Discipleship Counseling and Helping Others Find Healing Through Christ

This was a paper for the Christian Counseling course I took earlier this year. Abstract This paper identifies what some causes of thinking errors are, how they develop and affect an individual on a day to day basis. It will also review how some defense mechanisms are used to survive a traumatic event and ways that these can be overcome. Ultimately, it will examine the importance of a relationship with and learning trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, and how this integrates into the healing process.It will review how individuals may learn to form a bond with God and thereby overcome the negative situations and experiences they have had in life. Additionally it will clarify how neglecting to forgive offenses can hold an individual back from a true and fulfilling relationship with God, self, and others. The intent is to create a clear overview of the healing process from a walled-up state to an individual on the road to recovery, thereby identifying and learning healthy coping skills and so und thinking processes while building new core beliefs of self-worth and value.Discipleship Counseling and Helping Others Find Healing Through Christ The way a child is raised will determine their disposition towards positive or negative habits, thoughts and behaviors (Anderson, 2003 p. 330). They will treat others, including their own children, as their parents taught them. In time, they may come to see the errors in the behaviors, or at minimum feel that something is not quite right and wish to change but are unsure where to go or what those changes should be. There are many factors which lead a person to seek help or guidance from a counselor, therapist, or clergy.A life-changing event may have occurred, such as a death in the family, or an upcoming marriage. For many it is that they have come to the end of their rope and just cannot handle the stressors anymore (Myers, 2002 p. 520). They are looking for hope, help, and a way to resolve the hidden skeletons in the closet (Anderso n, 2003). Faulty Thinking and Thinking Errors Everyone has thoughts, or a progression of thoughts, which may or may not follow a healthy or typical pattern. Thoughts are the basis of all decision making.How a person chooses to act or react to any situation is indicative of the underlying thought. Actions are a result of the attitude and perception of the environment, or world that surrounds them. These actions have the potential to change when the thought which supports the attitude is changed (Myers, 2002 p. 139). A person needs to be guided to understand that their choices are not merely an act but also an â€Å"attitude that reflects a belief† (Anderson, 2003 p. 291). Three major areas of concern in counseling are: a dysfunctional family background, personal problems, and spiritual problems (Anderson, 2003).After a traumatizing experience, an individual is prone to develop thinking errors or â€Å"faulty thinking† (Anderson, 2003). The trauma could be something as s imple as a child losing a favorite toy or even a helium balloon, as severe as what a soldier experiences in the throes of war, or a battered woman or man experiences over the course of years in a problematic or abusive relationship. According to Wheeler (2007) trauma is a natural part of the human or physical experience (p. 132-141) and it is important to note that it affects all aspects of the individual.Sometimes a thinking error is all a matter of perspective, and reality checks can help provide a change of perspective. It can be challenging to step back from the situation to identify that there is more than one solution to a problem. Thinking errors can also come from a lie that someone has been told multiple times, from someone they respect or look to as an authority figure, which they believe as a real truth. These false concepts will lead the individual to form a wall of defense using various methods (Anderson, 2003).Cognitive distortions are identifiable errors in thinking a nd include: â€Å"all-or-nothing thinking; overgeneralization; mental filter; discounting the positive; jumping to conclusions; magnification; emotional reasoning; should statements; labeling; and personalization and blame† (Yurica & DiTomasso, 2005). The counselee needs to be made aware of the cognitive distortions they are using, so they can change their way of thinking. By so doing, they will be able to cease using thinking errors and in time develop a healthier set of thought processes.The end goal of treatment is to successfully help the counselee understand cognitively and emotionally that they no longer need to listen to the committee in their mind (Anderson, 2003 p. 308). Coping Mechanisms and Dissociation Coping mechanisms can help an individual survive trauma, but in general the individual needs to be trained away from using them during the healing process. The mind has in place a defense mechanism when the original trauma occurred; in some cases it leaves a lapse i n the individual’s memory (Anderson, 2003).The body remembers what has been blocked temporarily from the mind and as situations occur in life, the individual will recall the associated emotion, situation or actual physical pain (Copeland & Harris, 2000, p. 115). For some this occurs as they dissociate from where they are at the present, and are essentially in a split-level of conscious (Myers, 2002). In a sense, this means that the person is physically in one place while their mind is disconnected and seemingly elsewhere. When they reconnect, they have no recollection of what happened in their physical state.As a victim justifies the actions of their abuser, they are minimizing the abuse which has occurred (Anderson, 2003 p. 273). If they make it seem less, then in their mind, it does not feel as bad as it actually was. By doing this, they are using codependency to cope with their current circumstance, and have written their life script to take on the role of caretaker (Ander son, 2003 p. 280 & Jones, 1997). They live each day with the hope that the person they are codependent with will finally change and they themselves will be accepted, and of value and worth. These people will ever find true happiness until they are lead to understand their true value and worth as individuals, through their divine nature as children of God. It is important to note that the defense mechanisms and coping skills which are used to survive trauma and its after effects are not instantly changed. The individual cannot even begin the process of healing until they have identified what coping/defense mechanisms they are using. While it is possible to educate someone about the tools they have used, it will take time as they heal and rediscover who they are in Christ, before they can fully let the behaviors (Anderson, 2003 p. 18). Any crisis a person experiences can lead them to unify or divide, to progress or regress, and bring them closer to or farther away from God. Every pers on needs to be helped to the point that they are able to cope with the experiences of life without reverting to using their damaging coping mechanisms or codependency (Dockery, 2000 p. 41). Guiding them to let go of the crutch of the coping skills can be done by helping them to learn to forgive offenses, whether real or perceived. Forgiving Perceived OffensesWhen someone does something which is hurtful, or perceived as hurtful, it is in the best interest of the person hurt to forgive the offense. The connection between forgiveness and moral anger is essentially solid and cannot be broken (Griswold, 2007 p. 67). There are two levels of forgiving: Cognitive and Emotional. A cognitive decision to forgive is a choice made in one’s mind, whether coerced or not. In many cases, as an individual forgives because they feel compelled to forgive, they retain the negative feelings and complete only a cognitive or decisional forgiveness.Unfortunately, this leaves the emotional hurt within the injured person. As long as the offense goes unresolved, the feelings associated with it, will â€Å"eat at the person who does not reduce those negative emotions in some way† (Clinton, Hart & Ohschlager, 2005 p. 122). The scriptures clearly instruct mankind to forgive others until seventy times seven (Matthew 18:22) and to take a Christ-like approach by forgiving as Christ has forgiven (Colossians 3:13). Forgiveness not only means letting go of the offense, but to also overcome any negative emotions associated with it.This includes feelings (including resentment) such as contempt and scorn as they are also forms of â€Å"moral hatred† (Griswold, 2007 p. 69). While it is relatively easy to discuss forgiveness, it is another thing altogether to accomplish it. The injured party may feel that the wrong-doing needs more recompense than was achieved. As they learn to empathize with the offender, some of the negative emotions may be released over time (Clinton et al, 200 5 p. 127). Forgiveness is not a habit that can be formed in a day; it takes practice and a will to achieve it.Some suggestions for improving one’s ability to forgive are: meditate on forgiveness-specific scriptures daily, start a journal and record thoughts each day on forgiveness, and find a good book about forgiveness and use it for morning and evening devotions (Clinton et al, 2005 p. 133). Often forgotten is the need of the injured to forgive themselves for past failures. This is something which they will need to apply to their lives moving forward, keeping in mind that only God can forgive their sins (Anderson, 2003 p. 259).As they practice forgiving their own failures and shortcomings, they will more readily forgive the failures of others which they may have perceived as an offense. It is best put by Anderson,( 2003) â€Å"Forgiving ourselves is actually receiving forgiveness from God† (p. 260). One thing the injured individual needs to come to better understand is that Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice for the sins and transgressions of all mankind. This act made it His option to forgive, and a requirement for all mankind as it says in D&C 64:10 â€Å"I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men. Forgiving others is a choice that is made individually, and by choosing to forgive completely, one is choosing to live with joy. God is on the journey with us, through the grief and pain and He supplies the joy and hope during struggles, and laughter in times of pain (Dockery, 2000 p. 202). Core Needs/Beliefs (biblical view/self-worth) An individual’s core belief of self-worth can and will affect how they choose to respond to offenses they receive, whether intentional or inadvertent.If they are of a Christian persuasion, they will more readily accept that Christ is their Redeemer and has already suffered for the sins which they are required to forgive of others. With this background, the inju red party can be guided to acknowledge their divine nature as a child of God. Satan was allowed into the individual’s life through openings he was given, either by them or as a result of circumstances (Anderson, 2003). As it says in Myers, 2002, â€Å"Character, it is said, is reflected in what we do when we think no one is looking† (p. 43). This is a spiritual battle for the mind, as the Prince of Darkness also has a hold on the individual. They will likely have thoughts that they are of no worth, do not deserve the Savior’s sacrifice, and that God does not love them (Anderson, 2003). They need to be reminded that these thoughts are lies, as God would never stop loving His children. This is reiterated in the scriptures Isaiah 49:15 as God will remember and have compassion on His children much like a woman who cannot forget her sucking child.Accepting the truth, and choosing to have faith, because it is a choice, may be challenging at first as the counselee has believed a lie for so long. â€Å"Satan hates the truth and deplores the light, and unfortunately, so do people who have something to hide† (Anderson, 2003 p. 358). This is also reiterated in 1 Nephi 16:2 â€Å"The guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center† as well as in John 3:20 â€Å"For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. †By believing a lie and allowing it to perpetuate itself in their mind, they have effectively abandoned themselves. They need to be reminded that God is there, cares for and expects them to cooperate by caring for themselves (Beattie, 1992 p. 108). The individual will need to identify the false thoughts, and renounce them, to cast aside the devil. It is crucial they understand that to have true faith means they must let go of the lie, as it says in Luke 16:13, â€Å"Ye cannot serve God and Mammon†. It is not possible to â€Å"beli eve the truth and the lie at the same time and still experience your freedom in Christ† (Anderson, 2003 p. 21). As the believer chooses to exercise God’s authority by obeying His commands, they will come to see that they are able to utilize the authority of Christ to keep the devil at bay. By so doing they are taking their place with Christ and standing for the right (Anderson, 2003 p. 224). They also need to come to the understanding that they can (and need) to take accountability for their thoughts. If they choose to banish the negative and doubting thoughts, their minds can become a safe haven for them and for God.This was the purpose of the atonement of Christ (Anderson, 2003 p. 230). The individual can take control of their thoughts by stating â€Å"I am a child of God† and commanding the bad spirits, by the authority of Christ, to leave them (Anderson, 2003). The more they practice this, the greater their belief will become, and in the long run will make it possible to maintain freedom from the negative thoughts. Only through acknowledging that they are truly loved and of worth by their Heavenly Father can they obtain a real sense of self-worth (Anderson, 2003 p. 299). DiscussionWhile the ways that people choose to address and cope with their life experiences differ, the process towards resolution is essentially the same. When a person experiences trauma or crisis, they tend to find a way of coping with things as best they can. They need to address the problem, identify how they are coping, and completely turn it over to God. The cognitive distortions which people use to handle the early stressors can lead them to continue the same patterns as occurred during the initial crisis because this feels familiar. These can lead to the use of thinking errors as well as coping mechanisms.While both of these seem helpful while they are in crisis, the trauma event must eventually be worked through. As they come to recognize the coping mechanisms for what they are, they will eventually, come to see the damage it is causing in their lives. They will desire a change, which change of heart can only come through forgiveness and true repentance (from the Greek word â€Å"metanoeo† which means â€Å"change your mind†) through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Part of the process of working through that event is learning to truly forgive and turn things over to Christ.As they learn to let things go, and release the emotional bindings, they will gain a stronger sense of self-worth. They will also come to truly see and acknowledge their value in the sight of God. They will accept their divine nature and desire to maintain and ever improve that bond. References Anderson, N. T. (2003). Discipleship Counseling: The Complete Guide to Helping Others Walk in Freedom and Grow in Christ. Ventura, CA: Regal Books. Beattie, M. (1992). Codependent No More. Center City, MN: Hazelden . Clinton, T. E. , Hart, A. D. , & Ohschlager, G .W. (2005). Caring for people God's way: Personal and Emotional Issues, Addictions, Grief, and Trauma . Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.. Copeland, M. E. , ; Harris, M. (2000). Healing the Trauma of Abuse: A women's Workbook. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.. Dockery, K. (2000). When A Hug Won't Fix The Hurt. Birmingham, AL: New Hope. Griswold, C. L. (2007). Forgiveness: a philosophical exploration. Cambridge, GBR: Cambridge University Press. Jones, J. J. (1997). Let's Fix The Kids! A Parenting Resource Manual. (6th ed. ).Westminster, CA: J. J. Jones. Myers, D. G. (2002). Exploring Psychology. (5th ed. ). USA: Worth Publishers. Yurica, C. L. , & DiTomasso, R. A. (2005). Cognitive Distortions. In Encyclopedia of Cognitive Behavior Therapy. (Part 3, pp. 117-122). Wheeler, K. (2007), Psychotherapeutic Strategies for Healing Trauma. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 43: 132–141. doi: 10. 1111/j. 1744-6163. 2007. 00122. x Scriptures are from the Holy Bible King Jame s Version as well as from the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants as published by the LDS Church.

