Indigo :: essays research papers

Amber Hutchison Post Modern Fiction Indigo February 23, 2000 People are born with passion. The irony is that most people spend all their lives searching for that passion without looking inside that soul to the heart of the passion. The trick to discovering that passion is to find what makes us happy. For Indigo the main character of Sassafras, Cypress and Indigo by her passion lies in the music she creates from her soul while using her violin as her tool. From a modern literary criticism standpoint this passion is seen through her characterization and the symbolic use of the violin. However in peeling back the layers and focusing on this story from a Post – Modern standpoint the reader uncovers deeper issues. There is a sense of discontinuity in the linear structure that leads to a discovery about the cultural issues in this story. Indigo challenges the boundaries of her age and a society that struggles to find a place for her and her soul. That is going under the assumption t hat there is a place. "Indigo did not tell her mother about Mr. Lucas being so evil, nor did she mention that her new fiddle could talk."(Norton 43) With in the first few lines of the story Indigo’s violin begins its transformation from merely and instrument to an extension of her soul. Symbolically Indigo’s violin is representative of her soul. With her violin Indigo pursues the passions of her soul as she struggles to find her place somewhere between childhood and womanhood. Indigo’s mother begs her not to play the violin anymore at night because the neighbors complained about the awful noise. She forces Indigo to take lessons or go somewhere else to play. By rejection her violin her mother rejects the heart and soul of Indigo. Only when she flees to Sister Marie Louise’s shed is she able to play her music and bare her soul to the world. The violin takes on the presence of sin in her life as her mother forbids her to play. It is the forbidden fruit that Indigo longs to taste. Indigo’s character constantly revolves through the turmoil of a young adolescent on the brink of woman hood. "Then she would blush, hurriedly out the fiddle back into the case, the Colored and Romance having got the best of her."(Norton 45) Indigo is not ready to take that final step into womanhood but she is brave enough to sample.

Operations Management Assignment

Identify all customers (both internal and external) and justify how this problem is linked to customer satisfaction. Measure phase – This phase involves trying to collect data to evaluate the current performance level of the process, and provide information for analysis and improvement phases (Yang and II-Haiku, 2009:37). Antonym (2006:240) explains that the following items should be considered during the measurement phase of the Six Sigma methodology: Determine the current performance of the service process (process yield, DEMO, short-term and long-term capability).Decide what to measure (critical-to-quality characteristic – ACT), and how to measure. Establish a simple measurement system study (if applicable). Determine how well the process is performing compared to others through benchmarking exercise. Identify the strengths and weaknesses and determine the gaps for improvement. Analysis phase -? Many authors consider this phase as the most crucial because more often, people seem to omit it and jump straight to improvement phase (Cakes, 2003:42-43).In this phase, data is analyzed in order to discover causes of the problem, and to understand how to improve the process (Yang and II-Haiku, 2009:38). The following salient points (Antonym, 2006:240) must be looked at during this phase: Uncover the root causes of defects in processes. Understand the root causes of variability which lead to defects and priorities them for further investigation. Understand the nature of data and the distribution or patterns of data. Determine the key service process variables that may be linked to defects.Financially quantify the improvement opportunity (I. E. Estimate of potential financial benefits). Improvement phase -? This phase involves generating and selecting solutions for implementation of doing things better, cheaper or faster and thereafter calculating the new sigma level (Cakes, 2003:61 The improvement phase (Antonym, 2006:240) encompasses the following issu es: Develop potential solutions to fix the problems and prevent them from recurring. Evaluate the impact of each potential solution using a criteria-decision matrix.Solutions hat have a high impact on customer satisfaction and bottom-line savings to the organization need to be examined to determine how much time, effort and capital will need to be expended for implementation. Assess risks associated with potential solutions. Validate improvement (I. E. Reduce defect rate or improve sigma quality level of the process) by pilot studies. Re-evaluate the impact of chosen potential solution. Control phase -? The purpose of this stage is to hold on to the improvement achieved from the improvement phase. Changes made in the improvement phase need to be documented (Yang and El-Haiku, 2009:38).

