Leadership of Howard Schultz Essay Example for Free

Leadership of Howard Schultz Essay Howard Schultz for President? . Howard Schultz, who is a founder CEO of Starbucks has showing concern about the future of Americans. His recent activities including boycott the political donations, until Washington, D. C coming up with some real effort to reduce the debt ceiling. Disappointing with the U. S political leaders as they failing to act appropriately while Americas confidence is faltered. By looking at the past, the Starbucks CEO has indeed achieved a remarkable milestone, from a sales person in Xerox Corporation in 1979 and to today, a massive green giant astonishing leader. All this footprint certainly is not coincidence or miracles. In the past, economy volatility, US recession, consumer demand instability struck his business beyond all recognition. Despite all this pitfalls, this premium coffee maker able to embrace the resistance and continue serving quality coffee every corner till today. Looking at his context ,all these demonstrates that his business understands the concept of ostrich syndrome, meaning by burying their head in the sand when facing criticism. And such, Howard now challenge the leadership style adopted by the U.  S government by not hearing the heart of the Americans. The question here is, Can his leadership style fit perfectly in the political field? Many critics claimed this is total different ball game, not just about coffee bean. As Howard apparently lack of political experience, this has put his entrepreneur leadership into challenge. Howards leadership however substantiated by evidences, well, at least from business perspectives. In his business history , this captain well aware that customer response and satisfaction is the best business performance thermostat. But to achieve this corporate desire , will require tremendous effort, starting from top management down to every barista in Starbucks. In such circumstances, to him, everything matters, and this is not something hard to observe. This modern leadership are well played by Howard and his team throughout Starbucks business. Sourcing from Joseph Michelli- Starbucks experience, this coffee business having the capability of motivating people through powerful, emotionally engaging visions and reconciling the people needs around their organization. Starbucks management has even establish a Mission Review Committee that govern leadership behaviors and ensure commitment by their partners by listening their concern. They makes a point of listening and responding to the ideas and suggestions of partners. Clearly, Howard adopt Situational Leadership here, whereby attend the perception of the followers and to indicate how efforts directed towards wider organizational goals could align with calculations of follower self-interest. His leadership style, changes our perspectives towards leadership. Is the U. S President not doing sufficiently to address the needs of his people? Dont get me wrong. Both also are transformational leaders, is just that Howard Schultz is practicing authentic leadership, this largely due to his father losing jobs because of medical problems, since then he became passionate about a company’s need to care for its employees. On the flip side, President Obama has proved to be a very good Senate majority leader by convening committees to do the work and intervening at the end. One of this strength is tends to see issues from several vantage points at once, so maybe it is natural that he favors a process that involves negotiating and fudging between different points of view. But particular in this debt ceiling settlement, he seems to be passive. Further from the above, so what setback is facing by the President? According to the award winning author, John Kotter, in his book Our Iceberg is melting, somewhat is similar to President Obama of failure in producing short-term wins. Failure in creating some visible, unambiguous successes to his fellow Americans all these while. This eventually causing Americans losing faith and trust in his leadership. This weakness of President Barrack Obama allowing Howard Schultz leadership ability become more prominence. Howard now ultimate intention is to create more job opportunities inside U. S, which he believe will turn things around. This similar challenge faced by all the leaders around the world, no exception of the increasing unemployment rate in my country. In my opinion, to resuscitate the economy, unparallel creative leadership style is needed. Perfect example from Sternbergs propulsion model of creative leadership, Re-initiation leadership style, whereby a leap in the dark from the familiar to meet perceived opportunity, and findings ways of removing constraints to uplift current country economic condition. This is certainly not easy. Especially the effort of satisfying the needs of millions citizen in Malaysia. Perhaps, respective leaders need to learn from the green giant leader on how to surprise and delight like what he did to his Starbucks customer. This is what we hope from our leaders, an effort to put a smile on everyones face.

