Communication's course assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Communication's course assignment - Essay Example The tenets of rhetoric that facilitates the persuasion of the audience include logos, ethos, and the pathos. In addition to these, there are also the five canons which are also used in the design and package of the persuasive speech so that it becomes more palatable to the audience, they include the following; arrangement, invention, memory, delivery, and style. In the three presidential debates that took place between the incumbent president Barrack Obama and the former governor Mitt Romney, the duo extensively used rhetoric to persuade and appeal o the audience in all the three occasions they confronted one another in the debates. In the first presidential debate, rhetoric took a fair chunk of the time when the two presidential aspirants were asked about the inequalities at the work place. President Obama made the first remark on the ‘glass ceiling’ that his grandmother had to go through during her time working in a bank, this was a perfect pathos appeal used at the right time to emotionally connect with the audience. The anecdotic phrase propelled Obama and the women could infer that Obama understands the problem the women have faced thus stands the best chance to find solutions to them. Obama also extended by making passionate logos appeal to the women on this consciousness about them in the work place, in this regard he me ntioned the Lily Ledbetter Act that he signed during his first tenure as a vivid clarity that his concern for the women is real and not a pretence. Romney responding to the same did not score him any point given the emotional connection Obama created by using effectively the pathos and logos. Romney in response to the equality of the women at work place did not explore the effective use of rhetoric, in fact, his statement about women flexibility at work to enable them attend to household chores. This statement worked against him as it was interpreted that he perceive women as homemakers and not as people who

Leadership Essay Example for Free

Leadership Essay Values of great leaders can be found in various types of people. People who are of different ethnicities and are from different points of the world have shown to have unusual characteristics of leadership. There were many different approaches developed in studying leadership, one being the trait approach. The trait approach is based on the presumption that leaders are not developed into the leadership role but born with the characteristics of leadership that permits them to be great leaders. It has been discovered that there are strengths and also weaknesses within the trait approach relating to studying leadership. Strengths From a trait approach, there are many strong characteristics in leadership. A big role of a leader’s success is their personality. Their personality allows them to be effective when interacting with other people. Sometimes it takes a leader’s personality to set or change the tone in a work place, helping to create a positive mood and encouraging an environment of motivation to succeed and goal achievement. High energy, optimistic, a strong motivator, the ability to communicate and constancy are signature abilities that are believed to be recognized in the trait approach which aids a leader to be successful driven and adaptable (American Library Association , 1997-2013) Although this trait has been known to be very valuable in a successful leader it is has also been said that, â€Å"this massive research effort failed to find any traits that would guarantee leadership success. (Gary Yukl, page 13, 2010)† Weaknesses Although a personality has the ability to be effective it also has the ability to be  ineffective as well. A leader’s personality can be felt as being too strong and overwhelming at times causing some resistance and rebelling to take place with the followers. Many employees function on different learning levels in the workplace. If a supervisor leads with a sense of expectancy, his expectations may be seen as little high by the employees which in turn may damage the positive work environment. Also a supervisor’s personality can be taken as negative one if they do not take the employees’ feelings into consideration. To believe that a great supervisor is born with the leadership traits means that, as a company, the employees cannot be developed or effective in the workplace. When a company refrains from filling management positions from the inside of the company, employees can began to believe that they are in a glass ceiling environment. Creating future leaders within the company has been proven to build the morale of the employees. Conclusion Many abilities that identify great leaders have been found through the trait approach. Although these abilities are good, leadership is not limited by them. It has been exemplified through President Obama that in life, being a leader can be learned. President Obama was not born a leader, but through education and leadership experiences, he now has the ultimate leadership position in this country. Knowing this to be true, other approaches to studying leadership were developed such as the situational approach, the integrative approach, the behavior approach, and the power-influence approach.

