Lumber-Room Essay

lumber-room The story under analysis was written by Hector Munro, a British novelist and a short-story writer. After his parents’ death he was brought up by a grandmother and two aunts, one of them was a woman of ungovernable temper, of fierce likes and dislikes, imperious and a moral coward. She was the last person who should have been in charge of children. The character of the aunt in The Lumber-Room is Aunt Augusta to the life. The story is about a little boy Nikolas who lives with his cruel aunt, brother and cousins.One day he commits the offence thus bringing the punishment upon himself, but he’s not upset as he is intended to sneak into the lumber-room. He plays trick with his aunt and finally gets into the forbidden paradise. The main idea of this story is the conflict between unchangeable conventional reality and poetry and intellectual freedom, between dogmatic, pedantic, philistine mind and poetic imagination. The story is a 3-person narration interlaced with inner thoughts and descriptive passages. The prevailing mood is rather positive, ironical and highly emotional.The text under study can be divided into 4 logically complete parts. The first part can be entitled â€Å"the 1 part of the plan†. Nickolas is not going with his small brother and his cousins to the Jagborough sands as his aunt has punished him for his disgraceful conduct at breakfast when he refused to eat his wholesome bread-and milk on the seemingly frivolous ground that there was a frog in it. The author’s attitude to the aunt is revealed with the help of the antonomasia â€Å"older and wiser and better people† and the high-flown adjectives â€Å"wholesome and frivolous†.Nickolas is shown as a very wise and clever boy for his age. In the following paragraph the author resorts to some bookish words such as â€Å"alleged†, â€Å"profoundly in error†, â€Å"utmost assurance† and long sentences to make the reader feel the st yle of aunt’s thoughts and haughty treatment of the children. Apart from Nickolas his aunt is described rather directly; she’s shown as self-confident and self-righteous person who can never admit her mistake. Her false piety is depicted by ironical use of religious words, such as â€Å"sin† and â€Å"depravity†.Judicial and military terminology such as â€Å"rigorously debarred†, â€Å"skilled tactician† conveys the tense atmosphere in the aunt and boy’s relations. At the time of children’s departure N drops a few decent tears. But he isn’t upset as this is just a part of his plan. The second part can be entitled as â€Å"the 2 part of the plan†. N is forbidden to go into the gooseberry garden as he’s in disgrace. And his aunt is going to keep an eye on it. But N himself feels perfectly capable of being in disgrace and in the gooseberry garden at the same time. And with the help of the zeugma the author co ntributes humorous effect in the text.The reader can trace the opposition between the aunt and the boy, which is again reproduced by the military terms, such as â€Å"sorties†, â€Å"operations†, â€Å"sentry-duty†, â€Å"unauthorized intrusion†. This idea also appears in the different attitude to the gooseberry garden. For aunt it is a forbidden paradise and for N it’s just a mere material pleasure. The descriptive passage of the aunt shows her as a woman of few ideas, with immense power of concentration. So, during N’s aunt duty, the boy gets the key, which opens the door of the lumber-room. The third part can be entitled â€Å"in the lumber-room†.N gets into the lumber-room and everything is new for him. In the first paragraph we see the repetition of the word â€Å"it†, which indicates Nikolas’s strong desire to get into the lumber-room. It was carefully sealed but this fact just stirred his curiosity. With the help of the metaphor â€Å"unimagined treasure† and description of the lumber-room (it was dimly lit), the author creates the mysterious atmosphere. Nicholas’s aunt is shown as rather conservative and mean as she prefer to consign things to dust and damp to preserve them and not to spoil.The metaphorical epithet â€Å"living breathing story† is used to show that Nickolas was impressionable, imaginative, full of creative ideas with poetic nature. It is understood indirectly through Nicholas’s attitude to the tapestry picture, which he sees for the first time but creates a vivid fairytale with a great number of small details. And the questions used in this paragraph indicate the dynamically developing plot of the fairytale in the N’s mind. The metaphorical epithet â€Å"golden minutes† is used to show that the time Nickolas spends in the lumber-room is very precious.When N finishes with the picture he notices other objects of delight and interest. The great number of epithets used in this part such as: objects of delight, (claiming his) instant attention, quaint candlesticks, undreamed-of creatures and the metaphorical expression â€Å"for the eyes to feast on† – emphasizes the fact that N isn’t used to such unusual things and it makes the opposition to the things in the house, which are â€Å"bare† and â€Å"cheerless†, dull and shapeless. The use of the exclamatory marks shows highly emotional state of the boy.Suddenly, the scream and then shriek of the aunt come from the gooseberry garden. But N smiles as he feels his victory in the war. Being skilled tactician he restores things to their places, shakes some dust on them, creeps from the room, locks the door and replaces the key exactly where he had found it. He saunters into the garden considering himself the winner of the battle. The 4th part can be entitled as â€Å"The rebellion†. Nickolas hears his aunt’s voice from the gooseberry garden where she gets into the rain-water tank while searching for him and she can’t get out as the sides are slippery.She asks him to help but he says that he isn’t to go into the garden and suspects her being the Evil One that tempts him to be disobedient. We see now that Nickolas pronounces the aunt’s usual phrase and thus fights her with her own weapon. This idea is proved with the using the metaphor â€Å"the prisoner in the tank†. So, the person who rescues the aunt is a kitchemaid. During the evening tea there is fearsome silence. The children are disappointed with the trip as there was the tide and there was no sands to play on and the metaphor punitive expedition contributes the state of the children.The aunt suffers the situation in the tank and only Nickolas, who is to be in disgrace is satisfied and thinks about the continuation of the story pictured in his mind while watching tapestry in the lumber-room. The story ends again with the antithesis of unchangeable conventional reality and poetry and intellectual freedom. On the whole this text appeals to me as it shows the problems of human nature and children up-bringing. The aunt is a conventional person who tries to keep everything as it is, without any change.She has no joy in her life and she brings up the children in the way that leads them to the same attitude to the world. But in spite of this, N, a young but extremely wise and clever boy, sees the things from the different side. He is very curious; he enjoys the world and tries to broaden his horizon. This problem of upbringing is still quite acute and the story helps to see it from another side. Moreover, the author makes an abundant usage of different stylistic devices which produce ironical and humorous effect and helps to ridicule such way of up-bringing through the character of the aunt and this makes the story even more vivid.

