourism to stimulate its development, including small and medium scale enterprise. Malaysias government is now focusing more than ever on its Tourism Industry for example through developing its tourists attraction like developing the island destinations. In addition Tourism is the second foreign exchange earner in Malaysia after manufacturing so the government does its best to stimulate this. Moreover in 2006 Malaysia was voted one of the top five popular outbound destinations out of hundred countries. Malaysias reputation for tourism has been growing in the last years, travelers look for more beachfront resorts; they are turning to Malaysias beautiful coast. However thats not the only way tourism is growing. Malaysia has become a hot destination for medical tourists in South East Asia, tourists seeking for cheaper prices on medicals, treatments, and drugs. Moreover, countries like Malaysia are beginning to protect their cultural heritage in order to increase tourism to traditional festivals and celebrations. Tourism in Malaysia can be divided into different sub sections which perform various activities but under the umbrella of the same tourism. Tourism activities can be divided into : Education tourism: Malaysia school atmosphere is well known for its uniqueness and social interaction of different groups, as the number of institutions increase due to the help of foreign colleges and universities so did the foundation of the tourism industry. Curently over 50 000 foreign students are in Malaysia. In addition, this type of industry is not aiming to target students only but also their families for example when they come to visit their children then that means they will also get an opportunity to spend their holidays touring around Malaysia. Medical tourism : health tourism existed long before during the eighteenth century. This tourism is associated with the following, spas, places with health-giving mineral waters, treating diseases from gout to liver disorders and bronchitis. Doctors have highlighted the benefits of bathing in sea water, and sea bathing, even this has become a part of health tourism. In Malaysia it was firstly introduced in 1999, known as the Medical Health Sector. It has become popular for its safe and mostly affordable medicine which therefore has attracted so many people around the world. Tourism at the Festival: The calendar of Malaysia is made up of a number of festivals. Hari Raya Puasa is a Muslim feast to celebrate the ending of the holy month of Ramadan. The Festival of San Pedro occurs in mid summer on June 25th. This festival is a celebration of fishing and the great role fishing has place in Malaysian culture. The fishing boats are decorated in brilliant colors and then blessed and a prayer said for a better year of fishing in the year to come. In August and September, Malaysians celebrate the Chinese Mooncake Festival, commemorating the defeat of the Mongols in the fourteenth century. On the evening of the festival, celebrants pour out into the streets to watch a beautiful procession of colored lanterns. The other delight of the festival is the mooncake itself, a sweet round cake of nut paste, red beans, and egg yolk. From such diverse traditions, the Malaysians throw celebrations that draw tourists from all over the world (http://www.travels.com). Adventure and Beach tourism: The worlds most attractive beaches are found in the south east of Asia. Beaches in Malaysia attract so many tourists because of its soft powdery sand and sun; however the jet-skiing and the excursions in banana boats also play a big role in drawing the tension of tourists. Adventure tourism involves Malaysias wild jungles, volcanic peaks and national parks. For example Taman Negara, chasing orangutans near Sabah and Sarawak on Borneo or searching out Malaysias very own legendary Bigfoot in Endau-Rompin National Park (http://www.ehow.com). Stakeholder analysis Firstly stakeholders mean any individual or group who has interest in a program and they can have either positive or negative impacts on the companys oor organisations actions. Stakeholders can be devided into three types which are , primary stakeholders secondary stakeholders and key stakeholders.   Primary stakeholders are those who are extremely affected, either positively or negatively by the organizations actions. Secondary stakeholders are the intermediaries; these are the people who are indirectly affected by organizations actions. Key stakeholders can belong to the above mentioned two types of stakeholders, there are very important within an organization. The stakeholder analysis given below provides a generic overview of the possible stakeholders in Tourism industry. Service providers Service providers encompass a group of diverse stakeholders engaged in public or private market-oriented activities of service provision. These include travel agency which acts as a business, that sells travel related products and services to customers, suppliers such as providers and companies involved in transport and communication for example, airlines, car rentals, cruise lines, hotels, railways, sightseeing tours and package holidays. In addition the travel agent is supposed to be biased free when giving an advice of traveling to the tourists. Moreover traveling agency which indirectly has an impact in all the above mentioned services provider can help drive tourism industry forward by adopting good environment and hospitality practices, innovation and encouraging political representatives to support the development of industry. Non-gorvernmental organizations These organizations provide information and raise awareness. They also often advise the industry on the use of the environment and suport it for example through, financiing and institutions. Developers and investors Developers and investors from either the private or public sectors may initiate the development of the industry. The decision of developers and investors to introduce systems for the safe use of environment often tightly related to the sustainability entire progams Financial institutions The introduction of new infrastructure generally requires that the investment and operation costs be secured. Research institutions These may be universities or other research-oriented institutions or organizations that can provide evidence and advice to program initiators, developers, municipalities and non-governmental organizations. 9 International organizations International organizations can ensure that external funds for tourism are bundled with appropriate environmental promotion and environment marketing activities; encourage governments to consider appropriate cheaper and more sustainable services; finance local tourism research; develop guidance and tools for facilitation good practice; disseminate information; actively endorse the idea of flexible technical norms and standards to allow for innovation and finally to facilitate safe use and resource efficiency. PEST Analysis

Great Expectations: Use of Irony :: free essay writer

Great Expectations: Use of Irony Many professors, analysts, and common readers believe that Great Expectations was possibly the best work of Charles Dickens. Perhaps it was because of the diverse themes displayed by Dickens, which modulate as the story progresses. A clear example of the measures taken by the author to create diversity, is the application of irony. Dickens uses Rony to create suspense and conflict in plot events related to Estella, Miss Havisham, the convict, Joe, and Mrs. Joe. The relationship between Pip and Estella is very complex and ironic. It keeps the reader entertained, with the humor of sophisticated children. A major irony, of situation, occurs when Estella kisses Pip after insulting and degrading him. The reader becomes confused with Estella's actions and feels sympathy for Pip. The confusion causes conflict, which keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. On page 104 Estella says, "Come here! You may kiss me, if you like." This is something unexpected, which livens up the story. Dickens portrays Miss Havisham in a very unique way. There is a dramatic irony between Miss Havisham and Pip. It is ironic how she wanted to watch him become miserable, just because he is of the male gender, and ironically she grew to like him. She even paid for part of Pip's expenses for the partnership. Yet what is more ironic is that Miss Havisham does not praise herself for the good deed. In the beginning of the novel, Miss Havisham displayed a harsh, cold attitude toward Pip. This is displayed in her deceptive act on page 69, where she says, "Well, you can break his heart?" As the novel ends Miss Havisham's attitude completely changes. She realizes the pain she has caused Pip and apologizes to him. Because of her positive change, she becomes more likeable to the audience. A third person to have an odd effect on Pip is the convict. One of the greatest examples of irony is brought out, in the sudden confrontation between Pip and the convict. On page 12, the convict speaks to Pip, " Get me a file." Pip listens to the convict and brings him food and a file. It is ironic how a simple task such as this, changed Pip's life forever. Pip obeyed the man, and later in life the man repaid him. It is ironic how the convict takes from Pip, then later gives back. Great Expectations: Use of Irony :: free essay writer Great Expectations: Use of Irony Many professors, analysts, and common readers believe that Great Expectations was possibly the best work of Charles Dickens. Perhaps it was because of the diverse themes displayed by Dickens, which modulate as the story progresses. A clear example of the measures taken by the author to create diversity, is the application of irony. Dickens uses Rony to create suspense and conflict in plot events related to Estella, Miss Havisham, the convict, Joe, and Mrs. Joe. The relationship between Pip and Estella is very complex and ironic. It keeps the reader entertained, with the humor of sophisticated children. A major irony, of situation, occurs when Estella kisses Pip after insulting and degrading him. The reader becomes confused with Estella's actions and feels sympathy for Pip. The confusion causes conflict, which keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. On page 104 Estella says, "Come here! You may kiss me, if you like." This is something unexpected, which livens up the story. Dickens portrays Miss Havisham in a very unique way. There is a dramatic irony between Miss Havisham and Pip. It is ironic how she wanted to watch him become miserable, just because he is of the male gender, and ironically she grew to like him. She even paid for part of Pip's expenses for the partnership. Yet what is more ironic is that Miss Havisham does not praise herself for the good deed. In the beginning of the novel, Miss Havisham displayed a harsh, cold attitude toward Pip. This is displayed in her deceptive act on page 69, where she says, "Well, you can break his heart?" As the novel ends Miss Havisham's attitude completely changes. She realizes the pain she has caused Pip and apologizes to him. Because of her positive change, she becomes more likeable to the audience. A third person to have an odd effect on Pip is the convict. One of the greatest examples of irony is brought out, in the sudden confrontation between Pip and the convict. On page 12, the convict speaks to Pip, " Get me a file." Pip listens to the convict and brings him food and a file. It is ironic how a simple task such as this, changed Pip's life forever. Pip obeyed the man, and later in life the man repaid him. It is ironic how the convict takes from Pip, then later gives back.