Great Gatsby and Socio-Economical World of America Essay

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is not just a novel; rather it is the representation of an era. The story is about the moral decay that arouses in the American society in 1920s. It also shows the picture of the American dream getting corrupted by lust, greed and empty pursuit of pleasure. In other words it was the collision of subcultures. The wealthy and elite class found pleasure by throwing decadent parties and playing wild jazz music. On the other hand, the member of middle class was seduced by the dabbler lifestyle of the rich. Jay Gatsby was somewhat a mysterious one as people knew very little about his personal life. We finally find that Gatsby was involved in criminal activities to win his beloved Daisy’s attention. On the surface, The Great Gatsby is a story of unrequited love. The novel is based on the themes of love, revenge, desire for money and the suicide. But a careful analysis of the novel reveals that its major theme encompasses a much larger, less romantic scope. Through this novel, Fitzgerald has tried to portray a real picture of American society of 1920s. The story is set in the neighborhood of Long Island, New York. In this novel, we also find a reflection of disintegration of American dream which was about moral values and pursuit of success. The idea of American dream emerged in the Colonial period and it was based on the perception that success can be achieved by any individual, no matter what social position he possesses. What matters is his personal skills, hard work and efforts. A prototypical 1920s’ man has been described by the author Roland Marchand in his book in the following words: â€Å"Not only did he flourish in the fast-paced, modern urban milieu of skyscrapers, taxicabs, and pleasure-seeking crowds, but he proclaimed himself an expert on the latest crazes in fashion, contemporary lingo, and popular pastimes. † We find that Marchand’s definition is quite similar to the characters of Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby. Fitzgerald has presented the era of 1920s as the one in which social and moral values were weak and a moral decay ensued in American society. It was, in fact, an era which was marked by reckless pursuit of pleasure, amoral quest for money and certain lustful desires. The protagonist of this novel, Jay Gatsby is a wealthy, mysterious man residing in a Gothic mansion in West Egg. He is fond of throwing lavish parties every Saturday night. The sole purpose behind these ostentatious parties was the gaudy display of wealth. Most of the people who joined those parties, even didn’t know anything about Gatsby. They just wanted to be the part of such lavish parties so they could enjoy expensive wines and loud jazz music along with delicious foods. It is important to mention here that the passage of the Eighteenth Amendment in 1919, which banned the sale of alcohol, created a booming underworld designed to satisfy the huge demand for bootleg liquor among rich and poor alike. In that period, people started to make fortunes through the illegal business of liquor. Such a business made people rich overnight and turned them into millionaires. Besides, the World War I ended in 1918, and the young Americans, who had fought in the war, became highly disillusioned as the butcheries and the brutalities which they had witnessed in the war made their ideas about Victorian morality quite vague and blurred. Another aspect of that particular era was the sudden rise of stock market that resulted in the increase in national wealth and thus the phenomenon of materialism emerged. People started spending their newfound money in getting luxuries of life and they felt satiated by the gaudy display of their wealth. The narrator of the novel, Nick Carraway is a young man who has studied in Yale and then moves to New York. He becomes the neighbor of Jay Gatsby, who is famous for his opulent parties and lives in a grand Gothic mansion as described by Nick, â€Å"It was the factual imitation of some Hotel de Ville in Normandy, with a tower on one side, spanking new under a thin beard of raw ivy, and a marble swimming pool and more than fifty acres of lawn and garden†. (pg 4) Gradually they became friends and later on, Nick finds out that Gatsby has gathered his wealth through criminal activities. Gatsby tries to become the part of established aristocracy by attaining material wealth including a grand mansion, several servants and many automobiles. But he still wants the reassurance that whether all his efforts of money making have the desired impression or not. As on one occasion, he says to Nick, â€Å"My house looks well, doesn’t it? He demanded. â€Å"See how the whole front of it catches the light. † (pg68). As Scott Donaldson mentions in his article, â€Å"The culture of consumption on exhibit in The Great Gatsby was made possible by the growth of a leisure class in early-twentieth-century America. As the ovel demonstrates, this development subverted the foundations of the Protestant ethic, replacing the values of hard work and thrifty abstinence with a show of luxury and idleness. † It means that the phenomenon of becoming rich overnight and acquiring sudden wealth made the Americans idle and thus the once appreciated values of hard work and self reliance were replaced by the newly emerged trends of leisure and the pursuit of pleasure. This is why, much emphasis has been laid on the corruption of American dream as it was about hard work and personal efforts but it vanished gradually with the newly found wealth. Jay Gatsby madly loves a pretty damsel, Daisy Buchanan who is an East Egger. She is Nick’s cousin too. Here, it is important to keep in mind that the West Egg, where Gatsby and Nick live is a home to newly rich people. On the other hand, East Egg represents the established aristocracy. Gatsby wanted to win Daisy’s love also because she belonged to the established aristocracy and having her at his side would make him acceptable to that particular part of society. As Ray E. Canterbery states in his article, â€Å"Jay Gatsby wants to live with Daisy Buchanan because she is a member of the established American aristocracy of wealth. Gatsby lacks the maturity to realize that Daisy cannot be obtained by money alone and in a vulgar display of conspicuous consumption, he flaunts his nouveau wealth. † While reading the novel, one clearly finds out that the particular era mentioned in the book was marked by boundless greed, self satisfaction, infidelity and selfishness. Daisy’s husband, Tom Buchanan has an affair with a woman named Myrtle, whose husband is very poor and owns a worn out garage. Tom claims that he is in love with Myrtle but it was in fact, anything but love. On one occasion, we see that he treats his mistress very inhumanely as is mentioned in the novel: Some time toward midnight Tom Buchanan and Mrs. Wilson stood face to face discussing, in impassioned voices, whether Mrs. Wilson had any right to mention Daisy’s name. â€Å"Daisy! Daisy! Daisy! † shouted Mrs. Wilson. â€Å"I’ll say it whenever I want to! Daisy! Daisy† â€Å"Making a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand†. (pg27) As it is mentioned earlier that East and West Egg were different from each other in terms of their habitants, their ways of living. Their architecture and their tastes were also quite different from each other as the East Eggers were more refined and cultured whereas West Egg was the home of somewhat pretentious, gaudy people. Gatsby, himself was fond of throwing lavish parties as described in the book: â€Å"On weekends his (Gatsby’s) Rolls-Royce became an omnibus, bearing parties to and from the city between nine in the morning and long past midnight. Every Friday crates of oranges and lemons arrived from a fruitier in New York every Monday these same oranges and lemons left his backdoor in a pyramid of pulp less halves. On buffet tables, garnished with glistening hors-d’oeuvre, spiced baked hams crowded against salads of harlequin designs and pastry pigs and turkeys bewitched to a dark gold†. (pg29) In order to become acceptable for the East Eggers or the established ones, Gatsby wears flamboyant dresses and has a collection of several big, huge cars. On one occasion, Tom makes fun of Gatsby’s car by calling it a â€Å"Circus Wagon†. But one thing was common among both (West and East Eggers) of them. They were lustful and pretentious. Jay Gatsby was, however, different in a sense that he truly loved Daisy. He waited for her five long years and didn’t forget her for even a single moment. He bought a mansion in West Egg so that Daisy could know about him as his opulent parties bore quite fame. When he met Daisy, he became very happy and contended but he also wanted her to leave Tom Buchanan for good. He waited whole