Pros and Cons of Obama Care Essay Example for Free

Pros and Cons of Obama Care Essay The Affordable Care Act withstood many trials on its way toward becoming reality, from epic congressional battles, to a pivotal Supreme Court ruling, to — finally — yesterdays Presidential election. Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images Obamas reelection means his health-care reform act has dodged its last bullet, and the age of universal mandates, penalty taxes and tax credits will almost certainly go into effect, although probably not exactly as scheduled on Jan. 1, 2014. What do you need to do to get your business ready? (Read more: Warby Parker CEO: Startups Focused on Health-Care Costs, Immigration Reform) Inc. put the question to health-care policy expert Henry J. Aaron, a senior fellow at Washington think tank Brookings Institution. Aaron offered three key ideas for entrepreneurs facing the enormous changes scheduled for health care during Obamas second term. 1. Weigh the Costs The key decision you will face is whether to sponsor a health-care plan, if you dont already have one, or to drop a policy you may have and leave employees to buy insurance on the exchanges themselves. The pros and cons of either route will depend on the size of your payroll, both in people and dollars. Do you have 50 or fewer employees? Then you arent subject to penalties for not providing an employee plan. On the flip side, helping employees pay for insurance affords tax advantages. If you have fewer than 25 full-timers on your payroll and their average pay is less than $50,000, the law affords you a tax credit of up to 35 percent for providing insurance today, rising to 50 percent in 2014. (Read more: Disaster Loans Soar as Businesses Struggle After Sandy) Theres a calculation to be done, said Aaron, if your employees are below the threshold (which tops out at 400 percent of the poverty line) for getting a federal subsidy to buy insurance on their own. In such a case, it might make sense to drop insurance and add the savings to your employees cash compensation. The question you should ask, Aaron said, is, If my employees are going to be eligible for subsidies, why should I leave that money on the table? If you have more than over 50 on staff, its a different story. If just one employee qualifies for insurance subsidies, and you dont provide insurance, that means tax penalties. 2. Check Your States Approach In theory, you should be able to buy insurance for your employees on the new health-insurance exchanges. However, states differ in how they plan to administer the exchanges. If youre running a small business, what prospects you face depend sensitively on where youre doing business, Aaron said. Some states, like Vermont, will take an active role, making sure a broad range of insurance plans will be available on the exchange. Many others leave it to the federal government to run the exchange for individuals and will leave employer-sponsored plans alone. The complexities are likely to create a mini-boom in the services of insurance brokers. Aaron suggest that you are likely to find them even more necessary than they are now in navigating the explosion in new options and rules. 3. Take Your Time Enrollment in the new health-care exchanges wont begin until October 2013 at the earliest. Legal requirements — and the accompanying fees for disobeying them — wont take effect until January 2014. Washington red tape probably could push those dates out even further into the future. Its a complicated bill, and its not drafted in a way to facilitate implementation, said Aaron. Delays could become inevitable and necessary. That might suit many business owners just fine.