Geronimo, Apache: A Defined Leader Essay

Geronimo, or Goyathlay, was a great leader from the Native American Bendokohe Apache tribe. Although Geronimo was not a chief, the tribe depended on the wisdom of his position as medicine man. Geronimo gathered such influence that he led the last force to formally capitulate to the United States by upholding the core Apache values that embody aspects that define a leader: aggressiveness, diligence, and courage. Geronimo displayed the core values of the Apache tribe, that of courage, diligence, and aggressiveness. These core values were what kept them relatively safe from the increasing white settlement of the west, including Arizona and New Mexico (theinitialjourney.com.) Aggressiveness, or assertiveness, and diligence are key aspects of a leader. A leader must be assertive as well as persistent in order to maintain a certain level of self-confidence and influence over those who are being led, even in the face of adversity. Geronimo was a great example of an assertive leader. Geronimo led the last major Native American Fighting force to surrender to the United States; thus having the longest resistance period. Upon the discovery that his mother, wife, and his three young children had been murdered by Spanish troops, he vowed to avenge his family by retaliating against as many Mexican settlements as possible. It was not until this time that he received his ‘power’ of seeing visi ons (Indigenouspeople.net.) It was because Geronimo held out the fight for so long, that he became the most famous Apache of all. By asserting himself and applying himself in order to uphold his values of family and justice, Geronimo became an essential force as medicine man, acting in and out of combat as a spiritual and intellectual leader of the people (not a chief.) He escaped from a reservation three times, the final time bringing thirty five warriors and one hundred nine women and children into freedom. It was through these acts that Geronimo transcended above and beyond advisor. Geronimo became an icon of freedom and persistence in the face of difficulty (indiginouspeople.net.) Through assertiveness and diligence, Geronimo led his people towards their goal of freedom, also exhibiting another leadership trait: courage. Geronimo was exceptionally courageous in the face of difficulty. After vowing to avenge his family and tribe after their murder was an extreme test of character and will. It was a desire for freedom that continued his ability to evade capture. â€Å"Geronimo, the most legendary Apache war leader, along with seventeen warriors, fourteen women, and six children had evaded capture despite pursuit by 5,000 U.S. troops, 3,000 Mexican soldiers, and numerous Indian scouts for more than six months. To the U.S. Army and the settlers in the area, the supremely resilient and determined Geronimo had personified the Apache problem and every raid on a village or wagon train was attributed to him. In the years following his surrender, Geronimo came to personify resilience in the face of overwhelming odds.† Tfaoi.com Geronimo became a legendary force against the involuntary capture of Native American Apaches. His courage against adversity compelled many to follow him. His statements of â€Å"coming from a land with no enclosures† inspired people to follow a dream of living simply as they once did; without white influence (indigenouspeople.net.) It was though this notion of courage to follow one’s true intuition in life. Geronimo was an exceptional leader, exuding leadership through the qualities of assertiveness, diligence, and courage. Geronimo led his people to freedom against white influence many a time over, evading capture the longest out of all Native American fighting forces. It was through diligence in repetition of effort, assertiveness of his character and moral intuition, and courage in the face of danger and difficulty that makes Geronimo a great leader. Works Cited: www.indigenouspeople.net/geronimo.htm http://www.tfaoi.com/aa/4aa/4aa494b.htm www.theinitialjourney.com/features/geronimo_01.html

To Live Essays - To Live, The Doctor, Magic Boy Kitchener

To Live Essays - To Live, The Doctor, Magic Boy Kitchener To Live All the time people face problems during there life. Most of the time the problems that people come across are very minimal and can be dealt with very easily and quickly. People do not appreciate what they have. When your parent packs your lunch and you are disappointed with what you receive, think about the people in other countries where they would eat anything that is edible. Constantly people all over the world die of famine but we are trapped in a fantasy world where none of this happens. Think twice when you throw away your food. One country where peoples problems are a lot more serious is in China. Until the Civil War the Chinese were very rich. They lived in mansions and had servants. They were so rich that when they wanted to go somewhere they could hope on a persons back and they would carry them there. The main character in the movie, Fugui Xu, a young Chinese man gambled very frequently. He gambled a lot and had no luck winning. He lost so much gambling he was forced to h and over his mansion. He was then force to live like a common folk. They were very used to living the high life and because of that it was very difficult for them to survive living as a common folk. They had to get new jobs that were a lot less paying. Fuguis new job was to play shadow puppets and his wifes job was providing water for the community. Fortunately Fuguis family did perfectly fine with the money they earned. I will show you how Fugui and his family went from having a privileged past to having to affiliate with the communists to stay alive. Later on Fugui was forced to join the Nationalist army and once again he was forced to leave everything behind. He had to live through the frigid Chinese winter. Much of the army froze to death but fortunately Fugui and his friends survived by recovering the frozen peoples coats. He was one of the lucky ones. He fought in many harsh conditions such as the Civil War. He was still able to stay alive by scavenging off the dead peoples body to get adequate clothing, which was a very smart thing to do. He had to be very creative to not be drafted into the communist army. Most likely who would have been sent into prison, but to get out of that situation he entertained the communist army by performing shadow puppets. When he returned he was reunited with his family which he did not see for much time. The Great Leap Forward was also occurring at the same time. Fuguis family was barely holding on with their very low paying job, which was delivering water to the community. It was very hard for his family to survive without him and his money but they did it. Fugui daughter learned to help and contribute to the family by delivering water. When Fugui returned he learned that his daughter had an accident and became mute and partially deaf. Living in a community was hard for them because they had to deal with there surrounding neighbors. One day Youqing, Fuguis son, defended his sister by defending her from bullies shooting rocks at her. The whole family learned to trust and respect eachother. Part of the Great Leap was making steal and because of this everybody needed to hand over anything that was made of metal. Fuguis family needed to give away there pots and pans which now made it even harder to give the water to the community. Another tough time for Fuguis family was the Cultural Revolution. The community, in which Fugui and his family lived in, smelted steel around the clock. They needed to work extra hard because the district chief was coming in. The community wanted to make a good impression on the district chief so they made the kids word at school. Everybody was very tired from working long hours including Youqing. This small child slept behind a wall in deep sleep not aware of what was going around him. The district chief finally came in. He was also very