Mcdonalds Human Resource Management (HRM)

Mcdonalds Human Resource Management (HRM) In this report it has been analyzed and found out the kind of Human Resource management theories and techniques are in reality implemented or practiced by the McDonalds Human Resource Management. The field study it has done entails by visiting the HR office of the McDonalds located at the Notting Hill Gate, London. Throughout the visit it has been observed the all practices. It has been also observed the working culture and the motivating factors at the McDonalds and also the team work. Due to grading the Recruitment, Training, Business strategies and the Performance management. After analyzing the books and the website of McDonalds it is able to explain the theories of the Human Resource Management and also the some of the corporate values of the McDonalds. In the course of the study and the research It have found that the McDonalds process of recruiting the worker and staff and how they provide training to their employees. The success of the McDonalds is because of the employees an d the different market strategies so this assignment is to understand the HR Strategies of the McDonalds. The purpose of this study is to know the recruitment and selection process in detail and also about the training programme at McDonalds for their employees to achieve the objectives of the company. Here we also going to discuss the Business strategies used by the McDonalds to hold the better position in the market and the strategies used by McDonald have to respond the new competition in the market. The performance management system of McDonalds also contributes its efforts in achieving the aims; it contains the strategies to motivate the employees. COMPANY PROFILE McDonalds originated in California, USA, 1954. McDonalds Corporation along with its affiliates operates as a food service retailer worldwide. The franchises of the McDonalds operate the McDonalds restaurants that offer a variety of food items, soft drink, coffee, and other food and beverages. According to a survey it shows that as of December 31, 2009 the company runs or operates 32,480 restaurants in 117 countries and out of them 26,215 were operated by the franchisees and 6,265 were operated by the company. McDonalds corporation franchises and operates its restaurants in the food service industry. McDonalds supply the products to most of the McDonalds restaurants where McDonalds independently owned and operates distribution centres, which is approved by the company. Where the employee and personnel of restaurants are trained very well in the storage, preparation and handling of products and in the delivering the good customer services. In February 2009 the company sold its interest in REDBOX AUTOMATED RETAIL, LLC The franchises of McDonalds operates McDonalds restaurant in the food and service industry. These restaurants variety and yet limited value priced menu in more than 117 countries globally. Most of the restaurants are operated by the company or by the franchisees, under the franchise agreement franchisees are included and under license agreements foreign-affiliated markets and developmental licenses are included. Human Resources Strategies of McDonalds Recruitment As we know that McDonalds is the biggest family restaurants business in the world. To provide the best family restaurants experience by far is McDonalds vision. To achieve this we put people at the centre of everything we do and that goes for our employee as much as our customer. People perform well when they feel better in their job and McDonalds has recognised it so McDonalds go all out to create the right and good working environment for everyone. Thats a lot of people to consider which is why McDonalds strive to provide variety of rewards and benefits that suits all kind of lifestyles. McDonalds is successful in achieving the best working experience for their people; they aim to provide customer the restaurants experience. Employees working in the McDonalds they not only become the part of one of the largest global brands but also a constantly developing organisation that offers an environment of flexibility, equality, diversity and opportunity. Reflective of the society and communities in which McDonalds operate. In UK McDonalds offers a probably most diverse work in culture. The people come from all walks of life to McDonalds and they share a common approach i.e. a positive one. HIRE THE SMILE is the policy of the McDonalds when they hire the crew membe rs and this help to nurture a work force of employee with a positive approach and outlook, in return we earn cheerful and friendly atmosphere. McDonalds thinks that its not only just about hiring happy and cheerful people its about keep them smiling by doing everything. McDonalds offers rewards and benefits that fit in with their lifestyle, which so ever it may be whether they are a part-time employees working to fund their school and college education or Trainee Business Manager straight out of university. Recruitment and Selection at McDonalds Recruiting suitable applicants: Which ever post it may be whether employee wants to join as a crew member or a Trainee Business Manager, McDonalds always provide exceptional support, real progression opportunities, a range of excellent rewards and all potential associated with working for the McDonalds a worlds famous global brand. Crew Members The McDonalds has designed a