Some People Think High School Students

Some people think high school students should take a year to work or travel before going at university. Some people believe that students should work or travel for a year before going at university,in my opinion I totally agree. Experiencing the world of work expands the mind. The experience will help us to see how the various aspects of college education relate to each other and to life outside of college. The richness of experience will powerfully inform your academic work.First I`ll talk about advantages and disadnvantages of one year working or travelling before going at university. There are a lot of advantages,but also there are some disadvantages. I think that we should work a certain period before going at university,because we`ll earn money to pay our education. Most of the student`s cant go at university because their parents are in bad financial situation. But If they work a certain period they`ll earn enough money for going at university also they`ll gain experience that will help them when they`ll decide to find a job.On the other hand they will learn how to live independently without assistance from parents, and how to face the challenges of life. Furthermore students could find out what they want in life, they could become single-minded, focused and motivated enough to achieve their aims. When they would start studying, they would be motivated to learn in order to attain the goals they have set, thus they will benefit from their travel experience.Another advantage of spending a year traveling between school and university is that students would be able to develop certain skills which will be very helpful for their further life. Students would learn to take responsibilities since they would be on their own in a foreign country where they would not be able to rely on others like they did at home. Whenever they would struggle with issues, they would have to solve the problems on their own; therefore the students would become more independent and awa re of the fact that dealing with issues and solving them is a process of becoming an adult.Thus, their traveling experience would have a positive impact on their personality since the teenagers would be able to develop further personal skills by experiencing a lot, dealing with problems that they would normally not have at home and becoming more aware of their own abilities. A year of traveling would not only benefit the students by helping them developing their personal skills but would also help them improving their language skills. Students that do not speak the anguage of the country they are traveling to so well, would practice it and expand their treasury of words since they would spend a lot of time there and they would have to communicate in order to handle the necessities of every day life like for example shopping. Therefore they would improve their language skills and this could be very expedient for their further studies. Spending a year abroad brings along a good opport unity to meet other people and make new friends.Students would get to know people from different cultures, hence they would learn many interesting things about the culture of the country they have traveled to. If students traveled to a less developed country, they could be more aware of the differences between the respective country and their home country and would therefore appreciate what they have at home. Even though there are many positive aspects concerning spending a year in a foreign country after finishing school, there also are some negative points that I want to clarify.Some students might decide for such an experience but they could soon find out that the decision they have taken was not an appropriate one. They could figure out that they have done the wrong choice since they would not be able to deal with all the issues they encounter there, so they would not only waste money in vain, but also precious time. Some teenagers would not be able to cope with such issues as r esponsibility and independence because they would need help and could not do it on their own, therefore they could not bear a whole year abroad if they traveled to a foreign country.Another disadvantage of spending a year abroad is the possibility of losing contact with friends at home. Since the teenagers who decide to take a break from school and do not continue their studies are spending a year away from home and from their friends, they could easily neglect their friends by not calling or writing them often enough. When the students would return home, their friends might have moved on with their lives and could have found other friends since they would have already started their university life.A year abroad could also be dangerous if students chose to travel to a less developed country where crime is the order of the day. The teenagers could betake themselves in dangerous situations and could, if the worst comes to the worst, get hurt. Another negative aspect concerning spendin g a year in a foreign country before going to university is the fact that the students could forget a lot of academic subjects such as mathematics and natural sciences.This could be a disadvantage for the students who want to continue their studies in this direction. Furthermore students could come out of their learning rhythm and this would probably cause difficulties when they would go to university since they would have to do their best from the start and would have to compete with other students who did not take a break from school but continued studying.All in all, one can draw the conclusion that spending a year traveling after finishing school, may have its positive sides, since students can develop their personal skills and experience a lot of helpful things that can shape up as very useful for their future. Nevertheless the decision to spend a year abroad should be elaborated since it may not fit to everybody and it may turn out to be a wrong idea. Therefore I hold the opin ion that everyone who contemplates to make such an experience should really try to find out if it is the right thing for her/him to do.

The Emulation of Art ; Life

In all walks of everyday life, lessons and experiences are collected in hopes to use them in future scenarios. Many writers throughout history have said they have used these occurrences in their work. At various point in life situations arise in which decisions must be made and once the choice is being carried out, there comes a point when one cannot go back and change course. This inability to revert one’s path is called the â€Å"Point of No Return. † In other instances the use of geography may not only be viewed literally but also serve as a metaphor.There are also periods when isolation has an effect on the behavior of an individual. Point of no return, use of geographic surroundings and isolation are concepts used in all of the following works: Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now (Now), William Faulkner’s â€Å"A Rose for Emily† (A Rose), and Tim O’Brien’s â€Å"The Things They Carried† (Things). In these three pieces one shall see not only the ideas of â€Å"Point of No Return† (PNR), geographic surroundings, and isolation, but the notion of art imitating life. Foremost, PNR comes in a variety of ways for each of the many characters we encounter in these adventures.In Now, we see Willard’s PNR towards the end of the film after he has arrived at Kurtz’s compound. As he sits in the darkness, Chef’s decapitated head is thrust into his lap. Without Chef to aid him, Willard realizes he is truly on his own. In order to escape Kurtz’s world intact, he must complete his mission alone. In the case of Emily’s manservant in â€Å"A Rose,† the PNR is depicted after the death of Emily. â€Å"The negro met the first of the ladies at the front door and let them in, with their hushed, sibilant voices and their quick, curious glances, and then he disappeared.He walked right through the house and out the back and was not seen again. † (Faulkner, pg. 7) The mans ervant is aware of the truth of Emily’s dark life which shall soon be exposed to all and does not want to be in the vicinity when it happens. For Lt. Cross in â€Å"Things†, the PNR occurs following Ted Lavender being shot and killed. â€Å"It wouldn’t help Lavender, he knew that, but from this point on he would comport himself as a soldier. † (O’Brien, 13) After this tragic event, a transformation in the Lt. ’s attitude towards the remaining men occurs. On the morning after Ted Lavender died, First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross crouched at the bottom of his foxhole and burned Martha’s letters. † (O’Brien, 12) His feelings of love for Martha have also been replaced by an emotion resembling anger. Given these examples, PNR is present in each one of these accounts. The use of geography can be interpreted in numerous ways. As the men in Now make their way into the depths of the jungle, the Nyung River gradually becomes narrow. Slow ly the soldiers are picked off one by one. The group begins to diminish, as does the width of the waterway.Another use of geographic surroundings is found in Faulkner’s work. His description of Emily’s home and its location demonstrate the similarity in her temperament. â€Å"But garages and cotton gins had encroached and obliterated even the august names of that neighborhood; only Miss Emily’s house was left, lifting its stubborn and coquettish decay above the cotton wagons and the gasoline pumps- -an eyesore among eyesores. † (Faulkner, pg. 1) Although modern technology is progressing all around her traditional neighborhood, and the South for that matter, she stubbornly refuses to adapt.The geography is split into both literal and metaphoric ways in â€Å"Things. † â€Å"They carried the land itself. Vietnam, the place, the sod- a powdery orange-red dust that covered their boots and fatigues and faces. They carried the sky. The whole atmosphere, they carried it, the humidity, the monsoons, the stink of fungus and decay, all of it, they carried gravity. † (O’Brien, pg. 7) Not only did the soldiers carry the soil of Vietnam on their boots but they carried the experiences of Vietnam in their minds. All of the tangible and idealistic aspects of being in a war-torn country are what these souls carried.Geography used by these storytellers create a world which not only can be seen but be felt deep within. Lastly, the third concept found in each of these works is isolation. A wise man once said, â€Å"The true character of a person is revealed once they think no one is watching. † (A. Mancha) This becomes evident in NOW when the three remaining men have reached Kurtz’s dwelling. In front of the natives, Kurtz is God-like in his demeanor. However, inside the temple and away from his worshipers, Willard sees what lies beneath Kurtz, a man. A man who poetically writes the horrors of what he has seen, done a nd become.Willard becomes conscious of Kurtz’s desire and anticipation of his own death. â€Å"Everybody wanted me to do it, him most of all. I felt like he was up there, waiting for me to take the pain away. He just wanted to go out like a soldier, standing up, not like some poor, wasted, rag-assed renegade. Even the jungle wanted him dead, and that's who he really took his orders from anyway. † Kurtz is aware of Willard’s mission and welcomes it. In â€Å"A Rose,† the segregation of Emily from society, enforced by her father â€Å"clutching a horsewhip† (Faulkner, pg3), played a major role in Emily’s lack of emotional and mental development. On a tarnished gilt easel before the fireplace stood a crayon portrait of Miss Emily’s father. †(Faulkner, pg. 2) Although Emily is of adult age she still remains much like a child as she uses crayons to create her father’s portrait. The isolation seen in â€Å"Things† comes in form of the deployment of the soldiers.These men are stripped from everything they know, from the families they love to the climates they are familiar with. â€Å"The things they carried were largely determined by necessity. † (O’Brien, pg. ) The men have replaced these elements with items each soldier deems essential for survival. This is not limited to weapons and food but also pictures, books and other mementos from home. As one can see, Coppola, Faulkner, and O’Brien’s works reflect abstract and concrete notions of art imitating life. By using PNR, geography and isolation, these men were able to illustrate their points on a deep and abysmal level. The impact these works have had on society are invaluable and because of their timeless nature will continue to influence artists throughout the years.