Winter Gala Ideas for Teachers Essays

Winter Gala Ideas for Teachers Essays Winter Gala Ideas for Teachers Essay Winter Gala Ideas for Teachers Essay The Winter Gala is a winter performance in our center that invites current families to attend an event at our center. The children will perform a collection of songs, poems, finger plays, or other material from the curriculum. What are the Goals and Objectives of this event? Historically we see a dip In enrollment In January as a result of families not returning to the center after the winter holiday. The goal of the Winter Gala is to keep families engaged with the center during the winter holidays when vacation and time way from the center can cause families to feel disconnected. When/ Where will the event be held? Performances will be held Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 6 pm. Performances will be held In our lobby on our stage! Who will be performing? The following classrooms will be performing: o Preschool o Pre-Kindergarten o Kindergarten o School-Age Winter Gala-Performance Activity Suggestions Performance Suggestions Classroom Songs: consider selecting age-appropriate songs from the Winter songs Fingernails book from the Winter curriculum such as: o Five Little Snowman Fat If Its Winter o Mitten Song o Winter Song For School-Age children consider non-religious holidays: o Frosty the Snowman o Jingle-Bells o Winter Wonderland Post-Event Activities we recommend noosing a Tee actively rater ten event to encourage Tamales to socialize with staff members and other families. Suggested activities include: o Family Photo Ops 0 Families can take photos with their child after the performance. O Cookie Decorating 0 Families can decorate cookies together in their respective classrooms after the performance.

Astrology essays

Astrology essays According to Encarta Encyclopedia, astrology is the study of how events on earth correspond to the positions and movements of astronomical bodies, particularly the sun, moon, planets, and stars. (Astrology, 2) The practice of astrology has been around for a very long time. It seems to have developed independently from many different areas of the world (Encarta). One of the earliest detected forms of astrology is that of the Chaldeans, who lived in Babylonia in 3000 BC. Then there were the Chinese, the Indians and even the Mayans of Central America. It is believed that these people observed that certain astronomical bodies, the sun in particular, affected the seasons and the growth of the crops. By 500 BC, astrology had been detected in Greece, where philosophers such as Plato and Pythagoras incorporated it into their philosophical studies. During the Middle Ages, astrology was widely practiced in Europe (Encarta). Many believed that astrology was a science, that is, until some discoveries in astronomy disproved some theories of astrology. Since then, most scientists have disregarded astrology as a science. (Astrology, 2) Astrologers study astrology, and it is their belief that the position of certain astronomical bodies at the time of birth and the afterward movement reflects their destiny and character. They create charts called horoscopes. According to Encarta Encyclopedia, a horoscope is the illustration of the position of the sun, moon, and planets from a given latitude and longitude on earth at a given moment, usually that of birth. The horoscope is represented by a circle, which is called the ecliptic, which is the plane on which the earth orbits around the sun. The ecliptic has twelve different sections, which are familiarly known as the signs of the zodiac. The sections are: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. The ho...

International Business Strategy Literature review

International Business Strategy - Literature review Example Yet many managers view it to be more theoretical than practical. Most of the time, when this theory in use it is often misused to provide a single answers which is overly precise (Lindstadt, 2010). The work on the European passenger rail deregulation is evidence to prove that game theory provides appropriate guidance to managers as they handle unprecedented and difficult situations. The key to achieve the best results is to use this theory to generate a range of results based on decisions made by reasonable players. Then use them analyze the merits and demerits of each decision. It is clear from the reading, that the authors’ model changes game theory from a tool that gives a single answer to a discipline that gives knowledgeable support to managerial decisions (Lindstadt, 2010). We observe that factors in the economic environment propel game theory to a prominent place in strategy. The global economic crisis and the uncertain recovery, have called for shifts in industrial capacity, market price and demand. These uncertainties paralyze corporate decision-making and worse they compel managers to make less informed decisions. Game theory contributes to a clear decision

Human Resource Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 15

Human Resource Management - Essay Example Once a top executive realises that no matter how hard he struggles for his organisation, all he will receive is his fixed salary, the performance levels of the executive will begin to recede. The removal of incentive is effectively the removal of motivation on the job for such positions. It must also be realised that when such executives join office their primary motivation is the challenge posed by the new position. Once an executive figures out how to manage the new position, the real motivation begins to disappear from the job. In order to keep motivation on the job to a high level, it would be desirable to use a fixed and variable pay structure to serve as the executive’s motivation. On another note, this pay structure aids in ensuring that the executive treats his job more seriously than before because his financial stakes are involved with the performance of the organisation. While it may be considered as cumbersome by some top executives but this model ensures that the organisation pays the executive back in proportion to their

Asia pacific business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Asia pacific business - Essay Example Asian countries had faced a critical financial crisis in 1997, which was attributable to a high level of liquidity and volatility in foreign markets. The financial crisis brought down many economies such as Thailand, Korea, Japan, and Indonesia. More specifically, Thailand and Korea are two of the Asian countries affected by the 1997 financial crisis that managed to recover in a shorter time than expected. Therefore, when the global financial crisis of 2008 emerged, these countries had the opportunity to use the strategies developed in 1997 to recover easily from the crisis. This paper will seek to evaluate the responses of both Korea and Thailand during the global financial crisis and whether they reflect important lessons learned in 1997. On July 1997, Asian countries woke up to the reality of a salient economic crisis that threatened many economies in the region. Although it was assumed to become a global financial crisis in the end, it only remained a sectional financial crisis. Countries that were affected by the horrible crisis included, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Philippines (Tosompark 2014, p. 63). A close analysis of the history surrounding the Asian financial crisis reveals that it began in Thailand. This was after the Thailand currency, the Baht, registered a high level of devaluation. Initially, the Thailand government hoped that the Baht would recover its previous status without much intervention. Unfortunately, it only continued to register a declining value. The government was compelled to rely on the foreign currency market to fix the standing of the Baht. Notably, the loss of value by the Baht was accompanied by an immense foreign debt huge enough to declare the country b ankrupt (Durham 2007, p. 58). Worth noting is the fact that the accumulated foreign debt happened before the collapsing of the Thai currency. These circumstances contributed to the emergence of a financial crisis. The crisis was not limited to