three-step application process for potential crew member to make sure that they are right for everyone. The first phase of the application is an online; people go through an online process which contains some questions. If the candidate is successful in the first phase they send the invitation to the candidate for an interview with HR officer after that they send the successful candidate for (OJE) On Job Evaluation and for interview at the restaurants with manager. The On Job Evaluation is for serves two purpose one is that it helps an d gives the good opportunity to assess the candidates skill in customer services against what is needed to be a successful member of the McDonalds team and also allow the candidates to see that if McDonalds high energy environment suits their preferred style of working. This OJE process takes about 15 minutes and the candidate works at one of the customer facing areas and full instruction is given to candidate on what to do . In addition the candidates have and interview with the business manager and the whole process will take about 30 minutes for assessing the candidates. Crew Benefits: McDonalds provide 28 days paid holidays per annum. After three year service they provide free private health care. Stake holder pension scheme. Bonuses related to Restaurants performances. Provides vouchers of Argos, Thomas Cook, Debenhams, Marks Spencer and House of Fraser awarded at service milestones Annual pay reviews Great discounts, about  £13 at Alton Towers and at Thorpe Park Its about  £12 Saving of 50 per cent at LEGOLAND 10 per cent off at dress-for.com  £63 saving on special BSM learner starter pack 25% off many short breaks and holidays 65 per cent off in universal cycles. Welcome Meeting After completing all the application process and the candidates are selected and crew member have been hired they are called to attend the Welcome meeting at their chosen restaurants or a recruitment centre. In this meeting the inform and engage new starter for the one hour in this meeting. The meeting involves viewing a DVD which provides important information about the McDonalds and also allows for interaction between manger and the new starter. The second part is orientation which is compulsory its an online process which provides information regarding the Health n Safety test that the new starter has to complete in their own time. The beginning of the orientation starts with the tour of the store highlighting key health and safety and food safety procedures. And it is also recommended that it should be last for the first two ours of the shift. Trainee Business Manager A trainee business manager participates in an award-winning management training scheme and the business trainee manger is required to show strong leadership quality. It is not a small feet to a win a place on McDonalds management development programme. Its not a short term commitment but rather it represents a long- term career decision. McDonalds want make sure that the candidate and McDonalds are right for each other, therefore the candidates has to go through the four steps of selection process. The first step it is all about the screening process which ensures that candidates meet the basic criteria. The successful candidates are asked to complete the next step which contains the personality questionnaire the candidate has to complete it online. This will make sure that the candidate has the desired attributes and their preferred style of working suites. After that the next step is based on restaurants OJE or On Job Evaluation. The candidate will do real job for a day and learn what its really working in a McDonalds restaurants. After completing OJE process the final step is selection process i.e. an interview with the senior manager. First o f all the Trainee Business Manager has to complete an intensive 18 week Management Development programme. This programme will give the candidate thorough training in the business of McDonalds and also train the candidate regarding the commercial skill that are needed to bloom and develop into an effective assistant manager. Later an assistant manager can progress to become business manager or an operating consultant i.e. area manager depending on their desire to achieve. Benefits The candidates are provided with a package of professional rewards which includes a starting salary of up to  £21500 including London weighting. There is also potential of quarterly bonus within the week of joining. The candidate could be running their own restaurants under the three year and also earning a salary and package of  £45000. The successful candidates can expect additionally Holiday of 5 week per annum and it can be raised to 6 week from April 2009 Annual performance in relation of pay review Life assurance. Pension scheme After six months services they cover a private healthcare and also a company car or cash alternative. Home telephone bill assistance. For every 10 years of services there is a paid sabbatical leave of eight weeks. Training at McDonalds Includes complete development McDonalds constant success of is constructed on the highest principles of quality, delivery of services and cleanliness to customer in each of the McDonalds restaurants. These standards are achieved because of the well trained crew member and also well trained manager. The policy of McDonalds that provide the career opportunities that allows the workers to improve and develop their