The Ironies of Social Standards in Sister Carrie Essay Example For Students

The Ironies of Social Standards in Sister Carrie Essay To this day, Sister Carrie remains one of the most controversial novels of its time. The remarkably realistic characters and contentious situations created by Theodore Dreiser illustrate the double standards within a growing American society at the turn of the twentieth century. Naturalism plays a large part in the development of each character and their pathetic inability to evade their trivial fates Theodore. The perverse fascination and distaste surrounding this incapability mirrors a societys hypocrisy of its own social standards. For his first novel, Dreiser opted to paint a realistic portrait of America for what it really was- materialistic Gerber 52. The money ideal would be exposed as the great motivating purpose of life in the United States: ones relative affluence at any level of society determining the degree creature comfort one might enjoy, the measure of prestige one might own, and the extent of social power one might command Gerber 52-53. Sister Carrie completely reiterates Americas obsession with money because there is not one character whose own status symbol isnt determined economically Gerber 53. We will write a custom essay on The Ironies of Social Standards in Sister Carrie specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now At the end of the Civil War, big business boomed and there was now a preoccupation with conspicuous consumption Ward. Capitalism roared and consumers began to see each other for what they thought they really were: money. Dreiser first describes his Caroline Meeber not by her opinions or actions, but by what she owns: a small trunk, a cheap imitation alligator-skin satchel, and a small yellow snap purse Dreiser Sister 3. Although Carrie cannot afford a real alligator-skin satchel, she owns an imitation so that she appears to be something she is not Ward. False appearances are a reiterated theme throughout Sister Carrie. Schafer 2 Upon entering Chicago and meeting Drouet, the reader becomes attentive to Carries fascination with the upper class. In addition to representing consumerism, Carrie also serves as a symbol of the American middle class. Carrie is `ambitious to gain material things Ward. Entering a department store to find a job, Carrie leaves with an unsatisfied desire to own things that she cannot. Carrie sees how much the city has to offer her. She longs for the luxury and wealth of the other shop dwellers Balling 23. All of the fancy items tempt Carrie although she cannot manage to pay for any of them; thus a capitalist economy manipulates the desire of the consumer without ever completely satisfying it Ward. This unfulfilled yearning compels the consumer to work long hours just to struggle to buy more items Ward. With each purchase, the need for material things grows while never completely satisfying the consumer. Carries dream of satisfaction is hastily broken when she realizes she must work in an unpleasant job to get what she wants. In Sister Carrie, money is a main objective at the beginning of many relationships. Carries fascination in Drouet is instigated by his money. Handing her the money gives him the opportunity to touch her hand, the first step of physical intimacy with her Ward.  In a society in which wealth is associated with individual merit, Drouet begins to stir up yet another person into materialism. Through this, he can conduct his life on a splendid basis because Carrie looks to him with desire Balling 25. A world of possibilities is opened to Carrie through Drouet. She has now become an insider to the world of prosperity, excitement, and satisfaction Balling 29. Schafer 3 In meeting Hurstwood, Carrie can only look further upward. He is the symbol of the enlightened, capitalist man Ward. His life with Julia is one greater than Drouets. Unlike Hurstwood, Drouet is awkward and imitative in his dress and actions. This flashy lifestyle screams that he is performing a role Ward. Hurstwood spends just as noticeably, but he does it with a great deal of taste. Overall, while Hurstwood looks like the legitimate article, Drouet just comes off as a fake Ward. Carrie soon takes notice. Although they live a far more affluent lifestyle than Drouet and Carrie, Hurstwoods family is not satisfied. As Carrie craves nice clothing and trinkets, Julia and Jessica are saddened that they cannot afford a European summer vacation Ward. Again, the reader is introduced to the reoccurring theme of the compelling influence behind consumer society: unfulfilled desire Ward. .u63ce4743558b3809bb8eb5d72cf2326f , .u63ce4743558b3809bb8eb5d72cf2326f .postImageUrl , .u63ce4743558b3809bb8eb5d72cf2326f .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u63ce4743558b3809bb8eb5d72cf2326f , .u63ce4743558b3809bb8eb5d72cf2326f:hover , .u63ce4743558b3809bb8eb5d72cf2326f:visited , .u63ce4743558b3809bb8eb5d72cf2326f:active { border:0!important; } .u63ce4743558b3809bb8eb5d72cf2326f .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u63ce4743558b3809bb8eb5d72cf2326f { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u63ce4743558b3809bb8eb5d72cf2326f:active , .u63ce4743558b3809bb8eb5d72cf2326f:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u63ce4743558b3809bb8eb5d72cf2326f .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u63ce4743558b3809bb8eb5d72cf2326f .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u63ce4743558b3809bb8eb5d72cf2326f .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u63ce4743558b3809bb8eb5d72cf2326f .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u63ce4743558b3809bb8eb5d72cf2326f:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u63ce4743558b3809bb8eb5d72cf2326f .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u63ce4743558b3809bb8eb5d72cf2326f .u63ce4743558b3809bb8eb5d72cf2326f-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u63ce4743558b3809bb8eb5d72cf2326f:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Charles Dickens greatest novel EssayAfter Hurstwood and Carries affair and escape to New York, Hurstwood soon finds himself having to think carefully about small disbursements like rent and cab fare. Although he has sufficient money to invest in new businesses, he turns down many prospects because they are too low-class for him Ward. Not only is his money very important to him now, but so is his respectability. Having to live so frugally as he searches for a job humiliates him Balling 61. The importance of Hurstwoods reputation to himself underscores the materialism in America. Being who you are to yourself is not as important as being someone to others Gerber 60-61. Once Carrie meets Mrs. Vance, she reenters the world of conspicuous consumption Ward. As soon as she finds someone wealthier than she, Carrie again becomes displeased with her life. It seems as if Carrie then sets new goals for herself as she is exposed to new socio-economic levels Ward. Hurstwoods decline pushes Carrie further away from him. Mrs. Vances decision to cut off her connection with Carrie because of Hurstwoods appearance exposes the dehumanizing nature of consumer society Ward. While Hurstwood gradually sinks toward deprivation and suicide, Carrie once again moves foreword and appears on stage Thorp 472. Carries constant drag to something better was not to be denied Thorp 472. Her choice to leave him is almost completely motivated by finances, as was her decision to marry him Ward. The richer Carrie gets, again, the farther up she looks. Despite hardly knowing what to do with all of her money, however, she still suffers from unsatisfied desires Ward. Carries newfound theatrical success does not bring her happiness as she expected, just more