Case study ( subject accounting theory) Assignment

Case study ( subject accounting theory) - Assignment Example The company shareholders had been complaining of airline’s image and share prices have faced a slowdown. The profits also have declined and for the second consecutive time. Problem 1: Hidden fees Ryanair required its passengers to check in online for boarding and arrive at the airport with the boarding pass. If the passenger failed to do so, he or she would have had to pay a fine of â‚ ¬70. A reissue of boarding pass invites a charge of â‚ ¬70 (Pope, â€Å"Is this the advent of a new caring, sharing Ryanair?†). Another issue with hidden fees is with the baggage standard norms and charges associated with it. Ryanair has been famous for having one of the strictest baggage allowances in Europe. The airline allows a baggage size of 55cm x 40cm x 20cm which is even smaller that what IATA standardizes as baggage allowance. Also, the airline charged a pretty high sum of â‚ ¬60 at the bag drop counters and boarding gate. Measures taken The charge for not checking in on line remains unchanged. The argument put forward by Ryanair is that if a passenger can come forth with his passport, he can check in online as well. This is one criticism that the company refuses to accept. They deny that the hidden charges are hampering company’s brand image and need to be tackled. ... Company chief says that they are actively participating in improvising on customer service and actively listening and responding. As a part of the initial steps towards better customer service, the company has reduced these charges to â‚ ¬30 at the bag drop counters and â‚ ¬50 at the boarding gate. The company also plans to put an end to hefty fines on baggage’s that weigh a little heavier or are just slightly larger. It also announced an allowance of a second carry in baggage that shall be limited by the measure of 35 x 20 x 20cm over and above the pre-existing 10 kg baggage allowance (â€Å"Ryanair Rolls Out More Customer Service Improvements†). Analysis The reasons provided for impositions for not checking online are unreasonable. People might not accept the reason that checking online is as cultural as carrying a passport while taking a flight. Technology has made online access easier. It shall be a matter of time until people get used to the idea of boarding online. Moreover, not all airlines view online check-in likewise. Until then, hefty fines on not checking in online is detrimental to company image. Strict rules on baggage size have been detrimental to company’s brand image. Complains have gone unheard over slight mismatches in size inviting heavy fine impositions. Such brand reputation goes a long way in bringing down customer count, word of mouth reputation spreads stronger and faster for factors that are unacceptable by consumers. In this view, small improvements in baggage allowances shall be welcomed but the change in consumer perception shall take long to change unless the fuss over extra handle size or extra wheels are not eliminated.

Is Foreign Investment Good or Bad for USA Research Paper

Is Foreign Investment Good or Bad for USA - Research Paper Example Due to rapid growth in FDIs all around the world, much work has been done on determining the effects of FDIs on USA economy. There have been increasing concerns about these foreign investments and these have been criticized on many grounds by the critics as they believe there are many disadvantages of these investments like reduction in employment in USA, reduced or inhibited technological advancements, increased trade deficits. Some even argued that increasing presence globally can be a threat to national security and might make the country compromise on national sovereignty. On the other hand many discusses about the advantage that USA has obtained from these investments which mainly revolves around the general presumption of benefits and favors of free markets. (Graham, Edward M, and Paul R. Krugman) Foreign investments can be both inwards and outwards. It’s a common trend all around the world that the countries which owns cheap production facilities are the best for FDIs, since USA is a country where operating a production facility is fairly expensive when compared to countries like China, India, Brazil etc. the economy of USA is usually built upon the outwards FDIs. Being the host and home country both receiving and making foreign investments, USA faces benefits and disadvantages both. However since USA mainly focus on outward FDIs due to presence of many owned MNCs in USA; this paper will mainly focus on the outwards foreign investments made by USA in foreign countries. Inward Foreign Investments in USA: USA has been a focus of few MNCs from emerging nations due to its high technological advancements and high standard of living. Some reasons to allow FDIs to enter US economy can be relating to the capability of the country to produce certain goods. Modern technology is primarily needed by the country and hence FDI can prove to be beneficial when it comes to it. The capability of the country to produce certain goods may depend upon the availability of the funds and the expertise that is available in that particular country. FDI in particular can be helpful in these situations as it can provide the benefits to the country. If the United States invites different multinational corporations, it will be able to grasp upon the required sources so as to produce the necessary goods that can improve its economy. This can also benefit the country in terms of the realization of external economies. In the modern language of economics this benefit is referred to as ‘spillovers’. This can prove to be one of the most advantageous side of FDI in the United States. Moreover FDI can also prove to increase the existence of competition in the market and hence the existing companies would strive further to attain a better position in the market (Gonclaves, R; Magnus, B). Outward Foreign Investments in USA: The MNCs from USA have greatly benefited from the outward investments in other foreign countries. Location primarily can have an e ffect on the economy of the country in two ways. It can help the company to differentiate or vary its product according to the demand of the consumers with respect to the price and it can also help to lower the cost of value

Failures in Corporate Governance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Failures in Corporate Governance - Essay Example Theoretically, there is misguided notion that corporate governance is a simple and straightforward process. Personally, I think this notion proves futile. I am of the opinion that corporate governance is highly contextual, and tends to be dynamically unpredictable rather than being simply neat (Farber, 2013, p. 539). Inputs of corporate governance machines do not necessarily guarantee desirable outputs. As aforementioned, corporate governance is highly contextual, meaning that processes and practices used in the governance of distinct corporation change from one environmental context to another. Admittedly, the need to address interests of all stakeholders features as the leading objective of corporate governance. Theoretically, guardians of governance within any given corporation should ensure the sustainable effectiveness of these managerial concepts; responsiveness, accountability, legal responsibility, strategic vision, and equitable participation of all shareholders (Farber, 201 3, p. 544). In practical contexts, some of these governance concepts may conflict or overlap. Consequently, conflict and overlap of operation principles result in failures within corporate governance. In the recent past, failures in corporate governance have brought down several high-profile corporations across the world. Enron Inc. is an example of collapsed giant corporations, with its collapse attributed primarily to failures in corporate governance. Other high-profile corporations suffering from failed corporate governance include Wal-Mart and Cadbury.