full potential. This policy programme for both crew and operation management, and a career advancement that enables a first job for the progression of the employees to the senior management position through merit based promotions. Around 55,000 employees are trained in McDonalds every year. McDonalds spends around  £10 million over on going employees training every year for providing people with valuable skill. McDonalds work experience is a foundation for future employability, mostly as the UK labour market continues to evolve. As there is increase in the demand of skilled employees, a job which offers an on-going training with a leading organisation is very best career investment. People from all over the world of life recognition of first job at McDonalds through having prepared them with ingredients of success. Staff Training Staff training programme at the McDonalds is an on the job professional experience that make other learn the skills transferable to other industries. In McDonalds the entire new employee begins their experience with an induction into the company. Here the trainers work together shoulder-to-shoulder with other trainees where they absorb the operation skills for running the each and every 11 workstations in every restaurant, from front counter to grill area. Each and every employee learns to operate contemporary food service equipment, gaining knowledge of McDonalds operational procedure. Every manuals and video tapes cover every detail, starting from how to prepare a big Mac, and they also teach that how to deliver exceptional services to customers. Not only this employees also learn how to train and supervise other people. The people who first time employed in McDonalds, McDonalds are an important mentor who teaches the interpersonal and organisational skill which is important for performing effectively on any job. The business of McDonalds demands effective teamwork, discipline and responsibility. The result of McDonalds experience is in improving self-confidence and communication skill and McDonalds stresses on customer care and attitude where organisation experts known as an essential element for business success. Business strategies of McDonalds As we know that McDonalds is the most successful fast food chain in the world. In the success of the McDonalds we may possibly easily identify number of successful business strategy operations. Time to time McDonalds enhances its own brand imagine with the help of different social activities and sponsors the special events and sports like as a main sponsor of the world cup since 1994 and the champions league football in England from 1996 to 2000. The reason of the McDonalds success is that McDonalds implements many strategies like Porters Competitive strategies model that includes differentiation and low cost leadership or miles n snows strategy typology which describe prospector, defender, reactor and analyser strategy. Its obvious that McDonalds has to implement or choose the most appropriate strategy for its success. How McDonalds implements its business strategies? The business structure of McDonalds is totally based upon a geographic structure. Because when we access their website they ask the person to choose their country that they are interested in. In fact in the five geographical divisions McDonalds has divided its operations. As shown in the figure that 65 % of McDonalds restaurants located in United States and Europe generates 75% of revenue. The most important strategic approach of McDonalds for maintaining its leading position in the market has to keep the major markets at the same time they are expanding their business in the emerging markets. Though there are different consumer groups in the different countries having a different tastes and requirements. So each unit of full geographical functions of McDonalds was required to response full for marketing and producing its products in that particular region. Over this regional or geographical structure the McDonalds is not only satisfying the needs of consumer of that or different geographical areas but also tracking a maximum local development. The main strategy of the McDonalds is that they produce and markets the slightly different kinds of products in different geographical areas and even those products have different prices. Jim Skinner the chairm an of McDonalds said once that if you are looking for a command centre with one push button to operate our restaurants in every corner of the world or in the different countries having a different culture you will not find it. Though there is a QSCV-quality service, cleanliness and value philosophy is everywhere. McDonalds is right in understanding the consumer that customer need the fast services, bearable prices and better standard hygiene. In most of the countries McDonalds having a similar product where they provide good services, including beef, chicken and bread potatoes and milk. In different countries consumer having a different taste and requirements and McDonalds time to time launches the new products for their regional customer. Effect of external environment on McDonalds strategies There are two sectors which affects the McDonalds strategies that are competitor and social concept. Competitor: Its unlikely that McDonalds may be at No. 1. In an annual consumer satisfaction survey McDonalds has been listed at last among the fast food restaurants since 1992 and in 4th quarter of 