Unity Bank

Oct-Nov 2006: Smaller company acquires a market leader June 2007: major integration: systems & operations Unity’s integration goals: †¢ Save $60 million worth of IT expenses within 3 years on staff and infrastructure †¢ Wants to be the world’s #1 provider of share registry services †¢ Maximize shareholder wealth CIO, Stuart Irving worries: †¢ Lack of due diligence because of legal problems †¢ Hart Scott Rodino Act prevented proper communications †¢ Unknown bugs within Delta’s operations might affect the integration’s timeline & budgetary goals †¢ Present a short and efficient integration to the investors †¢ OVERVIEWUNITY Strengths †¢ †¢ Very efficient technologically Professional and experienced staff members Good incentives, innovative projects: keeps staff motivated and stimulated Remarkable ability to attract talented professionals Family oriented work environment †¢ †¢ Weaknesses Small player in US market Difficulty hiring entry level programmers because BLAIR uses COBOL †¢ Strengths Delta has more clients and is a bigger brand in the US LEADER: uses object-oriented programming language †¢ †¢ †¢ DELTA Weaknesses Technological challenges Limited capabilities Duplication of resources due to systems’ limitations Failed integrations in the past Clients can’t view portfolio of investments †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ PROBLEM STATEMENT A. Determine the enterprise platform? B. Staff motivation issues C. Create a new organizational structure? D. Attract star performers? E. Start building the infrastructure for the new organization? DISCUSSION OF KEY ISSUES A. Determining the enterprise platform Delta has 4 different systems Clients/Employees on different systems No consistency in user experience Leader: Delta’s attempt to consolidate all of its systems Unity has one system: BLAIR Written in COBOL (hard to find employees /training costs) Issue: What is the best way to integrate the two organizations?Clients can’t view their investments as a portfolio Clients experience differences in services because of the different systems Inefficient Staff and infrastructure is costly/Creates wasted resources A. Determining the enterprise platform SCENARIO 1: US Demand increases SCENARIO 2: Stock decreases because of previous integration failures NEGATIVE: Integration is too timely to show investors that it’s a successful integration SCENARIO 3: Increase in Delta star-performer resignation POSITIVE: Easier to hire entry level programmers, develop new features and customize system SCENARIO 4: US Demand Decreases ALTERNATIVE 1: Upgrade Leader to BLAIR’s capabilities: $45 million POSITIVE: Ability to easily hire entry level programmers.NEGATIVE: Less funds to test and develop Leader. Taking a risk of using a new system with remaining users. NEGATIVE: Leader hasn’t been tested in the field ALTERNATIVE 2: Use BLAIR to provide services under Delta’s brand POSITIVE: BLAIR has been tested in the field and proved to be efficient POSITIVE: The use of BLAIR will shorten the integration time. NO EFFECT NEGATIVE: BLAIR is proven to be inefficient in US market NEGATIVE: Difficulty hiring entry level programmers and developing new features. ALTERNATIVE 3: Keep both systems temporarily POSITITVE: Both systems are tested in their fields and employees are experienced NEGATIVE: Costly. Inefficient.NEGATIVE: The goal of the acquisition is not achieved POSITIVE: Allow Unity to retain star performers and evaluate them further NEGATIVE: Less funds to maintain both systems and infrastructures DISCUSSION OF KEY ISSUES B. Delta’s staff – motivation issues Staff is not unified No effective communication Lack of information flow from Delta to Unity Decreased team work Feeling of â€Å"Unity vs. Delta† among employees Fence sitters Skeptical about new managementâ €™s promises Fear of uncertainty DISCUSSION OF KEY ISSUES C. Creating a new IT Organizational