urges. Although she has  now gained an identity that is independent of Hurstwoods and Drouets desire for her, she is still dependent on the desire of the public Ward. Even after Carrie has come so far, she still looks towards others opinions of her to make her happy. By the end of the novel, Carrie is still dissatisfied. She still experiences the unceasing discontent that is the major force behind consumerism Ward. A consumer-based society can only survive if there is always something more to want. With eyes so fixed on mountaintops yet to be attained, they never stop to wonder this way madness lies Gerber 53. As Carrie reaches the top, she and the reader no longer know what she desires. The brutal forces governing life dictate that any achievement permitted a human creature be diluted by dissatisfaction Gerber 56. At this time in America life had much to do with `chemisms and `magnetisms; it was dominated by invincible material forces; and of these the drives for power, money, and sex were primary Gerber. Sex and the relationships between men and women were solely based on finances, just as were Carries relationships with Drouet and Hurstwood. Even Dreiser himself expects Carrie to do nothing more than rely on a man. When a girl leaves her home at eighteen, she does one of two things. Either she falls into saving hands and becomes better, or she rapidly assumes the cosmopolitan standard of virtue and becomes worse Dreiser Sister 3. This statement also implies that Carrie or women in general uses seduction to get what she wants Thorp 472. Dreiser makes of her a symbolic figure who must sacrifice a certain amount of innocence in order to make progress of any kind. Thus Carries dream is the American Dream as well; it is a dream of rich finery, financial success and power Balling 30. When Drouet offers Carrie the twenty dollars, he is essentially buying the prospect for sex Ward. Because she owes him money, she feels tied to return his kindness with the only material object she owns- her body. Exposed of all its trimmings, Drouet and Carries relationship is no more than a form of prostitution. Because Carrie is paid more for her body than she is for her employment, she realizes that a womans most marketable product is sex Ward. .uc5b11c29873868d88a1fcefa2093902e , .uc5b11c29873868d88a1fcefa2093902e .postImageUrl , .uc5b11c29873868d88a1fcefa2093902e .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uc5b11c29873868d88a1fcefa2093902e , .uc5b11c29873868d88a1fcefa2093902e:hover , .uc5b11c29873868d88a1fcefa2093902e:visited , .uc5b11c29873868d88a1fcefa2093902e:active { border:0!important; } .uc5b11c29873868d88a1fcefa2093902e .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uc5b11c29873868d88a1fcefa2093902e { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uc5b11c29873868d88a1fcefa2093902e:active , .uc5b11c29873868d88a1fcefa2093902e:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uc5b11c29873868d88a1fcefa2093902e .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uc5b11c29873868d88a1fcefa2093902e .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uc5b11c29873868d88a1fcefa2093902e .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uc5b11c29873868d88a1fcefa2093902e .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uc5b11c29873868d88a1fcefa2093902e:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uc5b11c29873868d88a1fcefa2093902e .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uc5b11c29873868d88a1fcefa2093902e .uc5b11c29873868d88a1fcefa2093902e-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uc5b11c29873868d88a1fcefa2093902e:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: AP by John Updike EssayWhile Carrie illustrates the life of a modern single woman, Julia demonstrates the typical, unhappy married women. Hurstwood attributes his wife as an ornament of his success by regarding her as one of his possessions Ward. Again the marriage serves as a contract to declare her job as a wife: to give Hurstwood sex in exchange for his money Ward. The pragmatic morality and hypocrisy of a males role in a marriage is apparent through Hurstwoods actions. While he keeps a close eye on Julia and all of her interactions, he does not condemn mens extramarital affairs; he only approves if they are carried out discreetly Ward. This disjunction between peoples  conduct and the figure they stage is maintained by a web of lies Ward. Paying close attention to Drouet as he compliments other women, Carrie takes note and tries to develop her identity largely based on what he craves. Through this imitation, she becomes simply a manifestation of masculine desire; Carrie substantiates the conventional idea that women are nothing more than role players Ward. Sister Carrie presents womens identity as virtually non-existent: men can be genuine, but women can only try to imitate Ward. Carrie, again, knows no identity without conceding to a man Markels 533. As a reflection of masculine desire, Carrie cannot express any desires of her own- except for her need for conspicuous consumption. Rather than feeling happiness from her own desires, Carrie is pleased only when others desire her Ward. Carries need for attention again upholds the conventional standard that a woman only has social standing when a man desires her Phillips 553. Dreisers approach of retelling life how it really has created a great deal of unexpected controversy. The sum and substance of literary as well as social morality may be expressed in three words- tell the truth Dreiser True 473. This statement made by Dreiser himself was in response to critics against the publication of Sister Carrie. The depiction of a fallen woman in a success story was considered completely immoral Riggio. As Dreiser entered the literary scene in the early 1900s, a conventional style of writing had already been set into tradition. The function of literature was to appeal to mans `higher nature, to inspire him through the depiction of mans capacity to achieve the ethical life to seek such a life for himself Pizer Dreisers. Basically, the didactic method of literature was there to create an ideal society. When Sister Carrie came along, most reviewers held upon the fundamental circumstances of the novel- a young woman has two forbidden sexual affairs without experiencing either material loss or moral degeneration Pizer Dreisers. Also, since God was not mentioned once in the novel, Sister Carrie was considered immediate grounds for dismissal Pizer Dreisers. Such debate surrounding a novel can really only prove one point: it is a story of real life, of their lives Notman 474. All of these situations- materialism, seduction, adultery, bigamy, and theft- were actually occurring in real life Thorp 469. This denial of Americans own lives further reiterates the hypocrisy in a growing capitalist society. In a brief essay entitled True Art Speaks Plainly, Dreiser concluded a true picture of life, honestly and reverentially set down, is both moral and artistic whether it offends the conventions or not Dreiser True 474. Dreisers Sister Carrie deals with the sordid side of everyday life. Although his characters are mixtures of moral and corrupt, unable to assert their will against natural and economic forces, he rarely passes judgment on them Theodore. These extraordinarily convincing individuals and the litigious circumstances created by Theodore Dreiser demonstrate the ironies within an  emergent American culture after the Civil War. Materialism and capitalism in a booming economy, conventional standards of men and womens roles, and the denial of the American public in response to the novel all prove that Sister Carrie was ahead of its time in portraying the authentic and pessimistic view of real existence.