Evaluating strategic management inside Honda Motors

Evaluating strategic management inside Honda Motors Honda is a Japan- based automobiles company. It is a well known company for the production of cars and motorcycles. Honda automobile company offers various varieties of vehicles, ranging from compact, fuel efficient cars to SUVs, minivans and trucks. It is one of the top automobile manufacturers in the world and is well known for producing affordable and reliable forms of transportation. This report contains a comprehensive study of Honda automobiles. It looks at the current strategies of Honda automobiles, that how they put their strategies to implement their objectives. The main purpose of the report is to analyze the business Honda automobiles and how they compete with their competitors. 2.0 Objectives To research into the current strategic position of Honda motors. To critical analyze the external and internal environment of Honda motors. To design a selection of strategic option utilising the internal and external analysis 3.0 Company Overview In the global market scenario, Honda is the worlds largest engine manufacturer and market leader in Automobile. Honda has been operating 120 manufacturing facilities in 29 countries and employs 167,231 people worldwide. Honda has expanded in main markets following years i.e. In 1959 Honda established its first overseas subsidiary, American Honda Motor Co. Ltd, 1964 Honda established its first Asian subsidiary in Thailand, Asian Honda Motor Co., Ltd. 1965 Honda (U.K.) Limited established in London (the first market of Honda in, Europe) 1971 Honda Motor does Brazil Ltd. established in Sao Paulo (presently Honda South America Ltda.) The key point lead to Hondas success is the continuous innovation that was found by Mr. Honda as a basis. In todays automobiles world Honda is a largest manufacturer of motorcycle and it stands at a 9 largest automobile manufacturer in he world. The market share of Honda until now is 10.2 percent and it is ranked as No.5 in UK (the most particular/fastidious market). In United Kingdom, North America and Asias automobile industries, Honda Company becomes a technological force in the motorcycle sector. 3.1 Mission and Vision: MISSION Maintaining a global view point and we are dedicated to supplying products of the highest quality, yet at a reasonable price for worldwide customer satisfaction. VISION Striving to be a company society wants to exist. The main focus of Honda is on the developing a technologies and products in the two areas, electro-motive technology and motorcycles to create breakthrough for the future. 3.2 Strategy of Honda Motors 3.2.1Enterprise Strategy Honda wants to have its operation in worldwide to supply the highest quality of products at a reasonable price, with a dedication of consumer satisfaction. With new challenges in pursuit of quality, technology and initiative, Honda is pursuing their vision by striving a company society who wants to exist through creating the new value, globalization and commitment for the future. Moreover, Honda wants to take new challenges with the pursuit of Initiative, Technology and Quality. 3.2.2 Corporate Strategy Hondas portfolio includes three businesses: Automobiles business, Motorcycles business, Power business. Even though stepping into Automobile industry rather late at 1963, Honda quickly leads the industry with characteristics like superior fuel economy, optimum safety, and driving pleasure. Hondas sales and production in this industry prove successful steadily not just in U.S. but also in many regions worldwide. Meanwhile, motorcycle business is the first business of Honda, from 1963 with the event of the first overseas plant in Belgium, Honda has devoted in one basic rule: build products close to the customer. Now Honda has its Research and Development operations in many countries like U.K, U.S, Italy, China, Germany, Thailand and India. In the future they will create a very promising and potential Honda. 3.2.3Business Strategy RD is sharpening the business advantage of Honda, together with the fierce competition between Honda and competitors, and they all define the business strategy of Honda. One of the proudest things about Honda is its RD system. With the systematic way of approaching, focus on durability, reliability and basic performance to establish a creative and innovative technical foundation. With the wisely approach to the future, the Honda products do care about the economical, environmental, and social issues. Honda keeping involving in the research and development that benefit people in the future through leading-edge technology and commitment to innovation that opens up new possibilities in mobility. With à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¢The Joy of Selling- The dealership of Honda is also one of its strengths. Through creating products and services that provide the core values that make Honda unique, the Hondas associates around the world keep creating such inspiring experience for its customer. 3.2.4 Operational Strategy Honda operates in the worldwide market with 134 production facilities in 28 countries and at 31 RD facilities in 15 countries, about 167000 Honda employees and associates serve 23 million customers worldwide annually. Hondas global operations are divided into 6 administrative regions responsible for operating. Hiring and engaging the people and philanthropic initiatives locally in the communities that Honda operates. Honda is pushing the independence of their local management and sales operations, at the same time with integrating and forward-looking plan for each region. They operate under the conduct guidelines that help member companies and associates in evaluating and managing risks, complying with laws and regulations, keeping a high level of transparency in operational level, thats all to maximize the worldwide customer satisfaction. 