Black Legend Essay Research Paper The

Black Legend Essay, Research Paper The Black Legend During the late 15th and early 16th centuries Catholic Spain was get downing a huge motion in attempts to rule Europe by suppressing lands about the New World. Lands in Mexico and countries near the Yucatan known as New Spain became the focal point of Spain s conquering. Bing the first state to administer their settlements throughout the New World, Spain was ridiculed by neighbouring states like England and France. However this type of ridiculing was mostly due to the faith of Spain at the clip. After the Protestant Reformation, Spain had remained to be a Catholic state. Therefore powers like England were able to assail Spain from all political sides. This new vision of Spain s bloody conquering in South America allowed Protestant Europeans to originate a theory on Spain s conquerings known as the Black Legend. This Black Legend was said to state that the Spanish were barbarous to the indigens in their settlements merely because they were Catholic. Based on the given articles written from the bulk of which were brought approximately from different position and sentiments, this fable in my sentiment must be true. Such people who wrote these letters or docudramas were well- sure solons, and to lie to the governor of one # 8217 ; s state was considered to be a wickedness to both the Majesty and to God. Even in the positions of those belonging to Spain and the Catholic Church, the Spaniard # 8217 ; s try to represent themselves in the New World was an unjustly and barbarous cause. The chief ground for Spain s barbarian attack to the New World was in effort to the counter-Reformation. The Spaniards wanted to pull new voices in the Catholic Church by directing missionaries and Jesuits to the New World in order to spread out the faith and hopefully convey the terminal of Protestant Reformation by barricading off all England s and Europe s effort in colonisation. Therefore, the usage of force was needed to suppress new lands and advance God and His Majesty for Spain. Since the position of the French, English, and even Spanish are used, in my best words I claim the Black Legend to be true. In the words of de Las Casas who he himself was a Catholic Spaniard said that the indigens were people who were patient, peaceable and unagitated. They neer had hatred, desire, or retribution. He considered them to be weak and delicate people who lived amongst themselves in peace and harmoniousness. How of all time, in conformity to the priest, the Spaniards and their Equus caballuss came and slaughtered the adult females, work forces, and kids in hunt of enlargement and chiefly gold. This desire for gold kept the Spaniards on the move, and until they had had all they would non rest. Even in the eyes of an Aztec who had nil but his people, the Spaniards killed and robbed the people and even at times took advantage of their adult females. This ferociousness, nevertheless, merely seemed to be in the eyes of conquistadors. For among present twenty-four hours America, the Gallic and Puritans struck singular friendly relationship among the local indigens. The Gallic with the assistance of the baronial Samuel de Champlain struck a trade trade with the Indians for beaver pelt. Even the Puritans gained trust from Squanto in Plymouth to construct a durable relationship of trust and friendly relationship. When Sir Walter Raleigh arrived in the Caribbean he described the people as frightened and bewildered due to the plundering Spanish who took advantage of their adult females and embarrassed their work forces. Even with such conquerings and ferociousness of the Spanish, commercial Catholicism was non reached harmonizing to Father Juan Rogel in a missive to Pedro I. He claimed that despite great promotions in the modernisation of the indigens, he was unable to convey them to the understanding about the faith. Since the Indians were on the move 9 of 12 months he was unable to larn the linguistic communication to the full or wholly preach to them. And when he did they would invariably do merriment of his words. He acknowledged that the lone manner acquire them to collaborate were to settle them down and build small towns. For if any adult male was to follow them for 50 old ages, his message would neer acquire across. These concrete facts, letters, and personal histories seem to indicate at the Spaniards as being barbarous due to the fact that they were Catholic and had the desire to acquire their message across and take advantage of the people and ownerships of the ancient civilisations established in the New World. The Protestants really good could hold done such things every bit good in order to barricade the counter-Reformation, alternatively they took the advice of the indigens and established a more comfortable foundation and settlement. Even though today most of South America is Catholic, they are still behind chiefly due to the Acts of the Apostless that occurred 100s of old ages ago. In bend the Black Legend did hold a big impact on the colonisation and Reformation of the New World.

Culture Diversity between Saudi and Indian Cultures Assignment

Culture Diversity between Saudi and Indian Cultures - Assignment Example The Indian culture is probably one of the oldest and most unique cultures. Various parts of India, the south, north and northeast have distinct cultures of their own. From the interview, one would get to learn that in the various states of India, almost every state has created its own cultural niche. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia is also a rich culture which has mainly been shaped by the Islamic religion. Trade has also played a great role in enriching Arabian culture ever since the ancient time, as well as, its Bedouin traditions. In India religion is the way of life. Their religious beliefs and practices play a huge role in the culture and traditions of the Indian people (Hardy 69). However, the Indian society has really not changed. On the contrary, the Saudi society has gone through many developments over the years. The people of Saudi Arabia have with time dropped their traditions and values, their customs, their style of dressing and hospitality and adopted the modern way of doing things (Hardy 73). On the other hand, Indians up to date, still upholds their style of dressing, performing daily rituals and customs. The greatest similarity between the two is that their cultures are based mainly on the religion. For Indians, it is a pure religion while for Saudis it is Islam and Arab culture intertwined. Both Indian and Saudis are very welcoming to strangers, friends and family. In addition, Indians have many religions which include: Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, Islam, Christianity and Zoroastrian religions, while, Islam is the main religion for the people of Saudi Arabia. There exist a small percentage of Christians and Hindus who are primarily noncitizens from other countries (Hardy 77). In addition, to that Hindus are not allowed to worship in Saudi Arabia. Conversion from  Islam to another religion could result in a death sentence as punishment. However, in India, Hinduism is the main religion with over eight percent of the population being Hindu. Buddhism is the second most popular religion whereas Islam is the leading religion in India.

American football Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

American football - Essay Example Certain sports like football have been there from medieval times. Speaking broadly, sports were and still are played to gain political ends. Healthy and active sports industry results in booming economy of a country. Just like every other country has a national sport, America is known for football after baseball. Football is a game that requires manoeuvring, an alert and clear head and strategies that change with the course of the game. Every sport is a psychological game. That means whichever team utilizes the element of surprise effectively against the opponent wins the game. Unlike rugby and soccer, the American Football involves hands more rather legs. The history of football goes back to the second and third BC centuries in China where it was part of the military exercise. It was known as Tsu’ Chu in which the ball filled with feathers was kicked towards the goal without any use of hands. A similar game called the Japanese Kemari stemmed after some five hundred years. A Greek version of the game called â€Å"Episkyros† was followed by â€Å"Harpastum†, a Roman football game. The game came to England and fragmented into rugby and association football (soccer) in 1863. The introduction of these two games led to the formation of the Football Association in England. Hence, Britain became known as the home of football. (Fifa.com) Unlike contemporary football, in the early stages of the evolution of the game, it was much more disorganized and played violently in fields and villages with no limit on the number of participants. There were no specific rules or code of conduct. With passing time, the rules became defined and brought sophistication to the game in the 19th century. This was the turning point in the essence of football. By then, the game was introduced in schools. It brought out good character in the school students, some of them were loyalty, selflessness, unity, cooperation and respect for one another. Over the passage of time, the Cambridge

The experience of studying abroad Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The experience of studying abroad - Essay Example The personal development is greatly affected by studying abroad. One reason for recommending students to study abroad or far from home is that it gives them a sense of independence. This independence should not be taken as a negative impact on the students’ growth but it in fact is a very valuable factor. It provides them with the sense of responsibility, commitment and value for the resources. Studying abroad helps developing self-confidence. It further helps students in understanding the culture, tradition and values of other people. In the diversified population of today, it has become an important factor to learn to adopt and survive with people of different backgrounds. Studying abroad hence, helps students in understanding, managing and resolving the issues that may arise due to differences between themselves and others (Lange & Paige, 2003 p 185). Moving abroad and settling there for studies, however, is not an easy task! There are a number of social, political, economi c and moral issues which are to be considered before making a choice on this matter. Students face and may face problems due to the changing political, economic and social conditions of a country. ... The diversified populations at schools help the students in preparing for their professional life where a diversified workforce is available. Schools and universities, hence, provide them an understanding of the issue that may arise in their future working career and they find ways to tackle and reduce those issues. Moreover, the participants from other countries represent their culture and traditions to the host country population and the relationship between people from two different backgrounds help in eradicating the wrong concepts about each others’ culture and religion (OECD, 2004 p 221). The working environment, which is highly diversified today, is greatly affected by abroad education concept. People who have been experiencing the diversified population throughout their academic life are easily settled and integrated in the unknown organizational culture. They face less trouble in dealing with others and facing challenges of discrimination and undue behaviors of other people. As far as academic success and growth of students is concerned, studying abroad makes student more conscious about their results and performance. Most of the students staying abroad for educational purposes are paying their fees by themselves. They go for some kind of job to earn their living and bear their regular expenses. Hence, they are more motivated to pass their exams without any failure. However, a negative impact may be seen as a result of this working issue on the performance of students in terms of lower grades and GPAs. Studying abroad helps in developing self confidence, believe in one’s abilities, independence, maturity, creativity to resolve issues and understanding of individualistic strengths and weaknesses.

The Liberal Values of Washington Consensuses Term Paper

The Liberal Values of Washington Consensuses - Term Paper Example The feature of neo-liberalism, in general, is to expand the market and desire to intensify, increase the frequency, number, formalization, and repeatability of transactions. The crucial goal of neo-liberalism is a universe wherein every action of every individual is a trade transaction, performed in competition with the other individual and influence every transaction, with the transactions that occur in the infinitely shorter time period and reiterate at an infinitely rapid rate (Neoliberalism: Origins, Theory, Definition 2005). Â   Â   Â   Â   As a result of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) negotiations, the rise of the World Trade Organization (WTO) was established in the year 1995. It is central to the development of global governance. The concern of WTO is to build a world trade system into a predictable and uniform arena for the world nations and businesses. Streamlining the trade policies of the nation-states, reducing barriers to trade among nation-states and resolving trading disputes are the responsibilities of WTO. It plays a significant role in preserving intellectual patents, rights and so forth. Â   Â   Â   Â   The World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) also play a significant role in global governance. The IMF tries to make the International economy more translucent by imposing rules and is a lender to the countries that are undergoing a financial crisis. The World Bank reduces poverty to balance or diminish social division that may counterbalance the global integration of economies. Â   Â   Â   Â   Â   Since, the commencement of Westphalian International System that is International state system established in 1648 by Peace of Westphalia treaty as a defining feature of policy with the state sovereignty, the state has played a significant role in the system. The ideological cover of neo-liberal (deemphasizing the traditional liberal doctrine to get development by practical methods is accomplished due to the growth of globalization. The role of the state in the International system has undergone a drastic change. The ideology of neo-liberal states that market by it is a very significant institution (Christensen, Karen & Levinson, David 2003).

Starbucks's Corporate Ethics Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Starbucks's Corporate Ethics - Case Study Example Sources used include company's official website and two printed books on the subject on CSR. As they say charity begins at home, Starbucks starts its CSR policy with its employees. The firm believes that employees are partners and must be treated with due respect. The company says on its website that one of the key benefits of CSR for the firm has been in the retention of its partners. Howard Schultz, the owner of Starbucks Coffee Co understands the importance of its employees. Ronald Sims in his book, "Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility: Why Giants Fall" appreciates the ethical practices at Starbucks and writes: "Amazingly, Starbucks offers both full- and part-time employees equity in the form of annual stock options. In 1987, when the company was losing hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in its drive for expansion, he extended medical coverage for any "partner" working 20 hours or more. Paying 75 percent of the insurance premium costs Starbucks approximately $1,275 a year per worker, while hiring a new employee costs the company almost twice that amount." (p. 304) Apart from the employee relations, the firm has been integrating CSR into its operation. ... The company also undertook a research to find out how much greenhouse gas emissions could be attributed to its operations. It found that only 18 percent was due to operations and the rest was due to energy use at its locations. This research however did not include Starbucks' foreign locations. Another important area of CSR at Starbucks is sourcing methods. The firm has to procure coffee from suppliers from around the world. The company has been trying to practice ethical means of procurement by buying from suppliers who are on C.A.F.E list of approved coffee-growers. By 2007, 65 percent of its coffee was being purchased from C.A.F.E approved suppliers but the company aims to make it 80 percent by 2013. These are the suppliers who are following rigorous standards for sustainability throughout the supply chain. The firm has been trying to work in harmony with the governments of coffee producing nations. Starbucks feels "these relationships must be mutually beneficial. They must also be collaborative in nature in order to advance measures and practices that contribute to the sustainable production of high-quality coffee - and sustainable livelihoods for farmers and their families." But things have not always been smooth. Starbucks famously got into an argument with Ethiopian government over trademark issues. But over time, this rift was resolved and Starbucks now enjoys a warm relationship with Ethiopian farmers. Starbucks is also involved in community building ventures in supplier nations. For example it understands that a large number of Mayan people depend on coffee for livelihood. The company has been working on educational projects in this region. "For more than a