2002 McDonalds had disclosed 1st time its quarterly loss the reason of this is that the consumer has switched to McDonalds competitor i.e. Burger king, subway, etc. These companies focus on offering the fresh and high quality of food at lower price at low price and many fast services. Which resulted that McDonalds has to close its 719 poor performing restaurants around the world? And all these result were proving that McDonalds may not be longer in competition of fast food market. If McDonalds does not adapt the external environment change, they can be diminishing gradually and even it can be replaced by the other competitors. To keep their market share increasing sales and profit McDonalds has to answer the threat of the competitors. In 2003 McDonalds introduce its new product McGriddles sandwiches as a feature of breakfast in US and Canada, and in UK they introduce premier and zesty McChicken and in other countries McDonalds was trying to provide satisfaction to customer by offering premium products at affordable price. Even more McDonalds is providing good choice with respond to Happy Meal for the children. For example Happy Meal is includes chicken selects, do added sugar fruit drink and also to produce coffee to appeal the adults. And those products have been produced to attract existing customer and also to develop new customer. Moreover the McDonalds has innovated its menu and also McDonalds is rebuilding and relocating its restaurants to make environment comfortable to the customer. McDonalds is differentiating itself by creating more relevant experience to attract customers, like they are allowing customers to access internet with the wireless technology. Social problem -healthy issue: As the economy is growing, living standard of people is also increasing. People are now more concerned about their health issues. There is no doubt that McDonalds has made itself more convenient for the customer. Most of the people think that such kind of fast food restaurants are not good for health. WHO report showed that such food not only can cause obesity of children but also the cause of cancer. Issues regarding the health biggest hurdle for the development of McDonalds customer were switching to the healthier competitor like Subway and KFC products. McDonalds has answered to this healthy trend. In order of competition McDonalds has added the salads and other healthier products in their menu. If the any mother comes to the restaurants she will not only find happy meal for her children but also she will find a meal for her also. The lighter and healthier option encourages the existing customer to come back often because there is greater variety of choices. Focus on Children: Different taste and local needs doesnt matters McDonalds has paid its all considerable attention towards children in every country. McDonalds has made happy land for the children offering fantastic happy meal with superb toys to them. And even more McDonalds have just launched the computers with games that are designed for the childrens imagination at the same time they shape their personal features. There are 3 main reasons for McDonalds to focus on the children i.e. McDonalds biggest consumers group are children and McDonalds has been regarded as their favourite place to go. The brand culture happiness is known by the children. The belief of McDonalds on focusing on children is that it can build the stable business and will also provide the best booster to encourage the whole family to come to McDonalds for example McDonalds can offer other products with childrens happy meal to the whole family. By building brand loyalty with children McDonalds is more likely to successful today and in future also. PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT Employees are the important resources of the company. They insures the collaboration of financial, industrial resources so that organisation able to function. Today some of the experienced managers think that the financial reward cannot stay the only type of an employee encouragement or inspiration. There is need of viewing the needs of employees as entity that leads to the search of the non-financial incentives. There are many non-financial incentives connected to employees satisfaction of need for example employees participation in decision making, self-fulfilment, personal growth and others. Full use of human resource by the organisation is the most important advantage which allows the organisation to capture the position in the global market. The McDonalds flourishes owing to the logical combination of the staff into the problem solving. The company follows the principle i.e. the result is done by a man, McDonalds observes its employees as the primary means of achievement in the field of quality and productivity. McDonalds has built its success on the motivation theories having changed only some aspects of them. McDonalds follows four simple principles, which provides the possibility of growth in the performances of its employees: The organisation must innovate the different system of motivation for every department. There must clear and attainable aim for the personnel, its better to have one aim for each person There must be change in aim. Manager must have two aims for the year. For example the first manager inspects the number of employee and clients then the manager inspects the number of returning clients and then the manager should analyse the