Stellers Sea Cow - Facts and Figures

Name: Stellers Sea Cow; also known as Hydrodamalis Habitat: Shores of the northern Pacific Historical Epoch: Pleistocene-Modern (2 million-200 years ago) Size and Weight: About 25-30 feet long and 8-10 tons Diet: Seaweed Distinguishing Characteristics: Enormous size; small, flexible head About Stellers Sea Cow Although its much less well known than the Dodo Bird or the Giant Moa, Stellers Sea Cow (genus name Hydrodamalis) shared the unfortunate fate of these famous birds. Widespread across the northern Pacific Ocean for hundreds of thousands of years, by the mid-18th century this giant, 10-ton ancestor of modern dugongs and manatees was restricted to the obscure Commander Islands. There, in 1741, a population of a thousand or so survivors was studied by the early naturalist Georg Wilhelm Steller, who remarked on this megafauna mammals tame disposition, undersized head perched on an oversized body, and exclusive diet of kelp (a type of seaweed). You can probably guess what happened next. As soon as word of Stellers Sea Cow got out, various sailors, hunters and traders made it a point to stop over at the Commander Islands and bag themselves a few of these gentle beasts, which were valued for their fur, their meat, and most of all their whale-like oil, which could be used to fuel lamps. Within three decades, Stellers Sea Cow had breathed its last; fortunately, though, Steller himself bequeathed his studies of live specimens on future generations of paleontologists. (Its important to realize that Stellers Sea Cow had been on the decline for tens of thousands of years before Europeans arrived on the scene; according to one theory, early human settlers of the Pacific Basin overhunted sea otters, thus allowing the unchecked proliferation of sea urchins, which feasted on the same kelp as Hydrodamalis!) By the way, it may yet be possible for scientists to resurrect Stellers Sea Cow by harvesting scraps of its fossil DNA, under a controversial research program known as de-extinction.