night outside Daisy’s window, just to make sure that Tom wouldn’t hurt her. He loved her so deeply and profoundly that when Daisy mistakenly murdered Myrtle by crushing her under the car, Gatsby was ready to take this as his own mistake. As we see that when Nick inquires Gatsby about this incident he said, â€Å"Well, I tried to swing the wheel—† He broke off, and suddenly I (Nick) guessed the truth. â€Å"Was Daisy driving? † â€Å"Yes,† He said after a moment, â€Å"but of course I’ll say I was. † (pg110) On the other hand, we find that Daisy, despite Gatsby’s love and care, is still confused and double minded. She doesn’t want to leave Tom Buchanan, nor could she live without her new found -once -lost -love. She, before her husband, admits that she doesn’t love him but after sometime, changes her mind. Oh, you want too much! † she cried to Gatsby. â€Å"I love you now isn’t that enough? I can’t help what’s past. † She began to sob helplessly. â€Å"I did love him once but I loved you too. † (pg101) On the same occasion, she said, â€Å"Even alone I can’t say that I never loved Tom,† she admitted in a pitiful voice. â€Å"It wouldn’t be true. † (pg102) Thus it is clear that Daisy is absolutely indecisive as she couldn’t decide that whom she wants to live with. Besides, she cared very little about Gatsby’s feeling and didn’t give him the love he deserved. Daisy’s selfishness is also shown on another occasion when on Gatsby’s arrival, she treats her own daughter Pammy in such a manner that clearly lacks the love and warmth of a mother. As mentioned in the novel, â€Å"The child, relinquished by the nurse, rushed across the room and rooted shyly into her mother’s dress. † This shows that the little girl was reluctant to go to her mother as she was not aware of a mother’s affection. Gatsby had never really known of the existence of Daisy’s child, as Daisy was probably afraid to tell him about her. â€Å"Afterward he kept looking at the child in surprise. Daisy uses the child as a show item: â€Å"I got dressed before luncheon† said the child, turning eagerly towards Daisy. â€Å"That’s because your mother wanted to show you off† replies Daisy. When the child speaks to Daisy, Daisy never answers or replies to her. She always changes the subject as if she doesn’t even notice the child’s presence. For example, when the girl comments Jordan’s dress, Daisy ignores her and asks her what she thinks about her friends: â€Å"Aunt Jordan’s got on a white dress too†, said the child. â€Å"How do you like mother’s friends? † Daisy turned her around so that she faced Gatsby. Do you think they are pretty? † After this brief introduction, Daisy asks the nurse to take the child back. (pg89). This very careless nature of hers became the cause of her lover’s pitiful demise. Both Tom and Daisy were selfish, mean and careless as both of them became the cause of their lovers’ deaths. As mentioned in the novel, â€Å"They were careless people Tom and Daisy. They smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together and let other people clean up the mess they had made. (pg139). Interestingly, automobiles also have a significant part in the demise of many of the characters. The 1920s’ American culture was the one in which the phenomena of automobiles emerged. With the arrival of sudden wealth, people started to buy cars as they also became one of the status symbols. An American President said in 1925, â€Å"We will root out poverty and put two cars in every garage. † Jay Gatsby also had five cars, one of which hits Myrtle and results in her unfortunate death. Myrtle’s death then leads to the death of poor Gatsby and her own husband, George. It is what O’Meara calls as a â€Å"death car. † She writes, â€Å"The automobile is a symbol that Fitzgerald uses to accomplish several different ends. † After the death of Gatsby, Nick Carraway goes to Meyer Wolfsheim, the infamous gambler and swindler and tries to find out the actual origin of Gatsby’s wealth. He asks him, â€Å"Did you start him in business? † Wolfsheim replies â€Å"Start him! I made him,† and continues: â€Å"I raised him up out of nothing, right out of the gutter. I saw right away he was a fine appearing gentlemanly young man and when he told me he was at Oggsford, I knew I could use him good. We were so thick like that in everything, he held up two bulbous fingers – â€Å"always together. †(pg132) This conversation reveals that Gatsby was once a poor, unprivileged fellow and despite all his attempts, he couldn’t fit in with the old, established aristocracy. After the sad demise of Jay Gatsby, Nick tried to inform Gatsby’s friends about his death but it was ironic that no close friend or relative came to attend the funeral. The man, who was always surrounded by different people and whose parties’ people desperately wanted to attend, was now all alone. Since he was of no use now, everybody left him and never looked back at the time they had spent with that poor, unlucky chap. At the same occasion, Nick Carraway received a call from one of Gatsby’s friends. It was Mr. Klipspringer. When he told Nick, about himself, Nick felt a bit satisfied and thought that at least there is someone who cares about Gatsby. â€Å"The funeral’s tomorrow,† I (Nick) said. â€Å"Three o’clock, here at the house. I wish you’d tell anybody who’d be interested. † â€Å"Oh, I will,† he broke out hastily†. â€Å"Of course I’m not likely to see anybody, but if I do. His tone made me suspicious. â€Å"Of course you’ll be there yourself. † â€Å"Well, I’ll certainly try. What I called up about was a pair of shoes I left there. I wonder if it’d be too much trouble to have the butler send them on. You see, they are tennis shoes, and I’m sort of helpless without them. My address is care of B. F†. â€Å"I didn’t hear rest of the name, because I hung up the receiver†. (pg130, 131) This reveals that how selfish and mean those people were. They used to gather around Gatsby like the moths around a candle, but when that candle stopped spreading its light, all of them turned away. At funeral procession, Nick Carraway tries to remember the deceased man and thought about his life for a while. This scene is very skillfully portrayed by Fitzgerald in the following words: I tried to think about Gatsby then for a moment, but he was already too far away, and I could only remember, without resentment, that Daisy hadn’t sent a message or a flower. Dimly I heard someone murmur, â€Å"Blessed are the dead that the rain falls on,† and then the owl eyed man said â€Å"Amen to that,† in a brave voice. We straggled down quickly through the rain to the cars. Owl eyes spoke to me by the gate. â€Å"I couldn’t get to the house,† he remarked. â€Å"Neither could anybody else. † â€Å"Go on! † He started. â€Å"Why, my God! They used to go there by the hundreds. † He took off the glasses and wiped them again, outside and in. â€Å"The poor son- of -a -bitch,† he said. (pg135) The story of The Great Gatsby spirals into tragedy as the book progresses with a succession of events love, revenge, murder and then suicide. There is a moral judgment involved in the process of reading such a story. Besides, Fitzgerald’s work can be compared to that of the British author Thomas Hardy as he too dared to examine themes that Victorian society brushed under the carpet namely sexual desire and obsession. Eventually, the materialism, empty pursuit of pleasure, big cars and grand mansions along with the Prohibition movement resulted in the emergence of class struggle among the rich and poor. Both of them started finding means of making money and didn’t pay attention towards the fact that whether those means are justified or not. A new perception emerged, according to which money brings happiness. But this didn’t happen in the case of Gatsby. All of his money, earned through illegal means was fruitless as it couldn’t bring Daisy closer to him. We see that The Great Gatsby is the story of shattered dreams i. e. both American and Gatsby’s dream. In Fitzgerald’s point of view, the American dream was about individualism, discovery and the pursuit of happiness. Whereas, Gatsby’s dream was to get his long lost love back but unfortunately, both the dreams got shattered in the end. We can say that this novel is an account of possibilities that can be generated through wealth and the irresponsibility that can ultimately ruin them. The story gives us a strong lesson that accumulation of wealth doesn’t always mean the attainment of real happiness. Money and riches are necessary to live a good life, but they, of course, don’t guarantee joy and success in life. The picture of American society drawn in The Great Gatsby can be compared to the present day American society. We can see that today’s American society face the similar issues and suffers from the similar ailments e. g. materialism, desire of money and the hollow pursuit of pleasure.