Applied Behavioral Analysis II Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Applied Behavioral Analysis II - Essay Example According to the data provided, the intervention employed by Martin worked. The behavior exhibited by the patient Sara included banging her head against the wall, pulling her hair, and biting her arm. These behaviors according to the differential reinforcement of other (DRO) procedure were inappropriate. From the data provided, the frequency of biting her arm reduced from 10 to 7, the frequency of pulling her hair reduced from 23 to 5, and the frequency of banging her head against the wall reduced from 15 to 6. The method was not that successful although it reduced the frequency of the inappropriate behavior. The method is most effective for children aged four to twelve; Sara was only fourteen years old. For middle school setting in which Sara belongs, the method is used for integration into the self-management plans (NPDC on ASD 1). The ABAB reversal design has ethical and practical limitations when the intervention is withdrawn. The ethical issues become significant when the behavior that is being targeted is more problematic; this is the case with the Tier 3 RTI cases. In ABAB reversal design can be lengthened to for full observance of the return to baseline. Another limitation with this method is that some of the target behaviors can fully exhibit the return to baseline. In such a case, the learned behaviors partially return or they are returned on the basis of variability or the rate of learning. The resultant effect is the weak version of the reversal design in majority of the academic situations (Burns and Riley-Tillman 46). Due to these serious limitations, the method is faced with a number of ethical issues as discussed above. If Martin had used the method on Sara, a number of ethical issues could have been raised concerning the method. These ethical implications include the problem with the behavior of the target, and the partial return of the learned

Self Evaluation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Self Evaluation - Essay Example I possess effective communication and listening skills, which are vital in any organization. I always listen carefully and make judgment after critical evaluation of the problem; thus likely to reduce conflicts that may arise in an origination. Besides communication and listening skills, I have learnt that effective teamwork, as well as controlling emotions is essential in the work environment. I am always read to work as a team and my future and I look forward to work in a dynamic organization that fully utilizes my potential and knowledge gained in classroom. Maxwell (34) argues that great leaders are the ones that embrace and work in a team; thus achieving success. Therefore, my aim is to deliver quality services and offer exemplary services; thus my biggest goal is to make clients happy since only if they are satisfied, then, I will also benefit from my work. My objective is to work in an organization that calls for total dedication, creativity, evaluation and effective decision; thus improving organizational performance

Show how Stevenson through themes, language and setting creates a world of double standards and hypocrisy Essay Example for Free

Show how Stevenson through themes, language and setting creates a world of double standards and hypocrisy Essay With titles such as Treasure Island and The Black Arrow, one expects to suffer complete infatuation when they pick up a book marked Robert Louis Stevenson. The Scottish author/poet published the world renowned novella Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in 1886. The story tells of a scientist (Dr Jekyll), living within the respectable society of Victorian England, and his quest to prove to himself that he can master two opposing personalities without fault. It is told from the view point of John Utterson, lawyer and friend to the respected and brilliant scientist. From the unwanted arrival of the menacing character Mr Hyde comes a brutal crime followed by a barbaric murder. Suspicions begin to flare and before long Mr Utterson reluctantly discovers a horrific and terrifying story. Dr Jekylls theory that within every man lies a good and evil persona has lead to him create and consume a potion that changes him into an embodiment of his evil side; Dr Jekyll is in fact the sinister and menacing murderer Mr Hyde. This captivating story is perhaps the most famous in its gothic genre, selling forty five thousand copies within its first few months. Even now the term Jekyll and Hyde is used to portray someone with a dual personality, someone who lives a double life of respectable decency and unforgivable sin. At the time it was written Victorian life was governed by strict etiquette and repressed sexuality, Stevenson could not have written a book more controversial to the times. The very existence of the book was a sign of duality and double standards. It is rumoured that Stevensons wife burnt the first manuscript as she feared that the tale was too controversial, that the reserved citizens of Victorian England would take to it with an uproar far less than positive. Publishing the book was a huge gamble on Stevensons part; even his own wife doubted its success, but evidently its success was not to be doubted. The inspiration behind the story is a subject matter of great interest. To understand what made Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde a classical story known by young and old alike, we must first look at where it began. As a child, Stevenson was obsessed with William Deacon Brodie, a cabinet maker/notorious criminal from Edinburgh in the 18th Century. Stevenson had a cabinet that was created by Brodies company in his bedroom, and was fascinated by the history behind it. Stevensons inspiration from Williams life is very much apparent in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde with the idea of duality displayed in almost every chapter of the novella. William Deacon Brodie was a very respectable man, being a member of the local government and a fine gentleman, much like Jekyll. But this seemingly respectable faà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ade concealed a private life, which consisted of two mistresses with five children between them and a gambling addiction which he funded by carrying out a series of robberies on premises to which his official position had given him access to, this darker, criminal side is much like Jekylls counterpart Hyde. Something else that can be seen in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is the main components that define the Gothic Genre. With Stevensons novella firmly situated within the borders that outline this genre, we expect before reading to be engaging in a story that features amongst other components: the supernatural, darkness, primitive behaviour and some degree of isolation. Supernatural is clearly shown from the transformation of Jekyll to Hyde and also the appearance of Hyde and the effect that he has on the other characters of the story. Hyde is described on page twenty-three as pale and dwarfish he is said to give an impression of deformity without any nameable malformation linking more obviously to the supernatural is the description that states Mr Hyde wears Satans signature upon his face as well as the description that states he wasnt like a man but like some damned Juggernaut. The effect that Mr Hyde has on the people that surround him is also rather unearthly. One the most respectable and unbiased characters, Mr Enfield, says that he has never seen a man he so disliked. Even the doctor who is described as being about as emotional as a bagpipe is turned sick and white with the desire to kill him whenever he sets his eyes upon the unnerving character. Mr Hydes appearance and his effect on others can also be linked into the next component; darkness. The idea of darkness is emphasised on every page of the book, the storyline itself is of a dark nature, and Stevenson emphasises this with use of intense imagery and descriptive language in just about every chapter. Primitive behaviour is perhaps the easiest component to pick up on, this component links directly to Mr Hyde as he is portrayed as primitive from the moment he arrives in the storyline. The novella goes out of its way to paint Hyde as animalistic. In chapter two Hyde is described by Mr Utterson as a troglodyte. Troglodyte is a word from Greek origin that when translated means cave-dweller. This translation triggers images of cave men to the readers mind, as we begin to think of humans who were less developed and therefore more primitive than we are in both looks and mannerism. The word is acting almost as a stimulus, a stimulus from which the reader derives a picture of Mr Hyde. In comparison the element of the gothic genre that is the most hidden is the theme of Isolation. It is shown in many parts of the book, in cases in a very simple way, but the reader does need to look deeper within the text to find the relation. Near the end of the book Jekyll who is slowly being eclipsed by Hyde confines himself to his laboratory to protect others from himself. This shows isolation quite simply, but the fact that Jekyll makes a potion that gets rid of the angel within man leaving isolated the fiend is an example of a relation that is hidden within the well written words of Robert Louis Stevenson. Though well written is quite the understatement. Stevenson employs a range of many techniques to make Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde a novel that can most definitely be described as one of a kind. The change of narratives and the way in which the final chapters are structured like genuine documentations is a unique method that really gives the story a sense of authenticity. The novella plays host to an immeasurable amount of themes all of which coincide with the idea of double standards and hypocrisy. The foremost being the theme of duality. This theme is reiterated throughout the story in many different ways and at many different points, from as early as Story of the Door. In that first chapter we receive two detailed accounts of the streets that home Jekylls residence and his laboratory. The first account goes into great depth about the serenity and picturesque qualities of the street, the reader gets the feel of an aristocratic society, where everything down to the inhabitants is polished and as close to perfection as humanely possible. But Stevenson doesnt leave this string of happiness apparent for long. He is quick to give us his second account, an account that clashes with the first in every possible way. The second account gives the reader a feel of negligence and also a feel of darkness. Stevenson uses words such as dingy discoloured and blind to really emphasise just how dark and squalid the neighbourhood is. We can clearly see that the theme of duality is intended as Stevenson does not just describe the two scenes to us but also forces the reader to compare the two by saying the street shone out in contrast to its dingy neighbourhood. Deriving from the theme of duality, is the duality of man, the story focuses on the notion that humanity is dual in nature. Though the theme is not fully emerged until the last chapter, when we find Jekyll and Mr Hyde are one and the same, it is always apparent to us, as we, in this day and age know of the concept the story holds before having read the book. When reading Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde it is important to realise that the book was intended as a mystery and though we know of the final conclusion, the Victorian reader did not and was not supposed to. With this in mind, we see that the theme is only really confronted after we have witnessed and formed opinions on all the events of the story. In chapter ten Jekyll states that man is not truly one, but truly two he imagines man as two characters as an angel and a fiend and it is this philosophy that leads to the potion that is supposed to separate each side. It is this philosophy that provides the basis for the entire story. Another theme which places a large emphasis on creating a world of double standards and hypocrisy is the theme of irrationality. Every character within Stevensons novella is or at least starts as a respectable member of the society in which they live. One could argue that Mr Hyde is anything but, and the reply to that would simply be that Hyde is Jekyll, and even before the potion, when Jekyll is engaging in activities acceptable by his peers, Hyde still exists within him. With this on-going faà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ade of respectable and gentlemanly stature, every irrational act that occurs within the eighty-eight pages of this celebrated novel is also an act of hypocrisy and of double standards. And irrationality does occur. The trampling of the girl in chapter one shows hypocrisy on Jekylls part; that hidden deep within him, underneath his courteous exterior is the urge to engage in reckless and uncivilized deeds. The murder of Sir Danvers Carew is similar in the way in portrays hypocrisy, and after this second act of maliciousness the reader is intrigued to look further into the irrationality of these acts. It appears that these brutal attacks are done for nothing more than joy. We get the impression from his assault upon innocents that Hyde seems to enjoy doing wrong, we see it is not just a case of Hyde being free from law, civilization and conscience but instead a case of Hyde going out of his way to commit violent crimes, just because he can. We get the impression that Hyde is immoral rather than amoral. Another side of irrationality is The Beast in Man. Again no-one portrays this better than Hyde. Stevenson wants the reader to think of a creature when they envision Hyde and he uses many descriptive devices to obtain this effect. Hyde is described as trampling over Sir Danvers Carew with ape like fury, in the third chapter and when Jekyll is describing his spontaneous transformation into Hyde he describes his fiendish counterpart as the animal within me in addition a general description of Hyde portrays his hand as corded and hairy. These examples of symbolic imagery help paint a picture for the reader by helping to depict the appearance of Hyde. Fitting in with the duality of man, Stevenson wanted to make sure that Jekyll and Hydes appearance were seen as completely different, therefore it is necessary for the constant references to Hydes appearance as animalistic as no character within in the entire book can give a detailed description of Mr Hyde, they all instead seem to conclude that he is ugly and deformed in some indefinable way. The Beast in Man is further emphasised when Poole and others begin to characterize Mr Hyde with the words it and thing: God know what it was, That thingwas never Dr Jekyll. Near the beginning of this Victorian Mystery Jekyll asserts the moment I choose, I can be rid of Mr Hyde. Jekyll believes he has complete control over the situation that he has worked so desperately to create. He believes that he can switch in and out of his rivalling personas by merely drinking his concoction. When he decides he no longer wants to be Mr Hyde, he believes that by discontinuing the use of the potion, Hyde will cease to exist. The emphasis is on the word believe. Jekyll under-estimates the situation he has created, and as realisation hits him, it is already too late. He has wandered too far past the point of no return. This statement emphasises the theme of control and addiction. Jekyll is subject to addiction and as with all addictions he genuinely believes that he has total control. The notion of hypocrisy is in Jekylls certainty that he has control, when in fact he is as out of control as can be. It is unfortunate that his realisation of the fact that he is entirely out of control comes virtually before his death. The ending of this tragic story, really touches the reader as even though the hero and villain of the story are one and the same, there is still a likeness that the reader develops for Jekyll, and his death, though it means the death of Hyde, is not the happy ending that you would expect. The tragedy of Jekylls death is further accentuated by the reaction and sorrow that the friends of Jekyll feel at his loss. Friendship and loyalty is yet another theme that is apparent in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. This theme harmonizes wonderfully with the element of decorum that runs throughout the novella. The two relationships that best define the word friendship are between Jekyll and Utterson and Jekyll and Poole. When Utterson suspects that Jekyll is being black-mailed and then later on when he suspects that Jekyll is sheltering Hyde from the police, he does not make his suspicions known. Knowing of the importance of reputation, he remains loyal to Henry Jekyll and keeps his friends secret, so as not to ruin his respectability. The idea of hypocrisy is shown through Utterson being an upright and respectable member of the community, whilst still being prepared to keep sordid secrets quiet, besides his instincts that something negative is taking place. The friendship between Jekyll and Poole is best shown when Jekyll has been fully extinguished. Poole has been a loyal servant to Jekyll for over twenty years and is the first person to realise Jekylls death. He with Utterson engages in out of character behaviour, when they pummel down the door of Dr Jekyll which again shows double standards as they are acting out of turn, in a way that suggests anything but respectability. More importantly it shows the strength of friendship that these two characters have for Dr Jekyll; that they would engage in reckless behaviour, set aside their morals, forget about their respectability, their stature and think of nothing but their dear friend. Stevenson uses all these themes skilfully and eloquently to portray a world of double standards, but the idea of hypocrisy is shown within this piece of literature through a number of different devices such as language and setting. Every scene that is introduced to us is shortly followed by the introduction of another scene that is always of a harsh contrast. Dr Jekylls home is described by Stevenson as having a great air of wealth and comfort. In a brutal comparison is his laboratory which is described as a certain sinister block of buildingwhich bore in every feature the marks of a profound and sordid negligence. The laboratory with its neglected aura and overt ugliness perfectly illustrates the malevolent and malicious character of Mr Hyde and the dark nature of the story as a whole. Whereas the respectable and affluent house portrays the respectable and upright Dr Jekyll and the dignified element to the story. The connection between the two buildings represents the connection between Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The buildings are attached but they look out onto two different streets. Because of the layout of the streets, the fact that the buildings are two parts of a whole is undetectable without prior knowledge, just as the fact that Jekyll and Hyde are one and the same is undetectable. Another example of two scenes that illustrate duality is Hydes house; the interior and the exterior. Stevenson tells us in hindsight that Jekyll had bought and furnished a house to live in when he transformed into Hyde. We are given a description of the outside of the house, we are told that it is placed in a dingy street, a gin palace and that ragged children huddle in the doorways that surround this sorry excuse for a home. No sooner have we read about this distasteful house are we made subject to the description of the houses interior. The rooms are furnished with luxury and good taste. Adjectives such as elegant, good and agreeable are all used in the description of the interior of Mr Hydes house. The conflict between the inside and the outside of Mr Hydes house is a prime example of Stevenson trying to portray a world of hypocrisy and double standards to the audience. As well as themes and settings, Stevenson uses many literary techniques to get across the idea of double standards and hypocrisy. The first example of this is the descriptions of the street and Jekylls laboratory in the very first chapter. Stevenson describes the shops on the street as standing out like rows of smiling saleswomen. This simile creates a joyous mood, as does the statement the street shone out in contrast to its dingy neighbourhood. The word shone portrays radiance and tells the reader that the street is much better and livelier than all around it. It almost gives an impression of the street being something special. When describing the dreary laboratory belonging to Jekyll, Stevenson uses powerfully depressing adjectives and personification to show just how sinister the laboratory is. It is described as having a blind forehead and a door that is blistered and distained. All of these descriptions depict human characteristics, especially blistered and distained. These adjectives bring about a depressing mood, and help in portraying the evilness and ugliness of the building. By using these contrasting accounts Stevenson is not only showing duality and hypocrisy but also emphasising and symbolizing the character and habits of Mr Hyde. The laboratory which appears as no more than a door is seen as different from all of the houses that surround it. It is not considered normal. This demonstrates the fact that Hydes principles are not normal, as the laboratory is where Hyde is situated for a lot of the book. The laboratory is neglected and uncared for unlike everything around it. During Victorian times outward appearance was very important amongst society, it was necessary that everyones appearance was very respectable, so that people would receive the right impression of them. Hyde is quite the opposite; he doesnt care about how he looks or how he is seen. The way the laboratory stands out because of it dingy manifestation shows how Hyde is different and the odd one out in society. The duplicity of Victorian society is also shown, by the quote Though so profound a double-dealer. This assertion by Jekyll in the final chapter of the book shows Jekylls motives for the extended research into the duality in man and the eventual potion making. It explains that his initial hypothesis was based on himself as he in public and in private behaved as though he were two people. The alliteration in this quote also helps to portray the theme of double as the very word is in the phrasing and the alliteration is on two words. Another way in which Stevenson uses literary techniques to portray his main theme is in varied sentences. Stevenson uses a lot of short sentences to create tension and to change the pace that the story is being read at. He uses sentences such as and his blood ran cold in his veins and theyre all afraid this helps builds tension and prepares the reader for climaxs within the story. Robert Louis Stevenson was a man with a definite flare for writing. He has managed to portray the theme of hypocrisy and double standards to his readers in a clever way and with a unique style. This theme could have been shown simply and entirely by the two main characters: Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, but Stevenson goes further with his work, he shows duality in every possible way he can, oxymorons, contrasting descriptions. The world of double standards is apparent from the very start of this eloquent novella. It is the passion and depth that you can so clearly see in his words that make Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde a novella loved by all ages.