O and Othello Comparison - 929 Words

‘Othello is one of the brilliant plays written by William Shakespeare. It is the story of man named Othello and how his mind was twisted and manipulated by a man named Iago and how Iago made Othello think that his wife Desdemona was cheating on him with his lieutenant Michael Cassio, which results in many deaths. Tim Blake Nelson has creatively restructured ‘Othello’ into a film to appeal to a teenage audience. It still contains the same central ideas which are racism, jealousy and deception which will be analysed on how they are portrayed in ‘Othello’ and are creatively reshaped in ‘O’. Jealously is one of the main central ideas and is shown through many character but mainly Iago and Hugo and Othello and O. In act 4, scene 5 Othello†¦show more content†¦In ‘Othello’ Desdemona call him the Moor and she is his loving and faithful wife whereas when Iago says it, it is offensive. In the film ‘O’ there is a lot of racism, Odin and Desi jokingly discuss their different races. When she disapproves of his use of â€Å"nigga,† he tells her that he is allowed to say it but she cannot even think it. Despite his apparently shallow answer, Odin is â€Å"haunted†¦by a profound self-consciousness about his own blackness†. When Hugo tells Odin that Desi and Mike called him â€Å"the nigga,† This is extremely offensive to and he begins to act out his rage and self-loathing. In ‘Othello the word ‘Moor’ has been replaced by with a the word ‘nigga’ to appeal to younger audiences. Deception can also be seen throughout both texts and especially when Iago sets Cassio up to make Othello hear the Cassio has been sleeping with Desdemona. In ‘Othello’ this scene is set in a jail area whereas in ‘O’ it is set in Iago’s bedroom and Othello is hiding outside the room listening in on the conversation. Nelson has creatively reshaped this scene from early times to the 20th century. During this scene in ‘O’ Cassio talks about Desi as a floosy and talks badly of Odin calling the name Nigga, this in use of language from Michael is the language that teenagers use which is another way Nelson has creatively reshaped Othello. Overall, Nelson has creatively reshaped the central ideas jealousy, racism and deception into theShow MoreRelatedEssay on A Comparison of Othello and the Movie O1548 Words   |  7 PagesA Comparison of Othello and the Movie O When Shakespeare composed the tragedy Othello televisions were not. Along with no televisions, life in the late 1500s had many different qualities than it does today. This time period had no war on drugs and no high school shootings. Peer pressure was not an issue. The audiences of Othello in the 1500s did not face the circumstances that we, American high school students, face today. With these significant differences in daily life, come the attemptsRead More The Use Of Animal Imagery In Othello Essay1040 Words   |  5 Pages In William Shakespeare’s play â€Å"Othello† the use of animal imagery was evident throughout the telling of the story. Shakespeare explained several characters actions by comparing them to similarities in animals. The characters in â€Å"Othello† were often depicted as having animal-like characteristics. Some characters were even compared to animals by other characters in the play. By defining characters in terms of these characteristics one can get a clear description of what the character isRead MoreJealousy and Race in Othello 1430 Words   |  6 PagesOthello is one of Shakespeare’s tragedies; originally written as a play and performed to an Elizabethan audience. Othello and many of Shakespeare’s other plays have been performed to various audiences since, and have been adapted into Opera, Ballet, Film and television productions. Othello has survived the centuries to this day and age; and continues to captivate and remain relevant to a modern audience; Othello certainly is a timeless classic work of art. â€Å"The object of tragic imitation is menRead MoreIs Othello a Tragic Hero? Essay1479 Words   |  6 PagesTo what extent can Othello be considered a ‘tragic hero’? The extent of which Othello is a tragic hero has been open to much debate; the basis on which he is judged falls to Aristotle’s established view of the crucial elements that distinguish whether a person is truly tragic. According to Aristotle, a tragic protagonist is a nobleman or person from high status, who contributes to his own demise and illustrates a flaw or weakness in judgment. The tragic protagonist must make a fall from a highRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Othello, Desdemona, Emilia, And Bianca949 Words   |  4 PagesShakespeare’s play Othello, there are only three women characters; Desdemona, Emilia, and Bianca. In this play, women are viewed as possessions to the men, causing critics to argue that the women to have no control of their lives. Women were viewed as their husband’s property, not being able to make their own decisions and listening to what their husbands told them to do. They were not seen as a human nor were females seen as being equal to men. Throughout Shakespeare’s Othello the three women showRead MoreConventions of a Shakespeare Tragedy1189 Words   |  5 Pagestragic flaw brings the downfall of the hero. Othello is the tragic hero, because Othello is a character of nobility. He is good at the beginning but at the end he starts to become evil. ‘‘Othello’s downfall is jealousy (Othello’s Tragic Flaw) Iago tells Othello not to be jealous when Othello thinks his wife is cheating on him. Iago says to Othello, â€Å"O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; it is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds (Othello Act 3 Scene 3).† The meaning of this quote isRead MoreTragic Hero in Othelo by William Shakespeare996 Words   |  4 PagesConventions of Othello Shakespeare has been a part of the American Society for many years. Compared to other Authors, he has a different style of writing but within his own writings, they are all very much alike. He has written many plays including Othello and Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare was a man who wrote plays that followed the same literary conventions. These conventions included tragic hero, fallacy, irony, and also suspense. A tragic hero is a male figure who is high in society and one whoRead MoreShakespeares Use of Language to Show Othellos Changing State of Mind1627 Words   |  7 Pagesfriendship. This is dramatically effective, being at the beginning of the scene because all through the scene Othello is seen thinking and talking about how disloyal she is. It also makes the tragedy at the end of the play more awful, as the audience knows she really is innocent. Iago then cunningly preys on the inquisitive nature of all humans, including Othello, to mould his mind to thinking the way he would like. He says unbeneficial things, dropping hints as to his feelingsRead More The Besieged Lieutenant in Othello1169 Words   |  5 PagesShakespeare’s tragedy Othello, the audience finds a victim who is beset by Iago more than once, but who recovers in both cases – Cassio. He is the sole survivor among the main characters. In his book of literary criticism, Shakespearean Tragedy, A. C. Bradley rejects the ancient’s accusation that Cassio is an inexperienced soldier: That Cassio, again, was an interloper and a mere closet-student without experience of war is incredible, considering first that Othello chose him for lieutenantRead MoreOthello, By William Shakespeare963 Words   |  4 Pagesaware of the scheme he is putting into action and plays on Othello’s weakness â€Å"O, beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster, which doth mock the meat it feeds on† (Othello. 3.3.167-169). Iago takes advantage of his own wife, Emilia, retaining Desdemona’s scarf from Othello from her and placing it in Cassio’s possession. By doing, this Iago is able to prove his allegations of Desdemona and Cassio. Othello expresses jealousy and believes that Desdemona has been unfaith to him with