3.2.5 The Individual Strategy This strategy reflects the Hondas values the three joys. That is The joy of buying, the joy of selling and the joy of producing. The individual strategy of Honda is reflected through the Hondas philosophy à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¢The Three Joyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬- The Joy of buying, the joy of selling, and the joy of producing. With the joy of buying, the Hondas associates must try their best to exceed the customers expectation. Meanwhile, with the joy of selling, which concern not only about the relationship between the dealers and their customers, but they also feel the pride of having a positive relationship with their customers. And the last one, the joy of producing comes from manufacturing, research and developmentà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ by producing quality products that satisfy customers worldwide, the Hondas employees can experience pride in exceeding the expectation of their customers. That all bring the strategies of Honda from their enterprise level, through corporation, business, operational level, to individual strategy level, that spread the Hondas strategic spirit throughout the company. 3.3 GLOBAL OPERTION AND MARKET PLACE In 2009, Honda able to building their products closes to the customers. Honda delivered 23 million units to the customer round the six different regions worldwide. Honda always conscious about its operations, that they do not have any impact on the environment. In concern with all these things, Honda started working on the environmental stability around the world. 4.0 Market Analysis: 4.1 SWOT Analysis: STRENGTHS Producing high quality of products Having the Pioneer engineering in hybrid technology Build products which are always close to the customer. WEAKNESSES In non luxury vehicles, prices are much higher as comparison to other automobile companies. Do not have a strong offering in a truck line. Product are fairly brand and inoffensive in terms of styling. OPPURTUNITIES Company have to work on work on the low emission vehicles and other alternative power sources. An offering in a truck line business would be profitable, because these kinds of vehicles have the highest profit margin among anyone else. THREATS à ¢-  Changes in the government rules and regulation à ¢-  Credit crunch 4.2 Competitive Advantage Honda posses a large number of advantages in the automobile industry that makes it the most running brand in the market among a large number of consumers. Reliability Hondas effort towards the building up of its quality has maintained its top position in the market. Its product quality can be easily tested from the fact that a large number of older Honda automobiles are still running excellent on the roads. Fuel efficiency Honda is just not only designing and presenting varied models but is most importantly insisting on the fuel efficiency. Honda is the only brand that has launched the concept of Hybrid vehicles to save the consumers pocket while enjoying luxury. Value Honda has been known for its offering a complete product to the customers in terms of value for money whether you go for luxury segment or sports. 5.0 External Analysis: 5.1 PESTEL Analysis Political/ Legal environment: The various government rules and regulation imposed over automobile and power product industries regarding level of pollution, noise pollution, fuel consumption, vehicle emission level norms and nitrogenous substances. This changes from time to time and is made stricter to follow. Economic environment: Hondas operations are diversified throughout the globe like Japan, Asia, Europe, North America etc. A bad impact over a countries economic situation resulting because of various factors like credit crunch, slowing down of economy, market hits due to recession and rising fuel prices could lead to decrease in a demand of Hondas product. Technological Environment Utilizing the most advanced information technologies, Honda has developed and innovated itself continuously. The changes in IT lead to almost Hondas operation were controlled more effective. On the production process: by using the innovation means of production and mode of production, like the auto fit machine, Honda can mass product to reduce the cost, save the time and increase the capacity Natural environment: The more industry develops, the more the environment is negative affected. Among the environmental problems, Global Warming and Pollution Level are the problems that take the most concern of community. Many Non-Government Organizations has requested industrial firms to reduce CO2 emission and toxic wastes. So, as to tackle these kinds of problems, Honda is making a continuous effort towards various research and development of new technology and product. 