Structure Issue: How to create an efficient integration team? Unity or Delta? Who should be in control?Delta employees knew their systems Unity is the acquirer If things are left as they are: Cost inefficient/Timely Trainings Duplicated jobs/salaries Affected by disengaged staff Can’t be sure who is a star performer DISCUSSION OF KEY ISSUES D. Attracting star performers Limitations of due diligence Unity is only familiar with upper management of Delta’s staff Disengaged/demoralized employees Unclear who is a top performer Not sure how to motivate a staff until their services are no longer needed B. Staff motivation C. Organizational structure D. Attracting star performers ALTERNATIVE 1: Create team-oriented incentive programs/ competitive environment ALTERNATIVE 2: Integration task force 50/50 staff SCENARIO 1: Demand increases SCENARIO 2: Stock decreases because of previo us integration failuresSCENARIO 3: Increase in Delta star-performer resignation SCENARIO 4: Sales decrease POSITIVE: Funds available to support programs POSITIVE: Competitive environment will speed up the process of integration POSITIVE: Staff is no longer demoralized and disengaged – able to assist with a speedy integration NEGATIVE: Staff is demoralized and disengaged – unable to assist with a speedy integration NEGATIVE: Increase in employee apathy and willingness to accept severance and look for employment elsewhere. POSITIVE: Allows to identify remaining star performers and retaining them NEGATIVE: Difficult to create and maintain a strong integration task forceNEGATIVE: Decrease in funds to support programs. POSITIVE: Staff is no longer demoralized and disengaged – able to meet demand NEGATIVE: Delta staff demoralized and unable to meet demand POSITIVE: People eager to keep jobs, demand met NO EFFECT ALTERNATIVE 3: Keep it Unity: all supervisors NEGATIVE: More Delta employees disengaged and looking to resign NEGATIVE: More Delta employees disengaged and looking to resign NEGATIVE: Trust in Unity decreases ALTERNATIVE 4: Issue contract expirations depending on deadlines NEGATIVE: People eager to keep jobs – unethical conduct increases – no longer family oriented environment DISCUSSION OF KEY ISSUES E.Starting to build the infrastructure for the new organization Unity and Delta ran completely different phone systems, networking hardware, office servers, and PC systems Hardware changes were imperative in order for the organization to operate as a single unit How to decrease duplication of expenses on resources? Buildings/Hardware/Maintenance expenses must decrease Organization has to operate as a single unit Reductions = Savings Building the infrastructure for the new organization ALTERNATIVE 1: Create an expense evaluation team: Delta and Unity 50/50 SCENARIO 1: Demand increases SCENARIO 2: Stock decreases because of prev ious integration failures SCENARIO 3: Increase in Delta star-performer resignation SCENARIO 4: Sales decrease POSITIVE: Staff is able to evaluate and determine the best use of resource allocation NEGATIVE: Resources consolidated/ difficulty meeting demand POSITIVE: Assist in decreasing duplicated expenses thus amplifying earningsPOSITIVE: Ability to hire entry level replacements will decrease company’s wage expense NEGATIVE: More Delta employees disengaged and looking to resign POSITIVE: Assist in decreasing duplicated expenses thus amplifying earnings ALTERNATIVE 2: Geographic integrations: Keep Unity supervisors POSITIVE: Getting rid of redundant assets could increase earnings temporarily NEGATIVE: Unclear if this integration strategy will be successful NEGATIVE: Unclear if this integration strategy will be successful NEGATIVE: Trust in Unity decreases ALTERNATIVE 3: Close down all Delta buildings NEGATIVE: Resources consolidated/ difficulty meeting demand NEGATIVE: More De lta employees disengaged and looking to resign NEGATIVE: Trust in Unity decreases