increase in the sales. This process gives the possibility to find out the qualities and abilities of employees and also to check the new method of work. The rise in salary must be workable for the employee. McDonalds implements three components of the motivation theories i.e. financial incentives, non-financial incentives and social policy. All these three components are mentioned in the Maslows motivation theory. Though Maslow describes that all needs must be one by one. The research of McDonalds and its strategy structure shows that only immediate fulfilments of the employee needs and that will increase the performance of the employees. Its not important to fulfil all the needs of every level. In reality every man has a numbers of needs in every existing moment. McDonalds has an effective motivation system that makes it possible to growth in the performance of the employees and also increases in the companys productivity. McDonalds administration staffs have applied the situational approach which has turned out to be the most relevant to the current condition. The administration department have used the particular techniques on the origin of motivation theories. After applying the assembly line procedure in food preparation McDonalds has ensured the standard quality of production and the high performance. In addition McDonalds has applied actual motivation strategy that is grounded on motivation theories. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION In the above discussion we just come to know about the HR Strategies of the McDonalds the assignment discussed four HR strategies of the McDonalds: Recruitment selection, training, business strategies and management performance system. McDonalds believes that the growth and success of restaurants and company is gained and achieved with the help of their employees. The aim and objective of the McDonalds is to recruit the best people, to maintain them by offering ongoing training appropriate to their position and to promote them when they are ready. The recruitment policies, procedures and practices show the purpose to achieve its aim. It is analyzed there must be some achievement and promotion activities for the crew member as McDonalds has provided to its Business management trainee. If the McDonalds fails to identify the new competitors, interest of consumer shifts, and innovative technologies and social trends then there is a strong possibility of loosing there market share. In 20 03 McDonalds has decided to divert its focus to increase the sales in existing restaurants. To achieve the main objective, McDonalds strategy must attract more new customers and also encourage the present customer to visit restaurants more often, build brand loyalty and eventually create long-term profitable growth for the company.

Essay --

Jacksonian America was known as a form of democracy that was based on the interest of the common man, limitations of the federal government, the western expansion and settlement. It was named after President Andrew Jackson and purposed to form a democracy party which would make the state more of a republic then a monarchy. Jacksonian America had brought major changes to society and politics by creating a modern democratic party. When in office, Jackson and his governments view on native people had become the foundation of the Indian removal. This removal within states was known as the Indian Removal Act in 1830. This removal had disregarded Washington’s policy which aloud Indians to settle in the southeast as they were considered American Indian. As the Cherokee vs. Georgia case confirmed that natives were dependent people who needed protection, the act had been put into practice. When the act was passed Jackson had believed that the lands which once belonged to the Indians could be used by his benefit, which can provide future votes during elections. Jackson’s form of democracy produced many reforms which confronted the social ills of the day because he made some political changes which were very contradicting. In example, He was concern for the interest of man but not every man held the same rights as others due to social classes. As the new republic began to form many indentured apprentice were signed in covenant to their master which came with many trainings. These training consist of practices that were meant for economic livelihood which would help give the apprentice experience. Some people however did not have any assurance in the way the government set up these principles. Since Americans started to resist working for f... ...s Congress called for union with the United States" (Liberty, p.497). Once Houston was elected president, Texas had ended their disputes and joined America. The invasion of Texas would soon put Mexico on alert and lead to another dispute for America. Another dispute led to the beginning of the Mexican War, which took place in the mid nineteenth century. While most American’s supported the war due to the interest in gaining more land by expanding westward, they also faced their first war on other land outside of the United States (Liberty, p.499). Although Mexico was willing to stand their ground and fight for their rights, in the end they were quickly defeated and Americans were victorious in this war. Once they took over Mexico they began to expand further. This expansion led to a lot of changes which benefited America but caused a lot of destruction for others.