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Most online customers expect to be able to pay for their goods online by credit or debit card. However, they want to be insure that their details will be kept confidential. To be secure all online payments must be: * Private and confidential only between customer and seller. * Conveyed intact and without any changes during transition. * Deleted fro the system after payment has been completed. SSL (Secure Socket Layer) allows standard browser such as Internet Explorer to send and receive information securely. Provides its users with secure payment, its users can check it by looking locked padlock symbol or â€Å"https† on the address line. SET (Secure Electronic Transfer) is more secure for online payments then SSL because information of the card e.g. card number wont be shown to seller, as when a cards company will authenticate the card through a digital signature. Unfamiliar trading conditions Unfamiliar trading can affect both, the business and its customers. The main reason for this is that online trading was relatively slow to take of, as customers were worried about buying services and goods online. However, once a new customer bought something online without any problems he/she becomes more confident to shop online. Businesses that are less successful than anticipated could have unsold products therefore they may struggle to pay money back which they have borrowed to pay website development. If customer that shop online won't get their answer quickly and receive the order on time then customers are unlikely to use their service or buy goods from that business in future. Read this  Chapter 2 – Why Security is Needed Errors in ordering However, order forms to be foolproof. This is possible to minimize customer errors. This corresponds to other customers making this error, such as making duplicate the original form twice. There has to be a comprehensive return policy which takes the legal right of customers present. You must enter the information before the order can be accepted. Most of the forms are designed this way. This could be useful in large amount of quantities or other similar errors that are reported before the order is complete. However, this could be an automated process. In order to this very large (or preferably copying) orders may be singled out so that the customer can be contacted by a call phone or email before they can go ahead with anything. Customers that do online shopping are guaranteed to be protected by the law, that states the Sales of Goods Act and also the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 this also applies to all other customers. There is also another act (The Sales and Supply of goods to Consumers Regulations 2002) which also gives customers right to return any goods that are damaged, this refers if the were bough in a store or on the net. Customers have the right to hand in any items which has been damaged for another item of better quality for whatever reason it may be. For an example items such as clothes that are not of the correct size or that is not a real product (duplicate, this can be checked on the actual website) can be refunded. Potential use of personal information Due to personal information organisations that keep forwent information about individuals whether on a PC system or in written words should be vital to register the information commissioner and comply with the terms with the Data Protection Act 1998. This means that the data in the PC or on paper must be accurate. This must be kept secure as long as necessary. However, this means that other businesses cannot make this information be visible on the website or misplace any details of customer to other individuals. In relation to this website must include privacy policy that ensures how information is to be used wisely by the business. This also relates to visitors which have collected by cookies and/or during a registration or ordering process. The PCECR (Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations) also gives other businesses permission to send people via emails to individuals who have opt in by giving the permission to receive them. This means the do not have the right to send promotional emails without the candidates/clients promotion. This refers to why such emails also include the option for the client to unsubscribe at any time. Vulnerability to hostile attack It states that accordingly to the (NHTCU) which stands for National Hi-Tech Crime Unit. Cybercrime could cost UK businesses a tremendous worth of billions of pounds per annum. Not only large scale business which are threatened by hackers, spoof websites or denial of services attack. For example when few set up his highly successful website which was a million dollars he was also treated by the (DOS) attacks this to black mail blackmail demands which were high. In this case a DOS attack only occurs when a certain website is overloaded with highly useful data via email in the short period of time so that the website is brought back down. Websites are together by same users which are most known as hack mailers when they are at the most vulnerable state these for times such as seasonal times for example Christmas at time like this hack mailer would loose a retailer a sum gaining up to a million worth of pounds. A spoof is the definition of when a hijacker duplicates a website as a version of which customers may use, this will make customers think that they were dealing with actual organisation. However, this is easy to spot because it is copied very badly and links are replaced which lead to some illegal pornographic sites this is usually to mislead the companies reputation. This could be fatal as customers are asked to enter their bank details or credit card details which can be obtained by hackers which take all the customer money. Financial fraud can be caused by hackers getting into the organisations bank account. To the firm when payments are siphoned off or directed to the spoof site or even when customers are sent spoof mail asking for details which are personal this is also known as (phishing) Operational risks Website updating All websites must have someone to look after it and be updating it regularly so information is correct, up to date and all the products that are not in stock have a note â€Å"out of stock†. The inferior thing is for customer to see that pages where not updated for a long period of time, for example a year or more. In some ways wrong or out-of date information can cause serious issues. Liability for wrong or out of date information Under the act of Trades Descriptions Act and E-commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002 the information which is provided on the website must be stated correctly. A business that purposely gives wrong information could be recognised under these two acts. If customer chooses to react based on the outdated and incorrect information there might be a case to give an answer- even thought many websites have a ‘disclaimer' to covet that type of issue. In relation this refers to website. For example NHS has to be more aware about accuracy of the information it gives than Asda. Language problems with global customer base World wide businesses that usually have a lot of customers should give their customers a choice of different languages. To help customers to notice that website has different languages that they can use. They can put a country flag at the top corner of the site. Other smaller businesses that are national businesses do not provide this feature to their customers. Therefore there is bigger possibility that other nationality customers might get mixed up when they will want to buy goods. This is the main reason why many organisations take disclaimer clauses. Therefore websites such as Marks and Spenser only take orders that matches description accurately that is on the site, also firm is not responsible for any product to be used out of the country. Small businesses which wish to sell goods to outside businesses have two options to choose from. They can to work through a local agent or to have expectation for their service translation. It must be completed by specialist because online translators that can be found via Google are only useful for phrases to a pen friend, not for significant documents. Hardware and software failures All of PC users are depended on their internet service provider to have access to go online. However all internet services have technical faults and user will lose access to the internet until fault is not repaired. This can cause serious trouble to any online business especially if the website is not working for any period of time. There might not be any problems with ISP. However, the system itself can build up a fault. Software can be spoiled and hardware could break down. This is the mail reason why many online businesses have a back up servers, therefore if one server breaks down it will automatically switch to the second server. Software problems can be caused by several things for example programming error or in the course of a virus. None of these methods will help, even if there is a foremost failure. That's why some online businesses have their websites hosted offsite in a safe area where they have experts that are accessible to fix and re-establish the system quickly. Data loss There are many reasons data to be lost. In fact there are 1.7 million reports acknowledged in Europe of data loss every year. The main reasons for data lost are: * Theft, for example laptop theft- 5% of data loss every year * Computer virus – 7% of data loss every year * Software file corruption- 13% of data loss every year * Human error, for example unintentional removal-31% of data loss every year * Hardware failure, for example drive failure-41% of data loss every year * Hardware loss for example during flood or fire- 3% of data loss every year It is very recommended for online businesses to do daily back ups because if there are any problems they can always reinstall its system within 24 hours of the problem happening. In addition it is also ordinary to back up system before making any changes, therefore if there are any problems system can be restored easily. Individual users should also train them selves to keep important data safe and back up their files regularly. Global business regulations Many people know that there are many differences between Britain and other countries. A packet of crisps or box of chocolate that you buy on holiday, even if they are made in UK they will still have a different package and will be in a language of that country the they are sold. Cars are made with left or right hand drive, record distance travelled in miles or kilometres, and is intended to fulfil with specific system on emissions and noise levels- which again vary from one country to another. Any type of business that is intending to sell on a global basis have to be ensure that all products fulfil with the appropriate law and technical policy that apply in that country of sale. Even if the country is English speaking it doesn't mean that it will have the same laws. For example Australia has different principles than UK, therefore many goods have to be customized or â€Å"Australianised† before the can be sold there. Many countries have different laws, for example in USA health and safety equipments are different from UK and other European countries. Therefore if specific product fails to meet the terms that apply in that country, then product will be banded from entering the country.

Budgeted Health Promotion Activity Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Budgeted Health Promotion Activity - Coursework Example Community based health promotion is the most effective away out to execute such programs. This is because; it gives community members the opportunity to change their health risk habits. It is also easy to execute, as it can be done through individual counseling, focused group discussions, leaflets distribution or local support groups. It is effective when community leaders take part in achieving the set program goals and objectives. This should be focused at culture level since it is the best predictor of health habit change. Behavior change starts at an individual level but, its effectiveness will be realized at community level. Those with information should be able to disseminate the same information to those who do not have it. This can be achieved through community discussion forums need to be organized on a regular basis. Their main theme will be making people practice healthy choices. To ensure that there is overwhelming support toward the newly initiated programs; the communit y should be involved in the planning and implementation phases of the project. The community needs to be enlightened that healthy practices are the key to disease prevention, disability and death. This should involve encouraging people to adopt lifestyles that are beneficial to their well-being, while trying to abandon those lifestyles which make them vulnerable to sickness. Table of fixed, variable, controllable and unrecoverable expenses Fixed expenses Amount ($) Staff Salaries Rent Consultants costs Insurance cover for employees Variable expenses Fuel costs Car Maintenance costs Space and equipment hiring fee Materials Delivery costs Controllable expenses Program curriculum materials Program publicity materials Training of program facilitators Postages costs Unrecoverable expenses Equipment Packaging costs Material Shipping costs Travel costs Material Storage costs Cost-benefit analysis By definition, cost benefit analysis refers to as the act of comparing the cost of setting up a project or a program with the expected outcome. This technique help in making decision on whether to take up a new opportunity or make a change on an ongoing project or programmed. It simply entails summing up the benefits of an intended course and subtracting related costs (Brent, 2009). According to Brent (2009), the most accurate and best common unit of measuring cost benefit analysis is the money value. Despite the fact that at times it becomes difficult to evaluate some services in terms of money, it still remains to be the standard unit of comparison between costs and benefits in any project or program. For this case, the money aspect comes in particularly when the beneficiary access the opportunity of getting free counseling on sexually transmitted infections and even treatment before being circumcised. This would mean they will use this money in solving other day to day problems that they might encounter. The project has several benefits, this range from job creation to re duction in the rate of prevalent rates of HIV/AIDS in the intended area. The reduction in the prevalent rates of the disease might be a long term benefit, which will be realized after a substantial duration of time. For instance, the most immediate benefit is job creation, where the locals will get job opportunities as, project facilitators, monitoring and