Serian Synogoges essays

Serian Synogoges essays Architecture plays a very important role in a culture, and from its remains, historians can gain a wealth of information. It determines the wealth of the community, the weather conditions and many other things. Not only can historians learn what it was like in that area at that time, but also they can learn from it to improve our area now. For example, the Romans built curved roads and sewers to prevent flooding and currently we also build our roads similarly. Another example can be the columns the Greeks used to build; now the White house and many other buildings are built in a Greek style. In fact, the entire Washington D.C. is built just like Paris; it is built in a circle around the White House, as Paris is built around the Eiffel Tower. Architecture and the arts have such power over people that Jews are thought to have horns because of a misinterpretation by Leonardo Divenchi, who portrayed Moses with horns. Now well take a look at architecture from a religious point of view. During the late Fifteenth century, refugees from Spain escaped to Muslim countries, mainly the Ottoman Empire. With them they brought the Sephardic traditions and culture and it quickly spread throughout the Mediterranean region. The Sephardic tradition eventually dominated the Syrian synagogue design and its architecture. Today, this beautiful architecture still remains in the Syrian community in Brooklyn. During the Ottoman period, the basilica form was popular. The Syrian synagogue usually had a wide central aisle and two side aisles. Arcades supported by columns separate it. Different parts of the room would be elevated, especially the tevah for illumination purposes. Many of the synagogues of Syria were very decorative; even the mandatory utensils of the synagogue, such as the lightbox, which was used to give off light to read the torah, would be very fancy. ...

Brave New World Diction Essay

† In chapter 3 of Aldous Huxley’s novel Brave New World, many things are revealed about hot the society in this novel functions. It shows more about the work that the people do and how the society functions. Huxley uses repetition and descriptive diction to provide a deeper look into the society that is shown in this passage. In one paragraph, one specific word helps to clarify the meaning of the repetition of the word â€Å"whisk†. While talking about history, the Controller states that â€Å"History is bunk† to the students. In context, bunk is taken to mean nonsense, or unimportant. It serves the authors purpose by revealing more about the society in this passage. History is irrelevant to the alphas. The word â€Å"bunk† further helps to explain the diction in the next paragraph of this passage. The word â€Å"whisk† is repeated twelve times in one paragraph. It is used to describe how easily history is wiped away and forgotten. It even shows that music and feelings such as passion are gone. The repetition of the word â€Å"whisk† is fundamental in illustrating how insignificant the past is to this society. The authors use of descriptive diction gives further insight about this society. The author uses words and phrases such as â€Å"tactual†, â€Å"Embryo Store†, and â€Å"Psychology Bureau† among many others. This is significant because it illustrates how technologically advanced the society in this passage is. This passage reveals that society has completely disregarded history and advanced in the scientific field. The author uses the word â€Å"forbidden† to describe poetry books and religious books such as the Bible. This further develops the society as a society where feelings evoked by poetry and religious faith are frowned upon. As this passage demonstrates, history and literature have been removed from this society. History and literature are subjects that connect people, and tie them together, but without them, this passage shows that this society is very advanced in the field of science. This society is clearly appalled by life led by their ancestors. They have effectively gotten rid of history, and any feeling that helps them make lasting connections to other people. Through the use of descriptive diction, the authors purpose of providing insight into this society is fully accomplished. The diction in this passage illustrates how dynamic the society in this novel is. This society revolves around science, and wants nothing to do with the past. This passage provides very important insight into how this society functions, and the structure of the society. The author successfully achieves his purpose through the use of repetition and expressive diction. Brave New World Diction Essay † In chapter 3 of Aldous Huxley’s novel Brave New World, many things are revealed about hot the society in this novel functions. It shows more about the work that the people do and how the society functions. Huxley uses repetition and descriptive diction to provide a deeper look into the society that is shown in this passage. In one paragraph, one specific word helps to clarify the meaning of the repetition of the word â€Å"whisk†. While talking about history, the Controller states that â€Å"History is bunk† to the students. In context, bunk is taken to mean nonsense, or unimportant. It serves the authors purpose by revealing more about the society in this passage. History is irrelevant to the alphas. The word â€Å"bunk† further helps to explain the diction in the next paragraph of this passage. The word â€Å"whisk† is repeated twelve times in one paragraph. It is used to describe how easily history is wiped away and forgotten. It even shows that music and feelings such as passion are gone. The repetition of the word â€Å"whisk† is fundamental in illustrating how insignificant the past is to this society. The authors use of descriptive diction gives further insight about this society. The author uses words and phrases such as â€Å"tactual†, â€Å"Embryo Store†, and â€Å"Psychology Bureau† among many others. This is significant because it illustrates how technologically advanced the society in this passage is. This passage reveals that society has completely disregarded history and advanced in the scientific field. The author uses the word â€Å"forbidden† to describe poetry books and religious books such as the Bible. This further develops the society as a society where feelings evoked by poetry and religious faith are frowned upon. As this passage demonstrates, history and literature have been removed from this society. History and literature are subjects that connect people, and tie them together, but without them, this passage shows that this society is very advanced in the field of science. This society is clearly appalled by life led by their ancestors. They have effectively gotten rid of history, and any feeling that helps them make lasting connections to other people. Through the use of descriptive diction, the authors purpose of providing insight into this society is fully accomplished. The diction in this passage illustrates how dynamic the society in this novel is. This society revolves around science, and wants nothing to do with the past. This passage provides very important insight into how this society functions, and the structure of the society. The author successfully achieves his purpose through the use of repetition and expressive diction.