6.0 Industry Analysis: 6.1 Porters Five Forces: The stated five environments above, Porters Five Forces is to analyze the business and industries of a company. It encourages the managers and marketers not only to look outside the current competitors but also with their prospective competitors. Moreover, it helps the company to understands what its customers want and control its supplier more effective. Now we utilize the Porters Five Forces to analyze Honda Company. The threat of substitute products That is defined as the existence of close substitute products increases the propensity of customers to switch to alternatives in response to price increases (source from Wikipedia.org). This does mean that when a Hondas competitor can produce with high performance and economical price rather than Hondas. This product will replace Hondas product in the market. Hence, simultaneous reducing the market share and profit of Honda are the results. For example, the product line of sport motorbike, R6 of Yamaha is the close substitutes of Hondas F4. If Yamaha can achieve an modernism to produce R6 with the lower price against F4, It can in fact replace Hondas F4 on the market because customers have the same prospect with both the two products. The threat of entry of new competitors The hypothetical meaning is that in marketing with many existing competitors, the profit of each company will be lower than the maximum level. For example, in American Market the Ford and Honda is uncompromisingly fight together in this market to get the proper attention of the customer. Honda cannot get the upper limit profit in this market because of the policies of American Government protective domestically Company. Moreover, Honda has to spend money on accessing to distribution in American market. Moreover, it also finds difficulties in adopting the culture differences, etc. Those reasons will reduce the Hondas profit level. Rivalry among existing competitors: The above five characteristics is significant to the automobiles industry to analysis the competitive rivalry. The 3 main rivals that Honda has to compete violently are Toyota Motor Corp. (TM), Ford Motor Co. (FM), and General Motor (GM). However the changes in the approach of one of those competitors will be influences on the performance of Honda. Honda as well as its three rivals always keeps on innovating, improving, researching and developing to compete effectively in this auto industry. For example, whenever one of these four company releases a new model, the others will catch up and have similar products to compete. Like when Honda just comes with a new technology that is FCX CLARITY, the fuel cell vehicle in the next generation, GM Motors come with a Chevy Equinox SUV and put their fuel cell platform into it. A well-known model of Honda, Accord, has been challenging with its chief rival, Toyota Camry since its first appearance. Since Accord was released in the market in 1976, and until 1983, Toyota has launched its sedan i.e. Camry. Since then, these two models have kept on competing with each other. GM Malibu and Ford Fusion are also two models that GM and Ford use to compete with Accord and Camry. For, Toyota, and GM all can replace Honda in this auto industry. So, what Honda has to do is trying to improve its technology, research and development to create a competitive advantage, maybe as a Greenest automake The bargaining power of customers In business, if a company wants to exist it must create a good relationship with customers. Honda is a global company, it means Honda have a lot of competitors. So customers will confuse when they make decision for what Brand will be the best choice. It depend not only the famous company but also the price and quality. For example, Honda introduced Air Blade Scooter with functions like sport and fashion model, more fuel-efficient engine technology. It rapidly attracted the youth; the supply was not enough for demand. Then it made the shortage of Air Blade in the market and pushed price higher. Customer want to buy it must order and wait around one to two months. No longer after, Suzuki has utilized maximize the advantage of its competitors to its product. Suzuki introduced new model Hayate Scooter that have the same functions of Air Blade but set the amazing price (lower than 23%) and customer can take their product immediately. As a result, many customers change of their mind, the refore the market share of Honda to shrink. The bargaining power of suppliers One of the factor helps the company competes against with other companies is the ability to reduce the cost. Therefore, suppliers plays an important role to make the companys success. Suppliers may refuse to work with the firm or increasing prices for unique resources. Realizing the serious element, Honda purchases raw material, components and parts, from numerous external suppliers. Moreover, Honda relies on some main suppliers for the items and raw material that use in the manufacture of it products. There are some key suppliers of Honda in term of Metal Stamping Part : Takao Kinzoku Kogyo Co., Ltd; Hirata Technical Co., Ltd; Hongo Co., Ltd; Kikuchi Co., Ltd; Marujun Co., Ltd,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Among these companies, Kikuchi Co., Ltd deal with not only the supplier of Honda but also Nissans supplier. If Nissan was willing to purchase with higher price or had some benefit promotion than Honda, Honda might be affected on the capacity and increase the cost. 7.0 Financial Analysis As compare to fiscal year 2007 there was an increase of 8.3% in the net sales at the end of fiscal year 2008.This increase is fuelled by the higher sales of automobiles business. This was also due to the increase in the power product sales in Asia and from the effect of the foreign currency changes. 8.0 Conclusion and Recommendations The objectives of the company have been met, and then the strategies of the company that are followed are correlated with business environment and industry.