The Anglo French Concorde Project

The Anglo French Concorde Project 1.1) Introduction Faster than the speed of sound comes the plane of the future. It has cost at least fifteen times the original estimates. It is described as a commercial disaster by a review committee of one of the countries that built it. It is besieged by the environmentalists. The Concorde is the benighted offspring of Anglo-French diplomacy and once-and-future dreams of glory in the skies. Now its builders are trying to keep it from crashing in a sea of red ink (Gillman 1977). Concorde was one of the greatest man made engineering design projects of the twentieth century. It was made by the successful handshake between British Aerospace and French Aerospatiale and was therefore termed as the Anglo-French collaboration. Their engineers and designers had put lot of hard work in producing the worlds first supersonic passenger aircraft, which can fly with the speed twice as much of the sound. It was so fast that it could cover the distance between London and New York in almost 3 hours (Design Museum 2006). In 1962, when the project began, its expected cost was between  £150 and  £170 million. It took nearly 20 years to put in front the first ever supersonic aircraft, which was quite efficient than the normal jet planes. Concorde had a take-off speed of 250mph and cruising speed of 1350mph at a height up to 60,000 feet. During its 27 years of service, it was considered as the economic pride for both the nations and also made emotional attachments with the people as it made them cherish, whenever they spotted it in the sky (Design Museum 2006). It was a 2 billion pound project started in 1962 and was completed in 1976. There were a total of 20 Concorde constructed: 14 for commercial service development and 6 for development. The key features about Concorde, was its Delta wings, pinpoint movable nose and sonic boom. Its wings were made by French, engines by British, the centre section by French and the middle section by the British; therefore it was a total collaboration between the 2 nations. It was an aircraft built for the people to whom Time is Money like big Celebrities. But was also protested by some people due to the amount of noise pollution it causes during its flight. In 1990 it earned a profit of almost 20 million pound a year and was considered as one of the safest aircraft and had become peoples attraction (BBC-The Concorde Story 2001). But on 25th July 2000 Concorde had its first massive crash killing about 113 people and all the 100 passengers including the crew members. Thus the aircraft lost its majesty as the peoples confidence on it was shattered and were frightened to fly. Later after much of the investigations the Concorde was finally grounded in both the nations because of the safety reasons stating that there were some design flaws in its construction. Thus it was the end of the 27 years of great service that this aircraft has provided (BBC-The Concorde story 2001). 2) Stakeholder Analysis Stakeholders are any individual, group or an organisation that has demonstrable interest in the outcome of the project. They are the people who actually participate in the project and are actually affected by its results. So, the most critical task of a project is to identify its stakeholders as this would help to predict the demands of the stakeholders which would help in running the project successfully. The following analysis is done by using the STEEPLE model (Mansfield 2008). The major stakeholders concerned with the Concorde project are as follows: 2.1) Environmentalists: Concorde was considered as an environmental disaster as it degrades the ozone layer and thereby lets the suns rays to enter into the environment, which ultimately cause diseases like skin Cancer etc. And the amount of noise that it produces was also intolerable for the human ears and not suitable for the people living nearby. Also, Concorde often creates a shockwave, which is actually a sonic boom and so if it passes over the populated areas, then it could also shake buildings, break glasses and can cause harm to the eardrums which often made people angry. Therefore it was routed only over oceans (Scott 1997, Happenheimer 2008). Their attitude was like Terrorists towards the project. (Mansfield 2008). 2.2) British and French Government: It was recognized as a powerful symbol of ultra modern technology and was considered as a symbol of national pride to most of the people in Britain and France As before this, only USA and Russia were the superior leaders in making of the supersonic aircrafts. So, the British and French wanted to make an aircraft more powerful and faster. This made both the countries to collaborate with each other in the interest of economy and efficiency .So, it was a clean chit given to it by the French and the British government without looking at the economical and environmental effects. Thus an agreement was formed between them as an Anglo-French collaboration. Also they had to overcome with the culture and language barrier, which was also a big challenge (Knowledgerush.com 2003, Design Museum 2006, Beginnings 2008). Their attitude was like Saviour towards the project (Mansfield, 2008). 2.3) Economists: It was considered as an economic white elephant (Owen 2001: 8). It was also considered as a economic disaster as it was failed to complete within the time specified as it got passed the original estimate by millions. The air routes above the sea level also causes intolerable effects to the people living nearby, because of the amount of noise it creates. Another factor that made it uneconomic was that it required heavy fuel consumption as it was launched when the fuel crises was at its highest peak, therefore it was unable to enter into the lucrative trans-pacific market. Thus all these factors like production delays, noise pollution, increase in price of fuel due to its shortage has made the task of selling it more difficult and due to its unaffordable cost, many airports have refused to buy a Concorde. Therefore it was difficult to operate it on an economic standpoint (BBC News 1969, Arnold 2003). Their attitude was like Irritant towards the project. (Mansfield 2008). 2.4) Local Population: The Concorde became the peoples attraction and was residing in almost every heart because of its beauty as well as its speed. It was a marvellous aircraft which belong less to the modern world than to the future. In its 27 years of commercial service, it became one of the best loved engineering design projects of the 20th century. It carried out an example of technological brilliance. The people were so emotionally attached with it, that when they saw it in the sky, they used to cherish a lot by taking photographs of it. Overall it was considered as a safe plane by the people. As it was considered as a national symbol so it made them get closer and gave them an exciting sensation (Design Museum 2006). Their attitude was like Acquaintance towards the project. (Mansfield 2008). 2.5) Stars and Businessman: Concorde was a great boon to them as faster the speed less the time and time is money for them, and if a plane is fulfilling and actually implementing that concept so it was the only medium that they were looking for, which actually they got it in the form of Concorde, which was providing them speed, which was twice the speed of sound and also the comfort that the businessman requires (Supersonic proving, 2008, BBC-The Concorde Story 2001). Their attitude was like Friend towards the project. (Mansfield 2008). 2.6) Global Population: People in Antarctica and other countries were protesting against this project as the amount of noise it generates was intolerable for them and also the speed with which it goes by creating the sonic beam i.e. it pushes the air out by creating a shockwave, which can cause disturbance to the people living in populated areas. So, it was highly opposed by them. Their attitude was like Irritant towards the project (Mansfield 2008). 2.7) Global Government: countries like India ,Russia and Africa didnt allowed this aircraft to reach there because of its certain flaws like noise pollution and depletion of ozone layer done by it, which can cause harmful affects to the human body. Their attitude caused Concordes route to be limited to some places only. Their attitude was like Irritant towards the project (Mansfield 2008). 2.8) Americans and Soviet Union: They were the main rivals for the Concorde project. There were many people in United States who were willing to bubble out the Concordes network to expand due to its noise and environmental pollution. US had a fear that if, Concorde would be able to capture the market forecast for supersonic transport, then USA would be forced to surrender world civil transport leadership and also to face payment deficits (Owen 2001:143pg). Their attitude was like Timebomb towards the project (Mansfield, 2008). Based on the above analysis, I have made a mapping of the stakeholders according to their Level of Interest and Level of Power. L E V E L O F I N T E R E S T LEVEL OF POWER LOW HIGH LOW Local public Stars and businessman Economists HIGH Global public Global government British and French Govt. Environmentalist Americans and Soviet Union Figure: Stakeholder Mapping (Mansfield 2008). According to the above mapping, we can summarize it in the form of Stakeholders Analysis: Stakeholders Analysis Stakeholder Groups Interest Power Environmentalist High High British and French Government High High Economists High Medium Local Public Low Low Stars and businessman High Low Global Public Medium High Americans and Soviet Unions High High Global government Low High 3) Financial slippage Slippage is a minute delay in the progress of a project. If its a single one then it can be managed but it becomes a combination of many slippages then it is often difficult to manage as it becomes overwhelming. So, its the responsibility of all the people associated with the project to report any slippage, no matter how small it is. There were certain reasons behind the financial slippage of the Concorde project: 3.1) Lack of commitment to the Project: There was an overall lack of commitment in the project. The original estimate that was made was around  £150 million for 4 years. But in 1963, when first major design took place then there was first official appraisal of costs which was raised to  £275 million compared with the maximum estimate of  £95 million. Then there was an additional redesign in 1965, where by 1966 the costs were given as  £45 million. As, the effort progressed, there was some problems related to the payload, which represented only 6% of the overall plane weight. As each time the design hurdle increased, the percentage was further reduced. As the original payload was for 150 passengers but was soon reduced to 130. But by 1968, it was observed that it was unattainable so they had to once again design the fuselage, undercarriage and wings. In 1969, due to redesigning, the cost rose up to  £730 million. And finally by 1975 the cost rose to  £1096 million, with a total of around 100 seats (Gillman 1977). 3.2) Too frequent changes: The rise in the cost of Concorde, was not because of the inaccurate estimation of the investors but it was because of increase in inflation rate which was around 37%, 31% due to the change in specifications; and nearly 20%on the new technology. Thus, they had to pay extra cost for reserved resources and have to make modifications in it according to the situation (The Concorde Project 1974). 3.3) Waste of time and resources: As during the making of Concorde, the time and resource management were not given more importance. Knowing that the plane having 4 engines could cause harm to the environment, they were continually investing on it. According to Journalist Mary Goldring, Concorde was a waste of resources on her understanding of airlines at the time which questioned if signing up to Concorde would be financially viable. She says that the project was a waste of time and a waste of resources (Goldring 2008). 3.4) Unrealistic targets objectives: In 1962, when the collaboration between the two nations began, it was estimated to cost between  £150 and  £170 million and for making this huge supersonic aircraft they planned just 4 years as a deadline. But actually, this project was so complex that it took much longer time and cost (Design Museum 2006). 3.5) Inadequate Resources: There was a lack of firm orders, which made workers to believe that their jobs are at risk and enable them to turn out the available work as long as possible. 3.6) Costs of being late 3.6.1) Loss of reputation: During the start of the Anglo-French collaboration, several airlines from different parts of the world, expressed their interest in ordering Concorde. But due to its periodically increasing cost and increasing price, almost all of them stepped back and by the end of its development only two airlines were left to buy planes for a mammoth cost of  £23 million each. They were the two respective national carriers, British Airways and Air France (Design Museum 2006, Gillman 1977). 3.6.2) Extra cost for retained resources: It was developed at the time when the inflation rate was about 37% so ultimately cost of the booked resources also got higher. Thus, the project managers had to put extra cost into it (The Concorde Project 1974). 3.6.3) Maintaining existing equipment to extend its life: As after its development and running for several years, it had no supersonic competitors. So, there was no pressure to improve Concorde or to make investments in new sub-contractors and suppliers. As a result of that the maintenance expenditure had risen progressively, which made it impossible to take a flight because of the increasing expenses. Therefore on April 10 2003, both Air France and British Airways announced that they were withdrawing Concorde from service by the end of year. And finally on 24th October 2003, Concorde retired, being acknowledged as the fastest passenger aircraft in the world (Design Museum 2006). 4) Project Management Methodology Every Project which is going to implement is associated with some particular types of risks. These risks cannot be overlooked but can be reduced to some extent. Thus, we can foresee and avoid these risks by doing proper doing Risk Analysis. 4.1) Risk Analysis Risk Analysis is the systematic use of the available information in determining the occurrence of specific events and characterizing the risks involved in it (Mansfield 2008). Risk Analysis also helps in judging the impact of those risks on the project which may bring either positive or negative effect on the execution of it Several risks and their avoidance are given below Risk Description/Prevention Probability (1-5) [P] Severity (1-5) [S] Score [PxS] Financial Risks Description As per the case study, the project must be completed with the total budget of  £150 million. So, if the project is not completed in specified budget then it can cause the budget to go high resulting in a big loss. Prevention To avoid over budgeting, they must always need to have an eye on their budget. 