The Transition from Applicant to New Employee Essay

The Transition from Applicant to New Employee - Essay Example This study highlights both the employee and employer struggle in the initial period of the recruitment process to make the transition as smooth as possible and shorten the learning curve. Organizations start this process as soon as they get an application against a vacancy. The interview process and the orientation for the new employee become the foundations of a lasting relationship. Successful organizations foster a learning environment in which employees get to build their skills and eventually become more productive with time. The employee entering the organization relies on the existing culture and workforce for guidance and deliverance. Employees adopt the values of the culture prevailing in the organization and will easily adapt to the new environment if they feel comfortable to it. Employees will also be more receptive of information if they feel attached to the work they are put to do. As the discussion stresses millions of students graduate every year form colleges and universities around the globe. Many of them could be in search of their first real job. The past twenty years of their life they have been cradled with support from friends, family, counsellors, instructors and the corporations that hold yearly seminars. After graduating from college, they may find themselves completely alone, standing in front of a tall building, thinking of which door is the entrance and which door is the exit. Confidence matters a lot as they go in for an entry test or start the interview process.

Romantic music and development of Renaissance painting Essay

Romantic music and development of Renaissance painting - Essay Example Another similarity between Romantic music and paintings during Renaissance lies in the fact that they both put a great emphasis on the importance of the figure of the artist. It would not be a mistake to suggest that the cultural titans of Italy were as much respected as their counterparts in the musical world of Europe during Romanticism. Indeed, in that period every person who was able to create a fine piece of music was considered to be extremely talented and was approved by the public. Just like art in the times of Renaissance, music during Romanticism was considered to be the highest of arts; so the people who wanted to devote their live to it were considered to be exceptional. There is one more point that should be mentioned while considering the development of the two concepts that were discussed above. Thus, just like during Renaissance, Romanticism in music contributed to the emergence of the new perception of this kind of human activity. One might point out that visual art, just like music have existed in within human civilization for thousands of years, it was those two periods when people started to treat them in a different manner. This process, accompanied by the revival of interest, is what truly differed those periods from others. Some researchers argue that Renaissance made the aesthetic thought of humanity look backwards, but move forward with what they saw in the past. However, in order to get a better understanding of the relationship between the two notions in question.