A Separate Peace :: Free Essay Writer

Through out the book A Separate Peace, Gene, his growth and harmony seem to change. His opinions, and outlook on life also seem to change as his relationship with Phineas does likewise. Gene’s self-perception changes from insecurity to imitation to independence as his relationship with Phineas changes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As the book begins, Gene is unsettled by Phineas and somewhat mystified by him. Like a legend from a western tale. As the book moves on and Finny starts to change Gene’s life, Gene appears to become very insecure and afraid of what will happen next. On page 11 it says â€Å" ’We’d better hurry or we’ll be late for dinner,’ I said, breaking into what Finny called my ‘West Point stride’.† Which signifies the insecurity phase of Gene’s life. He was a stickler to the rules, didn’t want to be late. He was always concerned with what was right, and proper. But Phineas changes all that in him, and rather quickly too. When Finny decides to skip dinner and wrestle instead, Gene becomes confused, but goes along with his every word, and action.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Later on in the book, after the accident, when Gene looks at himself in the mirror while wearing Finny’s clothes, on page 54, it says â€Å"†¦ it was no remote aristocrat I had become, no character out of daydreams. I was Phineas, Phineas to life. †¦ standing there (it seemed) that I would never stumble through the confusions of my own character again.† That meant that following that day, he was going to try to live each day more like Finny. Through out the book Phineas taught Gene more and more about himself, he taught Gene to live each day to the fullest, because you might never have another.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  At the end of the book, once Finny has past away, Gene learns to live life for himself, not through somebody else. He was ready for anything. He no longer â€Å"owed† anybody anything. He had nothing else to suffer for. On page 195 it sums up the independence part of his relationship with Finny best. â€Å"I was ready for the war, now that I no longer had any hatred to contribute to it.

The Technological Need for Holographic Data Storage :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

The Technological Need for Holographic Data Storage Digital technology has become the latest byword in entertainment and computers. Records and analog cassette tapes have been supplanted with Compact Discs, and now VCRs are being challenged by Digital Video Discs. Multimedia applications such as these consume enormous amounts of storage space, and are challenging the limits of today's storage devices. Many solutions are being put forth in an attempt to keep pace with the growth in demand for digital data storage. Some are evolutionary changes in existing media, which can incrementally increase speed and capacity, while others attempt to circumvent the limitations of present media by using new methods, and promise to leapfrog over conventional technology. Holographic data storage is one of these attempts at creating a new type of high density storage device. However, scientists have been trying to develop a holographic storage device for the past 30 years, when the idea was first proposed. There have been few commercial holographic sto rage devices released since then, but recent developments in the field and the inertia behind the search for solutions promise to eventually make holographic storage a commercially viable reality. Holograms have been around for quite a while. Denis Gabor, a British Physicist, pioneered holographic technology in the 1940s (Glanz 736). In his research, he discovered that, "when a beam of coherent light scatters off an object and intersects with another coherent beam, the interference pattern created where the beams cross harbors a three dimensional image of the object . . . . The image will reappear when this 'hologram' is probed with a third beam of coherent light" (Glanz 736). Thus began the field of holography. Scientists first conceived of using Gabor's holograms to store data over thirty years ago. In 1962, IBM instructed Glenn Sincerbox to research using holograms to store data (Glanz 736). The scientists at the time felt, "The novel technology [holograms] promised devices that could pack information 10 times more densely and fetch it 100 times more quickly than could any magnetic disk or tape drive" (Gibbs 128). The idea of using holograms to store digital data has been around for many years, and its promises have long been apparent. Holograms are recorded by intersecting an image bearing laser beam with a reference beam. The intersection of these beams records the image into the medium which is being recorded on, and the image can then be read later by shining a reference beam at the laser, which then "reproduces the original image-bearing wavefront" (Heanue, Bashaw, and Hesselink 749).