4 4 16 Political/ Legal Risks Description Usually due to the Governments instability there is always a risk associated with the project. As if the government changes, then it can also result in the loss of contract. Prevention There must be proper deed, stating the security of the order, which can be helpful in minimizing these types of risk. 4 3 12 Scope creed Risks Description This risk is due to poor management and unpredicted moves in the target. This can cause lack of communication between the peers and the higher management Prevention There must be an effective communication channel between the employees of the company. 3 3 9 Environmental Risks Description Natural disasters like noise pollution, earthquakes etc can sometimes obstruct the progress of the project. So, the Concorde project must take all these factors into consideration, as it can lead to loss of money, material and time. Prevention Before proceeding with the project, analysis about its environmental impact must be done. 3 5 15 Technical Risks Description As a project involves different types of technologies, so while designing a product, technical risks must be kept in mind. As one failure can cause redesigning of the product and thereby increase in its manufacturing cost. Prevention To avoid any failure, each step towards the progress must be taken with proper assistance of the supervisor and higher officials. 3 4 12 Quality Risks Description As it was an Anglo-French collaboration, to design the worlds fastest passenger Aircraft, so they need to put lots of efforts in giving out a quality product. If the quality is poor, then they have to suffer from huge losses. Prevention Good quality and environment feasible aircrafts should be made so as to avoid loss of reputation and also several quality checks must be planned on timely basis, so as to avoid any problem. 3 2 6 Time Schedule Risk Description As per the case study, the Concorde project must be completed in 4 years of time. So, if the project is not completed in specified time then it can cause various hurdles and barriers in getting the orders from different airlines and also their payments. Prevention To prevent this to happen, a proper schedule must be prepared, so as to avoid redundant delays. It should be created in such a way that the activities that are more complex and time consuming should be done first. 4 4 16 5) Success and failure of the project 5.1) Success The meaning of success: It is an axiomatic that the goal of project management is to be successful; otherwise the incurring of this management overhead, and the training of staff to do it is a valueless exercise. (Knutson 2001:356pg). If a project doesnt meet all its objectives or achieve its certain objectives, does not mean that the project was a failure. It is also about whether what you are doing is infact the right thing to do (Knutson 2001:356pg). Though, the projects success is not only defined in terms of acceptability of the project deliverables like scope, quality, etc., but also in terms of the internal processes like time, cost, efficiency etc. Thus, success must always be assessed in terms of its contribution to the organisation that is doing the project. It is a multidimensional construct, which means different things to different people (Knutson 2001:356pg). There are four dimensions of success in which the project can be related 5.1.1) Project efficiency: Concorde project was considered as a success because it succeeded in providing the high standards of comfort to the passengers and provided them deluxe travel experience. It was hailed for its beauty and speed and it seemed to belong more to the future than to the modern world. During its 27 years of flying, over 2.5 million passengers have enjoyed the unique experience of travelling at a speed which is twice the speed of sound. Thus, it was quite efficient in reducing the time of the flight. As it made people to fly from London to New York in less than 3 hours. Even though the project was completed well out of its estimated budget but still it was recognized as a powerful symbol of ultra modern technology and was considered as a symbol of national pride to most of the people in Britain and France. Thus, the project was efficient in proving the needs and giving a promising start to the people (Design Museum 2006, Rowell 2008, Knowledgerush.com 2003). 5.1.2) Impact on customer: The Concorde had a great positive impact on the customers. It became the peoples attraction right from its first flight and captured itself into the peoples heart. It was considered as a beautiful, marvellous aircraft because of its quality service and the speed with which it travels. Due to this feature, it provides hours of extra time to the passengers, for some extra amount. It was more meant for the people, who were less fare-conscious, but more time conscious and they welcome those extra hours like stars, as for them Time is Money. Thus, Concorde made a strong emotional relation with the people, which often made them cheer whenever they spotted it in the sky (Supersonic Proving 2008, Design Museum 2003). 5.1.3) Business and direct success: As Concorde was cherished and loved by all the people so it was regarded as a successful project. Although it was an over budget project which took large amount of money and time in its completion, yet it was successful in giving out the final model of a supersonic aircraft, which can actually fly with the speed twice as much of the sound. On an average Concorde earned a profit of about  £30-50 Million per year for British Airways from the first class passengers. British Airways reportedly received  £1.75 Billion in revenue for Concorde services against an operating cost of around  £1 Billion. However, Air France made a much smaller profit with respect to that of British Airways (Concorde FAQ 2008). 5.1.4) Preparing the future: Concorde had no supersonic competitors, so its maintenance costs was raised steadily, which made BA and manufacturers to discuss about the maintenance programs, if they wanted the aircraft to continue the service. Finally it was decided to ground the aircraft, because of the increasing maintenance cost (Design Museum 2006). Thus, BAs chief executive Rod Eddington said: Concorde has served us well and we are extremely proud to have flown this marvellous and unique aircraft for the past 27 years (Concorde grounded for good 2003). So, even though it was retired, it was still considered as a Success. 5.2) Failure of the project A failure is caused if there is an inconsistency in its specification right before the beginning of the project and that inconsistency is overlooked. It can also be caused due to unrealistic and conflicting objectives. It is often caused due to poor planning and management, lack of understanding of contract strategy and process and underestimating costs to get the project to be approved (Mansfield 2008). The Concorde project was a failureà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ As technically the project was considered as powerful symbol of very modern technology, but it had more of the negative effects than the positive in terms of: 5.2.1) Environmental Feasibility: According to Environmental Scientists, the Concorde flights causes erosion to the ozone layer, which ultimately causes the incidences of skin cancer and also the noise it produces when it passes by was absolutely intolerable for human beings. Also it produces a shock wave, which tends to shake buildings, break glasses and can often cause damage to the ear drums. This made other airlines also to move backwards, in buying this disastrous aircraft, as during the beginning of this project they showed their keen interest in ordering it. Thus, it was considered as environmental disaster (Scott 1997). 5.2.2) Uneconomic: As per economic point of view it was considered as an economic disaster. The project took large amount of time and cost in its completion. As it had a range of around 4,143 miles and has a capability to carry 26,286 gallons of fuel, which was around 5,638 gallons of fuel during each hour of flight. This can be calculated as 6 gallons of fuel for every mile and also 1 gallon of fuel can take 1 passenger 16.7 miles only. So, none of the airlines wanted to by Concorde because of the shortage of fuel and rapid increase in its price (Rowell 2008, Design Museum 2006). This was also quoted by Journalist Mary Goldring in a way that: While the venture might be impressive technically, it would in fact prove to be a hugely expensive mistake. As the plane takes its final commercial flights, she says she was proved right. (Goldring, 2008). 5.2.3) Cost Inefficient: There were lots of financial problems associated with this project. It was the project that was started in 1960, with cost estimation between about  £150 million and  £170 million. Of which, France had to complete 60% of work on airframe and 40% of the engine and remaining was to be completed by Britain. But the development was so complicated that it took far more cost and time (Design Museum, 2006). As with the increase in inflation rate which was around 37%, 31% due to the change in specifications; and nearly 20% on the new technology, which made its estimated cost much higher, nearly double, and ultimately Britain fell into the financial crises. Then Britains new prime minister, Harold Wilson tried to cancel the partnership but he couldnt do it as France could collect the funds from London as a charge of breaking the partnership, so fearing from that, he continued the partnership. Therefore the project cost went up year by year causing the project to be over budget (The Concorde project 1974, Happenheimer 2008). 5.2.4) Commercial Impact: As per commercial point of view, the Concorde project was also a failure. Various factors like: The production delays, the environmental pollution, the shortage of fuel and its rapid increase in price, had made the selling of the aircraft more complicated, which was due to the cost estimate of  £20 million that made it quite expensive for the other aircrafts to buy. Thus at last only two of the airlines wished to buy the plane, were the 2 respective national carriers, British Airways and Air France. Thus, it had very limited routes to cover as it was opposed by almost all the nations (Gillman 1977). In a statement, BA said Concorde would cease flying in the autumn because of commercial reasons, with passenger revenue falling steadily against a backdrop of rising maintenance costs for the aircraft (Concorde grounded for good 2003). As the price of fuel was increasing, so was maintenance cost of the aircraft. So, continuing the service with Concorde was increasingly expensive. From this statement: BA has decided that such an investment cannot be justified in the face of falling revenue caused by a global downturn in demand for all forms of premium travel in the airline industry. (Concorde grounded for good 2003). It is clear that, it was no longer profitable, therefore British Airways and Air France decided to retire the renowned aircraft after 27years of its service. 5.2.5) Lack of coordination of activities: The Concorde project also had several problems related to their jobs, resources, orders and cultures like the languages and tradition of the people from Britain and France. And it is clear from the following statements. This statement shows that there was a risk about the future of the project in the mind of the workers. The PM was told by the Department of Trade and Industry, The main reasons are all too clear. A lack of firm orders, and a consequent belief by the workers that their jobs are at risk, causes them to spin out the available work as long as possible (BBC News 2004). The following statement shows that there was no communication medium between the managerial hierarchies. The number of people deployed on the project steadily increased to nearly 50,000. Most of these thousands were able to get on with their work without reference to anyone except their immediate superiors. But their efforts could only be effective so long as there was coordinated direction at the top and close liaison at all executive levels throughout the international organization (Beginnings 2008). These all factors made the project to lack in coordination of activities. 5.2.6) Successive slippages: The Concorde project was considered as the project with many continuous slippages, which made the project to go out of control, which ultimately made it to cross the barriers of its estimated time and cost. As it was scheduled to complete in 4 years of time with the budget of about  £150 million but it actually took 14 years with the increased budget of  £1096 million. It was all due to lack of planning as their milestone was quite blurred and were not set accurately. And also the reason behind their continuous slippage was continuous change in the design and inadequate objectives, which was the ultimate reason for its slippage (Wysocki 2007:331pg, Mansfield 2008). 6) Conclusion According to me the Concorde Project was a Failure Concorde was the first supersonic aircraft to travel with the speed twice as that of the sound, which offers its passengers the ultimate travel experience. And based in this quality it became the peoples attraction and was considered as the safest and luxurious plane ever made. During its 27 years of service, it provided unique experience of travelling faster to more than 2.5 million people. Thus, it was considered as a symbol of national pride to most of the people in Britain and France. However, only fast travelling is not the only factor which declares it as a success. There are certain other factors in which this project was a complete disaster. First of all, the Concorde aircraft was an economic disaster as it was outdated and incredibly fuel inefficient plane. Also it was too costly for any normal airline operations to buy it. And as this aircraft was unique and had no competitors, so its cost of maintenance was rising was increasing year by year. Thus, keeping the aircraft in service would be quite expensive for the British government. Therefore they took the brave decision to finally ground this aircraft and keep it out of service. Another factor was its hazardous impact on the Environment. While flying, it often causes erosion of the ozone layer, which gives rise to various diseases like skin cancer. And also the amount of noise that it produces was intolerable for the human ears. Also it produces a shock wave which can cause damage to the ear drums, shake buildings and break glasses. Therefore it was not possible for it to fly over cities and towns. Th