Franklin D. Roosevelt Essay Example for Free

Franklin D. Roosevelt Essay Franklin D. Roosevelt is one of the most important and influential American political figures in the 20th century. Elected four times in office, his twelve years in the White House proved to be a testament to American courage, especially when faced with great challenges such as the Great Depression and the Second World War. Franklin D. Roosevelt, often called FDR, was born to James and Sara Delano Roosevelt in January 30, 1882 at Hyde Park, New York. (Potts, 5) The Roosevelt family was a rather affluent and Franklin was educated most of his younger years with tutors. In 1900, he enrolled at Harvard University and ended his college career at Columbia University Law School. (Potts, 7) On St. Patricks Day, 1905, Franklin married Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, a distant cousin and the niece of President Theodore Roosevelt. Franklin Roosevelt greatly admired his fifth cousin, President Theodore Roosevelt who ascended to the presidency during Franklin’s freshman year at Harvard. On several instances, Franklin visited the White House to discuss issues with his cousin Teddy. It is inevitable then that Franklin would have a growing interest in joining politics. He entered public service just as his cousin did, but as a Democrat in New York, a known Republican state. This proved to be a liability and problems arose but eventually, in 1910, Franklin was elected to the New York Senate. (Coker, 11) Three years later, in 1913, President Wilson appointed him Assistant Secretary of the Navy, something he had in common with his cousin Teddy. In the years that passed Franklin proved his mettle in politics and became the 1920 Democratic nominee for Vice President. Things went well in Franklin’s life until at age 39, in the summer of 1921, he got a stricken with poliomyelitis. This was a major setback but never deterrence to his courage. Franklin fought hard to be able to use his legs again through swimming. At the dramatic 1924 Democratic Convention, Franklin appeared, wearing crutches, to nominate Alfred E. Smith as the Happy Warrior. In 1928 Roosevelt became Governor of New York. (Friedel, 69) By this time, the economy is collapsing and as governor, he retained his reformist stance pushing for the conservation of the state aid to the unemployed citizens. His political career eventually reached its culmination when he was nominated for the 1932 presidency by the Democrat party. In his acceptance of his nomination, he said â€Å"I pledge you, I pledge myself, to a new deal for the American people.† This was what he came to be known for and in November 1932, Franklin was elected to his first term in as president of the United States. His administration became synonymous to the new deal he had pushed for in his campaign. (Heale, 3) It was not an easy term though. When he was elected for president, Franklin had inherited a lot of problems. This was the time when America was at the depth of the Great Depression and by March, four months into his presidency, 13,000,000 Americans were unemployed, and almost every bank was closed. The first hundred days of his office proved to be difficult. In these days Franklin had Congress implement a sweeping program to resurrect the ailing business and agriculture, to give relief to the unemployed and to those about to lose their homes and farms. He pushed for reform, especially through the Tennessee Valley Authority. Franklin Delano Roosevelt showed the people that something can be done. He gained immense admiration by helping the American people regain faith in themselves. He brought direction and hope as he assured prompt, vigorous action towards the depression. As Franklin asserted in his Inaugural Address, the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. This was precisely the attitude of his administration that created impact. In three years, the FDR administration led the United States to some measure of recovery, but the experimental and aggressive nature of Roosevelt’s New Deal program had turned up the noses of businessmen and bankers. They feared his ventures, were dismayed by the allowed deficits in the budget and being taken off the gold standard, and more so, the businessmen and bankers alike were hated the concessions to labor. Sensing this, Roosevelt created a new program of reform: Social Security, larger taxes on the wealthy, new controls over banks and public utilities, and a massive relief program for the unemployed. This new burst in legislation helped Roosevelt to a re-election in 1936. Roosevelt brought in more reforms to his administration. Feeling he had a favorable and popular mandate, he then sought legislation to enlarge the Supreme Court, which had been creating problems with his New Deal policies. Roosevelt lost the Supreme Court battle, but this sparked a revolution in constitutional law. Thereafter, the Government could legally regulate the economy. (Friedel, 69) During the latter part of his second term however, foreign crises loomed over domestic problems. In 1939 the war in Europe broke out and the fear that America would get entangled in this gave Roosevelt an opportunity to get elected again in 1940. This was defiance to what should have been a maximum of two presidential terms. (Heale, 4) Nevertheless, Roosevelt received strong support from big cities and on his third term as president, he pledged the United States to the good neighbor policy, transforming the Monroe Doctrine from a unilateral American manifesto into arrangements for mutual protection against assailants. He also struggled to keep the United States out of the war in Europe through neutrality legislation but at the same time he pledged to help reinforce nations in danger. In 1940, when France fell and England came under siege, he began to send Great Britain all possible aid except actual military involvement. Inevitably though, on December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. That day, Roosevelt directed all of the Americas resources and manpower and the nation plunged into global war. Roosevelt, in the years after, devoted careful thought in his dealings and strategies with other nations and allies. He was crucial in the planning of a United Nations, wherein, he hoped, international differences and difficulties could be solved. Roosevelt proved to be highly influential throughout the war but towards the end of the war, his health worsened, and on April 12, 1945, while at Warm Springs, Georgia, Roosevelt died of a cerebral hemorrhage, thus ending the longest presidential term in American history. (Friedel, 69) Works Cited Coker, Jeffrey W. Franklin D. Roosevelt: a biography. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2005 Freidel, Frank. Presidents of the United States of America. DIANE Publishing, 1994 Heale, M. J. Franklin D. Roosevelt: the New Deal and war.   Routledge, 1999 Potts, Steve. Franklin D. Roosevelt. Capstone Press, 2006

A Kantian Interpretation of Demonstrative Reference :: Philosophy Philosophical Kant Essays

A Kantian Interpretation of Demonstrative Reference ABSTRACT: According to Kant, we refer to what is out there in the world by performing a demonstrative act, like pointing at an object with a finger. A Kantian mode of demonstrative reference is characterized by the existence of a real, 2-placed affective relation between an intuiting subject and the referent. Parsons suggests that Kantian intuition is both singular and immediate, and immediacy demands an object of intuition to be present, a condition clearly satisfied by objects within our immediate perceptual field. But since we do not have an immediate relation with remote objects, the scope of our demonstrative reference is severely restricted by intuitional immediacy. I wish to develop a global Kantian intuition in order to extend the scope of demonstrative reference. Kant's ontology of space entails that the global representability of space be given to an intuiting subject as a form of intuition. According to Melnick, Kantian intuition is a kinematic operation which involves dir ecting attention and moving about. To make contact with the world, the subject must move away from its locale: although a spatially remote object (W) is not immediately present, we can shift our location by taking a path such that W will become so. Once we are close enough to be affected by W, we will be able to point at W and say "This." Thus, the intuitive scope of demonstrative reference is globalized as we shift our location. I A. The Semantic Content of "This" It has been suggested that Kantian intuition is analogous to the demonstrative term "This." According to Sellars, "to intuit is to represent a this." The demonstrative "This" provides a semantic model for Kantian intuition, but with some restriction. We can certainly apply the demonstrative "This" to individual items which are not proper objects of intuition, e.g., "This theory," "This thought," or "This proposition." The singularity of "This" is insufficient to characterize Kantian intuition. Since space and time are the forms of intuition, an intuitable object must have a spatio-temporal location. Hence, the demonstrative "This" is a semantic model for Kantian intuition only if it is "spatio-temporized." We can spatio-temporize "This" by performing a demonstrative act. The type of a demonstrative act can be characterized by a "2-placed de re ostension" as suggested by Howell. The function of a de re ostension is to indicate the presence of an object in our perceptual field. Pointing at an object with a finger is an example of a 2-placed de re ostension par excellence.