GUNNS AND THE AUSTRALIAN PULP AND PAPER MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY Research

GUNNS AND THE AUSTRALIAN PULP AND MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY - Research Paper Example This study highlights the strategic problems of the company and suggests measures that can be taken up by the company to ensure its sustainable growth in future. The external environment of the company has been analysed using PESTEL analysis and the various competitive factors affecting the company have been identified utilising the Porter’s five forces model analysis concerning the global paper industry. The strict environmental regulations and the strong supplier power in the paper industry are identified to be having a significant impact on the company. The internal environment of the company has also been analysed utilising SWOT analysis as the strategic tool. The core competencies of the company have been identified to be its diversified products portfolio and it is trying to attain competitive advantage in the market through the strengthening of its core competencies. The financial analysis of the company shows that indebtedness is a major problem of the company and it i s facing difficulty to source its fund for future investments. Based on the in-depth analysis of the company and its environmental conditions the best strategic alternative for the company has been identified to restructure its business model, focusing more on plantation based business and accepting the proposed investment proposal related to Bell Bay pulpwood mill. 2. External Environmental Analysis Gunns Ltd. is engaged in the business activities related to forest management, processing, milling, exportation and merchandising of wood products (Bloomberg, 2012). The company operates its business in the global paper industry and the external environmental analysis of the company has been done in this study utilising various strategic tools like PESTEL analysis and Porter's Five Forces Model. 2.1 PESTEL Analysis PESTLE stands for Political, Economical, Social, Technological, Legal and Environmental factors. It is an external environmental analysis tool which helps the organisations t o determine the external trends (Knowhownonprofit, n.d.). Hence Gunns Ltd. which is an Australian company, the country’s business environment can be better understood through the PESTEL analysis presented below: (Source: Businessmate, n.d.). a. Political: Different types of social welfare policies have been undertaken by the Australian government in the recent years like lending support to the aging people and the introduction of the scheme of paid parental leave. Apart from this the carbon tax was enacted by the Australian government recently but had to face protest from different industrial sectors of the country (BBC News Asia, 2012). b. Economical: There has been a steady growth of the Australian economy in the past 10 years. It is likely that the economy would continue to be strong paving way to further industrial growth and development in the nation. On the other and the indebtedness of Australia has increased which is evident from the rise of external debt as a percent age of GDP. At the end of the year 2011, Australia's debt from foreign countries grew to around 94.58% of GDP (Marketline, 2012). c. Social: In accordance with Central Intelligence (CIA) World Factbook the Gini coefficient of Australia ranges from 0 to 100, i.e. from perfect equality to inequality were 30.5 in 2006. The aging population of the country is also on

Philosophy Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Philosophy Ethics - Essay Example Mill explained this rule with the aid of the principle of utility. According to this principle which is also sometimes referred to as the principle of happiness, for a person to be happy himself he should consider the happiness of others to be as important as his own happiness (Mills 1867). This philosophy of happiness was further explained by John Stuart Mill with the assistance of his theories by putting forward the rules of thumb. The reason for presenting these rules was that Mill argued that a person should not misunderstand the meaning of happiness. These rules were used by him to support the theory of maximizing happiness and provide an insight into the meaning of this principle. These rules encompass the aspects of this principle to cover the features and the characteristics which should be understood about it. The rules of thumb were to be always considered to reach to a proper conclusion as to what happiness actually is. According to these rules, it is through knowledge and learning that a person actually gets to know that what act will bring about the maximum happiness. The reason behind this is that it is through awareness of the developing of humans and human nature that one can understand that what act is morally correct and will actually bring about the maximum happiness for the maximum number of people. These rules also present that a person should increase his level when thinking about happiness. That is happiness should not be restricted to certain things. A person should search for happiness in everything that surrounds him. These things can range from nature to music to history and art. That is a person should be learned and it is through his knowledge that he will be able to find happiness in all these things. An example of education can be considered here as to how much educated an individual is to know about certain facts about life. Being educated would help an individual to distinguish between the higher and lower pleasures in terms of happiness. He would understand as to which pleasures are attainable and which are not. With appropriate education the individuals are able to experience both the lower and higher forms of pleasure through which they can decide as to what they would prefer. With enough education one can know about different things existing in the world and thus individuals can then decide as to which happiness they really want. (Mills 1867; Steward & Blocker 2005). To make his theory even better understood Mill clearly presented the exceptions that implied to this rule of happiness. He explained that though acts like lying and murder are considered to be wrong under normal circumstances but these acts become acceptable under certain conditions. An example to this can be that when a person has to protect himself from a murderer he has a right to act in self defense. Another example which can be considered is a person can lie when the person has to conceal some information from someone who might misuse it and cause great harm. Mill is quoted as â€Å"Actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness; wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure and the absence of pain† (Mill 1986 ii). According to the utilitarian position, it is the consequences of an act that matter the most. In this regard, John Stuart Mill who was a

History of architecture and interior design Essay

History of architecture and interior design - Essay Example According to Quorum Architects (2013) Interior design can be defined as multi-faceted profession in which creative and technical solutions are applied within a structure to achieve a built interior environment. These solutions are functional, enhance the quality of life and culture of the occupants and are aesthetically attractive. (Quorum Architects, 2013) 3. Objective of the Paper: The objective of this essay is to find the answer of the following question in relation to the architecture and interior designing. The question is â€Å"In what ways did the ‘neo-Palladian’ Cheswick House by William Kent and Lord Burlington embody neoclassical values†. Image 1: Longleat House of the year 1580, example of Neo Palladian Work. 4. Neo Palladian Covept of architecture: Neo-Palladianism is the term associated with the style of architecture. It is used to describe the style of architecture developed in Britain in the early eighteenth century. The implement of this style was first implemented by Lord Burlington and his group of architects. The architecture was mainly developed on Palladio’s villas as well as in palaces rather than on the church. For a long period of time, this style was not applicable in the interior designing as well as in the architecture. ... His aim was to develop a new taste of Palladianism style in Britain. His new style of work was reflected on the structure and the design of buildings like Chiswick House etc. According to the analysis, Burlington's promotion of Palladio's work and the dissemination of ideas through architectural treatises and builders' companions led to a quite different style of architecture. Neo-Palladianism emphasized certain building types and stylistic features. Structure like Vilas and palace-terraces were busily erected across Britain, with columns, pediments deployed repeatedly on their facades. (Architecture.com, nd). Image 2: A villa with a superimposed portico, example of Neo Palladian architecture. 5. Neo Classical Architecture: According to Hopkins (2009), neoclassical architecture is based on ancient Greek and Roman principles of design principles, rules of scale, classical orders and proportion. This type of architecture was started in the 16th century by the work of Andrea Pallado dur ing the Italian Renaissance period. In the 18th century this architecture work became fashionable in England and France as well. According to his review, the advancement of this architecture was carried out by the French Academy in Rome. The advancement was first noticed in the design of Petit Trianon, the Pantheon and the Arc de Triomphe in Paris etc. He also pointed out the fact that since then the English architecture group adopted the same culture. Among all the sculpture of the England, one of the well discussed and best example of Palladian style of Neoclassical architecture was Cheswick House in London. (Hopkins, 2009, p.119). According to his view, after the independence war in 1812 in America the

Film review in mythic and propagandistic aspects Essay

Film review in mythic and propagandistic aspects - Essay Example This was a period of incertitude for the Russians, during which communism was still unstable and so was the new Russia, hence the profound motivation for the Russian government’s use of propaganda to instill its political ethos in the Russian population. The film’s director Eisenstein takes great liberty and makes significant alterations to this historical record of events thus controlling the narrative structure and pacing of the film (Severson). This was Eisenstein’s attempt to create an effective and well-structured film that is not bound to the nuances of the historical record, but his key shots and scenes are in fact actual depictions of what took place in the Potemkin mutiny. The titular Battleship Potemkin was a true Russian navy ship and its crew that rebelled against their tsarist captain siding with the Bolshevics was a real record of the prototypical communist struggle before its eventual triumph in 1917 (Yahner). The sailors, who were the proletariats , are portrayed as the heroic everyman of the movie while the captain and the Tsarist soldiers, who were bourgeois, are scorned as the villains of the film. The film leverages on its fiery rhetoric and violent scenes to evoke anti-capitalism feelings in the audiences, while glorifying the communism philosophy. The film establishes its strong communist ethos through the character of Vakulinchuk, an Ukranian sailor in the Russian Navy who prior to his death in 1905 had served on the Russian battleship Potemkin and witnessed the events that had occurred. Similarly, the director further embellishes the films’ ethos through masterful editing skills rather than shooting the movie in a single scene-by-scene fashion as was the norm in the 1920s; Eisenstein pioneered most of the modern film editing techniques by flashing several characters and settings across the screen despite the limitation of technology at his time (Oheir). The fourth chapter of the film, the Odessa Staircase, beca me Eisenstein’s