Common Practices in Religion Essay

What is Religion? The term religion comes from the Latin word ‘religare’ which means to bind. In the world today, there are different forms of religious groups and followings that have unique beliefs and practices depending on their history. It is estimated that there are thousands of religions in the world, including the mainstream religious groups and others that are not known. One of the common characteristics of religious groups is that they all believe in the existence of a supreme being. However, there are those who don’t believe in religion. For such people, religion only assumes the existence of a supreme being while there is no substantive evidence to support the said belief. According to Norris & Inglehart, through the practice of atheism, atheists believe that religion is just a fallacy that might have developed in the past and passed on from generation to generation through the various teachings in culture (2011). For enthusiasts, the reason people are afraid to question religious teachings is because of the fear of repercussions that are likely to occur due to such disbelief. Under this context, religion was assumed to be a creation of scholarly studies in the past with philosophers trying to establish how religion came into being. The major question is what religion is all about and what entails the aspects of it. For most people, there is a thin line between culture and religion. This explains why different cultures have their specific religion and beliefs. However, there are various contentious issues that have never been solved over the years. One thing that would totally shift the paradigm and, in extension, the balance of nature, is if it turned out that no supreme beings the religions are based upon exist. Such a situation would totally erode the gains made in the religious world today and also lead to mass confusion among the staunch religious followers. However, some of the religious beliefs are so strong  that they cannot be influenced by any emerging trend regarding their faith. â€Å"Most of the common definition of religion excludes some fundamental facts about religion and offering an adequate explanation of what religion is† (Hood et al., 2009). From a general perspective, religion is commonly defined as the belief in God. This belief, however, is considered as vague as it excludes some of the ideas that characterize some religious followings such as atheism. If religion was to be solely defined as the belief in God, what would the other religious groups that either believe in a different supreme being and those of atheism be referred to as? This tendency of generalization is what often causes some misconception that is associated with how religion is defined. Then what is the worldview of religion and how is it defined in different places around the world? There are arguments that religion is not hard to define, but rather it is the people themselves who often create the confusion regarding its definition. According to Heelas (2005), one of the greatest challenges is how to define religion without excluding any religious beliefs or followings in the word today. However, there is a conventional way of defining religion which incorporates the primary fundamentals of religion. The following are the fundamentals of religion; The belief in a supernatural being. A clear distinction of what is regarded as the moral way of doing things in accordance with the different religious beliefs and practices. Various rituals that are commonly attributed to the religious groups from different parts of the world. Religious groups have various rituals that characterize the specific religion and establish a code of conduct in which members are supposed to operate. A specific way of communicating with God is done through prayers. However, distinct religious groups have a specific way of praying and other practices that accompany prayers. Different religious feelings that are often experienced whenever the practice is taking place. In some religious groups, members engage in incarnations and a sense of adoration. In other groups, however, there is always the aspect of guilt and repentance during religious sermons. From this approach, the worldview related to religion and what religion entails becomes clear. In most cases, it is believed that religion and religious groups in extensions are very different. This explains why there is no single approach as to what entails  religious practices. However, there is a common characteristic of religion that can be used to generalize the practice from a worldview perspective. In the world today, religion continues to shape the life of the people, whereby the religious followings and teachings provide a guideline on how people are supposed to live and interact with each other and with God. The mainstream religious groups attract millions of followers, which is an indication of just how strong religious faith is. In addition, there are thousands of religious followings that are not captured in the mainstream studies of religion but continue to exist with their distinct religious practices. Religion can, therefore, be universally defined as a compilation of religious systems that share a common belief and focus on the unique characteristics of the members of religious faith. References Heelas, P., Woodhead, L., Seel, B., Tusting, K., & Szerszynski, B. (2005). The Spiritual Revolution: Why Religion is Giving Way to Spirituality. Blackwell. Hood Jr, R. W., Hill, P. C., & Spilka, B. (2009). Psychology of religion: An empirical approach. Guilford Press. Norris, P., & Inglehart, R. (2011). Sacred and secular: Religion and politics worldwide. Cambridge University Press.

How Golding Uses Symbols in Lord of the Flies Essay

William Golding’s book, Lord of the Flies (published in 1954) tells the story of a group of boys, who are stranded on an unknown island, when their plane crashes. On the surface, it is an interesting story of how the civilised English boys, during their time on the island, gradually lose their veneer of respectability and â€Å"decent† behaviour and devolve to the basest and barest form of humanity. Eventually, the boys almost entirely shake off the civilisation of the world they once knew. If we scratch beneath that surface, what we find is a much more complicated observation of society, laden with corporeal, philosophical and religious symbols. Indeed, the superb use of symbolism in the book is one of the contributing factors to the profundity of the book. The symbols that stand out the most are the conch; the gradual destruction of the island; Piggy’s spectacles; fire, and how it is used; and the beast, or the Lord of the Flies (another name given to the Devil), the crucial symbol, used throughout the book. All of these will be looked at into more detail, and, also, whether the beast is real or a physical manifestation of the boys’ fears, as well as the key comment that it is the evil which resides within man, will