Bakhtin’s Theory of Self Knowledge Free Essays

Mikhail Bakhtin in his theory of Self-Knowledge was primarily concerned with the freedom that a â€Å"fictional† character could have and its connection to the author. Accordingly, Bakhtin have suggested, what he calls, the theory of â€Å"surplus-vision† which corresponds to the inability of the character to obtain a self-knowledge which is only possible through having the chance to observe him self. In a more simple terms, Bakhtin explained that the character could or any other human being for that instance that exist outside of a person’s mind could not contemplate and think about the same things that the person who is contemplating has been thinking. We will write a custom essay sample on Bakhtin’s Theory of Self Knowledge or any similar topic only for you Order Now Thus, when a person is contemplating about someone else, he would â€Å"see and know somethingâ€Å"that the character that the person has been contemplating could never see and know†. In such case that someone whom the person is contemplating, or that character that the person have been thinking could not act independently on his own without author, as its creator could have thought. Put plainly, this means that the character could never be in a situation wherein he can decide and write about himself without the authors will or foreknowledge. Bakhtin have further discussed that the character’s ability to act liberally would depend upon his being able to act in surprising manner. Such that, a free action is an action that no one else have thought of or have predicted. However, in the case of the character in its relation to its author, it seems to be very impossible for it to be able to act freely from the author’s wishes. This is where Bakhtin’s theory of self-knowledge plays an important role. It is when the analogy of the author and God that Human self-knowledge was put into question. Yet, according to Joseph Bartlett, even without the analogy to God, any person’s action is still predictable or can still be predicted by other person for instance, by someone who has known the other person for quite a long time. Thus the only way, in a view that divine intervention is not counted, that the person could be free is through knowing the expectation of other people and acting surprisingly (2005). Bakhtin believes that this was the only way that the person could act freely and not determined, having a self-knowledge of thy self is the only way to free thyself. For instance one of my friends has been living a very active lifestyle. He joins different sports and was engaged in interdisciplinary activities and courses. This is when he was to choose a humanities course for his senior year; I along with some of our friends have been really surprise when he took up an art course. It was really surprising and even more, when I asked him about his decision, he simply stated that he wants to surprise himself. References Bartlett, J. (2005). Freedom And Self-Knowledge In The Dramatic Works Of Anton Chekhov. University of Missouri-Columbia. How to cite Bakhtin’s Theory of Self Knowledge, Papers