The Definition of Power :: Definition Essays Power Authority

The Definition of Power   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Power is many things. It is the ability to control people in their sayings and/or actions. It is the ability to get whatever you want. Power is a necessary component in any society, otherwise all pandemonium would break loose; leaders must be established. But, when taken to an extreme, power is not good, and pandemonium will break loose.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As Lord Acton said, "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely." A good example of this is Adolph Hitler in Nazi Germany. He believed he could not be stopped and that rules did not apply to him. By being given absolute power, he corrupted the government. No attempt was made to stop this by the Germans, because of the control he had. People were either scared to stop this, or were brainwashed into believing it. Finally the U.S. had to step in and try to stop Hitler, and World War II broke out.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  But power is not all bad though. As was stated earlier, it is necessary in any group of people, and there will be struggle to achieve it--be it a country, a business, or a sports team. Athletics is a good example of where there is a constant power struggle. In every league, every player wants control. They want what they think should happen (during games), to happen. Recently, in the NBA, Dennis Rodman took this struggle to an extreme. In disagreement with an official's call, Rodman head-butted the official, and through a temper- tantrum on his way off the court. Quite obviously, this is bad. Every player in the league agrees to the rules set by the NBA from the beginning. The rules are made to keep control, and the officials have power to enforce these rules. If there were no regulations, players would be doing whatever they wanted whenever they wanted. If Rodman's antics would have taken place somewhere other than a basketball court he probably would be in trouble with the law. If he were to argue with a police officer, for example, the same way he did with the referee, he probably would be put in jail or at very least heavily fined. Well, the NBA is not going to put anyone in jail for this, but they did fine him and suspend him for a couple of games. Basically Rodman is as bad as any street bully who picks on or beats up little kids. Only he does it on a basketball court, so generally it is considered "part of the game." In nine out of ten cases, a fine is levied, and all is forgotten.

Antigone Was Right Essay -- essays research papers

The story of Antigone deals with Antigone’s brother who’s body has been left unburied because of crimes against the state. The sight of her brother being unburied drives Antigone to take action against the state and bury her brother regardless of the consequences. The concept of the Greek afterlife was far more important and sacred than living life itself. Everything they did while they were alive was to please the many gods they worshipped. They built temples for their Gods, made statues to symbolize their Gods, and had a different God to explain things that we now say are an act of mother nature. Antigone percieved her actions to be courageous and valid, and Kreone, the King, percieved them as blasphemous. The entire story focuses on deciding who’s right. The question arises, "Did Antigone take proper action?" Was it right to go against her Uncle Kreon’s wishes and go ahead and bury her brother that was to be left out for the vultures? Would it have been better just to leave the situation how it was? The fact is, Antigone did the right thing. She was acting out of divine influence so to speak. Since divinity and humanity are shown to be colliding forces where divinity out weighs humanity in ancient Greece. Antigone was justified in her actions. Antigone was following divine laws, or walking with divine shoes, while Kreone followed the laws of the state. Her brother’s afterlife was so important to Antigone that she was willing to give up anything to ensure her b...

The Thing in the Forrest

Sometimes in life when we have an experience that deeply affects us, it can change our whole perspective. The story â€Å"The Thing in the forest† is a example of how this can happen. The two main characters Penny and Primrose meet when they are children and share a horrific experience in the forest. Then by chance meet back at the scene and briefly reassure one another that what happened really did happen. But their contact ends there once again almost as if seeing each other was too uncomfortable. Then oddly enough both women end up going back to the forest looking for some kind of resolve. In â€Å"The Thing in the Forest† the two little girls encounter a terrifying creature that profoundly affects their sense of reality; this results in similar personal traits and shared sense of searching for what’s real despite that they never talk of it. When the two girls meet not much is given about their characters, however throughout the story we find that the two ladies have quite a few things in common. This is due to their experience in the forest that they shared so long ago. Some of the similarities are within their character and some are sheer coincidence. Neither woman has married probably because of their disrupted childhood when they were exiled from their families and sent to live in the â€Å"great house† by the woods until it was safe again at home (Byatt). This is when Penny and Primrose decide to go into the woods and are followed by a younger girl who is never seen again. The girls encounter a creature that smelled of â€Å"liquid putrefaction† and looked like a mixture of â€Å"rank meat and decaying vegetation† (Byatt). The wake of the creature