Case study ( subject accounting theory) Assignment

Case study ( subject accounting theory) - Assignment Example The company shareholders had been complaining of airline’s image and share prices have faced a slowdown. The profits also have declined and for the second consecutive time. Problem 1: Hidden fees Ryanair required its passengers to check in online for boarding and arrive at the airport with the boarding pass. If the passenger failed to do so, he or she would have had to pay a fine of â‚ ¬70. A reissue of boarding pass invites a charge of â‚ ¬70 (Pope, â€Å"Is this the advent of a new caring, sharing Ryanair?†). Another issue with hidden fees is with the baggage standard norms and charges associated with it. Ryanair has been famous for having one of the strictest baggage allowances in Europe. The airline allows a baggage size of 55cm x 40cm x 20cm which is even smaller that what IATA standardizes as baggage allowance. Also, the airline charged a pretty high sum of â‚ ¬60 at the bag drop counters and boarding gate. Measures taken The charge for not checking in on line remains unchanged. The argument put forward by Ryanair is that if a passenger can come forth with his passport, he can check in online as well. This is one criticism that the company refuses to accept. They deny that the hidden charges are hampering company’s brand image and need to be tackled. ... Company chief says that they are actively participating in improvising on customer service and actively listening and responding. As a part of the initial steps towards better customer service, the company has reduced these charges to â‚ ¬30 at the bag drop counters and â‚ ¬50 at the boarding gate. The company also plans to put an end to hefty fines on baggage’s that weigh a little heavier or are just slightly larger. It also announced an allowance of a second carry in baggage that shall be limited by the measure of 35 x 20 x 20cm over and above the pre-existing 10 kg baggage allowance (â€Å"Ryanair Rolls Out More Customer Service Improvements†). Analysis The reasons provided for impositions for not checking online are unreasonable. People might not accept the reason that checking online is as cultural as carrying a passport while taking a flight. Technology has made online access easier. It shall be a matter of time until people get used to the idea of boarding online. Moreover, not all airlines view online check-in likewise. Until then, hefty fines on not checking in online is detrimental to company image. Strict rules on baggage size have been detrimental to company’s brand image. Complains have gone unheard over slight mismatches in size inviting heavy fine impositions. Such brand reputation goes a long way in bringing down customer count, word of mouth reputation spreads stronger and faster for factors that are unacceptable by consumers. In this view, small improvements in baggage allowances shall be welcomed but the change in consumer perception shall take long to change unless the fuss over extra handle size or extra wheels are not eliminated.

Failures in Corporate Governance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Failures in Corporate Governance - Essay Example Theoretically, there is misguided notion that corporate governance is a simple and straightforward process. Personally, I think this notion proves futile. I am of the opinion that corporate governance is highly contextual, and tends to be dynamically unpredictable rather than being simply neat (Farber, 2013, p. 539). Inputs of corporate governance machines do not necessarily guarantee desirable outputs. As aforementioned, corporate governance is highly contextual, meaning that processes and practices used in the governance of distinct corporation change from one environmental context to another. Admittedly, the need to address interests of all stakeholders features as the leading objective of corporate governance. Theoretically, guardians of governance within any given corporation should ensure the sustainable effectiveness of these managerial concepts; responsiveness, accountability, legal responsibility, strategic vision, and equitable participation of all shareholders (Farber, 201 3, p. 544). In practical contexts, some of these governance concepts may conflict or overlap. Consequently, conflict and overlap of operation principles result in failures within corporate governance. In the recent past, failures in corporate governance have brought down several high-profile corporations across the world. Enron Inc. is an example of collapsed giant corporations, with its collapse attributed primarily to failures in corporate governance. Other high-profile corporations suffering from failed corporate governance include Wal-Mart and Cadbury.

Videogame magazine Essay Example for Free

Videogame magazine Essay Magazines and newspapers have two of the most attained markets for articles and short storywriters keen to see there work in print. Magazines have a significant influence on individuals and the culture in which they live. Magazines are a very wide and fragmented media. They cater for a mass or niche audience. There can be hybrid magazines which contain a mixture of genres. Magazines nowadays have colour covers, are generally glossy and are published either weekly, fortnightly, monthly are quarterly. The word magazine was first used to describe something miscellaneous meaning a collection of different kinds of articles. Many early magazines were barely distinguishable from newspapers. Nowadays Computer technology has made redundant the old methods of magazine publishing. Both womens and mens magazines obviously define their audience in gender terms and today there are many magazines is which are suited and targeted for them. There are many types of magazines for all age groups especially teenagers as the magazine editor knows that teenagers have more disposable income than any other age group. Magazines also appeal to social economic groups. A new magazine tends to try and stand out and will target a rare different audience that has not been targeted usually. Magazines have to compete with each other in order to attract their target audiences. There are over 7000 magazines on the market in Britain. Gender is a key issue when discussing representation. Repeated representations can often lead to stereotypes which can then lead to ideology. Stereotypes are narrow representations that are repeated over again. Representations can change over time. Today feminists are creating alternative representations of woman which are challenging the dominant ideology of women. Media images never present the real world. Many objects are represented by the media as being particularly masculine or feminine- especially in advertising. The type of magazine affects the representation of gender presented in the magazine. The stereotypical view of gender in magazines is that women are still under-represented in parliament, business and politics. There is still inequality in pay and status of women. Women are still represented according to cultural stereotypes. Men are often represented in situations of authority and control over women. An example of this is of film and television voiceovers that tend to mostly be male voiceovers rather then female telling a story or being the narrator, also magazine editors tend to be male rather than female. Positive representations of Men are that they are often seen as athletic or math and science oriented such as being a scientist whereas women just consume. The negative representation of men and teenage boys is that they are aggressive, tend to be insensitive, verbally loud and messy at times and only interested in sports and videogames. The positive representation of women and teenage girls is that they are angelic, punctual, quiet, neat, clean, and supportive. A good example of this is that Men commit more crimes than women. The negative representation of women and teenage girls is that they are submissive, emotional and clumsy and have to be attracted to fashion and gossip. . Women are represented negatively as sexual objects and are fragmented because of their looks and physique. However due to the environmental factors of gender you will see a few girls that have an interest in videogames and sport, and a minority of boys that have an interest in fashion and gossip; this will depend on the way that the person was raised. Media Institutions use many types of ways to promote and advertise their products. Advertising is essential to magazines although most magazines aim to make a profit from both advertising and the cover price. Every magazine will have a majority of advertisements which could consist of one-third of the magazine. Advertisements make up the majority of revenue that the magazine gets. Magazines are dependent upon advertising in order to survive. Advertising is not just about selling a product; it also promotes images and life styles. It also shows us a world (which is regarded as perfect) where the products are needed wanted and used. Because the images we see in magazines are so desirable it is easy to forget that the world presented to us is not real. Adverts sell a brand image as well as a product. A brand image offers o form of guarantee and a set of ready made values with the product that you buy. Most modern advertising deals with enhancing the image of a brand rather than promoting the benefits of the brand. Advertising also informs and draws attention to the availability of certain services. Cosmetic adverts in fashion magazines play along on womans fears and anxieties. Women are the major consumers in society therefore you see many adverts with them. When targeting women in advertising they use sexuality and stereotypes. Advertisements create both implicit and explicit messages of meaning. An implicit message is a message that is not directly expressed to the audience. An explicit message is a message which is directly expressed to the audience. Magazines aim to sell to as many people as possible and they will usually target a group large enough to make a profit, but specific enough to be distinctive. Magazines for young men do include stereotypical images of both men and women. They depict a fearless, competitive masculinity, ignoring the emotional, sensitive male, and women are depicted as sex objects for mens enjoyment. People can look at the front cover of a magazine and immediately know what genre it is. Front covers of magazines need to be appealing to its intended target audience and are essential in promoting the magazine. In order to do this there needs to be image that will get noticed. That image needs to be relevant to whats inside the magazine and it has to be conventionally attractive; meaning picture perfect. For example if the magazine was an fashion magazine there will normally be an dominant image on the front cover of an celebrity or an actor that is well respected, good-looking and an ideal role-model for the target audience of the magazine. The same will occur in a videogame magazine where there will be a dominant image of a famous footballer promoting a football game or a male-oriented figure that is conventionally attractive and is seen as a role model or that the magazines intended target audience can aspire to. Womens magazines were run by men for the consumption of women in the early days. Today the majority of magazine editors and writers are now women. Local magazines targeted to a community tend to have more stories about womens achievements and experiences than any other magazines. Contemporary magazines targeted to women have moved on from its historical backgrounds. Nowadays womens magazines offer visions of feminism that involves independence and confidence towards women. However in a majority of magazines women are encouraged to look good in order to attract men and male audiences I am going to analyse two magazines to help me discover what the stereotypical view of gender is in two different types of magazines. The two magazines that I have chosen are Marie Claire (a fashion magazine, which targets females aged 16 and over) and Playstation 2 UK (a videogame magazine, which is targeted to males aged 16 and over). On the title page of the Marie Claire magazine there is a 1 iconic dominant image of a conventionally attractive women actress Scarlett Johansson. This image will attract women as Scarlett Johansson is well-respected and is seen as a role-model for women. This image can be a symbol of independence as Scarlett is not put on the front cover to be objectified. She is dressed respectively and she is not half-naked for sexual fragmentation. The image may attract men readers for her beauty and sexuality. There is a grey background with little gradient behind the dominant image of the actress. This makes the image of Scarlett Johansson stand out and get noticed by readers. The title of the magazine Marie Claire is printed in bright orange small case letters. So that it can be seen from the grey background and it is in a light female-oriented colour. The front cover consists of 2 colour texts white and orange. Again brightly lit colours used to catch readers eye and also suggests female content. Whereas on the title page of the Playstation 2 UK magazine there are two dominant images of two famous footballers; the two footballers (Wayne Rooney and Ronaldinho) are promoting the videogame FIFA 2006 and appear to be in god-like light colour suggesting the game is holy and has a special prophecy.