Reporting Stockholders Equity

ckChapter 11 – Reporting and Analyzing Stockholders’ Equity I. Characteristics of a Corporation (Publicly held (closely held)) * Separate legal existence; * Limited liability of stockholders; limited to investment * Transferable ownership rights; * Ability to acquire capital; * Continuous life; * Corporation management: Shareholders Shareholders * Voting rights * Profit sharing * Preemptive right * Residual claim Board of Directors Board of Directors CEO(PRESIDENT) CEO(PRESIDENT) . other vps . other vps CIO CIO CFO CFO COO COO Treasurer Treasurer ControllerController * Government regulations; file application with state government-> corportate charter by-law * Additional taxes. Double taxation II. Stock Issue 1. Basics of Stock Issue: (1) Authorized Stock: The maximum amount of stock that a corporation is authorized to sell by corporate charter. (2) Outstanding Stock: Capital stock that has been issued and is being held by stockholders. Legal capital= # of issued shares x par value per share (3) Par Value Stock: Capital stock that has been assigned an arbitrary value per share in the corporate charter. 4) No-par value Stock: Capital stock that has not been assigned a value in the corporate charter. (5) Stated Value of No-par value Stock: Value per share assigned by the board of directors to no-par value stock. Authorized Issued Outstanding (6) Paid-in Capital: Amount paid to corporation by stockholders for shares of ownership. (7) Retained Earnings: Earned capital held for future use in the business. 2. Accounting for Common Stock Issues: (1) Issuing Stock at Par Example 1: On March 1, 2002, XYZ Company issued 10,000 shares of $10 par value common stock at par. (2) Issuing Stock above ParExample 2: On June 10, XYZ Company issued 5,000 shares of $10 par value common stock at $12 per share. Cash 60,000(=5,000Ãâ€"12) Common Stock50,000 Additional paid in capital14,000 (Paid in capital in excess of par) What if the common stock issued on June 10 is n o par stock with a stated value of $10? Cash60,000 Common Stock50,000 Additional Paid in capital10,000 3. Treasury Stock: * A corporation’s own stock that has been issued, fully paid for, and reacquired by the corporation but not retired. * Issued but not outstanding (1) Corporations acquire treasury stock to †¦ reissue shares to employees under bonus and stock compensation plans; * increase trading of company’s stock in securities market to enhance market value; * reduce number of shares outstanding , and therefore increase earnings per share (EPS); * prevent a hostile takeover. (2) Purchasing Treasury Stock: * Cost method: Treasury stock is increased by the amount paid to reacquire the shares, and is decreased by the same amount when the shares are later sold. Example 3: On October 15, 2002, XYZ Company acquired 2,000 shares of the stock issued on June 10 in Example 2 at $9 per share.On the balance sheet: Stockholders equity Paid in capital Common stock (par) Ad ditional paid in capital Retained earnings Less: Treasury stock (a contra equity account) * Effect of purchasing treasury stock on common stock: * Effect of purchasing treasury stock on stockholders’ equity: III. Preferred Stock * Preferred stock has contractual provisions that give it preferences over common stock in dividends and assets in the event of liquidation. * Preferred stockholders do not have voting rights. Example 4: On November 5, 2002, XYZ Company issued 5,000 shares of $10 par value preferred stock for $13 per share.Cash65,000 Preferred Stock50,000 Additional Paid in capital15,000 1. Dividend Preference * Preferred stockholders have the right to share in the distribution of corporate income before common stockholders; * The first claim to dividends does not guarantee dividends; * Cumulative Dividends: Preferred stockholders receive current and unpaid prior-year dividends before common stockholders receive any dividends. When dividends are cumulative, preferred dividends that were not declared in a given period are called dividends in arrears. Example 5:XYZ Company issued 10,000 shares of 10%, $5 par value cumulative preferred stock On January 1, 1999. XYZ had not declared any dividends until December 31, 2002. 1999: 10,000x 5 x 10% = 5,000 2000: 5,000 2001: 5,000 2002:5,000 Dec 31, 02: $20,000 in cash * Dividends in arrears are not liability. They should be disclosed in the notes to financial statements. 2. Liquidation Preference- Creditors Prefered stock holders common stock holders IV. Dividends * A distribution by the corporation to the stockholders on a pro rata basis. 1.Cash Dividends: (1) To pay a cash dividend, a company must have: * retained earnings * adequate cash * declared dividends (2) Some Important Dates: * Declaration date: the date the board of directors formally authorizes the cash dividends and announces it to stockholders. Retained earnings Dividends payable * Record date: The date ownership of outstanding shares is de termined for dividend purposes. * Payment date: The date dividends are paid. Dividends payable Cash * Cumulative effect of declaration and payment of cash dividends on accounting equation: 2. Stock Dividends: Companies pay stock dividends to †¦ * Satisfy stockholders’ dividend expectations without paying cash; * Increase the marketability of its stock; * Emphasize that a portion of stockholders’ equity has been permanently reinvested in the business. * Small Stock Dividend: If the stock dividend is less than 20%-25% of the corporation’s issued stock, it is recorded at the fair market value per share. * Large Stock Dividend: If the stock dividend is greater than 20%-25% of the corporation’s issued stock, it is recorded at par or stated value per share. Example 6:On February 1, 2003, the balance of XYZ Company’s retained earnings was $2,500,000. XYZ Company declared a 15% stock dividend on its 100,000 shares of $10 par value common stock. The cu rrent fair market value of XYZ Company’s stock is $13 per share. Retained earnings195,000 Stock dividend Distributable150,000 Additional paid in capital45,000 On March 1, 2003, XYZ Company issued the dividend shares. Stock dividend distributable 150,000 Common Stock150,000 – Effect of stock dividends on stockholders’ equity and its components: S/E Retained earnings195,000 (Decrease)Common Stock150,000 (Increase) Additonal paid in capital45,000 (Increase) NET EFFECT: No change V. Stock Splits: * The issuance of additional shares of stock to stockholders accompanied by: * A reduction in the par or stated value; * An increase in number of shares. No entry * Effect of stock splits on stockholders’ equity and its components: S/E Common Stock (Par value per share x total # of issued shares) Add. Paid in capital Retained Earnings VI. Retained Earnings: * Net income that is retained in the business. Revenues (Credit, transfer to credit of income)Income Summary(Tr ansfer N. I to retained earnings credit) Retained Earnings Expenses (Transfer debit to debid of income summary) * Deficit: a debit balance in retained earnings. Deficit is reported as a deduction in stockholders’ equity on the balance sheet. * Retained earnings restrictions- Debt covenants VII. Financial Statement Presentation: 1. Balance Sheet S/E Paid-in-capital Common stock (par value) Preferred stock (par value) Additional paid in capital Retained earnings Less: Treasury Stock 2. Statement of Cash Flows Cash Flows from Financing ActivitiesIssuance of stock (cash inflows) Repurchase of stock (cash outflows) Dividend payment (cash outflows) VIII. Ratio Analysis: 1. Dividend Record * Payout Ratio: Cash dividends declared on common stock/ Net income 2. Earnings Performance * Return on common stockholders’ equity ratio: (NI-Prefered stockholders dividends)/Average common stockholders equity 3. Debt versus Equity Decision | Bond| Common Stock| Owners’ Control| Not affected| Diluted| Tax Benefit| Bond interests are tax deductible| Dividends are not deductible| Financial Ratio(EPS)| Not affected| Lower| Fixed payment| Yes | No|