To be sane is to be mentally sound and healthy, Essay Example For Students

To be sane is to be mentally sound and healthy, Essay according to the Merriam Webster Dictionary. Insanity as defined by the Merriam Webster Dictionary as exhibiting serious and debilitating mental disorder. Serial killers are seen by most people as being insane. This is not the case. Some of the most famous serial killers were some of the smartest and clever individuals of their time. Many serial killers, though wrong in what they do, are some of the most intelligent people to have lived. Jack the Ripper is the most elusive and mysterious serial killer who has been recorded. He was a murderer in London in the late 1800s. He murdered prostitutes in the early hours of many mornings. He was never caught which helps show his elusiveness. He was a very intelligent man as well as being elusive. We will write a custom essay on To be sane is to be mentally sound and healthy, specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The intellect he has is shown through his murders. After killing his victims, he cut them open and toyed with their anatomy. To the untrained eye it looked as though he butchered his victim with no goal in mind, but to the keen eye it is the work of a genious. When the best known detective agency in the world, Scotland Yard, fails to catch a serial killer it scares the city, nation, or even the world. The world would have a problem of its own in the 1940s: The Ill Reich. Adolf Hitler was a man of great power. This man had developed his power on his own. He was very manipulative and creative and used his wit to gain power among the Germans. Hitler went from an low ranking infantry man to the leader of the country by his own intellectual talent. He had many followers, even though he was just an ordinary murderer. He was one of the most underestimated men by the United States in history. Nobody knew what one man was capable of. His intellect almost led him to complete world conquest. The plans he developed: how to defeat almost all of Europe and not deplete his forces. His cunning kept him in power with little to hold him back. Hitler was an intelligent man but had an anger and an obsession that burned deep within him. This obsession was Hitlers downfall. Trying to annihilate an entire race of men was too much for any man but he kept trying. He was too greedy to stop hunting Jews. Many different depictions of serial killers are used in movies and books. There is a different stereotype that coincides with entertainment. Very few movies or books go beyond these stereotypes and use more realistic, humanized characters. Silence of the Lambs is a good example of the less typical but more realistic serial killer. Hannibal Lector is a serial killer in a mental ward, helping a detective track down a killer. The reason for his imprisonment in a psychiatric ward is because of his cannibalism. His intellect is more advanced than what is perceived by most of the characters except the detective that he is helping. Detective Clarice Starling is aware that he is a brilliant man. She seeks his help because she knows of his intelligence. This movie is close to reality and created so that it can be believed. Silence of the Lambs has won many awards due to its realistic attitude. It won five Academy Awards in 1991 including best actress, best actor, and best picture. These awards are just a few of the many awards that help show how this movie is politically correct. Many serial killers, though wrong in what they do, are some of the most intellectual people to have lived. There are many different angles that sanity can be viewed from. Cannibalism, murdering, or world conquest do not promote insanity but show how such people have bad morals. For example, to almost achieve world domination is a feat in itself. .ua7eefee2e4efe7f5c750c498e4ab307f , .ua7eefee2e4efe7f5c750c498e4ab307f .postImageUrl , .ua7eefee2e4efe7f5c750c498e4ab307f .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ua7eefee2e4efe7f5c750c498e4ab307f , .ua7eefee2e4efe7f5c750c498e4ab307f:hover , .ua7eefee2e4efe7f5c750c498e4ab307f:visited , .ua7eefee2e4efe7f5c750c498e4ab307f:active { border:0!important; } .ua7eefee2e4efe7f5c750c498e4ab307f .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ua7eefee2e4efe7f5c750c498e4ab307f { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ua7eefee2e4efe7f5c750c498e4ab307f:active , .ua7eefee2e4efe7f5c750c498e4ab307f:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ua7eefee2e4efe7f5c750c498e4ab307f .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ua7eefee2e4efe7f5c750c498e4ab307f .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ua7eefee2e4efe7f5c750c498e4ab307f .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ua7eefee2e4efe7f5c750c498e4ab307f .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ua7eefee2e4efe7f5c750c498e4ab307f:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ua7eefee2e4efe7f5c750c498e4ab307f .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ua7eefee2e4efe7f5c750c498e4ab307f .ua7eefee2e4efe7f5c750c498e4ab307f-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ua7eefee2e4efe7f5c750c498e4ab307f:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Why I Chose Radiology Essay To be one of a handful of people to almost accomplish a task such as Alexander the Great, Ghengis Kahn, and Napolean shows the intelligence required to perform such a task. .

Symbolic Interactionism theory is concerned with the ‘sociology of the everyday ‘and focused on individual experience and issues of identity. The WritePass Journal