Why are tropical Countries so poor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Why are tropical Countries so poor - Essay Example As a point of clarity, in this case the term Institutions are in reference to establishments such as hospitals, schools, the military, as well as civil and media services that have been set up usually by the government to help in the everyday activities of the nation. Having given these examples, one can see how development cannot be achieved without the presence of proper institutions in place (Komives, 2005). For example, a country without efficient medical facilities would be hindered in the process of development as they fought against diseases that would no doubt attack and ravage their nation as a result (Blastland, 2009). Tropical countries are a good example of how poor institutions have hindered the progress of certain parts of the country and as a result left many of the members from that area languishing in poverty (Ravallion, Chen & Sangraula, 2008). The lack of well ground institutions such as schools especially of the higher learning category (that is, colleges and universities) in rural areas have left the members of those societies unable to match up to their counterparts in the cities and thus as a result they are unable to get well paying jobs and are limited to minimal career roles that hardly have a valid future in their prospects such as janitors and messengers (Greif, 2006). Their inability to climb up the professional ladder due to a lack of sufficient education ensures that they are not able to get higher paying jobs and better their lives in the process all as a result of a lack of proper institutions for education. The lack of proper institutions in these tropic countries have led to only a chosen few (being the financially wealthy) being able to get ahead and better their lives (Kristof, 2009). In a country like Haiti, for example, statistics show that over half the population live below the poverty line, this can be said to be because of lack of properly set up institutions in the country (Solley, 2005). The establishment of good

Language as a Reflection of Life, Power, Relationships and Self-Realiz Essay - 8

Language as a Reflection of Life, Power, Relationships and Self-Realization in Hurstons Work - Essay Example Though pegged majorly in search for love and personal identity, the author brings out other themes as closely interwoven with themes of gender and sexuality using language. The language of men and that of Janie and other women reflect different inclinations to societal approaches to its issues. This paper shall analyze, critique and discuss how language has been used to change the status quo or sustain it. The thesis statement shall be: Language, as used in Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, is a double edge sword that has the power to effect both positive and negative changes. As the story begins, the author brings to the attention of the reader that the whole narration is based on a flashback. The major character is narrating her life to her best friend Phoeby in a friendly language between age-mates. Through that narration, her grandmother’s use of language depicts responsibility though stuck in the past. Nanny Crawford’s use of language may be seen to be overly restricted to safeguard her beliefs about life, which according to her, has to be defined through the prism of financial responsibility. She marries off Janie for two reasons after seeing her kiss Johnny Taylor. She persuades Janie into marrying the aged Logan Killicks. Her language as she admonishes Janie tells that her perspective about marriage is overly focused on life, family and stability as opposed to happiness. That is evidenced when she tells her that she should not let her down like her mother Leafy who deserted her. Her grandmother says, â€Å"So you don’t want to marry off decent like, do yuh?...Do you want to make me suck the sorrow yo’ mama did, eh? (Hurston 30)† One may also observe Nanny Crawford’s language, though a woman, depicts that belief that family relationships amongst married people should be safeguarded by all means. When Janie realizes that Logan was interested more in a farm assistant than in wife, she comes to lament to her grandmother Nanny Crawford about her marital issues.  

The Effect of Direct Effect on Directives Essay

The Effect of Direct Effect on Directives - Essay Example The new regulations of European Union Law now state that the European regulations that have been framed in accordance with the provisions of the new European treaties have a direct effect upon all citizens of the European Union and on the laws that are made by the member states of the Union. This principle was first laid out by the European Court of Justice in the case of Van Gend en Loos v Nederlanse Administratie der Belastingen1. In this case, the Treaty of Rome was at issue and the ECJ ruled that individuals could take action against a State for breaching EU rules, since the new treaty grants rights and imposes obligations on individuals. According to the ruling laid out in this case, European Community regulations were also valid when tried in the national courts, because the regulations were similar to the national laws in that they had a similar effect upon an individual’s rights and responsibilities. Therefore in effect, the Court has ruled that a new legal order has b een created. The Direct Effect creates individual rights which the domestic courts must protect without needing to resort to the States concerned, since EU law took precedence. This is known as the â€Å"vertical direct effect† of Treaty articles. A â€Å"horizontal direct effect† was laid out in the case of Defrenne vs Sabena2, wherein provisions of EU law were directly applicable in a domestic court, in proceedings by an individual against a Company. This has affected the application of internal laws within each of the European member States. By virtue of the Direct Effect, member States are now obligated to comply with Community Law as it has been framed according to European laws within the framework of their own internal laws.