Aeschyluss Oresteia: Summary and Analysis

Aeschyluss Oresteia: Summary and Analysis Aeschyluss Oresteia touched a chord within Francis Bacon both in its themes of parental violence and pursuit by the Eumenides and in the way Aeschyluss poetry communicated in a subconscious emotional level.Analyzing three triptychs, a closer examination is made between the works. Francis Bacon paints images communicating his feelings and emotions but which transcend his own personal experience and convey the tensions and violent emotions of the twentieth century, and possibly beyond their creative timeframe to become universally pertinent and timeless for all mankind.In reading Aeschyluss Oresteia, the poetry touched a chord within him such that he was to use motifs from the trilogy in a number of his works but also it pointed the way for him to engender strong emotions through his paintings without employing narrative.Additionally the fate driven outcomes of the plays relate to Bacons painting practice of utilising accident in developing his paintings.The initial appeal of Aeschylus was most likely rooted in this bloody story of parental violence, revenge and exile from the home and the ongoing pursuit by the Eumenides. The extensive records of Bacons conversations will be used to prove that Aeschylus was an influence and it will be seen how Bacon translates the cathartic experience of tragedy into the medium of paint.After a brief examination of the influence of his childhood, we will look at the general influence of Aeschylus on his work before analysing three triptychs based on The Oresteia.To show the relationship between these paintings, Aeschylus Oresteia and Bacon, an in depth analysis of Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion (1944) will be made, following this up by examining the Second Version of Triptych 1944 (1988) and Triptych Inspired by the Oresteia of Aeschylus (1981). In conclusion Aeschyluss influence will be confirmed and Bacons status of an painter of epic emotions and universal relevance will be raised. It is difficult to say with any certainty how much Bacon was influenced by his interest in literature because he so often contradicts himself that one can never be quite sure what he really means. Most of the time when one talks about painting, one says nothing interesting.Its always rather superficial.What can one say? Archimbaud (1993) p171 Despite this comment, he was a most vociferous painter.One only has to read David Sylvester and Michael Peppiatt to find many instances of contradictory views.For example his desire to avoid narrative painting is frequently stated on record, yet when talking with David Sylvester, Bacon says: I dont want to avoid telling a story but I want very, very much to do the thing that Valery (the French poet) said to give sensation without the boredom of conveyance. Sylvester (1980) p 65 Bacon used interviews skilfully to manage how his work was perceived and interpreted, sometimes being open and clear and at others intentionally misleading or at least spreading an air of mystery about his images and sources.The interviews with David Sylvester are a mine of information about his work and in them he acknowledges his profound debt to literature specifically Aeschylus and Eliot. Additionally he could list for Michael Leiris, cited in Gale (2008), p23, what books informed Triptych 1976.And Michael Peppiatt recorded that Bacon admitted that literature had more effect on his paintings than anything else. Bacons primary aim was to convey strong feelings and emotions: the shock of violence, fear of the threat and rumblings of fate. He wanted to communicate up onto the nervous system using subconscious feelings and raw emotion rather than tell or show directly.This is just what he got from Aeschylus and T. S. Eliot.The Wasteland is not a narrative poem; it evokes feelings and, The Oresteia of Aeschylus . . . its epic nature and hyperbolic language and imagery make it into something more universal . . . its inherent emotional violence. Gale (2008) p21 And Bacon was a man steeped in violence.Francis Bacons father, Edward, was a hardened war veteran with an innate belief in physical courage and toughness.He brought his children up under a tough military regime and had little time or affection for his son.Being an asthmatic, allergic to dogs and horses didnt prevent his father from forcing him to ride to hounds and is reputed to have had him beaten by the grooms in the stable for no reason other than to make a man of him.These grooms were also those with whom he had sex after he was expelled from public school for his relationships with other boys.This fusion between sex and violence is probably what forged his sadomasochistic instincts.Finally, his father discovered him dressed in his mothers underwear and expelled him from the family home to which he was never to return.The paternal violence and the experiences of being cast out could have been linked to why The Oresteia struck such a chord with him.The tormented personal history, is subconsciously awoken by the poetry of Aeschylus, Eliot and others, particularly Shakespeare, and is expressed by Bacon in the violence of all his works.And it is Bacons intention that these paintings communicate this violence of his life and sources to the viewer through feeling rather than narrative.As Andrew Brighton writes, Bacons stories of his traumatic childhood and early sex life may have been told for their own sake honest and cathartic revelations and fibs but they give us one of Bacons pretexts.By word of mouth and in published sources, his account of himself increasingly accompanied him and his work.They lent authenticity to his art and its rhetoric of despair.They tell us something both of how he wanted others to understand his history and how he understood it himself.These understandings became sources for his paintings; they are in a sense part of the literature on which his work drew. Brighton (2001) p17 Whilst in this essay the focus is on Bacon and Aeschylus, Bacons literary influences extended to T. S. Eliot (The Family Reunion amodern reworking of The Oresteia), W. B. Yeats, Frederico Garcia Lorca, Ezra Pound, William Shakespeare (Hamlet being another reworking of The Oresteia motif) Webster, Conrad and Freke Brut, Satre (Les Mouches yet another reworking of the Oresteia) and on to Sigmund Freuds writings and theories which were very in vogue at the time. The common thread in many of these writers is tragedy.Aristotle commented that the purpose of tragedy was to purge by pity and terror.This cathartic theatrical experience, which can be related to Freudian theory, could well be a further aspect of the plays that attracted Bacon to the tragedies and that dramatic effect what he wanted to achieve through his painting, reworking the themes and motifs in a very different medium. Bacon referred to these paintings as sketches for the Eumenides, the ancient pursuers of revenge for familial murder.Bacons source for these creatures was The Oresteia, a trilogy by Aeschylus. (see Appendix A for a prà ©cis of The Oresteia) What might the Eumenides mean to man, particularly Francis Bacon, well read in Freudian theory?Could they represent the super ego, Freuds internal parent which governs our excesses?Bacons father as discussed was a brutal, disciplined man with very different value to Francis whose super ego would have been the internalisation of his parents value system.Are they subconscious feelings such as guilt or even pressure to conform to social mores of the time?Bacon viewed his homosexuality as a defect when society viewed it with such abhorrence that it was still a criminal act until 1968. Whilst these deductions have evidence to support them, what is more overwhelmingly true of Bacon is that he absorbed the feelings that poetry aroused in a subconscious, non verbal manner. When he painted he used these feelings as sources of inspiration thus painting from deep within himself where his life experience and the poetry synthesised to create paintings raw with human experience. It is notable that Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion, 1944, the turning point of his career, is an expression of his own demons.The whole painting conveys a savage inhuman terror, wrought with pain.The Eumenides are avengers of familial murder so