Daisy Miller :: Henry James, Daisy Miller

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Daisy Miller is a story related by a young, American man named Winterborne, who lives mostly in Europe. Winterborne meets a lovely young lady named Daisy Miller at a Swiss resort in Vevey. He notices her naivetà ©, having no reservations about talking to strangers. He befriends this young girl very quickly. He would love to introduce her to his aunt, but she thinks that Daisy is common, vulgar, and refuses to meet her. Daisy and her family decide to leave the resort and visit Italy. Several months passe until Daisy speaks to him again. She invited him to Italy. He finds Daisy with an Italian man named Giovanelli. Winterborne notices that Giovanelli is not what he considers a gentleman. After finding Giovanelli and Daisy at the Coliseum late one night, Winterborne thinks of Daisy as â€Å"a young lady whom a gentleman need no be at pains to respect';. Daisy, unfortunately dies of Roman fever a week later. In some messages Daisy sent to Winterborne from her deathb ed, he realizes that she was still a very innocent girl and desired his respect. Winterborne realizes that he has indeed lived â€Å"too long in foreign parts.'; He has been so influenced by conservative European social conventions that he was unable to appreciate Daisy’s free and natural spirit.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The theme of the novel focuses on the harm that is done when an individual is rejected by society for unconventional behavior. Non-conformists are type cast in a negative way and their individuality is devalued. James presents Daisy as the â€Å"free, spontaneous, independent, natural'; (Fogel p.3) American girl who is stereotyped as â€Å"disreputable'; (Fogel p.9) by the highly conventional Europeanized Americans she meets in Vevey and Rome. At the same time, James shows how Daisy’s â€Å"utter disregard for convention prevents her from successfully relating to others'; (Fogel p.9) and leads to her death when she disregards warnings not to go the Coliseum at night.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  James conveys the poetic dimension of Daisy Miller by using symbolism in the names of the characters in the novel. Daisy’s name suggests her innocence and freedom. â€Å"Etymologically, daisy means ‘the day’s eye’ suggesting Daisy’s radiance, her fresh ‘morning’ quality, and beautifully fitting into the further symbolism that flowerlike Daisy closes up and then dies after Winterborne cuts her.'; (Fogel p.38) Thrice, Winterborne met Daisy in a garden, a place where flowers grow, once in Vevey and the second time in the Pincian Garden in Rome, and the third, and final time he saw her was at her grave, which was â€Å"beneath the cypresses and the thick spring flowers.

From your understanding of Frankenstein Essay

This gives us the impression that Walton is far less judgemental of the creature and therefore offers a certain glimmer of hope for rejuvenation. It is clear to me also from the text that Mary Shelley has provided her readers with an implicit example of social inequality and therefore through events, offered a condemnation for such injustices. Arguably, Mary Shelley is in fact offering a criticism of humanity’s eagerness to judge and condemn on appearances, therefore the theme of good and evil is sub-categorised into that of appearance and reality. Mary Shelley suggests that society is blinded by a sense of prejudice and desire to judge first and foremost on appearances above all else. The monster is undoubtedly hideous in appearance. His own creator upon first looking upon his being feels that ‘No mortal could support the horror of that countenance. ‘ However, upon first encountering the Monster in chapter 10, the conflict between appearance and reality comes into play. We to,o judging upon his monstrous form, expect little more than attempts of communication, perhaps a series of inarticulate grunts. Instead, we are shocked with the creature’s ability to express himself and of his calm, dignified and biblically alluded eloquence. ‘Remember, that I am thy creature. I ought to be thy Adam, but rather I am rather the fallen angel. ‘ This eloquence is heightened by the contrasting way in which Viktor is seen to expresses himself. He, surprisingly, is unable to do more than splutter broken insults, in comparison to the harmonious, flowing and balanced way in which the creature has the ability to articulate. While the creature has the ability to articulate his desires and maintain self control, Victor merely insults the creature, which stands out as cowardice. Even more of a surprise is that we soon come to the realisation that the creature is, despite his hideous appearance, the most eloquent