also be discussed. First, is the conch. This is the shell, which is discovered by Ralph and Piggy, and is used to represent power, authority and rules. From the very first time it is mentioned, Golding describes it as: â€Å"pretty and a worthy plaything†. It is, like everything else on the island, a simple and innocent object: and immediately afterwards, it becomes something so precious, due to its apparent beauty. Also, in the beginning, it is a mere utility: Piggy suggests that, when blown, it would be able to â€Å"call† the other boys, scattered around the area of the crash, to have a meeting. The fact that it is used to call already highlights its importance in the book, as it has instant results. The sound is, as Jack later says, like that of a trumpet, using the metaphor of summoning the boys: it has an authority all on its own. By the time of the next meeting, in the afternoon of that same day, Ralph, now elected leader, decides that it will be used during meetings, where only the person with it may speak. â€Å"‘I’ll give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when he’s speaking†¦And he won’t be interrupted. Except by me.'† Rules have been established, and the conch is at the centre if them, so it, now, is the means of putting across one’s feelings and/or ideas. Naturally, everyone agrees, including Jack. Golding puts this into the book, commenting on man’s need for rules within a society, and a code of behaviour, thus demonstrating what the conch symbolises. As well as these, it also symbolises democracy and free speech in our modern society, one of the few positive statements on humanity within the book, in the fact that all the boys are able to say something, as opposed to rule by force, or an autocracy, as demonstrated by Jack’s leadership, later on in the book. By chapter Five, things have already drastically changed among the boys. The threat of the beast has been lurking among them all for some time, now, and it has been left to grow to such an extent, that more and more people are behaving differently towards the island and each other. When Ralph has to call an assembly concerning these issues, he finds it difficult to get anything across, or even to be listened to, without brandishing the conch, or repeatedly reminding them that he has it. This symbolises that the power and authority of the conch is weakening, as the boys are tiring of adhering to the rules. Ralph even comments on this during his speech, when he says: – â€Å"things are breaking up†¦We began well; we were happy. And then-â€Å". It also makes a sly comment on rules and authority among real human societies, saying that we are unable to keep to them because of our nature as â€Å"free† beings, and therefore, the very idea of a rule, something that will confine us, is only temporarily effective, because we just cannot rigidly or lastingly keep to them. Many have argued for and against this theory, and much of it has to do with where we believe our origins as humans lie. For instance, if one believes in the Christian God, they believe that we are the way we are, because of the Original Sin; if Atheist, one may believe in evolution, and that we should, possibly each of us, create our own rules and boundaries, and not let any one person or body decide for us. It is, indeed an interesting debate. The idea of power corrupting, and being corruptible in return, is also evident in the way that Jack speaks out openly against Ralph, repeatedly, either with or without the conch. He even says, during the assembly scene in chapter Five, â€Å"bollocks to the rules!† In chapter Eleven, by which time Jack has succeeded in taking almost complete control over the island, the idea of the conch has become a laughing stock, and it has physically become worn and faded, and less beautiful. Golding shows how everyone, including Ralph and Piggy, regards the conch. Despite them knowing, and seeing in practice, that the conch is virtually useless, Piggy still tells Ralph to call an assembly, and use it, because he is so rule-rigid and loyal to Ralph, that he refuses to undermine him by abandoning the rules; while even Ralph only uses it, under the direction of Piggy: – † ‘†¦You call an assembly, Ralph, we got to decide what to do.’ ‘An assembly for only us?’ ‘It’s all we got†¦Blow the conch,'† This strict allegiance of Piggy’s, even now, to Ralph and the conch proves to be his fatal feature, as, when he, Ralph, Sam and Eric go up to the Castle Rock of Jack’s tribe, among jeers, insults and being ignored, Piggy still says: â€Å"I’ve got the conch!† This annoys Jack and Roger so much, that both he, and the conch, now having â€Å"lost its glow†, are destroyed by the boulder, the conch being: â€Å"exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceas[ing] to exist.† Although there has been no real authority or rules for some time, by now, apart from Jack’s, the end of the conch marks the real end, as even the husk, the last remaining vestige of organisation and rules, has been done away with. The fact that it is destroyed along with its one true follower, and the way that Golding writes it, links it with the idea of a murder: not only of Piggy, but of the conch, itself. Golding cleverly emphasises how insignificant it has become by putting its destruction into half of a sentence, and concentrating on the main part of the event, Piggy’s death. The next symbol to be discussed in the book is that of the island, and its gradual and subsequent ruin. Like the conch, it is a beautiful, peaceful and untouched world, but it is constantly affected by the boys’ actions throughout, even from before the book. From the first paragraph, the site of the crash is referred to as the scar, as if it were an injury to a living being, which, it could be argued, it is. Nevertheless, in chapter One, Golding creates a beautiful image of the island as a whole, using vivid description to emphasise it’s natural beauty, and this is continued right up to the point of the discovery of the conch: â€Å"a great platform of pink granite†; â€Å"a criss-cross pattern of trunks, very convenient to sit on†; â€Å"bright with the efflorescence of tropical weed and coral†; â€Å"a golden light danced and shattered just over his face†; â€Å"the brilliance of the lagoon†. Golding’s intense description of t he lagoon and the watery areas all create the calming effect of water, due to his detailing their appealing aspects. The boys’ initial reactions to it are similar to what the reader should have. They find it amazing and exotic, seeing their whole situation as an adventure, likening it to popular adventure stories, aimed, mainly, at boys, such as Swallows and Amazons, Treasure Island, and Coral Island, which they say. Their excitement overpowers their sense of reality, and the fact that they are alone, without any parents or adults, which piggy reminds them of. But in chapter two, only just after Jack, Ralph and Simon have surveyed the island, and told everyone else how big and beautiful it is, their enthusiasm leads them to make an irreparable mistake. In an attempt to make some sort of signal to the outside world, they start a fire, which subsequently ends up scorching a large chunk of the island’s vegetation. This clearly symbolises man’s effect on the natural world, and how selfish and inconsiderate we have been, in furthering our own society. The excitement and vigour with which the boys readily execute the fire also comments on this: – â€Å"‘A fire! Make a fire!’ At once half the boys were on their feet.† Just like the young and carefree boys, man has created and used industry and technology to advance his own civilization, without the slightest thought for anything else. Already the intrinsic beauty of the island has been permanently tarnished twice. Piggy says, sarcastically, when commenting on the fire: – â€Å"You got your small fire all right.† This theme of the gradual destruction of the island is continued throughout the rest of the book, which charts, in a way, the time and scale of man’s destruction of the Earth. In chapter Six, the mother pig is brutally murdered, meaning that, now, although there will be plenty of meat, there won’t be any new pigs to hunt, when they are all hunted down. And, of course, it all comes to an end, when the fire courses through the island, at the end, in chapter Twelve, finally completely obliterating anything natural, or pure, about the island. â€Å"[Ralph] heard a curious trickling sound†¦as if someone were unwrapping great sheets of cellophane†¦Smoke was seeping through the branches in white and yellow wisps†¦and then the smoke billowed around him.† Concerning the island, and what it represents, Golding has used such vivid imagery in his description, that, when the island is being razed to the ground, the reader is left to feel slightly sorrowful about its end, and it encourages the reader to reflect on what has happened on it ever since the boys arrived. This ties in very well with the religious connection, the island even being described as an â€Å"Eden†: the idea of the Original Sin being the cause of man’s present physical and moral condition. At the beginning, the boys enjoy the island and are treating the whole experience as a great big adventure; after time elapses, and the boys have become afraid of the beast, lurking around the island, their terror and fear causes them to fight back against the island, thus doing things which, though they are not fully aware of it, are ruining their environment. Towards the end, they are conducting an all-out attack on the island, with the beast on it (though, with the leadership of Jack, this is somewhat directed against Ralph). Another distinctive symbol in the book, is Piggy’s spectacles. Not only are these a utility, when being used as the means to start a fire, but they also symbolise more: Piggy’s (or just, on its own) intelligence. It is the only asset that Piggy has over the others on the island, and it also ties in with him, his behaviour, and what they symbolise. Like the conch, and what it symbolises, Piggy holds dear his spectacles: this can be argued as natural, for reality’s sake, but he is not the only boy who has such high esteem for them. Jack seizes them from him twice, and it could be said that Jack only does it partly for their usefulness, partly for what they symbolise (intelligence and foresight), and partly because Jack just hates Piggy and will do anything to cause harm or suffering towards him. When in chapter Four, they are damaged, with one of the lenses being broken, he doesn’t care, as he mimics Piggy’s cry of â€Å"Just you wait.† And, in chapter Ten, Jack behaves triumphantly, when it is revealed that he and a couple of members of his tribe have raided the huts, and stolen Piggy’s spectacles: – â€Å"The chief led them†¦exulting in his achievement†¦From his left hand dangled Piggy’s broken glasses.† This reaffirms how jack abuses intelligence, by stealing the spectacles, and glorifying his triumph. Another clear sign that the glasses represent intelligence is the fact that Piggy, the most rational and scientific boy there, is less confident, without them. In chapter Ten, after the damage, but before the raid, Piggy says, to Ralph: â€Å"‘I only got one eye, now. You ought to know that'†. Despite his reliability, even Ralph is beginning to lose hope in Piggy, his spectacles, and the meaningless conch. Golding makes the glasses now represent hope, or the lack of it. Because Piggy’s sight is dimmer, no one can see a way out of their predicament. This links with what Golding is saying about how man needs rules, with the conch: so, man must also need hope, otherwise, listlessness and hopelessness set in. Therefore, the link between rules and authority, hope, intelligence and foresight, and rationality is strongly emphasised. Golding is saying that we, as â€Å"civilised† humans need all four, which have made up our present society. It’s also telling that their present society is in the middle of a nuclear war, which could be argued as what’s happening on the island, anyway. This is most clearly represented by the fact that, at the end, where the island has been devastated, and the conch, Piggy and the glasses have all been done away with, there is no moral code. The island now mirrors both their and our present society. The next major symbol in the book is the fire, and it has many different uses in the story. In chapter One, the boys have the idea of making a fire, to act as a signal to any passing ships, despite their lack of concern or consideration for the rest of the island, already discussed. But, towards the end of the chapter, the fire is described as being something different: dangerous and destructive, as it burns down a part of the mountain. This is a hint of what is to come, both in terms of the plot, and Golding’s way of using fire to symbolise how destructive humanity can be. â€Å"All at once the lights flickering ahead of him merged together, the roar of the forest rose to thunder and a tall bush directly in his path burst into a great fan-shaped flame†¦the heat beating on his left side and the fire racing forward like a tide.† It is telling, also, to what Golding believes about man’s effect on the earth, as the fire has made the island a hell, compared to the paradise that it was at the beginning. When, in chapter Four, the fire goes out, it symbolises the loss of hope, in Ralph, as he is losing control of Jack and his hunters, and Jack is wresting the boys to his power. This is also where Piggy’s spectacles are damaged, and the chain of events, here, all symbolise the despair that Ralph is beginning to have. It also ties in with chapters Eight and Eleven, where Ralph speaks of Jack â€Å"stealing† the fire, or hope, that was keeping him and the boys sane, and working together. Here Golding’ is making another comment about our society: without hope, there is nothing worth fighting for or bothering with. The boys have become savage over a period of time, during which they were almost rescued, but due to their own selfishness in wanting to enjoy themselves, they have concerned themselves with fun and pleasure, seeing as there is no hope of anything else. And this is where fire, as a symbol, takes on a darker side. In chapter Nine, during the feast, and having used it to cook the meat of the mother-pig (though the utilisation of the fire for cooking the could be a positive thing), the boys dance around it, as if in some ritualistic sacrament: shouting, howling and chanting: – â€Å"Jack leapt on to the sand. ‘Do our dance! Come on! Dance!’ †¦A circling movement developed and a chant†¦the littluns ran and jumped†¦Piggy and Ralph, under the threat of the sky, found themselves eager to take a place in this demented but partly secure society†¦The movement†¦began to beat like a steady pulse†¦There was the throb and stamp of a single organism.† The way that Golding describes it, conjures up the image of the boys transforming, literally, into the very same beast that they are all afraid of. The pace and the language of the words give off a feeling of great tension, signified by the coming storm in the scene. Also, the boys are described as a â€Å"single organism†. Due to the nature the story, Golding deliberately dehumanises the boys, and turns them into a mob, to comment on humanity as it acts in a very closed society. When one looks into human history, it is evident that in any one group, as factions, we have done terrible things to each other and to our environment. Simon’s death, included here, is probably the most lucid example of how destructive human beings are en masse. The final, and most distinctive, symbol to be discussed is that of the beast. This is the most profound icon used by Golding to convey his overall message of the evils within man, and his pessimism towards human nature. The beast is first introduced by one of the littleuns in chapter Two, after Ralph and Jack have explained their situation to the other boys. † ‘He wants to know what you’re going to do about the snake-thing.’†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢Now he says it was a beastie'† The idea that the beast is a â€Å"snake-thing† links in with the idea of the Original Sin: the Devil taking the shape of a serpent (snake) to tempt Eve, the â€Å"mother† of humanity, into wrongdoing. As looked at in discussion of the conch, the island, and the fire, we already know that things go wrong on the island, and that Golding attributes this to human nature. The beast, and this idea of it being inescapable represents this. For instance, the different methods by which the boys dream up its presence (from water, air, snake-like) al are natural, or biblical references. Every idea of the form of the beast is a comprehensible, human, one. Also, during the frequent discussions among the boys’ meetings, as the fear of the beast increases among the boys, so, too, does Simon’s understanding. In chapter Five, he says: – â€Å"Maybe there is a beast†¦maybe it’s only us† This shows his comprehension of the idea of something evil and primitive growing within the society of the boys. This is made completely evident in chapter Eight, with his â€Å"conversation† (in actual fact, an epileptic fit) with the beast. Simon is in his â€Å"special place†, originally a peaceful area of contemplation, abused by Jack’s placing the head of the hunted mother pig there, as an offering to the beast. The conversation itself is very insightful towards Golding’s view of humanity and towards what Simon represents, also. The beast, or â€Å"Lord of the Flies†, as it is called, here, mentions Ralph, Jack, and Piggy, hinting at how they each represent an important aspect of human society (leadership, dictatorship, and rationality, respectively – all of the â€Å"secular†, or physical features of humanity). The fact that the pig/beast is named as the Lord of the Flies links in with Golding’s view that it is humanity’s one true fault, that we have it in ourselves to be evil. Man is the beast; it’s simply the evil within the boys that motivates them to think of it. The Lord of the Flies says: – â€Å"You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you?†¦I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why things are what they are?† Of course, Simon isn’t really talking to the Devil; the fact that it’s all taking place inside his own head highlights that he is merely seeing that this is the darker part of human nature. When Simon then goes up the mountain, to search for the truth about the â€Å"beast† which he, Ralph and Jack â€Å"see†, Golding is showing us that Simon is representative of Christ. He is the one who sees the problem with humanity, right from the beginning. He tries to explain this to his fellow man, and is laughed at about it, and considered to be mad or a fool; he eventually reaches â€Å"enlightenment†, when he finds out the truth (the figure they saw was only the dead body of a parachutist); and when, again, he tries to make this clear to the other boys, he is killed, tragically, during the feast-turned-ritual, while they are out of control: – â€Å"the crowd surged after it, poured down the rock, leapt on to the beast, screamed, struck, bit, tore†¦the tearing of teeth and claws.† Here, again, the boys are described as being the beast. Though extremely graphic and violent (as the death of Jesus was), Golding writes a beautiful aftermath, when describing the body being carried out to sea, paralleling the angelic ascension to heaven of Jesus: – â€Å"The edge of the lagoon became a streak of phosphorescence which advanced minutely†¦The clear water mirrored the clear sky and the angular bright constellations†¦the advancing clearness was full of strange, moonbeam-bodied creatures with fiery eyes.† The way in which Golding has crafted the language to create this imagery, is conjuring up the thought of Simon’s spirit, as it were, drifting up. It also emphasises the idea of the calm after the storm. A storm, during which, dark and violent events have occurred amongst the boys, and on the island. Now, as an irredeemable act has been carried out, Golding helps the reader reflect on this, with the serenity and beauty of the aftermath. As we know, after Simon’s death, everything happens very quickly. Within two days, Jack’s hunters raid Ralph, Piggy, Sam and Eric, and take Piggy’s glasses; Piggy is consciously murdered, in an attempt to retrieve them, and the conch is destroyed with him; Ralph is hunted down like a pig, and the island is destroyed completely by a raging fire, which, ironically, is the beacon that gets them rescued. The beast is Golding’s main device, used to convey this overall theme of the evil within man and his society. Most of the events in the book revolve around it. Ralph, the leader, tries to reassure the boys that it doesn’t exist, while being unsure of that himself; Piggy, the rational scientist, completely denies it’s existence, and pins the boys’ behaviour down to things which he can be certain of; Jack, the dictator, pragmatically