Symbolic Interactionism theory is concerned with the ‘sociology of the everyday ‘and focused on individual experience and issues of identity. Introduction Symbolic Interactionism theory is concerned with the ‘sociology of the everyday ‘and focused on individual experience and issues of identity. IntroductionReferencesRelated Introduction The role theory began when symbolic interactionism became part of Erving Goffman’s interest. His interest was observing individuals, groups in certain situations and settings rather than a social theorist and analysis through his work. (Birrell, Donnelly, 2004) He developed an interest in reactions that focused on facial expressions, body language. This can be shown in sporting ways through Erving Goffman being known as more of an observer rather than a social theorist.   The theory began to emerge when Goffman realised symbolic interaction between groups in certain settings. Goffman’s approach was not developed on theory but on analysis of the interaction order such as, social situations or environments in which two or more individuals are physically in one another’s presence (Goffman Reader, p. 235). Symbolic Interactionism reveals the truth behind people’s actual role by observing their emotions, expressions it showed through their theatrical performa nces (Weiss, 2001) Out of all the sociologists Goffman was the only sociologist who found interaction from individuals through groups and one to one. Goffman was criticized for being unusual in his work as Goffman worked on essays rather than research as sociologists were expected to be known as a researcher. Critics found his work difficult to comprehend and this made situations complicated. Gouldner, (1970) discovered that Goffman was not interested in power, social class or social structure. Goffman took the criticism well that he was unable to talk about macro-concerns.   These are the situations where we spend much or most of our life – in face-to-face activities involving others, whether these be everyday social situations, situations within organized structures (jobs, school), or unusual social situations (accidents, weddings, funerals). Goffman excels at observation, description, and insight, analyzing how people interpret and act in ordinary situations, and he prov ides guidelines concerning how to examine social situations. One of my colleagues recently read some articles by Goffman, noting how he sometimes became overly formal in his writings, and suggested that it is unfortunate the Goffman did not become a novelist rather than a sociologist. Key terms that relate to Symbolic Interactionism; are, ‘self’ which are known as ourselves, identity, personality or in terms of identity finding what and where the person is in social terms (Vryan, Adler Adler, 2003). Finding identity is through situations (Vryan, et al, 2003). The term ‘I’ meaning the actual individual itself, can be understood as the person being the person, could possibly mean the same thing as ‘self’. In relation to identity there are many issues with this term as identity can often be deceived when amongst other people. Nevertheless the person deceiving themselves may or may not be conscious of this role act always trying to impress others to be accepted. The way the theory can help sport sociologists understands social relations in various ways are observing roles that people play through experiences success through society’s attention, through its approval or disapproval (Weiss, 2001). Being approved for the pers on you are is a feeling of acceptance and feeling like you are essentially a part of a group, however if not feeling accepted this can influence the person to then act a different role or attempt to change personality traits which is clearly impossible.   Self – recognition can only happen through internal belief that acknowledgement has been met by others. Humans are creating each other all the time through the experiences being produced. Therefore in terms of sport, the athlete being acknowledged by surroundings and the media is through the success or been unsuccessful that the athlete has made in certain performances. The reason for change in these situations are doubts about ‘self’ not having enough self-esteem to come face to face with situations and individuals that are more of a threat. Self- esteem is found through identity reinforcement or social recognition. Self- awareness is developed in confidence in this self-esteem and encouragement from an indiv idual with the way the change takes place is recognised by others in the relationship to the self (Weiss, 2001). The positive that can be taken from this theory is that Goffman was aware of his surroundings. Goffman was criticised in his lack of knowledge when it came to macro-concerns. Functionalism and Marxism use strengths in this theory by functionalism being positive, appreciative about reality in society. Whereas Marxism is positive in revealing the truth to people therefore Erving would have experienced these approaches/theories during his observations. The strength that can be taken from Goffman is his awareness of people around him, and he emphasised this in his work so that people would be aware of existing roles being played. Goffman was able to observe certain situations such as, impression management, role distance and face work (Birrell et al., 2004). This relates to functionalism by showing a positive insight into peoples demeanour with values which is reflected throu gh identity reinforcement (Weiss, 2001). Functionalism through socialisation had a way of learning norms and values. The way the theory has applied sport is through the connection of society which forms identity reinforcement or acceptance.   