it is pertinent that Bacon chose them instead of the traditional saints as his figures at the base of the crucifixion, symbolising the sacrificial murder of Jesus Christ by His Father and could be a subconscious expression of his feelings about his fathers abuse of him when a child but from the outset showing his sensitivity to mans inhumanity to man. I know for religious people, for Christians, the crucifixion has a totally different significance.But as a non-believer, it was just an act of Mans behaviour, a way of behaving to another. Although many state that the painting was completed in two days, Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion, dated 1944 was developed over a number of the preceding war years and many interpreted the triptych as Bacons reaction to the horrors of war.But Bacon tended not to depict mankind in general, such as Picasso did in Guernica, but often painted single figures which communicated with the individual in each of us to share universal truths and personal feelings. In Greek and Roman mythology there are overlapping similarities between the Eumenides known as the Erinyes (the angry ones) before their transformation to the Eumenides (the kindly ones), the Furies and the Gorgons.In ancient myths these creatures have heads wreathed in snakes, eyes dripping with blood, the body of a dog and bird or bat wings.In The Family Reunion, the play by T. S. Eliot in which he reworked the motifs of The Oresteia,Harry, the protagonist, describes them as sleepless hunters that will not let me sleep a phrase which engenders the unremitting hounding they represent.Eliots The Family Reunion was Bacons introduction to Aeschyluss Oresteia, the play that was to provide inspirational source material for many of his paintings.The Oresteia is a play steeped in multiple murders, revenge and retribution where the Erinyes/Eumenides pursue Orestes after he murdered his mother Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus in revenge for his mothers murder of her husband Agamemnon and his mistress Cassandra in revenge for his sacrifice of his daughter Iphigenia.These merciless creatures with an unassuageable thirst for mindless retribution of familial murder were the subjects of Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion.Bacon stated that they were influenced by Picassos biomorphs and when he wanted to further explore the organic form that relates to the human image but is a complete distortion of it, Sylvester (1980) p8, the Eumenides would have provided an ideal opportunity. The development of the biomorphic figures in Three Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion can be seen in earlier Bacon paintings: Man in Cap (1943); Figure Getting out of a Car (1943) and Man Standing (1941-2) and in subsequent paintings of that era:Figure Study I (1946) and Figure Study II (1946) which show reworking but with clothing and everyday props such as plants and flowers. These placements of the figures, with everyday objects that enter into our personal world, make them all the more threatening.From these beginnings, the Eumenides would become a recurring icon that Bacon would revisit many times until his Second Version of Triptych 1944. Bacon said that he chose the triptych because he couldnt paint everything he needed to on one canvas. Ive never been able to make the one image that sums up all the others.So one image against the other seems to be able to say the thing more. Sylvester (1980) p22 However, it is also interesting to note that crucifixions traditionally adopt the triptych format.The three figures stand in for the saints traditionally depicted at the base of the cross or even for Christ himself and the two thieves crucified with him. Additionally, The Oresteia is three plays and there are three Furies so the number three is woven throughout this work. The cadmium orange background, another element of this triptych that he would reuse throughout his career has been interpreted as a metaphor for violence but the evidence for this isnt clear.Nevertheless the grating burnt orange used in these painting demands the viewers attention and is unsettling.In this painting, the paint is applied more thinly than in later years and the Eumenides are contained within their distinct biomorphic forms.At this stage of his life and career he may have needed to contain the figures symbolically controlling his own psychological demons. In later paintings, where he is a more experienced and established painter, he allowed himself to work more freely and allow accident to play its part. In the Oresteia, the Eumenides are black but Bacon paints them white and grey like classical Greek statues, the shades of stone reminding us of the Gorgons. In the left hand painting an armless, legless or kneeling female with her head hung in despair or supplication appears to be more of a victim than an instrument of vengeance. Hugh Davies viewed her as a mourner at the cross. whilst Michael Peppiatt as Clytemnestra brooding like a hen over her sorrow Peppiatt (2007) p112. The central figure, blinded by a cloth draped over her eyes, is sourced from the blindfolded Christ in Grunewalds Mocking of Christ with the cloth being a metaphor for the blind pursuit of retribution by the Eumenides. The right hand biomorph looks like a penis with a savage biting mouth. Taking a psychological interpretation, this can be viewed as the Eumenides representing Bacons own guilt about his sado-masochism and homosexuality. Aeschyluss phrase the reek of human blood smiles out at me touched a nerve with Bacon and his paintings of mouths in this and other paintings is him expressing it though his own medium. In visual terms, a major visual source for this mouth was a still of the Nurses scream in the film Battleship Potemkin (1952) by Sergai Eisenstein. Bacon originally intended this painting as a study for a further, mush larger crucifixion painting but this intention was never fulfilled. Nevertheless, many characteristics of this painting would be reused: the cadmium orange background; the triptych format; the gaping scream and the biomorphic Eumenides. In 1988 he painted Second Version of Triptych 1944 which became his last painting of the Eumenides. It is over twice the size of the 1944 version and the harsh orange was replaced by saturated blood red backgrounds in the outer paintings and a carpet of blood red running down the central one. This is the blood red carpet that Clytemnestra lays down for Agamemnon as her ironic greeting welcomes him home to his death.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Spread tapestries in his way. Let the great king   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Walk a crimson pathway to the home   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  He never hoped to see. A crimson path! His just reward; now justice shall be done. Step down, my lord. The rest will follow. I shall not rest Till the gods grant what you have earned. The bloody yet regal colouring, the grander scale, the more refined technique and the compositional symmetry afford this painting a more majestic formality. The backgrounds are simpler and flatter and the figures smaller making the feeling of the later version less claustrophobic and despite being diffused in blood, it has less of the horror of the 1944 triptych. The Eumenides return as Martin Harrison remarked, as a sign of Bacons own fury and despair. Martin Harrison, in Rachel Tant in Gale Stephens (2008) p234 In the left hand panel the figure is less substantial and the chair more so, giving the figure an unearthly characteristic. This Eumenides has more distinct wings and is less frightening than her predecessor. She is more of an onlooker, a creature of despair perhaps even Bacons mother? The central figure has an egg-like form and looks out at the viewer with a grimace of pain. Perhaps Bacon the child? One of the stands legs looks like a scythe, the grim reaper on the red carpet on which Agamemnon was murdered. Here we have birth and death in the same painting. The right had biomorph is more like a human body squatting on a table ready to pounce. Perhaps his father? The Second Version of Triptych 1944 is a grander more refined, more mature painting than the original 1944 triptych but the raw pain is diluted suggesting a man more in control of