Gender discrimination in society and the workplace Essay

In recent years women have been making gains toward equality in the workplace, but still there is a pay gap that separates men and women. It is interesting to note that women are consistently compensated less than men who fill similar positions. Discrimination is blamed for the salary disparities. My guess is as long as there are differences between people, there will be discrimination in one form or another. That may be only a general thought about discrimination, but men and women are always going to be different. How are we affected by such forms of gender discrimination? Well obviously those who are directly impacted negatively can feel the effects, but undoubtedly society and the economy are impacted as well. It may be difficult to determine in what ways they may be affected however. It seems that through the years, there has never been a time where women have been as well compensated as men. Just because its something we may be used to, does that mean it’s right? Some people would argue that women shouldn’t even be working as it is. Many people think that a woman’s place is in the home. Perhaps that is the ideal in many societies. It would seem beneficial to have at least one parent in the home caring for children rather than placing them into a daycare facility. Traditionally the husband has been the breadwinner of the household, but with inflation rates skyrocketing, it is increasingly necessary to send the wife off to work as well. Of course women should be treated as equals and be paid the same that a man would be if he were filling the position. One way or another this problem should take care of itself or it could be speculated that there will be an increasing amount of animosity among members of society. Long-term effects of gender discrimination are not clear, but why should we continue to place barriers between different people? The government has seemed to be cracking down on equal opportunity and anti-discrimination laws, as they should be. The United States is a place of equality and equal opportunity, and while we may be huge steps ahead of other countries, gender discrimination is still a factor that must be dealt with.