Any arguement with a moral or causal claim Essay

Any arguement with a moral or causal claim - Essay Example Indubitably, such religious decrees have made man what he is today, where God and His guidelines have been argued to have paved the way of human development. Astonishingly, there is no specific definition for God. Yet, man loves Him and fears Him from the ancient period. Nevertheless, humans, either in their conscious or unconscious thoughts, have faced the questions asking for the existence of God. Certainly, if God exists, and as argued in the religious verses, acts in the good of mankind then why does not He share His presence in the earthly world or even support His followers with firm evidences to proof that He exists? Thesis Statement This thesis will aim at assessing the cosmological claim of God’s existence which states that if the universe exists, it is for a cause which is none other than God and thus, it can be considered as a truth that God exists. Based on this cosmological thought and the modern day connotations, the thesis will further intend to argue regarding the causal claim to come across a rational explanation to the theological question that whether God exists, and if He does then why. Discussion Since the evolution of scientific theories, ancient human beliefs have been contradicted on various grounds, whether it is Galileo Galilei’s discovery of earth’s rotation around the sun or Albert Einstein’s theory on gravity. Although these revolutionary concepts were accepted in the human society with passing time and relatively at a much rapid pace, a few of these still remain widely debated topics amid philosophers and scientists. The arguments regarding God’s existence have been one of the most disputable issues to create a parallel distinction between atheists and theists. Certainly, due to the unavailability of requisite proof on the basis of scientific rationale and also because of the reluctance deciphered by the theists to accept the logic argued by atheists, this particular issue has contributed in moder n philosophy as a cosmological thought which has attracted critics from around the world and apparently, from every doctrine (Palmquist, 2009). Arguments raised on this ground have often pointed that if God’s existence is questioned, the historic notional views, based on which the human society has been built, shall fumble and alas, might be destroyed (Hans & Helge, 2011). The cosmological view explained with reference to kalam argument on the existence of God further affirms that, â€Å"Everything that exists or begins to exist has a cause (Premise 1: EP); The universe exists and began to exist (Premise 2: EP); The universe must have a cause (Premise 3: IP); The cause of the universe is God (Conclusion: IC)†. However, this particular argument has been strongly criticized by atheists acclaiming the view to be a paradoxical notion (Morriston, 2000). In response to these questions and arguments, various studies were conducted to prove that God exists on the basis of comp lex theoretical philosophical underpinnings. Explaining the cosmological arguments on the existence of God, Craig (2010) explained that things exist either for an external cause or because of its necessity in the world as connoted in the Premise 1 of the kalam argument. For instance, mathematics exists because of necessity while physical objects exist for a particular cause. Therefore, if the universe is regarded as a physical object, it

Sociological imagination Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Sociological imagination - Essay Example This paper shall discuss the basis of the secondary schools and how these shape up the beliefs and ideologies of the students in a number of different ways. It will take a look at how the sociological imagination within their ranks develops and what more could be done to bring sanity within the related ranks in the future. Social Identity Defined Social identity is defined as a method within the domains of social psychology where individuals are earmarked to differentiate between a number of levels or in terms of their identity types. The social identity philosophy is made use of by people from different disciplines where economics and political science stand out within the related realms. The inter-group relations are discussed at length within the social identity domains and this is the reason why it has been largely highlighted in the studies that deal with identity building across a number of platforms. Role of Secondary Schools in Shaping up Social Identity How the secondary sch ools shape up the social identity domains of the students is something that needs to be understood. This is the age when the students exploit their strengths and want to know more and more about the worldly affairs than was ever the case in the past. This is the time when they will get to know about things that they have never discussed in the earlier stages of their lives. It is true to state that the social identities start getting advanced with each passing day and the significance for this is provided through the acts and behaviors of the students themselves. They believe that they should get to know more about the world around them, and thus discern the real basis of humanity by all means of imagination. Their sociological perspectives start getting developed, where they explore how things work and shape up in different situations, and how these embody the basis of success for their own selves in the long run. In short, there is a great amount of breakdown of thoughts and perce ptions that were there within their minds in the past. What they see now is filled with experiments that they have had at this stage. They will get to find out about things up close and personal, and thus experience the same through their hands. They will see the reality basis of things and thus change their perspectives. Relationship of Social Identities with Educational Under-attainment Since the secondary schools make the students realize where they are going to be as regards to their future domains, it is only natural to think of the students in the same light. This is because the social identity issues deem a great deal of significance for the students when it comes to gaining an understanding of the educational quarters. These educational regimes receive a kick since under-attainment can easily be witnessed by the people who matter the most within the affairs of these secondary schools – the top management which is concerned with the propagation of education. The social identities with educational under-attainment come about as a reality because the students start believing in the fact that there could be much more than education at this age. They delve into other zones of life and decipher the meaning of such acts in a wholly different way. There is a good amount of confusion happening within their fore and this is the reason why the