The Story of an Hour Analysis

The Story of an Hour Analysis The short-story under consideration by Kate Chopin, the American short-story writer known for her works about strong women in terms of liberation debate, is entitled The Story of an Hour. Being the framing sign of the whole text, the title brings the text up to date, however, running through the entire plot it does not uncover the essence of the unpredictable situation the main character finds herself. It is a sign of prosecution and forms the expectations about what the story may deal with. a lot is hidden beyond the title but only having read the short-story it becomes clear that it describes an hour of true free life of a wife, Louise Mallard, who was dominated by her husband Brently Mallard and could break free from the imprisonment only after her husband had perished in a railroad disaster. The theme of the short-story is definitely connected with the future Liberation movement that was already on the way and promised the long-awaited equality. The analysis of the short-story under consideration is carried out in the light of the Lacanian structuralism who in his psychoanalysis reconceptualised Freud using post-structuralism. Kate Chopin enables readers to trace the widows mind working and the way it is influenced with sadness and joy. The readers distinctly feel the shift of tone in the narration as Mrs. Millard breaks through her conscious storm of grief that caught her immediately as she heard the news. Her first and adequate reaction of mind is weeping, Chopin says: she wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment. Everyone knew that she suffered from a heart disease and were very careful and tender to do the least harm to her fragile heart. It seems that her oppressed will obeys the established system of society and she expresses her feelings structured by the desire and expectations of others, through the relay of her surroundings. The reason of that may lie in the fact that human-beings are social creatures and their desire also has social nature that is developed through culture and language, the former structured like the unconscious. But then she abruptly calms down and sits in her room enjoying the view from the window: The delicious breath of rain was in the airà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦The notes of a distant song which some one was singing reached her faintly, and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves. At the moment the sound consciousness that cannot help but feel regret about the perished husband makes the way for physical exhaustion that haunted her body and seemed to reach into her soul. Here Kate Chopin describing the unconscious through the symbols introduces readers the image of nature seen from out of the window of Louises room. The season itself, the springtime, symbolizing the new life the advantages of which she is still has not realized yet, and the window giving her the view of patches of blue sky, all this is definitely a new world that appears before Mrs. Mallard. The expression of the unconscious comes through symbols and readers see her motionless with her dull stare transformed into a gaze fixed away off yonder on the patches of sky symbolizing her future. She feels that something is approaching to posses her interrupting her bitter grief, that is the feeling of freedom that she never new before. And as according to Lacan, the unconscious is structured like a language, Louises eyes become keen and bright and she utters under the breath: Free, free, free! Louise did not cry herself to sleep as a child usually does, it was her unconscious desire to live a full life of beautiful images that lost its bright colors as her husband dominated her. Her conscious ego comes into clashes with her unconscious desire to gain freedom and live for herself. And the momentous joy that seizes her is the expression of her unconscious mind. Lacan substantiated the connections of binary oppositions that became central to structuralism. They can be noticed in the short-story as a system of interrelated signs that make up the whole. In the text under consideration the binary oppositions are male and female, joy and grief, love and self-assertion. The last opposition is ironically described by Kate Chopin, as the main character thinks that she loved her husband sometimes and adds that often she had not. She reasons what could love count for in the face of this possession of self-assertion that is a strong impulse for her to go on. She may have drawn a line to summarize what she lacked and longed for and realized that she deserves freedom and there would be no powerful will bending, no repression and restrictions imposed on her by the society of the time. Mrs. Mallard, though it is a kind of paradox, could feel so free and protected only after her husbands death and was joyously drinking in a very elixir of life through the open window. But the fate offers her another surprise bringing her husband alive and when he enters the house as nothing has happened her heart cannot bear the excitement and fails. Though no one of those present can guess the true cause of death, Louise dies of a heart attack as she instantly realizes that her hopes are broken against the shores of reality. Her family friends call it the joy that kills. Actually, she appeared to feel free only temporarily, but she was free only from the burden of marriage that repressed her, but the complete freedom is nothing but an illusion as it doubtfully exists. Viewing the short-story from the perspective of post-structuralism definitely has some drawbacks, as it propagates the ambivalence of meaning and upset link of the text and the real world. Rejecting the certainty of meaning it may result in thousands of free interpretations that put the readers on the wrong track. Therefore, analyzing the short-story in the light of structuralism is quite beneficial and helps to reveal through symbols the mental state of the main character with the unconscious dominating the conscious ego. It cannot help but catch the eye of the readers that Kate Chopin intentionally concentrates her narration on description of the mental state of the heroine and the signs that uncover it, paying little attention either to her appearance or to the interior and clothes. Structuralism developed by Lacan helps readers to have a good look through a magnifying glass of his postulates on the mental state of Mrs. Mallard and ponder over the reasons of her behavior concealed in the symbols. The short-story The Story of an Hour is of inspirational and though-provoking character that can hardly leave readers unmoved.