Identity creates groups, specific sporting roles, and individuals in sporting performance (Weiss, 2001). Nevertheless in today’s society, there are many sporting issues that can be a barrier to forming an identity or being accepted. Issues that can arise in sports are sexism, racism, social class which mainly affect sporting performance being excluded or isolated from a group. For example, not being situated in the right class, a lower class member of society interesting in playing tennis but unable to, as there is low income from peers. Class associations have a long duration effect on economic inequality on people’s lives that has led to various amounts of wealth and power, which is to say to differing classes. (Bourdieu, 1978) Being acknowledged through an assigned role that is dependent at birth determines age, sex, background and even social class (Weiss, 2001). For example, being accepted for the way you look and behave is acknowledged in this area that allows the person to be a part of the team. To be specific, female footballers are accepted playing in their team due to their ability and not to do with their gender (Weiss, 2001) Developing self-esteem is followed throughout the sporting life of a performer which influences the behaviour of an individual. Recognition can be found through a specific role or function. In sport, there is a certain link between the class and sport that the participant plays. Another sporting example is recognition as a member of a group. Acceptance in a group states that th e member is part of the team due to being a popular member or being good at the role their given whilst playing the sport. Through acceptance it is by intimacy and symbolic ritual, the understanding between members of a groups that builds trust and close friendships (Weiss, 2001). This is met on the pitch and after the game at social events, especially with the bonding happening, it may demonstrate the connection on the pitch as well as off the pitch. Each and every one of the member of the team represents an individual of themselves. Even so the individuals are working towards their roles to make an impact of unity and belonging. However, the collapse in keeping a smooth interaction or even worse rejecting to act with others, gives Erving Goffman an opportunity to analyse the situation. An example that problems are accounted for are experienced in sports by not giving people a chance to express their speciality need, that gives the person their identity. The people being rejected a re willing to impress the ones who avoid their presence. Women being rejected for wanting to play football, this would look deviant to some people. Apparently women are supposed to play in sports such as, gymnastics, diving. This is more appropriate for women to be taking part in this activity rather than playing a game of football or rugby. This is the way male critics and some women who may not have any experience with football. Looking at this in a sporting way arguing on both sides of the situation, women being involved in football could help men understand the meaning of fairness and equality. Also ways in which to control behaviours on the pitch in a more controlled manner as women can bring good to the game. Birrell et al., 2004) supports the point by stating that women are best suitable in unnerved situations, well if that is the case then this can be demonstrated on the pitch especially in situations such as, penalty kicks, the build up to the penalty kick can be very intimidating and terrifying but if there is the support from other members of the groups and naturally being calm, it can put the situation at ease. References Weiss, O. (2001) Identify reinforcement in sport: revisiting the symbolic interactionalist Legacy, International review for the sociology of sport; 36; 393 Birrell, S. and Donnelly, P. (2004) Reclaiming Goffman: Erving Goffman’s influence on the sociology of sport. In: Giulianotti, R. (2004) Sport and modern social theorists, pp. 49-64, New York: Palgrave Bourdieu, P. (1978) ‘Sport and Social Class’, Social Science information 17: 819-40. Gouldner, A. (1970) The coming crisis of western sociology, New York: Basic books. In: Birrell, S. and Donnelly, P. (2004) Reclaiming Goffman: Erving Goffman’s influence on the sociology of sport. In: Giulianotti, R. (2004) Sport and modern social theorists, pp. 49-64, New York: Palgrave Vryan, KD, Adler PA Adler P, (2003) Identity in: Reynolds LT Merman- Kinney NJ. Handbook of symbolic interactionism. Lanham: AltaMira Press