character within the novel. Therefore we are asked to question or own pre-judgements when presented with such eloquence. The Delacey family are portrayed to be compassionate and good human beings, they themselves being victims of prejudice. The creature admires them and grows to love them, describing them as ‘compassionate and good human beings’ It is ironic, that even the Delacey’s prove capable instigating the same type of prejudice towards the monster that they have faced themselves. Both have suffered at the hands of prejudice yet they cannot find a common ground because of the all too human failing to deal with what is alien in a society which is so focused on appearance. They reject the monster utterly, not by his actions, but judging upon his physical appearance. He is spurned upon his appearance in spite of his politeness, eloquence and good intentions. Indeed the monster recognises ‘a fatal prejudice clouds their eyes, and where they ought to see a feeling and kind friend, they behold only a detestable monster’ It is ironic that the only member of the family who has the ability to see clearly is the old man Delacey, who is physically blind. He reassures the monster’I and my family have been condemned, although innocent; judge therefore, if I do not feel your misfortunes. ‘ Shelley therefore offers us the consideration that whilst eyes allow us sight they also alarmingly blind us to reality. Therefore the idea of sight and blindness becomes blurred and it is questionable what use sight is to us when we are so utterly blinded by our prejudices that we cannot see clearly. We, as readers cannot help but feel a sense of pathos towards the monster at this point. We know his intentions were pure yet he was denied a sense of acceptance based solely upon his physical appearance. This is obviously a critique of prejudice within society and we are forced to recognise alarmingly that it is a crime that we ourselves are guilty of. Therefore, through the monsters spurn and rejection there is definitely a sense of morality to be obtained. This point is supported extensively by the further degradation of the monster through the progression of events. The novel relates the entire progression of how a pure creature can become corrupted by society. We gradually witness the monster falling further and further into a sense of resentment and bitterness as a direct result of the prejudices he has faced and the frustrations of his inability to fit in. He claims that ‘Evil thenceforth became my good. ‘ Whilst we detest and deplore his actions we witness we can recognise the reasoning behind the monsters evil. Through the monsters plight we are witnesses to the utter degeneration of what was once a ‘benevolent and compassionate being’ into what is essentially the ‘abhorred monster’ which Victor so often describes. We find ourselves identifying with his own universal and very human desire for acceptance which does not in fact render him ‘monstrous’ at all. There is a striking contradiction here between the verbal and the visual, a conflict between expectations and experiences. We are forced therefore to question our pre-set prejudices, our expectations and qualities assigned to the creature against the stereotypical monster figure we imagine. We come to realise that what we have defined as ‘Monstrous’ is our stereotypical analysis of anything which is essentially different from ourselves. We are shocked that we ourselves judge first and foremost on appearances. Mary Shelley has effectively provided us and therefore offered to us a critique of how society is blinded by prejudice. The story of Safie is yet another critique and portrayal of prejudices which exist within society, to women in particular. Safie, in contrast to Elizabeth has been set up as a paragon of female virtue. She breaks away from the patriarchal society to what she belongs and rebels against the ‘tyrannical mandate’ of her father. Against all odds she succeeds upon her sheer determination and will not to fall under the imposing darkness that men can be seen to impose upon women of all societies through their oppression. Safie is a definite portrayal of what a woman could be, and a demonstration of what a woman singularly can achieve if she uses her initiative and independence. Safie, like Elizabeth is subject to prejudice from her culture, this prejudice being emblemised by her father. Yet she is set up in opposition to Elizabeth, who ironically lives in a westernised society, where perhaps more equality is available to women. Elizabeth however is passive in contrast to Safie who has a ‘fiery spirit’ Safie, unlike Elizabeth is not set up as a possession, she is independent, and not reliant upon men, and therefore it is arguable that Safie.