Human behavior Essays

Human behavior Essays Human behavior Essay Human behavior Essay After instinct theories were discredited, explanations for behavior shifted to needs. A need was defined as an internal state of disequilibrium or deficiency which has the capacity to trigger a behavioral response. The cause of the deficiency could be physiological, such as hunger; psychological, such as a need for power; or sociological, such as a need for social interaction. The presence of a need motivates an individual to action to restore a state of equilibrium, as shown . A basic assumption of all need theories is that when need deficiencies exist, individuals are motivated to action to satisfy them. One of the earliest theories of needs was the manifest need theory proposed by Henry A. Murray. Murray believed that needs are mostly learned rather than inherited and are activated by cues from the external environment. For example, an employee who has a high need for affiliation will pursue that need by associating with others only when the environmental conditions are appropriate. Only then would the need be manifest. When the need was not cued, the need was said to be latent or not activated. Murray identified a wide range of needs that people supposedly acquire to one degree or another through interaction with their environment. Murray first developed a list of fifteen needs that were classified as viscerogenic (primary) and psychogenic (secondary). The needs for food, water, sex, urination, defecation, and lactation, all associated with physiological functioning, are examples of Murrays viscerogenic needs. Murrays psychogenic needs include abasement, achievement, affiliation, aggression, autonomy, deference, dominance, and power. Murrays need categories attempted to focus on specific, relatively narrow need-related issues and a separate need was created for almost every human behavior. Murrays list of needs was not derived from empirical research but from his personal observations and clinical experience. Periodically he added additional needs to his list, and the length of the list increased with his career. Maslows need hierarchy Abraham Maslow was a clinical psychologist whose theory of motivation was part of a larger theory of human behavior. Maslow was a humanist who was deeply concerned about the dignity and worth of individuals. He frequently talked of the differences between healthy and unhealthy individuals, and believed that individuals had a positive capacity to improve the quality of their lives . His theory of behavior emerged from his clinical experiences as he was able to sift and integrate the ideas of other leading psychologist. Maslow formulated a hierarchy of five general needs. The term drive was first introduced by Woodworth (1918) to describe the reservoir of energy that impels an organism to behave in certain ways. While Woodworth intended the term to mean a general supply of energy within an organism, others soon modified this definition to refer to a host of specific energizers (such as hunger, thirst, sex) toward or away from certain goals. With the introduction of the concept of drive, it now became possible for psychologists to predict in advance-at least in theory-not only what goals an individual would strive toward but also the strength of the motivation toward such goals. A major theoretical advance in drive theory came from the work of Cannon in the early 1930s. Cannon (1939) introduced the concept of homeostasis to de- scribe a state of disequilibrium within an organism which existed whenever internal conditions deviated from their normal state. When such disequilibrium occurred (as when an organism felt hunger), the organism was motivated by internal drives to reduce the disequilibrium and to return to its normal state. Inherent in Cannons notion was the idea that organisms exist in a dynamic environment and that the determining motives for behavior constantly change, depending upon where the disequilibrium exists within the system. Thus, certain drives or motives move to the forefront and then, once satisfied, retreat while other paramount. This concept is also reflected in the works of Maslow. The first comprehensive-and experimentally specific- elaboration of drive was put forth by Hull. In his major work Principles of Behavior, published 1943, Hull set down a specific equation to explain an organisms impetus to Effort = Drive X Habit. Drive was defined by Hull as an energizing influence which determined the intensity of behavior, and which theoretically Habit was seen as the strength of relationship between past stimulus and response (S-R). Hall hypothesized that the resulting effort, or motivational force, was a multiplicative function of these two central variables. If we apply Hulls theory to an organization setting, the motivation to seek employment would be seen as a multiplicative function of the need for money (drive) and the strength of the feeling that been associated with the receipt of money in the past (habit). Later, Hull added an incentive variable to his equation. His later formulation thus read: Effort = Drive x Habit X Incentive. This incentive factor, added in large mea- sure in response to the attack by the cognitive theorists, was defined in terms of anticipatory reactions to future goals. Just as drive theory draws upon Thorndikes law of effect, so do modem reinforcement approaches (e. g. , Skinner, 1953). The difference is that the former theory emphasizes an internal state (i. e. , drive) as a necessary variable to take into account, while reinforcement theory does not. Rather, the reinforcement model places total emphasis on the consequences of behavior. Behavior initiated by the individual that produces an effect or consequence is called operant behavior (i. e. , the individual has operated on the environment), and the theory deals with the contingent relationships between this operant behavior and the pattern of consequences. It ignores the inner state of the individual and concentrates solely on what happens to a person when he or she takes some action. Thus, strictly speaking, reinforcement theory is not a theory of motivation because it does not concern itself with what energizes of initiates behavior.

Human Resources Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Human Resources Management - Essay Example Furthermore, if the members believe that a particular type of appraisal system will affect them positively whereas the new system may incorporate many different dimensions that may bring their weaknesses to the forefront, they may resist to the selection of a new appraisal system. Therefore there are a number of issues that affect the selection process. In order to design an effective appraisal system, it is important to consider a number of issues that may have an impact on the appraisal system. The management must make sure that the new system provides some quantitative measure of the employee’s performance to facilitate the process of evaluation (Robbins & Judge, 2004). First of all the human resource manager must decide on the criterion to be used for the appraisal mechanism. The ideal criteria would be the ability to deliver, to communicate effectively, quality of work, the ability to plan and set goals, to motivate, to lead and to complete the assigned tasks on time. Performance appraisals help organizations clarify expectations that it may have from the employees and build trust. Since it allows an organization to evaluate each employee’s contribution to the organization, it also helps in determining each employee’s strengths and weaknesses. The management can then assign tasks to employees based on their individual skills. Not only will this lead to better results but it will also lead to employee satisfaction because they will be doing what they are best at and enjoy the most (Daft, 2001). Also, it aids the organization in determining which employees are outstanding performers and hence it ties rewards, bonuses and other benefits with the employee performance and appraisal. Moreover, the appraisal mechanism allows the management to determine the level of satisfaction of employees. Through feedback after the appraisal, management can determine the problems faced by the

Safety in Aircraft Maintenance Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Safety in Aircraft Maintenance - Term Paper Example Because of the huge size of an aircraft and the various electronic, electrical and mechanical hazards associated with different parts of a plane, it becomes a norm to take preventive measures for the safety assurance of ground personnel’s. Safety needs to be addressed in many aspects of aircraft maintenance including aircraft engines, fuel systems, electrical wirings, Non destructive testing and assembly of parts. The preventive measures that need to be taken have also been highlighted. Everyday millions of passengers fly by air to reach their desired destinations. Air flight has become the fastest, convenient source of transportation and perhaps safer in some respects as compared to other modes. Together with the safety of passengers flying on an aircraft, the aviation industry is also concerned with the safety of those associated with the maintenance of aircrafts. Maintenance of aircrafts requires a lot of effort, together with appropriate measures of safety in handling high pressures, electronic equipments and surveying the engines. These tasks require large numbers of skilled engineers and technicians (Xavier, 2005). Apart from maintenance of frameworks and body, other maintenance safety precautions need to be taken while performing checks for leaks, structural damages and internal electrical systems (BTEC National) Maintenance of an aircraft is essential to ensure that the aircraft flies with the standards set for it and that no anomaly occurs in between its flight. Aircraft maintenance demands high technology and numerous people like mechanics, engineers and experts to ensure safety and efficiency of the plane. Aircraft maintenance safety is directed by some set standards and precautions which need to be taken by workers maintaining the plane. A â€Å"safety management system† established by the â€Å"International Civil Aviation Organization† works on this very aspect of safety in aircraft maintenance (Herrera, I.A & Hovde.