uses the beast as fodder for the boys, denying it’s existence at one point, then offering it gifts at others. While Simon, the philosopher, is aware of its true form all along, but is ignored and killed for his speaking out about it. In conclusion, Golding’s exceptionally complex novel is, probably, one of the grimmest, pessimistic, cynical, and yet extremely profound literatures ever written. His view of humanity and human nature is unparalleled in the way he conveys it. Whether it is realistic or not would need another essay to discuss it, but by studying all of his injected symbols, and the different purposes he creates for them, we are given a very vividly bleak image. The conch, a beautiful shell, used for a noble purpose, is abused and ridiculed, eventually unceremoniously destroyed, by which point it is dirty and uncared for. It’s symbolising hope, authority, rules and freedom of speech comments on how we use these ideas today, in our society. The island, a paradise world, untouched and naturally beautiful, is ruined right from the boys’ very entrance, and is progressively destroyed, due to their unconcern for it. This shadows man’s behaviour towards his surroundings and how he has advanced his own race without caution or care for the earth. Piggy’s glasses, rationality and intelligence, cherished by Ralph and Piggy, and abused by Jack, mirror how people have used science and philosophy for their own ends, so as to get away with terrible things. The fire is, at one point, a symbol of hope and rescue; and at other points, it symbolises destruction, danger, and fear. And, of course, the beast: Golding’s main means. The evil within man, and how it is manifest. It is telling, however, that Lord of the Flies is only the first in a series of novels by Golding, used to convey his pessimistic view of humanity. As mentioned, there is so much to say about just the symbols he uses here, that makes this book one of literature’s finest pieces.

Launching a new business

Apex International Ltd is a health care product company. The company is about to launch a new product in the market. The health care segment of this company is well renounced with products ranging from medical devices to surgical apparel including sterilization wrap, surgical gloves, surgical drapes and gowns and other medical devices. In an over all sense their products are targeted towards general health and hygiene. Therefore the vision statement would be a logical conclusion to launch a product in alignment with general health and hygiene.At present the mission statement of the company is to expand and occupy global market with a new and ingenious product. This is because to mark an impact in the global market the company must employ a strategy in the parameters of product selection that would enable the company to stand at a distinctive position. This distinctive position would help the company to attain a better market segment. For the purpose, along with a new and effective pr oduct, the company needs a group of motivated employees who would be able to execute the laid down strategy by the top management. The company is confident about its present group of employees and is certain that the motivated workers would be able to execute the planning without much specified difficulties.Thus the employees should1. Follow the laid down principals and strategies closely2. Understand the need of the potential customers clearly3. Understand the preference of the potential customers4. Provide customer service at the highest levelBusiness descriptionThe company is set to launch a new product in the line of its existing item but in an updated and creative mode. The business would be spread over a large amount of markets around the world, and would venture into the markets of Asia, especially China. This would be well supported by market segments of other continents like North and South America, Europe and Australia and Oceania. The business would be controlled by the c entral headquarter situated in each of the countries of operation which would controlled by the Continent Head Office. The supreme negotiations would be done from headquarter situated in New York as it is a predominantly New York based company.Operation requirements   Operation requirements for this project are vivid and intricate.Firstly the management has to development a perfect schedule in terms of production in the line of future market potentials.Secondly, it should be looked upon that every aspects of the potential market segment is evaluated and measured.In the third phase of the operation requirement it should be noted to understand the need and priorities of the targeted customers.Lastly, a core unit should be developed to look into the motivation factors of the employees in the long run.2. Vision StatementAs the general consumer durable health and hygiene related products of Apex International Ltd includes mostly fabric related products or versatile materials that are d eveloped from synthetic fibers it would be a logical conclusion to include a product like a fragranced panty liner for white discharge in this context.At present Apex International Ltd deals in products of personal care such as feminine pads, incontinence products and diapers it would be favorable for them to include panty liners for white discharge in this list of products specifically when the base material of the panty liner for white discharge is aligned with the base material of the other mentioned and related product which is non-woven fabrics. In the context of non-woven fabrics it would be interesting to mention that Apex International Ltd themselves is responsible for manufacturing non-woven fabrics in huge number of grades that are numbered around hundreds.As these grades of non-woven fabrics are already operational for various purposes like spill control, car covers, industrial fabrics, home furnishings and flexible packaging making room for an additional product like fra granced panty liner for white discharge would not include any further fixed or capital cost to the company.As for the market segment part the new product i.e. fragranced panty liner for white discharge would become a market leader world wide when a support system of a company like the Apex International Ltd is applicable.To begin with it would be applicable to mention the need of panty liner for white discharge with a brief detail of white discharge as an ailment. White discharge is regarded as a vaginal discharge that is considered as normal during and after the menstrual period and it varies from woman to woman. It has been estimated that during the period of ovulation the mucous products increase and it has been reported that after the interval of ovulation the amount of white discharge increases by about 30 times. The material is elastic and watery in nature and therefore it is prescribed by the doctors to use panty liners during this time frame of the cycle. One of the most dif ficult propositions of this material is that it