leaves â€Å"a trail of bloody slime and dead vegetation† in which the younger girl disappears (Byatt). Then the very next day the girls are placed with temporary families. Once home again both girls fathers die in accidents. Penny’s father died in a firefighting accident and Primroses was a causality of the war as he was soldier. The experience of being exiled, their fathers sudden deaths and and seeing this terrifying creature that possibly killed the younger girl has hanged their sense of what is real, I’m sure the concept of love and relationship is very easily questioned for the both of them. Both women also have chosen jobs that work with children; Penny becomes a child psychologist dealing mostly dealing in the dreams of children and Primrose among her other odd jobs becomes a children’s story time teller at the local mall. Both women are embroiled with children and their minds just on different ends of the spectrum. One lis tens and one tells. When Penny and Primrose meet by quirk of fate back at the â€Å"great house†, that has now been given to the nation and made in to a museum, they are taken aback by the unplanned visit. They become aware of each other while reading a description of a story in a book about a fabled worm like creature that supposedly lurked in the woods near by. The alarm of the story and the by chance meeting of the two women while simultaneously reading its historic description jolts the two. They feel as if they would have never recognized each other if it weren’t for the given situation. They reassure each other that they both really did see the creature that it is real. The women remark on how strange it is that the children’s presence during the exile is not depicted anywhere in the history of the house. This lack of mention about the children in exile ever being in the house reaffirms some of the question of what is real in the two women’s minds. They decide on having some tea and reminisce a little more about the time they spent in exile, on the train, in the â€Å"great house†, brief tidbits of their life and the younger girl named Alys who had disappeared. It did finish her off, that little one, didn’t it? † â€Å"I wonder if we’d made her up,† said Primrose. â€Å"Nobody ever asked where she was or looked for her,† said Penny (Byatt). The women are slightly relived at their agreement because this gives them the assurance they need not to feel as if they made the whole thing up. The assumed death of the you nger girl could be said to mirror the psychological death of Penny and Primrose, and this reassurance helps them feel as if they can finally move on. This brief conversation between the two is the last contact they will have with each other. The women both decide not to honor the dinner date they planed, I believe at this point the Penny and Primrose feel any further contact with each other is unbearable because of the underlying memories of any supplementary conversation. Yet they are still searching for what is real within them selves. Searching to the extent that both women are drawn back in to the woods and for the same reason. Primrose goes to the woods with purpose; she even follows the same path from years ago. Primrose had really been in a magic forest. She knew that the forest was a source of terror† (Byatt). While in the forest she questions what is real in her life, her home and how her mother disclosed that her father had been killed. She resolves that the forest and what happened in it to be truly real. In all of her thinking she decides she is satisfied and in turn wants to go home. The way Primrose views this experience and the woods around her in a story like fashion is very telling about why she deals in storytelling for a job. It all comes from the same place and this is why she has always careful not to scare the children she reads to. Penny on the other hand ends up in the forest even after purposely walking in the opposite direction of their original path. She is very perceptive of her surroundings in a different way than Primrose, who feels the need to almost coach herself along in a story like fashion, whereas Penny was looking for signs of the creature. She looked for all things that would be concrete evidence of the creature. It was the encounter with the thing that led her to deal professionally in dreams. Something that resembled unreality that had lumbered into reality, and she had seen it† (Byatt). Penny believed she could feel the creature and decided that it chose to recede back into the forest. She also spent some time thinking of her own father and how when he died her mother became a recluse, seeing this reaction scared her emotionally. This is the reason she threw herself in to study and possibly never married. At the end of it all this women still do not converse or sit with one another when taking the same train home. They just share an acknowledgeable stare at the train station then go their separate ways. Primrose goes home and back to work but with a new confidence, she decides to tell the story of â€Å"The Thing in the Forest† she is no longer afraid. Penny goes back to the woods with the conviction that she needs this, for this creature to come to her because it has become the most real thing she can recognize. â€Å"She was ready† and waiting for it (Byatt). Despite how different these women are, they are one in the same. Penny and Primrose shared something awful that forever changed them in very similar ways. They also shared separate experiences in the same forest and came to the same realizations that the creature is real and it had affected their person emotionally and steered their paths throughout life. It is apparent to me that that these similarities the women share cannot be a coincidence but are a direct result of that horrifying day they saw â€Å"The Thing in the Forest†.