jan eyre :: essays research papers

In Charlotte Bronte’s novel â€Å"Jane Eyre†, there is a slightly inconspicuous character that many readers may choose to ignore. The character that I speak of is Adele, the adorable French girl that Edward Rochester has taken as his own. While many people may undermine the importance of this character in the novel, it is easy to see that she plays a vital role in the coming together of Mr. Rochester and Jane Eyre. Unlike many novels or stories, Bronte chooses to use Adele as more of a symbol, than someone who directly helps in the marriage of two people, meaning that Adele is unaware of her bringing her master and Jane Eyre together. The role of Adele can be described as small, and at times undefined, however, before all is said and done her role, or symbolism, as I see it is clearly defined. The first role that Adele plays in the story is that of a bridge between Mr. Rochester and Jane Eyre. Had it not been for Adele needing a governess they would have never met. Jan e had sent out her application to a nearby paper to be published for people needing a governess to see. The only reply she received was from a Mrs. Fairfax, a servant at the Rochester mansion. It was for Adele that Jane was needed. Adele was rough around the edges, and needed some work on the finer things of being an American. She spoke mostly in French, and therefore, needed a governess to teach her better English. Her master, Mr. Rochester required her to know how to read, and write in English. He also would like for Jane to teach Adele what she could about music and the art of drawing. Adele became quite close to Jane and enjoyed her company. Jane also became quite fond of Adele, a good example of this takes place when Edward wants to bring only Jane into Millcote and Jane desperately begs for Adele to accompany them. â€Å"Do let her go Mr. Rochester, if you please: it would be better†(Bronte 654). The affections between Adele and Jane become stronger to the point where J ane becomes worried of what will happen to Adele once Mr. Rochester is married to her or anyone else. Adele was as charming and innocent as they come, yet she still played other vital roles in the novel. For Mr.

Free Measure for Measure Essays: Social Injustice :: Measure for Measure

Social Injustice in Measure for Measure Social justice is a topic known all to well in today's society. Such issues as social heirarchial structure and unjust representatives of citizens of nations are issues in need of attention by those in power. Corruption, lies and greed by those in power however stand in the way of this form of justice from occurring, leaving many with little or no social status open to prejudice on race, religious and sexual grounds. William Shakespeare illustrates the ease in which power can corrupt in his play, Measure for Measure. In Measure for Measure, a leader corrupts the legal system for his own benefit. Vienna is being lead by Angelo, a name reflecting 'bad angel', and the city has been outraged due to his corrupt ways. The play is based around the court case of Claudio and the injustice delivered to him by the corrupt leader for a crime that some would consider being trivial. Claudio had made love to his fiancée prior to their marriage. At this time in Vienna, this was a crime punishable by death and Angelo was quick to pounce on this fact, sending Claudio to gaol and sentencing him to death. In studies of justice we have learnt that justice depends on the situation and this seems grossly unjust for a couple planning to be wed. After Claudio is sentenced to death, Shakespeare creates an interesting turn of events showing just how corrupt leadership can be. Once Claudio's sister, Isabella, a novice nun approaches Angelo to dispute his decision and begs for mercy, he tells her that in order to save her brother, she will have to give up her virginity to him: Angelo: "Admit no other way to save his life- As I subscribe not that, nor any other, But in the loss of question- that you, his sister, Finding yourself desired of such a person, Whose credit with the judge, or own great place, Could fetch your brother from the manacles Of the all-binding law, and that there were No earthly mean to save him, but that either You must lay down the treasures of your body To this supposed, or else to let him suffer: What would you do?" Isabella: "As much for my brother as myself:

The Genre Cycle Essays -- Film, Movies

Film scholars around the world agree that all genres of film are part of the â€Å"genre cycle†. This cycle contains four different stages that a specific genre goes through. These stages are: primitive, classic, revisionist, and parody. Each stage that the genre goes through brings something different to that genre’s meaning and what the audience expects. I believe that looking at the horror genre will be the most beneficial since it has clearly gone through each stage. The first stage of the genre cycle is called the primitive stage. During this stage of the cycle, the genre of horror is very new. Filmmakers are trying to decide what makes a horror film a horror film, while audience are figuring out what they should expect every time they see this kind of film. For example, Todd Browning’s Dracula is the basic, stripped down blueprint for many monster-horror films today. It features the â€Å"bad guy† accompanied by the â€Å"good guy†. After several horrifying events, Van Helsing kills the vampire, Dracula, and good prevails, again. Thus, establishing that in horror films no matter how grue...