John C. Calhoun 1782- 1850 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

John C. Calhoun 1782- 1850 - Research Paper Example The Political Life of John Calhoun and his Pro-Slavery Stance John Caldwell Calhoun was in American politics for 40 years. Wilson, in the introduction to Coit (1977, page vii, ) tells reader how ,together with Daniel Webster and Henry Clay , he made up the Great Triumvirate which was such a strong force in American politics for his whole career. Henry Clay was seen by President Andrew Jackson as being politically untrustworthy. He thought of him as being opportunistic and over - ambitious , even self-serving. Jackson would beat Clay to the presidency 1832. Jackson also established a political rivalry with a second member of the Triumvirate, his chosen Vice-President, John C. Calhoun, and eventually leading to the vice-president’s resignation. His antagonism to Calhoun was not based upon purely political rivalry. According to ‘The Age of Jackson , ( 2013) Jackson's animosity feelings were exacerbated by the Mrs. Calhoun's treatment socially of the wife of John Eaton, Secr etary of War in Jackson’s cabinet.. As well as being a leading politician Calhoun was also very much part of the life of the southern American states, a society which was at that time based economically and socially upon slavery. Rehuse ( 2002) describes slavery as defining â€Å" Southern social, political, and cultural life.† Calhoun’s ideas on the topic of slavery had two main aspects . Firstly he felt that the political rights of the minority southern states required special protection within the federal union. The second part of his argument, a topic on which he frequently expounded his views, was the now highly controversial argument that presented slavery as being an institution that benefited everyone involved – both black and white. He seem s to have honestly believed that black people were better off as slaves in America than when living free in Africa. Although he was never elected as President his career as a politician distinguished Calhoun a s a revered statesman in his day. On the other hand some saw him as its greatest villain (Wilson in Coit, 1977, page viii). Born in Virginia as the third son in his family, he was raised in South Carolina, as the son of a farmer and Indian fighter, his father having emigrated from Ireland. Calhoun was brought up as a Calvinist, which suited his tendency to have a rather bleak view of mankind (Ulbrich, 2013). He felt that life was a continuous fight against evil forces ( Coit, 1977, page 2,) He would later become a Unitarian and a graduate of Yale University. After training as a lawyer, he was admitted to the bar in 1808. He worked for a short time as both lawyer and as a farmer, and he was elected as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1808 ( University of Virginia, 2013). Calhoun had grown up during a time of great expansion in the cotton trade, an industry based upon slave labor. He was elected to Congress, and served both in the House and Senate. He was a s upporter of President James Madison's attempts to declare war on Britain in 1812, having advocated this as early as 1807 ( Bio True Story, 2013) . He also served as a member of the cabinet, under President James Monroe. He served as secretary of war from 1817 to 1825, covering the whole time that Monroe held the presidency. It was a task he seems to have carried out with great success, Rehuse ( 2002) quotes a federal officer as having said of him

What effect does socioeconomic status have on the voting behavior of Essay

What effect does socioeconomic status have on the voting behavior of blacks - Essay Example rent paper focuses on the examination of the possible effects of socioeconomic status on the development of a particular voting behavior by black people. The literature and the empirical research presented throughout this paper prove that the voting behavior of black people around the world can be influenced by a series of factors; socioeconomic status has been found to have a role in the development of specific voting decisions by black people. Of course, the dependence of voting behavior on specific social, political and financial factors cannot be doubted; however, it seems that this influence is stronger in the case of minorities or people with a specific racial background. Regarding the structure of the specific paper it should be noticed that a general presentation of the factors influenced the voting behavior of the public is used in order to introduce the issue under examination and explain the reasons for which the effects of the socioeconomic status on the voting behavior o f black people can have a long lasting effect. As already noticed above, the voting behavior of all people around the world is influenced by specific factors. The above phenomenon has been extensively studied in the literature and many different views have been stated. In accordance with Bass et al. (1998, online article) ‘it is important to consider the effect of residential mobility on registration and voting behavior; movers resemble stayers on motivational factors related to voting; the requirement that citizens must register anew after each change in residence constitutes a key stumbling block in the path of a trip to the polls (Squire, Wolfinger, Glass, 1987 in Bass et al., 1998, online article). In accordance with the above, the voting behavior of citizens can present different characteristics in accordance with the political and the social conditions of a particular era; in the same context, when specific factors are used in order to alternate the voting behavior of people

Learning from Failure Essay Example for Free

Learning from Failure Essay Everyone strives for perfection, for most people failure is not an option. However, the reality is that failure is an unpleasant fact, each day, a person fails in his or her tasks, decisions and ideas and organizations fail in their strategies and policies. In this highly competitive and achievement oriented society, a failure in any aspect of a person’s life is construed negatively and stereotyped as a sign of weakness. Failures are indeed negative occurrences that involve the inability to carry out the desired objective or goal of the individual or organization (Cannon Edmondson, 2005). Failures can be either large scale or small scale, and it can have far-reaching effects than mere criticisms. Small-scale failures are normal consequences of the individual’s actions and decisions form day to day, for example, not being able to come to work on time is a failure on the part of the employee. Being tardy is a negative behavior and failing to be punctual can directly affect the work performance of the individual; however, such tardiness can also have dire effects on the organization. Chronic tardiness results to missed hours of work per week and probably lesser output for the department or unit and the organization as a whole. Such a failure can be dissected and analyzed as a personal failure, but it has varied implications for the organization’s policies and performance. On the other hand, large-scale failures are highly sensationalized and have the potential to lessen the competitiveness and the trust that people have on their organizations (Nevis,   DiBella Gould, 1995). F or example, Martha Stewart’s failure and fiasco in her business enterprise have led to criticisms and stigma and for that time, sales of Martha Stewart’s products were very low. Organizational failures are often not highlighted as a basis for learning; instead, it is covered-up and undisclosed to the public. Learning from failure is not a popular concept in the American reality. Failures have a negative connotation and it is not a thing that is shared to most people. Likewise, organizations steer from the issue of failure and find immediate solutions to such failures and problems without considering the possible learning that the failure brings (Nevis,   DiBella Gould, 1995). For example, mass resignations of pilots in an airline company spell disaster, and the most likely action for the company is to reduce flights. Learning from failure dictates that the airline company should look into the reasons of the pilots for leaving the airline. The result of the survey would be used as basis to institute changes in their policies in order to address the concerns of the pilots and to prevent mass resignations in the future. Organizations however, try very hard to keep their failures from becoming public since it would not be good for their business but making failures public communicates that the organization is willing to accept their mistakes and further commit to the improvement of their policies and procedures to prevent and minimize the occurrence of mistakes (Cannon Edmondson, 2005). Large-scale failures that reach the consciousness of the public become common knowledge and these are used as a learning tool for other individuals and organizations.   The stock market scandals have resulted to clearer and stricter guidelines in the stock market. Thus, failures are not entirely negative; instead, it has the potential for driving new information and concepts and in the development of better policies and guidelines for all. Learning is a process that occurs throughout life, and failures play an important role in facilitating learning. Without mistakes and failure, an individual would not be able to learn what is right and acceptable from what is wrong and unacceptable. Failure is as essential to life as learning; one cannot exist without the other. Learning does not occur in a vacuum, it utilizes whatever information, and knowledge is on hand. However, the best kind of learning is said to come from failures and mistakes as it provides concrete basis for differentiating what is positive and good from what is negative and bad (Nevis,   DiBella Gould, 1995). At an individual level, workers sent on a training workshop to learn new skills in the operation of new equipments would only have a working knowledge of the new equipment. Actual operation of the equipment would test the knowledge of the worker and the amount of learning that he has gained from the training workshop. A failure on the part of the worker would lead to the inefficient use of the equipment, and identifying one’s mistakes and source of failure would result to more learning. At this point the worker can now identify which of his actions had resulted to the mistake and which actions would control for the effects of the mistake and what behaviors he should do to prevent the mistake from recurring. In terms of organizational learning, failures are also a rich source of information that could be used to improve and strengthen the strategies that they already have in place (Cannon Edmondson, 2005). It is important for organizations to learn from their failures as it is a factual occurrence that reflect the true state of the organization (Carmeli Sheaffer, 2008). For example, a miscommunication between departments can bring about significant problems and difficulties in the conduct of the organizations’ activities. The most likely reaction is for the department heads and managers to resolve the problems brought about by miscommunication, but if the organization wants to apply the concept of learning from failures, they should b able to identify the source of the miscommunication and in what channels the miscommunication occurred, then the organization should look into the communication patterns of the organization and take the necessary steps to ensure that the communication systems would be corrected to prevent miscommunications in the future. Even though learning from failures has been found to be a useful tool for increasing the efficiency of organizations and in cultivating a positive culture, one that is open to experimentation and failure, not many organizations have embraced the concept and continue to disregard the learning that could be had from failures (Nevis,   DiBella Gould, 1995). In a discussion of why organizations fail to learn from failures, it was pointed out that organizations fail to utilize failures as rich sources of information because of the lack of critical thinking skills that would identify failures as an opportunity for growth (Carmeli Sheaffer, 2008). Additionally, organizations does not take into account and monitor for failure, instead it is systematically removed and not dwelled upon. Another reason for not being able to learn from failures is the human tendency to reduce the effect or to cover-up the incidence of a failure. Even without undue pressure, individuals have the tendency to downplay failures and mistakes and for most to find excuses and blame the failure on the system, and other individuals (Carmeli Sheaffer, 2008). It is important to recognize that failures present a learning opportunity for organizations and even for one’s personal life, and although it takes courage and a more open and willing perspective, it is not impossible to attain. References Cannon, M. Edmondson, A. (2005). Failing to learn and learning to fail (intelligently): How organizations put failure to work to innovate and improve. Long Range Planning, 38, 299-319 Carmeli, A., Sheaffer, Z. (2008). How learning leadership and organizational learning from failures enhance perceived organizational capacity to adapt to the task environment. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 44:468. Nevis, E. C., DiBella, A.J., Gould, J.M. (1995). Understanding organizations as learning systems. Sloan Management Review, 36, 73-85.