Study Guide for The Piano Lesson Play

Study Guide for 'The Piano Lesson' Play The Piano Lesson is part of August Wilsons cycle of 10 plays known as the Pittsburg Cycle. Each play explores the lives of African-American families. The dramas take place in a different decade, from the early 1900s until the 1990s. The Piano Lesson premiered in 1987 at the Yale Repertory Theatre. Overview of the Play Set in Pittsburg during 1936, The Piano Lesson centers on the conflicting wills of a brother and sister (Boy Willie and Berniece) as they vie for possession of their familys most important heirloom, the piano. Boy Willie wants to sell the piano. With the money, he plans to buy land from the Sutters, a white family whose patriarch helped murder Boy Willies father. Berniece, 35, insists that the piano will stay in her home. She even pockets her late husbands gun to ensure the pianos security. So, why the power struggle over a musical instrument? To answer that, one must understand the history of Berniece and Boy Willys family (the Charles family), as well as a symbolic analysis of the piano. The Story of the Piano During Act One, Boy Willys Uncle Doaker recounts a series of tragic events in their familys history. During the 1800s, the Charles family was owned by a farmer named Robert Sutter. As an anniversary present, Robert Sutter traded two slaves for a piano. The exchanged slaves were Boy Willies grandfather (who was only 9 years old at the time) and great-grandmother (after whom Berniece was named). Mrs. Sutter loved the piano, but she missed the company of her slaves. She became so upset she refused to get out of bed. When Robert Sutter was unable to trade back the slaves, he gave a special task to Boy Willies great-grandfather (after whom Boy Willie was named). Boy Willies great-grandfather was a gifted carpenter and artist. Robert Sutter ordered him to carve pictures of the slaves into the wood of the piano so that Mrs. Sutter would not miss them as much. Of course, Boy Willies great-grandfather missed his family more earnestly than the slave owners. So, he carved beautiful portraits of his wife and child, as well as other images: His mother, Mama EstherHis father, Boy CharlesHis marriageHis sons birthHis mothers funeralThe day his family was taken away In short, the piano is more than an heirloom; it is a work of art, embodying the familys joy and heartache. Taking the Piano After the Civil War, members of the Charles family continued to live and work in the south. Three grandchildren of the aforementioned slaves are important characters of The Piano Lesson. The three brothers are: Boy Charles: The father of Boy Willie and Berniece.Doaker: A longtime railroad worker who has for all intents and purposes retired from the worldWining Boy: A lousy gambler and formerly-talented musician. During the 1900s, Boy Charles constantly complained about the Sutter familys ownership of the piano. He believed that the Charles family was still enslaved so long as the Sutters kept the piano, symbolically holding the Charles family legacy hostage. On July 4, the three brothers took the piano away while the Sutters enjoyed a family picnic. Doaker and Wining Boy transported the piano to another county, but Boy Charles stayed behind. That night, Sutter and his posse set fire to Boy Charles home. Boy Charles attempted to escape by train (the 3:57 Yellow Dog, to be exact), but Sutters men blocked the railroad. They set fire to the boxcar, murdering Boy Charles and four homeless men. Over the next 25 years, the murderers met a dreadful fate of their own. Some of them mysteriously fell down their own well. A rumor spread that the Ghosts of the Yellow Dog sought revenge. Others contend that ghosts had nothing to do with the death of Sutter and his men - that living and breathing men threw them into a well. Throughout The Piano Lesson, Sutters ghost appears to each of the characters. His presence can be seen as a supernatural character or the symbolic remnant of an oppressive society that still attempts to intimidate the Charles family.

Going for growth by investing in people, products and plant 2 Essay

Going for growth by investing in people, products and plant 2 - Essay Example Question 1 Before making an investment, it is prudent that one possesses an effective understanding of the market of operation. This is important in making an informed investment move. The process of studying the market and developing an understanding of the same is collectively referred to as investment appraisal. It involves a series of market evaluation through a number of mechanisms which result in the comparison of the business’ key objectives which are profitability under the existent market forces (Willey, 2012). There are a number of investment appraisal methodologies including net present value which investigates the ability of the market to repay the investment given the numerous present market factors such as inflation. One of the most preferred of these methods is the direct payback method in which the investor calculates the number of years it may take the business to return the initial investment. Some other investment appraisal method is the accounting rate of r eturn which bases its assessment of the market on its ability to earn profit to the investment. Despite their different approaches to the appraisal, the methods safeguard the interest of the business by trying to determine its profitability and above all its longevity. The life of a business is of great importance to the investor since the longer a business stays viable, the more the investor earns. The company makes an extensive capital investment with the sole aim of achieving the business objective. Capital investment is the amount of money that the enterprise invests in fixed assets which are directly used before implementing its investment plan. In this case, the Hazelwood Sandwiches Company carries out an extensive market research and investment appraisal thereby ensuring that their company stays relevant in the evidently dynamic market (Tabbush, 2011). This includes enhancing the production process such as the machinery and the production plant. The company does this after st aying in operation for some time; it therefore has an understanding of the market. Its decision to make such an expansive capital investment arises from the understanding that it has for the market. The company, just as any other desires, to stay active in the industry for as long as it takes. It therefore collects adequate information about the market and has its market facts right (Thomas & Michael, 2001). After determining the market size, the company determines its market share which is indeed the largest. The subsequent investment therefore arises from the desire to retain the position thus safeguarding both the profitability and the longevity of the company. The company has therefore mapped out its capital investment plan in phases to ensure that it does not become bankrupt in the process since such as scenario might have stifled the production process thereby either incurring debts or resulting in the eventual closure of the company. While purchasing fixed assets and improvin g the scale of production, the company also increases its working capital which is also part of capital investment. Question 2 The investment decision technique is synonymous to the investment appraisal method. The three discussed in the article are the playback method, the net present value, and the account rate of return (Alexander, 2010). Despite the fact that they all lead to an appropriate investment decision, they are different in their provisions and therefore possess unique advantages and disadvantages. The net