his own demons and calmer in his advancing years. The Triptych Inspired by the Oresteia of Aeschylus, 1981 shows sparse modern room settings which relate the theme of these pictures to the present day. The epic sensations of the Oresteia: fear, revenge, power, envy, desire, guilt, family infighting, are just as relevant today, in fact they are timeless. Although each panel is set in a room, the figures are supported or contained by a framework of lines, a common Bacon technique. Frank Laukotters (2006, p184) view was that these shifting spatial perspectives indicate the vagaries of fate. On the side panels these lines lead into a doorway leading into a dark abyss, whereas in the central panel they form a plinth and a structure symbolising a throne on the blood red carpet. This bloodied carpet will be revisited by Bacon in his later triptych, Second Version of Triptych 1944, of the Eumenides. The Oresteia is a violent and murderous play with constant references to blood:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Death and grief forever   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Blood of a people lost. Agamemnon, Lines 715-716 Blood calls for Blood   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Libation Bearers, Line 77   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Gorgon waits, Living and dead are watching, Waiting to see The killer killed, Blood spilled for Blood. Libation Bearers, Lines 832-837 Step in blood, On thrones of blood, Blood-smeared from head to toe. Eumenides, Lines 163-165 Bacon wrote to Michael Leiris in 1976 that he was working on a large triptych in which the accidents were based on the Oresteia. I could not paint Agamemnon, Clytemnestra of Cassandra as that would have been merely another type of historical painting. . . Therefore, I tried to create an image of the effect it produced inside of me. Francis Bacon in Gale Stephens (2008) p216 Christopher Collard, in the introduction to his translation of the Oresteia, says that a detailed knowledge of the Oresteia is necessary in unravelling the depth of meaning in this triptych. Whilst this obviously helps with a concrete analysis and may also contribute to a subconscious understanding, in Bacons own terms, it is not an absolute necessity for the communication of the feelings of loneliness, violence and despair that he aims to convey up onto the nervous system. The central panel is the first to command the viewers attention. A contorted figure, with a grotesque, elongated neck and exposed vertebrae is bent down so that the head lies against a bowl of dark genitalia. This decomposing figure symbolises decaying power, defeat and death and arouses our pity as it struggles onto a raised platform. Here is a figure eaten away by inner conflict; consumed and gnawed by guilt. The blood red carpet suggests that the figure is Agamemnon but it could equally be Orestes and in the linked paintings, the Eumenides appear as they do in the Oresteia after the murder of Clytemnestra. On the left hand panel, a winged Eumenides with legs is flying over the door where matricide has taken place, into the framed space in front of it, already in pursuit of Orestes. Under the door, from the black abyss symbolising the never ending pain of sin, flows a rivulet of the victims blood. It seems most likely that this rapacious mutant, often blood-smeared and as if about to pounce on its prey, represented a deeply uneasy conscience. . . When Bacon remarked the Furies often visit me,he was alluding to what he considered the most insidious punishment of all: guilt, which he believed stalked modern post-Freudian man as the Erinyes pursued the Greeks. Peppiatt (2008)p 334 This painting shows a particularly good example of the operation and control of accident in his technique. Out of the face of the left hand Eumenides, is a congealed streak of blood where Bacon has squeezed paint directly out of the tube and then controlled the tail with a light brushstroke. As Andrew Durham says, Chance is exploited but the result is far from arbitrary: the creative and the critical become a single act. Ades Forge(1985) p 233 In the right-hand panel, a headless male, probably Orestes is being burrowed in to by a Eumenides, visually linked to the left hand one by the similar legs. In this way, the murder of the left hand panel is linked to the retribution in the right. Orestes seems to be cleft in half by the door signifying the tragic curse that tore the House of Atreus apart and the cycle of murders that forces him into exile. The feeling engendered in Bacon by this aspect of the Oresteia would have potently echoed his own rejection when his father found him dressed in his mothers underwear and cast him out of the family home when only fifteen.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As was discussed at the start of this essay, one cannot always accept Francis Bacons spoken words absolute fact. He was a manipulator of his own image and often contradicted himself. However, in the case of the influence of Aeschylus on his paintings, we have extensive evidence recorded in interviews that is confirmed by the examination of the paintings themselves. On examination of Bacons childhood, parental cruelty, the blurring of sex and violence and the experience of being cast out from the family home at age 16, it can be seen why Aeschyluss Oresteia,struck such a chord within him. The murders committed by both parents, the sexual deceit, the exile of Orestes and the pursuit of the Eumenides, which Bacon admitted often visited him.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  But, it was the way in which the poetry of Aeschylus conveyed subconscious raw emotion that was the greatest influence on Bacon. Always avoiding the narrative in his paintings he looked to convey feelings directly, without the conscious intervention of storytelling. His paintings communicate up onto the nervous system. His emotions speak directly to ours. And on seeing the Oresteia, it is not so much the story that provides the cathartic experience of tragedy, but again profound emotions stirred by shocking violence and terror.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In analysing the three triptychs influenced by the Oresteia, it is clear that Bacon used the Eumenides to depict his own demons: his fathers betrayal of his parental role, his experience as an outcast, he guilt about homosexuality and sadomasochism, his belief in mans inherent. In the Oresteia triptych (1981), he shows us the decaying power of authority, the blood red carpet of the murder scene of a dying dynasty. One of the figures eating himself away, consumed by guilt. Aeschylus provided the inspiration and the means to paint the pain and horror of his existence, which he did so every morning before blotting it all out in an alcoholic anaesthetic.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Aeschylus wrote about fate and accident and this too was important to Bacon who used to try to use accident in his painting in order to move it further onto the subconscious plane and to make it more spontaneous and visuaqlly interesting.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Aeschylus was an epic poet who has used universal themes and powerful language to create a masterpiece of unquestionable greatness that has stood the test of time. I am a great fan of Francis Bacons paintings which to me are magnetic, full of emotion and mystery and over time, my interest has increased rather than waned. But it is too soon to say whether or not he is an epic or even a great painter. 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() Some Inversions not Righted: A note on the Eumenides, The Classical Journal, 101.1, pp.1-10. Stanford, W. B. (1942) Aeschylus in his style: a study in language and personality, Dublin: The University Press. Sylvester, David (c1998) Francis Bacon: the human body, London: Hayward Gallery. Sylvester, David (c1980) Interviews with Francis Bacon 1962-1979, London, Thames and Hudson. Trucci, Lorenzo (1976) Francis Bacon, London: Thames and Hudson. Yezzi, David (2008) Bacons Theatre of the Absurd, The New Criterion, December, pp. 25-28 Zweite, Armin (ed) (2006) in collaboration with Maria Muller, texts by Peter Burger [et al.], Francis Bacon: the violence of the real, London: Thames Hudson.