How slaves were affected Essay Example for Free

How slaves were affected Essay When the African Americans were introduced to slavery, they didnt accept what was happening to them and how they were being treated, but as time passed working for their masters, not only physical, but mental abuse took its toll and soon they began to believe the way they were living was normal and alright. Punishment played a giant role in slave life. It showed the consequences of not doing what was asked or disobeying their master thus instilling fear in every single slave the owner possessed. Charity Anderson recalls, But honey chile, all white folks warn t good to dere slaves, cause Ise seen poe niggas almos toe up by dogs, and whipped unmercifully, when dey didnt do lack de white folks say. Mary Reynolds remembers, I seed them put the men and women in the stock with they hands screwed down through holes in the board and they feets tied together and they naked behinds to the world. Solomon the [sic] overseer beat them with a big whip and massa look on. The niggers better not stop in the fields when they hear them yellin. They cut the flesh most to the bones and some they was when they taken them out of stock and put them on the beds, they never got up again. These two accounts show just what these poor slaves had to deal with. They were constantly watched, and felt that if they just as much as gave a superior a wrong look, they would be beaten, or even worse, killed. Of course slaves saw this as inhuman but had no choice to obey as their masters said. There is much evidence that shows how quick they learned to do as they were told and after a period of time, many slaves accepted the idea of being just thata slave. This transformation started with the servants becoming fearful. Surviving was a game of smarts, hard work, and willpower. In order to live, slaves would allow their masters to beat and punish them without questioning so as not to risk a painful and senseless death. Snitching on other slaves who planned to escape was a good way to show their masters how loyal they were. Many slaves went as far as calling their masters nice and sometimes even boasting about their masters to other servants on different plantations. These small acts helped many stay alive but living oppressed lives affecting their minds and emotions forced themselves to cope with their sadness. Singing was common among slaves to express themselves and their hardships. Frederick Douglass recollects, They told a tale of woe which was then altogether beyond my feeble comprehension; they were tones loud, long, and deep; they breathed the prayer and complaint of souls boiling over with the bitterest anguish. The servants shared their feelings with each other through these hymns and so it made them strong enough to have the willpower to keep living by obeying and doing as they were told. Dogs lived a better life than many slaves, We had very bad eatin. Bread, meat, water. And they fed it to us in a trough, jes like the hogs. And ah went in may [sic] shirt till I was 16, nevah had no clothes. And the flo in ouah cabin was dirt, and at night wed jes take a blanket and lay down on the flo. The dog was supeior to us; they would take him in the house. -Richard Toler. The serfs accepted that they lived worse than dogs and at this point, it becomes evident that slaves began accepting th e life of slavery. They knew escaping was a bad idea because they would have no shelter, food, or clothes. If they were caught, they would be in the worst kind of trouble so they were forced to keep living the oppressed life. Being beaten and abused had them physically and mentally feeling that they were a lower race. Being intimidated all of the time had a harmful affect and they started to see slavery as acceptable. Their owners didnt allow them to read or write so living with a roof over their head made them feel privileged. Mr. William McNeill says, The escaped slaves were always trailed down by hounds; they never got away, there were always some good slaves to tell on others. I was glad when the slaves gained their freedom, even though we had a large number and lost plenty of money. They made many people rich and got nothing but punishment as a reward. They tell that some of the masters were good but I never did see a good one. This man is one that didnt buy into slavery and kept his mind from being brainwashed like many other slaves. He knew deep down that slavery was wrong and kept the truth in his reality. Even after the slaves were freed, life for them wasnt as great as they hoped it would be and they soon realized that being freed was near as bad as being slaves. Being freed toyed with their minds; just like they became slaves and felt out of place in the beginning, they were put into another  tough position to have to readjust once again. An after, soon after when we found out that we was free, why then we was, uh, bound out to different people. Anall such people as that. An we would run away, an wouldn stay with them. Why then wed jus go an stay anywhere we could. Lay out a night in underwear. We had no home, you know. We was jus turned out like a lot of cattle. You know how they turn cattle out in a pasture? Well after freedom, you know, colored people didn have nothing. Colored people didnhave no beds when they was slaves. We always slep on the floor, pallet here, and a pallet there. Jus like, uh, lot of, uh, wild people, we didn, we didn know nothing. Didn allow you to look at no book. An there was some free-born colored people, why they had a little education, but there was very few of them, where we was. An they all had uh, what you call, I might call it now, uh, jail centers, was jus the same as we was in jail. -Fountain Hughes. This man described how, after being freed, he and his family lived the life that nomads lived. They traveled around aimlessly, trying to find any place they could possibly stay. He described themselves like cattle which was an understatement because cattle could at least count on being fed. They could eat the grass of the land but the newly freed slaves would be lucky if they could find a piece of fruit. The freed slaves had no money, no beds like Fountain said, no education, basically they had nothing to call their own. Living free was as if they were living in jail Hughes thought, and many others agreed. An my father was dead, an my mother was living, but she had three, four other little children, an she had to put them all to work for to help take care of the others. So we had what you call, worse than dogs has got it now. Dogs has got it now better than we had it when we come along. -Richard Toler. Families were torn apart when all members had to work in order for the family to be able to buy the essential necessities they needed to live. Toler said dogs have better lives now than the lives of black families after being freed which shows just how much of a mess the south was in. Many white people did not accept this idea of freeing the slaves so this had many colored people feeling insecure and out of place. Some white people would go out of their way to try and hurt the colored people like the KKK did.  Frederick Douglass talks about the idea of trust in Getting Help from Others He said he met an Irishman who felt it was a pity for Douglass to be a slave. He then told Douglass to run away to the north where he would find friends there to help him. I pretended not to be interested in what they said and treated them as if I did not understand them; for I feared they might be treacherous. White men have been known to encourage slaves to escape, and then, to get the reward, catch them and return them to their masters. Douglass had this distrust when he was a slave but these feelings were carried on even after people like Douglass were freed. They felt they could not trust anyone but their own people. This idea is seen in the Tar Baby story as well. The main purpose of this tale was to show black people that they shouldnt go out of their way to talk to others. It was better to keep their mouths shut and thoughts to themselves because opening up to white folks could only get them into trouble. Since the colored people did not fit in, they kept to themselves which didnt seem like true freedom. Douglass also said in Thoughts of Escape that he and the slaves rather bear those ills we had, than fly to others, that we knew not of. Once he and every other slave was freed, this is essentially what happened. They had to move and re-adapt to new ills and complications which challenged them as slavery had challenged them once before. The whole time being slaves, black people finally started believing that slavery was what they were meant to do and it was alright for them to be treated at a lower level. Setting them free in an unaccepting world with no help or direction forced them once again, to cope with new problems and start a new theory about what it was they were really supposed to be doing or could be doing if it wasnt working and slaving for the white man.

Is the Family in Decline?