has a very bad odor.Thus to access this market with a significant product the company needs to introduce a product that is1. Well Fragranced2. Extremely Hygienic3. Highly dependable4. Cost effective3. Sales, Marketing and Finance management planExecutive summaryThe marketing strategy of the Apex International Ltd would be to develop a fragranced panty liner for white discharge. Developing a healthy and attractive fragranced panty liner for white discharge would never prove to be very difficult for the company as it is already in operative stage with relative products.Situation AnalysisThe potential, if the assumable market of this fragranced panty liner for white discharge is taken into consideration, could be substantially huge. It has been estimated that without the use of a normal panty liner for white discharge various symptoms may arise like discomfort, itching or even pain due to formation of fungal infection due to the amount of white discharge. Therefore, panty liners are essential and as it is consumer durable in nature therefore there is no chance of market being exhausted. Moreover, with a better campaigning with the focal point mentioning the betterment and advantages of a fragranced panty liner for white discharge would certainly help the company to occupy the existing market of panty liners by a huge margin.Marketing strategyAt present the market segment of the world of panty liners are segregated among numerous companies of which a bulk of the companies represents China. These Chinese companies would be the prime target once Apex International Ltd takes over the manufacture of this new fragranced panty liner for white discharge and makes the product operational. The major reason of targeting China as the premium competitor would be the reason that these companies are basically marginally equipped to compete in the international market. Therefore they should be the primary concern as being the softe st targets of all.Secondly, the advantage of the Chinese companies to be able to penetrate into low market segment could well be nullified with the campaigns concerning health issues. Once this has been done a bulk of the customers would be diverted towards the Apex International Ltd’s product of fragranced panty liner for white discharge as there are hardly any individual who would compromise in terms of health issues. This would have an additional advantage for the company. Once penetration is possible within the market occupied by the Chinese companies it would also be possible to inflate the market with other products of the Corporation. This would be a double advantage and a scope of further optimization of revenue.Thirdly, the other plus point enjoyed by the Chinese companies is the ability to penetrate into the markets of different nations all at the same time.Financial projectionsThe amount of customers for this fragranced panty liner for white discharge would be by n o means negligible. It has been estimated that about 9 million women visit the gynecological department or the general practitioners each year. This is just the estimation of the United States alone. It would be quite interesting to find out the actual number of potential customers for this new fragranced panty liner for white discharge world wide. That would mean a titanic amount of potential customers waiting for the fragranced panty liner for white discharge if marketing and campaigns are well executed by the Apex International Ltd. (Dollard, 2005)Implementation ControlThus once China is marginalized from the basic market of the fragranced panty liner for white discharge the rest of the market would fall in place with competition on the equal ground with other European, Australian and US companies. Here the main advantage of the Apex International Ltd would be the application of the fragranced panty liner which would drive away other potential competitors from the market and by t he time any other company is able to formulate something new like the fragranced panty liner for white discharge the battle for supremacy over the market would belong won by the Apex International Ltd. Therefore it is obvious that a brand new product by the Apex International Ltd would be resulting into a clear winner not only in the local or national level but it is a cut made up for the international level and thus should be treated as a cut above the rest.Reference:Dollard, John & Robert R; (2005); The White discharge Syndrome; New University Press; 21-25

Learning and Development Practice Essay

1. Directive: Is where the coach offers the coachee solutions, tools and techniques for moving forward. The coachee may like to be offered solutions however the danger is that the solution may not be appropriate for the coachee’s situation and consequently may not feel fully committed to the solution provided. 2. Non-Directive: Is coaching in the true sense of the word where the coach simply asks the coachee questions to allow the coachee to find your own solutions. A non-directive coach will not offer the coachee advice and rarely even give the coachee suggestions, although through skilful questioning they will help the coachee to see their situation from a different perspective, gain clarity, uncover options, challenge inconsistencies and hold the coachee accountable to their actions. ‘Directiveness’ Scale Directive ———————————————————————— Non-Directive – I know how – You know how – I tell you – You tell me – You follow instruction- You decide Starr, J. 2008. The Coaching Manual. Person Education LTD. Pg20. Although I have given an idea of what directive and non-directive coaching styles are. These styles can be seen on a sliding scale. A tool for the coach to use, dependent on the situation and where the questioning leads. The coach my not always use one style over another but can slide up and down the scale to enhance the coachee’s answer and gain clarity where needed, or dependent on the experience of the coachee. With the ultimate aim that the coachee leaves empowered to move forward with action points to achieve goals. 1.2 How coaching differs from other L&D methods Counselling Counselling a therapeutic intervention usually around a personal deep rooted issue from a person’s past that is affecting a person in the present. Counselling provides intervention strategy’s to cope with the personal issue by delving into the persons past. Coaching although can bring out emotions from the coachee, tends to be forward looking and is based around  performance related issues and not personal. (Beevers, 2010). 1.3 How coaching can meet organisational objectives Coaching can meet organisational objectives by  Staff engage and have a greater awareness of organisations objectives. Implemented agreed actions during coaching process show recorded outcomes which means the organisation has measurable results of learning within staff PDP’s. Shows an organisation has a learning culture – investing in their people. If coach is line manager they will enhance management capabilities within the organisation. 