The Return: Shadow Souls Chapter 8

As they hastened from the car to the secluded motel room, Elena had to put pressure on her legs to keep them steady under her. As soon as the door to the room slammed shut, with the storm more or less outside and her own stiff and aching body inside, she headed for the bathroom without even turning on a light. Her clothes and hair and feet were all damp. The fluorescent lights of the bathroom seemed too bright after the darkness of the night and the storm. Or maybe it was the beginning of her learning to circulate her Power. That had certainly been a surprise. Damon hadn't even been touching her, but the shock she had felt still reverberated inside her. And as for the feeling of having her Power manipulated from outside her body, well, there just weren't words. It had been a breathtaking experience, all right. Even now just thinking about it made her knees tremble. But it was more clear than ever that Damon wanted nothing to do with her. Elena confronted her own image in the mirror and winced. Yes, she looked like a drowned rat that had been dragged backward a mile through the gutter. Her hair was damp, turning its silky waves into tiny wisps of curls all around her head and face; she was as white as an invalid, and her blue eyes were staring out of the pinched and exhausted face of a child. For just a moment she remembered being in even worse shape a few days – yes, it was only days – ago, and having Damon treat her with the utmost gentleness, as if her bedraggled appearance had meant nothing to him. But those memories had been taken from Damon by Shinichi, and it was too much to hope that that might have been his real state of mind. It had been†¦whim†¦like all his other whims. Furious at Damon – and at herself for the prickling behind her eyes she felt – Elena turned away from the mirror. The past was the past. She had no idea why Damon had suddenly decided to start jerking away from her touch, or to look at her with the hard cold eyes of a predator. Something had caused him to hate her, to barely be able to sit in the car with her. And whatever it was, Elena had to learn to ignore it, because if Damon left, she would have no chance of finding Stefan. Stefan. At last her trembling heart could find rest in thinking of Stefan. He wouldn't care what she looked like: his sole concern would be for her well-being. Elena shut her eyes as she turned on the hot water in the tub and stripped off her clammy clothes, basking in her imagination of Stefan's love and approval. The motel had provided a small plastic bottle of bubblebath, but Elena left it alone. She'd brought her own translucent-gold bag of vanilla bath crystals in her duffel bag, and this was the first chance she'd had to use it. Carefully, she shook about a third of the beribboned bag's crystals into the rapidly filling tub and was rewarded with a steamy blast of vanilla, which she drew into her lungs gratefully. A few minutes later, Elena was shoulder deep in hot water covered with a vanilla-scented foam. Her eyes were shut and the warmth was soaking into her body. The softly disintegrating salts were easing away all pain. These weren't ordinary bath salts. They had no medicinal smell, but they'd been given to her by Stefan's landlady, Mrs. Flowers, who was a genteel elderly white witch. Mrs. Flowers's herbal recipes were her specialty, and right now Elena would swear that she could feel all the tension of the last few days being actively sucked out of her body and gently soothed away. Oh, this was just what she had needed. Elena had never appreciated a bath like this before. Now, there's just one thing, she told herself firmly, as she inhaled breath after delicious breath of vanilla steam. You asked Mrs. Flowers for bath salts that would relax you, but you cannot fall asleep here. You'll drown, and you already know what that feels like. Been there, done that, didn't even have to buy the shroud. But even now Elena's thoughts were dimmer and more fragmented, as the hot water continued to relax her muscles, and the vanilla scent swirled around her head. She was losing continuity, her mind drifting off into daydreams†¦. She was giving herself to the heat and the luxury of not having to do anything at all†¦. She was asleep. In her dream, she was moving briskly. It was only half-light, but she could tell somehow that she was skimming downward through deep gray mist. What worried her was that she seemed to be surrounded by arguing voices, and they were arguing about her. â€Å"A second chance? I've spoken to her about it.† â€Å"She won't remember anything.† â€Å"It doesn't matter whether she remembers. Everything will remain inside her, if unawakened.† â€Å"It will germinate inside her†¦until the time is right.† Elena had no idea what any of it meant. And then this mist was thinning, and clouds were making way for her, and she was drifting down, more and more slowly, until she was deposited gently on a ground covered with pine needles. The voices were gone. She was lying on a forest floor, but she wasn't naked. She was wearing her prettiest nightgown, the one with real Valenciennes lace. She was listening to the tiny night sounds all around her when suddenly her aura reacted in a way that it never had before. It told her someone was coming. Someone who brought a sense of safety in warm earthen hues, in soft rose colors and deep, blue violets that enfolded her even before the person arrived. These were†¦someone's†¦feelings about herself. And behind the love and soothing concern she experienced, there were deep forest greens, shafts of warm gold, and a mysterious tinge of translucency, like a waterfall that sparkled as it fell and foamed like diamonds around her. Elena, a voice whispered. Elena. This was so familiar†¦. Elena. Elena. She knew this†¦. Elena, my angel. It meant love. Even as Elena was sitting up and turning in her dream, she was holding out her arms. This person belonged with her. He was her magic, her solace, her best-beloved. It didn't matter how he'd gotten there, or what had happened before. He was her soul's eternal mate. And then†¦ Strong arms holding her tenderly†¦ A warm body close to hers†¦ Sweet kisses†¦ Many, many times†¦ This familiar feeling as she melted into his embrace†¦ He was so gentle, but almost fierce in his love for her. He had vowed not to kill, but he would kill to save her. She was his most precious thing in all the world†¦. Any sacrifice would be worth it if she were safe and free. His life meant nothing without her, so he would gladly give it, laughing and kissing his hand to her with his last breath. Elena breathed in the wonderful autumn-leaves scent of his sweater and was comforted. Like a baby, she allowed herself to be soothed by simple familiar odors, by the feeling of her cheek against his shoulder and the wonder of the two of them breathing together in synchronicity. When she tried to put a name to this miracle, it was at the front of her mind. Stefan†¦ Elena didn't even need to look up at his face to know that Stefan's leaf-green eyes would be dancing like the waters of a small pond ruffled by wind and sparkling with a thousand different points of light. She buried her head in his neck, afraid somehow to let go of him, although she couldn't remember why. I don't know how I got here, she told him nonverbally. In fact, she didn't remember anything before this, before awakening to his call, only jumbled images. It doesn't matter. I'm with you. Fear seized her. This isn't†¦just a dream, is it? No dream is just a dream. And I'm with you always. But how did we get here? Shhh. You're tired. I'll hold you up. On my life, I swear it. Just rest. Let me hold you just once. Just once? But†¦ But now Elena felt worried and dazed, and she had to let her head fall backward, had to see Stefan's face. She tilted her chin back and found herself meeting laughing eyes of an infinite darkness in a chiseled, pale, and proudly handsome face. She almost cried out in horror. Hush. Hush, angel. Damon! The dark eyes that met hers were full of love and joy. Who else? How dare you – how did you get here? Elena was more and more confused. I don't belong anywhere, Damon pointed out, suddenly sounding sad. You know I'll always be with you. I do not; I do not – give Stefan back to me! But it was too late. Elena was aware of the sound of water trickling and of tepid liquid sloshing around her. She woke up just in time to keep her head from going underwater in the bathtub. A dream†¦ She felt much more flexible and easy in her body, but she couldn't help feeling saddened by the dream. It hadn't been an out of body experience, either – it had been a simple, crazy, mixed-up, dream of her own. I don't belong anywhere. I'll always be with you. Now what was gibberish like that supposed to mean? But something inside Elena trembled, even as she remembered it. She hastily changed – not into a Valenciennes lace nightgown, but into a gray and black sweat suit. When she emerged, she was feeling overtired and prickly and ready to start a fight if Damon gave any sign of having picked up on her sleeping thoughts. But Damon didn't. Elena saw a bed, managed to focus on it, stumbled toward it and collapsed, flopping down on pillows that sank unsatisfactorily beneath her head. Elena liked her pillows firm. For a few moments she lay, savoring her after-bath sensations, as her skin gradually cooled – and her head cooled as well. As far as she could tell, Damon was standing in exactly the same position as he had taken up when they'd entered the room. And he was still as silent as he had been since the morning. Finally, to get it over with, she spoke to him. And being Elena, she went straight to the heart of the problem. â€Å"What's wrong, Damon?† â€Å"Nothing.† Damon stared out the window, pretending to be engrossed in something beyond the glass. â€Å"What nothing?† Damon shook his head. But somehow, his turned back eloquently conveyed his opinion of this motel room. Elena examined the room with the too-bright vision of someone who has forced their body beyond its limits. She contemplated beige walls, beige carpet, a beige armchair, a beige desk, and of course, a beige bedspread. Even Damon couldn't reject a room on the grounds that it doesn't match his basic black, she thought, and then: oh, I'm tired. And bewildered. And scared. And†¦incredibly stupid. There's only one bed in here. I'm lying on it. â€Å"Damon†¦Ã¢â‚¬  With an effort, she sat up. â€Å"What do you want? There's a chair. I can sleep on the chair.† He half turned, and she saw in the movement that he wasn't annoyed or playing games. He was furious. It was all there in the faster-than-the-human-eye-could-follow assassin's spin and the complete muscular control that stilled it almost before it had begun. Damon with his sudden movements and his frightening stillness. He was looking out the window again, body poised as always for†¦something. Right now it looked poised to jump through glass to get outside. â€Å"Vampires don't need sleep,† he said in a voice icier and more controlled than she'd heard since Matt had left them. That gave her the energy to get off the bed. â€Å"You know I know that's a lie.† â€Å"Take the bed, Elena. Go to sleep.† But his voice was the same. She would have expected a flat, weary command. Damon sounded more tense, more controlled than ever. More shaken than ever. Her eyelids sank. â€Å"Is this about Matt?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"Is it about Shinichi?† â€Å"No!† Aha. â€Å"It is, isn't it? You're afraid that Shinichi will get past all your defenses and possess you again. Aren't you?† â€Å"Go to bed, Elena,† Damon said tonelessly. He was still shutting her out as completely as if she weren't there. Elena got mad. â€Å"What does it take to show you that I trust you? I'm traveling all alone with you, without any idea where we're really going. I'm trusting you with Stefan's life.† Elena was behind Damon now, on the beige carpet which smelled like†¦nothing, like boiled water. Not even like dust. Her words were the dust. There was something about them that sounded hollow, wrong. They were the truth – but they weren't getting through to Damon†¦. Elena sighed. Touching Damon unexpectedly was always a tricky business, with all the risks of setting off murderous instinct by accident, even when he wasn't possessed. She reached out, now, very carefully, to put her fingertips on the elbow of his leather jacket. She spoke as precisely and unemotionally as she could. â€Å"You also know that I have other senses now than the usual five. How many times do I have to say it, Damon? I know it wasn't you torturing me and Matt last week.† Despite herself, Elena heard a certain pleading in her own voice. â€Å"I know that you've protected me on this trip when I was in danger, even killing for me. That means – a lot to me. You may say you don't believe in the human sentiment of forgiveness, but I don't think you've forgotten it. And when you know that there is nothing to forgive in the first place – â€Å" â€Å"This has absolutely nothing to do with last week!† The change in his voice – the force in it – hit Elena like a whiplash. It hurt†¦and it frightened her. Damon was serious. He was also under some dreadful strain, not completely unlike that of fighting off Shinichi's possession, but different. â€Å"Damon†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Leave me alone!† Now, where have I heard something like that before? Befuddled, her heart pounding, Elena groped through memories. Oh, yes. Stefan. Stefan when they had first been in his room together, when he was afraid to love her. When he was sure he would cause her to be damned if he showed he cared. Could Damon be that much like the brother he always mocked? â€Å"At least turn around and talk with me face-to-face.† â€Å"Elena.† It was a whisper, but it sounded as if Damon couldn't summon up his usual silky menace. â€Å"Go to bed. Go to hell. Go anywhere, but stay away from me.† â€Å"You're so good at that, aren't you?† Elena's own voice was cold now. Recklessly, angrily, she moved in even closer. â€Å"At pushing people away. But I know that you haven't fed this evening. There's nothing else you want from me, and you can't do the starving-martyr bit half as well as Stefan – â€Å" Elena had spoken knowing that her words were guaranteed to incite a response of some kind, but Damon's usual response to this sort of thing was to lounge against something and pretend not to have heard. What happened instead was completely outside the range of her experience. Damon whirled, caught her precisely, held her locked in an unbreakable grip. Then, with a swoop of his head like a falcon on a mouse, he kissed her. He was more than strong enough to hold her still without hurting her. The kiss was hard and long and for quite a while Elena resisted out of sheer instinct. Damon's body was cool against hers, which was still warm and damp from the bath. The way he was holding her – if she put enough pressure on those particular points, it would hurt her possibly seriously. And then – she knew – he would release her. But did she really know what she knew? Was she prepared to break a bone to test it? He was stroking her hair, which was so unfair, curling the ends and crushing them in his fingers†¦just hours after he'd taught her to feel things to the tips of her hair. He knew her weak spots. Not just every woman's weak spots. He knew hers; he knew how to make her want to cry out in pleasure and how to soothe her. There was nothing to do but test her theory and maybe break a bone. She would not submit when she had not invited him. She would not! But then she remembered her curiosity about the little boy and the great stone boulder, and she deliberately opened her mind to Damon's. He fell into the trap of his own making. As soon as their minds connected there were something like fireworks. Explosions. Rockets. Stars going nova. Elena set her mind to ignoring her body and began looking for the boulder. It was deep, deep inside the most locked-off part of his brain. Deep in the eternal darkness that slept there. But Elena seemed to have brought a searchlight with her. Wherever she turned, dark festoons of cobwebs fell and heavy-looking stone arches crumbled and fell to the ground. â€Å"Don't worry,† Elena found herself saying. â€Å"The light won't do that to you! You don't have to live down here. I'll show you the beauty of the light.† What am I saying? Elena wondered even as the words left her lips. How can I promise him – and maybe he likes living here in the dark! But in the next second she had come much closer to the little boy, close enough to see his pale, wondering face. â€Å"You came again,† he said, as if it were a miracle. â€Å"You said you would come, and you did!† That brought down all Elena's barriers at once. She knelt, and pulling the chains to their utmost length, took him on her lap. â€Å"Are you glad that I came back?† she asked gently. She was already stroking his hair smooth. â€Å"Oh, yes!† It was a cry, and it frightened Elena almost as much as it pleased her. â€Å"You're the nicest person I've ever – the most beautiful thing I ever – â€Å" â€Å"Hush,† Elena told him, â€Å"hush. There's got to be some way to warm you up.† â€Å"It's the iron,† the child said humbly. â€Å"Iron keeps me weak and cold. But it has to be iron; otherwise he wouldn't be able to control me.† â€Å"I see,† Elena said grimly. She was beginning to get a grasp on what kind of relationship Damon had with this little boy. For a moment, on a hunch, she took two lengths of iron in her hands and tried to tear them apart. Elena had super-light here; why not superpowers? But all that happened was that she twisted and turned the length for nothing, and finally cut the web of her finger against an iron burr. â€Å"Oh!† The boy's huge dark eyes fixed on the dark bead of blood. He stared as if he were fascinated – and afraid. â€Å"Do you want it?† Elena held out the hand to him uncertainly. What a poor scrap of a creature to be coveting other people's blood, she thought. He nodded timidly as if he were sure she'd be angry. But Elena just smiled and he reverently held her finger and took the whole globe of blood at once, closing his lips like a kiss. As he lifted his head, he seemed to have a tinge more color in his pale face. â€Å"You told me Damon keeps you here,† she said, holding him again and feeling heat being sucked from her into his cold body. â€Å"Can you tell me why?† The child was still licking his lips, but he turned his face toward her immediately and said, â€Å"I'm the Warden of Secrets. But† – sadly – â€Å"the Secrets have gotten so big that even I don't know what they are.† Elena followed the motion of his head from his own small limbs to the iron chain to the huge, metallic ball. She felt a sinking inside herself and a deep pity for such a small warden. And she wondered what on earth could be inside that great stone sphere that Damon was guarding so intently. But she didn't get the chance to ask.