Is the Family in Decline? Introduction history of the family Most peoples idea of a normal household is a married couple with children. Does this longer correspond with the reality of peoples lives? In 2005 only 22 per cent of British households consisted of a couple with dependant children, compared with 35 per cent in 1971. (Fulcher J, Scott J, 2004 pg 446). Over several decades, Britain and other Western societies have seen a shift in family patterns and diverse roles, also divorce rate have risen significantly and there has been an increase in Reconstituted families formed from second marriages The family is often regarded as the basis of society; in pre-modern and modern societies alike is seen as the basis in which social organization takes place, for example socialising children, in the 1960s there was not discussion about the importance of family, at that family life was merely evolving with the modern times, the nuclear family which consist of a two generation household of parent and their children, was seen as well adapted to the demands of modern society. A classic definition of the family by George Peter Murdock (1949) The family is a social group characterized by common residence, economic co-operation and reproduction. This includes adults of both sexes, at least two of whom maintain a socially-approved sexual relationships, and one or more children, own or adopted, of the sexually cohabiting adults. Another type of family is the extended family, which includes the family members which extends vertically that would include three generations for example; grandparent and grandchildren, it also extends horizontally to include at least in laws cousins, aunts and uncles, and dependant on the perceptions and the boundaries of the family; determines how far this extends. From a functional perspective the family purpose is to work as a social institute, and according to (Haralambos Holborn 2008) the family performs four basic functions in all societies which are termed the sexual, reproductive economic and educational these are deemed essential for social life because without reproduction there would be no members of society, also without economics there would no provisions for providing food and therefore life would cease to exist, and without education as suggested by George Murdock there would be no culture and he suggests therefore that human society could not function. However according to Parson (in Parsons Bales 1956) the family social institution developed to meet two such needs that the family, and only the family, met: the needs for primary socialization and personality stabilization Primary socialisation was the process through which children obtain the basic values of society from the family from an early age. And adult personality is stabilized through the family to give emotional support through marriage, and to create an opportunity for adults to satisfy childish impulses that they could not do in public, for example playing games with their children. Parsons suggested that the nuclear family was particularly suited the nuclear family because the nuclear family roles were specialized due to one adult earning money through paid work, and the other adult bringing up the children, therefore with there being one breadwinner this was quite important factor in the industrial society due to high rates of change, this meant that this type of family were more geographically mobile and they would also keep the world of work and family separate, as industrial societies were concerned with achievement and universalism; this meant that people were rewarded according to achievements and judged according to universal standards of qualifications, and competence, the family however operated on a opposite basis; where the values of ascription and particularism; thus, status was ascribed on who one was, for example, husband of, wife of, parents would do their best to advance their children, therefore if this overlapped into the workforce this cause conflict. Marxist perspective states the capitalist system exploits the free domestic labour of the housewife through domestic labour, and that child rearing should be considered as family activities outside the operation of the capitalist economy but instead an essential part of it. This view is taken because the male breadwinner can then do longer hours, because the wife is at home tending to children and the domestic work; children were seen as the process of reproduction of labour by creating submissive workers. Due to the male bread winner being put under pressure from the work place to work much harder and faster, and quite often carrying out tedious and repetitive work in very poor conditions, which they would have very little control therefore the family was seen as an outlet for the tension and frustration, and the bullied worker may restore their self-esteem by bullying their family. Although the wife plays a significant role in the capitalist economy, she would get no pay. Some housewives worked in paid employment at a low wage, and acted as a reserve army which could be drawn into work when there was a shortage of labour, and returned back home when demand was low, therefore the nuclear family created an additional supply of cheap labour. Some sociologist argue that the family has lost certain functions in modern industrial society, and they suggest that institutions such as political parties and school, and welfare organisations are performing functions of the family, Talcott Parsons argues that the family has become functionless on the macroscopic levels. However not all sociologist agree with this idea, and they actually think the opposite, according to Ronald Fletcher, a British sociologist stated in The Family and Marriage in Britain (1966)that the family has retained its functions but also those functions have increased in detail and importance and specialised institutions such as schools and hospitals have added to and improved the family functions, rather than suspended them, some example of these changes are the expectations of the parenting role; they are expected to do their best to guide, encourage and support their children through education and their. Young and Wilmott (1973) claim that the symmetrical family is developing where spouses are sharing domestic, work and leisure activities; these types of relationships are called joint conjugal roles as opposed to segregated roles which previously meant the marital roles of husband and wife were largely segregated. In the symmetrical family, conjugal roles have become more joined, the wife still has primary responsibility for housework and child rearing, however husbands have become more involved with domestic chores like doing the washing and ironing, and share the decisions that affect the family The structure of the British family has shifted significantly over the last 50 years, a major influence of this is through the decline of marriage and the rise in cohabitation according to the Office of National statistics 2008 Due to the changes in marriages, divorce and cohabitation to the growing number of new types of families Two in five of all marriages are now remarriages, which makes step families one of the fastest growing family forms in Britain, currently making up one, in the decade to 2006, the number of single parent families also increased to 2.3 million, making up 14% of all families in ten of all families.18. Ethnic diversity is on the increase due to the increase of international migration is another source of diversity, for example the structure of Afro-Caribbean and Asian families; looking at the diversity in relation to origin and considerations of how these have changed in the context of British society. According to (Elliot 1966; Berthound 2000) the lower-class Afro-Caribbean family is centred on the role of the women, and marriages are weakly institutive and low due to the men wandering; therefore the women commonly head the households, and relationships between mothers and children are much stronger than those between fathers and children, and family life tends to be supported by other women other than the biological mother. African-Caribbean women have been more economically active than women from other ethnic groups, and see paid work as a basis fro financial independence and are more likely to control the use of their earnings than Asian or White women, however this is only made possible by the sharing of the mothering role with other women. There are considerable cultural difference between south Asian nationalities that have come to Britain, however there are similarities, for instance families from rural areas in South Asia typically have extended forms of family, that include three generations in one household and are organized through a network of males, are bound together through religious beliefs in brotherhood and family loyalty. Marriages are arranged and seen as a contrast of two families. According to young and Willmott the home centred symmetrical family is more typical of the working class than the middle class, they suggest that the working class are more fully home-centred because they are less fully work-centred; and this is due to compensating for uninvolved and boring work, and because little interest is expected at work, and manual workers tend to focus more attention on family life, therefore according to Young and Wilmott see work as a major influence on family Migration to Britain severely disrupted extended families of this kind and for many women this has left them socially isolated at home and unsupported by the kin. Sikh household have become more focused on couples and women have renegotiated traditional patterns, through greater independence through paid work, however in contrast Pakistani and Bangladeshi cultures have been limited to homework or family business by Islamic prohibition of contact with unrelated men, this has lead to women being exploited as cheap labour and confined to the home. Many sociologists are concerned about what they see as the decline in marriage and family life, and they see this as a threat to the family, for example Brenda Almond (2006) believes that the family is fragmenting, there is also an increase in the legal and social acceptance of marital breakdown, cohabitation, gay and lesbian relationships and so on. Colin Gibson (1994) claims through the development of modernity this has increased the likelihood of conflict between spouses due to much emphasis upon the desirability of individual achievement, Gibson believes that people now live in an enterprise and free-market culture of individualism in which the licence of choice dominates The last 100 years have seen changes in legislation, technology, attitudes and expectations  that have led to a massive feminisation of the workforce since the second world war, also widespread contraception leading to deferred decisions about the start of families; and divorce, remarriage and cohabitation becoming much more acceptable. A relaxation of societal attitudes towards marriage means it is no longer seen as unusual to be involved in a complicated family structure. Families are no longer just made up of married parents living with their children. Although seven in ten households are still headed up by married couples, this proportion has been declining for some time. Families are now a mix of cohabiting parents, stepfamilies, single parent families, those living apart together and civil partnerships, as well as the traditional nuclear family.

Extraordinary Means Of Treatment Essay -- essays research papers

Extraordinary means of treatment   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For many years now there have been people who center their lives on giving medical attention to sick patients in need of their care. There have also been many doctors who spend their lives developing techniques to help keep people alive as long as possible, even when the person quite possibly should have died a natural death a long time ago. Does this make what the doctor is doing wrong? Doesn’t the patient deserve a chance to live the longest and fullest life they possibly can?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  These questions must be weighed on the benefits of the treatment versus the burden of the treatment. It may prolong life but will it make the life better or just lengthen the suffering that the patient has to go through. These and many other considerations must be taken in account in order to assure the best decision for the patient. Money can also be a factor in extraordinary treatment. Some people can’t afford to have their loved ones in a hospital for very long especially if they are in a coma or other severe illness, and might not be able to afford a long-term hospital bill. Also if there is a very slim chance of success with the procedure it may not be worth trying to save or preserve the life of the patient. Sometimes you may need to take the individual’s opinion on the treatments advice. If they are able to give a competent decision shouldn’t it be used to dete...

Hamlet - Claudius Vs. Lady Macbeth Essay -- essays research papers

Claudius vs. Lady Macbeth King Claudius of Hamlet and Lady Macbeth of Macbeth exhibit three similar qualities, dishonesty, evilness, and deceitfulness throughout the play; although sometimes they demonstrate these qualities in different ways, these qualities greatly affect the other characters in the plays . King Claudius and Lady Macbeth are similar in that they both let their crave of power and desire for the crown drive them to deceitfulness, corruption, and even murder, to obtain it. King Claudius and Lady Macbeth are so greedy for wealth and power that they will let nothing get in their way, even if it means deceiving the ones they love. King Claudius was in love with his brother ¹s wife and desired his position as king. In order to obtain these things he went behind Gertrude, his lover ¹s, back and murdered her husband. Shortly after, he married her and took the crown. Not only was this extremely deceitful to Gertrude, but it hurt Hamlet, his nephew, extremely. Lady Macbeth was indeed as power hungry as Claudius, and she too plotted a murder in order for her husband to obtain the crown. In doing this she was extremely deceitful of her lover also. She employed many conniving tricks in order to convince Macbeth to kill King Duncan, such as in scene in Act I, scene seven when she says,  ³From this time such I account thy love. ² Here she is basically saying that Macbeth may prove his undying love for her by killing the king, thus causing him to feel that he is obligated to murder King Duncan. King Claudius and Lady Macbeth are also very good at disguising their deceit. In Hamlet, only Hamlet himself is aware of the true nature of Claudius. All others, including his Wife and subjects, think he is a wonderful and innocent King. Lady Macbeth is the same in that she puts up a wonderful facade for both the public and her husband. Although she is planning a murder Lady Macbeth manages to still act as a smiling, gracious hostess. Lady Macbeth's house guests and King Duncan, whom she intends to kill, even refer to her as their  ³honour ¹d hostess, ² in Act I, scene six. Her husband is also fooled by her charade and is unable to see her evil intent as she cons him into killing the king. Lady Macbeth keeps this facade until the end of the play when her t rapped feelings finally drive her mad. Another thing these two characters have in common is that... ...f his encroaching madness, and partly as a ploy to throw off Claudius and his spies. Ophelia was so shocked and confused over Hamlet ¹s complete betrayal that she could hardly go on living, and in the end she became so overwhelmed that she committed suicide. Lady Macbeth also affected many characters with her deceitfulness. The character most greatly affected was her husband, Macbeth. Until he was convinced by his wife, Macbeth had decided that he was going to stay loyal to the King, and put all notions of murder out of his head. In Act I, scene seven Macbeth declares,  ³We will proceed no further in this business, ² meaning he has decided to end all thoughts of murdering the king. Lady Macbeth will not give up though, and instead begins to try to further lure Macbeth into participating in her corrupt plans. Eventually she is successful in doing this, and Macbeth murders Duncan. Lady Macbeth lit a spark of evil in Macbeth that turned into his destruction. Macbeth became pow er hungry and murdered many others in order to have it. Lady Macbeth turned her loyal, honorable husband into a corrupt fool. In the end it all lead to the total destruction of a once well respected, virtuous hero.