1.4 Coaching roles The Coaches role Establishes the boundaries, e.g. Frequency and length of sessions as well as the session structure. Explains what coaching is and is not, and asks permission to explain when issues go beyond what is permissible in coaching. Helps the coachee set goals through questions. Showing interest, activity listening, being non-judgmental. Shows confidence in coachee to find own solutions. Helps coachee gain insight through questioning, listening and challenging them. Encourages forward movement and thinking. Helps coachee set SMART goals and feedback on those goals. Holds coachee accountable for his/her own progress and does not own the actions. The Coachee role Commits to the coaching process and be an active part. Takes ownership of their progress. Is honest, open and shares information with the coach. Willing to discover more self awareness. Takes ownership and willingness to move forward with agreed actions to achieve goals. Understands that the coach is only human and that mistakes from both the coachee and the coach may be made along the journey. 1.5 The benefits of coaching Individual Increased Confidence and self awareness from developing own solutions and goals (ILM,2007). Dedicated time to discuss own performance and ownership on how to improve it. Better understanding of their contribution within their role related to the organisations objectives. Organisation Motivated staff leading to better staff retention throughout the organisation. Improved communication and relationships between management and staff. Improve business knowledge and skills in specific areas related to the organisation (ILM, 2007). 1.6 How to implement a coaching culture within an organisation Bringing in external coaches would be dependent on cost– External coaches are costly, although may be more dependent and more reliant to complete agreed actions, but are more likely to be used short term and small scale (Beevers, 2010). External coaches are more likely to be brought to coach executive level management (Beevers, 2010), or to train up in-house coaches who can then coach at lower levels of management and/or line managed staff within the organisation as part of the development process (Harrison, 2009). 1.7 Developing in-house coaching Advantages Coach will have existing knowledge of the organisation and understands the organisations objectives. Can be more cost effective when coaching a large workforce in comparison to bring in an external coach. As a manager/coach – can offer immediate coaching to team members when issues arise. Disadvantages Coachee may not be willing to open up to coach about issues, especially is coach is their line manager due to lack of trust of confidentiality. Conflict of interest if coach is a manager – They have their own targets to achieve which might affect the aims or outcome of the coaching session. Costs of training, supervising and time from normal workload to coach if internal employees are trained to become coaches (Harrison 2009). References Beevers, K and Andrew, R., 2010. Learning and Development Practice. CPID. Harrison, R. 2009., Learning and development. 5th edition. CIPD. ILM. May 2011., Creating a coaching culture. ILM. Starr, J. 2008., The Coaching Manual. Person Education Ltd. Advantages and disadvantages of different types of coaching relationship [Online] Available at [Accessed 31/09/13].

DBM Business Law assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

DBM Business Law assignment - Essay Example Eventually Xavier never returned to buy the youngest kitten in the litter. This created problem to Zara for sale of the kittens as she did not engaged into transaction on the youngest kitten with anybody else. In order to manage the situation, Zara should have taken a token advance from Xavier for booking the youngest kitten for him. This could have brought commitment to the transaction process and Zara would have been able to manage the business situation in a tactful manner. In the second instance, another prospective buyer named Vic spoke to Zara over the telephone on the purchase of the kittens. After obtaining the details over phone, Vic informed Zara that he would enquire about the breed before taking a decision on purchase. During the telephonic conversation, Zara should note down the telephone number of Vic for any further communication. After due enquiry, Vic wrote a letter to Zara stating that he would purchase the eldest kitten. Later on he changed his mind and in order to cancel the order, Vic sent an email to Zara cancelling his intention of purchasing the kitten. Since the e-mail did not reach Zara due to server problem, Zara should carry on talking to other customers irrespective of Vic’s decision as she did not receive any communication from Vic. In case she had not been able to sell the kitten before the letter from Vic reached her, Zara should contact Vic for further transaction and then do the needful as per Vic’ latest decision. In the third case, another prospective buyer Yvonne sent an email to Zara that the price of 300 pound sterling is a bit higher for the Burmese breed and whether a price of 200 pound sterling would be acceptable to Zara. When Zara denied the proposal, Yvonne sent another email confirming to purchase the young Burmese kitten for the stated price. Zara in this case should reply by e-mail of the details about the young Burmese breed and the terms and conditions for sale. Zara should also offer Yvonne to mee t in person and look at the breed in order to strike a transparent deal for the sale of kittens. In the fourth scenario, Walter paid the stated price of 300 pound sterling to Zara and bought the kitten from her. At the time of sale of the kitten, Zara should provide all the details about the kitten and the terms and conditions of the sale of kitten. The kitten ate up furniture in Walters’ house which caused disappointment to Walter. When he saw a veterinary doctor, he said that the Burmese kitten was of a lower quality breed and actually a cross breed. Walter complained about the habits and quality of breed and wanted a refund from Zara. Zara should reiterate the details of the breed of Burmese kitten sold to Walter and explain her limitation and degree of accountability for the habits of the kitten post sale (Miller,  Jentz and  Cross, 2008, p.353). Advice to Amy Amy lives in village where her cousin also lives with her family. Amy is very much fond of his cousin who has run errands for Amy in the past. Amy lives alone in her house. Beryl undertook outdoor tasks for Amy in order to help her. Suddenly Charlie, who is the husband of Amy, lost his job. This put Beryl’s family into financial trouble. Beryl informed Amy about the loss of job of her husband, Charlie and also explained the financial difficulties that they were facing as a result of the incident. Beryl and Charlie also have a son named David who is exceptionally brilliant and puts little effort for achieving